I am starting with site. I have chosen the Tenderloin because it is a place where crisis is visible. A crisis that may dwell hidden in other parts of the city, but here it is apparent and tangible. It overcomes the senses, is concentrated, and is almost suffocating. It has been a place that has experienced crisis for much longer than this current economic crisis.

What is the role of architecture in a time of crisis? In a time of slowdown and limitation?

My goal at this point is to research the history and origins of the Tenderloin and how it has changed over time. I want to understand this neighborhood as a living, breathing entity with an evolutionary story to tell.