Reversible Heterotopia: Immigrant Housing in San Francisco

This project attempts to create a new spatial organization for residential buildings by studying otherness in space, and more specifically, by creating a reversible circulation and living space to blur the boundaries between them.

Since the 17th century, architecture has been preoccupied with specialized circulation. Before then, movement was seamlessly integrated with everyday spaces—residential, dining, and work areas were connected through doors in what is known as a matrix-style layout. The separation of circulation from programmatic spaces introduced concepts of privacy, solitude, and the exclusion of otherness. Over time, people became voluntary prisoners, living in isolated cells linked only by corridors.

Specialized circulation preserves privacy, while the matrix style fosters intimacy and inclusivity. By merging these approaches, this project blurs the boundaries between private and public spaces. Every area can function as both a corridor and a room, while "view corridors" allow residents to observe their neighbors, transforming strangers into a community. Rather than fostering discomfort, public spaces encourage social engagement.

Immigrants, however, represent a demographic with the potential to challenge this spatial structure. Upon arriving in a new city, they seek connection, learning opportunities, and social interaction — necessitating an architecture that embraces otherness rather than excluding it.

Located at the intersection of Chinatown and the Financial District, this building stands as a monument to immigrants. Designed to house new arrivals, it symbolizes the positive role of immigration in urbanization and globalization.