Purpose

This group project explores how design can respond to the effects of gentrification and the lack of third-place communities (spaces outside home and work that encourage social interaction), especially for college students facing financial and social constraints.

Written Theory

The team highlights how urban design can foster inclusivity, accessibility, and psychological well-being. By integrating community functions like cafes, parks, and libraries into living spaces, students and gentrified communities can reconnect socially, emotionally, and economically.

Spatial Program

1. Dormitory Apartments (2–3 person units with private baths).

2. Community Kitchen & Outdoor Spaces – foster interaction and healthy routines.

3. Study Areas – lounges and a cat cafe to support mental health and focus.

4. Dining Options – on-site restaurant and convenience store to support walkability and student needs.

5. Entertainment – rooftop cinema/event space for leisure and gathering.

6. Fitness - a gym space offered to college students to increase healthy routines.

7. Support Spaces -Janitor’s closet, mechanical, electrical, and data rooms to meet facility needs.

PROJECT GOALS

This project answers the prompt, "How would you change the world through design?", by showing how thoughtfully designed, inclusive, and multifunctional spaces can combat the social and economic pressures of gentrification, helping people thrive, not just survive.

Key Issues

• Gentrification pushes out residents and erodes community culture.

• Rising rent and inflation increase college student debt.

• Limited access to community spaces and transportation leads to isolation and mental health issues.

Proposed Solutions

• Create mixed-use developments combining housing, businesses, and public spaces.

• Build affordable dormitory-style housing with community areas.

• Encourage third-place theory: design for living, working, and socializing.

• Promote walkability and reduce reliance on transportation.

INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTION

Research & Concept Development

• Conducted research on gentrification, focusing on its economic and psychological impacts on marginalized communities.

• Researched cat cafes as a mental health-supportive third-place model, integrating this into our program as a unique and functional communal space.

• Contributed to the development of our main themes, including community-based design, affordability, and third-place theory.

• Collaborated on the concept narrative, aligning our design with social and economic needs resulting from gentrification.

PROGRAMING & SPATIAL PLANNING

• Assisted in creating the space program, determining the functions and square footage needed to meet the goals of the project.

• Contributed to the space planning and layout of the building, ensuring flow, accessibility, and the integration of community-oriented functions.

• Participated in developing the exterior design, supporting the overall massing, materiality, and public engagement with the structure.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

• Led the design of the cat café, including spatial layout, user experience, and finishes, focusing on well-being, comfort, and interaction.

• Designed the lobby space, including circulation, seating, finish selections, and usage of the space.

• Produced key visual deliverables for the presentation, including:

  • Rendered/Colored Floor Plans for the cat café, lobby, and gym space.

  • Perspective Renderings illustrating my assigned areas.

  • Diagrams and Concept Collages to communicate the design process and thematic development.

  • Furniture, Fixtures, Finishes, and Materials Board, integrated into the final presentation to support our concept visually and texturally.

  • Co-authored the Written Concept Statement.