Street Bean Espresso and Shelter

When I visited the Street Bean Espresso and Shelter, I had a rude awakening for what is out there and what I don’t usually see on a daily basis. Being from such a small town, the idea of having a shelter in the town is unheard of and hearing how common it is in Seattle was pretty striking. When we entered the shelter, I got to see a sense of “home” from a different perspective. Home can mean so many different things to different people and seeing this place as a temporary but profound home to those that need it, was a pretty emotional encounter for me. When you are dealing with a large population like the streets of Seattle, you have to accommodate for the possibility of many residents in the shelter. Being a space for numerous people, you must accommodate to the idea that not everyone has the same tastes, level of comfort, or idea of “home” and with that being said, you must have versatile areas throughout a space in order to comfort the varying personalities to those staying there. Knowing this, as a designer for a residential space, I have to be able to accommodate each client with a space which they feel comfortable in. I really liked that they accommodated in a comfortable fashion, a place for some of their attendees to work across the street and to socialize. It’s almost as if they gave them a home away from home, where they can get away. This is a good idea to keep in mind when designing commercially (like the café).