Debt-less

is a depository of local knowledge within densely modulated classroom spaces - bankers pay off their debt by sharing their skills with the local community.

Debt-less shifts the burden of debt from the individual to the democratically owned and controlled credit union.  The program focuses on a controlled network of credit union and debtor’s prison.  Unlike a traditional debtor’s prison, the poor will not be unwillingly jailed and disciplined.  Local members will engage with the debtor’s prison, seeking a debt consolidation loan.  As collateral for default on the loan, the debtor agrees to offer services to the local community based on their profession or trade, while being under the control of the credit union.  This system allows members to develop professional relationships within the community while serving their time.  Once the debt is paid off, the debtor would remain a part of the credit union utilizing the savings accounts and small business loans, and additionally have the opportunity to be an educator within the prison to incoming debtors. 

An non-hierarchical, modulated program

One manifestation of this system is illustrated - many more will occur.  The duality of the program plays out through a series of scaled and rotated modules.  Modules stack to form cores, containing building services and virtual points of access serving the various workshops.  The inherent tension of bank and debtor plays out through the push and pull of the skip step arrangement vertically.  Each program is constantly monitoring the other as the digital realm constantly monitors our every move, through subtle overlap and sometimes unrecognized viewpoints. The hierarchy is confused and the interiority of each module workshop becomes the focus upon circulating through the thresholds of program.