Cote Brilliante - Saint Louis

The foundations of Community are built on the ability to have
pride in one’s people and in one’s place. Many Americans
are raised under a sense of intense national pride. Every
American’s idea of what their country represents varies. As I
grew up, my personal notions of what America was clashed
with the city I observed. St. Louis is full of beautiful and historic buildings that tell the true story of where we all come from, what we value, and why. Dutchtown is full of Germans and windmills, Dogtown has the Irish, The Hill’s street flag is the Italian flag. The histories of North St. Louis are quite literally crumbling to the ground.
The systematic disinvestment of mainly black communities
in North St. Louis is continuing to affect every aspect of
life in the city. Cote Brilliante was an elementary school
originally designed by William Ittner. As funding made its
way to the suburbs, magnificent buildings like Cote were left
to the elements. The idea behind this project was to create a
place this community could have real pride in again- to bring
resources to people that should have them to begin with.
Working on this personal project allow me to have a better
understanding of my city and the people in it.