urban    monastery

In the design of an urban monastery, the interaction between private dwelling and the public domain is explored. The site is located in the heart of Greenwich Village. The clients are the Franciscan Friars, a community based brotherhood whose distinguishing characteristic is to imitate the public life of Christ. The Franciscans maintain a balance of reaching out to the public with periods of silent meditation. This stability of prayer and service guided the design. While the friars need private spaces, the monastery must be open to the diverse population of its context.