Blurring the lines between Philanthropy and Profit
This project proposes a new hybrid consumer space bringing corporations and non-profit foundations together in a self selecting and self organized space in Seattle's Pioneer Square. The project aims to frame a dialogue between capitalism and charity at different scales from the individual to the corporate and political.
The tenants of the building would be free to choose their location, boundaries, and adjacencies allowing them to freely collaborate with neighbors, or conversely, to confront a perceived adversary through proximity. As an example this proximity sets a foundation for non-profits to learn branding and marketing strategies from large corporations, and for those corporations to join forces with the non-profits to improve their image and expand their marketing. Additionally these entities may place themselves in opposition to each other, for example a labor rights group may place itself next to a company accused of mistreating workers as a way to create the most impact.
The goal of the project is to raise the awareness of these groups and issues, while presenting both the non profit groups and the corporate retailers in the same way. The aim is not to claim one is morally superior over the other, but to present both and let the people decide for themselves. By then letting the tenants select their physical location and adjacencies, it allows them to frame their argument and their message be it profit, philanthropy, or something in between.
