Grad Show 23

Wenjie Wang

Ritual as Design Gesture:
Reimagining the Spring Festival in Downtown Providence

My thesis explores how architecture can extend beyond functionality, engaging emotional depth, experiential richness, and spiritual resonance to elicit profound human connections. It employs ritual practice in design, utilizing its temporal and spatial facets to foster new social platforms outside the established community. Concentrating on Chinese diaspora communities in Providence, it seeks to reimagine the city's forgotten Chinatown through a blend of ephemeral and enduring architecture inspired by Spring Festival rituals. This approach fosters inclusivity for locals and diaspora alike, nurturing collective memory and cultural continuity, while revitalizing heritage and facilitating communal experiences.

Spring Festival Rituals in my impression

Drawing inspiration from Spring Festival rituals, this approach organizes them into three distinct groups for analysis. Each group is examined through the lens of time and space, informing the architectural design and city installations. These diverse analyses are then represented in both permanent and temporary architectural elements throughout the city.

The building's interior spaces are artfully arranged in a tiered layout to foster a welcoming environment conducive to gathering. The inclusive program encapsulates an eclectic mix of facilities: a gastronomic food court, a meticulously curated archive room, a versatile indoor-outdoor theater, convivial communal dining areas, interactive workshop rooms, and multifunctional community spaces.

An immersive fabric installation, envisioned as the heart of the building, is intended to be strategically situated in the city's lyrical corner during the Chinese New Year. This vibrant installation is designed to allow individuals to collectively immerse themselves in the festive ambiance of the Lunar New Year. The goal is to stimulate participation in communal activities, thereby fostering interpersonal communication and fostering a sense of shared experience and unity.