Abstract
It has emerged within our ever urbanizing and sprawling communities in America that there is a lack of safe, stimulating gathering spaces for children and teenagers, especially those who live with impoverished conditions at home (Hager, 2006). Frequently these children lack basic needs, such as safety and a sense of belonging that all humans need on a day-to-day basis (Howard & Prince, 2002). This absence of need fulfillment is coupled with a problem of place in America—that is, the lack of informal public places of refuge and safe social gathering for children and teens.
This thesis project seeks to address this by creating a theoretical art-based community center that supports the users’ attainment of basic needs (such as food and safety), provides dedicated space for the participation of arts activities, and establishes a positive connection to the greater community. The goal is to create an enriching social environment that will provide spaces which promote positive behavior modification and serve as a place of refuge and self exploration. In doing so, the attending children may realize a decrease in the need to participate in negative, harmful activities and a place that becomes a haven for friendship formation, involvement with parents, mentors and adults from the community.
|
