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The site, bounded by Rue St-Laurent and Rue Clark, is currently a vacant lot, surrounded by mixed use building (stores on ground floor and residence, office or storage on top). Rue St-Laurent is the main corridor (entrance) of Chinatown, it is also the only street which is 2-way within the area, thus it is the busiest street. During the 1920s, Rue St-Laurent was the seamiest side of the city. One columnist wrote "whether you're looking fot a gal or gun, haircut or hustler, a hock shop or a hangurger, you'll find it on St-Lawrence Boulevard."

One of the reason why I choose this site is its proximity to one of the main gates and its potential of having the main entrance of the building on Rue St-Laurent, running across to have the second entrance on Rue Clark. It symbolizes the hierachy of experiencing the space from public (busy and fast) to private (quiet and calm). I like the fact that the site is in between existing buildings. I do not intend to have a building which visual domainates the area, instead it is a building that attracts people by its functions and prgrams. It is a building that sits clamly in the area, and offers spaces that people can go in and relax for their mind.

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