Bard College Prison Initiative Offices & Exhibition Space

Columbia GSAPP Adv VI Spring 2021
Studio Critic: Steven Holl & Dimitra Tsachrelia
Location: New York, Hudson
Project in collaboration with: Lin Hou

Exhibition, “Phantom Dimensions”, NotYetArt & Black Brick Project， 12/2024

This project draws conceptual and spatial inspiration from Frederic Church’s Icebergs, using the metaphor of the iceberg—its volume, position, and melting—as a design logic to explore visible and invisible architectural forms. Through plans, sections, and elevations, we translate the dualities of above and below the surface into a dynamic spatial experience that unfolds through circulation, changing light, ceiling heights, and framed views.

The design embodies a delicate intervention into the existing context, yet remains strong in conceptual clarity. The blue and teal membrane becomes both a visual and experiential element, guiding users through a sensory journey that echoes the atmosphere of Church’s painting—seasonal shifts in light, shadow play, and perceptual depth.

Rooted in the poetic landscapes of the Hudson River and inspired by the Hudson River School’s attention to nature’s sublime, the project fuses art and architecture. Handcrafted models and iterative design processes allowed us to translate natural rhythms—icy reflections, blue shadows on snow, the rhythm of tree lines—into built form. The result is a space that balances bold artistic vision with environmental sensitivity, offering an immersive experience of emotional resonance and spatial harmony.