Name: Androniki Charalambous
Track: Architecture
Studio: Heritage & Architecture
Year: MSc1 / 2024
Type: Design project
Tutor: Maarten van Kesteren, Sebastiaan Veldhuisen
Description:
Reshaping Institutionalising Spaces for Informal Public Debate reimagines the former American Embassy in The Hague as a dynamic forum for open dialogue. Once a symbol of exclusion due to heightened security and protests, the building is adaptively reused to foster informal, accessible spaces for public discourse. By strategically re-scaffolding against its rigid structure, the design invites passersby to interact and 'reconstruct' their perception of the space. This transformation challenges institutional barriers, inviting diverse voices into constructive conversations. The project explores how architecture can mediate between authority and the public, reshaping institutional spaces into catalysts for inclusive civic engagement.