In-Habitable Walls
Nida Ansari
Simran Mehta
The plight of migrants attempting to reach the U.S. has been and remains the daily focus of American newspaper stories. The heartbreaking photos of this humanitarian disaster at the border are additionally so in their depiction of the young children who make this impossible journey. Some of the intended users of our family shelter are such children of women seeking asylum. Our TID proposal “In-Habitable Walls” is focused on these children, with the hope of design that helps them to heal through play.
Within a site characterized by long, single-loaded circulation, our intervention takes the form of a new programmable wall system to be implemented within the corridors. The 2-sided wall system caters to children on one side and at one height and to adults on the other. These walls take various forms depending on their location, ranging from study pods, to storage in administrative rooms to kitchenettes in the residential areas, and, at a child’s height, to a variety of activities, textures and opportunities for interaction. The walls provide ordinary comfort for the adult residents by easing their day to day activities while creating children’s programs to aid them in the healing process through play. This system continues into the exterior where a small wall of playful sculptures serve as a prelude to the entrance.
Pano Tour
