Missing Landmarks: Longing For A Place That Knows You

Abstract

Through an exploration of cultural memory and place-making, this thesis investigates how architecture can preserve the communal cultures and spatial structures that sustain collective identity within immigrant communities. Set within the suburban fabric, the proposed cultural landmark becomes a sanctuary where food, agriculture, and artistic expression safeguard cultural memory, carrying forward the wisdom and practices immigrants bring from their motherlands. This thesis creates a space rooted in heritage that nurtures the continuity of cultural knowledge while offering educational support and economic opportunity through a community kitchen for emerging food entrepreneurs and small, accessible vendor stalls. An adjacent service wing provides daily meals for community members in need, extending the center’s commitment to community care. By uniting cultural preservation with social and economic resilience, the cultural center honors the memories of the past while embracing the possibilities of a new place, fostering a balanced and enduring sense of belonging.