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PORTFOLIO SUSHIL DARJEE

Architecture / Design / Research / Fabrication / Art

Bending Light

Creative Art Page: 30 - 33

Landing the Urban Flight Cooperative Rural Landscape

In the aftermath of the global pandemic and the emergence of remote work, urban dwellers are seeking new lifestyles and economic opportunities, as well as access to natural resources. This shift has sparked a new wave of migration in rural communities across the United States, referred to as urban flight. In the Hilltowns region in western Massachusetts, urban dwellers can be seen fleeing there to buy properties, thus reshaping the physical and social fabric of these small towns, leading to rural gentrification. At the same time, rural residents are exploring economic benefits from these newcomers. Through adaptive re-use of seasonal homes, flexible social infrastructure, and backyard rental units, this design intervention creates framework where rural affordability, access, and community ties are preserved.

Northeastern University College of Arts, Media, and Design

Master’s Thesis Research Project

Year: 2024-2025

Site: Cummington, Massachusetts

Can Design Turn Urban Flight Into An

DESIGN LOGIC

Drivers of Change Issues

Population Growth

Increasing Poverty Rate

Economic Inequality

Site

Cummington, Mass.

Culture

Economy

Ecology

Society

Rising Housing Prices

Seasonal Vacancy

High Demand from Urban Buyers

Environmental Disinvestment

Weakening Social Ties

Lack of Green Infrastructure

Rural Isolation

Loss of Local Identity

Limited Rural Services

Declining Affordability

Lack of Educational Spaces

Displacement of Low-Income Residents

Adaptive Re-Use Villa (Seasonal Use) Retractable Pavilion

Rural Connection Through Social Amenities

Interventions Impact

ADAPTIVE RE-USE VILLA

Shared Use of Seasonal Homes

Adaptive Re-Use Villas are reimagined as seasonal, hybrid-use homes, shifting from private retreats to shared community spaces for cooking classes, residencies, educational programs, and more. Managed through the Community Land Trust, they redefine ownership as stewardship, creating spaces that support both cultural and social life. A double-skin ventilated facade enhances year-round usability, with active mullions, aerogel insulation, and PV-powered dampers that adapt to seasonal conditions. In the summer, the cavity vents hot air outward, and in winter, it captures solar warmth and delivers pre-heated fresh air indoors. By combining social re-use with ecological performance, this villa becomes a model of resilience for rural communities navigating urban migration.

Active Mullion: Section

Vent Openings

Actuated Damper

Aerogel Panel (R-Value = 20)

Vented Cavity (Intake at Bottom)

Public Entrance

5 1

Private Entrance

Summer: Cooling Season Natural Ventilation

PV Cell to Power Actuated Damper

Actuated Damper Open to Exterior

Heated Cavity Air

Winter: Heating Season

Actuated Damper Open to Interior

Heated Cavity Air

Insulated Glass Unit Aerogel Glass Panel

RETRACTABLE PAVILION

Shared Community Assets

Social Infrastructure in rural towns provides space for connection, learning, and cultural exchange. Through the Community Land Trust, these assets remain affordable and accessible, supported by municipalities and activated by community members. The Retractable Pavilion embodies this model as a lightweight timber structure with operable wall and roof panels that shift between enclosed, semi-open, and fully open.

For outdoor commons and amphitheater

For markets and workshops

For exhibitions and winter gatherings

BACKYARD RENTAL UNITS

Backyard Rental Units respond to rising housing costs by introducing accessory dwelling units within existing residential parcels. Co-owned by homeowners and the Community Land Trust, these units provide affordable rental opportunities for teachers, workers, and families, while generating supplemental income for property owners. Their long, narrow form references New England tobacco sheds, blending into rural landscapes with sustainable timber construction and operable shutter systems for flexibility. As a cooperative framework, Backyard Rental Units balance private property with collective ownership.

Living / Dining

Kitchenette

Bathroom

Bedroom

Threshold Patio

Mechanical Room

Closet

Two-Bedroom Unit

1 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 4 4 3

Three-Bedroom Unit

Fully Open

Maximum light and ventilation: frames view and connects indoors with common space

Semi-open

Shade and privacy: maintains partial airflow and limits visibility

Enclosed

Shelter and insulation: controls temperature and protects for year-round use

One-Bedroom Unit

Blue Hill Climbing Gym 2

Youth, Wellness, and Community Hub

The Blue Hill Climbing Gym is designed as both a fitness space and community anchor along historic Blue Hill Avenue. Roxbury is a young, family-centered neighborhood where nearly half of households include adolescents, yet opportunities for safe and engaging recreation are scarce. This project responds by turning a narrow urban site into a vertical hub for learning, gathering, and climbing. Stacked bouldering walls, top rope climbing zones, and training areas are paired with flexible studio space and lounges for afterschool programs and mentorship. The building’s translucent facade fills the interior with daylight, while its concrete base grounds it in the strength of the neighborhood’s history. More than just a sports facility, the Blue Hill Climbing Gym offers Roxbury’s youth and families a luminous landmark for health, resilience, and belonging.

Northeastern University College of Arts, Media, and Design

Individual Project

Year: 2023

Site: The Neighborhood of Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts

Bouldering Project Somerville

Central Rock Gym Harvard

Central Rock Gym Fenway

20 years old

Rock Spot Climbing Hyde Park

Central Rock Gym North Station

Rock Spot Climbing Site South Boston

SITE FORM PROGRAM

Neighborhood Scale

Design Shaped By Site

A narrow infill lot guided the vertical stacking of programs, while its form draws inspiration from the dynamic geometries of bouldering.

CLOSING THE GAP

West Entrance

Opening Access to All

A transparent ground-level facade creates a welcoming environment, inviting the community inside. This design activates the street edge and forges stronger connections between Roxbury and the new opportunities for play, health, and gathering.

West Elevation

LAYERS OF PLAY

a. Bouldering

b. Top-Rope c. Training Zone

Weight Training

Studio Space

Rooftop Access Circulation

Lobby

Storage

Front Desk

Office Space

Elevator

6. Locker Rooms 7. Climbing Zone

Rooftop

SECTION THROUGH GYM

Where Movement Shapes Space

Climbing walls rise across multiple levels, connecting fitness zones with community spaces. Movement through the building mirrors climbing itself, shaping a slender site into a vertical spine of activity.

Bending Light

Where Design Meets Craftsmanship

A sculptural lamp designed to explore the intersection of digital design and traditional woodworking, it is made from wood vaneer with vacuum bagging techniques. Light softly diffuses through and around a central disk, creating a calm atmospheric glow. The process began with CNCcut components and evolved through careful mold-making, lamination, and detailed finishing. Intended for small-batch production, this piece balances clean geometry with organic warmth, transforming its surroundings into a space of quiet intrigue and visual depth.

Northeastern University College of Arts, Media, and Design

Individual Project

Year: 2024

Material: Walnut and Maple Vaneer

CRAFT AND ASSEMBLY

Mold Blocks

Solid wood blocks are cut to define the bending form

Clamp Jig

Assembly jig holds layers in alignment after gluing

Vacuum Bagging

Laminated veneer is pressed and curved under pressure

Template Cutting

CNC-cut profile is refined for precision fit

Creative Art

Exploring the Medium, Environment, and

Form

Across pencil, ink, colored pencil, collage, and digital media, I use drawing as a way to experiment with different tools and shape expression. Some works lean toward architectural study, while others focus more on the human figure or abstract form, but all of them carry a sense of searching. They aren’t meant to resolve into a collection but to remain open-ended tests of environment, material, and line. For me, these experiments are less about producing a finished image and more about what happens in the process: how a medium pushes me to see differently, how it asks for precision or looseness, and how those choices fold back into my architectural thinking.