
This project challenges conventional urban planning by creating a cultural space where sex work is dignified, normalized, and integrated into Vancouver’s artistic landscape. Situated at the edge of Gastown, our proposal establishes a decriminalized zone that acknowledges sex work’s legitimacy both as labor and as performance art. The architecture employs programmatic laddering, creating a spatial gradient from public to private. Street-level spaces house galleries and restaurants, forming a porous boundary with the city. Semi-public areas include performance stages and a central lounge – a dignified meeting point for workers and clients. Upper floors contain advocacy offices and artist studios, while the highest level features worker-only spaces connected by suspended skywalks, ensuring autonomy and security. Two distinct circulation paths cater to different client experiences: a discrete elevator for privacy and a central pathway encouraging exploration. Throughout, workers maintain control via elevated pathways that allow both visibility and retreat. By rejecting isolated or hyper-surveilled models of sex work spaces, we seek to create an environment where cultural programming and sex work coexist and are accepted as one, promoting dialogue, inclusivity, and spatial justice.