This thesis investigates the role of architecture in reorienting a community to a landscape of exploitation. The project is an exploration of how a portion of the Inglewood oil field post-oil production, can serve as a catalyst to reconnect neighboring communities, and establish ties to the site’s industrial heritage. Architectural strategies can serve as didactic prototypes by facilitating connections to nature and inviting individuals to take part in the regeneration of degraded sites. By inviting users to engage with the industrial heritage, architecture can act as the point of connection between humans and post-industrial restoration.
The program is limited to spaces for circulation, reflection, and collective learning. By introducing an art workshop space, an environmental education lab, a multipurpose hall, and an exhibition space the aim of the project is to invite families and tourists to engage in the regeneration process. The roof structure adapts to provide a flexible common for facilitating public interaction, viewing the ongoing transformation of the site, and extending interior program. The roof is woven around the learning spaces to provide variations in visibility and access while guiding individuals through a shared learned experience.
As oil production diminishes and neighboring communities advocate for the closure of the site, how will the community reconnect with the exploited landscape?
