PRISON OF THE FUTURE
A Frank Gehry Studio
Our facility is committed to reduce the number of people involved in adult criminal system, improving conditions for those who remain incarcerated and provide meaningful opportunities of success for those rejoining our communities. To reduce the nation’s incarceration, the use of innovation and experimentation is encouraged in our facility while also serving communities, families and individuals by providing public programs and education.
The Future of Prison:
Frank Gehry and Gehry Partners Advanced Design Studio (time stamp 3:54)
Program
+ Initial concepts
By creating 1: 200 scale blocks of program fast and accurate designs could be made, Every color represents different program and every size represents the amount of square footage. During this design phase the idea of fragmentation, permeability and symbiosis were important to the design process.
Program + Initial concepts
Pushing public interface to one edge of the site and having resident program decompress towards the adjacent edge allows more space for residents, easier circulation for public and private visitors, security and weaving of landscape and program
Problem
Having a strong linear design created issues of circulation going across the site tangent to the current scheme meaning a new system needs to be created. To solve the issue an elevated platform was created which, became more than circulation but a multipurpose area for events, biking, storage, parking, back of house and hid an underground freeway to supply the facility’s needs.
Residents and Living
Providing a high-school and university education while allowing family overnight visits moreover, residents have there own room and bathroom with the full control of locking their door. Rather than punishment there are courses and professionals working with the residents to problem solve issues, these professionals are social workers that have a close relationships with residents creating trust and healthy communications throughout their stay.
Program of public interface, community, health clinic, indoor recreation and administration located at West of site. Housing for residents and staff are at the center of the site.
Program rearranged and optimized to create even use of eminaties
Permeability and fragmentation for dynamic spaces, green areas and site adaptation to surrounding context
A Platform which encourages the interaction amongst both residents and community that allows for circulation, outdoor activities, parking, security and engaging spaces
Residents and Living
Choosing to see the current contemporary American landscape of a prison and punishment in the United States as unjust and flawed, this facility is made for male adults within a social housing scheme, allowing for basic human rights. The residents that live in the facility are first priority, that is, they have financial and legal advice on site, a job that pays at least minimum wage with benefits.
Final composition creates a facility that reduces the
number of people in adult criminal system, improving conditions for those who remain incarcerated and provide meaningful opportunities of success for those rejoining our communities.
Reflecting & Conclusion
One’s first understanding of the adult criminal system is greatly misunderstood, learning that the current criminal system incarcerates more than 2.2 million of the population within terrible overcrowding conditions for financial gain, political praise and corporate benefits - including many more prejudice acts is unjust
and inhumane. Having spoken to Impact Justice, New Way Of Life and previously incarcerated adults has influenced not only the design but also shown the importance of community, housing, cultural programs and living conditions.
Final Model
