I grew up between worlds. As a first-generation immigrant, I learned early on to navigate cultural duality—balancing tradition and adaptation, past and future, home and beyond. My family’s history, shaped by movement and resilience, instilled in me a deep awareness of place and identity. Architecture became my medium for exploring these intersections.
I am drawn to spaces that connect rather than divide—thresholds that blur boundaries, materials that carry memory, and structures that hold both history and possibility. My design approach is guided by an interest in spatial storytelling, how architecture fosters belonging, and how built environments shape human experience. I seek to create architecture that is both rooted and open, responsive and evolving.
Through my work, I aspire to craft spaces that not only serve but also speak—echoing histories, inviting connections, and offering new ways to inhabit the world.
Löyly precedent study the archive operations + aggregations: collective systems for public use
speculative cartographies
The “Riverside Divides” project examines the James River’s influence on Richmond’s historical, socio-economic, and environmental landscape. It explores how the river shaped settlement patterns, race, and class divisions, and now poses an environmental risk due to rising flood levels. The project highlights how lower-income and minority communities are disproportionately affected by flooding, mapping these disparities against demographic data. Case studies of Rocketts Landing and Fulton Hill reveal shifts in racial and socio-economic makeup due to industrialization, deindustrialization, and urban renewal. The project calls attention to the tension between economic development, environmental resilience, and social equity in Richmond’s waterfront development.
Spring 2025 | Jess Vanecek
River Divides:
The James River: A Catalyst for Expansion
This project examines how the development through its ecology, socio-economic divides. Through shifting patterns of industry, the historical and ongoing impacts neighborhood boundaries, and
Expansion
the James River has influenced Richmond’s ecology, transportation routes, and Through a series of maps, it explores the industry, race, and income along the river, revealing impacts of the river on city planning, and future climate challenges.
Rockett’s Landing: Layers of Community and Transformation
The site map of Rocketts Landing, Richmond, layered history of race and industry through infrastructure, including docks, industrial neighborhood boundaries. By integrating maps, it reveals how industrial expansion have shaped the area’s social and economic
Richmond, VA, traces the through past and present industrial zones, and shifting integrating historic neighborhood expansion and redevelopment economic landscape over time.
Indigenous peoples use the James River for trade and transportation
Irish immigrants arrive in Richmond
Post-Civil War, African Americans gain freedom but face continued economic and social challenges
Rocketts Landing becomes a significant industrial hub; African American communities establish roots in nearby neighborhoods like Jackson Ward
Deindustrialization and economic decline; African American neighborhoods face economic hardship and displacement from urban renewal projects.
Gentrification of Rocketts Landing; redevelopment of the area into a mixed-use, upscale neighborhood with rising property values leading to displacement of lower income communities, particularly African Americans.
Socioeconomic and Environmental Barriers within the Floodplain
The city-scale mapping analysis examines the intersection of socio-economic vulnerability and environmental risk in Richmond. Mapping racial demographics and income disparities further reveals how the James River functions as a socio-spatial divide. This divide reinforces the lasting impact of geography on economic and social inequities and disparities.
Racial Demographics in relation to 100 Year Floodplain from the James River
White Population per Acre
African American Population per Acre
Asian Population per Acre
the archive
Inspired by El Lissitzky’s work and Bachelard’s concept of the room as a sanctuary, I designed a space that blends interior and exterior to foster both intimacy and connection. Large apertures open the space to nature, creating a dialogue between the structured interior and the lush, expansive exterior. Elevated pathways and secluded seating areas offer moments of solitude, while varied spaces encourage reflection and community interaction. The design layers experiences, with thresholds serving as transitions between different states of being.
Fall 2024 | Robin Dripps
ADMIN - APARTMENT
ADMIN
THEATER - LECTURE HALL
ARCHIVE STORAGE
DIGITIZING LAB
This section highlights the dynamic movement within the archive, focusing on how spatial elements interconnect and foster interaction. The design emphasizes the flow of activity, beginning with the descent into the auditorium or theater space, where users experience a shift in elevation and atmosphere. This transition is seamlessly integrated with the network of public and private spaces, connected through skybridges that act as both pathways and visual links, encouraging interaction and engagement across different areas of the archive.
The central staircase serves as a pivotal design feature, functioning not only as a means of vertical circulation but also as a multi-purpose element within the space. Designed with wide steps and thoughtful proportions, it invites users to pause, sit, and rest, transforming the staircase into an informal gathering area. This dual functionality enhances its role as a social and spatial anchor, blurring the boundaries between movement and stillness. Together, these elements create a cohesive and interactive environment where transitions between spaces become opportunities for connection and engagement.
Löyly precedent study
Avanto Architects
Helsinki, Finland 2016
Conducted a precedent study of the Löyly building by Avanto Architects, analyzing its geometric structure, roof form, and programmatic organization. The design integrates natural materials, open spaces, and ecological sustainability, blending traditional Finnish sauna design with modern needs. Its coastal location and use of wood, steel, and passive heating highlight a strong connection to nature.
Spring 2025 | Jess Vanecek + Sawyer Davies
Program Diagram
Roof Structure Diagram
operations + aggregations: collective systems for public use
the body, space, and site. Through iterative modelmaking and material exploration, I developed a spatial system that mediates between individual and collective experiences while responding to environmental and site-specific conditions.
Operative Models – Designed three 1/4” scale models to test different structural and material systems for sitting, standing, and reclining, using planar, folded, and volumetric operations.
Aggregation and Spatial Definition – Combined and expanded the initial models to create a larger spatial system that defines areas for individuals and groups, considering vertical and horizontal elements like surfaces, walls, and columns.
Site and Situations – Integrated the intervention into a hypothetical site model with varied topography, addressing environmental factors such as sun, wind, and circulation to create a dynamic public space. The final design balances accessibility and comfort, blending human scale with larger spatial and environmental relationships.
Spring 2025 | Jess Vanecek + Sawyer Davies
visual narratives
Highlighting my creative pursuits outside of architecture, showcasing a collection of acrylic paintings and photography. My painting s explore themes of color, texture, and abstraction.They reflect my background in visual arts and my interest in storytelling through non-verbal mediums.
My photography captures moments of light, shadow, and spatial relationships in everyday environments, echoing my architectural sensibilities. Through the lens, I seek to document the interplay between natural and built forms, emphasizing composition, scale, and atmosphere.
Together, these works demonstrate my ability to engage with artistic expression across different mediums, enriching my architectural approach with a strong foundation in visual and conceptual exploration.
2021 - 2025 | personal
“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.” – Frank Gehry
