As progress propels contemporary society forward, man’s placement in the world is in a state of continuous fluctuation. The unremitting progression has created a new global citizen; their new nomadic lifestyle is defined by movement, efficiency and nostalgic tendencies. In defense against the hopeless detachment of nostalgia, Americans grasp seemingly permanent structures to provide a sense of identity and stability. However, built form is temporary; submissive to the course of nature, all man-made creations begin to deteriorate upon completion. Architecture should acknowledge the deception within this permanent perception and encourage the public to embrace their temporal existence.
The developments within this thesis question the perception of permanence through a series of mechanisms. After developing a thorough understanding of the public’s perception of permanence, both the deceptive elements as well as the benefits in providing a sense of stability are determined. A series of operations are developed through an analysis of precedents. These are applied to specific moments to manipulate the perception of permanence of an original structure. The abandoned factory, Peters Cartridge Company located on the Little Miami River, serves as a historic icon indicative of the identity and foundation of the village of Kings Mills. This particular site provides ample historic and permanent values as well physical material to be manipulated. The historical narratives provide a framework to insert recreation and education programs, which enable the implementation of the mechanisms. The resulting architecture performs against the existing structure to present a new way of experiencing the seemingly permanent elements. The manipulated perception promotes an awareness of the limits of “timeless” built form in exchange for a new embrace of the realities and complexities of an ever-changing world.