The Dynamic, The Static, The Dependency

Located at a culturally-strong site Leimert Park, Los Angeles, this project aims to use the dependencies between elements to build the overall cohesion on the site. Inspired by Bernard Tschumi’s Parc de la Villette, a system of dispersed follies are superimposed on a system of grid on the site — these then become the dynamic elements that support different cultural and leisure activities as well as introduce movement and interaction to the overall site. The basketball court, similar to other existing buildings on the site, are seen as the static program. By gently sliding the dynamic elements into the static, a sense of free-movement and visual-connection are then further bring in to the community center. The roof structure use a folded plate steel structure system, it is capable of carrying loads without the need for additional supporting beams along the mutual edges, which leaves maximum clarity to the overall space and corresponds to the program below. The community center is then simply closed by polycarbonate and fiber-cement slab to creates such intimacy where one can regress direct impact of sun and surrounding environment without compromising thermal and natural light. The ground floor tends to use the same material as the exterior paving for a smooth transition between indoor and outdoor. Thus, the new community center has this part-to-whole relationship to the site, where space, event, and movement are all converge into a larger context and visitors are able to orient themselves with the elements provided.