everyone has a story

Apartment Complex 29,000 sq ft

People who experience homelessness tend to be ignored by others more than almost anyone in our society. This project lifts these people off the street and into a new shelter. Like placing books on a shelf for display, the goal of placing the residents in this elevated “shelf” is to show that everyone has a story that deserves attention. Integration of the two communal programs is the primary design strategy. First, a rooftop garden pours into the building through several atriums and culminates into an outdoor market on the ground level. This dynamic garden is accessible on every floor of the building through a network of green spaces. The second program is a library divided into the three residential levels. Both programs are visually echoed on the exterior.