Youghiogheny River Project

The Foundation Studio Project on the banks of the Youghiogheny River, Pennsylvania, is a study in programmatic duality, intentionally segregating a space for private retreat from a hub for public, community-oriented engagement. Both the secluded Private Pavilion and the adjacent Public Pavilion with its integral boat dock were conceived through the formal process of deconstruction, systematically fragmenting a primary volumetric box to define their opposing functions. For the Private Pavilion, this methodology created a complex, layered structure dedicated to hermetic enclosure, utilizing controlled shifts and cuts of planar elements to frame selective, intimate views. Conversely, the Public Pavilion employs the same deconstructive core to foster dynamic accessibility; its resultant porous, open structure features shifted planes and fluid circulation, successfully drawing the user toward the river's edge and facilitating seamless community interaction.