For this project I was tasked with designing a Chinese language school located in the Over-the-Rhine district of Cincinnati, Ohio. The school was to consist of the following: a restaurant, café, shop, travel agency, bookstore, library, three galleries, administrative space, school, fitness facility, and apartments to house the professors. The goal was simple, figure out how to organize this massive amount of program, on a small site, in a way that was pleasant and meaningful. To do this I tried to recreate a medieval street/canyon which was inspired by the Kowloon Walled City. Applying this design improved three things. First, it expanded the amount of ground floor street frontage, which was lacking on the site and was needed due to the program requirements. Secondly It helped to create its own unique city like atmosphere. Finally, it allowed the individual parts of program to express their own identity while still being linked to a whole.
