Posts

2025 Study Architecture Student Showcase - Part XIII

/in , , /by

Sustainability takes the spotlight in today’s edition of the 2025 Study Architecture Student Showcase. In Part VIII, we take a look at projects that incorporate sustainable practices to combat climate change while supporting local communities. The featured strategies include intentional material selection, environmental analyses, integrating ecological preservation, daylighting, holistic integration, natural ventilation systems, regenerative design principles, and more. 

Scroll down for a closer look and get a glimpse at the future of green design practices!

V.L.A.B. Innovation Center by Nadiia Rudenko, Ryan Choucair & Zaynab Alhisnawi, M.Arch ’25
University of Detroit Mercy | Advisors James Leach & Kristin Nelson

The Innovation Lab was designed with three primary objectives: to foster connectivity, enhance experiential qualities, and create a highly sustainable building. Our design process was guided by extensive research, incorporating qualitative, secondary, and applied methodologies. 

We began with qualitative observational research, conducting on-site visits to analyze the existing environmental conditions, pedestrian flow, and spatial characteristics. This initial study helped us understand how users currently interact with the site and informed our approach to improving connectivity and engagement. 

As the project progressed, we conducted secondary research to evaluate critical factors such as climate, infrastructure, and energy efficiency. Understanding Detroit’s climate, seasonal variations, and sustainability challenges allowed us to make informed decisions about material selection, glazing optimization, and shading strategies. To ensure the building’s energy performance was efficient, we used applied research, testing both passive and active systems to optimize thermal comfort, daylighting, and energy use intensity (EUI).

One of our key design achievements was creating a space that strengthens the relationship between the interior and exterior experience of the building. Strategically, we established a welcoming atmosphere where people outside feel invited in, and those inside remain connected to their surroundings. 

We utilized cove.tool, a data-driven simulation platform that allowed us to refine our design through environmental analysis and energy modeling. Ultimately, our research-driven approach led to a building that successfully embodies our core design principles.

Instagram: @zaynab_alhisnawi

Falling Stars Protocol by Adeniyi Onanuga, B.Arch ‘25
Drexel University | Advisor: Wolfram Arendt

“The Falling Stars Protocol” proposes solutions to climate disasters by using biomimicry and climate science to analyze current weather and environment trends, protect endangered biomes, support community-driven ecological stewardship, and advocate for multilateral climate action legislation.

By leveraging natural systems, representation, and education strategies accessible to all – including local communities, scientists, and tourists – this framework emphasizes active recovery and resilience rather than passive preservation. 

Though the framework does not always call for architectural solutions, this prototypical implementation addresses potential Biodiversity Loss in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa through a botanical research campus and tourism-centric living collections.

Click here to learn more.

This project was nominated for the Michael Pearson Award.

Instagram: @neonanuga, @drexel.architecture

EcoScape: When Nature and Culture Converge by Nadia Bryson & Fairy Patel, M.Arch ’25
New York Institute of Technology | Advisors: Marcella del Signore & Evan Shieh

“EcoScape” is a sustainable architectural proposal that reimagines tourism in Rio de Janeiro by integrating ecological preservation, cultural heritage, and urban development. Responding to the environmental degradation caused by mass tourism and industrialization, the project proposes a green infrastructure network that connects natural, cultural, and recreational spaces throughout the city. Inspired by the Eden Project, EcoScape merges immersive biomes—such as rainforest, aquatic environments, butterfly sanctuaries, and wetlands—with educational and public spaces designed to foster environmental awareness and biodiversity conservation.

The proposal is grounded in a historical timeline of Rio’s environmental transformation, from the sustainable practices of Indigenous communities like the Tupi and Guarani, through colonial exploitation and industrial expansion, to the present-day shift toward ecological recovery. Over the centuries, deforestation, resource extraction, and urban sprawl have replaced natural habitats and strained ecosystems. EcoScape responds to this legacy by restoring ecological balance, promoting green corridors, and introducing community-focused tourism that prioritizes education and sustainability.

The spatial design follows a progression from compact cores to open, connected networks. Circulation rings, transitional nodes, and elevated pathways allow for seamless visitor flow while preserving natural terrain. Zones are designated for specific types of tourism—beach, cultural, eco-adventure, festival, and sports—with modular structures like open-air pavilions, courtyards, and arenas accommodating various activities.

Stakeholder engagement is central to the design, involving local communities, governments, researchers, and tourists in the stewardship of Rio’s ecological and cultural assets. The site functions as a hybrid of a public attraction and an environmental research center.

Ultimately, EcoScape envisions a future where nature is not merely a backdrop to tourism, but the primary experience. It transforms Rio into a living landscape where ecological awareness, cultural celebration, and sustainable development converge, inviting visitors to become participants in preservation rather than passive consumers.

Instagram: @blanca_nieves123, @fairy_5828, @ev07, @marcelladelsi

Water Comes First – “Enhancing lifelong cities as culture endures” by Bruno Antonio Remis Estrada, Melina Guajardo Gaytán, Edgar Jhovany Ochoa Ángeles, María Fernanda Felix González & Brenda Lizeth Ortega Villalobos, B.Arch ’25
Tecnológico de Monterrey | Advisors: Juan Carlos López Amador, Roberto García Rosales & Rodolfo Manuel Barragán Delgado

“Water Comes First” addresses the ecological and urban challenges faced by Changzhou Island in Guangzhou, including insufficient infrastructure, frequent flooding, and population decline. As part of the city’s 100 km waterfront development plan, the proposal confronts climate change-induced flooding through a nature-based strategy. Rather than treating water as a threat, it is embraced as a vital, dynamic force. The project envisions urban development as an adaptive system that works with natural water cycles while supporting social, cultural, and infrastructural growth.

At the heart of the proposal is a 250-meter territorial grid overlaying the island, serving as a spatial and strategic guide for interventions in mobility, hydrology, and landscape. Nine tailored Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are integrated into this framework, including rainwater harvesting, percolation wells, wetlands, bio-filtration zones, and permeable surfaces. These are designed not as isolated fixes, but as interconnected elements of a holistic water management system.

A new multimodal transportation hub is proposed to connect the island to the broader Guangzhou region. This hub supports sustainable mobility—walking, cycling, and public transport—reducing car dependency and improving accessibility. Community spaces, such as a Pearl River research center and public plazas, further reinforce the island’s social and ecological resilience.

“Water Comes First” offers a flexible, replicable model for other flood-prone or low-lying areas. It prioritizes the preservation of natural ecosystems as a key component of resilience, ensuring urban infrastructure works in harmony with hydrological cycles. By maintaining the balance between rainfall and underground aquifers, the project safeguards both the environment and the built environment.

Ultimately, the proposal reframes climate change not as a threat to be resisted, but as a condition to be intelligently addressed. It creates a resilient landscape that connects people, culture, and nature—embracing water as a catalyst for regeneration.

Click here to learn more.

This project was exhibited at Designing Resilience Global, 2025.

Instagram: @bro__remis, @melina_guajardo, @_fernandafelix_, @brendrafts, @jhovany_8a, @eaad.mty, @saarq_itesm, @arqtecdemty

ZEPHYR: ACHIEVING NET ZERO THROUGH PASSIVE VENTILATION by Maya Schiltz & Owen Phillips, B.Arch ’25
Kennesaw State University | Advisor: Robin Puttock

This project epitomizes holistic integration, embedding sustainable features and community-focused amenities to foster a dynamic, resilient environment. A natural ventilation system reduces mechanical dependence, optimizing indoor air quality and minimizing energy consumption. on-site water filtration, coupled with cisterns and permeable surfaces, ensures sustainable water management that recharges the water table and supports local ecosystems. Solar power generation provides sufficient energy to exceed operational requirements, offering a buffer for resilience in emergencies. Diverse green spaces, both public and private, promote interaction and relaxation, while areas for urban agriculture and art encourage cultural expression. Pet-friendly designs, accessible pedestrian paths, and dedicated bicycle spaces support active and inclusive community living. The design incorporates restorative green and blue biophilic spaces for rejuvenation and visibility, instilling confidence for residents. The thoughtful integration of social spaces, visual safety elements, child play areas, and spaces for creative engagement provides a sense of security and a feeling of belonging. Overall, the project supports an inclusive, health-focused community in every aspect.

This project was presented at the 2025 Biophilic Leadership Summit.

Instagram: @owen_p02, @mayaschiltz, @robinzputtock 

ECO₂ Research Center – Carbon Emissions’ Impact: The Role of Architecture and Technology in Living Environments by Marisela López-Rivera, B.Arch ’25
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | Advisors: Jesús O. García-Beauchamp, Pilarín Ferrer-Viscasillas & Pedro A. Rosario-Torres

Climate change is a critical challenge of the XXI century, driven largely by carbon dioxide emissions that create a porous blanket over Earth’s atmosphere, trapping heat and accelerating global warming. “Carbon Emissions’ Impact: The Role of Architecture and Technology in Living Environments” states that a large portion of carbon dioxide emissions originates from building development and operations, while also raising the question: How can architecture and technology adapt to address this issue?

The proposal, titled “ECO₂ Research Center,” envisions a facility that unites climate advocates, including scientists and Generation Z university students, to form an “experimental community” centered on sustainability, education, research, and professional development grounded in the principle of “ecological awareness.” Located in Santurce, a densely populated urban area within the capital of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the site was chosen for its existing infrastructure, including the 1924 “Edificio Yaucono” and two additional structures on the northeast corner. This characteristic reflects on adaptive reuse, aligned with the circular carbon economy, reducing embodied carbon emissions by conserving and restoring existing buildings and creating a dialogue with new additions, such as design articulations that distinguish the original structure and the new residential building sitting on top of the “Edificio Yaucono.” The building’s massing centers around a “green community atrium” that connects local and experimental communities. Through “structural fragmentation,” the design creates sky gardens, terraces, and double-height spaces that break volumetric uniformity. Enhancing environmental performance and emphasizing the interconnectedness between humans, non-humans, and technology, the building employs a design strategy called “green blanket,” featuring green facades and green roofs integrated into the building. Additionally, a black aluminum brise soleil, referred to as the “porous blanket,” provides solar protection and ventilation while symbolizing the enduring presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

By rejuvenating what is already present, architecture can serve as a restorative force that addresses carbon emissions and climate change while respecting history and place instead of contributing to destruction.

Instagram: @arch.m.chela

Everglades Market by Stefan Underwood, M.Arch ’25
Academy of Art University | Advisor: Aurgho Jyoti

With modern farming practices, humans have created a divide between agriculture, suburban, urban, and protected land. These boundaries have caused numerous challenges that far outweigh the benefits. South Florida and the region’s fragile ecology are a perfect case study that represents the global challenges we face locally. The boundaries created need to be reanalyzed and applied more traditionally, where all regions sustainably coexist. Traditional cultures, such as the South Florida Native Americans, have successfully blended the three regions and blurred the boundaries between agriculture, nature, and urban. By taking inspiration from Native American architecture, the “Everglades Market” creates a model in which all three regions can survive together through agriculture.

Click here to learn more.

This project received the Academy of Art University M.Arch Thesis Award.

Instagram: @aur.architecture

COASTAL HERITAGE CENTER FOR INTEGRATED LEARNING by Jolena Ager, Anna Demkovitch & Annika Fischer, BS in Architecture ’25
Georgia Tech | Advisor: Danielle Willkens

The Coastal Heritage Center seeks to revitalize the educational capacity of the Penn Center, specifically carpentry, historic preservation, and Gullah culture, through the blending of contemporary and vernacular techniques. It takes a step back from the main campus to invite students and visitors to the coast. Construction and carpentry at Penn Center, and the Southeastern U.S. in general, have always been very important. One of the main trades taught when the school opened was carpentry, and as a result, many of the existing structures on campus were built by the students – by the community. Mass timber would allow this ideology to permeate into today’s campus through modern carpentry and fabrication. Mass timber requires similar levels of consideration for joinery, siding, roof structure, and more that was utilized at Penn. It further provides a more sustainable and biophilic approach to design that contextualizes it in the historic, heavily wooded, and coastal site Penn lies in. The cost associated with mass timber would push the budget far above the $5 million budget. However, the social, structural, and environmental gains could offset this initial investment.

At the start of the semester, the Live Oak Studio had the opportunity to visit the Penn Center for a five-day-long field study experience. During that time, our cohort absorbed St. Helena’s flora and fauna as well as the captivating history of Gullah Geechee heritage. Instead of a traditional architectural review, our studio presented our semester’s work to the community of St. Helena and those involved at the Penn Center. Insights from the local residents were particularly generative for conversations about the future needs of the Penn Center, coastal resiliency on St. Helena Island, and the benefits of mass timber construction.

Click here to learn more.

This project won the GT Dagmar Epsten Prize.

Instagram:  @demkovitchdesign, @archDSW, @georgiatech.arch

The Watershed Collective by Jasmin Solaymantash, M.ArchD ’25
Oxford Brookes University | Advisors: Melissa Kinnear & Alex Towler

Set at the foot of the Lomond Hills in the historic settlement of Kilgour, Scotland, the Watershed Collective transforms an abandoned farmstead into a multidisciplinary centre for water stewardship. Situated at the headwaters of the River Eden, the site lies within a richly layered ecological and cultural landscape—marked by woodlands, flowing burns, and sweeping views—ideal for reflection, education, and environmental engagement.

The project reimagines Kilgour as a shared platform for learning, collaboration, and care. It offers a constellation of flexible spaces, including collaborative studios for practitioners and researchers, educational environments for schools and communities, and outdoor infrastructure such as interpretive trails and water-monitoring points that promote hands-on interaction with the watershed. A central feature of the programme is a suite of integrated spa and wellness facilities, designed to cultivate a deeper sensory and restorative connection with water and the surrounding landscape.

Architecturally, the design embraces regenerative principles—employing sustainable materials, vernacular forms, and water-sensitive strategies to create a reciprocal relationship with the watershed. Rather than simply benefiting from the site’s ecological richness, the architecture contributes back to it, embodying a model of mutual care between human and landscape systems.

Inclusive and multi-generational, the Watershed Collective serves local landowners, educators, conservationists, policymakers, and eco-tourists alike. Grounded in Falkland Estate’s ethos of stewardship, the centre invites users not only to observe the watershed but to dwell within it, as active participants in its cycles, responsibilities, and potential futures. It stands as both a functional hub and a conceptual anchor for ecological awareness and collective resilience.

This project won the Purcell Prize: Best M.ArchD Year 2 for its contextual response to the brief.

Instagram: @j.s_design_, @oxfordbrookes

Water, People, Power: Architecture as Infrastructural Socio-Ecology by Daniel Choi, B.Arch ’25
Academy of Art University | Advisor: Diego Romero Evans

This thesis project envisions architecture as an open system, one that operates within the logics of: watershed ecologies, cultural memory, and collective resilience. Through the daylighting of buried creeks and the integration of flood mitigation, habitat regeneration, and rainwater reuse, the proposal transforms urban infrastructure into a socio-ecological commons.

Anchored by the Carmen Flores Recreation Center, the design blurs disciplinary boundaries between building and landscape, infrastructure and ritual. By reclaiming flows of water, people, and meaning, it offers a speculative yet actionable framework for a resilient, place-based urbanism rooted in adaptation, dialectical reciprocity, and care.

The Sausal Creek watershed begins in the Oakland Hills and emerges into the Oakland Estuary of the San Francisco Bay Area. In the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland, the Sausal Creek is buried in an underground culvert near the Carmen Flores Recreation Center in the Jose de la Cruz Park. The objective of this project is to daylight the creek and enhance its connection with the community. 

The Sausal Creek hosts a rich and diverse ecosystem that various plants, animals, and fungi inhabit. Many people use the creek, and a non-profit organization called Friends of Sausal Creek continues to steward the health and safety of the creek.

Click here to learn more.

This project won the B.Arch Thesis Award.  

Instagram: @diegoromeroevans

A Gradient of Environments: National Institute of Biomaterial Research and Innovation by Zachary Smith, B.Arch ’25
Academy of Art University | Advisor: Jason Austin

This project explores the concept of gradations of environments inspired by natural systems. It dissolves the boundary between the built and natural environment, reimagining the relationship between architecture and ecology. Rooted in the historical context of the National Mall, where clear delineations between landscape, monument, and building have long been upheld, this project challenges convention by proposing a hybrid structure. Dedicated primarily to advancing research in bio-based materials for the built environment, it responds to the urgency of the climate crisis, symbolizing a transformative vision for sustainable architecture and integrated design.

Click here to learn more. 

Instagram: @aus.mer 

PENN CENTER PLATFORM by Kaylan Pham, Niknaz Tikkavaldyyeva & Kailey Wiliams, BS in Architecture ’25
Georgia Tech | Advisor: Danielle Willkens

This project reimagines the Penn Center as a resilient village for the local community. Inspired by amphibious design, it fosters a space for children to practice athletics, the elderly to stay active, and the community to gather for events. While it can offer refuge during storms, its main purpose is to strengthen the connection between people and place. Once reached by boat, people may again need to arrive this way in the future, as the center remains a steadfast safe haven against rising waters. 

Click here to learn more. 

Instagram: @georgiatech.arch, @archDSW

Developing New Methods of Designing the Water’s Edge by Elizabeth Stoganenko, B.Arch ’25
New Jersey Institute of Technology | Advisor: Thomas Ogorzalek

This thesis focuses on re-examining our relationship to waterfront conditions. In doing so, the work seeks to provide new methods of analyzing and designing at the water’s edge that will restore and revitalize our relationships with underutilized waterfronts while responding to climate change challenges.

The project focuses on the Sheepshead Bay waterfront neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Once a thriving fishing village and tourist destination, it now struggles to provide activities that bring the public to the neighborhood and [the] water’s edge. It was hugely impacted by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 due to its lack of flood resilience design. Sheepshead Bay is representative of the challenges facing many other coastal communities and provides an opportunity to serve as a prototype of how we may go about rethinking the water’s edge. By utilizing research from my Independent Study, new waterfront conditions have emerged through the act of design that have created new relationships with the water for all stakeholders, humans, and the environment. This design rethinks the waterfront plan along Emmons Avenue and focuses on a particular area to see if architecture can interact with the water in new ways as well. The building is placed on both sides of a proposed canal, providing space for a market to appeal to the public, a bait and tackle shop for the local fishermen, and a bathhouse. Both markets point towards the canal and create areas for visitors to walk and sit along the water. The bathhouse stretches past the original waterfront edge and is built over the Sheepshead Bay channel. The water from the channel is pumped up and filtered to use in the bathhouse, creating an additional way for people to utilize the natural water source.

This project won the Thesis Prize.

Instagram: @stoganenko.architecture, @njit_hillier

Breaking Barriers: BRIDGING THE DIVIDE BETWEEN SUSTAINABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND INNOVATION IN HOUSING by Kamryn J. Brown, M.Arch ’25
Florida A&M University | Advisor: George Epolito, Mahsan Mohsenin & Ronald B. Lumpkin

“Breaking Barriers: Bridging the Divide Between Sustainability, Affordability, and Innovation in Housing” explores a critical issue in contemporary architectural practice—the challenge of designing sustainable housing that is both affordable and innovative. Set in the context of Tallahassee, Florida, this thesis identifies a persistent disconnect among policymakers, developers, and designers, which often results in housing that sacrifices long-term environmental and social benefits for short-term cost savings.

This research proposes that sustainable and affordable housing are not mutually exclusive goals, but rather objectives that, when guided by collaboration and innovative thinking, can reinforce one another. While existing governmental policies support green building practices, a significant roadblock remains: the perception that sustainable materials and technologies are inherently too costly for affordable housing projects.

To address this, the study employs a research-based design methodology that integrates case study analysis, sustainable design principles, and financial feasibility assessments. The resulting proposal is not just a theoretical exploration but a practical design solution—an affordable housing prototype that emphasizes energy efficiency, community well-being, and architectural distinction. It demonstrates that strategic planning and creative design can produce developments that are environmentally responsible, economically viable, and culturally relevant.

This thesis contributes to a growing body of knowledge advocating for interdisciplinary cooperation in addressing housing crises. By presenting a replicable framework rooted in innovation and equity, it offers a blueprint for municipalities like Tallahassee—and beyond—to rethink how we build the homes of tomorrow.

Instagram: @famusaet, @famu_masterofarch

Rainier Beach Community Kitchen by Eleanor Lewis, M.Arch ’25
University of Washington | Advisor: Patreese Martin

The required Architecture 504 design studio is focused on building systems integration with a particular focus on sustainability and community. The assigned program for 2024 was a commissary kitchen in Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighborhood, in close proximity to the regional light rail station. This proposal strives to provide workers and visitors a moment of respite from the urban environment. It employs a host of high-performance building strategies and a limited palette of natural materials to educate and soothe its inhabitants. In so doing, it employs the following strategies:

WATER

  • Return the site to before-development levels of rainwater catchment
  • Filter water through a rooftop garden
  • Capture excess rainwater in underground cisterns
  • Filter graywater and reuse for toilet flushing
  • Express water catchment where possible

ENERGY

  • Daylighting through translucent skylights and use of reflective materials
  • All-electric building
  • VRF heat sharing system
  • Thick cork insulation to reduce conditioning loads
  • Provide backing for future PV arrays
  • Relatively low window-to-wall ratios

RESOURCES

  • Use sustainable and durable cork siding, which also acts as continuous insulation
  • Minimal concrete in the foundation only
  • Light wood frame construction to minimize steel use
  • Natural, non-toxic materials
  • Use two-in-one materials where possible (cork, plywood)
  • Use stainless steel in moderation for durable, easy-to-clean surfaces

ECOSYSTEMS

  • Design a building that gives back more than it takes away
  • Provide habitat for animals, including pollinator garden, bird housing, and bee hives
  • Fritted windows to protect birds
  • Filter site water and reuse or return to the natural ecosystem
  • Consider material sourcing to foster the best manufacturing practices

This project received commends for the studio. 

Instagram:  @l.n.r, @nitramxyz

V-Lab Innovation Center by Allie Kotsopoulos, Emily Neufeld & Charles Stockton, B.Arch ’25
University of Detroit Mercy | Advisors: James Leach & Kristin Nelson

The project is focused on three goals: to optimize occupant experience, to minimize energy waste and to connect to the Dequindre Cut Greenway. Our early research on the Detroit East Riverfront and analysis of the existing site conditions, pedestrian pathways, and environmental conditions led us to the idea of improving the connection between people and urban and natural spaces. We also took a structured approach to sustainability, considering how materiality and technology could improve the environment of and positively impact the occupants of a building. Specifically, we worked on energy-use, shading/daylighting strategies, and understanding our design’s carbon footprint. 

Our design is informed by Detroit’s current climate with its changing seasons and anticipates increasing volatility due to climate change. We conducted multiple rounds of experimental research using the Cove tool to model and refine our active and passive systems. To ensure our goal of a sustainable building, we optimized daylighting and shading, energy use of building systems, and rainwater management. We spent extensive time researching shading devices and geometries to admit a large amount of natural daylight with minimal glare while providing shading when necessary. Along with sustainability came designing for occupant needs. We conducted research on office buildings and design strategies to create a welcoming, comfortable space that encouraged people to connect with one another and their surroundings. Our approach was driven by collaboration and flexibility in the work environment. Our programming prioritizes team collaboration and occupant comfort. The final design concept creates a connection point, linking the Dequindre Cut and East Riverfront as well as passing pedestrians and building occupants.

Instagram: @alliekotsopoulos, @emilyyneufeld, @stocktondevelopment

Hosted! The ReFrame Residency by Jahnavi Jayashankar, M.ArchD ’25
Oxford Brookes University | Advisors: Melissa Kinnear & Alex Towler

“Hosted!” is a regenerative retrofit project located in Falkland Estate, Fife, Scotland, which transforms a derelict farm steading into a vibrant, multifunctional residency. Rooted in regenerative design principles, the project positions architecture as a systems actualizer—an active agent working across ecological, cultural, and socio-economic systems to unlock the full potential of place.

Rather than responding solely to the client’s immediate needs, Hosted! emerges from a deep understanding of the land, its histories, and the relationships that shape it. The proposal integrates three core components: residential spaces, a gallery, and a series of workshops. These are not merely functional zones but mechanisms for participation, exchange, and knowledge generation. The residency invites multidisciplinary professionals to engage with the site over a term, after which their work is exhibited. The community then collectively selects one project to be developed further in a live workshop the following term. This cyclical process fosters collaborative learning and continuity.

The inaugural residency, ReFrame, explores regenerative material construction using locally sourced materials such as timber from the estate and straw from nearby fields. This phase functions as both material inquiry and community engagement, inviting local residents to co-create the space. By blurring the line between users and makers, Hosted! nurtures a sense of ownership and shared stewardship.

At its core, the project challenges traditional separations between design, construction, and occupation. It views architecture as a dynamic process—growing through iterative feedback, stakeholder reciprocity, and contextual responsiveness. Guided by regenerative frameworks, Hosted! values multi-capital exchanges and organizes resources holistically to catalyze systemic transformation.

Importantly, the project resists reductive sustainability metrics. It seeks not just net-neutrality but net-positive outcomes—restoring ecosystems, strengthening communities, and reactivating place-based identities. By mapping contextual systems, leveraging underused assets, and enabling circular practices, Hosted! demonstrates how design can act as a catalyst for healing and renewal.

In essence, Hosted! is more than a building retrofit—it is a regenerative strategy rooted in place. It reimagines architecture as a facilitator of co-evolution between people and environment, offering a model for how the built environment can transition from sustainability toward true regeneration.

Click here to learn more. 

This project won the MAKE Architects Award for Excellence in a M.ArchD Course. 

Instagram: @impulsive._.art, @melissa.kinnear.9, @ds3_obu

UDC Culinary Science Building by Teneisha Brown, B.S. in Architecture ’25
University of the District of Columbia | Advisor: Dr. Golnar Ahmadi

As part of UDC’s strategic plan to revitalize its city campus and expand career-focused programming, the university has launched an innovative new Culinary Science program. Students were challenged to design a sustainable building on the Campus.

Instagram: @Golnarahmadi

VLAB Detroit – Sustainable Business Incubator by Jumana Zakaria, Philip Jurkowski & George Smyrnis, M.Arch ’25
University of Detroit Mercy | Advisors: James Leach & Kristin Nelson

This new business incubator in the Rivertown neighbourhood is focused on propelling innovation in sustainable building. As a center of knowledge and development aiming to progress building systems into a low-carbon, net-zero era, the design of the building supports this philosophy. On the corner of Atwater Street and the Dequindre Cut greenway, the building is to be a productive space for tenants and a positive landmark in a vibrant community.

Adjacent to the Detroit Riverfront and Dequindre Cut is a valuable asset in creating a sense of connectivity and community within the building. The form opens to the southwest, allowing for daylighting, engagement with the two neighbouring paths, and good views to the connected public spaces, trails, and parks of the Detroit Riverfront. The form erodes inward on the west side, inviting entry from the Dequindre Cut, connecting to the riverfront and creating a central urban pocket.

Just as important as the community response is the need to address the well-being of visitors and tenants. A public entry gallery and auditorium [occupy] the ground floor while the open, flexible, daylit floor plates above ensure a high level of well-being and productivity for occupants. A gradient of adjustable social and working spaces, such as drop-in and permanent workstations and meeting rooms, breakout rooms, and lounges ensure that occupants have a comfortable and collaborative workplace. A combination of passive and active building systems, including hydronic heating and cooling, and geothermal heat pumps create a comfortable interior climate.

The priority of sustainability quietly underlines all design choices. As a model of progressive, environmentally-conscious design and construction, the building utilises a composite timber structure, deliberate building envelope design, renewable energy sources, and intelligent stormwater management. A green roof and outdoor terrace line the roof adjacent to the third-floor office spaces, functioning as part of the stormwater management system, an additional collaboration space, and a transitional view between the offices and the Detroit Riverfront. Integrating these strategies ensures a low embodied and operational carbon footprint while creating a beneficial interior environment.

Instagram: @george.smyrnis

Lichen Air Lab by Olivia Etz, B.S. in Architectural Studies (BSAS) ’25
University of Utah | Advisor: Kateryna Malaia

Embedded within the historic Judge Building in downtown Salt Lake City, the Lichen Air Lab research center serves as one node in a statewide network of air quality monitoring facilities. The facilities in this system operate at varying scales, from a central headquarters to smaller satellite pods designed for fieldwork, with each representing a different stage of the lichen’s growth. Lichen, a resilient symbiotic organism formed by fungi and algae, thrives in diverse climates and is found throughout the Salt Lake Valley. The fungus provides structural support, while the algae produce energy through photosynthesis, a partnership that mirrors the lab’s relationship with the host building. The Judge Building provides support while the research lab cleans the air, benefiting both.

Instagram: @olivia_etz, @katemalaia

Living Lattice: In Between The Living and Social Environment by Abigail Rose Boussios, M.Arch ’25
Kean University | Advisors: Stephanie Sang Delgado & Sarah Ruel-Bergeron

[This] thesis research investigates how the living and the Social Environment in our urban fabric interact alongside issues such as the Biodiversity Curve, Luxury Effect, and a lack of access to green spaces in high-density/low-income areas.

My design proposal is to install a 3D printed clay modular facade system that would create a new habitat for pollinators within “In Between” spaces (areas that are pockets of space between buildings) owned by the NYC Parks Department. There are several “in between” community gardens that flourish in these spaces and revitalize the areas through both community and ecological stewardship. Collaborating alongside the NYC Parks Department Parks/Community Gardens as catalysts for architectural interventions would not only allow biodiverse spaces to expand from the in-between buildings to further into the streetscape, but also apply their expertise for proper maintenance of plants, ecological education, and supporting local environmental stewardship.

[Using] 3D printing clay as the facade material not only is eco-friendly, reusable, and long-lasting, but also allows for modularity and community participation in their Living Lattice installation. Shaped by the input and creativity of the surrounding community, this flexibility not only encourages participation, but also ensures that each installation reflects the unique identity and needs of its neighborhood. 

NYIT’s Fabrication Lab granted me access to use their Kuka Bot Clay Extruder to produce 1:1 successful proof of concept fragment modules. I also fabricated a 1:1 2’x3’ mock-up of the installation on a wall to show the expected interactions of nature with the facade intervention.

“Living Lattice” is more than a facade intervention—it’s a call to action. It reclaims these in-between urban spaces and revitalizes them as active participants in the ecological and social healing of our cities. By bridging the Living and the Social, we not only nurture biodiversity but also develop a deeper sense of belonging, care, and responsibility among urban communities. Through modular design, collaboration, and stewardship, we have the power to reshape the city from the ground up—one fragment, one bird, one seed at a time — real change begins in the spaces in between.

This project received the Michael Graves College School of Public Architecture Masters of Architecture Thesis Award

Instagram: @abigail_b.10, @abigail.b.designs, @keanarch, @stepholope

Form Follows Availability – Urban Mining and the Architecture of Collective Resources by Anna Simpson, M.Arch ’25
University of Southern California | Advisor: Sascha Delz

Since humans first built shelters, architectural form has been dictated by material availability—a fundamental principle that modern construction practices have abandoned through unsustainable extraction cycles. This thesis reclaims and reframes this logic for contemporary practice through a comprehensive urban mining framework that reconceptualizes industrial waste as collective architectural resources. Using decommissioned wind turbines as a primary case study, it demonstrates how systematic material recovery can address both environmental sustainability and housing affordability while responding to immediate climate-related disasters. With 70,800 wind turbines currently operating in the United States, and projections showing over 3,000 blades reaching end-of-life annually by the 2030s—potentially generating 2 million tons of waste in the U.S. alone by 2050—this framework establishes a scalable system for material recovery and redistribution. 

Drawing on Elinor Ostrom’s understanding of common-pool resource management, the approach creates a collectively managed material bank where recovered industrial components become accessible building materials for affordable housing developments on city-owned land. Situated on a vacant lot in Altadena, California—a neighborhood devastated by recent wildfires—this proposal directly addresses the urgent need for recovery and reconstruction. The site plan follows the natural topographic water flow to prevent mudslide damage, directing water into an existing abandoned reservoir. By reintegrating engineered composites into residential architecture, the framework reduces construction costs while advancing material-driven design methodologies where form again follows availability. This shift from extraction to curation fundamentally transforms architectural practice, reconnecting it with its historical roots while addressing contemporary challenges of sustainability, waste management, housing accessibility, and climate resilience in urban environments.

Instagram: @coop_urbanism

Fleetwave: A Ride to the Future by Meena Afshar, B.Arch ’25
Woodbury University | Advisor: Gerard Smulevich

Imagine a city where streets breathe again, free from traffic, noise, and smog. “FleetWave” is that vision brought to life: a subscription-based network of self-driving, all-electric vehicles designed to replace personal car ownership in Los Angeles. At the heart of this proposal is a simple idea: mobility as a shared resource, not a private burden. Traditional cars sit idle most of the time, eating up space and polluting the air. FleetWave reimagines transportation as clean, efficient, and community-oriented.  Powered by renewable energy and charged wirelessly, including from embedded roadways and vertical wind turbines, Wave cars operate 24/7. Riders book them by subscription, choosing from four tiers based on needs like range or comfort. Inside, they’re more than cars, mobile workspaces, social pods, or quiet retreats. Outside, they reduce traffic, reclaim land from parking lots, and restore green space to the city. AI synchronization prevents congestion and improves safety. FleetWave turns urban mobility into an experience of collective progress. It’s not just about getting from point A to B; it’s about creating a city that moves with you, not against you. Los Angeles is just the beginning. The future doesn’t just arrive; it rolls in, quietly and fully charged. 

Instagram: @meanuuhh, @g_smulevich

INTERLACE – Penn Center Community Hub by Spandana Grandhi, Analia Gonzales & Ella Baker, BS in Architecture ’25
Georgia Tech | Advisor: Danielle Willkens

“Interlace” represents an intersection of old and new architectural typologies, timber applications, and generations at the Penn Center. The literal intersection of the two pens marks a space bound to hold activities representative of the Penn Center’s lasting

cultural and architectural resiliency. Interlace aims to address the current needs of the Penn Center and its people.

Click here to learn more. 

Instagram: @georgiatech.arch, @archDSW

Harboring Sustainability: Designing a Resilient Future for Sag Harbor by Kyra Duke & Melina Tsinoglou, B.Arch ’25
New York Institute of Technology | Advisor: Dongsei Kim

Adding affordable housing in Sag Harbor would give younger generations the opportunity to live and work in the community where they grew up or work, thereby fostering a more diverse, year-round population rather than a seasonal, retirement-focused town.

Rising housing costs are displacing young professionals, artists, and essential workers, including much-needed teachers. Therefore, an expanded affordable housing initiative could enable this population to establish their careers, which would additionally support local businesses and contribute to Sag Harbor’s cultural and economic vitality.

Additionally, this project demonstrates how well-planned dense housing combined with performative infrastructure in high flood-risk areas can offer wetland restoration, elevated pathways, and flood-resistant public spaces. These features help protect the coastline by functioning as a natural barrier against rising sea levels and storm surges.

Instead of resisting unavoidable environmental changes, adopting adaptive design strategies could slow erosion, enhance water absorption, and create functional public spaces that enable Sag Harbor to grow sustainably over the next 80 years, thereby becoming a model of responsible and sustainable coastal living.

Instagram: @dongsei.kim

Stay tuned for Part XIV!

2025 Study Architecture Student Showcase - Part X

/in , , /by
Architecture tells a story. The capstones and theses highlighted in Part X of the 2025 Study Architecture Student Showcase use texture, material, and spatial configuration as visual narratives. From short films to renderings, each project uses a unique medium of storytelling. The displayed work ranges from memorials inspired by speculative fiction and design interventions using augmented reality to exhibitions on womanhood and visualizations of poetry.
Scroll down for a closer look!

Thread by Thread by Emily Dross, B.Arch ’25
Ball State University | Advisor: James F. Kerestes

“Thread by Thread” is a short film, created as part of the course Cinematic Environments: Uncanny AI, explores hybridized architectural conditions through a speculative and surreal lens. Set in a richly imagined built environment, the narrative unfolds through the movements and interactions of fluffy, stuffed animal-like creatures—anthropomorphic figures that serve as both inhabitants and interpreters of the space. These soft-bodied protagonists navigate a world that oscillates between the familiar and the uncanny, offering a playful yet critical reflection on contemporary architectural and environmental issues.

The project operates within the “fuzzy space” between realism and speculation, where exaggerated materials, textures, and spatial configurations provoke questions about the future of the built environment. By merging whimsical imagery with architectural inquiry, the film engages themes of technological transformation and post-Anthropocene speculation. The soft, plush inhabitants stand in stark contrast to the often rigid, industrial aesthetic of traditional architectural spaces—suggesting alternative, more empathetic ways of occupying and designing environments.

Through visual storytelling, “Thread by Thread” reflects a critical position on how architecture might respond to pressing global concerns while embracing unconventional narratives and mediums. Ultimately, the film is a provocative gesture—one that reimagines the role of architecture in shaping not only physical space but also cultural and emotional landscapes. It invites viewers to question the boundaries of architectural representation and consider the value of softness, fantasy, and hybridity in the discourse of design.

Instagram: @em.dross, @jameskerestes

Echoes of the Land: A Pilgrimage of Wilderness and Spirit by Andrea Frank, M.Arch ‘25
North Dakota State University | Advisor: Stephen Wischer

This thesis explores how architecture can bridge humanity and the natural world, restoring a connection eroded by technology, overconsumption, and distraction. While cities offer curated encounters with nature, they cannot replace the deep peace found in wilderness. This connection is essential to humanity’s survival. If humanity fails to understand its relationship with the environment and engage with it responsibly, it jeopardizes the ecological balance of the world and humanity’s own existence.

Architecture, once in dialogue with nature, now often serves function, spectacle, or profit. This work reimagines architecture as a mediator that fosters kinship with the earth through a threefold approach: a pilgrimage across city, edge, and wilderness; poetic uncovering of ancient site stories; and sensory engagement with the four classical elements. In doing so, architecture becomes a vessel for atmosphere, memory, and meaning, guiding individuals to a deeper awareness of themselves and their world.

This project received an AIA Medal for Academic Excellence.

Instagram: @andrea.frank10

A Place for Pilgrimage by Andy Packwood, B.S. in Architecture ’25
University of Virginia | Advisor: Peter Waldman

The project synthesizes two years of fascination for and research into the climate-threatened coastal community of Tangier, speculating as to what will ultimately happen to rural, low-income American communities in the wake of inevitable sea level rise. My interest lay not in the proposal of any sort of savior infrastructural solution, not in the proposal of a managed retreat plan, nor in the design of a mainland relocation for displaced refugee residents. I chose to develop a memorialized destination that could still exist on the island long after its ridges have turned to marsh, its homes have been barged away, and normally perceived connotations of inhabitability have all but vanished. I chose to create “A Place for Pilgrimage”, inspired by my own pilgrimage of El Camino de Santiago this past March.

Simply put, the proposal is an adaptive reuse of the tallest structure on Tangier: its water tower. Adding a spiraling staircase and pushing the structure fifty years into the unknown, the design creates a single space in the sky through the removal of half of the tower’s upper dome. The approach is incredibly important; much of the final pin-up focused on rendering this pilgrimage step by step. Starting from the dock of the mainland resettlement, looking out into the Chesapeake Bay, a line of buoys trails towards the horizon. A bird soars toward the tower in the distance, the vestiges of marsh poking out of the water. Cameron Evans, current vice mayor and young watermen of the Island, embarks as this future pilgrim by skiff. He carries with him a gravestone; many cemeteries on the Island are often inundated by tidal flooding, and residents must move these tombs to higher ground, again and again.

What I have proposed is a final resting place, safe from the heights of sea level rise. A place for generations to visit, to bring tokens of remembrance, to occupy overnight, or to even continue their trade as watermen. Up within the dome of the water tower is a cenotaph for the people, memories, culture, history, and beauty of Tangier. We will need one.

This project was awarded High Honors for Thesis.

Ephemeral Spaces — Presence and Absence by Robin Xiao, B.S. in Architecture ’25
University of Virginia | Advisor: Peter Waldman

This thesis explores how architecture can emerge from the debris of the everyday to construct a space of ritual and transition—between life and death, presence and absence, memory and forgetting. 

Situated in the post-industrial landscape of Skaramangas, Athens, the project transforms three abandoned military interchange tunnels into a procession of ephemeral architecture: a crematorium, a columbarium, and spaces for reflection, and spaces of pause/entry/exit. 

Through a series of five conceptual models, material fragments—broken light bulbs, candles, metal tubing, computer chips, wood scraps—become instruments of spatial inquiry, offering alternative ways to think about temporality, transformation, and the sacred. Each model gives rise to a set of sectional drawings, collaged with elemental forces—earth, fire, air, water—revealing a layered architecture of transition. 

The resulting proposal is not a fixed structure, but a choreography of spaces that invite the living to move with the dead, through tunnels repurposed as thresholds. This work situates ephemerality not as loss, but as an architectural condition of becoming—an act of spatial murmuration shaped by light, material residue, and memory in motion.

This project received High Honors for Undergraduate Thesis.

Instagram: @robinxiaostudio

MOVING FUTURES VERTICAL SCHOOL by Alex Hoover & Zach Izzo, M.Arch ’25
University at Buffalo | Advisor: Jin Young Song

Located in Songdo, Seoul, our project reimagines the typical Korean private educational institutions, known as Hagwon, by prioritizing spatial flexibility and community engagement. Traditional Hagwons often feature cramped, efficiency-driven classrooms. However, research shows that children learn better in environments with diverse spatial qualities—high ceilings, minimal partitions, vibrant colors, and flexible layouts. To address this, we designed a highly adaptable building with movable interior and exterior components. Each main floor features partition walls on ceiling-mounted tracks, allowing spaces to transform easily—from small study rooms to large lecture halls or art galleries. This system ensures both spatial diversity for students and long-term adaptability for future tenants or programs. 

The facade similarly emphasizes flexibility, offering a reinterpretation of Korea’s dense, intrusive urban signage. The three-layer facade system integrates architecture, community identity, and student expression. The outer layer consists of LED media panels and sun-shading devices, configurable to display student artwork or community visuals, establishing the building as a neighborhood landmark. The second layer features sliding perforated metal signage panels, subtly blending information with the architecture rather than overwhelming it. The innermost layer wraps the social stair, visible from both adjacent streets, inviting public interaction and showcasing movement within the building. Smaller panels provide localized signage, such as floor numbers and bulletin boards. Together, the dynamic facade and transformable interior create a learning environment that fosters both community visibility and spatial flexibility, promoting a more engaging, human-centered educational experience.

The project was selected for the Cram Urbanism and Vertical Learning Space International symposium

Instagram: @_alex_hoover, @jinyoung___song  

The Market of Joy by Shefa Quazi, M.ArchD ’25
Oxford Brookes University | Advisors: Toby Smith, Alexandra Lacatusu, Toby Shew, Charles Parrack

In a world dominated by seamless digital consumption, where screens dictate desires and algorithms predict movement, The Covered Market in Oxford becomes a site of rebellion—a place where reality is glitched, distorted, and reclaimed from commercial control. Instead of a polished, hyper-commercial spectacle designed to guide users into predictable behaviors, the proposed series of interventions hijack the mechanics of digital consumerism and turns them against themselves to exaggerate them into a physical, pseudo-reality. Attempting to readminister the loss currency of joy.

The market transforms into a disruptive, anti-brand arcade—a physical and augmented experience that interrupts, unsettles, and reawakens users to the absurdity of algorithm-driven life. Augmented Reality, typically a tool for corporate control (filters, tracking, gamified shopping), is instead repurposed to create moments of détournement, where the commercial is undermined, and participation leads not to consumption, but to adding weight to reality and human interaction. Overall revaluing the High Street as a whole. 

Instead of guiding users toward consumption, the market becomes a disobedient space, forcing engagement away from passive scrolling and toward critical awareness of spectacle itself. The interactions don’t feed an algorithm—they break it. The market is no longer a relic of pre-digital commerce but a living, evolving site of resistance against digital saturation and corporate control.

This project received the Oxford Brookes University Reginald W. Cave Award.

Instagram: @sheevz_q, @oxarch

The Inner Mechanism by Jared Roberts, M.Arch ’25
Lawrence Technological University | Advisor: Masataka Yoshikawa

This project sees the physical model and 2D illustration of the hypothetical device abstracted to create architectural forms and spaces. The form derives itself from the concepts dealt with in the inner mechanisms and particularly information storage. The “nested” nature of digital information storage (i.e., nested file folders on a computer) translates to nested architectural forms that sometimes exist within or even overlap other parts of the model. Another concept was that of information’s changes and persistence over time. The form is constructed like a timeline that exists in all three dimensions, inspired by the flow map of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, which charts various different variables including location, population, time, events and more about Napoleon’s Russian campaign. In the same way, the timeline is a two-dimensional visual representation of information gathered about events in history; this model is a three-dimensional representation of the information gathered and stored by the hypothetical device. 

Instagram: @masataka.yoshikawa

Echoes of Home by Zuha Arab Sabbagh & Rana Abdelhadi, B.Arch ’25
American University of Sharjah | Advisor: Gregory Thomas Spaw

‘Echoes of Home’ responds broadly to displacement in our globalised world. Specifically, on the generational displacement of Syrians. Centralised on the intimate and underappreciated labour of homemaking, the project acts as a recognition and celebration of Womanhood as a discipline. It is designed to mark the story of displacement – building and rebuilding – into an inconstant world. The project tentatively approaches the need to capture the complicated ephemerality in our modern understanding of what ‘home’ is.

In designing a secondary residence-exhibition, the studio deployed the renaissance phenomenon of the cabinet of curiosities to challenge us to create spatially charged architecture focused on the exhibition of artifacts. We selected fictitious clients, curated a selection of curiosities to display, picked a suitable site, and decided the extent of distinction between the residence and the exhibition.

Designing a residence required an examination of the notion of ‘home’. Historically, ‘home’ has been explored as a vehicle for living and, with the rise of modernism, critiqued as performative. The programs selected recognise the labour of homemaking and extend to capture the performance of hosting and the pleasure of gathering. ‘Home’ has consistently been placed in women’s domain. The practice of homemaking falls under the discipline of Womanhood. The project adheres to the practice and rejects criticism, accommodating for it spatially. The kitchen, game room, bathing space, bedrooms, bathrooms, and guest room all double as exhibition spaces. The integrated spaces create opportunities for gathering and hakawayti (storytelling). Homes tell a story of past, present and future, and the project acts as a natural extension.

Encouraged to design spaces from the inside out, the client and narrative guided design decisions. The Characters: a mother, daughter and grandmother, based on Syrian women in our vicinity, emphasise the generational distinctions in modes of displacement: immigrant, diaspora and refugee. The clients’ stories resemble those of many diasporas. 

Instagram: @gregoryspaw

An Anchor in Time: A Dwelling Reflecting the Interplay of Time and Space by Salma Hani Mubarak Ali, B.Arch ’25
American University of Sharjah | Advisor: Gregory Thomas Spaw

In the vast stillness of the desert, this residence becomes a compass of time—a place where shifting sands echo the dance of the stars, grounding life within the endless drift of the cosmos. The design emerges from the client’s collection of astrological instruments, shaping spatial arrangements that enhance functionality and interaction. Objects inform the layout, with dedicated areas that invite exploration and observation. Strategic openings frame views of the night sky and desert, enriching the experience of celestial observation. This residence serves as both a home and an observatory, fostering a profound connection to the cosmos while celebrating the beauty of time and change. (Text: Salma Hani Mubarak Ali)

Cabinet of Curiosities: Exploring the Ensemble (aka, house of the collector) is an option studio utilizing the 16th-century-18th-century phenomenon of the Cabinet of Curiosities or Wunderkammers (wonder-rooms) as a point of departure to explore the exhibition of ensembles of artifacts with the goal of creating spatially charged architecture.

Working as individuals or in pairs, students had the opportunity to curate their own collection of curiosities and develop a novel architectural language to facilitate the display of the exquisite objects. Associated with the collection was a real or imagined client that served to further drive a generated domestic program. With the scale of the overall proposals being purposely manageable, students had the opportunity to focus on developing architectural assemblies that directly engage with issues of materiality, connections, and details. As such, physical and digital models were heavily employed as tools to study the interplay of elements at a series of scales

This project won the RIBA Gulf: Future Architects 2024 Overall Best Model Award.

Click here to learn more.

 Instagram: @salma.hani.ali, @gregoryspaw

Evermore: A Cemetery For The City by Mo Karnes, B.Arch ’25
Mississippi State University | Advisors: Jassen Callender, David Buege, Aaron White, Mark Vaughan & David Perkes

My uncle died less than two years before I was born. I never met him, but his death is only an obstacle in my ability to know him. Chris was an artist and poet who left behind many things for me to know him by, including a poem entitled Evermore, written during his struggle with AIDS. The meditation is: 

I will walk unlonely,

Holding me up

As I begin to fall,

You Lead the way

And sometimes follow.

Our passage now is

Evermore.

(To be repeated, Unending).

To be ‘unlonely’ is a profound response to the impending, seeming loneliness that is death. Loneliness for those dying and those left behind. Chris’s poem is not just a meditation for himself, but for those struggling with loss. As a dying man, Chris places himself shoulder to shoulder with the reader; their journey is one and the same.

“Evermore: A Cemetery For The City” is a small cemetery complex adjacent to the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Downtown Jackson, Mississippi. The complex comprises a crematorium, vertical columbarium, and chapel. The site is rectangular, bound on all sides by concrete walls with only one threshold for entry. Two masses seemingly float behind the concrete boundary walls that veil them, the smaller chapel and the larger columbarium. Both stoic in form, they disguise the intricacies hidden in the interiors of their masses.  

The ambition of this project is to integrate the awareness of mortality into the city, while supplying architectural means to confront it. This awareness is not a means of oppression, but an attempt to convey the gift that is life. This cemetery is intended to be a public space where inhabitants can experience the city with citizens who came before them, inducing a relationship with the past, generating an appreciation of those who came before, and propelling the city forward with the intent to befriend and mentor the future.  

This project received the CDFL Capstone Studio Travel Award. 

Instagram: @mo.karnes, @jassencallender

IMAGINATIVE REALITY: INVENTION OF SYNERGISTIC NARRATIVES by Chey Isiguzo, M.Arch ’25
Toronto Metropolitan University | Advisor: Lisa Landrum

Imagination is both an act and a familiar, safe space, evoking nostalgic feelings rooted in our reality. 

This space can become unfamiliar when cultural expressions changes, leading to multifaceted identities and undeveloped narratives. This dynamic contributes to cultural conflict and highlights the juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary African architectural narratives. As a space, imagination can generate narrative 

characters and elements by creating synergistic stories that incorporate traditional craftsmanship into contemporary African architecture. The imaginative process consists of three components. Imagining while thinking is an act that uses mental images from memories, dreams, fantasies, or visions to create one’s reality. Imagining while making is the act of craftsmanship used to speculate the distinction between traditional and contemporary architectural narratives through the lens of cultural expressions. Imagining while drawing is an act of translation by utilizing narrative characters—building elements like windows and doors—to dissect fragments of both traditional and contemporary architecture to find new narratives. 

These narrative characters work alongside structural elements, such as walls, roofs, layouts, courtyards, and compounds, to convey new stories that showcase materials and design techniques rooted in Igbo craftsmanship. To develop synergistic narratives, one can explore the evolution of traditional African craftsmanship, particularly within Igbo culture, across ancestral, post-colonial, and contemporary contexts. This exploration reveals how the architectural narratives of traditional and contemporary styles are increasingly distinct. Consequently, this imaginative space becomes a reality that examines the relationship between what is real and what is envisioned through architectural craftsmanship.

Instagram: @sumisi000, @ucisi_studios, @tmu_archgrad

When I’m Sixty-Four: Flourishing at Falkland by George Mannix, M.ArchD ’25
Oxford Brookes School of Architecture | Advisors: Melissa Kinnear & Alex Towler

This project proposes a “therapeutic cooperative” that reimagines later life as a time for purpose, legacy, and connection. Designed for people aged 64 and over, the initiative creates a living environment where older adults can flourish by sharing life experiences with younger visitors while contributing to environmental and social regeneration. 

Central to the concept is the cohabitation of residents with Tamworth pigs, which serve both symbolic and ecological roles—facilitating intergenerational dialogue and promoting biodiversity through trophic rewilding.

Located at Kilgour, a Victorian farm steading on Scotland’s Falkland estate, the site carries historical significance and a past tied to pig-rearing and the celebration of endings. 

Accommodation includes accessible apartments, communal gardens, and a biodiversity-rich courtyard. Pigs will live in creatively built “Ad-Hog” styes using reclaimed materials. A chapel-like “Memory Archive” will hold personal stories of residents’ lives, offering a space for reflection and remembrance.

The project unfolds in three phases: first, clearing and revitalising the site with community involvement; second, welcoming the first residents and establishing the Memory Archive; and third, expanding the model across Scotland to transform abandoned steadings and boost natural regeneration.

Younger visitors, whom we have dubbed “biodiversity-backpackers,” can stay in on-site hostel lodgings, with the hope of fostering meaningful interaction between generations. Funding comes from elderly participants downsizing their homes, combined with national grants, giving them control over their later years.

Ultimately, this initiative responds to the growing issue of isolation among the elderly in Scotland. By embedding legacy, memory, and biocentric living into the design, it aims to help people see out their days with dignity whilst living with renewed purpose.

This project received the Ackroyd Lowrie Prize.

Instagram: @georgemannix, @ds3_obu

POLISH PAVILION – RIYADH EXPO 2030 by Oskar Karos, B.Sc. in Architecture ’25
University of the District of Columbia | Advisor: Golnar Ahmadi

Set in Riyadh for Expo 2030, the Polish Pavilion reinterprets the nation’s geography and ecological identity through architecture. Designed as a living map of Poland, the pavilion invites visitors to journey from the southern Tatra Mountains to the northern Baltic Sea, experiencing the country’s topography, climate, and innovation within one continuous landscape. The project explores how architecture can embody an entire nation’s ecosystem, transforming exhibition space into a self-sustaining organism.

Poland’s diverse terrain—from its rugged mountains to fertile plains and coastal winds—inspired a spatial narrative divided into eight regions. Each represents two neighboring voivodeships, blending their natural and technological identities: wind power in Pomorskie, hydropower in Warmińsko-Mazurskie, sustainable farming in Podlaskie, and smart urbanism in Mazowieckie, among others. 

Visitors move northward along a symbolic Vistula River, linking interactive installations that demonstrate Poland’s leadership in renewable energy, circular economy, and ecological stewardship. Constructed with steel, wood, stone, and glass, the pavilion merges material authenticity with sustainability. A closed water cycle system replicates natural evaporation and rainfall, powering greenery and regulating humidity. The accessible green roof offers shaded paths and aerial views of Poland’s “living topography,” blending innovation with environmental harmony.

Beyond a national exhibition, the pavilion is a statement of coexistence—between people and nature, culture and technology. It celebrates Poland not through static displays, but as a breathing ecosystem where every element, from water to wind, participates in a cycle of renewal.

Instagram: @Golnarahmadi

Stay tuned for Part XI!