2021
2026

Urban Escape

Aajanayae Hawes Herndon

Aajanayae Hawes Herndon

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

2021
2026

Urban Escape

Aajanayae Hawes Herndon

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

2021
2026

Urban Escape

Aajanayae Hawes Herndon

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Urban Escape adapts the architectural elements of New York City fire escapes into a contemporary wall sconce, shifting their role from exterior infrastructure to an interior experience shaped by light and shadow. The design pulls from the movement of the stairs, the repetition of vertical railings, and the presence of layered platforms, translating how these elements interact with light as it passes through a window. It captures the shifting shapes and impressions that form across a surface, inspired by the way fire escapes filter light as it enters apartments throughout the day, holding onto that quiet moment when the city begins to slow and glow. Intended for indoor spaces such as hallways, bedrooms, and living areas, the piece brings that exterior condition into the home, allowing the presence of the city to exist within everyday stillness. Light is softened and diffused in some areas while allowed to pass more directly in others, creating contrast, depth, and a sense of movement. Warm-toned filters in varying shades of orange shape the light into a soft ambient glow, echoing the way light reflects between buildings at sunset. What was once associated with urgency becomes something slower and more reflective, transforming a familiar architectural element into a sculptural presence that invites a more intimate and personal experience of the city within the home.

Urban Escape