Student Work
1∕7
Title
Cheshire Correctional Facility
Project Description
My project started off with the basic intention to bring about a state of mindfulness for the inmates in a high-stress environment like a prison. So the best way I thought would bring about mindfulness was to walk in nature among trees and flora while having an expansive view to outside landscape. Thus creating a meandering pathway - that is reminiscent and inspired by the movement of bees - and elevating that pathway with pilotis to offer a scenic view of Cheshire for the inmates were the two foundations of my project. Another important element of my project was how units are organized in a cellular manner where each cell - like an amoeba - would contain a community of inmates that becomes larger and larger with each hierarchical organization. I also wanted to bring the state of mindfulness of the outside into the interior of the residential unit, so the spatial strategy of compression and expansion was used within each unit to provide a sense of sanctuary and relief.