The First Breath
The entrance becomes the first breath, the moment the building invites you inside, softening the city’s pace.
With the original building, set above ground level requiring steps inside, I utilised the alley space to create a new extension, which features the new entrance to the building. As the single point of arrival, it removes hierarchy and replaces it with dignity, no side doors, no secondary routes, no separation of experience.
A large issue of businesses having accessible entrances, is that they are not the primary entrance. Most accessible entrances consist of entering through back alley doors, used for transporting items and storage. People with disabilities shouldn’t be forced to use back, hidden, not to be seen by the public entrances. I wanted the extension to be red glass, I think this really works it compliments the red in the existing building, with working in the curves of the existing building into the windows it helps bring the two together.
This section shows the Extension from ground to roof. Looking at the internal structure, how the lifts and stairs flow through the building, as well as how it connects to the original building.
This section shows a materiality view of the extension at ground floor looking at the outer wall.