Masters Thesis Exhibition Proposal - Parts of a Whole: Conversations in the Neighborhood
Presented to a jury of over 80 design professionals on December 13th, 2019.
Client: Brooklyn Public Library
Venue: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch
Published research paper can be found on Proquest.
The Brooklyn Public Library serves residents of Brooklyn, catering to its’ many cultural and diverse neighborhoods. In today’s gentrifying cities, Brooklyn residents are faced with a lack of communication, as separation between residents creates a social divide between them. In this proposed exhibition, residents are presented with tools that can lead to social interactions and moments of dialogue, promoting communication that can foster community in the neighborhood.
Residents are greeted with an entry facade neighborhood “quilt,” which is attached to the existing structure, featuring textures, colors, shapes and photos of the neighborhood. At night, projection features words, expressions and thoughts from resident input, becoming a true reflection of the area. This begins the library exhibition, which forms its content based on user-generated feedback. Inside the grand lobby, visitors are invited to learn through sound, objects, photos and more that help form a basis around what a neighborhood is. Further in, the exhibit asks residents in Talkspace to open up to one another through writing, drawing, or talking: this is facilitated through library staff and docents, and becomes an informal area where open conversation and dialogue is encouraged.
The exhibit aims to create a connection between residents of different background, and uses the public library as a natural conduit to facilitate this experience. User-generated content allows residents to leave their mark behind for others to see and add to, afterwards becoming valuable input and material for the library, in order to better understand its residents and provide programming and events. Ultimately, the exhibition will work as a model system, one that can be replicated in libraries throughout the city as way for residents to understand one another, working towards a sustainable neighborhood of the future.