Pruitt-Igoe RE-Imagined

My thesis explores the transformation of the Pruitt-Igoe housing project Demolished IN 1972, from a symbol of modernist failure to an Alternative vision for a collective living site. This transformation underscores the complexities of urban design, socio-economic challenges, and the potential for adaptive reuse in addressing contemporary housing needs. The first section of my study will delve into the history of Pruitt-Igoe, analyzing the factors that led to its failure and the issues present at its inception. Secondly, I will explore the intricacies of urban design and the socio-economic challenges that played a role in its downfall. This part of the thesis will illuminate the multifaceted issues that contributed to Pruitt-Igoe’s failure, and the obstacles encountered in its redevelopment. Thirdly I will look at how ecology and the elevation of nature as a priority in designing and how that can help foster a better community. Ultimately, the goal is to derive lessons from Pruitt-Igoe’s failures to inform the development of more effective housing programs.