Queer Public Architecture: Inclusive Public Space Design for Queer Communities in Hawai'i
Date
2024
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Abstract
Queer people, despite many avenues of support in the 21st century, still face discrimination in the public realm. The national average trans population is 11%, and at the same time, 543 bills were introduced into legislation in 2023 to attack trans and queer people’s rights. In Hawai‘i, the history of queerness is deeply intertwined with indigenous, immigrant, and current histories. Hawaii’s trans and queer population is one of the highest in the nation, at 0.8% of the population. At the same time, queer and trans youth are more likely than their cis-straight peers to experience depression, self-harm, and drug use. Many people want the existence of queer people to remain invisible. Architecture has the power to reverse this wave of opposition. Architecture, in particular, public space design, can be used to create a place for queer people to exist safely and openly in public. However, examples of this are rare in Hawaii. This research examines how a queer-inclusive public space can be designed in Hawai‘i. This research is split into two parts: investigation and application. The investigation involved the research of existing queer public spaces, including literature reviews, precedent studies, site visits, interviews, and community engagement workshops. The synthesis of the findings from the research was summarized in a set of eight design strategies. The second part of the research, the application, uses the eight design strategies to re-envision a Kapi‘olani Park, using a kit of parts that includes street furniture, a memorial plaza, and all-gender restrooms to transform the park into a space that honors queer history, welcomes queer individuals, and provides a space of belonging for all.
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Architecture, Gender studies, Sexuality, Gender Equity, Gender Identity, Inclusive Design, Public Space, Queer Space
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109 pages
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