WALL SPACE WALL

"The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons." Fyodor Dostoevsky

People's unwillingness to curate a more organized prison system inspired me to deal and play with prison typology. It was primarily an attempt to see in what way I could make the most out of nothing, critiquing to the whole inoperative system. My starting point was a typical prison wall, the stupendously high-security prison wall mirroring the likes of the Berlin Wall; the prison wall whose only task is the creation and separation of space - an act which explicitly draws a contrast between "us" (the good) and "them" (the bad).\nI increased the amount of walls multiple times so that a structure of walls, doors, and spaces were generated. Through this method, the space is more manageable; doing so means the space can be used by the prisoners as well as repurposed for the public. Through public use, there is more incentive for the area to stay well maintained, the space is not negative when the prison courtyard is empty, and finally, the sociological barrier of the good vs. bad comparison begins to diminish. The wall is no longer a solid barrier at all times but varies throughout the day, resulting in a prison-city where a different kind of dialog takes place. \nMonotony rules in prison. To fight monotony and to help the prisoners obtain and live a better life, I designed the in-between spaces or rather the courtyard completely different within the new areas. Some of the courtyards are designed like typical prison courtyards with the obligatory basketball fields, ping pong stations, chess tables, and etc. The other courtyards and areas are now repurposed as meditation areas, exhibition spaces, or landscaped parks. \nAs the prisoner passes through the doors openly, the feeling of freedom will be stimulated. The very literal borders have been torn down, reestablished, and renovated in ways that still allow for proper prison system, and also with their new purpose have brought redefinition in the perception of incarceration and prison space.