Student Work

Course Description

Puppetry Arts Center

Student: Andromeda Springsteen
Studio: ARCH 500 — Elisa Renouard and Brian Havener — Fall 2025
Location: Seattle, Washington

Project Description

Located in Seattle’s Chinatown–International District, this center for puppetry arts draws inspiration from the neighborhood’s rich cultural history and storytelling traditions. The design concept is rooted in stop-motion, where individual frames come together to create a larger narrative. In the same way, the building is composed as a sequence of moments—each space contributing to a layered and evolving experience that reflects both personal and collective stories.

Circulation spaces are treated as more than pathways; they become places of pause and reflection. Enclosed in glass and filled with natural elements, these areas invite visitors to slow down and notice the transitions between spaces, much like the frames of a film. Light, greenery, and transparency soften movement through the building, creating a calm and contemplative atmosphere. Program spaces for performance, making, and gathering are woven into this sequence, supporting both artistic expression and community engagement. By blending cultural reference, narrative structure, and sensory experience, the project offers a unique environment where visitors can reflect on their own stories while connecting to the broader history of the district.

Images from Puppetry Arts Center.