Project Overview
The Nest is a post-fire community sanctuary designed in response to the Eaton Fire. Centered around a shared garden, the project creates a protected yet open environment where artists and residents can gather, heal, and rebuild through collective creativity.
Spatial Experience
Animated Walkthrough
Animated sketches are used to explore space through movement rather than fixed viewpoints. The sequence simulates a slow journey through studios, thresholds, and the central garden—revealing how scale, light, and enclosure shift over time.
Physical Models
Physical models explore topography, garden integration, and spatial layering—centering the garden as a place of refuge, connection, and renewal.
Final Presentation — Featured in LA Times
The project was featured in the Los Angeles Times as part of a coverage on design responses to wildfire recovery in Altadena.
Floor Plan & Circulation
Circulation is organized around the central garden, guiding users inward through studios and shared spaces before converging at a protected, restorative core. Movement forms a continuous loop rather than a linear path—allowing intuitive transitions between solitude and collective engagement.
Section & Technical Diagrams
The section reveals layered relationships between studios, communal spaces, and the central garden—integrating indoor and outdoor environments through topography and light.
Material Choices
Fire-resistant materials, green roofs, and bioswale systems support resilience while maintaining a calm, natural atmosphere. Soft tones and durable finishes reinforce comfort, safety, and long-term sustainability.
Early Ideation Sketches
Early hand sketches explore spatial organization, circulation, and form—testing experiential flow before digital modeling.
