Project 12 Photography – Research on Skid Row

Photography – Research on Skid Row
Documentary Photography – Architectural Inquiry


Size: n/a

Medium: Photoshop and Lightroom

Date: 2024 

Note: Work was completed independently 


In this project, I used documentary photography to explore the informal shelters of Skid Row, Los Angeles, where individuals create makeshift homes from found objects and discarded materials. My goal was to examine the intersection of architecture, survival, and human ingenuity in this marginalized area. The photographs captured how people adapted their environments to meet basic needs for shelter, privacy, and comfort, raising questions about the role of architects in addressing homelessness and housing inequality.

This experience significantly impacted my design education, urging me to consider architecture's ethical responsibilities. The makeshift shelters represented architecture driven by necessity rather than aesthetics, challenging my preconceptions about design and laying the foundation for future projects focused on practical shelter solutions for those in need.