The hip hop movement started in the Bronx during the 70’s and acted as a way for the youth to exchange anecdotes rooted around the wretched spatial and social realities of their neighborhoods. This collective narrative was the common ground on which the hip hop community and culture formed. Our proposal is inspired by this cultural movement and aims to amplify the spirit of hip hop as an art form created in diametric response to architectural failures in planning and housing practices in the Bronx. The Podium is the common ground on which people come together and acts a stage for collective expression. Through the creation of inclusive mixed use housing and cultural incubators for local artists of all styles and genres, this project aims to strengthen the surrounding community and encourage the local youths to invest and engage in the future of the Bronx.
