Thesis Proposal w/ comments

Through the pursuit of an architecture thesis I hope to explore the dynamic and complex relationships present in San Francisco's Tenderloin Neighborhood. I am looking to engage in an architecture that critically examines, investigates, and redefines the nature of boundaries; seeing physical, cultural, and social scars and fissures as rich opportunities for creative spatial, formal, and psychological exploration. It is these sharp places, which are laden with tension and seem to be spaces of darkness, that I see as extremely potent and pregnant with possibility.

How can the architectural process be used as a catalyst for change by and for the people? How can a design proposal truly engage a demographic of people who have otherwise been forgotten, displaced, and swept between the cracks such as inhabitants of San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood. How can architecture get at the core of the human condition and critically respond by representing the spirit of a place* and the struggle of its people *? How can the Tenderloin's sharp and volatile history be honored and recognized in a way that uncovers and exposes transformative forces waiting to emerge from beneath the layers of oppression, abuse, and violence**?

* Many of these ideas have been explored in the context of nationhood; post-colonialism. It will be challenging to bring this discussion into a neighborhood. In "community" design some of these issues emerge, but from an anti architecture perspective.

** Is that recognition itself transformative? How would you test that? What is the potential for more direct efficacy w/r/t agency and ownership? Requires a nuanced definition of "public".

My goal is to challenge outdated structures and systems (such as?) through the exploration of new social and spatial typologies within the urban landscape. Not only do I want to design with these ideas in mind, I want to use the actual design process as a means to interact and engage in the community.

Branches of sociology have informed community-oriented design workshops: worth looking at if nothing else to critique, develop a position

I will start my preliminary research by drawing inspiration from Lebbeus Wood's work surrounding the Loma Prieta Earthquake, Rebecca Solnit's text "The Ruins of Memory", and Donna Haraways "A Manifesto for Cyborgs".

These are all interesting texts but they are all exploring very different topics