Goals

DUO is a non-profit development organization led by brothers Rafael Robles and Carlos Robles-Shanahan, two DACA recipients who immigrated to the US from Mexico. They started DUO as a multi-contextual practice to benefit disinvested communities through real estate.

DUO initiated this project with community research and outreach to understand the collective needs of the neighborhood and its residents. They came to Canopy with the idea of Starling, guided by the principles of gathering, replenishing, learning, and creating. Through their community outreach, DUO found that while other groups focused on health, education, and food resources in the area, community members were asking for a space to nourish the human spirit.

Results

Canopy’s design features 2,500 square feet of flexible space, including a café tenant area, community workshops, a sound booth, a reading room, and outdoor space for performances and events. Spaces within the buildings will be subdivided and available for short/and long-term rent for various tenants.

The design concept begins at the center, or heart, of the site and radiates outwards towards the adjacent sidewalks. The large, raised building platform, or stage, organizes the smaller programmatic pieces of the building. This large platform can host performances directed toward the community. The roof and canopy cover both the building and outdoor areas, providing an indoor-outdoor connection. 2 large operable glass partitions further facilitate the flow from the building enclosure to the outdoor areas. The colorful concrete exterior walls provide a sense of presence to the community, and the inviting, warm interior provides a space for replenishment and relaxation.