Irene Kwon
Never in my Nine Lives
What does it mean to design for belonging? What kind of design would be seen as successful not only by those who designed the space but also those who use it?
In this project, I explore the failure of human-centered design to provide accommodations for all. I considered in particular the needs of stray cats, who face limitations because of humancentric urban design. Given the rapidly growing population of feral cats in NYC, it seems necessary to design architecture and interiors to better accommodate cats. Although cats often serve as domesticated companions for humans, their natural instincts for exploration and climbing remain strong. In this project, I aimed to create a space that meets cats’ needs, giving them the freedom to explore, climb, observe, hide, rest, or engage on their own terms. My idea is to create spaces in which they can thrive, ones that provide elevated ground for them, just as we dominate the urban ground for ourselves. In developing my project, I tried to see the world from the standpoint of a ten-inch-high creature capable of jumping to a level six times its own height. It forced me to look afresh at the way humans have destroyed the spaces we once shared with other creatures. True belonging means extending our empathy beyond humans and developing a way of rewilding life that recognizes the interconnectedness of all beings.
