Ana Maria Lastiri Martinez
Interior Dialogues: Envisioning Public Spaces of Resistance
Cities are complex and dynamic networks of social, cultural, economic, and physical elements that shape and perpetuate gender dynamics, social norms, and spatial inequalities. Public infrastructure, exemplified by the New York City subway system, can foster gender inequality, affecting access to resources and opportunities and shaping women's interactions with and perceptions of urban environments. In this project, I explore ways interior design can facilitate dialogue and empowerment for vulnerable people through infrastructures of care. By framing design as an everyday practice and an act of political resistance, I aim to illuminate the potential of public interiors to promote inclusivity and agency within urban landscapes. Interior Dialogues: Envisioning Spaces of Resistance raises awareness of women's experiences in public spaces by collecting and visualizing their personal narratives within care infrastructures. The project challenges societal norms and enables women to assert their agency in both public spaces and domestic environments. A new typology, a free-standing 200-square-foot glass pavilion, is introduced into the New York subway system. Located on the mezzanine level of Union Square Station, this structure offers heightened visibility to commuters from all angles. By reimagining public interiors as sites of empowerment and inclusivity, I aim to contribute to a collective narrative of resistance, recognizing the power of sharing women's stories as a means of challenging existing inequalities.
