LA SALA

“La Sala brings peace to a busy corner by creating a protected space where the community can stop and interact”

La Sala acts as a new center for the neighborhood by bringing back the social spirit found in traditional bodegas. Currently the site is defined by a busy intersection that lacks a sense of peace or connection. Drawing from the history of New York bodegas, specifically how early Puerto Rican owners used them as a safe haven for socializing. This project responds by prioritizing the “hanging out" over just transactions. The design achieves this by separating the building masses to wrap around a central area, creating a protective enclosure away from the busy intersection. These separate spaces are then physically joined by a single connecting mass above, symbolizing the link between neighbors. Ultimately, La Sala is meant to become a welcoming staple of the area offering a safe space where anyone can step out of the traffic and actually interact.