jean tzeng




in forms >
  1. montessori transitional space
  2. porous permeable public school
  3. reimagining spirituality and community
  4. elevated gardens for engaged communities
  5. expanded corridor for affordable co-living
  6. divider shelf for accent sisters

in words >
  1. on objects, the body and my interest in design
  2. on unlearning aesthetics for children
  3. on participation and direct democracy
  4. on sustainable agriculture
  5. on psychiatric diagnosis and identity







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Porous School: Weaving Public Play in East Village


Located in Manhattan's East Village, this adaptive reuse project transforms the abandoned P.S. 64, a historic school building distinguished by its classic H-shaped plan characteristic of New York City public schools. The original architecture, with its elevated entrance and imposing walls, created a fortress-like barrier between the institution and its neighborhood. Our intervention strategically removes the central portion of the H-plan and activates the ground level as a public playground, establishing a fluid connection between civic and educational spaces.

The project's proximity to Tompkins Square Park extends the park's recreational fabric into the neighborhood, creating a child-friendly corridor within the urban context. Above the ground floor, the building's facade is reimagined with a perforated brick rainscreen that harmonizes with the original masonry while introducing porosity – a physical manifestation of the school's renewed dialogue with its community, transforming the historic structure into a more permeable institution.