SELECTED WORKS 2025
HUDA SAIT
HUDA SAIT
I am an aspiring architect passionate about the connection between the built environment and human experiences. I aim to explore how architecture can positively impact communities and contribute to a more environmentally conscious future. My focus is on the hands-on aspects of design, where I can thoughtfully craft spaces that foster connection and tell a powerful story. I am eager to continuously learn and embrace emerging technologies to push the boundaries of the discipline. Ultimately, I aspire to create environments that reinvent shared spaces, bringing people together in meaningful ways.
This collection of selected works explores the relationship between urban spaces and the natural environment. Each project emphasizes the unique characteristics of its site while addressing local community needs. The works incorporate emerging architectural technologies and various visualization techniques to engage with and respond to the project briefs.
Iowa
GARDEN ASCENSION
LOW-MAX HOUSING
Course: Arch 302
Instructors: Ayodele Iyanalu, Rod Kruse
Teammate: Aria Hanson
Software: Rhino, Revit, Lumion, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom
The Downtown Des Moines community has been hit hard by the pandemic: Low-income residents are left especially vulnerable facing unaffordable housing costs and food insecurity leading to unsustainable living options. This affordable housing project attempts to alleviate these issues by proposing the addition of a food conservatory that works in conjunction with a food pantry. The food conservatory promotes food security through the local production of fresh produce that is distributed as needed via the food pantry. By increasing housing density, this project aims at alleviating supply-side affordability challenges. Ultimately, through the synergy of its programs, Garden Ascension wants to build a stronger and more resilient Des Moines.
The most notable feature of the site is the continuance of greenspace , starting from the Pappajohn Sculpture Park and continuing through the Krause Gateway Center up to our building site on where the existing Unity Point security building lies.
In addition to greenspace on the South side, the road intersecting the site will be closed off to allow space for a weekend farmer’s market. This will provide a platform for residents as well as local farmers and artisans to generate income as well as serve as a source of income for the housing project and keep it affordable. The existing Quik Trip across the street would be converted into an EV charging station to promote sustainable and energy efficient transportation choices.
1’=1/16”
1’=1/8”
1’=1/8”
1’=1/8”
Food Pantry Soup Kitchen
Greenhouse Roof
BLADE
DESIGN FOR COMMUNITY LIFE
Course: Arch 402
Instructors: Consuelo Nunez Ciuffa, Matilde Mellini, Lavinia Minciacchi
Teammate: Katie Bolkcom, Henry Lingafelter
Software: Rhino, Twinmotion, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom
Located in the San Lorenzo neighborhood of Rome north of Termini Station, Blade integrates historical elements like the Aurelian Wall and a 3rd century tomb into its design. The site features an 8.5-meter elevation change, which is emphasized through two main structures: the Blade, an extrusion for residential, co-working, and commercial spaces; and the Community Center, an excavation that blends with the landscape . The Community Center sinks into the terrain, offering moments of discovery. Together, the project blurs the boundaries between the built and natural spaces, creating a cohesive, engaging experience.
The site is framed by a piazza and large green spaces with a central passage, narrowing and expanding, connecting them directly in between the two buildings. This curates a very intentional view through the site, beginning at the Aurelian walls and ending at the tomb. Both buildings are carefully placed on site to perpetuate this sense of discovery. The Blade extends further East than the edge of the Community Center. As the visitor moves into the site, they discover the community center as it rises from the ground to follow the natural topography of the site and takes a form of its own. By pushing the facades of both buildings in at ground level only, the visitor is allowed not just past the buildings, but into them
Figure Ground
1- Storage
2-Auditorium 3- Classroom 4- Courtyard 5- Gallery 6- Offices
7- Grocery Store
8- Gelateria 9- Gym 10- Residential Lobbys 11- Cafe
12- Nail Salon
13- Shop 14-Restaurant
Central Coworking Community Center
Northwest Site Center Courtyard
CARNIVALE
LANDSCAPE X ARCHITECTURE
Course: Arch 301
Instructors: Anna Aversing
Teammate: Kristiana Tu
Software: Rhino, Revit, Lumion, Photoshop, Illustrator
Placed in 2050, this project focuses on creating a venue in which audience, performance, and landscape engage in a cooperative and independent relationship. The venue would be located in Ledges State Park, Madrid, IA and cater to the increasing tourist population. It would utilize emerging sustainable materials in order to address growing environmental concerns. In addition to being used to celebrate an annual Carnivale, the venue will also be designed with the existing flood plane in mind so that the space can be accessed year-round.
Located near the Des Moines River, Ledges State park is known for regular flooding. The specific site of our pavilion would historically only be affected by minimal flooding once every few hundred years. Sustainability was one of the main focuses of this project, leading us to use materials such as bamboo, compressed stabilized earth blocks, polycarbonate, and ferro-cement. In addition to the main venue space, the site includes a tornado shelter and electric vehicle charging point located next to the 100-car parking lot.
The pavilion includes an exhibition space, lockers for personal storage, a kitchenette for food storage, and indoor and outdoor bike storage. Throughout the year, this space functions as an exhibition hall and can also be used for various events such as concerts and other performances. Once a year, the exhibition hall will be transformed to host a masquerade ball to honor the changing of seasons. On the rare occasion that the space floods, guests are still welcome to visit and use the space.
1 - Exhibition Space
2 - Meditation Space
3 - Outdoor Performance Space
4 - Storage
5 - Restrooms
Venue During Exhibition, Masquerade
Masquerade Ball, 100-Year Flood
Model Collages
HERBA SANCTUM
METABOLIC MACHINA
Course: Arch 401
Instructors: Ayodele Iyanalu, Rod Kruse
Teammate: Hana Summers
Software: Rhino, Lumion, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom
Nestled on the corner of North Dakota Ave and Lincoln Way, Ames, IA, this project integrates architectural aesthetics, natural technology, and adaptive systems to create an energy conservatory that educates the public and heals the land . The rapid increase in energy demands of contemporary urban lifestyles requires from designers novel approaches to sustainably become energy efficient. Herba Sanctum is purposefully designed to preserve resources while acting as a source and distributor of energy. This is done through the implementation of solar power, a moss voltaic system, and the extensive research, production, and use of ragweed found on the site . This traditionally ostracized plant enables the building to engage in phytoremediation and produce biomass, medicine, food, and reduced waste. These systems are interspersed throughout labs and spaces for education, exposition, and urban food generation.
The lab spaces are used to research, isolate, grow, and process ragweed. Ragweed has many medicinal benefits as well as the ability to be turned into biomass. This biochar is used within the building as well as on the facade to remove contaminants and pollutants from the air, including CO2. The biochar is produced and replaced in a zero waste cycle as the blocks can be added back into the soil as they are replaced. This also neutralizes acidity in the soil, improves water and nutrient retention, and improves drainage.
The South face of the building, which houses the climate-controlled pods, features a moss voltaic system across the length of the wall. The natural process of photosynthesis is used to generate electricity through the use of bio-photovoltaics. During this process, plants consume carbon dioxide and water from the environment and convert them into organic compounds. Some of these compounds are released into the soil, which contains symbiotic bacteria. The compounds are broken down by the bacteria and by-products including electrons are liberated. The voltaic system functions by providing an electrode for the micro-organisms to donate their electrons to which can then be harvested as electricity. While this emerging technology can work with other plants and algae, moss was advantageous due to its reduced weight loads, high drought tolerance, low maintenance, no fertilizer required, and increased water absorption. The moss is protected from direct sunlight by the deep cavity of each module as well as the curtain wall in front of it.
Site is predominantly covered in ragweed and late boneset
Central land depressionwater flows inward and then North, out of site, due to slope of N Dakota Ave
Site surrounded by the CORE apartments (East), JAX Outdoor Gear (West), Kum n Go (South), and residences (North)
East Perspective Section
Site Plan
Moss Voltaic Wall
RESUME
Education
Iowa State University
Bachelor of Architecture | May 2025
ISU Rome Program
College of Design Study Abroad | Spring 2024
Stonehill International School, Bangalore, India
International Baccalaureate Diploma | May 2020
Skills
Adobe Suite Climate Studio
Revit AutoCAD
Rhino Microsoft Office Lumion Laser Cutting
Enscape 3D Printing
Bluebeam Woodshop
Grasshopper Photography
Experience
Invision Architecture, Iowa
Architectural Intern | May 2024 - Present
Assist architects and designers with construction documents, renderings, and award submissions.
Design Reading Room, College of Design, ISU
Student Librarian | May 2022 - December 2023
Manage circulation desk, assist patrons, check out, and shelve books.
Memorial Union Art Gallery, ISU
Student Employee | April 2022 - August 2022
Plan and arrange installations, assist guests and answer questions, manage sale of artwork.
ZSP Interior Design + Architecture, India
Intern | Summer 2018
Plan apartment space while developing skills in design software.
Affiliations and Honors
Journey Award | Fall 2020 - Spring 2024
Dean’s List | Fall 2020, Fall 2023
Flack Student Assistant Award | Fall 2023 - Spring 2024
NOMAS | Spring 2021 - Present
Iowa Women in Architecture | Spring 2022 - Present
University Print Society | Fall 2024 - Present
Alliance Brazilian Jiu Jitsu | January 2022 - Present
Cedar Valley Intern Connect Program | Summer 2024
References
Rod Kruse Principal, BNIM Professor of Practice, Arch. rkruse@bnim.com
Connor Grann
Intern Architect, INVISION connorg@invisionarch.com
Ayodele Iyanalu
Associate Teaching Professor, Arch. aiyanalu@iastate.edu
ISSUU | https://issuu.com/hsait
LINKEDIN | www.linkedin.com/in/hudasait
EMAIL | hudasait18@gmail.com
HUDA SAIT