Students: Hajj Jason + El Tawil Joe-Anthony
Autism in Beirut is just starting to catch the society's attention with more cases coming to surface lately, and support from different organizations getting bigger.
Characteristics of both groups were taken into account.
Autistic Children: Enclosure, Maze, Routine, Rigidity, Repetition, ...
Young Artists: Openness, Interaction, Communication, Diversity, Structure, ...
The elements inside the box for the autistic children would lead them from a "secure" area to a more exposed area, going from top to bottom. On the platforms, the part adjacent to the box would be the more private part for the artists and the kids. The middle part would act as a transition and breathing space whereas the lower part, a more public area.
The project is therefore interacting with the city, and having a dialogue within itself between its different elements, always going back to the idea of the Gradient experience.
When it comes to the materials used in the project, they also relate to the characteristics of the target groups/diagrams.The artist platforms have the more see-through communicative material (grate) that would include "diversions" for the kids, implemented by opaque material (concrete) to have moments where they can feel safe again in case of distress, while being outside of their main protected space.
The gesture is applied in a way to show the opaque material (autistic children) being lead out from the box to communicate with the platforms (artists), as well as the public space.
Autism in Beirut is just starting to catch the society's attention with more cases coming to surface lately, and support from different organizations getting bigger.
Art therapy is one of many ways to deal with autism.This
subject seemed very appealing so the chosen target groups for the
project were Autistic children (mild cases) and Young artists. Young
artists, who are struggling to make a living and lead decent careers,
are also beginning to take initiatives to try and find solutions for
their problems.The
proposed project would allow autistic children to get more in touch
with society through art therapy and be lead out of their distress.As
for young artists, in addition to having new inspirations, producing
art work with the children, getting exposure and helping with the
therapeutic process, they would benefit from a temporary stay area, in
return for their contribution.
Beginning
the project, a personal perception of each of the target groups' way of
living was implemented through 2D abstract diagrams, conveying as well
the desired outcome of the project, along with the intervention.
 |
| conceptual diagram: gradient spaces from enclosed / protected to open space |
Characteristics of both groups were taken into account.
Autistic Children: Enclosure, Maze, Routine, Rigidity, Repetition, ...
Young Artists: Openness, Interaction, Communication, Diversity, Structure, ...
Articulations
were derived, while deciding on 2 main elements, 1 for each of the
groups, to apply the diagrams in a most convenient way.For the Autistic Children, the "Box" was the starting point seeing how its qualities went along with the basic ones of the kids.
And for the Young Artists, the "Platform" would convey the main element with different variations as the project went on, depending on function and assigned location within the project. During this phase, digital tools were used to design the different parts of the platforms as well as the boxes.For example, "grasshopper" plug-in for rhino, helped design different sizes and orientations of platforms considering the specific functions they are to host.The narrower the platform is, the less inviting it is to the public, which makes it more specific to the targeted groups.In that same way, a similar logic applies to the interior spaces inside the project, providing enclosed to open spaces.
Once the strategy was set, a main gesture was decided on based on the given site, as well as the program and functions required.Both target groups would be lead through a gradient experience within the spaces.
Starting on the bigger scale, the children would have a "familiar" element that gives them access to their main space.One of the buildings on site, representing this familiarity through its spaces and qualities, is "decapitated" where the floors are abandoned, to be able to place the main space for the children (ethereal light box) that would act as a beacon seen from different parts of the city.The facade of the adjoining building would then host the main elements for the artists (platforms) that extend down to the ground level, adding to the public space of the city in an inviting and new way.
In between those two parts, is a middle area allowing a smoother transition, especially for the children, from the more protected part of the project (enclosed box), to the more open and communicative part (platforms).Going to the smaller scale, within the spaces of the project, the gradient experience is also there.
And for the Young Artists, the "Platform" would convey the main element with different variations as the project went on, depending on function and assigned location within the project. During this phase, digital tools were used to design the different parts of the platforms as well as the boxes.For example, "grasshopper" plug-in for rhino, helped design different sizes and orientations of platforms considering the specific functions they are to host.The narrower the platform is, the less inviting it is to the public, which makes it more specific to the targeted groups.In that same way, a similar logic applies to the interior spaces inside the project, providing enclosed to open spaces.
 |
| study models: from 2d diagram to 3d space |
Once the strategy was set, a main gesture was decided on based on the given site, as well as the program and functions required.Both target groups would be lead through a gradient experience within the spaces.
Starting on the bigger scale, the children would have a "familiar" element that gives them access to their main space.One of the buildings on site, representing this familiarity through its spaces and qualities, is "decapitated" where the floors are abandoned, to be able to place the main space for the children (ethereal light box) that would act as a beacon seen from different parts of the city.The facade of the adjoining building would then host the main elements for the artists (platforms) that extend down to the ground level, adding to the public space of the city in an inviting and new way.
In between those two parts, is a middle area allowing a smoother transition, especially for the children, from the more protected part of the project (enclosed box), to the more open and communicative part (platforms).Going to the smaller scale, within the spaces of the project, the gradient experience is also there.
The elements inside the box for the autistic children would lead them from a "secure" area to a more exposed area, going from top to bottom. On the platforms, the part adjacent to the box would be the more private part for the artists and the kids. The middle part would act as a transition and breathing space whereas the lower part, a more public area.
The project is therefore interacting with the city, and having a dialogue within itself between its different elements, always going back to the idea of the Gradient experience.
When it comes to the materials used in the project, they also relate to the characteristics of the target groups/diagrams.The artist platforms have the more see-through communicative material (grate) that would include "diversions" for the kids, implemented by opaque material (concrete) to have moments where they can feel safe again in case of distress, while being outside of their main protected space.
The gesture is applied in a way to show the opaque material (autistic children) being lead out from the box to communicate with the platforms (artists), as well as the public space.
