Break Free : Centre for Teen Expression

A glance at cities around us reveals a virtually non-existent allocation of public space for teenagers to come together to share experiences, express themselves and have uninhibited fun without unwritten social codes of the adult world governing their behavior. Questioning the absence of such spaces in a country that has 253 million adolescents, this studio offered students an opportunity to design for teens, inquiring into their idea of fun and translating them into spatial experiences. With the key question guiding explorations being, ‘What is a teenager’s definition of ‘fun’ and how can it be manifested in spaces they occupy?’ students interviewed 13-17-year-olds to decipher their unique worldview, aspirations, likes and dislikes. Discoveries from the interviews informed the subsequent design of an afterschool teen centre with spaces for expression (performance/ exhibition spaces), recreation (reading, movie watching, informal dancing etc.) and administration. With a focus on planning & organizing, students were guided to respond to an existing architectural shell and develop an age-appropriate interior spatial language while adhering to functional & contextual requirements. In the process they grappled with scales, proportions, volumes, material palettes and aesthetics to develop fun interior spaces, elements and furniture for the teen user group.