CULTURALLY SENSETIVE HOUSE

Project description

Site: Long Ave. at Bradford St. in the Hampden Park neighborhood of St. Paul. 2330 Long Ave, St Paul, MN 55114

~4,300 sf - two levels

The project required the designer to complete the design of a culturally sensitive house. This project has several parts and took the entire semester to complete. The designer undertook the problem identification and definition during the programming stage of the project—they explore differences and similarities in the housing needs of the Somalian cultural group. Then, the designer identified a design solution that bridges those needs during the Schematic Design and Design Development phases of the project.

Rendered exteriors

Elevation of exterior

Site plan

Construction of Aqal: Designer has designed a structure in the courtyard of the house to recall the construction of a traitional Somali hut.

Sustainability exploration of the overall design

Cultural sensitivity exploration of the overall design

Universal design exploration of 1st level

Focal point

Dining area

Terrace

NKBA kitchen design

Doorway clearance at least 32’’ wide Working triangle total distance no more than 26’ Knee clearance 36” of pass clearance Counter top at least 36” wide x 24” deep 24” landing area of sink, oven, cooking surface No more than 54” above the floor A total of 158” of countertop frontage with at least 15” of clearance above

Section

Material board

Site plan - DETAILED

final model

Concept - Convergent

Convergent could be defined by the three characteristics of INCLUSIVE, GATHERING, FLEXIBLE in order to force a new whole. The space design could take advantage of using the universal design by mainstream and culture-sensitive contexts to maintain most user needs in a wide range, showing the similarities and differences between the collective and the individual context of cultural identity, and also allowing future changes of the space.