Art Therapy Community Center
Tasked to design the interior of an existing site. The site is located off the Mississippi River and is called the Batcher. The project required us to consider the context of the surrounding area and take inspiration from our site collage. This community center has to include three bathrooms, a kitchen, an art space, a multi-purpose room, an exercise room, and a bonus room of our choice. The project should be cohesive, from plans to perspectives, to have an impactful proposal for our community.
NOAT Proposal
The New Orleans Art Therapy community center encourages reflection on the discovery of self, and inspires diverse individuals to find healing through art. The layout of the community center is determined by a grid of the windows in the existing space. Transparency and light are the design focus of the community center. The space includes a multi-purpose space, recycled arts, cultural dance, artist culinary exploration, and writing space. The space encourages reflection on all levels: individual, small group, and large group. Colored glass pods denote individual reflection. Round tables with a dropped organic ceiling denote small group reflection and creation areas. The large groups have full-height ceilings and large rectangular high-top tables. Varying height recycling tubs filled with recycled goods available for art creation guide the viewer through the spaces. The transparency of the open floor plan welcomes people into an inclusive environment where all members of the community can participate in artist creation. Transparency dividers throughout the space foster the feeling of privacy and trust. Whether it is music, art, cooking, or poetry, all members can learn to express themselves and find community with others in similar situations. With the deep roots of culture in New Orleans, discriminated groups can find community and healing in this space.
Site Collage
Adjacency Diagram Grid & Furniture Diagram
Plan
Sections
Materiality Inspiration
Perspectives
Thank You!
Completed: (Design Studio II) (Professor: Hannah Berryhill) (Tulane University)
