Contemporary world issues have created new groups of ‘others’ in our society. As a nation of Immigrants, we cannot ignore the fact that present day Immigrants, Asylum Seekers, and Illegal Aliens often feel marginalized and displaced, not only from their native countries but from American Society. This ever evolving and expanding group of ‘others’ must trigger the enabling of contestation and re-negotiation of boundaries and cultural identity.
This sketch problem has been designed for a secure entrance to the “hidden” program of an immigration building. Users approach the entrance via a contested space between the building and an existing building. From there the user enters into a long, dark, interior space connecting the exterior to the centre of the building. This space narrows, the ceiling lowers and it becomes increasingly constricted. While walking through this space the only light comes from the central space in the building, the users walking in front appear as hazy silhouettes. The shadow and darkness dim the sharpness of vision, depth and distance become ambigous. This transitory space is intended to highlight the feeling of detachment, of being eternally inbetween, of seeing where you want to go but being stuck in a limbo space. This space is transitory and following extreme compression, the space terminates in a huge, central space lit by an oculus. The user descends into the space via steps or ramp, following the curve of the walls.
kiss the mist 