Shedding Layers
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Shedding Layers |
Architectural Studies Senior Thesis | fall 2023
Each year, the Architectural Studies Department selects a central theme for the senior thesis class, encouraging students to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design. For our senior class, the focus was on creating a cultural learning center for the Abenaki, an indigenous tribe who once lived on and deeply respected the land where the college now stands. The goal of the project was to honor the Abenaki’s rich heritage and profound connection to the land, while educating others about their history, culture, and lasting contributions. The central question we explored was: How can architecture serve as a conduit for honoring the Abenaki people and respecting the land on which the center is built?
Introduction
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Context
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Introduction & Context |
Figure 1. Site Plan
College Campus
Transitionary Phase
Site Location
Figure 1 on the panel to the left illustrates the site location in proximity to the college campus. Out of three potential sites, I chose this one because of the powerful contrast between the highly structured, modern campus environment and the natural, untamed landscape that lies nearby.
Figure. 2 Ying / Yang Concept
As I explored the relationship between these opposing forces, I framed the project through the lens of yin and yang. In Figure 2, the image on the left shows the Knoll, a vibrant college garden symbolizing balance, growth, and connection to nature. In contrast, the image on the right depicts the college, with its structured beauty but heavier, more stressful atmosphere, dominated by deadlines and academic pressure.
Although these two realms are physically close to one another, they represent entirely different energies and ways of living—one defined by the rigidity of modern infrastructure, the other by the organic, harmonious relationship with nature, as once practiced by the Abenaki people. This stark juxtaposition inspired the design.
Thesis Statement
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Thesis Statement |
My thesis project, Shedding Layers, explores this tension, focusing on the relationship between the rigid, structured environment of a college campus and the organic, nature-centric lifestyle of the Abenaki, Vermont’s indigenous people. This project seeks to peel back the layers of modern infrastructure, gradually dissolving them as one moves through the site, to reveal a more natural and spiritually resonant way of living. By challenging the dominance of contemporary architectural norms, Shedding Layers invites a reconnection to the land and the values of those who once thrived in harmony with it.
The Creative Process
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The Creative Process |
Figure. 3 Exploration Sketches
The pages in Figure 3 are from my sketchbook during the concept exploration phase, where I began to express duality through architecture. Reflecting on my walks from the college to the Knoll, I noticed a gradual sense of liberation, like shedding heavy layers that restrict movement. This metaphor sparked my fascination with the concept of shedding layers—symbolizing the journey back to our innate selves and reconnecting with ancestral ways of living in harmony with nature. How can this process of shedding layers be reflected in architecture to honor the Abenaki?
Figure 4. Programming
Figure 5. Sketches
Figure 6. Conceptual Model
To explore how to express this duality architecturally, I began by mapping out the flow and programming of the infrastructure. This helped me understand how to best bring the concept to life. Figure 4 illustrates the key programs that will shape the user experience: an entrance, a display room, spaces for teaching and arts & crafts, administrative and utility areas, a storytelling space, and an outdoor area. My vision was to create an experience where the occupant can physically and emotionally experience the shedding of layers through the architecture itself (as seen in Figures 5 & 6).
Final Product
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Final Product |
Figure 7. Project Site Plan
Figure 7 on the right illustrates the final site location. After careful consideration, I positioned the Abenaki Cultural Center as a key element in the transition into the Knoll. This placement is intended to prepare visitors both mentally and emotionally, providing a reflective space that enhances their appreciation of the natural surroundings and the values embodied by the Abenaki way of life.
Figure 8. Floor Plan 1/8th
Figure 8 illustrates the layout and how the architecture embodies the concept of shedding layers. The journey begins at the admin building with its institutional presence, gradually transitioning through seating spaces and plant pots. The display room follows, contrasting an enclosed, modern indoor gallery with outdoor spaces where art can be experienced naturally. As visitors progress, they reach a collaborative garden for traditional harvesting, leading to an open teaching studio and yoga floor with no shelter. The architecture dissolves into the landscape, culminating in a storytelling space where visitors are fully immersed in nature and the Abenaki way of life.
Figure 10. North Section 1/8th
Figure 9. North Elevation 1/8th
Figure 11. Perspective A
Figure 11 provides a perspective view from the entrance (admin building), constructed from stone in a traditional four-walled design. In front of the building, a seating area invites visitors to pause and take in the surrounding natural landscape.
Figure 12. Perspective B
Figure 12 presents a perspective view of the open teaching studio, where visitors can engage in arts and crafts sessions led by a professional. This space marks the initial transition to a more open environment, featuring a roof supported by beams but no walls. The wooden floor planks blend seamlessly into the grass, reinforcing the connection between the structure and the surrounding natural landscape.
Figure 13. Model 1/16th
Figure 13 showcases the final model of my thesis project just before presentation day. Unfortunately, the camera I used for professional photos was damaged in a hurricane flood in Florida, making this the only remaining image. Nonetheless, it beautifully captures the sense of joy and fulfillment in completing my thesis!