parsons school of design | graduating may 2025
KHADEINE ALI DESIGN PORTFOLIO
Hello. My name is Khadeine.
Crafting experiences by telling a story fascinates me about interior design.
My design journey is fueled by a simple yet powerful belief: spaces have the power to transform human experiences. Inspired by the transportive magic of storytelling—found in literature, travel, and cinema—I craft environments that invite people to pause, reconnect, and create memories that resonate long after they've left.
As a designer committed to social justice, I see each project as a canvas for change. My work is deeply influenced by my roots in Trinidad, where I've seen firsthand how thoughtful design can address systemic challenges, provide resources to marginalized communities, and create pathways for healing and empowerment.
1. 3 5 7 1. 2 3 . 4 5 . 6 7 .8 Selected Works.
they say that design is an opportunity to continue telling the story, not just to sum everything up. now that, I truly believe. and so, carpe diem. seize those moments. and make that story a good one.
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01_TERRA
DESIGN STUDIO II | PROFESSOR MARIA TRELLES LINARES
BRONX, NY (2024)
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
02_KAISO
UNDERGRADUATE CAPSTONE | PROFESSOR CHARLES BOGGS
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (2017)
SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
03_ENTR’ACTE
UNDERGRADUATE STUDIO IV | PROFESSOR CHARLES BOGGS
LACOSTE, FRANCE (2017)
SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
04_THE GREEN ZONE
BUSINESS CASE STUDY | COLLABORATION WITH OFFICE DEPOT
BOCA RATON, FL (2019)
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HERBERT SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
For a more resilient future.
The South Bronx and Mott Haven carry a profound historical narrative, once serving as epicenters of industrial innovation and cultural dynamism.
However, the trajectory of South Bronx and Mott Haven took a turn amidst the tumultuous waves of urban decay that swept across American cities in the latter half of the 20th century. Factors such as disinvestment and discriminatory housing policies left these communities reeling, grappling with
widespread poverty, unemployment, and dilapidated infrastructure.
It’s crucial to recognize that the decline of South Bronx and Mott Haven was not an inherent fault of the individuals and families who call these neighborhoods home. Instead, it was a consequence of systemic failures and neglect that disproportionately impacted marginalized communities.
“I don’t divide architecture, landscape, and gardening. To me, they are one.” -Luis Barragan
Terra community center the bronx, ny scope: 15000 ft2
breathing life into the old lincoln recovery center
Khadeine ali design studio 2: interior ecologies of food
Professor Maria linares trelles
Timeline of the Bronx.
Despite being just five miles from Manhattan's wealthiest districts, the South Bronx remains the nation's poorest congressional district, struggling with underfunded businesses, unaffordable housing, and rising inflation.
The South Bronx's history is a complex narrative of urban decline and resilience. In the 1960s, the construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway, part of Robert Moses's urban renewal project, marked the beginning of a devastating period, displacing thousands and destroying entire neighborhoods. The 1970s brought unprecedented urban decay, with over 40% of the area burned or abandoned between 1970 and 1980.
Environmental injustice became deeply entrenched through discriminatory planning decisions, as the area became surrounded by polluting facilities, power plants, waste stations, and highways, leading to severe health disparities. Today, residents face some of the highest asthma rates in the city - nearly three times the city average - and a life expectancy four years shorter than other parts of New York City.
understanding the statistics.
The site analysis of South Bronx neighborhood reveals a complex web of environmental, social, and economic challenges that shape the community's reality. The area faces significant environmental health concerns, with childhood asthma rates affecting between 12-14% of the population, far exceeding national averages.
The Old Lincoln Recovery Center.
a testament to resiliency.
THE OLD LINCOLN RECOVERY CENTER REPRESENTED HOPE AND RENEWAL TO THOSE IT SERVED.
The Lincoln Recovery Center holds significant symbolic importance to the Bronx, particularly during the 1970s-80s when the borough faced multiple challenges.
The center emerged during a period when the Bronx was struggling with a heroin epidemic and widespread urban decay. Its innovative use of acupuncture for addiction treatment represented community-driven solutions to
local problems, demonstrating how the Bronx community could develop effective alternatives to traditional medical treatments that weren't adequately serving their needs.
Located in Mott Haven, one of the poorest congressional districts in the US, the center represented hope and healing in an area often overlooked by mainstream institutions. It became
a model for community healthcare, showing how local organizations could effectively address public health crises.
The center's proximity to NYCHA housing complexes made it accessible to those most in need of its services.
Today, the abandoned site stands as a complex symbol of both historical community achievement and institutional neglect.
why the old lincoln recovery center?
The center's dual nature as a symbol of both progress and decline is particularly noteworthy. Its initial success and innovative treatment methods symbolized the Bronx's capacity for creative problemsolving and community care. However, its current abandoned state, due to asbestos and lack of funding, mirrors broader patterns of disinvestment in the Bronx.
school
nycha
new york public library
nycha
district
Old Lincoln Recovery Center
SMALL DISSOLVED ORGANIC MOLECULES
LARGE DISSOLVED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
MACRO PORE
MICRO PORE
RECYCLED ALUMINUM PANEL
CHARCOAL AND EGGSHELL BIOFILTER
MISTING SYSTEM FOR MOSS MOSS
COCONUT HUSk FIBER POTS
MOLDED RECYCLED ALUMINUM PANELS
IN THE DESIGN INTERVENTION, THREE DISTINCT STR ATEGIES WERE IDENTIFIED FOR INCORPORATION INTO THE PROjECT:
encapsulating existing asbestos: This strategy involves safely containing the asbestos within the structure to prevent its release and ensure the health and safety of occupants.
DEMOLISHING WALLS TO CREATE NEW SPACES: Selected walls will be carefully demolished to open up the space, creating a more functional and dynamic environment that meeting the project’s requirements.
utilizing moss in wall paneling to enhance air quality: Moss will be integrated into the wall paneling not only for its natural aesthetic but also for its ability to improve indoor air quality. Acting as a natural air filter, it enhances the overall health and well-being of occupants.
activated charcoal bioplastic coconut husk water filter
eggshell bioceramic tiles
CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA: As an opportunity to create spaces for safety and belonging, the children’s daycare is an area where young members of the community can gather to play, read, relax, and do homework.
how do the walls encapsulate and treat asbestos?
Activated charcoal can effectively purify & encapsulate asbestos. Research demonstrates the successful blending of activated charcoal bioplastics with polylactic acid (PLA), resulting in recyclable and biodegradable nanocomposite materials suitable for hazardous substance treatment.
Adding another layer of security, eggshell bioceramics further filter out toxins and mitigate potential issues associated with asbestos encapsulation.
ENCAPSULATION
RECYCLED ALUMINUM FRAMING
EGGSHELL BIOCERAMIC TILE
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL BIOPLASTIC
NUTRITION
COWORkING SPACES
DINING AREA
COWORkING SPACES
level one
COLLECTIVE kITCHEN: Collective kitchens serve as platforms for political pedagogy, empowering communities through decolonial awareness and action. Through celebrating the matriarch and delving into food histories, collective kitchens foster reskilling in soil care, cultivation, and culinary arts, thereby nurturing self-sufficiency and resilience within communities.
LIBRARY & ARCHIVE: This site’s intrigue lies in its position within the Mott Haven Historic District, surrounded by buildings listed on the New York Historic Register. However, it stands alone in its block, excluded from this designation. While the reasons for this discrepancy are speculative and often contentious, it underscores the necessity for the program to incorporate opportunities for archiving histories before they face the risk of erasure.
GREENHOUSE: To address food insecurity across seasons, there arose an opportunity to transform the site’s daylight therapy room into a greenhouse. This repurposed space would cultivate traditional herbs and spices typically challenging or costly to obtain in the United States. Additionally, an adjacent alchemy space would facilitate the creation of dyes, spice blends, and other botanical concoctions.
PROPAGATION AREA
TEA STATION
MEDITATION SPACE
CHILDREN’S DAYCARE
GREENHOUSE
HERBS FOR RELAx ATION
lavender jasmine gardenia
REPOTTING AREA
FOGON: The fogon integrates the interior and exterior, a symbol of the transformative power of cooking within the Mexican diaspora. At its core, the fogon represents more than sustenance; it embodies community, dialogue, and the exchange of ideas. It ignites not only flames for cooking but sparks for innovation, social movements, and shared narratives.
COMMUNITY kITCHEN
FOGON
LOUNGE & WORkSPACE
HERBS FOR WELLBEING & FOCUS
lemongrass aloe vera pazote
CHANGE IN FLOORING: To accommodate indigenous cooking methods, a section of the flooring in the collective kitchen is replaced with cork, providing comfort for those who work directly on the floor, such as when using a traditional grinder like the “metate” commonly found in Mexican culinary practices.
collective kitchen
USE OF ICONOGRAPHY: To uphold visual connections with Mexican culture, the counter incorporates iconography in the form of balustrades, paying homage to the familiar elements found in Mexican vernacular architecture.
PROPOGATION AREA: As many herbs can be grown through propagation, it was necessary to factor it into the overall process of growing plants. In this version, people can use old bottles and cans to start the growing process.
greenhouse
ALCHEMY ROOM: To honor indegenous methods of cooking and using plants for medicine, the connecting room to the greenhouse is dedicated to teaching others about this process.
To the beat of Calypso.
People see suicide as an attack on loved ones rather than an inner battle. When I spoke to my mother about it, she'd address how it would make her look. It was never about how I felt. I asked for her help to pay for therapy. She refused, saying that I'm not mad and the meds would make me mad instead.
This is one story of struggle. There are so many more.
According to WHO, Trinidad and Tobago has the secondhighest rate of suicide in the region. One in four people is also undiagnosed with a mental disorder in the country.
The imperative question: why?
“By calypso, our stories are told. Ca lyps o celebrates life and analy z es the way we live it.”
Kaiso
suicide outreach center
port of spain, trinidad & tobago
scope: 15000 ft2
Calypso is the beat that pulses through the veins of Trinidadians.
Through its ebbs & flows, calypso allows Trinidadians to reflect on the stories that tie the nation together. In Trinidad’s history, calypso was rhetorically and emotively used as social commentary. Seemingly joyful jingles were double entendres shedding light on the trials of racism and
colonialism. It brought a sense of community to an ostracized populace.
Calypso, as a part of Trinidad’s consciousness, brings people back to their roots: the humility of their ancestors fostering community to build anew and overcome obstacles together. These harmonious tunes were catalysts for social change, and till this day, calypso binds
a calypso connection.
Trinidadians together in a way that prejudice cannot obscure nor tarnish.
Calypso has changed Trinidad in a way that textbooks can never fully capture. As the voice for the disenfranchised, calypso draws similarities to a suicide treatment center as both raise awareness, acceptance, and community in midst of alienation and obscurity.
duality: the grounding elements in a transformative experience
double entendre
intertwining spaces and structures create a layered approach to healing and awareness
the ebb and flow of calypso as the Trinidadian pulse
healing that is truly transformative.
what’s in a brain?
1 in 4 Trinidadians are misdiagnosed with a mental disorder
the value of community
Trinidad has the second highest rate of suicide in the region
1 in 5 people leave a note
78% of people in developing countries believe seeking treatment is a sign of personal failure.
in a world of anonymity.
"RELIGION IS A PROTECTIVE FACTOR FOR MANY.
those who are faithful justify their failed attempt as wrong according to religion, causing them to feel overwhelmed. when seeking help, they would rather not be seen due to the negative stigma."
-dr. winston gopaul-
The power of community and spirituality is crucial a victim’s healing, especially when siting a treatment facility in Trinidad.
Stigma discourages people in need of treatment from seeking help. Changing the perception of suicide treatment would be most effective by bringing the primary users, at-risk patients and those bereaved, together. There is an incredible opportunity to foster community and inclusivity. It would emphasize a simple truth: mental health disorders can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, class or ethnic background.
primary users.
those who are thinking of suicide.
those who attempted but survived.
men between the ages of 15 to 21. currently in high school, studying for the prestigious CAPE exam. under high expectations to succeed.
those who lost someone to suicide.
women between the ages of 15 and 23. 80% of women who attempt are victims of domestic abuse, and do not complete because of their kids.
women between the ages of 33 and 46. mostly single mothers who are raising their children alone, and have lost their partner or a child.
design address suicide stigma?
The Old Public Library.
a vignette of the past.
WOODFORD SqUARE & THE OLD LIBRARY
TRINIDAD'S COLLECTIVE NARRATIVE AS CALYPSO
Addressing stigma to rewire socio-cultural perceptions on mental illness is critical to consider when siting a mental health treatment center in Trinidad.
Surrounded by Parliament, City Hall, Hall of Justice, and places of worship, the historic Woodford Square is located at the crux of justice and civic
engagement. Historically dubbed University Square, Trinis visited this square to be kept acquainted with current events. It lies in close proximity to places where at-risk people can seek asylum: rehab centers, schools, religious spaces, hospitals & shelters.
The Old Public Library was established during colonial for independence was a collective voice that transcended religion, race, and economic divides.
unapologetically trini. the story of a city. a personified narrative.
why choose the old public library?
woodford square: a historically significant civic center destigmatization.
Site confineS: 10.6532° n, 61.5105° W
together we aspire. together we achieve.
proximity to schools fosters a sense of safety & belonging to community
the old library brought people together to fight for independence
the ties that bind us...
bereavement. religion. culture. community.
...are stronger than those that tear us apart.
what people often forget is that the brain is the most important organ in our body. just because you can't see mental illness doesn't mean that it's not destructive to an individual or their family without intervention."
community: addressing the generational gap can bring people together to shed negative stigma & raise awareness.
religion is a coping mechanism for trauma. it gives a sense of belonging to trinidadians, helping them reintegrate into communities.
bereavement is the period of grieving after losing a loved one. this process parallels that which a person who is ideating suicide feels when coming to terms with their life.
In the end, what binds Trinidadians together is their culture: a shared history of growth.
how can design help people heal?
SPIRITUAL SPACE
MUSIC THERAPY
YOGA ROOM
CHILDREN'S DAYCARE
THERAPY GYM
GROUP THERAPY
understanding the central staircase.
Attempts made by colonists to stifle nonEuropean cultural traditions (like African drumming & dancing) proved futile to Trinidad's community of laborers.
Instead of repressing a disembodied people, it
steeled the will of street culture artists to create a musical instrument that represented the different cultures that were brought to work in Trinidad's fields.
Old Oil Drums were repurposed into steel pans, the multi-tonal
instruments whose cheery tunes are synonymous with the Caribbean.
The central staircase is located at the heart of the main gathering space. The railings and overall form are abstracted from a deconstructed steel pan.
the birth of the steel band was inevitable by the turn of the last century.
beat the pan, mister man.
the deconstructed steelpan. a hub to celebrate culture.
green space? old time houses? a ga me or two?
children's daycare
HOPSCOTCH, SCHOOCH, ALL FOURS & MARBLES ARE CHILDHOOD GAMES WITH A UNIqUE TRINIDADIAN T WIST
These games develop childrens' motor sklls by teaching them how to interact, socialize and resolve conflict. Traditional games are all inherently part of Trinidad's culture, transcending all racial and socioeconomic divides.
For the love of Theater.
Live performances evoke the raw quality of human emotion.
Entr'acte is an immersive dining experience that captures the emotive quality of theater in the midst of the raw and rugged terrain of the Cardin Quarry.
The word entr'acte, in the world of theater is a break between scenes,
benefitting to both guests and performers. It is a segue from one atmosphere to another. For the audience, it is an opportunity to collect their emotions so they are more immersed in the following scenes.
Entr'acte: an immersive, theatrical dining experience where the world is the stage and all attendees are actorsa show unlike any other.
“All the world’s a stage, and all men and women are merely players; they have their entry and exits...” enTr’acTe
IMMERSIVE DINING ExPERIENCE
LACOSTE, FRANCE
SCOPE: 12000 FT2
The Green Zone.
"Creating a strong business and building a better world are not conflicting goalsboth essential ingredients for long-term success." -Bill Ford
Current predictions prove holding countries accountable for sustainable initiatives is not enough. Large stakeholders also matter.
To enact real change, companies must also act in best interests of the planet.
The Green Zone, done in collaboration with Office Depot, examined the company’s sustainability initiatives to create circular solutions that could benefit people, planet and profits.
“No matter how complex global problems may seem, they cannot be beyond our power to resolve.”
The Green Zone
business case study
boca raton, fl
scope: 1500 ft2
3 5 7
1. 2 3 . 4 5 . 6 7 .8
To craft experiences, it means that some must be captured as well. and so, carpe diem. seize those moments. and make that story really good.