Tina Wang - Squarespace

Sleeping in HalifaxThis project explores the human necessity of sleep. The poorest conditions are oftenexperienced in shelters, where shared crowded spaces compromise comfort anddignity. A study of existing shelters in Halifax shows a demand for a centrally locatedone, where the issue is no longer pushed to the fringe, but located at the core ofwhere they live.Users are not isolated, but belong to a part of a collective community. The courtyardscheme acts as a buffer between the street and sleep, encourages communitybuilding, and solves practical issues of light and air in the sandwiched lot. Thetranslucency of the wall facing the courtyard allows light and air to penetrate therooms during day. During night, the translucent walls maintain privacy, while allowinga faint glow from the exterior to emit through if desired to enable a sense ofsafety and connectedness to the others who are likewise sleeping around this collectivespace. The court contains surfaces that dampen sound, and creates opportunitiesfor social wind down and film watching as part of the pre-sleep ritual.