DWELL | accentuated dining experience

Sharpsburg, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

The design of this dwelling closely ties to the mind of our client. It links back to her roots where she grew up but it emphasizes more on the present and even the future of her life- who she is and wants to become. This house is going to be a knot for our client to connect with the neighborhood but still keep herself distanced by retaining her own private space for family and work. It is friendly but mysterious, welcoming but distant, rigid but soft, zen but cozy.
Having an environmental justice background, the dining room along with a planting garden, which can hold community brunch every Saturday, is going to be the core that ties her family and the community together. Food has always been the essential socializing topic. It relates to people’s cultural background, preferences, and personality.
Using the dining room as an essential socializing space on the ground could be a very welcoming gesture. Situating the dining room at the entrance of the house allows interaction between residents and neighbors. With two sets of stairs, the south half of the house is well lit and more public while the north half facing the alley is more private to accommodate different uses.