The main objective of Pacific Garden Mission was not to create a home for the homeless, but rather a homeless institute. This allows them to get back into society and create a better life for themselves. The project also aims to highlight the grim reality of urban life, one that city dwellers ignore which is the state of the homeless.
The creation of one of the largest homeless shelters in America, allows the problem of homelessness to be showcased to societies and governments. The Mission is able to provide shelter, support services and spiritual upliftment that aid in the rehabilitation into society, it equips the homeless with skills and values in which they can become active members in society and earn an income. The Mission also uses
90
its church services to spread the word of god and help restore dignity and hope to the homeless.
Figure 107: site plan and axonometric plans of the Pacific Garden Mission Source: Architect, Vol 97, Jan/Mar, 2008: 81-82
The Pacific Garden Mission also has its own radio station „Unshackled‟ which is broadcast worldwide and gives various account of living on the street and accounts of transformed lives that the mission has been able to help. The radio station helps in creating public awareness of the homeless in societies (Mays: 2008).
Pacific Garden Mission was conceptualised as a project that would assist the homeless and provide a meal for the night. Today its expanded role serves as a catalyst for reintegration. It can be seen as a core node that houses services and which are designed to assist people in need (Figure 107).
5.2.5 Programme and Planning
The design centres on a well lit courtyard that allows light to penetrate deep into the missions hallways (Figure 108,109 and 110). Four interconnected wings surround the courtyard and the courtyard also doubles as an outdoor chapel in the summer.
91
Inside the various wings are classrooms, computer laboratories, workout rooms and lounges for families (Tigerman: 2014).
Figure 108, 109 and 110: The various activities found at the Mission as well as the green houses.
Source: Architect, Vol 97, Jan/Mar, 2008: 81-82, http://www.tigerman-mccurry.com, http://pgmofferinghope.org
Word of the shelter is spread by mouth and soon many homeless come to seek help from the shelter. After checking in, the homeless are led to a large chamber where they hang their clothes for the night (the room is heated to kill lice and vermin), they then take a shower and receive a gown (Mays: 2008). Medical care is also provided if needed. The linen and laundry areas are dedicated to helping the homeless wash their clothes and iron them, the barbershop and beauty salon is also available to them for free grooming so that they may look presentable for prospective job opportunities. A smaller number of people also join the Bible programme ministry, which lasts 60 days (Mays: 2008). These individuals become part of the facilities team and are given work assignments in the laundry, library, kitchen or cleaning group. Those that complete the programme are shifted to career development, and are ready to join the workforce as productive citizens. They are then equipped with the skills to do so. The mission also helps its clients to earn high school diplomas
92
and offer life skill programs such as checking account management, Basic English and computer training. The mission also has a 600-seater auditorium which is the setting for their radio station „Unshackled‟. Smaller gospel services are also held in this space. The main services are held in the chapel which has translucent walls that face the courtyard. Five classrooms and half a dozen small counselling rooms and large sleeping rooms are found on the second and third floor wings (Mays: 2008).
Men and woman sleep in different wings and are further divided between temporary and long term residents. The architect designed the beds for sleeping to be side by side but separated with a metal partition.
Figure 111, 112 and 113: The „Yellow Brick Road‟, where social interaction takes places also forms part of the main circulation. The façade of green houses also promotes social interaction as well as the roof gardens;
informal learning takes places through these various spaces.
Source: Architect, Vol 97, Jan/Mar, 2008: 81-82, http://www.jetsongreen.com, http://caldwellplumbing.net
One of the main elements on the ground floor is the broad L-shaped corridor known to residents and staff as the „yellow brick road‟ (Figure 111). It has outdoor benches, street lights, sidewalk trash receptacles and street signs to encourage a sense of place (Mays: 2008). The floor is painted in bright yellow epoxy paint. What Tigerman hoped to achieve by creating this interactive kind of circulation space was the feel of a lively street. Because of the mission‟s commitment to sustainability, two greenhouses are used to generate organic soil and grow consumable goods. A green roof is also used to manage storm water and to mediate heat gain and heat loss (Figure 112 and 113). The unplanted areas of the roof are covered in highly
93
reflective paving and all domestic water is heated by an array of 100 solar panels that the city donated to the project.
The greenhouse also provides the rehabilitation aspect to the homeless and gives them hope (Tigerman: 2014). The green house facility runs the full length of the complex. The produce is also sold for additional income for the complex. This area creates social interaction amongst its residents and also offers an opportunity to learn skills to go out and become marketable. Triggerman‟s approach to the design of Pacific Garden Mission was one that is sympathetic to the homeless; it is not elaborate to show them off but rather meaningful to the homeless as a symbol of hope and a second chance.