Shuxin Yin
HISTORY | For this collective dwelling project, our group decided to design a space for youth between the ages of 14-22 that are facing homelessness. The starting idea was solely focused on emancipated youth but we later realized that we could reach a broader audience by focusing on overall youth homelessness.
What | Because we are designing for such a delicate constituency we knew we needed to design a place where residents could feel safe and heal from past traumas, whether that be physical or psychological traumas. We also wanted to provide the residents with a sense of community, something we felt was important for long-term growth.
How: Housing + Program Breakdown | Housing on site is the most abundant and is based on the duration of stay along with the privacy needs of each guest. Along with housing, the site's program is broken down into five categories. Those are counseling, recreation, education, dining, and housing spaces. After housing, counseling spaces are the most abundant on the site. These spaces can be used for psychological, legal, or life counseling.
How: Recreation + Education+ Dining | Recreational spaces on site are meant to increase community engagement through media/entertainment centers, library spaces, and areas of physical activity. The site also includes educational spaces where residents can learn practical life skills along with finishing any schooling needed. Dining spaces are closely connected to the housing, and there are many shared kitchen and eating spaces along with private ones.
How: How: Courtyard + So ill | A central part of the site is the courtyard areas and the surrounding wall of the site. Our group wanted to ensure the physical safety and security of the residents by enclosing the site in a skin. The skin allows for private entry for residents and minimal public access through the lobby and counseling offices. The courtyard spaces are meant to be areas of relief and connectivity within the site, each corner of the site has its own courtyard with a large courtyard in the center.