Pathways of Care

Fourth-Year Undergraduate Project at Virginia Tech
Spring 2023

This project involves designing three residential units and a community center in an infill space between two buildings in Washington, D.C. As embodiments of architectures of care, the design aims to foster connectivity and community by addressing goals across individual, community, and environmental scales. The design features a pathway that seamlessly connects the street to the back alley. Through strategic architectural interventions, including orienting residential entrances towards the pathway and placing kitchens to overlook communal amenities, the project cultivates a relationship between the street, the alleyway, the path, and its residents, promoting safety and fostering a sense of community.

DEFINING ARCHITECTURE OF CARE
Understanding and defining architectures of care, while examining precedents from previous projects, was essential for this project. I classified care into three distinct scales: individual, community, and environmental. By integrating these principles, the project aimed to create a holistic environment that nurtures connectivity and well-being on multiple levels.
Precedents
SITE ANALYSIS
The site is situated in a vibrant Washington, D.C. neighborhood, just 3 miles from the national monuments. My site analysis explored the accessibility of transportation options and the proximity to essential amenities such as grocery stores and laundromats. Additionally, I assessed the impact of neighboring building shadows on the site, considering how they affect natural light and overall site conditions.
Transportation Accessibility
Transportation Accessibility
Neighborhood Amenities
Neighborhood Amenities
Light & Shadow Analysis
Light & Shadow Analysis
THE PATH
By initially studying a pathway that connects the street to the alleyway, I developed multiple iterations of organizing the residential units in harmony with this route. This architectural intervention aimed to revitalize the alleyway—a space often neglected and considered unsafe—by encouraging community interaction and drawing people into the area. By incorporating public amenities such as a basketball court and playground, the path was transformed into a space designed to foster community.
Conceptual Model to Process Model to Final Model

Conceptual Perspective Drawing

Final Model

"EYES ON THE STREET"
To enhance safety along the path, entrances to the residential units were positioned along this route. Public amenities such as the community center, basketball court, and playground were also located along the path to encourage use and activity in the area. Additionally, 'public' residential spaces, including living rooms and kitchens, were placed on the ground floor to ensure these high-traffic areas were visible from the path, reinforcing the 'eyes on the street' concept. In contrast, private spaces such as bathrooms and bedrooms were situated on the second floors for increased privacy.
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