What are ‘queer spaces’?
What are ‘queer spaces’?
This Pride Month, we asked Marvelites to consider the term ‘queer spaces’ and what it may mean to them– as members of the community, as designers, and as humans who rightfully take up space. Without a direct definition, its meaning is really left up to interpretation.
For some it may mean a place that directly serves those who identify as queer, safe spaces for individuals who consider themselves a part of the LGBTQIA+ community or who see themselves as fluid. They could be spaces for social gathering, entertainment, or recreation that reflect the culture of its patrons. For others it could simply signify spaces that are extraordinary for one reason or another, peculiar or odd.
We bring this conversation to light as a way to highlight the importance of this month and the presence of ‘queer spaces’, especially for those who design buildings and space. At Marvel, we proudly embrace diversity and inclusion, enriching the quality of this practice.
Playwrights Theater Downtown Renovation – New York, NY
© Joshua Simpson
“Everywhere is kind of a queer space to me. I go, and that space is a queer space.
But as an architect, I am hesitant to define the space. The real definition is made when there are people in there, by them.
There was a quote by an architect I admire, he said that architects are not the people who invent things, we transform reality.…this was my inspiration to pursue architecture.”
–
“Queer spaces, to me, are glimpses of a future where LABELS fade, and where we are seen first as HUMANS of the community, of the city and the world we live in. Where I don’t need to justify my identity because every soul there is met with dignity. I really dream of that day without separations, without walls that divide, and until it comes, we keep building spaces that are safe and authentic where all can simply be ourselves. That’s what a queer space should be and mean to me…”
– Ernesto Vázquez, Architect at Marvel SJ
“A space where we all can be who we are freely.”
– Eduardo M. Llinás Messeguer, Urban & Architectural Designer at Marvel NY
Studio Two Three – Richmond, VA
© Marvel
“I’m not an architect, so I don’t have a background in what a queer space would look like formally. I would instead define a queer space by the people who occupy it. Being queer for me goes beyond just a label – it is a lifeblood and an energy I can draw upon. Similarly, I would define a queer space as one not only filled with fellow queer people, but one that exudes a creative energy that carves out a world of safety and unabashedness. When I think of a queer space, I don’t think of a specific building or park, I think of my friends’ couches and the sharing of laughter, knowledge, and community.”
– Erin Janicki, Graphic Designer, Business Development at Marvel RVA
Orchard Beach Pavilion Restoration – Bronx, NY
© Marvel
“To me, queer spaces are environments where I can feel at ease—safe, supported, and able to show up fully. They’re shaped by diversity, openness, and a sense of shared care. Like any good space, they allow for difference, complexity, and connection without the pressure to conform.”
– Sami Sikanas, Landscape Architect at Marvel NY
“Thinking about the queer spaces I love, I feel there’s a sense of community and mutual ownership or investment in both the making and continuation of them. They’re reliant on the presence or maybe sometimes just the lasting impression of the people who are/have invested in them. I think this makes them uniquely embedded within the lives, fabric, and evolving histories of communities in a way that embodies queerness; a capacity for unbounded nonuniformity and fluidity.”
– Marissa Walrath, Landscape Architectural Designer at Marvel RVA
Plank Road – Brooklyn, NY
© Colin Miller, Courtesy The Brodsky Organization
“I believe a ‘queer space’ should feel personal, inviting and safe. And through an interiors lens, this is why I gravitate towards warm materials, soft surfaces and bright and airy spaces – all characteristics that give spaces a human feel.”
– Diego Varas, Associate at Marvel NY
“For me, queer space is all about creating collective memory with people, building community, and fostering a sense of belonging where everyone feels seen, heard, and safe to express their true selves.”
–
“To me, queer space is less about visibility and more about intention. It’s about who a space is made for, who feels safe in it and who can exist without apology. As an intermediate architectural designer, I find myself asking: What would it mean to design spaces that don’t just accommodate queer, but are fundamentally queer in their essence? For me these spaces should resist permanence, should hold memory and transformation. Spaces that, like us, are never finished always becoming.”
–
Bronx Point – Bronx, NY
© Ashok Sinha
“Queer spaces are places where people can be fully themselves, spaces of safety, warmth, and belonging. They can be intimate circles of friends, a familiar corner bar, or a quiet area in a park where it feels safe to gather. These spaces exist because we live in a society shaped by rigid norms—about how to act, how to dress, how to look—that often exclude those who don’t conform. My goal is to design spaces that welcome everyone, or that intentionally center a multitude of identities. We are all different, and we all deserve to see ourselves reflected in the spaces we inhabit.”
– Yadiel Rivera-Diaz, Partner and Landscape Architect at Marvel NY
“Queer spaces for me are spaces that we create (or discover) to be welcoming to all; spaces where we can be fully who we are in harmony with others.”
– José Juan Terrasa-Soler, Partner and Landscape Architect at Marvel SJ
Stonewall House Senior Residences – Brooklyn, NY
© Joshua Simpson
We are grateful for the joy, strength, and brilliance the LGBTQIA+ community brings to Marvel, as well as the persisting existence of ‘queer spaces’.
Many LGBTQIA+ people still continue to face housing insecurity as well as discrimination in the rental application process, as highlighted in the Architect’s Newspaper’s ‘Pride’ piece. Marvel is proud to have designed Stonewall House– one of the ‘queer spaces’ featured– a senior community specifically catered for New York City’s ageing LGBTQIA+ population.
We hope for the creation of even more welcoming and safe spaces for every person in the community, and we at Marvel will always strive to do our part. Celebrating you all this and every month.
Happy Pride! Also check out:
Last year’s blog for 2024 Pride: Queer Identity & the Aesthetics of Landscape Design
Marvelite Sami Sikanas’s independent research project: Queer Landscapes
This Pride Month, we asked Marvelites to consider the term ‘queer spaces’ and what it may mean to them– as members of the community, as designers, and as humans who rightfully take up space. Without a direct definition, its meaning is really left up to interpretation.
For some it may mean a place that directly serves those who identify as queer, safe spaces for individuals who consider themselves a part of the LGBTQIA+ community or who see themselves as fluid. They could be spaces for social gathering, entertainment, or recreation that reflect the culture of its patrons. For others it could simply signify spaces that are extraordinary for one reason or another, peculiar or odd.
We bring this conversation to light as a way to highlight the importance of this month and the presence of ‘queer spaces’, especially for those who design buildings and space. At Marvel, we proudly embrace diversity and inclusion, enriching the quality of this practice.
Playwrights Theater Downtown Renovation – New York, NY
© Joshua Simpson
“Everywhere is kind of a queer space to me. I go, and that space is a queer space.
But as an architect, I am hesitant to define the space. The real definition is made when there are people in there, by them.
There was a quote by an architect I admire, he said that architects are not the people who invent things, we transform reality.…this was my inspiration to pursue architecture.”
–
“Queer spaces, to me, are glimpses of a future where LABELS fade, and where we are seen first as HUMANS of the community, of the city and the world we live in. Where I don’t need to justify my identity because every soul there is met with dignity. I really dream of that day without separations, without walls that divide, and until it comes, we keep building spaces that are safe and authentic where all can simply be ourselves. That’s what a queer space should be and mean to me…”
– Ernesto Vázquez, Architect at Marvel SJ
“A space where we all can be who we are freely.”
– Eduardo M. Llinás Messeguer, Urban & Architectural Designer at Marvel NY
Studio Two Three – Richmond, VA
© Marvel
“I’m not an architect, so I don’t have a background in what a queer space would look like formally. I would instead define a queer space by the people who occupy it. Being queer for me goes beyond just a label – it is a lifeblood and an energy I can draw upon. Similarly, I would define a queer space as one not only filled with fellow queer people, but one that exudes a creative energy that carves out a world of safety and unabashedness. When I think of a queer space, I don’t think of a specific building or park, I think of my friends’ couches and the sharing of laughter, knowledge, and community.”
– Erin Janicki, Graphic Designer, Business Development at Marvel RVA
Orchard Beach Pavilion Restoration – Bronx, NY
© Marvel
“To me, queer spaces are environments where I can feel at ease—safe, supported, and able to show up fully. They’re shaped by diversity, openness, and a sense of shared care. Like any good space, they allow for difference, complexity, and connection without the pressure to conform.”
– Sami Sikanas, Landscape Architect at Marvel NY
“Thinking about the queer spaces I love, I feel there’s a sense of community and mutual ownership or investment in both the making and continuation of them. They’re reliant on the presence or maybe sometimes just the lasting impression of the people who are/have invested in them. I think this makes them uniquely embedded within the lives, fabric, and evolving histories of communities in a way that embodies queerness; a capacity for unbounded nonuniformity and fluidity.”
– Marissa Walrath, Landscape Architectural Designer at Marvel RVA
Plank Road – Brooklyn, NY
© Colin Miller, Courtesy The Brodsky Organization
“I believe a ‘queer space’ should feel personal, inviting and safe. And through an interiors lens, this is why I gravitate towards warm materials, soft surfaces and bright and airy spaces – all characteristics that give spaces a human feel.”
– Diego Varas, Associate at Marvel NY
“For me, queer space is all about creating collective memory with people, building community, and fostering a sense of belonging where everyone feels seen, heard, and safe to express their true selves.”
–
“To me, queer space is less about visibility and more about intention. It’s about who a space is made for, who feels safe in it and who can exist without apology. As an intermediate architectural designer, I find myself asking: What would it mean to design spaces that don’t just accommodate queer, but are fundamentally queer in their essence? For me these spaces should resist permanence, should hold memory and transformation. Spaces that, like us, are never finished always becoming.”
–
Bronx Point – Bronx, NY
© Ashok Sinha
“Queer spaces are places where people can be fully themselves, spaces of safety, warmth, and belonging. They can be intimate circles of friends, a familiar corner bar, or a quiet area in a park where it feels safe to gather. These spaces exist because we live in a society shaped by rigid norms—about how to act, how to dress, how to look—that often exclude those who don’t conform. My goal is to design spaces that welcome everyone, or that intentionally center a multitude of identities. We are all different, and we all deserve to see ourselves reflected in the spaces we inhabit.”
– Yadiel Rivera-Diaz, Partner and Landscape Architect at Marvel NY
“Queer spaces for me are spaces that we create (or discover) to be welcoming to all; spaces where we can be fully who we are in harmony with others.”
– José Juan Terrasa-Soler, Partner and Landscape Architect at Marvel SJ
Stonewall House Senior Residences – Brooklyn, NY
© Joshua Simpson
We are grateful for the joy, strength, and brilliance the LGBTQIA+ community brings to Marvel, as well as the persisting existence of ‘queer spaces’.
Many LGBTQIA+ people still continue to face housing insecurity as well as discrimination in the rental application process, as highlighted in the Architect’s Newspaper’s ‘Pride’ piece. Marvel is proud to have designed Stonewall House– one of the ‘queer spaces’ featured– a senior community specifically catered for New York City’s ageing LGBTQIA+ population.
We hope for the creation of even more welcoming and safe spaces for every person in the community, and we at Marvel will always strive to do our part. Celebrating you all this and every month.
Happy Pride! Also check out:
Last year’s blog for 2024 Pride: Queer Identity & the Aesthetics of Landscape Design
Marvelite Sami Sikanas’s independent research project: Queer Landscapes