Thesis Project: Beneath the Surface

Woodbury School of Architecture

Instructor: Jordana Maisie Goot

Arch 431 | Spring 2023

Site location: Lower Arroyo Park & Desidero Park; Beneath the Colorado Street Bridge

(also known as “Suicide Bridge”)

Due to the highly networked, global, real-time infiltration of digital media, today, our society is both hyper-connected and deeply isolated. This condition is taking its toll on teens most directly: with suicide and depression on the rise, we look to architecture as a site of re-embodiment; supporting an environment of presence, safety and awareness. By expanding on the Memorial Typology, this project creates a space of acceptance, knowledge building and support services, harnessing the evocative and experiential capacity of architecture to build empathy.

Pathways Experience Collage Study

Circulation Sequence Research

The project follows the sequence that was put together in replication on a possible life cycle of one's life that goes through depression and suicide tendencies. Beginning with Youth & Puberty, to Adolescence, Depression, Attempt, Acceptance, and Integration. The circulation and design of the project follows the existing site's terrain using key moments that were coordinated together into interactive space experiences within the building exhibits.

Levels

Site Plan Level: Youth

The project begins at Desidero park where an outdoor recreational picnic space along with a ramp that enters the project. The outdoor recreational space consists of children activities as well as a free picnic space. This area represents the youth and puberty phase of the sequence.

3rd Level Plan: Puberty

Upon entering the project visitors are welcomed into the Cultural Informational Gallery that introduces the space to anyone and everyone. Bringing in the idea and knowledge of diversity and that the space is a safe space for all.

2nd Level Plan: Adolescence & Depression

The space is represented in breakage in paths by creating a space of choice where visitors can choose to take a rest and stop at a cafe lounge or continue on their journey. An individual continues on to the project through the depression phase represented through a corridor using shifts in levels and surfaces by bringing visitors directly into the existing terrain and beneath the surface.

Ground Level Plan: Attempt, Acceptance & Integration

The corridor leads to a focal moment beneath the bridge that represents the underlying issue of suicide attempts. Natural light is let through only by the eastern and south western side. When the focal space is exited, visitors enter the Acceptance phase of the sequence that consists of the Counseling Center and Community Garden. The Integration phase is then represented at the end of the sequence as an interactive community acitvity, the Wishing Tree. This is where visitors are able to enter and write down any kind of messages or wishes they hope to give themselves and to future visitors.