Date of Award
Spring 5-22-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Design (MDes) in Interior Studies / Adaptive Reuse
Department
Interior Architecture
First Advisor
Can Altay
Second Advisor
Jeffery Katz
Third Advisor
Francesca Liuni
Abstract
Once nicknamed “Rock City,” Allston, MA has long been a creative hub known for its grassroots music culture. Historically the neighborhood has been home to many independent music spaces, nurturing generations of musicians. Relentless real estate development, the expansion of nearby institutions and ongoing inflation, has made the neighborhood increasingly unaffordable for the creatives and forced many to leave, diluting the once vibrant music community. Simultaneously, the shift toward digital music consumption has contributed to the disappearance of physical spaces where people once gathered to discover, discuss, and experience music collectively.
This thesis responds to these circumstances through an intervention at an underutilized courtyard within the commercial district of Allston, and proposes its transformation into a social space for gathering with a focus on listening and making music. It aims to become a third space for the locals by incorporating spaces for display and exchange of physical collections, music creation and performance, offering opportunities for creatives to experiment, exchange, and grow.
Drawing on principles and analysis from Jan Gehl’s Cities for People, as well as William Whyte’s observations on vibrant urban life, the thesis employs small-scale, intimate and sensory interventions to create a human-scaled public space characterized by proximity, permeability, and flexibility. Through these approaches, the project aims to weaken physical boundaries and cultivate communication between people and their surroundings. Additionally, with tactile and durable materials, this work aims to create an open and welcoming platform for creative production, one that embraces experimentation, process, and imperfection.
By reclaiming this urban void as a dynamic cultural asset in the neighborhood, the thesis argues that the provision of small-scale and site-specific interventions can both efficiently utilize overlooked urban spaces and alleviate social and cultural detachment.
Recommended Citation
Hong, Szewai, "The Amplifier: Small Spaces, Loud Futures" (2026). Masters Theses. 1579.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1579
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