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2025 Study Architecture Student Showcase - Part XIII

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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 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!

2025 Study Architecture Student Showcase - Part II

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From red mud and recycled maritime rope to steel and the luffa plant, the projects featured in Part II of the 2025 Study Architecture Student Showcase explore various elements of materiality. These projects look at building materials as more than just elements of construction; they investigate how materials impact a building’s background, structure, and spatial storytelling.

Read on for a closer look.

A Field for the Passerby by Skye Nieves, B.Arch ‘25
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Advisor: Ryosuke Imaeda

Architecture is typically designed to serve and house its participants. Whether emphasizing function or aesthetics, the experience of space is central to design intent. We are immediately aware of materials, forms, and environments as hallmarks of good architecture. But what if architecture is designed to recede from our attention, perhaps to the degree that we become oblivious of its existence? This project explores a close yet passive relationship between architecture and passersby.

To understand this, two sources were studied: Human Centrism, emphasizing people as central to spatial experience; and Thomas Struth’s works, which remove people from scenes to expose their broader community. Between these approaches lies the passerby’s view. They acknowledge architecture without engaging deeply. This uninterestedness seems to lack lively relationships; nevertheless, it gradually becomes a design tool, where misfits in scale, material, and environments capture oddities. The scenes are not theatrical, but reveal strange moments in their daily experience.

The primary material is red mud, a toxic byproduct from the Bayer Process, accumulating near Salasel Castle in Khuzestan, Iran. Though dangerous, the separation of the material into iron and mud yields safe, structural mortar to build mosques, found every 300 feet in the region. On-site, mosque and red mud coexist without interaction. Purification happens behind the mosque, where worshippers focus inward, unaware of the background process.

Arched rooms separate prayers by a red wall that appears to flow. A tower looms, disconnected yet watchful. A central fountain runs smoothly, while the dome traps viscous mud; its true thickness unknown until touched. While prayers and materials exist inside to produce tensions, the everyday street remains as if nothing occurs. From the traces of doors, to vents and weep holes, subtle indications recede from the visions of passersby.

This project studies architecture as a background. It does not call attention to itself, yet it serves participants every day. And just like our daily habits, the material is processed slowly and consistently, from the alarming toxicity to the state we can gently touch. Perceived only in passing by observers, this architecture gains its meaning to serve the culture and environment in the field. 

This project won the RPI: Harriet R. Peck Prize (Best Solution in a Thesis Project in Architecture Design).

Instagram: @nieves_090, @ryoimaeda 

Fiber Locs by Chantal Celis, B.Arch ’25
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Advisor: Ryosuke Imaeda

Architecture is a composite of elements and experiences. Structural logic grounds it, while layers of history accumulate on façades, transforming into cultural ornamentation. Yet, a closer look at columns reveals a tension between structural function and cultural continuity. Columns are placed as part of a larger framing, while separately, they are adorned with crafted ornaments. Their evident independence, however, suggests the possibility of being reimagined into a tangible yet strange dialogue. Raising the question: what if a column, rather than serving only a structural role, could be intentionally crafted with finer materials until it attains a newfound integrity?

This project investigates the reengineering of a column through the use of finer materials, viewing columns as inherent constructs where the process of arranging materials evolves into a structural form. Using recycled maritime rope from the Mersey River, this design ideology aims to reveal a strange domain between stability and delicacy, amalgamation and ornamentation, embedding culture and environment into the process of making. The six-foot column uses hairdressing techniques similar to loc crocheting. While the ropes in the physical model were not sourced directly from the Mersey River, it offered a full-scale test of the material’s capacity and structural potential. The strands vary in length, yet each one interlocks with the next. This system of knotting creates structural integrity without the use of adhesives.

The thesis explores the process and dialogue of making fibers operate structurally and aesthetically, supported by the processes embedded within the building. With no use of blueprint, but with the involvement of local craftsmanship, the material itself begins and participates in the formation of building parts, from the product scale to the transformation of the building itself. Its cultural and environmental essence is expressed through the ambiguous appearance of the column. 

This project was nominated for the RPI Peck Prize.

Instagram: @architecturecc, @ryoimaeda 

The Luffa Commons by Muzzammil Taufik, M.ArchD ’25
Oxford Brookes University | Advisors: Jason Coleman & Mickey Kloihofer

Through the material examination of the luffa plant, which reveals its inherent translucency, layered tectures, and light-filtering properties, this project aims to re-establish a connection between humans and nature.

The design reflects the village-like character of Stoke Newington, London’s heritage, by incorporating natural shapes into the architectural language.

The end effect is a tactile and atmospheric space where light, form, and natural materials combine to create a revitalised feeling of community based on ecology and location.

Instagram: @muzzammiltaufik, @oxarch, @ds4.oxarch

ETHICAL STEEL- A SUSTAINABLE AND NONFORCED LABOR DESIGN APPROACH by Evelyn Palafox & Natalie Sipes, B.Arch ’25
University of Houston | Advisors: Asmaa Olwi, Gabriel Monteleone, Gaston Noriega & Emilia Migali

This project aims to utilize steel in alternative ways through architectural design, by emphasizing sustainability and safety. Our primary goal was to reshape the way steel, a fundamental part of our built environment, functions, but taking on a more ethical and green approach. We began studying the life cycle of steel, from ore to steel, and the process of fabrication to create the world we see today. Researching and studying steel manufacturing and fabrication facilities allowed us to have a deeper understanding of the material’s capabilities, work conditions, and processes, which enabled us to create a design that minimizes work hazards and leaves little to no waste after construction. 

This design explores a near one-point perspective view and its effect on space and those who interact with it. Our device uses steel forms that elongate the view rather than converge it. The view that was captured leads straight to the heart of our University, where festivals and pop-ups occur. The steps invite people in, guiding them to interact with the device and allowing the audience to explore different views from varying heights. We left the device uncoated to allow the steel to leave traces of oxidation from those who have interacted with the design. During fabrication, we used plasma cutting machines and press brakes to cut and bend the sheet metal, utilizing each sheet to its fullest, reducing waste. This process also reduced the emissions and energy that would have otherwise been consumed if the device had been fully welded. The components were assembled with a bolt and wedging system that allowed for quick, safe construction and future adaptability. The device now serves as a viewing point, capturing a nature reserve near the steel fabrication facility. 

Instagram: @nataliesipess, @evepalafox, @olwiasmaa, @gm.baag, @gaston.baag, @estudio.baag

Fractions by GJ Hartsfield, Allan Rangel & Nicholas Santiago, B.Arch ’25
University of Houston | Advisors: Asmaa Olwi, Gabriel Monteleone, Gaston Noriega & Emilia Migali

Fractions is an exploratory architectural device inspired by the materiality of galvanized steel. The device aims to reveal hidden landscapes of steel fabrication, distribution, and waste. As a material, steel is ubiquitous and resilient. Our group focused on these aspects of the material by sourcing building elements, which are usually thin, hidden, or otherwise mask other functions of architecture. We also wanted to focus on the galvanized finish for its ability to fracture reflections into a mosaic.

The frame of the structure is constructed of EMT, tubing used for protecting electrical wiring in buildings, and sourced from a local supplier in Houston. The panels are galvanized steel flashing, used on most commercial buildings, and donated by a local Houston contractor. The fasteners holding everything together are sourced from a small business in South Carolina, which manufactures in the same state. The assemblage requires a framed window and nets two effects. One: the distortion of the outside landscape through the curved sheets placed to reflect specific views. The intention of this is to riff on the fractured, complex, and overlapping nature of the steel sector. Two: diffusion of light provides a new relationship between the user and the window space. No longer a “day/night” relationship between direct light and shadow, but instead a diffused effect similar to tree canopies. Conceptual, practical, and radically simple, the project uses a framed view to expose landscapes outside our immediate view. 

Instagram: @gj_harts_architecture, @ajr.arch, @nikkosvn, @olwiasmaa, @gm.baag, @gaston.baag, @estudio.baag

Building With Bricolage – BRICO and the Art of Reassembly: Building from What Remains – Reuse, Recovery, and Reimagination by Macintyre Schnell, M.Arch ’25
University of Southern California | Advisor: Sascha Delz

Building with Bricolage reimagines adaptive reuse as an active, regenerative process – one that is as much about creative material transformation as it is about collective social empowerment. This thesis proposes a framework where architecture is built not from scratch, but from what already exists: disassembled, deteriorated, and often overlooked structures are carefully taken apart, salvaged, and reassembled into new spatial forms. The resulting architecture is a collage—layered, expressive, and materially honest—where imperfections are not concealed, but celebrated. The visible seams, textures, and traces of former lives become part of the building’s identity, allowing it to tell a rich story of transformation. Rather than limiting adaptive reuse to historically conserved buildings, Building with Bricolage embraces the potential of “non-conservable” structures, reclaiming their materials for renewed construction on the same site. This process not only reduces waste and promotes sustainability, but also fosters hands-on skill-building in deconstruction, reassembly, and low-carbon construction practices. 

In partnership with the adjacent LA Trade and Technical College (LATTC), the project becomes a living classroom—integrating vocational training, experimentation, and community workshops to expand educational curricula and empower local labor. At its core, this framework positions architecture as a participatory act—shaped not only by materials, but by the people who inhabit, maintain, and co-create it. The proposed BRICO co-operative mirrors the material logic of bricolage: a diverse collective of residents and stakeholders, much like the varied components of the building itself, come together to form a unified, resilient whole. In doing so, Building with Bricolage regenerates more than buildings – it rebuilds the social fabric of the city through shared authorship, mutual care, and spatial storytelling. 

Instagram: @coop_urbanism

Stay tuned for Part III!

2023 Study Architecture Student Showcase - Part XXXIII

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Welcome to the final edition of the 2023 Study Architecture Student Showcase! In Part XXXIII, we highlight student work that centers on public spaces. The showcased designs include public parks, meeting spaces, community centers, commercial retail spaces, parking structures, pools, and more.

Re-encontrarse (Re-united) by Sophie Esther Zurhaar Ortiz, B.Arch ‘23
Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro | Advisors: Jorge Javier & Francisco Paille

This project seeks to generate an urban design proposal for the recovery of public space in Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Aiming to propose meeting spaces where all kinds of activities can be carried out, recover the railroad tracks to stop being a physical barrier, and defragment the urban fabric, offering cohesive, healthy, and functional meeting spaces that together can regenerate the social fabric.

Instagram: @sophiezurhaar, @arqwave

PROSPECT NEW ORLEANS by Olivia Georgakopoulos, B.Arch ‘23
Tulane University | Advisor: Ruben Garcia-Rubio

This project proposes to open the building to the city, creating a place that adds to its rich urban fabric. The site is a parking lot at the corner between the Contemporary Arts Center and the WWII Museum. While there are many voids in the surrounding context, like this site, they are not habitable. This project provides a much-needed public space for the many visitors to the surrounding museums. Taking inspiration from the L-shaped building typology in New Orleans, the building opens to the city, creating a public plaza. 

The building functions as an open-public platform connecting Camp Street and Andrew Higgins Blvd. The glass-enclosed first floor is fluid and can be completely opened, allowing for space not to be defined by interior or exterior. Rather, programs can spill out and interact between the interior and the plaza. The ground floor then becomes animated by human activity. The public programs, gallery, cafe, lobby, and lounge are housed on the first floor, and spaces to support the art center are above. 

Transparency of the building is achieved through the aluminum louvered facade, which acts as a theatrical scrim. This veiled facade reveals the animation on the inside of the building. This transparency is also experienced from the inside looking out: the interior programs interact with filtered and framed views of the city. 

A chain of internal double-height spaces forms a visual cascade through the building, providing internal transparency and animation with continuous views from the bottom floor to the top floor and the sky. The overall design provides continuity between the interior, the plaza, the street level, and the city.

Instagram: @rubgarrub

Los Angeles Media Library by Charlotte J. Love, B.Arch ‘23
Tulane University | Advisor: Ruben Garcia-Rubio

The Los Angeles Media Library began by building upon the urban design. The building began with the broken urban block typology found throughout the site, this promoted a continued focus on mobility within the project. The urban block shape was altered to accommodate one large building wrapped in louvers and two smaller pavilions hosting different program focuses on a plaza. This iteration of the broken urban block creates an inviting place for a public plaza. This plaza being at the literal intersection of the business and arts district makes it a perfect spot to hold a media center and library. This is relevant for both the site and the Greater Los Angeles.

The plaza has a number of public transportation stops and is located across the street from two museums making the plaza equally important to the design. The open space has a café, reading area, pavilion, and an outdoor theater. The buildings and walkways align with the surrounding roads and buildings leading to a central sunken space at the center of the plaza. Held within the building are two zones with thickened walls holding private programs such as classrooms, dark rooms, offices, etc. This allows the rest of the building to be much more open with a number of double heights as well as spaces with an indoor-outdoor feeling. This allows the building to be fluid and connected to the plaza, blurring the line between public and private spaces.

Instagram: @rubgarrub

HALLOWED GROUND by Ramona Reinhart, M.Arch ‘23
University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Advisor: Chris Jarrett

In “Taoka Reiun and Environmental Thoughts in the Early 1900s,” Ronald Loftus addresses Reiun’s cultural critique of Western modernization and the devastating forms of pollution that followed during Japan’s Meijin state beginning in 1880. As an early environmentalist and anti-modernist, Reiun argues that these natural disasters are ultimately a result of humanity’s disconnection from the natural and spiritual world. 

Located in Shibuya, Hallowed Ground proposes “The Under Line,” a linear futuristic public park, lab farm and market, integrated urban meditation spaces, and a museum for environmental disasters as a response to Tokyo’s culture of hyper-consumerism and capital development that “buried” many of Japan’s spiritual traditions and natural ecologies. The constant strive for economic growth resulted in large areas of impervious surfaces in the city. Surfaces that are now being hollowed out.

This project won the 2023 Best Architectural Diploma Project. As well as 2023 Excellence in Architectural Representation.

Instagram: @_ramonareinhartg

Little Megastructure by Yiman Yiman, M.Arch ‘23
UCLA Architecture and Urban Design | Advisor: Greg Lynn

“Little Megastructure” configures an inclusive community of aggregated spatial prototypes that celebrates social connection and belonging while supporting individuality. The prototypical forms can be combined and composed in a variety of ways to create a wide range of spaces. Clusters of parks, plazas, courtyards, and atriums in between modules throughout the megastructure foster a sense of community and belonging. With a clear hierarchy of spaces that are designed for different purposes and activities, having all the components of a city creates a sense of urbanism.

Park! Park! by Motomi Matsubara ‘23
UCLA Architecture and Urban Design | Advisor: Greg Lynn

“Park! Park!” offers a set of housing towers, their shapes, and scales informed by the interplay between the behavior of residents inside and automobile traffic outside. One of the towers is taller and leaner; another more lateral and rectangular. Here, fillets perform not only as an intimate icon, each interacting softly with adjacent housing towers, but also as mediators of the different scales of motions between two different physical bodies–people and cars.

Instagram: @m2c_works

Undefined Parking by Katie Yuan, M.Arch ‘23
University of Southern California | Advisor: Yaohua Wang

The lines drawn on maps to define the borders of countries and territories may appear solid and definitive at a glance. However, when magnified and viewed at a larger scale, these lines are composed of segments, curves, and dashes that intersect, connect, and overlap. Lines are one-dimensional, but when given 3-dimensional qualities, they become less concrete and defined. In other words, when lines are given different widths and heights, they are no longer elements that separate or confine objects, but rather they embody multiple conditions that can become spaces, tectonics, connections, and circulations.  

Formed through a series of intersecting, shifting, and offsetting lines, Undefined Parking appears as an urban boundary that separates the UCLA campus and residential area at an urban scale. In this condition, the boundary becomes a partition wall. At an architectural scale, the parking structure becomes the destination for both entering and exiting the site. Yet simultaneously, the structure’s various programs (offices, classrooms, green space, etc.) blur the distinction between the university campus and the urban site. In this condition, the boundary becomes a destination. At a model scale, the volumes, ramps, walls, and planes are interlocked and joined together through the distinct tectonic elements of each individual piece. In this condition, the boundary becomes a connection. 

Perhaps, lines or boundaries exist in multiple conditions and cannot be defined…

This project was awarded the USC Master of Architecture Distinction in Directed Design Research.

Instagram: @katie0712yl, @yaohua_wwww

High-Rise Building by Jermaine Jones, Dominique Lang, Javon Hayward & Derrick Ayozie, B.Arch ‘23
Prairie View A&M University | Advisor: Huiyi Xu

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates from 2021, there were 69,094 new residents added to the Greater Houston area. Some developers have purchased land in the Houston City Centre area, on the corner of I-10 Hwy and Beltway 8 in the City Centre, and plan to build an iconic high-rise building. This project is a mixed-use office building. The location of the project is in the Memorial City district of Houston, Texas. City Centre is a 50-acre development with 2.1 million square feet of gross floor space, including 400,000 square feet of retail, restaurants, and entertainment, a 149,000 square foot fitness facility, 425,000 square feet of office space, a variety of rental, and non-rental residential developments: a Microsoft office, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Memorial City Mall, Houston of City College, and diversified restaurants such as Taste of Texas, Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, and other retailers are all around it. 

This project will bring more people to this area to contribute to the local business and land value. The potential tenants of the high-end office building with commercial spaces and a parking garage will be the headquarters offices, banks, medical offices, high education offices, etc.

DIGNITY by Macinnis Kraus, M.Arch ‘23
The University of Texas at Austin | Advisor: Nichole Wiedemann

Working with a local church in West Campus and inspired by the student interest in “serving” over “services,” the design is for a re-combination of worship, living, and service. Two transitional housing towers provide residences for formerly itinerate populations and create bookends to the public landscape. The individuals may work here –apprenticing in the artisan maker space or running the restaurant– providing some financial stability for the immediate and the future. In addition, public showers, laundry, and bathroom facilities support the broader community. Embracing the pragmatic and poetic potential of water, light, and body (human-scale moments), the project seeks to provide dignity for all user groups.

This project was nominated for Design Excellence at the UT School of Architecture.

Instagram: @nicholewiedemann

Intertwining blocks in Los Angeles by Joey A. Tomshe, B.Arch ‘23
Tulane University | Advisor: Ruben Garcia-Rubio

Intertwining blocks is proposed to act as an agricultural information and research center for the previously designed master plan, and, in the future, there would be more of these spread out around LA which are connected. It will feature many new innovations in the agriculture field with the goal of informing the public about the advanced research being performed in LA today.

The initial concept for this project was to intertwine four blocks, creating an indoor street that acts as a social condensing space, relating to the distinct street types created in the master plan, with the social condensing space containing lighter elements than the heavier blocks. The project features six types of farms, a mediateque, and research stations for botanists. The form of the social condenser space comes from trees in plan view, then those same circles are introduced in sections to influence the roof. To combat the heat from glass roofs, the proposal will be installed with an automated computer system that processes and manages a database to optimize comfort and energy efficiency. Along the face of the roof structure is a series of operable louvers that can open and close, which allows for natural ventilation as well as sun deflection. Similarly, on the roof the northern faces of the arches can pivot open, allowing for full circulation. Furthermore, the roof allows for rain collection with built-in gutters and features solar panels on the north two blocks. Due to the repetition of louvers on the roof, a facade of varying size stone panels is introduced to disrupt this rhythm and add variation. Some panels were removed for windows and others, on the south facade, were turned into farming panels that interact with the farm in front.

Instagram: @rubgarrub

USC Students Raise Awareness About Homelessness

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From trash to treasure, University of Southern California (USC) students Jayson Champlain and Joseph Chang are transforming forgotten materials into tiny portable houses that could serve as temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.

According to LA Times, “Jeremy Carman was driving around Boyle Heights recently when he spotted a rolled-up garage door on the side of the road.

‘That’s it,’ the 25-year-old thought. The garage door would make the perfect roof for the 8-foot-tall house that he and four other USC architecture students were building over the weekend to draw attention to the lack of permanent supportive housing for the homeless in Los Angeles — and to raise money for a solution.”

The students gathered materials from construction trash bins, street corners and alleys in LA then came together to build a small white house with a bright orange door, “complete with a cupola, eaves, and wheels for mobility.”

The students built the house at the Dwell on Design Conference, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

To learn more, read the original post on LA Times entitled “Trash to Treasure: USC Architect Students Build Tiny Portable House to Raise Awareness About Homelessness.” 

Visit USC’s Study Architecture Profile page to learn more about their architecture program!

USC Professor Develops Architecture-Inspired Video Game, Block'hood

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(via USC News)

Architects are no strangers to technology. Even so, Jose Sanchez is a little less than traditional when it comes to his design tools.

Sanchez, an assistant professor at the USC School of Architecture, has earned acclaim for his architecture-inspired video game Block’hood.

Released for Windows and Mac in April, the indie title just won “best gameplay” at the 2016 Games for Change Festival. The annual event recognizes innovative games that explore health, education and social issues.

“It is really humbling to receive this award among incredible contenders like That Dragon, Cancer and Life Is Strange, Sanchez said. “The jury recognized how the mechanics of the game are fundamentally defining its ecological narrative. It means a lot for someone like me coming from architecture to be recognized outside my field, validating all the effort in attempting interdisciplinary research.”

Cost and effects

The game lets players stack pieces and construct communities of their own design. Each piece has its own particular costs and effects: apartments, solar panels and shops all play different roles in the health of your building. Ecology is a key concern, with players being forced to think about greywater use and the effect of growth on the local ecology in a bid to maintain successful communities.

Sanchez was inspired by games like SimCity and Minecraft, open sandboxes that let players create their own designs. He was interested in exploring how gameplay could extend the kinds of debates architects have about urban planning to a wider group of people: What leads communities to weaken or decay? How do you take care of waste? How do you balance needs like electricity, jobs or food with population growth?

Asking these kinds of questions are “grand challenges” for architecture, Sanchez said. But he also wanted this game to appeal to more than just architects. He designed it to be playable for people ages 10 and up, with the hope that it could provoke these ideas in the minds of future creators.

“I think the architects of tomorrow will grow up playing Minecraft or games like this, where the ideas of systems are more pressing,” Sanchez said. “The game can simulate and model notions of gentrification, social change and segregation. These are problems that architects have to deal with at all times — and it’s doing it in a creative way.”

Architecture and society

As a model for how architecture can affect society, Block’hood is fairly unique. Computational design has long been a part of the field; Sanchez said he was drawn to that side of the discipline from early on. He pursued a master’s degree that allowed him to simulate biological systems, using procedural generation to create complex, organic forms that would change shape under different conditions.

At the same time that he was studying architecture, Sanchez was learning programming. He used specialized software to explore the concepts that attracted his interest. But most of this software was designed for people with technical backgrounds — something he felt set a high barrier for entry to artists, tinkerers or others who would also enjoy exploring those concepts.

“If you use software designed for more people and people who aren’t highly technical, that software needs to teach you how to play,” Sanchez said. Create software that teaches people how to use it, and voila: Your program starts to look like a game.

It took a lot of experimentation to develop Block’hood. Along the way, Sanchez received help from Gentaro Makinoda, a graduate student at the USC School of Architecture, as well as Bryan Zhang and Alan Hung, graduates of USC Games. Sanchez collaborates frequently with the USC Games program more widely, where he gives lectures.

“I think Block’hood is a wonderful example of how many faculty at USC are involved in innovation in games,” said Tracy Fullerton, USC Games director. “It’s so great to have an architecture professor doing such deep work in games here.”

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