Children + Identity

Kristina Quinlan

QuestIon

In what ways can the built environment help shape a child’s notion and perception of identity to provide a greater degree of societal awareness that can help him or her develop into more sensitive adults?

AbstrACt

on one level the question, “Who am I?” can be answered quite effortlessly; however, to convey one’s true identity, a complex answer is necessary. the answer might entail several characteristics serving as a description of a person, the perception of oneself and how one would like to be viewed by others. In other words, this list of characteristics can provide a person’s identity, a very dynamic aspect of the human being shaped through the environment around the individual as well as how one views oneself. Identity changes constantly because of different experiences and the different environments. During early childhood, specifically those prior to eight years of age, discovery of the individual identity is made and then developed infinitely in life. Children interact socially with one another at a more sophisticated level than most adults may recognize. since identity is driven largely by what others may think of one, it is important to know that the ostracizing comment a child is making to another is not to be ignored. the main goal of this thesis is to minimize ostracizing comments made by young children. such a task can be completed by exposing each individual to the experiences of others through different types of play. through play, the child can then create a story to understand and process experiences with others. A story that will be stored for a lifetime to come.

premIse

the meaning of identity and how identity is utilized is constantly changing for children.

thesIs

A child’s notion and perception of identity can change to develop within him or her a greater amount of societal awareness. this change can take place via a journey through a series of experiences relating to various aspects of identity.

methodology

Childhood is a general term alluding to the playful period of time in a human's life filled with stories and imagination. the research performed for this thesis is in reference to early childhood, the time between the ages of three to eight, a time when children are meshing the worlds of reality and imagination. often, visualizations are used to explain concepts to young children, who might not yet be proficient in a spoken language. With this in mind, maps can serve as a visualization of a story. In essence, a map is explaining how to get from start to end and what might happen in between, the basic structure of children stories. With this in mind the story of Children + Identity begins.

FInAl desIgnthe narrative

Purpose: To provide a generative descriptive narrative path.

Status Quo: The path is seemingly normal coming out of the Integrated Arts Academy. A pattern of odd and even numbers has been introduced to the sidewalk via astroturf. In the distance, one can see the path morhing in pattern.

Initial Problem: Here the path has been added to. Fibonacci's sequence and the prime number sequence provide additional patterns. The combination of these patterns provide a new norm to the path.

Exposition: Blocks have been placed on rails blocking the path in some places. When the blocks are pushed they seem to be different weights. There are now places to sit within the fence.

Complications: The path is back to its altered norm without any obstructions, but in the distance one can see things are changing again. A Tetris-like pattern is apparent.

Crisis: As the path bends sharply around the basketball court, it begins to peel up off the ground to reveal a walk amongst the trees.

Climax: The peeling of the path becomes more structured and multilayered at this point in the journey. A tubular structure is used to gain vertical height while mimicking the structure of the trees used previously. At night, the bathroom serves as a beacon for those to be pulled to from further away.

Denouement: The Tetris patten of the path seems to be accompanied by the status quo state of the path, the odd and even number sequence. This path is now introduced as the new norm. Upon reaching the triangular plot of land in front of the Integrated Arts Academy, a small berm is apparent. It is a place for reflection to change with the seasons. The extruded blocks provide a place to sit and explain the narrative experience.

sIte model

status Quo Initial problem exposition Complications Crisis

Climaxdenouement

odd

even

stAtus Quo

oddprimeevenFibonacci

InItIAl problem

ApproAChIng the exposItIon

hAbItAble FenCe

detAIls

ComplICAtIons | nIghtComplICAtIons | dAy

tetris-like pattern

proCeedIng to the ClImAx

WAlKIng Amongst the trees

ApproAChIng the CrIsIs

ClImAx | dAyselF portrAIt WAllthe struCtured trees

denouement

tetrisodd

even

... and so they lived happily ever after.