Incrementalism is an optimistic process. In Philadelphia’s case, it breaks a seemingly insurmountable problem into pieces with manageable variables: physical site, localized population, economic realities, etc…

Reprogramming embedded vacancies begins with community infrastructure, economics, culture, and nature. Merged with the characteristics of available space, this process creates proposals that are content specific but purposely site generic. Each proposal examines the edge conditions between vacancy and occupancy.

Four vacancy typologies are treated independently, exploiting their characteristics to provide a unique condensation of people and use.

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Speculative design project for a Philedelphia, PA community (2005 Urban Voids competition) with Joanna Kolakowska and Jason Hilgefort (John Bass, advisor)