01 / Hospitality
Award-Winning Graduate Thesis / 2025
Echoes Of Belongings
Reflecting Memory, Emotion, And Shared Presence. A Journey From The First Encounter To A Deeper Sense Of Belonging.
01 / Belonging
A Place To Feel Part Of Something.
My graduate thesis begins with the isolation many Gen Z professionals experience in New York. Remote work, rigid hierarchies, and the lack of welcoming after-work spaces can make connection difficult. At Terminal Warehouse in West Chelsea, I explore another possibility: a place where people can choose how, when, and how closely they engage. The High Line and the city’s changing levels suggest three ways of bridging that distance: extending, elevating, and connecting.
02 / Extending
The First Encounter.
The front room opens toward others. A café-bar, visual openness, and room to move support casual conversation without asking for an immediate commitment. It is a space for the enthusiastic socializer, the selective participant, and the hesitant joiner to enter at their own pace. The journey begins with the possibility of an encounter.
03 / Elevating
Room To Pause.
Between the public front room and the more private back room, the courtyard gives the senses a moment of relief. Daylight, planting, and an open view make space for reflection. Above, the bridge changes the point of view: a place to observe, pause, and decide whether to lean into a conversation or step back. Connection can begin with the freedom to choose.
04 / Connecting
Closer, In Our Own Time.
The back room slows the rhythm. At ground level, a semi-enclosed, organic setting supports small groups and unhurried gatherings. Upstairs, dim light, close seating, and soft acoustics create the most intimate part of the sequence. The design moves from shared presence toward trust, with space to sit, listen, and open up when the moment feels right.
05 / Recognition
Recognised For Hospitality Design.
Echoes of Belongings received Gold in the 2025 International Design Awards, Non-Professional Hospitality Interior Design / Night Clubs & Pubs. The thesis was also named a finalist in the 2025 London International Creative Competition, announced in 2026.
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