Asker_Portfolio_2024

PORTFOLIO Pedegogy + Design + Research

MADALYN ASKER

Madalyn Asker

Digital Portfolio

university competitions professional installations

DE

ESIGN

Explanatory Report

This research explores how architecture can reinvigorate culture and reshape daily life by challenging the routine monotony that often exhausts both body and spirit. The project argues that architecture must do more than address ecological concerns like climate change—it must also bring an artistic curiousity into daily life, offering people more democratic access to the spaces they inhabit. By rethinking urban structures—transportation, housing, and work—we can create environments that empower people to reclaim their surroundings.

This transformation requires collective, democratic participation in reimagining how we live in cities.

The investigation is set against the backdrop of urban violence and the need for spatial justice, a concept that is difficult to address through traditional solutions alone. Rather than seeking to remove every harmful element, this research

Decolonizing Landscapes University of Idaho Pedogogy + Research

very conditions that allow violence to persist.

The guiding question is: instead of pulling every weed from the field, why not change the chemistry of the soil itself?

The proposed architectural drawings embody this shift. The “Germ,” as an agent of change, introduces a new layer of infrastructure that rejects violence and disrupts ingrained power dynamics. In a near future marked by economic collapse, social inequality, and environmental collapse, the Germ creates spaces that transform violence into opportunities for solidarity. It offers a vision of a more inclusive world, where architecture helps reshape urban life and redefine violence as a force for collective healing. This research suggests that architecture—through its forms and spaces— can be a catalyst for a kinder, more just world, one that empowers communities and fosters regeneration rather than mere survival.

Architectural Firm: University Research Location: N/A Building Type: Unbuilt Area: N/A Construction Costs: N/A Completion: 2022

These hand drawn 6’-0” panels were displayed in a solo show along with 9 other panels, exploring the ways in which we might think about spatial justice in housing, schools, civic buildings, transportation and parks.

The comic strip (above) uses story telling to talk about “the germ” The model (bottom left) shows design making as design thinking.

Below demonstrates how technology can work with algea to clean air.

Explanatory Report

The small house stands as a collaborative effort between Moscow Affordable Housing Trust and five designers, offering a refreshing departure from mundane housing developments. It serves as an innovative housing model that not only honors the local context but also transcends the conventional sea of vinyl siding.

Functioning as a generative model, the small house surpasses energy code requirements by incorporating well-insulated walls and natural heating and cooling systems. The construction utilized locally sourced wood, which was cut and planed on-site, then treated with a combination of pine tar and linseed oil. Despite its compact footprint, the massing was strategically designed to create a spacious interior.

Distinctive exterior spaces were carved out and highlighted by the alterations in directionality and color of the wood siding.

Affordable Housing Moscow, Idaho Design Build

Internally, the focus was on creating a warm ambiance. Every room is bathed in natural light, whether it’s the North-facing skylight above the kitchen sink, the expansive Southfacing sliding doors, or the strategically placed windows.

The design also considers spatial efficiency, providing an attic space over the bedroom and bathroom, along with tall ceilings in the living room and kitchen. Natural light floods the attic, filtering through a screen into the main living area. This approach not only enhances the living experience but also demonstrates that thoughtful design is achievable even with budget and space limitations. Ultimately, the small house embodies the belief that everyone deserves access to exceptional design.

Architectural Firm: CoLAB Architects Collaborators: Randall Teal, Amanda Eller, Sterling Jones, Brenna Church Location: Palouse River Drive, Moscow, ID Client: Moscow Affordable Housing Trust Building Type: Affordable Housing Area: 650 sq ft Construction Costs: $127,000 Completion: 2022

This is the first house in a planned community of six small houses to be built on land. The homes will be built in a cluster and the property will feature an open common area for all the homeowners.

MicroHouse

Interior finishes are made from local wood + butcher block Photos: University of Idaho Floor Plan

MicroHouse

Madalyn Asker

Digital Portfolio

university competitions professional installations

DE

ESIGN

Explanatory Report

Los Angeles, the City of Angels, is a vibrant and dynamic metropolis known for its diverse culture, thriving entertainment industry, and iconic landmarks. However, beneath the city’s glittering surface lies a growing problem that affects a significant portion of its population: the housing crisis. The soaring costs of living, fueled by skyrocketing rents, gentrification, and a limited supply of affordable starter homes, have made it increasingly challenging for lower-income households to secure adequate housing within the city’s boundaries. This pressing issue not only affects the quality of life for countless residents but also has a detrimental impact on the social fabric of Los Angeles. As the city becomes more polarized, with wealthier individuals residing in upscale neighborhoods and lower-income families struggling to find affordable homes, a sense of community and connection is lost.

In turn, this exacerbates existing social and economic disparities, creating an even more challenging environment for those most in need.

LA Affordable Housing Buildner Sustainability Award

Collaborators: Randall Teal

The project proposes a form of affordable housing connected to rideshare services and public transit lines, as a means to contribute to sustainable urban development by reducing the need for personal vehicles, easing traffic congestion, and lowering overall carbon emissions. It suggests that ‘skinny’ homes be added to streets over 60 feet wide, as a solution to constructing 500,000 new homes in LA. It aims to increase density, optimize land use, reduce commute times, and foster economic vibrancy.

Location: Los Angeles Competition: Buildner Building Type: Affordable Housing Awards: Sustainability Award Completion: 2023

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28’ outdoor

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22’ wide unit

10’ path

12’ rideshare

24’ two-way

Explanatory Report

Having children is the greatest predictor of eviction in the United States, with single mothers bearing the brunt. Amidst legislative landscapes where 14 states enforce total abortion bans, the looming specter of evictions poses a significant threat, particularly to the health and well-being of black children. Power(h)erHouse asks: why shouldn’t every child have access to the best housing a nation can offer? In the realm of architecture, the challenges of balancing career and family are rendered non-existent. Yet, the journey of juggling both necessitates strategies such as outsourcing tasks, relying on community support, and maintaining faith in resilience.

Power(h)ouse proposes a housing model where single mothers can share labor, expenses, and enjoy increased health and well-being through social infrastructure; each micro home shares

Power(h)er House Moscow, Idaho Design Build

an affordable base that promotes choice, dignity, and shared amenities. This model is made operational through a series of playful interpretations of the conventional front porch typology, which is used to drive the formal language of the architecture. In essence, rather than being a house with a porch, Pow(h) erhouse is a porch that becomes a house. This move is meant to be both an indicator of this community’s aspiration to be inclusive and connected with one another, and to provide real space in service of social connection and family gathering. Through these approaches Power(h)ouse aims to honor family identity while embracing our complete humanity by creating conditions where the power of the collective can be leveraged towards a community that supports modes of domesticity that lie outside the normative definitions of the nuclear family.

Collaborators: Randall Teal Location: Moscow, Idaho Competition: Buildner Building Type: Micro House Completion: 2023

Madalyn Asker

Digital Portfolio

university competitions professional installations

DE

ESIGN

Explanatory Report

The Children Rising Center emerged in response to discriminatory city planning in Syracuse, New York, driven by a surge in the African-American population from 4,000 in 1950 to 11,210 in 1960. Despite this growth, black residents lacked political influence, relying on clubs, churches, and the Dunbar Center for social cohesion.

The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, aimed at employment and national defense, led to the construction of I-81, disrupting The Ward neighborhood.

The Children Rising Center aims to revitalize a neglected Syracuse neighborhood. It features three developmental stages for children and promotes community engagement through a central park and recreation space. Community insights drove the project’s planning, emphasizing safety and inclusivity.

Children Rising Center Syracus, New York Early Learning Center

The design prioritizes safety with an interior courtyard, thoughtful lighting, and sightlines.

The Center’s design is celebratory, fostering community and dignity for its residents.

Trauma-informed design principles guide the interior of the Early Learning Center, incorporating generous transition spaces and integrating rituals and choices to alleviate separation anxiety. The play center prioritizes the embodied experience, using space for regulation and avoiding overstimulation.

The wellness center engages with the urban environment, promoting visibility and activity with windows overlooking the street and the indoor turf field. All building components feature windows facing an interior courtyard, thanks to valuable input from the Syracuse community, contributing to a practical and effective design scheme.

Architectural Firm: ElDorado Architects Collaborators: Elisandra Garcia, Sophie Hong, Daniel Renner Location: Syracus, New York Client: Blueprint 15 Building Type: Early Learning Center Area: 1 Acre Construction Costs: N/A Completion: Unbuilt (Schematic Design)

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“The Wedge” massing derived from community and stakeholder engagements

SITE PLAN DIAGRAM

The soffit of the interior detailed to appear as a seamless transtion to the exterior courtyard.

Colored aluminum fins create a vibrant pattern along the high touch areas.

Children Rising Center

1

Above: Seating alcove for Early Learning Center Hallway Below: Hallways to classrooms as playful storage and searting

Children Rising Center

Above: Early Learning Center Floor Plan Below: Spatial exploration for classrooms

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PRESCHOOL (3YRS)

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PRESCHOOL (4-5YRS)

SPATIAL DEMARCATIONS - PLAN

SPATIAL DEMARCATIONS - PLAN

Madalyn Asker

Digital Portfolio

university competitions professional installations

DE

ESIGN

Explanatory Report

In this section of my portfolio, I present a selection of small-scale built works that serve as low-stakes, low-cost experiments with design ideas. These projects are deeply rooted in community creation, and have consistently brought joy and connection to the people they serve. They are examples of “bottom-up” architecture—designs that are by and for the local communities where I have lived.

Among the projects featured is Unearthed, which asks why the ground beneath us can connect us more deeply than the concrete that often separates us. I also showcase a mural and seating project for a local nonprofit, and a pavilion titled Embodiment, designed with intimate spaces inside where women can process their experiences and move forward after domestic violence.

Though they often had limited budgets and tight deadlines, these projects demonstrate the power of architecture to bring people together in meaningful ways. From creating gathering spaces to fostering a sense of belonging, each installation exemplifies how design can facilitate connection and well-being.

Other ongoing projects not yet featured include a mural at a local preschool and a pocket park for an LGBTQIA+ group. These works are joyful generators, using local spaces as a testbed for how design can be socially constructed, nurturing community engagement and building connection from the ground up.

ARCHITECTURE OF X Multiple Locations Installations

Above: Embodiment Pavillion Below: One World Cafe Mural and design build

Above/below: Images from Seattle Design Festival showing “UnEarthed”