a square is a local spot defined by its perimeter
for people to meet, eat, work...

Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
Program_ manufacturing incubator/retail/gallery/residential

In its deprivation of a vicinity,  Cambridge's Kendall Square has simply impelled its residents out of the area for work during the day and for all sorts of conviviality at night. The residual status has left the square to be abandoned and monotonous. With the existing footprint located at the heart of Cambridge, a square is anticipated to flourish as a maturing neighborhood. In a proposed commentary, a square has emended itself to assimilate a sensibility for the community. With the Massachusetts Technology of Institute being minute-walks away, the program of a manufacturing incubator is derived from the demands and needs of the public. 

A square offers a live_work spirit through the two distinct masses at site. The two masses are divided by their functionality and which the cylindrical mass is dedicated to mainly offices, research labs and workshops that is later endorsed by the incubator space below ground. Whereas the other form holds gallery and museums to promote the products produced in manufacturing. Thus, the final commodities are showcased and marketed off as merchandise in the boutique retail shops. 

In a series of how the definition of a square is reworked_ Through iterations of how a square was formed, it is easily understood that adding volume to a shape rather two-dimensional allows for the form to become inhabitable. As the volume changes, the use of carving into the site becomes justified in maximizing the warehouse-like space as well as keeping the fluid form that was originated from annual sun analysis. The residential units above shift in floor plates to grant maximum light on the top floors of the commercial units. And the use of ramps is further implemented to activate civilians into the a square as well as easing the circulation within the site itself.

f15_ 3 weeks design
Professor, Tarek Rakha