Authentic Human - 'It's who I am'
Third year project 2021
Exploratory Question
Can an interior foster identity expression and exploration for transgender kids?
Introduction
Authentic Human is a centre of identity exploration and expression for gender expansive and transgender children. This centre aims to give children a chance to discover who they are and who they want to be, gaining the confidence in their own identities to take on a transitional period in their life. This centre also aims to provide support and education for families to support their children in the best way possible.
Interior Architecture, Interior Design, Graphic Identity
The User
& Support
Each child is unique, and each child has the right to be listened to and to have their voices heard. Article 12 of the Unicef Right of The Child states, “Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. This right applies at all times, for example during immigration proceedings, housing decisions or the child’s day-to-day home life.”
It is important to give children the opportunity to explore their identities in safe and open environments. This is true for all children. But even more so for children who are gender expansive or transgender.
Cornwall provides some support and help for children and families going through these transitions, however very few charities or groups accommodate for children younger than 12. This is why I decided to create a centre of identity exploration and expression for children aged 5-12.
Concept
Narrative
The concept for Authentic Human is to allow transgender children to express and discover themselves. The idea is to allow children to transform the space to their liking and to choose how they wish the space to look, how they interact with it, and how that reflects who they are.
“We define self- expression as expressing one’s thoughts and feelings, and these expressions can be accomplished through words, choices or actions.” Kim, Sherman et al. 2008
The Site
A former China Clay Dry sits dramatically against the backdrop of the North Cornish scenery. Stretching over 500m this impressive building known as Wenford Dries is rich in history. However, it has been out of use since 2002 sitting derelict and overgrown. This design proposes to re-inhabit part of this Dry and breathe some life back into this building.
Site Benefits & Cornish Winters
'A conversation with nature'
Set within nature. Natural setting benefiting poor mental health. Powerful backdrop for activity. Large space to occupy. Variety of spaces
Cornish winters are usually wet, with not that many indoor activities. As much as the wet weather can be fun, it can also be challenging for families with young children, or young teens who need somewhere to hang out with friends.
Authentic Human is a wonderful place to come throughout the autumn and winter acting as a warm and sheltered refuge as well as a communal space to gather and watch the winter unfold.
Using the model of the pocket knife toctranslate the design thoughts:
To create an environment that fosters expression and exploration for transgender kids it’s important to look to mechanisms that allow choice and ownership. Having a multitude of choice allows the children to find ways in which they choose to express themselves. By using the concept of the pocket knife, I have chosen to implement a box insertion that pulls, pushes, moves, transforms in a whole manner of ways depending on what the individual child chooses, echoing how a pocket knife works.
How the box works:
Inside the box there are several walls that are able to pull out and touch the existing host building, these walls create a ‘room’ for a child or several children. Other walls within these rooms are also able to pull out, all with different colours or materials allowing the children to choose which they would like to have open on that day. Other elements within this box include parts that push and pull. Embedded within these are items that encourage the children to explore the box further as well as exploring their identity.
Floor Plan
& Diagrams
Top of box
The Spaces
Journey Through Authentic Human
Creators Quarter
In the Creators Quarter, users can make up their rooms just the way they like. There are lots of drawers that can be pulled out with lots of items hidden inside which allow the users the choice to play with items they identify with.
The same rooms can be created in different ways depending on how the user chooses to configure it.
The Workshops
On top of the box you can see everyone down below. It's fun to see what everyone else is doing. Following a path on top allows another element of choice and leads you to different workshop destinations which are embedded into the top of the box. Workshops are run by a multitude of individuals sharing their experiences and building confidence as well as fun creative activities for everyone to join in with.
Story Boxes
Upstairs sit the story boxes which are for both the children and their families. They are a space to express feelings with trained counsellors. The story boxes are a big part of Authentic Human's aim to support transgender kids and their families. These spaces are important in continuing to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Story Board
These drawings showcase a day at Authentic Human
