Foolproof is an urban design proposal that reimagines the historically black Northwest district of Indianapolis. The project reacts to the societal harms of 20th-century America and provides a new vision for this historic corridor.

The project invites city officials, residents, and business leaders to engage with a vision for equity in Indianapolis. Specifically, I offer an alternative strategy for Madam C.J. Walker’s company and show how the urban fabric of Indy could have benefited from providing an equitable ecosystem for black entrepreneurship.

Using 4 architectural elements: the landscape, the terrace, the crown, and the podium, the project shows the necessary public and private circumstances to drive such development in the area.

As designers, we often lament the historical moments that negatively shape our environment. Yet, this project highlights the power of small shifts in decision-making and shows how alternative decisions can influence more equitable design for entire regions. 

Project Type :: Environmental Design

Year :: 2022