INTERspace

Carla Callejas

My Fall 2021 studio project explores a new solution for social housing in city of Watts, Los Angeles. Current in Watts there is three major social housing project including Nickerson Garden, Jordan Downs and Imperial courts. The location I am choosing is the Imperial Courts by taking this existing housing project and looking for ways to improve by reflecting the rich culture that Watts already has into the community. The proposal is based on the laws that were established and reinforced housing segregation that are still present till this day. This is turn cause many issues that my proposal looks to tackle including systemic racism, the lack of economic opportunity, walkability and the cycle of poverty. The question arises does location and architecture help facilitate social exclusion? If so, how can we combat this problem in this proposal we begin to see how. The idea is to add this new structure that intersects the front yard of the units which can start to hold new programing such as communal kitchens, pop-up shops, exhibition areas, maker spaces, gathering space and so much more. This new structure would be based on what the community needs and can change over time to reflect those needs. For the units I am proposing to remodel the existing and removing some to add movement on the first level. The units that were removed would be added back to different locations on the new structure.

In the new structure we start adding programs such as pop-up shop that allows for the residents to explore and create places, they need it their communities. These are only three examples of activities that are already taking place in Watts.

With the integration of the arts-economic opportunities-walkability and new types of space into the existing community we start to see a place where the residence can strive and start to break out of the cycle of poverty.