The Social Center @ Fountain Park

The project centrals around the idea of long-term happiness where it focuses on a person’s psychological and social well-being, and attempts to challenge the definition of happiness in relation to architecture. Additionally, this project also aims to propose a new tool in rethinking urban spaces within a city. The project is a social center that is strategically located in Fountain Park, north of Delmar, where land prices are relatively cheaper. The neighborhood can be said to be situated in a buffer zone between a thriving neighborhood and a below average neighborhood, which is suitable for young families and young professionals who are just starting out their career here in St. Louis. The main programs within this space are centered on the needs of the community and consist of a fitness studio, day care, café, greenhouse and a community garden. Each space is anchored onto one of the five main structural frames that serve as an organizational tool for the layering of programs. By doing so, it redefines the idea of inside/outside spaces, which creates moments within the site to make the everyday more exciting and at the same time, encourages social interaction among its users. Hopefully, the proposed project would be able to attract people to move up north and break the stereotypes that have long existed in St. Louis. I believe the Social Center @ Fountain Park can become a catalyst for growth and revitalization in neighborhoods located on the north side of the city.