Abstract:
ADOLESCENCE IS A TIME PERIOD THAT CREATES INSECURITY AND DOUBTS AMONG MOST KIDS. MENTAL AND PHYSICAL CHANGES IN THE BODY OCCUR RAPIDLY. EVERYTHING SEEMS NEW AND UNEXPLORED. MANY KIDS DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES DURING THESE TIMES OF CONFUSION. I CHOSE TO DESIGN A FACILITY THAT WOULD ENABLE KIDS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH ARTISTIC MEANS. ALL OF THE COMPONENTS TOGETHER FUNCTION SIMILAR TO A HIGH SCHOOL. I CHOSE TO FOCUS ON THE ART STUDIOS AND CLASSROOM SPACES. THE OVERALL CONCEPT IS BASED ON A SMALL-SCALE CITY. THE MAIN PEDESTRIAN WALK THROUGH THE FACILITY EXTENDS FROM THE 3RD STREET PROMENADE IN CALIFORNIA. THIS WALKWAY SHOOTS DOWN THE SPACE LIKE A SPROUTING TREE AND THEN EXPLODES AT THE END. THIS SYMBOLIZES GROWTH AND MATURATION AMONG THE ADOLESCENTS.THERE IS A SPHERE THAT MAKES UP THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE ART STUDIOS. THIS SPHERE REPRESENTS THE PERFECT COMPOSURE OF HUMANS ON THE OUTSIDE, AND THE WILLINGNESS TO CONFORM TO SOCIETY. HOWEVER, THE INSIDE IS VERY FRAGMENTED LIKE THE TRUE MIND OF AN ADOLESCENT.