Palimpsest

In architecture, as in life, our initial perceptions are often shaped by the visible and the familiar, leading us to form preconceptions about the spaces we inhabit. We encounter a building and immediately assign it a place in our understanding, confident in our assumptions. But just as a palimpsest holds layers of text, with each new writing partially obscuring but never fully erasing what came before, so too do architectural spaces carry layers of meaning, history, and design that are not immediately apparent. The true essence of a space is often hidden beneath its surface, waiting to be uncovered by those willing to look deeper, beyond the obvious.

Imagine walking into such a building—a place that seems straightforward, even predictable, from the outside. Yet, as you step inside, the familiar begins to shift. The space opens up, revealing unexpected elements, and the history you thought you understood starts to intertwine with the new, the modern, the reimagined. Suddenly, what seemed like a simple structure becomes a rich narrative, layered with stories that challenge your initial perceptions. What if the rigid and utilitarian forms of industrial architecture could be reimagined through the lens of sensory inversion, turning cold concrete into surfaces that evoke softness and fluidity.

The thesis challenges the viewer's expectations by exploring how materials traditionally perceived as 'hard' and 'cold' can be transformed into something perhaps 'soft' and 'inviting.' How can a tall concrete shaft, once used to transfer smoke and soot, be sensorially reused with new surface forms to alter perception and experience? How can a once-prominent industrial site, reminiscing Chicago’s grain industry, be altered to a fashion and stage design school that prompts creativity and imagination?

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Sheng-Lin Terence Hsu