Abstract
Having grown up abroad, the topic of architectural mediation has often made me pause. The world abounds with differences, and with today’s globalization, many of us are being faced with cultural, social, and a multitude of physical differences/conditions. This thesis seeks to explore the role of architecture as a mediator and seeks designs that transition successfully between differing entities.
The project is an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya. The program is comprised of young orphans and the project explores how the structure that they occupy can effectively accommodate their specific needs. Challenges which need to be mediated include consideration of two scales, one for the child under the age of 6, and the other for the caretaker who has adult proportions. The building also will need to reconcile cultural stigmatization and attitudes towards orphans while also providing a safe environment. And lastly, the specific social needs of the orphan need to be tended to. The design and experience within the spaces will need to convey feelings of security, affections, and hope.
|
