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harlem loop.
Since food is such a central part of so many communities and cultures across America, the primary scope of this project looks through the lens of food education. These community-owned, operated, and used spaces address the needs of the ever marginalized black and brown community members in West Harlem.
Today, the modern intersections across Harlem are dominated by vehicles and the architectural fabric of the corner lot primarily consists of single-storey commercial buildings like Rite Aid, CVS, and Bank of America, among others. During the Harlem Renaissance, however, corner lots used to feature theatres, restaurants, bars, and clubs. These spaces were dominated by locals and were perfect for community gathering and socialization. However, 100 years later, the only points of interaction and socialization occur in informal, improvisational architecture, and this change of setting has been heightened given the current circumstances of the pandemic.
The series of single-storey commercial lots along the intersection of Broadway and 145th St. has created a void in the architectural identity of West Harlem, and more importantly, a void in the urban fabric of the local community. This project seeks to reclaim the corner and restore it to the position it held within society during the Harlem Renaissance. The West Harlem Community Loop creates a network of community spaces above the five urban voids at the intersection of Broadway and 145th St. Programmatically, this is achieved through an immediate feedback loop between the community test kitchens, the year-round urban farming facilities, and the dining spaces. These elements of the program help feed locals, allow money to be earned and circulated within the community, and provide valuable employable skills to those in need.
Today, the modern intersections across Harlem are dominated by vehicles and the architectural fabric of the corner lot primarily consists of single-storey commercial buildings like Rite Aid, CVS, and Bank of America, among others. During the Harlem Renaissance, however, corner lots used to feature theatres, restaurants, bars, and clubs. These spaces were dominated by locals and were perfect for community gathering and socialization. However, 100 years later, the only points of interaction and socialization occur in informal, improvisational architecture, and this change of setting has been heightened given the current circumstances of the pandemic.
The series of single-storey commercial lots along the intersection of Broadway and 145th St. has created a void in the architectural identity of West Harlem, and more importantly, a void in the urban fabric of the local community. This project seeks to reclaim the corner and restore it to the position it held within society during the Harlem Renaissance. The West Harlem Community Loop creates a network of community spaces above the five urban voids at the intersection of Broadway and 145th St. Programmatically, this is achieved through an immediate feedback loop between the community test kitchens, the year-round urban farming facilities, and the dining spaces. These elements of the program help feed locals, allow money to be earned and circulated within the community, and provide valuable employable skills to those in need.