The cultural Context: examines the function of a free press, the discernment, judgment and truth in the construction of narratives that make up news reporting. One of the goals of the studio is to explore the function of narrative fabrication in a free press and its consequent influence in the argument for a physical intervention in the city at different scales of design such as urban, landscape, building, interior and detail.

The Conceptual context: examines the role of architecture and its responsibility to provide the framework for the transmission and exchange of culturally relevant ideas and information. The studio addresses the nature, character, and performance of various types of public space and the relationship between the intervening urban figure and the resultant spatial field.

Aesthetics | Media_These aspects of the studio are explored through a series of exercises that view at things such as paintings, program, in-between spaces and site. Through the process of representation and re-presentation the exercises try to exploit each analysis by always trying to re-present the previous in pursuit of new discoveries. One of such exercises is the painting analysis, which focuses on the interpretation of temporal, spatial and compositional aspects found on cubist paintings. One of the main aspects considered in this exercise as well as in several other were elements such as line, tone, shape, color, texture and their implied motion.

Politics_Cultural/conceptual Analysis_Exercise focused on the construction of narrative. The goal of the narrative is to articulate the conceptual agenda of a building that embodies the mission, scope and scale of Public Radio International as a cultural and conceptual vehicle for the organization and design of the project.

The conceptual agenda of this project is Freedom of Expression described by James Stuart Mill as:

“Any act of seeking, receiving or imparting information or ideas regardless of the medium used”.

This definition becomes the project’s main driver and defines Public Radio International as an institution that encourages and nurtures freedom of expression through both, its program and its architecture. Its architecture creates spaces where different programs or activities happen simultaneously allowing for different ideas or points of view to coexist under the same roof.  The programs housed within the building reinforce the idea of freedom of expression not only through radio but also through literature, art, performance and speech.