Learning in (a) Place

Alyanna Subayno

Recognitions: Emerging Professionals People's Choice Competition 2020

Project Description

An ingrained culture of racial diversity and vibrant culture has persisted, to this day, in the borough of Brooklyn. Despite the social value of Flatbush, the area continues to suffer from discriminatory actions to a point where it struggles to preserve its heritage. Education is a main talking point in this respect, where the disparities between schools serving opposite ends of the economic spectrum are unequally funded. A community with lower than average income, Flatbush has become part of the disadvantaged system – with under-performing students at a public school level, effecting their forthcoming futures. This proposal seeks to address issues such as finance, access, and resources when it comes to education – focusing mainly on the idea of life-long learning. At its core, the form addresses the block sized scale of the site, interwoven with the concepts of permeability and adaptability. The mass mimics the pre-existing urban fabric of the city – with buildings lining the street frontage and voids in the middle to create public outdoor spaces. The fragmented ground level serves to provide a variety of open learning spaces for all ages as well as discreet residential access. Its materiality is largely transparent, with its height matching the scale of the existing building to make residents feel included and respected. The forms are folded, rotated, and fragmented to draw the greater community into the site and to evoke a sense of belonging. With this scheme, the architecture is subtle but responsive; it has its own unique identity but is respectful of the built and social context. Learning in (a) Place placed in the top 7 of 39 entrees at the 2019 NOMA Conference Student Competition.