Community Commons Ð Public Interiors/Context/Edge

The intention was to design a space that challenged gender stereotypes with fashion norms, and involved community engagement through the donation of gently used clothes. ÒNEWtralÓ is a public interior, activated by emerging fashion designers-in-residence who deconstruct, and then reconstruct garments into fashion that communicates strong positions regarding body, gender, and expression. The space was generated through the manipulation of overlapping linear grids derived from the memory of the former ÒVan Bloom Travel BuildingsÓ interior, and then skewed as a gesture toward the State Capitol that can be viewed from the interior. The edge condition  begins with a new stair that extends from the bike path and into the entranceÉa transition from outside, ascending to an outdoor ÒinteriorÓ, a transition in and through the garment making studios, and then carried up and into the primary exhibition space. The second floor plane was extended beyond the boundary of the existing building to accommodate a visual storefront connection to the heavily trafficked bike path and East Bound O-Street trafficÉA prompt to engage.