Medley: the Family community center Emily Pereira
Thesis Statement
Medley is a community center for families of divorce and remarriage. The design of the center incorporates play and education programs as an alternative solution to common issues that these user groups face. The education programs provide logical insight on the family’s given circumstance, while play ensures a positive distraction and opportunity to explore life skills naturally. The community center features playful and interactive design elements to ensure a sense of community, an engaging experience, and a means of bonding.
Schematics
Site Analysis: 100 Fort Hill Rd Groton, CT
N
Groton is a suburban area situated on the Thames River in Connecticut. Out of the 38,700 residents of Groton, there is an 18% divorce rate which is one of the highest in the state. The area is known for its employers: the US Naval Base, General Dynamics Electric Boat, and Pfizer. Surrounding the site, there are 12 schools within a 4 mile radius and it is located right outside of a residential area. The site is easily accessible within the community which makes it a prime location for the Medley Family Community Center.
Research & User Needs
Parents Parents
Divorce Divorce Divorce
User Groups && Needs User Groups Needs User Groups & Needs
Controlling emotions Cooperate with other parent Redirecting attention & behavior Controlling emotions Uninvolving child in Cooperate with otherconflict parent Redirecting attention & behavior Uninvolving child in conflict
Shared Needs Shared
Remarriage Remarriage
Shared Needs
Remarriage
Communication Awareness of individual behavior Co-parenting strategies Communication Establishing goals Awareness of individual behavior Coping Co-parenting strategies Problem Solving Establishing goals Coping Problem Solving
Debunk common myths & truths Normalizing the situation Feeling atmyths fault & truths Debunk common Feeling unable to situation overcome Normalizing the Feeling at broken Feeling fault Feeling unable to overcome Feeling broken
Baby Baby
Outcomes of Education Programs
Establishing expectations Identifying family strengths Establishing expectations Identifying family strengths
Acknowledging emotion Establishing expectations Identifying meaning of family Addressing individual needs Bonding Communication Acknowledging emotion Establishing expectations Identifying meaning of family AddressingCoping individual needs Managing conflict Bonding Communication Awareness ofCoping individual behavior Venting Managing conflict Awareness of individual behavior Venting Additional User Groups: Program educators, trained mediators, family science professionals, attorneys, play facilitators, staff Factors of User Needs: Parental absence, duration, conflict, violence, divorce proceedings, custody, environmental changes, socio-economic status, ethno-cultural background, childrearing style
Children Children
Outcomes of Play
Breakdown of Ages & Effects Breakdown of Ages, Play Stages Breakdown of Effects Ages Children && Effects Young Children Adolescent
(0-2 Years) Absorb stress Sense hostility and anger (0-2 Years) Absorb stress Stages of Social Sense hostility andPlay: anger Unoccupied play (0-3 months) Solitary (3-18 months) Stagesplay of Social Play: Onlooker play Unoccupied play(18+ (0-3months) months) Parallel months) Solitary play play (18-24 (3-18 months) Onlooker play (18+ months) Parallel play (18-24 months)
Young Children
(2-6 Years) Vulnerable to parental conflict Require emotional warmth and (2-6 Years) physical care conflict Vulnerable to parental Recall changes in warmth nurturance Require emotional and physical care Stages of Social Play: Recall changes in nurturance Onlooker play (18+ months) Associative (3-4 years) Stages ofplay Social Play: Social cooperative play Onlooker play (18+ months) (3+play years) Associative (3-4 years) Social cooperative play (3+ years)
Children
(6-12 Years) Experience loyalty conflict (6-12 Years) Stages ofloyalty Social conflict Play: Experience Onlooker play (18+ months) Social play Stagescooperative of Social Play: years) Onlooker(3+ play (18+ months) Social cooperative play (3+ years)
Adolescent
(13- 19 Years) Impact on academics, social life, and individual relationships (13- 19 Years) Increased responsibilities Impact on academics, social to rapid detachment life,Prone and individual relationships Increased responsibilities Stages of Social Play: Prone to rapid detachment Onlooker play (18+ months) Social play Stagescooperative of Social Play: years) Onlooker(3+ play (18+ months) Social cooperative play (3+ years)
Categories of play: motor-physical, constructive, expressive, fantasy-dramatic, competitive, and virtual-digital *Children in any stage of social play can participate in these six categories. Consider their abilities to ensure the specific
Categories of Play Motor-physical, constructive, expressive, fantasy-dramatic, competitive, and virtual-digital Children in any stage of social play can participate in these six categories. Consider their abilities to ensure the specific activity is appropriate for their individual skills and development
Design Icons Stages of Social Play
Additional Icons
Unoccupied
Parallel
Positive Atmosphere
Solitary
Associative
Flexible Use
Onlooker
Cooperative
Attachment Promoted
Categories of Play Constructive
Communication Promoted Digital Skills Building Promoted
Physical
Fantasy
Expressive
Competitive
Concept: A Single Thread
A Single Thread: 3D Parti Emily Pereira
A Single Thread: 3 Emily Pereir
Transition
Implied Line A single thread represents the family; regardless of their relationship, they will forever be connected. The black portion of the thread represents the darkness one might feel when experiencing family transitions such as divorce or remarriage. The concept model becomes active, engaging, and playful when color is later incorporated within the single thread. Although some individuals might feel a disconnect during family changes (represented by the white areas of the thread), they will forever be apart of one common identity; family.
Unexpected Blurred Boundary
A single thread represents the family; regardless of their relationship, they represents the darkness one might feel when experiencing family transitions active, engaging, and playful when color is later incorporated within the singl during family changes (represented by the white areas of the thread), they
Metaphor: I look around and find that we are all connected. 3D Model Exploration: A single thread represents the family; regardless of their relationship, they will forever be connected. The black portion of the thread represents the darkness one might feel when experiencing family transitions such as divorce or remarriage. The concept model becomes active, engaging, and playful when color is later incorporated within the single thread. Although some individuals might feel a disconnect during family changes (represented by the white areas of the thread), they will forever be apart of one common identity; family.
Bubble & Block Diagrams First Floor
Second Floor Legend
First Floor
Second Floor
Sketches Make-Believe Play Classroom Sound Absorbing Material
Dining Integrated Technology
Connection to Second Floor Engaging Ceiling
Collaborative Furniture
Engaging Lights Arches Privacy
Inclusive Design (Ramp)
Accessible Play
Playscape
Interactive Installations Connection to Second Floor Unexpected
Rubber Flooring Active Play
Wind 3.0 Installation (Physical)
Musical Pipes (Auditory engagement) Interactive Installation (Physical, Auditory, Visual) Sensitive Floor (Visual, Physical)
Design
Terms of Criticism
(User Group) Does the overall environment ensure a positive, neutral, and comfortable sense of community for blending and/or divorced families to be together? (Education) Do the private group education rooms provide a welcoming and comfortable environment to promote open communication and interpersonal connections? (Play & Age) Do the public play spaces engage all user groups in age appropriate ways with the purpose to promote communication, healthy relationship building, and sense of community? (Healthy Behavior) Does the facility promote healthy social, emotional, and physical behavior within individuals? (Building Skills) How can the design promote communication and coping skills to both children and parents of divorced and blending families? (Kitchen & Dining) Does the Collaboration Kitchen foster a sense of bonding, comfortable environment, and neutral setting for all types of families? (Attachment Theory) How can the design ensure attachment interpersonally and environmentally?
Floor Plans First Floor
Second Floor
Not to Scale
Not to Scale Inclusive Play Stage
Check-In & Activity Board Open to Below
Inclusive Musical Ramp Entrance
Touch & Glow (Interactive Installation)
Make-Believe Play Overlook Swings Playscape
Makerspace Sensory Cave (Interactive Installation) Portals (Connection to Playscape)
Movement Grass (Interactive Installation)
Children’s Classroom (Divorce Program)
Arched Alcove Seating Collaboration Kitchen
Family Touch Down Area
Movable Partition Children’s Classroom (Remarriage Program) Movable Partition
Game Room
Restrooms Parents’ Classroom (Remarriage Program)
Parents’ Classroom (Divorce Program)
Restrooms
Material Palettes First Floor
Second Floor
1.
16. 2. 3. 4. 6. 17. 3. 4. 5. 6.
9.
7.
10.
11.
18.
12.
7.
12.
8. 20. 13.
14.
21.
23. 22.
15.
1. Tied Rope (Playscape) 2. Custom Wall Covering 3. BM 1344 Night Flower (Paint) 4. BM CC-932 North Sea (Paint) 5. BM 836 Sea View (Paint) 6. BM 2173-50 Coral Dust (Paint) 7. Light Oak Wood (Flooring) 8. Nora Satura 5121 Hydra (Flooring)
9. Maharam Divina MD 613 (Upholstery) 10. Maharam Divina MD 943 (Upholstery) 11. HBF Ms. Quilty 1002 80 Distinct (Upholstery) 12. Brown Combi Wood (Veneer) 13. Creative Materials Corp. Chroma (Wall Tile) 14. Satin Chrome 15. Fireclay Tile Arable (Floor Tile) 16. Custom Wall Covering
17. BM CC-560 Raintree Green (Paint) 18. Carnegie Pigment 6506 11 (Upholstery) 19. Carnegie Pigment 6506 16 (Upholstery) 20. Formica Dover White 7197 (Solid Surface) 21. Stainless Steel 22. Custom Colored Glass (Overlook Swing) 23. Concrete Collab. Venetian Alabaster Terrazzo (Flooring)
19.
Building Section
Building Section Scale: 3/16” = 1’
Heart Center: Playscape
21’-0” A.F.F.
Enlarged Plan of Playscape
21’-0” A.F.F.
Enlarged RCP of Playscape Recessed LED Can Lighting Fixture Custom LED Drop Lighting Fixture
Axon View of Custom Playscape
Heart Center: Playscape First Floor
Custom Object: Overlook Swing
Ceiling 10' - 0"
5' - 2"
0' - 1"
0' - 3"
Level 2 10' - 0" SS Recessed Channel
1' - 1"
5' - 2"
0' - 1"
0' - 3"
Blocking as Required Colored Glass
2' - 7"
1' - 1"
Sealant
R 2' - 3"
Colored Glass
Steel R 2' - 3"
3' - 0" 3' - 1" 3' - 1"
2
GLASS DETAIL Glass 3" = 1'-0" / SS Connection Detail Scale: 3” = 1’
8' - 10"
0' - 1"
Rope
8' - 10"
1"
3
Clear Glass
1' - 9"
Blocking as Required L-Bracket Bolted to Swing & Floor
Upholstered Swing Seat
Wide to Share With a Friend 1' - 1"
1' - 9"
3' - 9"
3' - 0"
0' - 4"
Steel
Plan View 0' - 0" 2
Elevation Scale: 1/2” = 1’
Scale: 1/2” = 1’ 2
Elevation 1/2" = 1'-0"
1
Section 1 1/2" = 1'-0"
Flooring Channel Recessed
Second Floor 0' - 0"
2' - 7"
0' - 4"
Elevation 1/2"Plan = 1'-0"
BASE DETAIL 3" = 1'-0"
GLASS DETAIL 3" = 1'-0"
Section Section Scale: 1/2” = 1’ 1 1
1/2" = 1'-0"
Floor / Swing Connection Detail Scale: 1 1/2” = 1’ 3
BASE DETAIL 3" = 1'-0"
Heart Center: Playscape First Floor
Collaboration Kitchen First Floor
Family Touchdown & Game Area First Floor
Makerspace Second Floor
Classroom Corridor Second Floor
Classroom Axons (Secondary Use)
Remarriage Classrooms
Divorce Classrooms
Section Perspective
Overlook Swings
Entrance & Activity Board
Playscape
Makerspace
Arched Alcoves
Movement Grass (Interactive Installation)
Children’s Classroom (Remarriage)
Family Touchdown
Parents’ Classroom (Remarriage)
Game Room
Thank you