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2026 Study Architecture Student Showcase - Part VII

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In Part VII of the 2026 Study Architecture Student Showcase, we feature incredible projects centered on housing. From affordable housing and modular structural systems to trauma-informed designs and community-centered policies, these projects explore the expansive ways architecture can be used as a tool to design housing that meets both community and individual needs.

Wall as Commons: Minimum Collective Infrastructures for Informal Domesticity and Growth by Raveena Deshpande, M.Arch. ’26
Rhode Island School of Design | Advisor: Surella Segu

Why Wall? 

As urban populations grow, access to affordable housing declines, pushing certain sections of the population to build informal settlements outside legal and formal construction systems. These settlements often lack access to basic living infrastructure—water, sanitation, and electricity—even as they house a large share of the population in developing countries.

Current models of designing for informality exist as top-down planning approaches that ignore lived realities at the scale of the home. These design models are incongruent with informal lifestyles and undermine the sense of belonging that comes with rituals of self-authorship in space-making that exist in such settlements.

Wall for Domesticity

This thesis proposes an alternative: repositioning design for informal housing as a wall- a tool to articulate growth through collective infrastructure that delivers minimum essential utilities (water, electricity, drainage, sewage) for domestic stability, while facilitating self-building of homes along the wall, preserving inhabitants’ belonging and ownership. Different wall types are explored based on density and the type of growth they could catalyse (doubly loaded/ singly loaded/ alternately loaded for open space), as well as based on the benefactor’s budget for infrastructure investment (low investment versus high investment walls, i.e: wall as plane versus wall as room). Studies of how planning authorities might employ different wall types to organise and plan for informality as part of urbanity and ensure fair and comfortable amenities to all are conducted. 

Wall for More

The thesis also imagines the wall as a way to introduce public amenities such as play areas and work areas that such organically growing settlements lack. These include wall for worship (as circumambulatory paths), wall for work, wall for play, wall for water (common water spouts and WCs).

This project won the Department Thesis Award.

Instagram: @ravwlv, @workingrav, @surellasegu

Right up Your Alley: Integrating Affordable Housing and Walkable Infrastructure to Revitalize Denver’s Neighborhoods by Mason Anchondo, M.Arch. ‘26
North Dakota State University | Advisor: Charlott Greub

This thesis examines how existing single-family neighborhoods in Denver, Colorado, can be transformed into more walkable, socially connected, and affordable communities by reactivating the city’s underutilized mid-block alleyways. Through policy analysis, data-driven spatial analysis, and on-site neighborhood observation, the study identifies opportunities to introduce accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and pedestrian-oriented design strategies that improve connectivity and housing diversity without displacing existing residents.

A multi-scalar site selection process ultimately focuses on the Barnum and West Barnum neighborhoods, where intact alley networks and demographic conditions support a replicable framework for gentle densification. Informed by case studies and interdisciplinary research on walkability, human-scale design, and zoning reform, the project proposes incremental interventions that expand accessible housing opportunities, reduce car dependency, and strengthen neighborhood cohesion. The resulting approach demonstrates how modest, community-centered design and policy changes can reshape aging suburban neighborhoods into healthier, more sustainable urban environments.

This project was selected as a finalist for the McKenzie Award.

The Interflow by Kevin Juarez-Martinez, B.Arch. ‘26
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Advisor: Katrin Terstegen

Located at the intersection of South Broadway and Slauson Avenue in South Los Angeles, California, the project responds to a historically and culturally vibrant community through a mixed-use housing project that combines residential, commercial, and communal spaces using mass timber. The project is organized around an elevated courtyard and circulation system that allows for movement to become a social experience amongst residents and visitors. Rather than isolating residents within conventional apartment corridors, the design challenges this concept and introduces terraces, bridges, and outdoor gathering spaces and gardens that encourage interaction between neighbors while also maintaining privacy within individual units. The proposal contains one, two, three bedroom configurations that support various family sizes. 

Mass timber serves as both the structural and design strategy, with members spanning into the courtyard. A repetitive system of CLT panels and columns establishes an efficient, modular framework that supports prefabrication, reduces construction waste, and lowers embodied carbon. Applications of biophilic living conditions, such as terraced gardens, are also supplemented in the exposed timber elements to enhance the residents’ interaction with the building. 

The ground floor is a mass timber grid, supporting the residences above, in a post-and-beam structural design. The structural members are connected with the consideration of disassembly at the building’s end of life. The beams capture the mass timber floor panels, which are also typical throughout the project, to allow for mass shipment through prefabrication of all members. 

The floor-to-floor height of the project is consistent at each level to provide a uniform dimension, simplifying the design and providing an efficient solution that saves material, cost,  and fabrication time. The mass timber grid also extends up through the residential units to consider carbon emissions in the construction process. 

At the ground level, retail and community-oriented programs activate the street and strengthen connections between residents, local businesses, and transit users. By integrating housing with shared public amenities, the proposal creates a vibrant urban ecosystem. 

Click here to learn more. 

Instagram: @kevin_j.m, @katrinterstegen

Domus Ianicula by Alan Watts, BS in Architecture ‘26
University of Virginia | Advisor: Peter Waldman

Domus Ianicula explores the design of a dwelling system on Roanoke Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina in the form of a multi-generational home fostering an experience of living in the coastal threshold. Sited on a strand of 23 small islands towards the southeast side of the main island, this thesis provides a counter-proposal for the development of this previously protected natural space. 

An individual dwelling on one of these islands faces two ways: the Roanoke Sound and the Atlantic to the east and a protected marsh and the mainland to the west. Those who live in the dwelling share an experience intensified by their relationship to the land as they fish in the sea and garden in the marsh–with no land connection to the rest of Roanoke Island, residents access their dwellings and the community through smaller jon boats on the west side and larger offshore fishing boats from the east side. 

The home begins as a small gathering around a hearth and grows with time and the family via a modular system. A truss system holds a light roof of corrugated metal above the dwelling, protecting the few enclosed living spaces as well as covering shared outdoor spaces. The roof collects water into two cisterns, which is purified, stored, and used by the residents via one central water line running through the dwelling. The main two masses of the building are separated by a central hearth and the intersection of a north-south path which connects dwellings along the strip of 23 islands. This system for housing, once deployed across several of the islands over time, creates a unique anti-urban community for year-round residents that directly interact with the surrounding communities of Wanchese and Manteo.

Instagram: @architectalan.dwg 

Subaltern Alternatives: Reclaiming Agency Through Spatial Articulation by Nadirah Ali, B.Arch. ’26

Kennesaw State University | Advisor: ​​Jade Yang

The concept of the subaltern [was] introduced by Antonio Gramsci to describe populations excluded from political, social, and economic power while still being used to sustain dominant systems. Today, migrant construction workers often occupy this condition: essential to urban growth, yet denied dignity, visibility, and participation in the cities they build. Their housing is frequently reduced to an instrument of control—spaces designed to contain labor rather than support life. This thesis proposes an architectural alternative.

The project examines contemporary cases of labor exploitation in the United States, Qatar, and Singapore, where migrant workers have faced unsafe conditions, wage theft, overcrowded dormitories, and social exclusion. Among these, Singapore becomes the primary site of study. As the city advances new “live-work-play” districts and large-scale redevelopment, thousands of migrant workers are imported to construct this vision, yet remain housed far from the city center with little access to the urban life they create. The thesis asks: when city design decisions are made about who participates in urban life, who is truly at the table?

To answer this, the project studies architecture as a political tool. Precedents such as adaptable collective housing, civic border infrastructures, and hospitals organized through humane circulation demonstrate that space determines who is seen, who participates, and who is excluded. Rather than reproduce another dormitory model, this thesis begins with the everyday spatial practices of the workers themselves. Cultural studies of Indian, Bangladeshi, and Chinese domestic life reveal shared needs: communal cooking, floor-based gathering, prayer, flexible sleeping arrangements, and courtyard-centered social life.

From these observations, the thesis develops a modular kit-of-parts housing system organized around the courtyard as a social and civic core. Kitchens, living quarters, prayer rooms, wash areas, and gathering spaces can be assembled, expanded, or relocated according to changing labor populations and construction timelines. Designed to fit Singapore’s construction grids and transport systems, the kit can occupy vacant urban parcels and active building sites near employment centers.

Tested within Singapore’s CBD fringe redevelopment zone, the proposal repositions worker housing from distant containment to visible urban participation. Subaltern Alternatives argues that architecture must move beyond shelter as control and instead become a framework for agency, citizenship, and dignity. If workers participate in building the city, they must also have the right to participate in living within it.

Click here to learn more. 

This project was selected as one of the Top 5 Thesis Projects for the Niles Bolton KSU Thesis Competition and received an Honorable Mention.

Instagram: @nadirah_ali6_, @​​jadeyjadeyang

Invisible Fragments: Strengthening a Small Informal Settlement within a Transforming Buenos Aires by Camilla Greppi, B.Arch. ’26
Tulane University | Advisors: Ammar Eloueini & Juan Medina

Located in Buenos Aires, Barrio Saldías is a small, often forgotten informal settlement positioned at the edge of major urban transformations. This thesis strengthens the community without erasing its existing fabric or displacing residents. Through selective retrofitting, structurally viable homes are improved with safer circulation, pitched roofs, windows, and doors, while underutilized warehouses are reused for essential programs like education, healthcare, and food access. New incremental housing follows the scale and spatial logic of existing dwellings, allowing families to expand horizontally over time. An abandoned rail corridor becomes a railroad park, creating a public spine that reconnects Barrio Saldías to Villa 31, the port, and the broader city. 

Click here for a closer look. 

This received a Thesis Commendation during the Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment Diploma Ceremony in May 2026.

Instagram: @greppiarchitecture, @eloueini, @salazarsequeromedina

Teaching TID: Reframing Shelter as a Site of Productive Making by Haley Beverlin, M.Arch. ’26
Lawrence Technological University | Advisor: Scott Shall

Homelessness is a systemic, multi-disciplinary issue that demands collaboration across diverse stakeholders to develop shelter models promoting dignity and challenging the current limitations. While not solely an architectural crisis, AEC professionals serve as the link within the design process to ensure final projects translate the needs of users. Current shelter models perpetuate a simplified generic mass-production model of room design. To serve a universal audience, rooms begin to lack personality and limit personal choice, in turn making each room identical to the one next to it. Each person has different forms of trauma, meaning healing is also multi-layered. These differences highlight that residents may have different ideas of what a space for healing may look like.

The approach of Trauma-Informed Designed (TID) fosters ideas of connection, choice, comfort, and safety (Shopworks, 2025). “Choice, closely tied to the concepts of autonomy and control, emerged as a powerful determinant of the residents’ well-being” and heavily influenced whether residents felt “protected or restricted” (Shopworks, 2025). While choice typically comes in the form of navigating independently on site, there is an opportunity to increase this. Makerspaces parallel these ideas by providing people access to “tap into the unique history, culture, or characteristics of their host communities” (Debowski, 4). For those who have been displaced, this is a chance to reconnect with place and identity (see Figure 1).

This thesis argues that the design and creation of objects can be a means to marry the acts of making and healing, for it places the agency in the hands of the residents inhabiting the space to alter it as they please. The incorporation of a makerspace provides a unique opportunity to explore new skills, build connections, and incorporate vocational training within the architectural programming of the shelter. Reimagining the potential of these spaces aims to empower residents within the realm of choice and enhance this element of TID within the building designs. This all could lead to a truly trauma-informed design; the structure given by the architect, but the details defined by the taught users.

Click here to learn more. 

Instagram: @haleybeverlin, @​​scott_shall

Cultivating Agency in Multi-Generational Co-Housing: Respecting Choice with Spatial Articulation for the Betterment of Aging and Growing Communities by Logan Croghan, M.Arch. ’26
Lawrence Technological University | Advisor: Scott Shall

Current housing options in the U.S. limit how individual and family units operate in their homes and communities by reducing their ability to maintain permanent residence. Each year, approximately 40 million Americans move out of their homes due to financial insufficiencies and physical inflexibility. An estimated 63% of households choose to remain in the same county, citing familiarity in their community, existing social ties, and established routines as primary reasons for staying, despite their unsustainable housing options (Harvard University, 2020).

Of the affected households, older Americans are seeking alternatives to institutional settings that support aging in place and their rapidly changing lifestyles more than ever. The University of Michigan found that 88% of Americans aged 55 to 80 wanted to live in their homes as long as possible but did not believe they had the tools to do so (Institute of Healthcare Policy and Innovation, 2022). Housing options with supportive and adaptable qualities would enable older individuals to remain in their established communities and gain the emotional and social comfort that benefits their overall health and those who interact with them (Sharifi, 2023).

 As an alternative option, co-housing can encourage long-term residence among older populations and growing families alike. An iteration of the model can not only expand to include multi-generational households to increase community support, but also incorporate architectural elements that give residents the power to shift spaces as needed. To further understand the impact of spatial alterations over time, shared and privatized spaces require investigation to articulate how negotiation between neighbors can determine the iterations’ legitimacy in encouraging individuals to work together towards the collective goal of remaining in their forever homes.

Click here to learn more. 

Instagram: @taycroghan929, @​​scott_shall

Building Memory: Constructing Collage Architecture in Outer Urban Spaces by Emily Grimaldi, B.Arch. ’26
Virginia Tech | Advisor: Gonzalo Munoz-Vera

Building Memory: Constructing Collage Architecture in Outer Urban Spaces is an architectural thesis that investigates how new development can engage the layered identities of interstitial urban neighborhoods without erasing their cultural and spatial memory. Centered in Astoria, Queens, the project critiques conventional redevelopment practices that replace existing urban fabric with uniform, commodified architecture, often resulting in visual and cultural disconnection. Instead, the proposal advances an alternative design methodology rooted in “collage architecture,” an additive process that preserves, reinterprets, and builds upon the accumulated layers of the built environment.

The thesis is grounded in the understanding that outer urban areas—unlike iconic city centers—evolve incrementally through human-scale interventions over time. Buildings in these neighborhoods are shaped by diverse occupants, resulting in a heterogeneous architectural language rich in memory and identity. These environments function as living archives, where facades, materials, and spatial patterns act as artifacts of social and cultural history. New construction that ignores these qualities risks not only aesthetic disruption but also the erasure of collective memory.

In response, the project proposes a design framework composed of three primary elements: the artifact, the ghost, and the new mass. Artifacts preserve the most historically significant portions of the existing site—such as facades or structural remnants—maintaining their symbolic and material presence. Ghosts reinterpret less significant but spatially important elements as lightweight, frame-like structures that retain the memory of what once existed while creating openness and new public connections. The new mass introduces necessary program—primarily housing—designed to align with the scale, spatial logic, and social dynamics of the surrounding neighborhood.

Through this tripartite strategy, the project creates a “city within a city,” integrating density with familiarity. Housing units are configured to support social interaction, drawing from the spatial principles of traditional Queens homes, while varied materials and forms reinforce the language of collage at multiple scales. Ultimately, Building Memory argues that sustainable urban growth must be rooted in continuity rather than replacement. By embedding memory into the design process, architecture can foster a more empathetic, connected, and contextually responsive urban future.

This project was one of eleven Fifth-Year Thesis Honors Finalists.

Instagram: @grimaldi_ad, @gmunozvera

Empathetic Architecture: Mixed-Use Housing for Young Adults with Autism by Brooklyn Watson, B.Arch. ’26
Kennesaw State University | Advisor: Robin Puttock

Architecture, by its very definition, is the art or science of building; that is, specifically the art or practice of designing and building structures, especially habitable ones (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Besides being an art of habitable spaces, architecture influences how people experience belonging, comfort, and autonomy, yet contemporary design often overlooks the needs of all types of people, such as the neurodivergent experience. Despite advances in technology and policy, architectural design continues to lag in addressing the full spectrum of disability needs. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires accessibility in new construction, but is often interpreted through minimal interventions such as ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms (ADA National Network, 2024). While these measures are critical, they primarily serve visible and physical disabilities, leaving the sensory and cognitive needs of neurodivergent individuals, such as autistic young adults, largely unconsidered. Research has shown that inclusive design practices remain inconsistently implemented across the building industry, with many professionals still defaulting to compliance rather than innovation (Zallio & Clarkson, 2021).

The result is that many built environments remain overstimulating, alienating, or exclusionary. This research redefines accessibility as empathy; an active design approach grounded in human diversity. Through precedent studies, literature, and site analysis, it identifies inclusive tactics such as predictable circulation, sensory zoning, adaptable lighting, and acoustic control. The site at 77 North Park Square in Marietta provides an urban setting where civic and residential systems intersect, fostering both independence and connection. Synthesizing therapeutic, educational, and architectural insights, the project proposes empathetic housing that nurtures comfort, sensory balance, and belonging. Rather than separating neurodivergent and neurotypical users, the design celebrates difference, using architecture as a medium of care, inclusion, and shared humanity.

Instagram: @robinzputtock

Within the Lakou by Bedgid Aurelie Laguerre, Abigail Bauman & Cheyenne Granahan, M.Arch. ’26
Washington University in St. Louis | Advisor: Wyly Brown

This project responds to Haiti’s ongoing displacement crisis by proposing a decentralized housing model for a young professional couple relocating from Port-au-Prince to Cap-Haïtien. Inspired by the traditional Haitian Lakou system, the design combines a compact microhome with a community-oriented framework that promotes collective resilience and mutual support. The proposal reinterprets the spatial and social qualities of the Lakou, including shared outdoor spaces, cultural exchange, and strong social networks, within a contemporary housing solution. By integrating climate-responsive strategies and adaptable construction methods, the project provides safe, dignified, and sustainable housing while supporting cultural continuity and community well-being.

Click here to learn more.

This project was shortlisted for MICROHOME 10 Competition.

Instagram: @B_the_architect, @Dysynchronized, @Cheyennegranahan, @washusamfoxschool

Evolum – Evolving Housing by Antonio Tejeda, B.Arch. ’26
Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro | Advisors: Jorge Javier, Patricia Cutiño, Federico Hernández, Álvaro de los Cobos & Guillermo Márquez

The project emerges as a response to the social, economic, and demographic transformations that have reshaped contemporary ways of living in the city. Today, the largest segment of the economically active population is shared between young adults and established professionals; however, it is paradoxical that younger generations, despite representing one of the most productive sectors of society, face the greatest barriers to accessing a first home. In response to this condition, the proposal introduces an evolutionary housing model based on flexibility, customization, and incremental growth. Conceived as a system of modular vertical-lot towers, the project allows each dwelling to adapt and evolve alongside its occupants. Strategically located in an area with strong connectivity, accessibility, and proximity to urban services, the development promotes efficient land use while ensuring optimal daylight, natural ventilation, and environmental comfort.

Affordability serves as the project’s guiding principle and informs every design decision. To reduce the final cost of housing, underground parking was intentionally avoided, as its construction would have significantly increased the cost per square meter. Instead, parking is resolved at grade alongside the residential towers. Material selection likewise prioritizes durability, low maintenance, and economic efficiency, incorporating exposed three-piece stone-faced concrete block walls that age gracefully without additional finishes, terrazzo flooring that utilizes the structural compression layer as the final surface finish, and permeable linear pavers that facilitate natural groundwater infiltration. In addition, shared amenities are concentrated within outdoor communal spaces, allowing maintenance costs to be distributed across the entire development rather than individual buildings, substantially reducing long-term operational expenses.

Architecturally, each tower is composed of four dwelling units confined by load-bearing walls that provide structural rigidity to the overall system. These units are organized around a central vertical circulation core that opens into a shared lobby, from which each residence is accessed.

The modular structural system is a key element in making this growth strategy feasible.

Instagram: @antoniotejedaa, @arquitectura_anahuac, @arqwave

Stay tuned for Part VIII!

2025 Study Architecture Student Showcase - Part XII

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Part XII of the 2025 Study Architecture Student Showcase features exemplary projects that explore housing-related topics and address challenges ranging from gentrification to high costs. These award-winning designs demonstrate how architecture can promote inclusive housing models rooted in local community, cultural heritage, equity, and affordability.

stacks + studios by Arshia Nikseresht-Ahaki, B.ArchSci ’25
British Columbia Institute of Technology | Advisors: Jody Patterson & Michel Labrie

The City of New Westminster, BC, faces a number of current urban challenges. Housing affordability concerns have caused many local residents to experience housing alienation, while the rising cost of commercial properties and redevelopment pressures are increasing the cost of renting or maintaining creative spaces, pushing artists out of the area. These issues are early signs of gentrification – especially within the historic downtown – threatening local culture and identity. New Westminster is one of several historic downtowns in the Greater Vancouver Area forecast to become “a city without art” in the near future.

This project addresses four key problem areas:

  1. Rising housing costs
  2. Renovations and redevelopment
  3. Shift in housing stock
  4. Changing demographics and community identity by proposing an affordable housing project on a vacant lot, with a public library and artist studio/maker spaces at grade.

With the city of New Westminster emphasizing the importance of preserving the local community identity alongside its culture and heritage, this proposal aims to maintain and enhance this vision. Library and art facilities at grade engage with the greater public and create a vibrant community hub, while residents form a tight-knit network with one another through shared spaces. The project aims to foster interaction and a vibrant community between users who experience social, environmental, and creative alienation, while preserving and enhancing New Westminster’s arts identity. 

To further revitalize this urban fabric, the project aims to increase biodiversity within the building by incorporating green spaces, gardens, and native plant species. These features enhance natural habitat, support local ecosystems, and contribute to a healthier environment, promoting both ecological balance and the well-being of residents and the public.

New Familiar by Negin Sabouhi, M.Arch ‘25
University of Southern California | Advisor: Ryan Tyler Martinez

This thesis explores a speculative design methodology that recontextualizes both architectural typologies and everyday building materials through a game-like system inspired by the mechanics of a Rubik’s Cube. The project investigates the potential of ready-to-buy hardware store materials and modular housing forms to challenge conventional construction practices and spatial expectations.

By reorienting and juxtaposing iconic Los Angeles housing typologies—rotating, combining, and transforming them through a semi-cube modular system—the design generates hybrid typologies that address contemporary urban conditions with adaptability and creativity. This modular framework enables a range of spatial outcomes, where each unit is distinct yet formally related, expanding the possibilities of housing through combinatory logic.

Simultaneously, the use of off-the-shelf materials in unconventional roles—structural, non-structural, and purely spatial—problematizes the ordinary and opens new aesthetic and tectonic dialogues. Through acts of reconfiguration and reapplication, this thesis questions: What is the 21st-century version of recontextualizing everyday materials in architecture? How can reorienting common elements redefine their architectural agency?

The interactive game, featured in the “Ready to Build” section of the website, demonstrates this novel framework in action—showing how a single system can yield multiple, speculative housing proposals. In doing so, the project proposes a new design approach that is both accessible and generative, redefining how we might engage with material, form, and typology in the built environment.

Click here to learn more.

This project was awarded a Distinction in Directed Design Research from the University of Southern California.

 Instagram: @Negin.sabouhi, @ryantylermartinez

SITE-LINES by Maylin Rosales Martinez & Ian Rivera, B.Arch ’25
The City College of New York | Advisor: Damon Bolhassani

The site and its existing conditions are the true architects of our project. Our massing is primarily informed by the natural sightlines and levels of visibility across the site, while also carefully considering environmental factors such as sunlight and wind patterns. When thoughtfully integrated, these elements not only enhance family connections but also promote energy efficiency and simplify long-term maintenance through design construction practices.

This project won the Faculty Award for Academic Excellence in B.Arch Core, 3rd Year.

Instagram: @spitzerschool_ccny, @damon_bol

33/45: Mixed-Use and Architectural Recycling in Querétaro’s Historic Center by Daniela Rivera Ruiz, B.Arch ’25
Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro | Advisors: Guillermo Márquez, Patricia Cutiño, Jorge Javier

“33/45” is a mixed-use architectural recycling project located in the historic center of Querétaro, México. It addresses two urgent urban issues: the lack of affordable housing and the increasing gentrification of the area. In recent years, working-class residents have been pushed out due to rent prices up to six times higher than the average monthly income in the city.

This project proposes an alternative: a dignified, inclusive housing model rooted in cultural heritage and community resilience. The property is owned by the government, allowing for rent regulation and fair, affordable prices. This strategic intervention offers high-quality living spaces that help stabilize and counterbalance the rising costs in the area, making it possible for local people to remain and thrive, restores five abandoned historic houses—protected by the INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History)—and transforms them into 14 housing units and 20 commercial spaces. These ground-level homes and businesses aim to rebuild the urban fabric while ensuring affordability and accessibility for the local community.

Built with traditional Mexican construction techniques, such as brick vaults and modular layouts, the design honors its architectural heritage while remaining efficient and replicable. The materials—warm, familiar, and deeply rooted in Querétaro’s identity—create inviting, cozy spaces that feel like home. Every detail was considered to enhance comfort, daylight, and ventilation, crafting spaces where people can live with dignity. The ground floor becomes a shared threshold between public and private, offering patios and semi-open areas that invite connection and community. The layout draws from urban theories like in-between and rich order to create spatial richness and intimacy within a compact footprint.

“33/45” is more than a housing project—it is a social statement. It challenges speculative urban development and defends the right to stay, belong, and build a future in the place one calls home.

Instagram: @arqui_en_progreso, @dani_riverar, @arquitectura_anahuac, @arqwave

MUTUA collective housing by Jimena Borbón de la Torre, B.Arch ’25
Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro | Advisors: Guillermo Márquez, Patricia Cutiño, Jorge Javier

This project presents a cooperative housing model in the heart of Querétaro, designed to adapt to the changing needs of its residents over time. The homes are built with the possibility of expansion, allowing families to grow and modify their spaces as their needs evolve. A key aspect of this model is the active participation of residents in the construction process. By working directly with materials such as wood, participants not only build their homes but also acquire valuable construction skills, opening up opportunities for self-sustainability through this new trade.

At the heart of the design are the shared spaces, which foster a sense of community and connection. These common areas promote interaction, mutual support, and shared responsibility among neighbors, creating a vibrant and inclusive environment. This project goes beyond housing—it’s about building community, empowering residents, and creating a space where everyone feels a part of it.

Mútua is aimed at all those living in Querétaro who have limited financial resources, own no other property, face difficulties accessing housing in the traditional market, and are willing to join a cooperative. The target audience is people between 20 and 40 years old, interested in living in a strategic urban environment like downtown Querétaro, with immediate access to services, transportation, and commerce. People are willing to commute without a car and use alternative means of transportation.

The project is aimed at those seeking a compact and flexible first home, who are willing to share common areas such as the kitchen, living room, laundry room, and workspaces.

Instagram: @jb_arq_, @arquitectura_anahuac, @arqwave

Home in Flux: Reclaiming Homes for Co-Living by Jennifer Nguyen, M.Arch ’25
University of Toronto | Advisor: Karen Kubey

The single-family home is dying; but the single detached home is ready to be reborn. “Home in Flux” reclaims Toronto’s detached homes as adaptable spaces for intergenerational, multigenerational, and collective living, supporting contemporary and future ways of life. Where Toronto’s housing stock once met resident needs, it is now financially unattainable and spatially inadequate.

Housing is a human right, and homes must evolve with their households. Disrupting conventional spatial patterns, the project inserts flexible spaces into existing housing stock to adapt to shifting families, cultures, and needs. “Home in Flux” provides residents with agency and belonging.

Instagram: @kjenn.n, @karenkubey

Tucson Hope Factory Micro Shelter Project by Yasmina Dashti, Caro Durazo, Souhayla Farag, Ashlea Hume, Graciela Keymolent, Christian MacKay, Daniela Navarro, Olivia Nelson, Chloe O’Hail, Alberto Ramirez, Berenice Ramos Pena, Alondra Rodriguez, Mariana Rodriguez, Josh Russell, Jordan West & Connor Worley, B.Arch ’25
University of Arizona | Advisors: Teresa Rosano & Greg Veitch

The Community Design & Action Capstone Studio engaged 16 fifth-year architecture students from the University of Arizona in designing transitional micro-shelter villages, in collaboration with Tucson Hope Factory and the Drachman Institute. Rooted in trauma-informed and community-based design, the studio addressed housing insecurity through inclusive, service-learning pedagogy.

Across two semesters, students investigated root causes of homelessness, conducted site analyses, and proposed scalable solutions for villages of 10–40 units. They evaluated over 50 Tucson sites, ultimately producing master plans for five viable locations and developing a replicable framework for future implementation. A modular micro-shelter prototype emphasized climate responsiveness, cost-efficiency, and ease of volunteer-led assembly.

Centering lived experience, students engaged directly with unhoused individuals—including veterans and women—as well as nonprofits, service providers, and faith-based partners. A pivotal trip to Seattle included collaboration with Sound Foundations NW (which reports a 63% success rate transitioning residents to permanent housing) and hands-on construction of a tiny home. Students also drew insights from the University of Washington’s Design-Build Studio and Habitat for Humanity’s CHUCK Center.

Throughout the process, students crafted detailed construction guides and prototyped a full-scale shelter to test environmental performance and feasibility. The design prioritizes privacy, safety, and community—balancing individual dignity with collective support.

As one student reflected, “I really appreciated the community aspect of this project, having a real client and really feeling like there was a real project that is making a difference.” A community member echoed: “This is a beautiful project coming to life. I am very proud of the University for being part of this. I am thankful that many lives are being impacted!”

Exemplifying the power of inclusive, community-driven design, the initiative has garnered media attention, secured grant funding, and positioned itself as a scalable model and catalyst for zoning reform in Tucson and beyond.

Instagram: @_carood21, @souhayla_farag, @oliviatnelson, @bere.ramoss, @alondra_rodriguez_j, @mmariandreaa, @jrussell_tm, @jordaan.west, @cj_the_prodigist, @teresarosano

Parametric Housing Aggregation Model – PHAM by Hunter Wells, D.Arch ’25
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa | Advisor: Karla Sierralta

This project reimagines how we design housing in Hawai‘i, starting with one of the most promising solutions: the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). In response to the state’s ongoing housing crisis, the Parametric Housing Aggregation Model (PHAM) is a digital tool that helps homeowners, designers, and policymakers rapidly generate ADU designs that are affordable, space-efficient, and culturally grounded.

At its core, PHAM transforms zoning codes, lot dimensions, and programmatic needs into a flexible design language. Using parametric modeling software and modular components such as bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, the system can generate hundreds of unique ADU configurations based on user inputs like room dimensions, site location, and layout adjacencies. Each option is evaluated in real time for spatial efficiency and estimated construction cost, grounded in localized data from Hawai‘i’s building market.

To bridge technical design with architectural character, the model also integrates AI visualization tools that help communities and designers visualize how ADUs might blend with the island’s built and natural environments. This creates a dialogue between form, culture, and cost, allowing for design solutions that are not only efficient, but place-based and aspirational.

The tool also includes a planning interface where policymakers can explore how changes in zoning or proximity to transit might affect where and how ADUs can be deployed. Ultimately, PHAM functions as both a generative engine and a decision-support platform, empowering homeowners, designers, and city officials to work together toward more resilient and equitable housing futures in Hawai‘i.

Click here to learn more.

This project received the 2025 ARCC King Student Medal – For Excellence in Architectural + Environmental Research.

Instagram: @thewellsdesign, @ksierralta

Pathways to Sustainability: Densifying Sag Harbor by Maxamillion Foley & Samie Zia, B.Arch ’25
New York Institute of Technology | Advisor: Dongsei Kim

Sag Harbor, a scenic East End village on Long Island, has become increasingly unaffordable due to unsustainable zoning and development practices. Current regulations require minimum lot sizes of over 20,000 square feet, but only 25% of each lot can be developed, which raises housing costs and results in land being underutilized. 

Although there are 2,100 housing units, only half are occupied year-round, and many local families face rising costs for housing, energy, and transportation. Large-lot zoning has also displaced small businesses and increased reliance on private cars, which has contributed to population decline, especially among younger residents who often do not return after college due to a lack of affordable options.

Our proposal introduces zoning reforms to support denser, more affordable housing without displacing current residents. By reducing maximum lot sizes to 10,000 square feet and targeting underused parcels, we outline three infill strategies to double or triple housing density while preserving the village’s character. These homes will be designed with environmental considerations in mind, including solar orientation, flood risks, and energy-efficient materials.

We also suggest expanding public transportation by adding four new bus stops and a local shuttle system to decrease car reliance and connect residents to jobs and services. Stops will feature bike storage, solar collection, and small amenity spaces. These changes aim to lower financial burdens, enhance accessibility, and create a replicable model for sustainable growth across the East End.

This project won the Faculty Thesis Award.

Instagram: @dongsei.kim

Fädi, House for the Elderly by María José Castaños Murillo, B.Arch ’25
Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro | Advisors: Guillermo Márquez, Patricia Cutiño & Jorge Javier

The Fädi House concept symbolizes the stages of life through a play and intersection of architectural volumes, each representing a different phase of our lives. The design is conceived as a habitable sculptural piece, where transitions between spaces reflect the passage of time and personal evolution.

We spend every year of our lives trying to live longer and have more retirement years, but we don’t think deeply about how we’ll make those years truly worthwhile, where we will spend those final years.

At the heart of the project, the central gardens act as the symbolic core, representing the purpose and roots of life, while a conceptual bridge links nature with the living spaces, promoting a harmonious integration between humans and their environment.

The arches, inspired by Querétaro’s historic centre, act as portals that link to the interior spaces with nature, evoking the city’s colonial architecture and reinforcing a sense of cultural belonging. By crossing these arches, residents not only connect with the architecture of the project, but also with the history and identity of Querétaro, feeling that they are part of a heritage that transcends generations. The design of patios, gardens, terraces, and other green areas in spaces designated for older adults offers a valuable opportunity to promote social gatherings, participation in group activities, and the creation of spaces for social interaction. These areas seek to minimize feelings of loneliness while promoting well-being and strengthening social interaction in harmony with nature.

Instagram: @mariajoseecm, @archbymj, @arquitectura_anahuac, @arqwave

A Journey Towards Home: A Holistic Approach to Indigenous Youth Homelessness in Winnipeg, Manitoba by Jordan McKay, M.Arch ’25
University of Toronto | Advisor: Karen Kubey

Winnipeg, Manitoba, is home to the highest population of Indigenous people in Canada. Unfortunately, Indigenous youth make up 84% of all Winnipeg youth experiencing homelessness. Utilizing an Indigenous-led approach, “The Journey Towards Home” creates an intentional and purposeful housing space that challenges the colonialist definition of homelessness and alleviates its impact on our youth.

The space fosters an environment for reconnection to land, culture, community, ceremony, and growth within the urban fabric. Emulating the path of the Red River, this multi-use mid-rise residential project promotes growth and healing by creating culturally adequate spaces for learning, connecting, and ceremony within the built form and the landscape. The project houses youth, live-in mentors, and elders and provides built-in services, programs, and amenities.

Instagram: @jmckay43, @karenkubey

Harbor: A Safe Haven that Fosters Growth and Creativity by Mayowa Odunjo & Brenda Meloto De Oliveira, B.Arch ’25
Kennesaw State University | Advisor: Robin Puttock

“Harbor” creates a safe haven that fosters growth and creativity. The design aims to bring people in and create exciting and engaging spaces.

Instagram: @mayze.o, @brendameloto, @robinzputtock

Re-Itera, Collective Housing by Sebastián Mercado Zaldivar, M.Arch ’25
Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro | Advisors: Guillermo Márquez, Patricia Cutiño & Jorge Javier

The reuse of abandoned lots within the Historic Center of Querétaro is the starting point of an urban strategy aimed at reversing the physical and social deterioration of the area. “Re-itera” proposes an affordable, flexible, and site-specific collective housing typology, capable of adapting to the specific conditions of each lot and the transformations of the inhabited environment. The project introduces a replicable, adaptable housing module designed to respond to the physical, historical, and regulatory constraints of the site while enhancing the built environment. 

Each module is configured linearly and comes in two typologies: Type A, which consists of three meters in width and forty square meters, and Type B, of 4.5 meters in width and sixty square meters. Both maintain a depth of fourteen meters and distribute five dwellings along with communal spaces on the semi-basement and rooftop levels. A system of staggered half-levels enables vertical compactness, allowing for compliance with the 7.5-meter height limit imposed by local heritage authorities. The layout centralizes kitchens and bathrooms to optimize infrastructure, while a longitudinal void ensures cross ventilation and natural lighting in every unit. 

The structure is based on a rigid frame system composed of reinforced concrete columns and beams. The floor system uses joist and vault construction, with precast concrete dovetail-shaped vaults, reducing construction time and cost, embracing a material honesty that aligns with sustainability goals. 

The ensemble located on Felipe Luna Norte #22 demonstrates the system’s potential: an underused lot is transformed into 35 new housing units across seven modules—where only four existed before—while preserving historic facades and reinforcing the neighborhood’s character. Shared spaces, including dual-purpose parking and recreational areas, encourage community interaction. 

Rather than imposing new urban forms, Re-itera integrates sensitively into the existing fabric. Its modular logic allows it to densify responsibly, adapt to irregular lots, and preserve architectural heritage. More than a housing solution, it offers a scalable model for urban regeneration—revitalizing neglected areas, fostering inclusivity, and enhancing quality of life through contextual and sustainable design.

Instagram: @elarquitonto, @arquitectura_anahuac, @arqwave

Co-Care Lodge: Community-Focused, Cohousing Care Homes in Toronto by Ho Yeung Miu, M.Arch ’25
University of Toronto | Advisor: Karen Kubey

“Co-Care Lodge” responds to the urgent need for tailored, affordable housing solutions for Toronto’s aging population. Since COVID-19, many city-operated elderly care facilities have become under-maintained, with some facing demolition. The project offers a new intergenerational, care-based cohousing model that reimagines the relationship between older adults, caregivers, and their families.

Through unlocking infill opportunities in established neighborhoods and integrating shared indoor and outdoor spaces, the Lodge integrates new care residences without extensive land acquisition and reduces costs while fostering stronger community ties across roles and generations. Co-Care Lodge embraces a sustainable and replicable building approach that prioritizes economical, durable dwellings that promote long-term community integration while challenging the outdated “warehousing” of seniors.

This project won the University of Toronto Daniels Faculty Design Prize.

Instagram: @o.en.mo._, @karenkubey

Balikbayan: Creating a Sense of Place through Housing by Julia Buli-e, M.Arch ’25
University of Toronto | Advisor: Karen Kubey

“Balikbayan” housing celebrates Filipino cultural identity and fosters community in Toronto’s Little Manila. Facing unaffordable housing and limited flexible spaces, Filipino immigrants have created a vibrant hub. This proposal reimagines balikbayan – Tagalog for “return home” – by adapting traditional Filipino residential typologies, like the “compound,” to a high-density Canadian setting. 

A mid-rise building incorporates familiar design elements to enhance belonging. Using a limited-equity cooperative model, Balikbayan promotes multigenerational living, stability, and inclusivity. The project balances cultural heritage with contemporary urban needs, offering affordable, accessible housing that strengthens community ties. Incorporating live-work and “compound” housing units, Balikbayan is informed by interviews with Filipino Torontonians.

This project won the Irving Grossman Prize.

Instagram: @buli.e, @karenkubey

The Rainier Collective by Marianne Radillas, M.Arch ’25
University of Washington | Advisor: Dawn Bushnaq

The project is from the required ARCH 503 design studio, which focuses on mixed-use, multi-family housing in Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighborhood. Seattle is facing a crippling housing affordability crisis and the studio tasks students with addressing this crisis at scale while responding to neighborhood concerns, creating a vibrant urban environment, and fostering community within the building. The Rainier Collective provides a density of social opportunity, co-living and the individual, and supports an active and interdependent community life. The project consists of 116 co-living units and ground-floor uses, including a bakery, maker space, food bank, and dining hall. The building is configured as a series of discrete blocks with full-height courtyards between them to reduce the scale of the building on the street, provide ample light and ventilation to the units and foster community. Each block houses a discrete co-living community with a central shared kitchen/dining/living space and terrace. A central “street” connects the blocks while providing amenities for the building as a whole, including lounges, game rooms, conversation spaces, and quiet work spaces. The building is clad in an understated gray brick to put the emphasis on the courtyard gardens and the community within.

This project received commends.

Instagram: @mariannered

The Link by Emmaline Payne & Kevin Toudeka, B.Arch ’25
Kennesaw State University | Advisor: Robin Puttock

Situated in Greenwood Bottom, a historic Black Business District, this project aims to link the site to downtown Macon by creating a new hub that promotes interaction between the local community and residents. The project’s interlink space connects pop-up retail spaces with a semi-public co-working area, creating an incubator space for local entrepreneurs.

The use of trees native to Macon contributes to preserving wildlife and enhancing the landscape. An engineered wetland in the central courtyard is effective in managing stormwater runoff, climate regulation, and improving biodiversity while only requiring minimal maintenance. The onsite retention pond holds excess storm water, allowing it to be reabsorbed into the environment, and also replenishes the wetlands.

In an effort to reduce overall embodied carbon emissions, locally sourced and manufactured materials such as wood were selected as the primary building facade component. Our other primary materials include glass, which is locally sourced from a manufacturer only 51 miles from the site.

Instagram: @emmalinepayne, @robinzputtock  

The Understory by Eleanor Lewis, M.Arch ’25
University of Washington | Advisor: Jack Chaffin

The project is from the required ARCH 503 design studio, which focuses on a mixed-use multi-family housing project in Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighborhood. Seattle is facing a crippling housing affordability crisis and this studio introduces all M. Arch students to the challenge of providing much-needed housing at scale while addressing neighborhood concerns, creating vibrant urban spaces, and fostering community within the building. “The Understory” provides 80 units of cohousing along a central residential “street” with an array of community-focused amenity spaces, including lounges, maker spaces, library, art gallery, and community garden. The building is conceived as a series of discrete boxes organized beneath a single, low-slope gable roof. The informal arrangement of the boxes juxtaposed with the continuous roof creates a variety of interstitial spaces that provide ample opportunity for community gathering and the fostering of relationships. The primary structural system is mass timber and the porosity of the building provides ample opportunity for passive heating, cooling, and ventilation in Seattle’s temperate climate.

This project received commends.

Instagram: @l.n.r, @jchaffin32

The Hive by Justin Monzon & Soreya Ganda, B.Arch ’25
Kennesaw State University | Advisor: Robin Puttock

Eco-conscious design for resilient, inclusive, and efficient workforce housing. Inspired by Macon’s historic Tybee community, “The Hive” honors the legacy of Greenhood Bottom, once home to a close-knit Black community known for its flourishing small businesses and cultural vitality. Located on the same site where Tybee residents were displaced by a never realized urban renewal plan, this five-story mixed-use project is designed to bring back the vibrancy and resilience of a once-thriving “Black Wall Street.”

The HIVE combines residential and commercial uses within a community-centric environment. The design prioritizes a lively ground floor with diverse retail options, a community center, a grocery store, and an open courtyard to foster daily interaction and access for Macon residents. Strategically, the project emphasizes reconnection, aiming to seamlessly integrate the Greenhood Bottom neighborhood with downtown Macon through a pedestrian- and bike-friendly environment.

The HIVE is divided into smaller, interlinked structures scaled to reflect Macon’s urban fabric, creating a strong sense of continuity and accessibility. Connection is central to The Hive’s design approach. Drawing inspiration from the Charles Douglass Theatre’s chain symbol, bridges link each building to provide both circulation and community gathering spaces. These public bridges, symbolic of strength and unity, house resident amenities and foster communal interactions, while rooftop gardens contribute to environmental sustainability and urban agriculture. The Hive is both a tribute to Greenhood Bottom’s rich cultural history and a beacon of future resilience, offering Macon a vibrant, integrated, and sustainable community space that connects people and place in meaningful ways.

Instagram: @justin_at_life, @___sosso___, @robinzputtock

Make & Mend by Madeleine Cordray, M.Arch ’25
Washington University in St. Louis | Advisor: Donald N. Koster

“Make & Mend” is a response to the self-initiated research and design proposal fulfilling the degree project requirements for the first-professional Master’s degree program in the Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design at Washington University in St. Louis. Work in this studio is the architectural response to the intentional, programmatic, and situational project brief developed through in-depth research into a specific transect of the St. Louis Region conducted during the prior semester. 

In North St. Louis, rates of violence against women are considerably higher than the national averages, with the State of Missouri ranked seventh in the country for reported domestic abuse.  In crisis, women need more than immediate shelter; they need a safe space that can foster healing, skill-building, and strength. Given the high number of assault cases within the researched transect, the lack of resources to combat violence against women, and a need for economic stability, this proposed safe space for female-identifying individuals and their loved ones takes a unique approach, combining a makerspace to empower women not only as survivors of hardship but also as creators and professionals.

Designed with both privacy and community in mind, the shelter offers a safe, dignified environment while inviting women to engage with the transformative potential of hands-on skills. In the makerspace, residents can explore trades such as woodworking, sewing, and digital design—skills that support pathways to employment and financial autonomy. This architectural intervention is more than just a building; it is a holistic response to the unique needs of survivors. Local artisans and volunteers will host workshops, fostering an environment of shared learning and support, enabling women to rebuild confidence and community connections.

By aligning thoughtful architectural design with critical social services, this safe house and shelter aims to disrupt cycles of violence and poverty, creating a lasting impact. Here, residents find not only refuge but also a resource-rich environment tailored to foster self-sufficiency and future opportunity in a way that strengthens the entire North St. Louis community.

Instagram: @mad.cord, @donkoster

Cadence: The Rhythm of a Community by Marianna Sanchez, Nicholas Stile & Sofia Gomez, B.Arch ’25
Kennesaw State University | Advisor: Robin Puttock

“Cadence” is a sustainable, multi-use building inspired by Macon’s musical heritage. It connects downtown with the site through native landscaping, solar-responsive elements, and local red brick. Featuring photovoltaics, rainwater harvesting, natural ventilation, and geothermal wells, it offers an energy-efficient, community-friendly space blending public and private areas.

Instagram: @msg2002, @nicholas._.stile, @gomez.sofia1, @robinzputtock 

Legacy: A Visual Timeline that Honors Macon’s Past, Embraces its Present and Advocates for its Future by Caroline Puckett & Alejandra Montalvo-Mendez, B.Arch ’25
Kennesaw State University | Advisor: Robin Puttock

As time goes on, it’s easy to forget what got something to where it is today, especially when some of those things are not considered to be highlights in history. However, the worst thing that can happen is forgetting or trying to erase that history. While some moments in time are moments less than ideal, it’s important to acknowledge and understand that without the moments that came before, one cannot move forward. Macon is a city that was shown just that; it acknowledges that its history and origin are filled with the suffering of slaves and other grim moments, but it’s not afraid to show that they have grown from what they once were. 

Their urban landscape is a visual look into the past of Macon and everything they’ve done to create a better city today. Yet, not only does Macon embrace their past in their present, but they are looking to the future for their current and new residents looking to make a home there. Macon is currently looking to create a community where people are not afraid for their future generations and can rest easy knowing that the environment they are in is nurturing and caring for them. One way they’re doing this is by designing a space where people can settle and create their own legacy. This space not only mirrors Macon as a whole in embracing the rich past but also displays where Macon has grown to in this day, while pushing toward the future Macon wants to create for its residents.

Instagram: @thatoneazian, @alejandra_montal, @robinzputtock 

Reconnect with Home : A Long-Term Shelter for Women Who Have Experienced Domestic Violence by Roxanne Boulet, M.Arch ’25
Université Laval | Advisor: Maria Del Carmen Espegel

It is acknowledged that a home should be a place of refuge — a space where one feels safe and free to express intimacy. However, the experience of domestic violence goes against these fundamental needs associated with the notion of “home.”

Although it is commonly believed that domestic violence occurs during the relationship, the violence that happens after separation is often overlooked. Long-term shelters are recognized for offering specialized services in post-separation domestic violence. Through transitional housing, they support women in becoming aware of the violence they have endured and in reorganizing their lives. It is therefore important to consider what design strategies can support women in their process of regaining control over their lives and reconnecting with their homes. More specifically, this project seeks to answer the following question: How can the built environment contribute to the empowerment of women who have experienced domestic violence?

This housing project explores how spatial qualities can help rebuild the bond of trust between survivors and their living space. It examines how the built environment can support the idea of reconnecting with one’s home — the home as a safe, secure, and intimate place — as well as reconnecting with oneself — the home as a space of self-appropriation and self-affirmation.

Click here to learn more. 

Instagram: @roxanne.boulet, @eaul.architecture

Project Nomad: Modern Solution to Adaptable Desert Living by  Nick Pshegodskyy, B.Arch ’25
Academy of Art University | Advisor: Jason Austin

This project is positioned as a UTOPIAN vision that speculates its DYSTOPIAN realities. The temperatures on planet Earth have reached triple digits. The record-breaking temperatures are making uninhabitable large cities with vast surfaces covered with asphalt and concrete. This project assumes that, as a consequence, some people will move away from large urban centers to remote locations such as the Joshua Tree Desert. Open landscape, climate adaptation, and renewable energy production provide a safe haven for the newly transplanted residents. The architecture provides cool breezes, fresh air, and beautiful views of the site. The implementation of the latest technology provides a continuation of services like the internet and deliveries in this remote location. But as we all know, life doesn’t always work as it is described, thus the DYSTOPIAN aspect becomes a central part of the project. The project’s DYSTOPIAN elements draw from social community prototypes based on sci-fi movies, video games, and historical precedents. Life in the desert will not be easy. While project NOMAD provides residents with some conveniences, there is no way to ignore that, beyond the project boundaries, the emptiness of the desert is enormous and hostile to life. This project imagines how humanity might adapt to such a setting.

Click here to learn more. 

This project won the Design Excellence Award.

Instagram: @godsky_design, @aus.mer

Subversive Suburbs – Join the Altadena Land Trust Alliance by Charles Lafon, M.Arch ’25
University of Southern California | Advisor: Sascha Delz

The typical residential subdivisions that define much of the housing supply in the U.S. have drawn persistent criticism from architects and planners. Suburban sprawl has contributed to car dependency, social atomization, and an affordability crisis fueled by land speculation and debt. While urban co-ops and rural utopian communities have attempted to address some of these structural issues, “suburbia” remains deeply tied to conventional forms of ownership, use, and consumption. Subversive Suburbs argues for the adaptation of suburbs into sites that resist, rather than reinforce, these socioeconomic norms. Using post-wildfire Altadena as a case study, this proposal for a Community Land Trust (CLT) and affiliated incentives retains the area’s suburban character while supporting more resilient, collective lifestyles. The envisioned Altadena Land Trust Alliance (ALTA) offers residents who lost their homes the opportunity to convert their land titles into shares in a new housing cooperative that gradually but efficiently redevelops the neighborhood. ALTA incentivizes collectivization by allowing members to build under a new zoning framework, adding a variety of shared infrastructure and amenities without sacrificing affordability. The project thus subverts both the formal and economic logic of suburban development, creating an alternative vision for the future of this contested typology.

Instagram: @coop_urbanism

COOPERATIVE AGING: REIMAGINING MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSING TO SUPPORT AGING IN PLACE by Reilly O’Grady, M.Arch ’25
University of Maryland | Advisor: Ken Filler

Multi-generational housing is an ancient solution to a modern problem. The idea of living in a home with others to share in the workload, responsibilities, and security of the whole has been around since humans first constructed shelters. In modern times, however, we have lost this sense of community and resulting support. A majority of the population is facing elderly age and changing physical and mental requirements. The world is not prepared to care for and house such a large group of elders, especially the United States. Many people, young and old, are forced to move and seek assistance outside of their known and grown homes. Aging in place is the ability to remain in your home or community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level. Multi-generational housing proposes a solution where adaptive unit design, focus on shared spaces, and slow circulation can create a community that grows and changes with its residents. By creating social engagement in an age of isolation, future growth and connection can be inspired in the greater community.

Instagram: @_rjogrady_, @kenfiller

Stay tuned for Part XIII!

2024 Study Architecture Student Showcase - Part XVI

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Welcome to the final installment of the 2024 Study Architecture Student Showcase! It’s been a pleasure to celebrate these inspiring student projects.

Part XVI features student work that reimagines various housing typologies. From high-rise developments and mixed-use buildings to affordable single-family units, each project thoughtfully addresses critical housing issues. The presented design solutions involve incorporating machine learning into the design process, integrating various housing types, and much more. Scroll down for a closer look!

Reducing Architecture by Thomas Steven Tencer, M. Arch ‘24
University of Toronto | Advisor: Carol Moukheiber

Reducing Architecture is a system-based design approach that strives to make the expression of architectural identity more accessible. Architectural discourse often critiques suburban sprawl and the suburban aesthetic (it is unaffordable in an urban context, lacks density, projects outdated images of domesticity, and promotes land ownership which some consider criminal). However, since architecture is so disconnected from the development and design of single-family homes (influencing the design of less than ten percent of this housing type), 1) the practice is incapable of engaging with, disrupting, or affecting the future of the single-family medium.

Reducing Architecture proposes that architecture re-engage single-family housing, which remains Canada’s predominant housing type. 2) By disconnecting architectural expression from longer-lasting building layers, the creation of longer-lasting, higher

performing, and less costly houses is enabled; “A Primed Canvas.” 3) Onto this “canvas” distilled and articulated architectural expressions can be applied, at smaller scales and lower costs, so as not to disrupt the economies of scale achieved by mass-produced developer-built single-family housing. The result is a novel method for the expression of architectural identity, which is accessible, affordable, and efficient. Re-engaging single-family housing enables a discourse that may allow architecture to begin to influence the suburban aesthetic and morphology, rather than ignoring the medium in an act of architectural complacency.

Through Reducing Architecture, the single-family home could become more beautiful, more efficient, more culturally relevant, or more environmentally sensitive, so long as the architectural expressions that result from these objectives remain efficient, affordable, accessible, and desirable to consumers.

1. John Brown, “The Architect and the Single-family House,” Canadian Architect, September 30, 2002.

2. Government of Canada, “Type of Dwelling Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021,” Statistics Canada, 2022.

3. Bernard Leupen, essay, in “Frame and Generic Space a Study into the Changeable Dwelling; Proceeding from the Permanent,” 010 Publishers, 2009, 33-34.

Instagram: @tommytencer

UrbanBots by Karan Patel, Mike Saad & Jacob Sam, M.SC in Architecture ‘24
New York Institute of Technology | Advisor: Sandra Manninger

Overview:

ARCH 702B is the second Advanced Architecture Design Studio in the Master of Science in Architecture, Digital Technologies program at the School of Architecture & Design at the New York Institute of Technology. The studio adopts an applied research approach, focusing on computational design through the development of digital experiments. Depending on the project, students engage with architectural challenges via expert and learning systems in individual, group, or class-wide projects. The studio critically examines the impact of technological advancements on design and fabrication patterns.

Project Focus:

This term, the studio’s focus is on mixed-use housing projects in Manhattan’s Garment District, inspired by the City of Yes initiative by the Department of City Planning. The initiative aims to update New York City’s zoning regulations to support small businesses and create affordable housing. One key strategy is converting underused office spaces and other non-residential areas into mixed-use housing, particularly targeting buildings constructed post-1961.

Motivation:

With hybrid work models becoming the norm, cities must adapt to address escalating housing shortages and rising rents. This transformation is crucial, especially given the national office vacancy rate of 18.6%, as reported by Cushman & Wakefield. The NYC Office Conversion Accelerator program has enrolled 46 buildings, with four already undergoing transformation to yield over 2,100 housing units.

Scope of the Project:

Location: Manhattan, New York

Boundaries: 23rd Street to 40th Street and 5th Avenue to 8th Avenue.

Methods of Assessment:

The assessment methods integrate machine learning (ML) techniques into the design protocol. The process involves three key stages:

Data Retrieval and Dataset Generation:

Collecting and organizing data relevant to the project

Creating comprehensive datasets to inform the design process.

Developing Protocols for 2D Information/Data:

Generating 2D representations and analysis from the datasets

Utilizing computational tools to explore design iterations and visualizations.

Developing Protocols for 2.5D Information/Data:

Extending 2D data into 2.5D models, adding depth and complexity to the visualizations

Applying ML techniques to refine and adapt these models to specific project requirements.

This structured approach ensures that students not only engage with advanced computational tools but also develop practical skills in generating and manipulating data for architectural design. Through this project, students gain valuable experience in leveraging generative AI and ML to address real-world urban challenges, positioning them at the forefront of technological innovation in architecture.

Instagram:@msact_nyit, @sandramanninger_studio

Ascending Worlds by Jose Power, M. Arch ’24
University of Toronto | Advisor: Jeannie Kim

The social landscape of the residential high-rise has precipitated a disinterested and isolated vertical microcosm. The elevator, facilitator of this smooth vertical metropolitan condition, emerges as a pivotal yet neglected architectural space. Despite the expected brevity of our occupation of this instrument of density, the elevator also serves as a momentary junction where the anonymous lives of residents converge. This thesis delves into the elevator’s history and spatial conditions – including its velocity, scale, and temporality – to unveil a space rich in social potential. It aims to redefine the elevator as an instrument of architectural invention capable of reshaping the communal dynamics within residential high-rises.

Instagram: @jose_power21

Leveraging Density –  A proposal for increased density permissions in exchange for affordable housing in Toronto’s Missing Middle by Joshua Giovinazzo, M. Arch ‘24
University of Toronto | Advisor: Carol Moukheiber

This thesis focuses on the intersection between the study of small-scale multi-unit housing typologies and a proposed new planning policy to directly create affordable housing in Toronto’s emerging missing middle. 

Working off existing conceptions of the transition zone, the S.M.U.R.B (Small Multi-Unit Residential Building) is proposed to help fill the density gradient between the existing multiplex and the upcoming Major Street Apartment. This formal solution is then complemented by the proposition of an as-of-right density bonus to systematically increase the supply of affordable units in our neighborhoods as they experience such a significant morphological change.

This policy-based solution is a response to Canada’s current myopic attempt to solve affordability through increased supply. Their approach, which embraces blanket upzoning – fails to define clear affordability targets, resulting in more of the same market-rate development. Learning from precedent policies in Seattle, Texas and Vancouver, the density bonus applied to small-scale housing looks to leverage these increases in density permissions by requiring a portion of the development as affordable housing.

‘Leveraging Density’ is rooted heavily in planning policy and construction finance, because housing is fundamentally the result of city planning and financial decision-making. This work does not focus strictly on an architectural resolution but rather looks to define a realistic framework for multi-unit housing affordability. This project is about the powerful systems that determine the built environment – defining what gets built and who benefits from it

This project won the Daniels Graduating Award. 

Instagram: @joshua.giovinazzo.realtor, @UofTDaniels

The Half-House by Elodie Price, BS in Architecture ’24
University of Virginia | Advisor: Mona El Khafif

The Half House is a generative housing community that expands and contracts depending on changing needs and demographics within a community. The Half House intends to respond to the increasing socio-economic and environmental pressures the world is facing at a global and local scale while promoting the agency of the individual residents in conjunction with community enrichment. In contrast to the typical US house, the Half House minimizes itself in size, material usage, embodied energy, associated carbon emissions, and waste, while maintaining the same amenities and utilities as its counterpart. 

This project takes a stance on neighborhood planning, including shared spaces and the potential for growth and densification over time. Organized into housing groups, a combination of units co-exist below a collective roof, sharing exterior spaces, amenities and resources to contribute to a more environmentally and economically responsible lifestyle. In each housing group, there are solar panels collecting renewable energy, rainwater stored for gray water usage and irrigation, bamboo gardens that sequester carbon and naturally create privacy screens, and vegetable gardens to feed the community and provide healthy outdoor activities. Each unit follows a standardized set of dimensions in such a way that necessary additions (and redactions) can be easily made. The design of the individual unit is firmly based on precedent research and an investigation of the spatial strategies employed throughout a vast array of projects, including nesting rooms within each other, carving into a thickened wall, and flexible furniture. This project negotiates at the scale of the furniture module up to neighborhood planning, and furthermore, as a siteless, deployable object utilized for emergency housing, urban infill sites, or even accessory dwelling units (ADU’s) to densify suburbia. 

The Half House embodies the idea that there is value in less. In a spotlighted prototype of a housing group arrangement that is a focus of this project, fractional units make up the square footage of an average American house, yet can accommodate as much as 4x the amount of people. This is achieved through space-saving strategies, flexibility and modulation, and an intentional design of the space between the units as equally important as the space inside each unit. The housing group has the ability to change over time, reflecting the shifting needs and demographics of the residents. Thus, it is a housing intervention that responds to the social, economic, and environmental needs of its occupants as well as the ecological site.

Instagram: @aschool_uva, @elodiemprice

Miami Made: Housing in the Tropics by Felipe Palacio Trujillo & Nicole Niava, M. Arch ’24
Yale University | Advisors: Adib Cure, Carrie Penabad & Deborah Garcia

Housing in Miami primarily features two typologies: the single-family detached home and the multi-story apartment block. The large gaps in the housing market prompted our studio to explore alternative solutions by imagining new housing typologies. Our project finds a middle ground, envisioning a mid-density housing typology inspired by the back bay townhouse and influenced by the “casa patio”—a traditional housing style of Latin America. 

The studio selected a 30-acre site located between Little Havana and Flagami. This site presented a tabula rasa condition which allowed us to rethink urbanism for these new typologies. Our design extends the Miami grid to integrate the site into the city while halving the typical Miami lot width from 50′ to 25′. This increased density facilitated the inclusion of a public park in the center of the lot, achieving greater density than typical Miami blocks. We envisioned urbanism as incremental, with each block functioning as a micro-neighborhood that could be built by small developers, thereby supporting incremental urbanism in the city. The arrangement of the block also decreases overall parking space while ensuring at least one parking spot per unit.

Within the block, we proposed two distinct housing typologies to foster diversity in sizes, ages, and incomes: a townhouse and an apartment building. The townhouse layout includes two areas: one for living, kitchen, and dining, and another for bedrooms and support spaces, connected by a courtyard. This design allows for cross-ventilation and access to nature. While designed for mechanical ventilation, the architecture encourages the use of passive systems for most of the year. The units are constructed using local materials and techniques, such as concrete block, precast vaults, tile, metalwork, and keystone. Emphasis on material and vegetation ensured a connection to the weather, nature, and culture of Miami.

The apartment block adapts features from the townhouse, tailored for communal living. The 25′ lot width remains consistent, with the townhouse elevated into a podium. This configuration creates six apartments on the first floor and six double-height apartments above, ranging from studios to three-bedroom units. The courtyard, featuring a water element and lush vegetation, provides a communal gathering space that ensures cross-ventilation while maintaining privacy for residents.

This project was published in Retrospecta 47. 

Instagram: @fptrujillo, @nicoleniava, @cureandpenabad

Parkside Avenue: Transforming Toronto’s Mid-Central Residential Neighbourhood by Oluwatobiloba Babalola Oluwaseun, M. Arch ’24
University of Waterloo | Advisors: Val Rynnimeri & Samantha Eby

The Parkside Avenue project addresses critical housing issues in Toronto’s mid-central residential neighborhoods, particularly within the “Yellow Belt,” known for its older single-family homes. This initiative aims to create a balanced urban solution that integrates market-based residential buildings with non-profit cooperative housing and other alternative models. The primary objective is to enhance housing affordability and mitigate the shortage of affordable housing options in the area.

Located between Pape Avenue and Gerrard Street, the project site encompasses approximately 50 private single-family homes. Its strategic location, near the high-traffic Gerrard Station and adjacent to Blake Street Junior School and Pape Avenue Junior School, makes it a prime area for redevelopment. The Parkside Avenue project plans to replace the existing 50 single-family units with 109 new residential units.

This development represents a significant shift in urban planning for the neighborhood, aiming to accommodate a diverse range of residents and provide more inclusive housing solutions. By integrating various housing types and focusing on affordability, the project seeks to foster a more vibrant, sustainable, and accessible community. The Parkside Avenue project stands as a model for addressing urban housing challenges while preserving the character and livability of Toronto’s established neighborhoods.

This project won the Design Studio Award, the Highest standing in ARCH 690 in the MB semester.

Instagram: @oluwatobilobababalola_

The Room is the Building is the City: Open-Ended Approach to Miami’s Housing Crisis by Sharona Cramer & Yotam Oron, M. Arch ’24
Yale University | Advisors: Adib Cúre, Carie Penabad & Deborah Garcia

Introduction (The Site, the Brief, and Our Approach):

Miami, currently the most unaffordable major city in America, faces a housing crisis with limited and unsuitable options for its growing needs. The city is dominated by detached single-family homes and high-rise condos, contributing to suburban sprawl and high land costs. Mid-rise housing models, offering innovative urban living solutions, have been largely overlooked.

The studio’s task was twofold: to propose a master plan for a 38-acre vacant parcel on the outskirts of Little Havana, addressing Miami’s urban morphology, and to design a new mid-rise urban housing typology for Miami, featuring mixed-use buildings with commercial/office spaces at ground level and various apartment types above.

To tackle these issues, which characterize Miami but are not limited to, the project operates at a wide range of scales, from the single room to the urban fabric, promoting an approach of open-ended locality. This combines consideration of climate, materiality, culture, and economy with flexible, rational, and modular architectural solutions.

The City:

Due to its limitations and restrictions, Miami’s current zoning, led by its parking regulation, makes building complicated and expensive. The market lacks competition, which makes housing unaffordable and attracts mainly big developers, prioritizing profit-making over building and architectural quality. The typical development project is done by conglomerating lots to develop ‘luxurious’ huge-scale anti-urban and anti-social residential compounds.

By suggesting a much more flexible and open alternative zoning system and limiting the conglomeration of lots, the project seeks to invite multiple players to participate in the city’s future development, creating quality, affordable, and diverse urban spaces and housing stock.

Additionally, the project proposes a series of site-specific design decisions: To connect the site to Miami’s urban fabric, we decided to continue the grid through the site and divide it into urban blocks similar in size to the adjacent blocks, then divide each block into lots in the typical Miami lot size: 50* 100 feet. Learning from successful urban spaces in the city, we propose a series of pedestrian streets and a linear park connecting all blocks from south to north. 

The Building:

In the project, we developed a mid-rise courtyard infill type. While the flexible zoning system allows multiple typologies, we chose to develop an infill building since Miami currently lacks this type. Furthermore, we believe that infill typologies offer potential in terms of high density, and the sort of streets they generate.

Inspired by similar typologies like the Berlin courtyard houses, the Mexican Vecindad, and the Creole townhouses, we created a local interpretation that reacts to the regional tropical climate and contemporary Miami standards. On one single lot, two relatively thin volumes are positioned, leaving a space for a central courtyard. The interior rooms, which have two orientations, are cross-ventilated and naturally cooled.

The building is designed using repetitive modules, thus increasing affordability and efficiency, making it easy to construct. Through sensitivity to details, use of materials, and small, subtle architectural gestures, these are realized without sacrificing architectural and spatial quality.

The building is divided into two distinct sections: “service” wings; housing private rooms, and an open flexible central “served” space. These sections are treated differently in terms of materials and construction techniques. The service wings hold all systems, structures, and storage, allowing the central area to remain free of these elements. This central space features light concrete precast vaulted slabs, which give the building its unique architectural character. The thicker floor sections in the service wings provide flexibility for plumbing fixtures, enabling them to drain through the floors to the vertical pipes that are located along the party walls – maximizing flexibility and allowing multiple apartment layouts.

The Room:

Instead of conventional drywall partitions, the project incorporates a modular furniture system that maximizes usable open space and provides flexibility. These modules can serve as walls, partitions, storage spaces, or even house plumbing fixtures. The variety and placement of these modules enable different floor plan configurations, allowing the housing units to be divided into two separate units—a main apartment and a studio—or to modify the internal layout of the apartment itself. 

The central open living space is designed to respond to and take advantage of the local tropical climate. Drawing inspiration from traditional and vernacular tropical architecture, deep loggias and shaders provide protection from the harsh sun during certain hours, while also serving as outdoor rooms that integrate the outdoors into daily life. The central living space opens up to the loggias, creating a cross-ventilated indoor-outdoor environment.

This project was Nominated for the Feldman Prize at Yale School of Architecture.

Morphological Growth of Raleigh by Raja Manikam Bandari, M. Arch, PhD in Design Candidate ’24
North Carolina State University | Advisors: Sara Queen & Tania Allen

Across the US, we are witnessing a housing crisis catalyzed by a pandemic-related housing shortage and exaggerated by income inequality resulting in a disproportionate burden on the poor and non-homeowners. This visual essay examines historic and contemporary data to interrogate many of the complex factors that have contributed to the current state of housing in Raleigh, the Triangle, North Carolina, and the US. The primary aim of this research is to create more equitable, effective and innovative design and planning approaches to the future of housing and urban development writ large.

Spatial Morphology (1)

This map series charts Raleigh’s historical expansion, tracing how the city’s footprint has expanded over time. Historical context illuminates pivotal moments of growth and development, showcasing the transformation of rural landscapes into urban areas and residential neighborhoods.

Temporal Morphology of Raleigh (2) 

This map illustrates the city’s expansion over time, showcasing the interplay between population influx and territorial expansion. Since its master planning by William Christmas in 1792, Raleigh has undergone significant transformation driven by diverse factors such as commerce, education, trade and natural opportunities. This timeline serves as a chronological thread, connecting historical milestones with the city’s expanding boundaries and changing demographics.

Proximity Growth Analysis of Raleigh (3) 

This map reveals a detailed analysis of Raleigh’s morphological growth pattern from 1792 to 2019 through proximity radar charts centered on the State Capitol Building which tracks annexed lands in relation to the city’s geographical center. Each radar chart depicts the distance in miles between the State Capitol and annexed parcels of land during a specific time period. The central graph illustrates the cumulative annexations over time.

Morphological Growth of Boylan Heights (4)

This map offers an intimate exploration of the morphological characteristics and unique layout of Boylan Heights, a neighborhood distinguished by its sloping topography and curvilinear street design. Situated on elevated terrain, Boylan Heights descends gradually from its highest point at Montfort Hall towards the east, south and west directions. Unlike the traditional right-angle grid common in earlier Raleigh developments, Boylan Heights features the city’s first curvilinear street grid, designed to harmonize with the natural slope of the land.

This project was selected as a finalist for the APDU Data Story Telling Award, AIA ASPIRE Student Design Award, and NC State Research Image Award.

Instagram: @raja_manikam_brv, @tanialeighallen, @rainrainqueen

Zoning Policy & Housing by Kole Retterath, B. Arch ’24
North Carolina State University | Advisors: Sara Queen & Tania Allen

Across the US, we are witnessing a housing crisis catalyzed by a pandemic-related housing shortage and exaggerated by income inequality resulting in a disproportionate burden on the poor and non-homeowners. This visual essay examines historic and contemporary data to interrogate many of the complex factors that have contributed to the current state of housing in Raleigh, the Triangle, North Carolina, and the US. The primary aim of this research is to create more equitable, effective and innovative design and planning approaches to the future of housing and urban development writ large.

Zoning and Affordability Incentives (1)

This map series explores the influential forces of zoning and affordable development policies on the current housing crisis. Zoning has major implications for cost, availability and affordability by indirectly impacting the supply and demand of housing stock. By highlighting how restrictive zoning policies historically privileged single-family typologies and reduced the opportunity for diverse affordable housing units, these maps illustrate how we have arrived at our current “Missing Middle” condition.

Residential Zoning in Raleigh (2)

This map isolates residential zoning categories and illustrates the dominance of residential single-family zoning (R-1 to R-10) in a purple gradient in contrast to the emerging pockets of residential mixed-use zoning (RX) in orange. The white negative space of the map indicates large institutional footprints and transportation corridors with industrial and commercial land uses.

Understanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (3)

This map visualizes all LIHTC projects in Raleigh and their respective values. Created in 1986, LIHTC is a method of financing rental unit development that caps rent amounts in exchange for equity-building tax credits. LIHTC remains one of the most important tools to finance affordable rental units, but drawbacks include that rent amounts are not permanently capped and very low-income renters often still require assistance to pay rent.

Perceptions of Zoning Policy: Oakwood Ave (4)

This perceptual collage depicts the diverse conditions along Oakwood Avenue which runs east-west from College Park and Washington Terrace neighborhoods to the Historic Oakwood neighborhood and exemplifies the impact of zoning overlay districts and preservation incentives in appearance and investment.

This project was selected as a finalist for the APDU Data Storytelling National Award, AIA ASPIRE Regional Student Design Award, and NC State Research Image Award.

Instagram: @tanialeighallen, @rainrainqueen

Homeownership & Economic Prosperity by Dillon Patel, B. Arch ’24
North Carolina State University | Advisors: Sara Queen & Tania Allen

Across the US, we are witnessing a housing crisis catalyzed by a pandemic-related housing shortage and exaggerated by income inequality resulting in a disproportionate burden on the poor and non-homeowners. This visual essay examines historic and contemporary data to interrogate many of the complex factors that have contributed to the current state of housing in Raleigh, the Triangle, North Carolina, and the US. The primary aim of this research is to create more equitable, effective and innovative design and planning approaches to the future of housing and urban development writ large.

Homeownership, Median Income and Urbanity (1)

This map series highlights the intricate relationship between homeownership rates and median income levels at four different scales. Nationally, urban areas are concentrated alongside major infrastructure, enhancing economic prospects. In NC, rural regions exhibit significantly higher homeownership rates, despite lower median incomes, compared to urban counterparts that attract higher incomes but fewer homeowners.

Median Income and Housing Affordability (2)

This map sheds light on contrasting economic landscapes within NC while highlighting the intricate interplay between income, housing costs, and the pursuit of homeownership. The graph traces the evolution of median incomes and average house listing prices to underscore the stark economic disparities within the state. It reveals Wake County as an apex of economic and housing market vitality as compared to Raleigh, the broader state, and Bertie County.

A History of Economic Disparities In Wake County NC (3)

This timeline charts how Wake County’s economic vibrancy stems from the distinct developmental patterns of its towns and the surrounding counties. Western Wake towns and cities have remained ahead of eastern towns due to the western-focused development toward the Research Triangle Park, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Average housing values are higher in western towns and cities of Wake County, and these are correlated with higher population counts and higher median income levels.

Old Roots, New Rises: Transitions of Architecture (4)

This investigative, on-the-ground mapping project delves into the architectural transformations in Raleigh’s Farrier Hills and Lakemont neighborhoods by documenting the evolution from traditional ranch-style homes to modern, multi-story residences, reflecting a complex interplay of tradition and modernization.”

This project was selected as a finalist for the APDU Data Storytelling National Award, AIA ASPIRE Regional Student Design Award, and NC State Research Image Award.

Instagram: @dilpickle01, @tanialeighallen, @rainrainqueen

Growth & Vulnerability by Gabrielle Schiltz, B. Arch ’24
North Carolina State University | Advisors: Sara Queen & Tania Allen

Across the US, we are witnessing a housing crisis catalyzed by a pandemic-related housing shortage and exaggerated by income inequality resulting in a disproportionate burden on the poor and non-homeowners. This visual essay examines historic and contemporary data to interrogate many of the complex factors that have contributed to the current state of housing in Raleigh, the Triangle, North Carolina, and the US. The primary aim of this research is to create more equitable, effective and innovative design and planning approaches to the future of housing and urban development writ large.

Growth & Vulnerability: Examining Development and Marginalized Groups (1)

This map series explores the complex relationship between redevelopment and marginalized communities. The concentration of recent building permits and opportunity zones illustrates foreseeable development with loose correlative patterns between growth and marginalized populations.

Growth & Vulnerability: The Disproportionate Rise of Housing Prices (2)

This map explores the potential correlation between residential development and marginalized demographics, questioning if historical patterns persist or are becoming increasingly obsolete. There are many factors that determine if a population is considered marginalized, prime factors articulated through this series include race, income, employment status, and housing burden.

Growth & Vulnerability: A Study of Housing Flux Within Wake County (3)

This visualization explores the relationship between population density, housing unit density and population growth within socially vulnerable communities using the CDC’s Socioeconomic Vulnerability Index (SVI). The map categorizes Census Tracts per SVI percentile with the least vulnerable census tracts at the top and the most vulnerable tracks at the bottom. Each string articulates the population and housing unit growth or decline from left to right.

Growth & Vulnerability: Erasure of Neighborhood Identity: South Park (4)

This map offers a human-centric counter-narrative to the statistical analysis of redevelopment featured in earlier maps and considers: Who is represented within neighborhood data and how do their lives weave into the greater tapestry of the community? The map illustrates the in-progress erasure of South Park’s historically rooted identities due to contemporary redevelopment patterns.

This project was selected as a finalist for the APDU Data Storytelling National Award, AIA ASPIRE Regional Student Design Award, and NC State Research Image Award.

Instagram: @gabrielle.schiltz, @tanialeighallen, @rainrainqueen

Are Opportunity Zones Helping or Hurting? by Maggie Kroening, B. Arch ’24
North Carolina State University | Advisors: Sara Queen & Tania Allen

Across the US, we are witnessing a housing crisis catalyzed by a pandemic-related housing shortage and exaggerated by income inequality resulting in a disproportionate burden on the poor and non-homeowners. This visual essay examines historic and contemporary data to interrogate many of the complex factors that have contributed to the current state of housing in Raleigh, the Triangle, North Carolina, and the US. The primary aim of this research is to create more equitable, effective and innovative design and planning approaches to the future of housing and urban development writ large.

Examining Income and Rentership within OZs (1)

This map series looks at the impact of Opportunity Zone designations on neighborhood displacement and overall housing burden. Signed into law by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Opportunity Zones (OZs) were originally launched as a place-based tax credit to encourage investment in impoverished communities, but have since faced a large degree of controversy.

Are Ozs Helping or Hurting? (2) 

This map features two contrasting cases, Erie, PA and Washington DC, exemplify the debate around OZs. US Treasury analysis reveals that 48% of zones do attract investment, but funds are often concentrated in isolated fractions of the whole zone. According to the NLIHC, targeted OZs often experience economic growth and renter displacement prior to investment. For Wake County, tracking OZ developments is crucial to examine who they serve and if they are contributing to equitable development.

Renter Cost Burden in OZs (3)

This map highlights change in rates of rent cost burden within OZs from three disparate countries, Wake (Raleigh), Washington DC, and Hennepin (Minneapolis), from 2017 to 2022 through box plots and beeswarm visualizations. The most extreme cases of either an increase or decrease of cost burden within each county are shown by tract.

Delineating the Fringe: OZs and Housing (4) 

This map records observations of the Southern Gateway OZ along the Lake Wheeler corridor in Raleigh NC. Within a half mile three extremes of housing conditions were observed: new high-rise apartments, existing single-family homes, and people experiencing homelessness. This map raises complex questions concerning the impacts and opportunities of increased density and redevelopment fueled by OZs.

This project was selected as a finalist for the APDU Data Storytelling National Award, AIA ASPIRE Regional Student Design Award, and NC State Research Image Award.

Instagram: @maggie.k, @tanialeighallen, @rainrainqueen

Predatory Development by Lucas Stott, B. Arch ’24
North Carolina State University | Advisors: Sara Queen & Tania Allen

Across the US, we are witnessing a housing crisis catalyzed by a pandemic-related housing shortage and exaggerated by income inequality resulting in a disproportionate burden on the poor and non-homeowners. This visual essay examines historic and contemporary data to interrogate many of the complex factors that have contributed to the current state of housing in Raleigh, the Triangle, North Carolina, and the US. The primary aim of this research is to create more equitable, effective and innovative design and planning approaches to the future of housing and urban development writ large.

What Makes a Neighborhood Vulnerable? (1)

This map series illustrates markers for housing vulnerability (race, housing burden, age, and occupancy status) to identify tracts as more/less vulnerable. These measures of vulnerability are overlaid with measures of population growth and the areas of overlap suggest the neighborhoods most vulnerable to the threats of gentrification.

Predatory Development (2)

This map visualized patterns of redevelopment in Southeast Raleigh which has historically had low-income residents and under-valued properties. By plotting building permit data, we see a distinct pattern of developers active solely within Southeast Raleigh versus developers that avoid it completely.

Speculative Real Estate and Community Vitality (3)

This graphic aims to raise questions about the ethics of modern-day, speculative property sales. Southeast Raleigh, a region with high housing vulnerability, has seen drastic changes in the ownership and popularity of its land. Over time it transformed from an affordable, black neighborhood into a threatened historic district torn apart by redevelopment, rising housing costs, and speculative real estate.

Urban Squeeze: The Weight of Gentrification (4)

Walking through the South Park neighborhoods reveals a shift from shotgun houses and net-less basketball hoops to two-story contemporary houses flanked by Teslas and neon playgrounds. At this map’s core is a weather-worn, dilapidated house—a relic of South Park’s past and a poignant symbol of the challenges faced by its residents. Street photographs of recently constructed housing developments, all within 500 feet, are meticulously collaged to convey the experience of ongoing social suffocation and displacement.

This project was selected as a finalist for the APDU Data Storytelling National Award, AIA ASPIRE Regional Student Design Award, and NC State Research Image Award.

Instagram: @tanialeighallen, @rainrainqueen

Live, Laugh Learn: Affordable Housing in Honolulu by Marco Zhou, B. Arch ’24
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Advisor: Pablo La Roche

Live Laugh Learn is a sustainable affordable housing project in Honolulu to provide housing for educators and researchers. Due to the high cost of living in Hawaii, there are poor retention rates for teachers, and schools rely on emergency hires. This project, located between an elementary, middle, and high school, provides an option to alleviate this issue. There are 120 units, and the ground floor fosters well-being and education. The project also aligns with the University of Hawaii’s core value, Aloha “Aina. The project aims to create a social hub that harmonizes surrounding amenities and infrastructure, promoting biodiversity in a dense urban area. AIA’s COTE framework for design excellence was integrated into the design. Energy modeling and carbon calculations were an integral part of the design process from the beginning. 

Instagram: @marcozhou_, @pmlaroche

Interested in being featured in next year’s showcase? Stay tuned for updates this summer!

Auburn University's Rural Studio Front Porch Initiative

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Auburn University’s Rural Studio and its Front Porch Initiative have made great contributions to several communities in the Southeast thus far in 2021.

By partnering with affordable housing providers throughout the region, the Front Porch Initiative has been able to support the completion of several houses and the groundbreaking for others since February. All totaled, nine homes are or will soon be under construction through the Rural Studio program, which features homes designed by the College of Architecture, Design, and Construction, or CADC, students enrolled in the School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture, or APLA.

These homes are the result of partnerships with housing providers in the Southeast who leverage the applied research and prototype home designs developed through Rural Studio’s ongoing teaching and research with the technical assistance offered by the Front Porch. The initiative leadership includes principal investigator Rusty Smith, associate director of Rural Studio and an APLA faculty member, and co-principal investigators Mackenzie Stagg and Elizabeth Farrell Garcia, assistant research professors.

“In 1993, Rural Studio began by designing and constructing a single home for one family in rural west Alabama,” Smith said. “Acting almost on instinct, we knew then that access to safe and affordable homeownership might be the key to unlocking prosperity in under-resourced communities. Now almost 30 years later, the research is unequivocal: having equitable access to healthy, efficient, and durable housing is one of the most powerful social determinants of health. Leveraging this power of homeownership, Rural Studio’s Front Porch Initiative brings together the best housing products, partnerships, practices, and policies necessary to provide opportunity and advance equitable outcomes throughout the Southeast and in the communities and families that need it most.”

The Front Porch Initiative is a program of Auburn’s Rural Studio, an off-campus design-build program in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture that has been educating citizen architects in Hale County, Alabama, since 1993. The initiative—whose mission is to promote equitable access to affordable, dignified, energy-efficient, resilient, and healthy housing—is supported through Rural Studio’s partnership with Fannie Mae.

Front Porch partner Affordable Housing Resources, or AHR, in Nashville was the first collaborator to break ground and complete a collection of four new homes. With estimated mortgage payments of $900 a month, the new homes align with AHR’s mission is to provide affordable housing to Nashville residents.

The Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity, or CAHFH, broke ground on a pair of Rural Studio-designed homes in Jackson County, Florida, on Feb. 25, with two more in the planning stages. Construction of the homes is bolstered through a new partnership with the Building Construction Technology Program at Chipola College that enables students enrolled in the program to earn class credits in exchange for building the CAHFH homes.

On May 7, the Florida project took a big step forward thanks to CAHFH’s Women Build event, which brought out a group of approximately 50 women from the region. Stagg represented Rural Studio on the special day, which saw builders frame the interior and exterior walls of one home, install hurricane straps to another, and air seal the home to increase energy efficiency.

“The work with Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity and Chipola College is an exciting collaboration that unites our shared resources in order to increase equitable housing access, facilitate continued disaster recovery efforts, and grow a skilled workforce that is prepared to build back better and mitigate damage from potential future weather events,” Stagg said. “It has been a rewarding experience to see how many pieces of the complex housing system have started to come together.”

Certified Community Housing Development Organization Eastern Eight CDC, or E8CDC, is partnering with Front Porch to build a model home to attract more interest from residents of eastern Tennessee to pursue small-unit offerings in the area. The team broke ground on the house on April 8 with representatives from Rural Studio, Appalachia Service Project—a not-for-profit builder providing home repairs and new construction—and E8CDC, which provides a range of housing services to clients in an eight-county service area.

The Front Porch Initiative currently works with organizations in Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, and South Carolina. Auburn’s Rural Studio is based in Newbern, Alabama, and has a 15-year history of developing affordable, high-performance rural homes.