My final review was held on April 14th.
Our growing integration with and dependence on the virtual world in the 21st century is juxtaposed with our increasing sense of alienation present within the cities of the physical world. While our archaic social structures and misused public spaces discourage social interaction, Social Networking Sites (SNS) promote social cohesion by lowering or eliminating barriers to social interaction. This thesis attempts to translate these elements into physical form as an investigation into what role architecture plays into the creation of environments conducive to interaction among people that do not usually interact. The insertion of participatory interventions within the Park St. MBTA station serves to disrupt the inwardly focused, standoffish behavior most prevalent within the public realm.
