Becoming Space: Translating Bharatanatyam into Architectural Process

Architecture is known primarily as a physical form, with weight given to material and statics, and in this reductionist process, excludes experientially-based spatial dialogues. Dance and movement are used to reintegrate this embodied practice into architecture and space. There have been many investigations integrating western dance into architecture. Bharatantayam, an ancient South Indian, Hindu dance form, has not been recognized as equal to Ballet and other western art forms beyond labels of cultural dance forms. This thesis experiments with the philosophies and practices of Bharatanatyam to work through the design process of climatory resilient architecture installation. By combining dance movement experiments and community narrative investigations, this project ultimately became a community gathering space in one of the hottest regions of Maryvale, AZ. The illustrated process becomes an example of a generative process integrating and intersecting diverse ethnic philosophies with habitat and community oriented site explorations to promote a pluralistic architectural way of being.