Nia Center for the Arts: Balance and Unbalance Part 1 (Initial Schematic Proposal)

Little Jamaica is a community located in the Western end of Toronto, showcasing Jamaican culture’s beauty. Unfortunately, the culture is ceasing to exist due to the gentrification of the site. A question that comes to mind is whether the culture would withstand the gentrification or start to disappear; because, as of right now, it is holding on by the strand. I wanted to make this visible through the exterior by creating a building that gives the illusion of instability, yet it is holding itself up. The center’s purpose will be to revive the culture of Little Jamaica through design to help the youth in the community find beauty in their culture. I wanted to go about this to build on the concept of balance and unbalance and the beauty of not knowing, personifying the fate of Little Jamaica. The building’s structure is designed around the famous Reggae lane mural, making it the area’s focal point, attracting people to the site and the community center. The program plays a role in reviving the culture by incorporating different forms of art as activities in the community centers like auditoriums, studios, and various classes for dance, art, etc. Each program would balance each other while being in a cast in the unbalanced built environment