This competition entry for a new Italian-American Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York, was based on the importance of the garden as it contributes to the cultural identity of many Italian immigrants and their descendants.
The massing of the building is designed so that the bulk of the structure is weighted to the rear of the site to provide large areas for gardens and outdoor gathering spaces along the street. A terra cotta sunscreen, which has been designed to maximize the introduction of controlled natural light into the building, will enclose the second floor. This screen will be animated by the movement of the sun so that the shade and shadow it produces will change as the day progresses. The program includes a full-size gymnasium, counseling and study room and a swimming pool.