Salvation Army : the next generation

Abstract

The Salvation Army thrift stores are retail entities in the center of neighborhoods which collect and resell used objects. Although historically dear to many, it seems that the physical condition, market visibility, and social perception of these stores do not always match the importance of the service they provide. The potential of that recycling network, already in place internationally, seems enormous in a context of economic crisis and rising environmental concerns. I would like to create a new Salvation Army thrift store for the years to come, and propose to redesign the closest one at hand as a case study. Among my ideas for this undertaking: - make the thrift store a pleasant and rich experiential space - add to the function of salvaging, the functions of cleaning and repairing - turn what used to be a store into a store ++, with small crafts attached (tailors, shoe repair, laundromats and dry cleaners, wood and metal workers) which would provide next door services and be a tool for social reinsertion (professional training for the unemployed) - open the market segment to all social categories - have the buildings themselves be an example of a new type of reuse/recycling.