Walden Pond Center for Civil Discourse

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Fall 2020 - Instructed by John Reynolds

Modern Vernacular: In Search of an American Architecture

Site Planning / Public Facility, Private Residence

Once I traversed the land surrounding Walden Pond, Where man-made elements punctured the natural landscape, Where an oversaturation of wetlands created a dynamic environment, Where trails highlighted remnants of history through naturally defined boundaries, Where a moment was an experience never to be recreated, Where origin was recognized and honored, Where discourse was celebrated, Where living was deliberate.

This meeting center is a designated space to unite parties of differing backgrounds and views to discuss matters contributing to the current state of American architecture. The project intent is supported by the established spirit of Walden Pond, where author and socio-political critic Henry David Thoreau built his cabin. Visitors to the meeting center may temporarily reside in the six cabins that surround the pond. Ultimately, the project aims to echo Thoreau’s propositions surrounding non-violent Civil Disobedience within an architectural framework.

Poem inspired by Wim Wenders’ “Once” (2001)

.In Collaboration with Colin Finnigan, Mackenzie Kicher, and Macy Whitaker.

While this project was collaborative, all documents and images are my own unless otherwise noted.

Meeting Center

Meeting Center - Interior

The Meeting Center is highlighted as it is placed on axis with the original site of Thoreau’s cabin. While the decision to align the Meeting Center with the ruins is bold, the facility acts not as an obstruction, but rather a tool to frame specific views. These views serve to explain the historical sigificance of the site. Six cabins echo the importance of the axis as the three on the left are perpendicular, while the three on the right are parallel. The axis continues infinetly, except in relation to the ruins themselves where the axis is recieved by a semicircle of trees, further relaying its symbolic significance to the surrounding area.

Section B