Making Masters '24

Making Masters 24

Fall 2023–Spring 2024

wentworth Inst I tute of t echnology School of Architecture and Design Master of Architecture Program

© 2024 Wentworth Institute of Technology

All rights reserved

Book Design: Stoltz Design

Font: Apex New

Cover Image: Inundation Map (Laura Pease CC BY)

Printing: Collegiate Press, Boston

School of Architecture and Design

Wentworth Institute of Technology

550 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 USA

www.wit.edu/architecture

+1 617-989-4450

ISBN: 979-8-89121-498-9

Editor: Jennifer Lee Michaliszyn

Making Masters 24

Fall 2023–Spring 2024

wentworth Inst I tute of t echnology School of Architecture and Design Master of Architecture Program

1 The Architecture Thesis in 2024

Prof. Jason Rebillot

2 Wentworth Design Lecture Series

Profs. Antonio Furgiuele & Anthony Piermarini

4 Design as Research

Prof. Jen Lee Michaliszyn

6 Conference

Prof. Lora Kim

8 Thesis Seminar

Prof. Robert Cowherd

10 Thesis Studio:

Profs. Jen Lee Michaliszyn & Mark Pasnik

Curri C ulum

Rolissa

Shania

Pemma

Mckenzie Matz

DesIgn as research

Through an open-ended series of guided design explorations students develop their thesis proposals by articulating criteria, testing methods of representation and design, and critical reflection of their work.

thesIs semInar

Student establish the foundational understandings, develops the methodological frameworks, and tests the conceptual directions with the greatest promise of advancing the work of the graduate design thesis. This course supports the ongoing development and production of a thesis publication in coordination with the work of the Thesis Studio.

thesIs stuDIo

Driven by a passion for discovery, and guided by the interests and urgencies of the age, young designers develop new skills and pursue lines of critical inquiry, adding to the discipline's body of knowledge.

DIgItal thesIs collectIon

Wentworth's Douglas D. Schumann Library & Learning Commons Digital Collections hosts an online catalog of Master of Architecture Theses at https://digitalcollections.wit.edu/.

t

The Architecture Thesis in 2024

Prof. Jason Rebillot Director of GraDuate ProGrams

Highlighting a remarkable range of disciplinary interests and methods of inquiry, Making Masters ‘24 presents the thesis investigations of the 2024 graduates of Wentworth Institute of Technology’s professional Master of Architecture programs. This impressive body of work is even more noteworthy in that it comes as the program celebrates its 15th year, a span producing well over 1,000 alumni that we can all now count as friends and colleagues. Projects included in this volume reflect the energy and enthusiasm that our graduate students brought to their studies throughout their time in the M.Arch programs. That commitment reached its peak at a full-day final presentation, on April 9, 2024.

The thesis represents the culmination of each student’s journey through Wentworth’s M.Arch program, as well as framing a carefully considered launch for their professional paths ahead. Personal interests and aspirations provide the impetus for each student to develop an independent project over the course of the thesis year. Students develop their thesis research through writing, making, and iterative testing, supported by a carefully constructed sequence of assignments in the fall and spring semester thesis courses, which constitute the core of a pedagogical framework that has evolved under the careful guidance of the dedicated faculty in the School of Architecture and Design. My thanks go to the faculty instructors in all of the thesis classes, and to the faculty coordinators for 2023/24: Associate Professor Jennifer Lee Michaliszyn (Design as Research), Professor Robert Cowherd (Thesis Seminar), and both Jennifer and Professor Mark Pasnik, who very ably co-coordinated the Thesis Studio together. I also thank Jennifer for her work in assembling this volume. By the fall of 2023, as students began their thesis year, the pandemic was starting to wane but left in its wake a greater awareness of many underlying societal

problems: social injustice, economic inequality, and racial discrimination were among those that moved to the forefront of public discourse. Equally, our understanding of the ways in which the built environment is intertwined with (and complicit in) environmental degradation has deepened during this time, and our ambition to address those challenges through design has expanded the field in which architecture operates. Thesis authors were courageous in their willingness to grapple with topical issues in discussion with their peers and to engage methodologies that deliberately question or straddle disciplinary boundaries, resisting easy categorization. The many topics presented here address architecture’s socio-environmental agency as much as its technical and material dimensions, and they contribute to a larger body of thesis research that WIT graduate students have been compiling for several years.

More than a showcase of diverse projects, Making Masters ‘24 as a whole demonstrates that the collaborative spirit of the School of Architecture and Design’s learning culture has not just survived the disruptions of the global pandemic, but gleaned many important lessons from it. One can easily argue that we are moving forward in even stronger new directions. During this academic year (my second as the SoAD’s Director of Graduate Programs), I have gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of the way in which the SoAD’s culture supports the diverse backgrounds, personal strengths, and points of view present in our student body. Most importantly I have seen how that culture is instrumental in enriching and shaping the work of our thesis authors who, as emerging professionals, actively engage the challenges of a rapidly changing world. Wentworth’s Master of Architecture program continues to produce future professionals whose work is insightful, creative, and productive in the pursuit of excellence.

Wentworth Design Lecture Series

Profs. Antonio Furgiuele & Anthony Piermarini

lecture committee chairs

The '23-'24 Wentworth Design Lecture Series, Design Ethics & Climate Change brings together a group of design leaders who are redefining environmental ethics through practice.

Climate change is directly transforming everyday life, how designers work, what is made, and what we value. As a design community, we have an ethical obligation to make choices that better our environment and propel life. To engage with climate change, designers must understand their relationship with environmental ethics and improve social equity, now, and for the future. The lecture series invites leading designers to critically discuss design processes, practices, and the shifting world of what excellence and elegance are in design.

Kiel Moe

Architect | Researcher | Author

W eDNesDay, seP temBer 27th

Ella Dora

Assistant Lecturer on the Interior | Royal College of Art

Co-founder | Urge Collective

tuesDay, octoBer 25th

Marc O'Brien

Climate Designer I Strategist

Adjunct Faculty | California College of the Arts

Co-Founder | Climate Designers

W eDNesDay, NovemBer 15th

Sameeta Ahmed

Architect | Artist

Swat Participatory Council

W eDNesDay, octoBer 29th

Ranee Lee

Associate Professor of Industrial Design | OCAD University

lectures committee

Sylvia DeLuca

Antonio Furgiuele

Burcu Kutukcuoglu

Rob Mezsaros

Leila Mitchell

Anthony Piermarini

Carlos Villamil

Founder | DESIGNwith

W eDNesDay, feBruary 14th

The Architecture Lobby TAL

Joshua Barnett I NY

Ryan Ludwig | RI

Geneva Strauss-Wise | OR

Adair Brown | NY

Katie Lau | NY

W eDNesDay, march 20th

Design Ethics Climate Change&

RANEE LEE

Design as Research

Prof. Jen Lee Michaliszyn coor DiN ator

The Design as Research course is premised on an understanding of design as a form of critical inquiry. Through iterative cycles the students develop their proposals by articulating criteria, testing out methods of representation and design, and critically (re) evaluating their work. Over the fall semester, the independent design investigations diverge before coming together for three major events that serve as platforms for exchange: the thesis conference, gallery review, and the proposal.

To serve as coordinator is to curate a rich collection of living ideas created by both the students and the faculty, and to negotiate the pedagogical priorities that come to prominence, recede and reformulate again. The year begins with Summer Making, a series of exploratory exercises focused on manual and analog modes of making. Summer Making prioritizes the

regular production of models, mixed-media and drawings as grounding acts of discipline—the dedicated practice of which cannot but lead to rich and layered inquiry and design.

The Design as Research course is animated by the curiosity and preoccupations of each cohort of students, who through their hard work, engagement, resistance, struggles, and triumphs, continually renew the thesis program for the better each year. This year projects were drawn particularly from personal identity, long-time interests, difficult experiences, and deeply felt convictions; as well as from timely topics and current architectural discourse including on-going international conflict, increased migration, social inequality, housing unaffordability, disability inclusion, decolonization, recovering indigenous design traditions, and the ever-present urgency of climate change.

course faculty

Ann Borst

Gloria Chang

John Ellis

Lora Kim

Jen Lee Michaliszyn

Sam Maddox

Michael Wolfson

Right Summer Making, "100 things" Layal Nassif, MArch '24. Photo by Jen Lee Michaliszyn.

11th Annual M.Arch Conference

Prof. Lora Kim

orG a Nizer

The November 2024 Thesis Conference was the continuation of an important tradition started in 2013 with professors Carol Burns and Zenovia Toloudi. Each conference provides an opportunity for students to present research and get thoughtful feedback at the early stages of their thesis development. Like academic and professional gatherings young professionals will soon be participating in, the Conference allows students to connect with peers who are working on related topics, create dialogue and critical thinking, share resources on research areas, and improve verbal and visual presentation skills.

Each conference session includes approximately eight students and at least two student moderators. Three panels with two or three thesis students make presentations in sequence. Each student creates a five-minute verbal and visual presentation offering the

main thesis argument, supporting evidence and context, and a process or methodology.

Other students in the session ask probative questions based on careful listening, analytical thinking, and reflections on personal experience of the thesis process. Students moderators additionally organize the sequence of panels, manage time, and direct questions and answers. Faculty are part of the audience and participate in adding their own questions to the exchange.

This year, a variety of rich topics emerged from student submissions (see right). The sharing of thesis claims, process, and methodology among peers is an invaluable part of research and design. It sets the stage for many critical exchanges in the final year of the graduate program.

Adaptive, Adaptable

Kathryn Dranichak

Jordan Chapman

Alex Garcia, moderator

Rolissa King

Alyssa Hill

Sabrina Silva

Hilcias De La Cruz

Jason Iannuzzo

Urbanism

Johanna Doerr

Nhan Trinh

Miranda Klope

Taylor Blaney

Alex Chin

Riley Waggoner

Quincy Thomas

Alissa Oliviera

Adam Bourque

Robbie Gaskins, moderator

Housing

Ryan Tupper

Andrew Nelson

Bennet Hulverson, moderator

Catherine Evans

Alex Brown

Ryan Smith

Evan Clark

Mel Wilson, moderator

Nick Perry

Climate Action

Peter Jupp, moderator

Madison Goldfarb

Nicholas Leighton

Daniel Reis

Laura Pease, moderator

Spencer Halliwell

Matthew Kleckowski

Logan Fischer

Schuyler Wilkerson

Marginalized Communities

Ivan Kadurov

Timeus Mulinge

Jess Clavet

Duy-Quang Nguyen, moderator

Jared Cooney

Joshua Ssebuwufu, moderator

Well-being

Riley Sagan

Mai Linh Tyra Van

Max Ward

Dante Egizi

Christy Haig, moderator

Nickolas Bever

Amber Voung

Pemma MacPhail

Mckenzie Matz

Program

Joe Slunt, moderator

Madison Vlcej

Shania Knowles

Trevor Melendy

Francesca Mazzarella Damasco

Kaitlin Pettenger

Sam Clough

Abriana Busbey

Thesis Seminar

Prof. Robert Cowherd

coor DiN ator

This course provides a supportive context within which a student establishes the foundational understandings, develops the methodological frameworks, and tests the conceptual directions with the greatest promise of advancing the work of the graduate design thesis. This course expands the design research curriculum of prior semesters and supports the ongoing development and production of a thesis publication in coordination with the work of the Thesis Studio.

Students become familiar with scholarly research in the field of architecture by identifying an anchoring question and exploring it via research. Expanding on this premise, students craft claims substantiated by analyzing visual and textual evidence. One of the key working hypotheses of the course is that explicit articulation and demonstration of core ideas support deeper, faster, and better design work.

course faculty

Robert Cowherd

Nese Dogusan

Lora Kim

Burcu Kutukcuoglu

Gregory Logan

Ingrid Strong

Demetra Vogiatzaki

Right "Black Regionalism Discourse Map" (Schuyler Wilkerson, MArch '24, CC BY)

Thesis Studio

Profs. Jen Lee Michaliszyn & Mark Pasnik

coor DiN ators

Is the thesis a culmination or a commencement? Does it complete the academic sequence or launch themes to be addressed across a lifetime of exploration? Naturally, the answer might be both. Themes and priorities emerge across a half decade of architectural education, many of which provide footing for a thesis. At the same time, these emerging ideas can never be fully addressed in eight months—in part because the thesis often takes unexpected turns through tests, failures, and discoveries. It is too short a gestation period for even the most energetic of students. And so the questions continue past the penultimate and final

reviews, past the submission of a thesis book, past the proud walk across the stage for a diploma, and lay a groundwork for careers and lifelong investigations. Even where the themes do not directly continue, the methods often still reappear—researching, testing, forming a position, producing knowledge may all emerge again at some later date. The graduates of this year’s class have pushed vital ideas forward and tested those ideas through methods drawn from their past and present skill sets. In these ways, their thesis is both culmination and commencement—as much a capstone as a new beginning.

course faculty

Carol Burns

Tatjana Crossley

Antonio Furgiuele

Jen Lee Michaliszyn

Mark Pasnik

Anthony Piermarini

Michael Wolfson

Right Urban infrastructural boundaries as interfaces to propel a new generation of social, economic, and environmental exchange, "Interfacing Infrastructure" (Alissa Oliveira, MArch '24, CC BY)

Compiled

URBAN SCALE

Program Integration

URBAN SCALE

Program Integration

Mechanical Architecture

The human operation of kinetic elements for thermally adaptive homes.

Jack Barry

Climate change is a pressing issue in an age of architectural dependence on fossil fuels. Society must take the necessary steps to limit the further pollution of our environment. A re-examination of machines from the past can enhance the way we live and work today. We expect systems to provide utmost comfort in drastic climate conditions. Why shouldn't human stength play a greater role in controlling one's environment? With the help of kinetic elements, humans can alter the interior condition using their own energy. In climates where exterior conditions change seasonally, altering a building can create the potential for greater passive opportunities in response to the temperature at the time. Having engaged in political activism such as the anti-nuclear movement, Vermont is poised to embrace revolutionary change to preserve the health of our world. An implementation of mechanically operated housing systems will provide programmatic and climate comfort. If powered solely by human effort, building energy use is reduced, and instills an ethic of sustainable habits among residents.

SEMINAR fAculty | DEMETRA VOGIATZAKI

fAculty AdvISoR | JEN LEE MICHALISZYN

INdEpENdENt AdvISoR | TROY PETERS

VERMONT

Right Human-powered mechanical elements for residential thermal comfort in Hyde Park Vt, "Mechanical Architecture" (Jack Barry, MArch'24, CC BY)

Fusing History, Sustainability, and Community in North

Adams Harvesting Hope

Nickolas Bever

How does the historical setting of Blackinton Mill become a unique canvas for reshaping the narrative surrounding sustainable agriculture and community engagement?

This thesis delves into the adaptive re-purposing of Blackinton Mill in North Adams, Massachusetts. It undergoes a transformation from an overlooked industrial site to a dynamic center for sustainable agriculture and community involvement. Through the integration of innovative farming methods and advanced technologies, the project seeks to tackle food insecurity while paying homage to the mill's historical significance. It analyzes how these interventions spur economic growth, bolster environmental resilience, and cultivate a strong community spirit.

Blackinton emerges as a catalyst for urban renewal, championing sustainable agriculture and encouraging active community participation. The thesis provides a blueprint for turning urban areas into lively hubs for agricultural innovation and education. By delving into the intricate relationship between agriculture, education, and community dynamics, it contributes to a broader dialogue on re-imagining urban landscapes as interconnected ecosystems that promote overall well-being and resilience.

SEMINAR fAculty | Lora Kim

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | michaeL woLfson

fAculty A dvISoR | mar K pa sniK

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | K eLLy hutzeLL

Right Composite image highlighting key aspects of community engagement and growth within the Blackinton Mill adaptation, "Re-imagination Synthesis" (Nickolas Bever, MArch '24, CCBY)

Re:Generational Spaces

Designing public space through cultural heritage to bridge generations.

Gabriel Blake

The project goal is to create a gateway for elders and young people to exchange ideas and preserve identity through new culturally significant public spaces. Historically, in many places communities have been connected intergenerationally with elders passing on knowledge to their children and grandchildren. In modern cultures, however, there is more separation between generations. Elders are often prone to isolation and young people don’t have the opportunity to learn from them. Because of this isolation, there is a growing cultural and societal gap between generations. Boston has a particularly high rate of elder isolation with over 50% of senior residents living alone in apartments or homes. This issue will worsen as the global elderly population increases rapidly.

Boston’s Chinatown has the 3rd highest percentage of elder residents in the city, mostly living in various residential high-rises in the area. The area also hosts the Quincy School, the largest school system in Boston. The site is like an island, with all sides flanked by large roads and small sidewalks with a lack of canopy cover. The school itself covers the majority of the site, worsening the heat island effect caused by the amount of hardscape at the ground and roof levels. The lower Quincy School is connected to a high rise that houses a majority senior population. The school itself has a particularly vibrant arts curriculum and connections to local artists. A series of new interconnected public and garden spaces would support not only on the schools’ interests in the arts but also enable the seniors to have more interactive and creative experiences with students. The Quincy School can become an intersection between generations through art, culture, and community activities. Ideally, these interconnected spaces can shrink the gap between the two groups and combat a global growing issue of isolation between young people and elders.

SEMINAR fAculty | Demetra Vogiatzaki

fAculty A dvISoR | Jen Lee micha Liszyn

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | DaViD king & eLton eL perin

Sectional perspective showing plaza activities and building program, "Re:Generational Space" (Gabriel Blake, MArch '24, CCBY)

Reclaiming an Urban Journey Redefining Pedestrian

Taylor Blaney

To encourage urban pedestrian movement, integrating walking paths and placemaking hubs reinforces feelings of belonging and community engagement.

With Boston's dependency on vehicular transportation, the individualized experience of pedestrians have been lost . Reconnecting pedestrians with this journey through the design concepts of placemaking, wayfinding, and landscaping can further enhance these experiences. Once these areas are redesigned to centralize the focus on the pedestrian, then the engagement of both the individual and the community can be restored with opportunities to make connections in these spaces.

The Emerald Necklace journey is restored with the design of historical and communal program placemaking. With the application of built structures hosting different programming at each site and the community art walk bringing together the string of placemaking strategies, this urban journey is activated. Traveling along this path, pedestrians redefine their own journey in the urban environment.

SEMINAR fAculty | GREGORY LOGAN

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | JEN LEE MICHALISZYN

fAculty A dvISoR | CAROL BURNS

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | RYAN THOMAS

Right Placemaking activation to reclaim the urban journey, "Creating a Place for Pedestrians" (Taylor Blaney, MArch '24, CC BY)

Revitalizing the In-Between

Finding New Purpose for America's Alleyways

Adam Bourque

The American alleyway has seen a steep decline in its original utilitarian uses over the course of the past century. This has resulted in a great deal of alleys going unused, or being regulated strictly to usage for trash collection or deliveries. While these are necessary systems of infrastructure in the city, not all alleys are used for these purposes. Alleys that are unused, or see little infrastructural usage, hold the potential to function as public spaces that can begin to combat issues of green space access, community engagement, and scalar experience within our cities. The adaptation of these utilitarian alleys into public gathering spaces would allow for them to provide a new kind of landscape to the city; one that could bring about a new sense of scale and integrated nature to the built environment. The scale of an average alleyway provides stark contrast to the scale of the rest of the city where pedestrian walkways are usually directly adjacent to vehicular traffic, and the presence of adjacent structures is far less exaggerated. Further developing the program of an alley, with a focus on the pedestrian as the main user rather than the automobile, as well as the surrounding community, can bring about a new purpose for alleyways that have lost their unique context within the city.

SEMINAR fAculty | Gul doGusan alexander

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | samuel maddox

fAculty A dvISoR | anthony piermarini

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | iGnacio cardona

Right The different scale of the alleyway in comparison to the city provides opportunity for better community-centric spaces, "Revitalizing the In-Between" (Adam Bourque, MArch '24, CC BY).

A New Typology for Rehabilitation

De-institutionalizing the rehabilitation model through biophilic design

Alex Brown

This thesis focuses on the creation of a rehabilitation environment that will support those struggling with substance abuse and addiction. By incorporating biophilic design principles into the architecture it will promote the physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being of patients.This environment is designed to serve the community of people seeking help with their addiction no matter what part of their journey they are in.

The design Incorporates elements that embrace the outdoors, natural light, and greenery such that they can be beneficial for individuals recovering from substance abuse. Spaces that include biophilic design have been proven to help people in managing their stress, anxiety, and depression. By understanding the recovery process and creating a journey map this allowed the architecture to become deinstitutionalize. This produced an architecture that is responsive to and integrated with the recovery process.

This new rehabilitation typology is thoughtfully designed to create welcoming, open spaces, courtyards, and nature pathways. These features encourage exploration through greenhouses and natural elements, seamlessly connecting treatment, education, and recreational interior and exterior spaces to feel unified.

SEMINAR fAculty | Gus AlexAnder doGusAn

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | lorA Kim fAculty AdvISoR | Anthony PiermArini

INdEpENdENt AdvISoR | lAurA CellA mowAtt

Right "A New Typology for Rehabilitation" (Alex Brown, MArch '24, CC BY)

Fluid Learning Spaces for Student Development and Engagement Creative Foundations

Abriana Busbey

By implementing a design that supports diverse pedagogical approaches, we can enhance student engagement and creativity, fostering the development of more well-rounded individuals.

Today's educational environments often lean toward standardization in both their curriculums and design. This approach tends to create a lackluster learning atmosphere where students may find themselves disengaged from their educational journey. Moreover, this one-size-fits-all model does not account for the diverse learning needs and preferences of students, affecting their mental health and academic achievement. There is a noticeable shift toward more personalized and emotionally aware educational methods, yet one of the hurdles in adopting these methods is the limitations posed by existing school facilities and their resources. There stands a growing need for architecture to adapt and support these evolving educational practices. By reimagining how outdoor spaces, classrooms, and corridors interact, we can create more dynamic and versatile learning environments. This change aims to blur the traditional lines between different learning spaces, introducing more flexibility into the design of educational facilities. Such developments will lead to environments where students feel more supported and involved in their learning, granting them the liberty to choose the approaches that best suit their individual needs.

SEMINAR fAculty | Lora Kim

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | sam maddox

fAculty A dvISoR | mar K pa sniK

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | patricK brady

Right Composite drawing highlighting the intertwining boundaries of a differentiated learning environment, creating a more flexible design, "Creative Foundations" (Abriana Busbey, MArch '24, CC BY)

Challenging Revitalization

Transformative Repurposing of Historical Structures into Vibrant Community Hubs

Jordan Chapman

This thesis explores the transformative potential of repurposing historical structures, exemplified by the revitalization of Fort Stark Historical Site in New Hampshire. The project will create a vibrant community hub through innovative design strategies, emphasizing the original experience of the site by adding the fewest architectural components and showcasing overall cohesion to old and new elements while also highlighting important moments of purposeful

In a time of diminishing available land for new construction, the exploration of underutilized, historically rich sites emerges as a compelling avenue for an architectural intervention t community engagement. Through historical preservation, and creative research seeks to shift perceptions of abandoned spaces from relics of the past to vibrant community hubs. The proposed conversion of Fort Stark into a vibrant community hub showcases a blending of old and new through innovative design, creating an educational experience emphasizing the importance of observation and appreciation of the surrounding design seeks to challenge traditional notions of preservation and conservation, embracing new technologies, materials, and design strategies to create dynamic, engaging environments that captivate and

SEMINAR fAculty | Gul DoGusan alexanDer

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | ann Borst

fAculty AdvISoR | anthony Piermarini

INdEpENdENt AdvISoR | Jennifer roBinson

Right Preservation and Adaptive Reuse, "Fort Stark Renewed: A Vision for Coastal Heritage and Community Revival" (Jordan Chapman MArch '24 CC

Reclamation through Light

Light as the Catalyst for Reclaiming Industrial Remnants

Lucas Chichester

We perceive the world through our various senses every day, yet that perception of an environment can change drastically with the flip of a switch. As technology advances, we gain more agency and control of our urban and community environments. Light is one such factor that society has gained more control over with the development of new technology.

Light affects the human body, from mood, movement, and senses of active vs. calm when exposed to different color temperatures and intensities.

Using light, we can reclaim the often negatively perceived spaces of abandoned industrial and infrastructure sites that plague our cities and countryside, shifting them to being a positive use . These areas are sources of various negative environmental, health, and economic issues that plague the areas around them. Through carefully designed urban interventions, with lighting as the primary architectural factor, we can reshape our abandoned urban elements and shine a new light on what they can do for the communities around them.

SEMINAR fAculty | Lora Kim

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | John ELLis

fAculty A dvISoR | m ar K PasniK

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | Car L a WiLLE

Right Exploded perspective of the Old Northern Avenue bridge in downtown Boston. Modules of light cascade throughout the structure and onto surfaces to beneficially repurpose the site into a new interactive program, "Reclamation through Light" (Lucas Chichester, M.Arch '24, CC BY)

Branching Urbanism

Redesigning Parking Lots into Pedestrian-Centric Destinations at the Terminus of MBTA Lines

Alexander Chin

Architecture needs to create destinations that don't rely on the automobile. By branching spaces, the forms start to connect the urban fabric. Looking to redesign an existing parking lot at the end of a MBTA line, we can integrate a concept of branching with a dense collection of programmatic spaces that adhere to daily amenities/ activities.

At the heart of this endeavor is the creation of a multifaceted urban model that integrates efficient public transportation systems, innovative housing solutions, and versatile commercial spaces. These elements are designed not merely as functional infrastructure but as dynamic places of destination that foster community interaction, cultural exchange, and economic vitality. By prioritizing pedestrian-friendly spaces and public transit, the model proposes a significant shift away from the traditional reliance on personal vehicles. This decentralization of vehicular dependency is envisioned to mitigate urban congestion, thereby enhancing the quality of life, reducing environmental impact, and promoting more sustainable urban growth. The prototype's adaptability allows for its application across diverse urban settings, tailored to each city's unique spatial and socio-economic context. Through a rigorous methodology, this thesis demonstrates the feasibility of implementing such a utopian model, offering a blueprint for future urban planning that aligns with principles of sustainability, accessibility, and community well-being.

SEMINAR fAculty | INGRID STRONG

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | LORA KIM

fAculty A dvISoR | MICHAEL WOLFSON

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | LUCAS CARRIERE

“SUBURBIA”

Right Master Plan of Riverside Station, "Bridging Connections within the Urban Fabric" (Alexander Chin, MArch '24, CC BY)

PHASE A

THE SERPENTINE FORM STRETCHES AND BEGINS TO FORMULATE CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS IN BETWEEN THE THRESHOLDS.

PHASE B

PROSPECTIVE HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS OCCUR, FURHTERMORE STRETCHING ACROSS THE CITY REALM, BRANCHING OUT AND CREATING CONNECTIONS.

PHASE C

THE CONNECTION TO THESE NODES PERMIT THE SMALLER INTERVENTIONS TO ATTACH ACCESSIBLE AND TRANSPORTATION METHODS TO THESE DESTINATIONS.

Creating New Ground

Architecture that spans over roads, prioritized by pedestrian paths in and around buildings and landscape to create a more

ideal urban environment

Evan Clark

The city of Boston has a history of expanding its urban footprint. Today, however, the city is running out of new develop-able land. Instead of repeating the past and infilling along the coasts, there is already a unique swath of land existing to create new ground. The I-90 Mass Turnpike, which sits underneath the city, is a prime candidate. This is because the existing area is characterized as inaccessible and restrictive to the pedestrian. By merging landscape and architecture we can create a more resilient city. Due to the longevity of the chosen site, there is an opportunity for a variety of programming starting with a retail / food experience adjacent to the David Ortiz Bridge. With a seamless connection, there is a transition of housing in the form of towers in a park. To ensure that this new architecture doesn't suffocate the cars below and make the Pike feel like a tunnel, openings are designated to reveal the highway below. In order to create a healthier environment for the occupants above, an abundant amount of vegetation and softscapes is incorporated not only to passively sequester CO2 but also to act as a sponge as a means to capture storm water for recharge.

SEMINAR fAculty | IngrId Strong

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | MIchael WolFSon

fAculty A dvISoR | MIchael WolFSon INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | JIM FIScher

Right: Resilient new gound characterized by elevating the pedestrian, passively sequestering CO2 emissions, and collecting rainwater for recharge, "Creating New Ground" (Evan Clark, MArch '24, CC BY)

Beyond the Tent

Reimagining Refugee Livelihoods

Jessica Clavet

The ongoing global crisis involving refugees and migrants emerges as a significant challenge in our era, as millions of individuals actively seek safety and opportunities in host societies across the globe. The sheer volume of migrants entering host countries creates rapid and uncontrolled inflows, impeding the host countries' capacity to effectively integrate new arrivals. In response, refugees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are increasingly relocating to urban areas to escape camp environments. This influx places tremendous pressure on host countries, underscoring the urgent need for innovative housing solutions. The proposed project offers a holistic approach to addressing the needs of displaced populations by facilitating access to transitional and long-term modular shelter. By repurposing buildings within the "Otomotiv Yan Sanayi İhtisas Organize Sanayi Bölgesi" (TOSB) or Organized Industrial Zone in Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey, this innovative design enables the production of homes. This approach fosters a sense of ownership, facilitates skill acquisition, aids in trauma processing, enhances access to resources, fosters stronger community bonds, and redefines traditional notions of refugee housing.

SEMINAR fAculty | burcu kutukcuoglu

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | gloria chang fAculty AdvISoR | antonio furgiuele

INdEpENdENt AdvISoR | shirine boulos anderson

Right Perspective Section Through Time - from Maslak Auto Industrial Buildings to Migrant Housing, "Beyond the Tent" (Jessica Clavet, MArch '24, CC BY)

Designs of Empathy

Creating Architecture for Reintegration and Rehabilitation

Samuel Clough

Prisons should be designed with the rehabilitation of inmates in mind, and architecture plays a vital part in creating an environment of healing. Using methods of healing and challenging the present American notion of the prison, this thesis proposes spaces that reform and rehabilitate. The prison becomes a place of healing. While the American prison system inflates in size, its progress toward rehabilitation stagnates due to a combination of public opinion, war on crime politics, and poor conditions. Principles of design for healing and reform could do immeasurable good toward not only preventing future crime, but also in strengthening the community, making efforts toward reintegration. Using personal autonomy, kindness, and assistance programs, people can use this place to lift themselves up. Gardening programs, outdoor space, and community areas provide spaces where people not only can, but are encouraged to interact with people all across the facility. The facility is built not to punish, but to help people raise themselves up and reform, and works under the premise that anyone is capable of change. Everybody deserves help, not "even" prisoners, but especially prisoners.

SEMINAR fAculty | RobeRt CowheR d

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | Samuel m addox

fAculty A dvISoR | tatjana CRoSSley

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | a llen wong

Right Prisons of healing are a good for society, helping people move beyond their past and reconnect with their community, "Designs of Empathy" (Samuel Clough, MArch '24, CC BY)

Architecture of Displacement Community [RE] Integration

Jared Cooney

By building community generative infrastructure we can empower refugees to ground their culture. This will allow safe transition into new communities by allowing them to assert personal identity.

In todays society there is much controversy around refugess. People are being displaced at alarming rates as wars, conflicts and other events are forcing people to leave their homes, cultures, and places of identity. The architect currently plays the role of creating shelter, which has led to massive refugee camps where people live in limbo, not as a citizen of a foreign land or a native of their home. They live with shared spaces, carrying their entire lives on their backs and in their bags. The western world has been trying to tackle this crisis to little effect, with the current US southern border being an example of gross neglect as people are kept in horrid conditions and shipped all over the nation to “sanc-tuary cities” as if they are goods. By tackling the issue head on, looking at how to create a space for refugees to be able to assimilate themselves into society with outside support. Looking at three areas of interest; creating architecture that allows for refugees to express themselves and their culture, using architecture as a way to share their culture with others and creating architecture that makes a refugee feel safe within their own identity.

SEMINAR fAculty | IngrId Strong dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | Lora KIm fAculty AdvISoR | mICHAEL woLfSon

INdEpENdENt AdvISoR | aaron weInert

Right Building Section of Refugee Re-integration Center, "Re-integrating Community" (Jared Cooney, MArch '24, CC BY)

The Impermanence of Home

Scaffolding Temporal Dwelling and Gathering Spaces

Hilcias De La Cruz

This study explores the integration of scaffolding and the history of triple deckers in Chelsea to foster a community-oriented design that resonates with the essence of home, amidst the city's evolving cultural landscape. Recognizing the dynamic nature of urban culture and the shifting concept of home, our design approach emphasizes flexibility and adaptability, using scaffolding as a metaphorical and literal tool for growth and change. The traditional triple decker houses, emblematic of Chelsea's historical accommodation of diverse communities, serve as a foundation for this exploration. By reimagining these structures with modular scaffolding, we propose a living architecture that can evolve in response to the changing needs and identities of its inhabitants. This design philosophy not only challenges static notions of home and belonging but also aligns with the fluidity of contemporary urban life, where cultural shifts are constant. Scaffolding, in this context, becomes a symbol of potential and transformation—allowing spaces to expand, adapt, and reconfigure according to communal desires and the inevitable changes of time. Through this innovative fusion, we aim to create a dynamic community design in Chelsea that captures the true characteristics of home: a place of belonging that grows and shifts with its people, reflecting the perpetual motion of urban cultural evolution.

SEMINAR fAculty | Demetra Vogiatzaki

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | lora kim

fAculty A dvISoR | Jen lee michaliszyn

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | m anuel teshe

Right Timelines that show drastic cultural changes within the city of Chelsea and a perspective of temporality, "The Impermanence of Home" (Hilcias De La Cruz, MArch '24, CC BY)

Roxbury's Linear Park

An Equitable Extension of the Emerald Necklace

Johanna Doerr

This thesis explores the innovative concept of cleaving together existing strings (streets) and pearls (parks) and thus creating an interconnected linear garden integrating Roxbury into the Emerald Necklace. This thesis will shed light on Roxbury as a missing link in the 7-mile-long network of parks and parkways, and juxtapose Olmsted’s original ideas (“democratic space”) with my “design intervention” that expands where Olmsted left off. The intention is to create a continuous path that can accommodate the new enlarged program for an urban park in a abundantly African American community. The intention is not to negate all that has gone before, but to design new overlays and to envision the new and original concepts working together as a system. By creating a linear continuity (park) and its lateral interruptions that occur within (programs), the thesis seeks to envision a sustainable and interconnected urban landscape that not only honors Olmsted’s legacy but also propels it forward into a new era of inclusive and environmentally conscious design.

Playground

Apartments

African Market

Outdoor Seating

Car Lane

Bike Lane

Linear Park

SEMINAR fAculty | Lora Kim

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | GLoria ChanG

fAculty A dvISoR | m ar K PasniK

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | hubert murray

Right Composite drawing highlighting a linear continuity (park) and lateral interruptions (program) within an urban landscape, "Roxbury's Linear Park" (Johanna Doerr, MArch '24, CC BY)

WarrenStreet

Reclaiming Offices

The Reuse of Office Space to Improve Economic Disparities in the Suburbs

Kathryn Dranichak

Modern issues of changing lifestyles, population growth, and exclusionary housing tactics have created a necessity for new types of housing. With changing needs of work spaces, this thesis explores office buildings, and the reshaping of such structures, as a new type of adaptive reuse for housing, that challenges how a building can be transformed.

The life and death of the office park are both attributed to advancements in technology. While offices and office parks were originally concieved thanks to technological advancements such as computers and email, the death of the office park occurred for the same reason. As work from home becomes more and more prevalent, the question becomes how to reuse these spaces and give them new purpose.

Where people once gathered as a means of work, there is now opportunity in these place to create new senses of community through a reorganization of large spaces. Through the implementation of a new paradigm of mat housing, housing can be created in office parks which foster community and connection and create new opportunities in previously untapped spaces.

Looking at well connected areas that have access to resources such as infrastructure and good schools, this thesis can be implemented many places.

SEMINAR fAculty | lora kim

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | ann Borst fAculty AdvISoR | mark pasnik

INdEpENdENt AdvISoR | Brooke ensBy

Right Composite image of applying mat housing to office buildings to create new types of housing, "Composite of Reclaiming Offices" (Kathryn Dranichak, MArch '24, CC BY)

Let's Get Connected

Using Extended Reality to Merge Multiple Locations, Bring People Together, and Change the Typology of Home Design

Dante Egizi

Extended reality allows digital elements to be overlayed into our physical world. By using this technology to not only overlay digital elements, but also other locations and programs into home design, the home can allow for improved connectivity among people and the spectated events. This technology would bring the events directly to the comfort of the home, digitally overlaying the spectacle. It would also bring the user's digital presence to the event allowing the user to participate in being the spectacle.

This radically rethinks the typology of the home as a new space of spectatorship. Designing houses to incorporate these "virtual" events and programs can allow the events, crowds, and other people into the home in a way that is dictated by the level of experience the user would like to have. This changes notions on the home and interactions with the public producing a new social sphere of engagement.

Overlaying the dining room and theater to introduce live music dining into the home

SEMINAR fAculty | RobeRt CowheR d

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | GloRia ChanG

fAculty A dvISoR | tatjana CRossley INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | GeoRGe Guida

Right Perspectival diagram of overlayed program into home design, "Let's Go In Tonight" (Dante Egizi, M.Arch '24, CC BY)

Overlaying and audiences home

Sharing a drink and a meal with friends who are physically apart

Overlaying performances, events, and audiences to enhance the at home spectating experience

Overlaying the kitchen and living room to naturally create the sports bar experience

thresholds for the unhoused

reimaging sheltered spaces as welcoming, layered environments

Catherine Evans

Through the development of thresholds to unhoused sheltered environments, this once negative experience can be transformed into a welcoming, dignified and empowering experience for an individual. The current unhoused population struggles to enter sheltered environments due to the spatial barriers that challenge their sense of self worth. Making it easier for individuals to enter sheltered spaces is crucial in the process of gaining permanent housing, by exploring how architecture, can curate a welcoming environment for everyone. Through the understanding of how architecture can create spaces that invoke inviting and inclusive feelings, a new approach to designing entry points that focuses on ease of access, dignity, and respect for everyone, no matter their housing situation, is necessary. By designing with the people that would use the space, architects can create thresholds and environments that support and uplift this marginalized community, leading to a more fair and just society.

SEMINAR fAculty | IngrId Strong

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | John EllIS

fAculty A dvISoR | MIcha El WolfSon

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | rEb Ecca KlanchESSEr

Right Realizing spaces through different modes of representation, "thresholds for the unhoused" (Catherine Evans, MArch '24, CC BY) Human Figures, Adobe Stock

Emergence from Infrastructure (A)livescapes

Logan Fischer

This thesis aims to reveal and restore a forgotten river in the heart of a city to combat the harmful legacy of vehicular infrastructure with emergent ecological systems and resilient landscape transformations.

Most US cities, such as Hartford, CT, have faced an inherited history with infrastructure, leaving a legacy of prioritization of the vehicular. These outcomes have taken part in the destruction of the human relationship with natural systems. An opportunity lies underneath the heart of Hartford that can be an essential component for the new mindset of infrastructure for the city. Below lies Park River, flowing directly below a freeway, public library, and major park into the Connecticut River. Currently a dark, scarse of wildlife, and polluted system of water presents an opportunity for the river to be restored for the health of the adjacent systems and host environmental resilience for the rest of the city. The exploration promotes ecological systems to coincide with the existing fabric and integrate within overlapping infrastructure; therefore, result in an urban ecotone. These moments of revealing are essential in efforts to flourish, biodiversify, and instill moments for the local community to learn from the impacts of the prescence of natural life within an urban environment, effectively prioritizing the future of all of its inhabitants.

SEMINAR fAculty | Burcu KutuKcuoglu

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | Samuel m addox

fAculty A dvISoR | a ntonio Furgiuele

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | danielle dinoia

Right Revealing forgotten history to revive the heart of Hartford, CT. promoting ecological exchange and agency, "(A)livescapes: Emergence from Infrastructure" (Logan Fischer, M.Arch '24, CC BY)

Eco-Blending

Interaction Between Humans, Flora, and Fauna

Alex Garcia

Parametric design, blending art, nature, and technology with sophisticated computational algorithms, crafts diverse environments that tackle both this era’s technological estrangement and environmental decline, while nurturing a coexistence between human and wildlife habitat.

Technological advancements, and environmental issues, are developing rapidly. Parametric design can be utilized as a tool for ecological diversity by combining art, nature, and technology, that foster a balance between biota. The research demonstrates parametric design's ability to mimic natural patterns in architecture, going beyond aesthetics to embed ecological principles for adaptable spaces. It introduces "analogous habitats," artificial ecosystems supporting biodiversity, showcasing architecture's role in environmental conservation. This work presents a vision for architecture that integrates with nature, suggesting a future where our built environments enrich all life forms.

SEMINAR fAculty | GreGory LoG an dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | GLoria chanG

fAculty A dvISoR | caroL burns

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | a nne- c atrin schuLtz

Right Analogous habitats for birds, bees, and people, "Eco-Blending"

(Alex Garcia, MArch '24, CC BY)

Amplified Alleys

Intensifying the Urban In-between

Robbie Gaskins

The alleys between buildings have a history of serving the utilitarian, civic services, and waste management of our cities. This has characterized these moments as undesirable or left-over pieces of the overall urban fabric. While this stereotype still lingers, alleyways and passages between the built environment now find themselves as informal settings for gathering, display, and cultural nodes. AmplifiedAlleys accounts for the historical application of alleyways, and the evolving characteristics and uses of alleys to explore the possibilities for alleyways to better the nuanced moments of cities within which they exist. By understanding the rough and compressed spatial conditions of existing alleyways, and the tectonic applications that can amplify this condition, the urban in-between can facilitate and preserve the intensity, diversity, and energy that is crucial to how people experience and perceive the built world.

SEMINAR fAculty | Lora kim

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | SamueL m addox

fAculty A dvISoR | m ark Pa Snik

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | ignacio c ardona

Right Interventions that highlight the alleyway's existing intensity can also make the in-between space more diverse and approachable, "Amplified Alleys" (Robbie Gaskins, MArch '24, CC BY)

Scales of Aquatic Agency

Designing Habitats to Propel Living Communities

Madison Goldfarb

Within recent decades, there has been massive amounts of erosion and loss of ecological life due to climate change and human factors. As a direct result, there has been a decline in many ecosystems in Anchorage, Alaska. This thesis designs new habitats to mitigate erosion and rethinks coastal protection by building environments that allow for mutualism and symbiosis between ecosystems. These systems can scale from micro to macro, be organized in linear, radial or repetition patterns, all while using contemporary technologies and organic materials to 3D print environments which allow designers and communities to propel ecological diversity and mitigate erosion. Due to the rate of environmental destruction, new ideas of how humans can collaborate to create new forms of a living coastline emerge. Communities and designers need to be part of conversations that reimagine the coastline in the age of rapid climate change. Collaborating with local communities and educational programs, this project seeks to raise environmental awareness and promote stewardship. The goal is a habitat that can support marine life, livelihoods, and coastal protection, which signifies progress toward adaptable coexistence with nature and emphasizes the importance of solutions. This thesis creates community engagement in safeguarding the future of our oceans.

SEMINAR fAculty | Burcu Kut uKcuoglu

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | glorIA cHANg

fAculty A dvISoR | A NtoNIo FurgIuele

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | AustIN sA msoN

Right Capturing the scales and configurations of habitats specific to each animal and organism in Alaska "Scales of Aquatic Agency: Designing Habitats to Propel Living Communities" (Madison Goldfarb, M.Arch '24, CC BY)

Architecture Moriendi

Designs for the Art of Dying

Christy Haig

Architecture holds the power to transform the end-of-life journey. Hospital care often translates to a solitary and sterile experience, both for the terminally ill and for their loved ones, while domestic environments can fall short of the increasing and intricate needs of palliative care. Drawing inspiration from phenomenological, religious, and biophilic sources for design, this thesis proposes a small-scale hospice in Cape Cod as a "third place" to die; an intimate residential facility that allows a person to prepare for death within a supportive community presence.

The design departs from the perspective of the terminally ill, to consider ways in which architecture can address the gradual diminishing of the dying person's world, prioritizing their emotional, spiritual, and social welfare through sensorially and community- conscious gestures.

A method of iterative physical models and photograpy of miniatures produces a sequence of cinematic moments. These images tell a story from the experience of a dying person, with particular attention to sensory perception and human scale. Design ideas focused on light, shadow, movement, and perspective can be tested in real space, time and material.

SEMINAR fAculty | demetra vogiatzaki

fAculty AdvISoR | jen Lee michaLiszyn

INdEpENdENt AdvISoR | ernesto carvajaL maLdonado

Right Exploring the history of places of death in the Western world, this model-based project offers new options in a hospice home focused on sensory experiences and community involvement, "Architecture Moriendi" (Christy Haig MArch ‘24 CC BY)

A New Neighborhood Energized by the Sun

Spencer Halliwell

By utilizing vernacular native to specific regions, well-integrated public connectors can transform community spaces around private homes with the adaption of heliocentric design.

The new style of living in the 21st century must be adapted to prioritize the development of home design that prioritizes energy efficiency, harnesses the abundant resource of sunlight, and integrates seamlessly with regional vernacular. By leveraging best practice passive design principles and the inherent benefits of solar orientation, homes can significantly reduce reliance on conventional energy sources while providing optimal comfort and livability.

Central to the approach is understanding the importance of community engagement and integrating regional styles. Through active participation and input from prospective residents, this thesis seeks to tailor designs to meet each community's needs and desires. By fostering a sense of ownership in the built environment, the aim to create not just homes but sustainable neighborhoods will enhance the quality of life for all residents. Ultimately, the vision is one of holistic sustainability, where homes are not only energy-efficient and environmentally responsible but also rooted in the social fabric of their environments.

SEMINAR fAculty | GreGory LoG an

DESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | MichaeL WoLfson

fAculty ADvISoR | c aroL Burns

INDEpENDENt ADv ISoR | Troy pe Ters

Right High density housing designed with heliocentric strategies in mind to integrate walkable neighborhoods for new generation of communities, "Helio-Community Futures" (Spencer Halliwell MArch '24, CCBY)

To Propagate

Reclaiming the ‘Hill of Shame’ Amidst Mafia Scars

Alyssa Hill

Palermo, Sicily's reclamation of the 'Hill of Shame' into an Eco-Art Village— a collaborative learning community, that fosters self-expression through art and nurtures ecological education— serves as the future blueprint for adaptive propagation in other Mafia 'Incompiuto' sites across Italy's intricate landscapes.

In 2013, Fare Ala, a Palermo-based art group, created the "Pizzo Sella Art Village" that repurposed several of the villas into a public art gallery, challenging the Mafia’s dominance. The adoption of the Art Village as a foundation presents a crucial opportunity for reintegrating the community into the site through adaptive reuse. Utilizing agricultural techniques like grafting through scaffolds, employing photo-selective "veiling," and collecting rainwater through constructed troughs, the scarred hillside is reconstructed and ‘renatured.’ This approach serves as the blueprint for evolving the landscape into a propagating, networked Eco-Art Village — an everchanging platform for the voices of Palermo.

Through the teaching of the past, celebrating the present, and scaling the hill to the future, the Village serves as a modern extension of the Anti-Mafia Movement, symbolizing architecture as a canvas for self-expression.

SEMINAR fAculty | GreGory LoGan dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | Jen Lee MichaLiszyn fAculty AdvISoR | caroL burns INdEpENdENt AdvISoRS | Gaetano Giordano eManueLa caMMarata

Right Citizen Defiance in the Mafia's 'Incompiuto': the utilization of scaffolding to propagate artistic expression, identity, and the Anti-Mafia Movement; adapted from photograph of the 1992 Bedsheet Collective, Palermo, Sicily, https://mafiology.wordpress. com/2013/07/19/palermo-hangs-out; a photograph of sheets on balconies on May 27, 1992, Palazzo Bono, Palermo by Alessandro Fucarini, et al, "Reversible Destiny" (University of California Press, 2003 ), 207; and a map of Italy's "Unfinished Works," 2020 by Luca Fiammetta, https://issuu.com/lucafiammetta/docs/luca.fiammetta. houseofopinions.final.book.01pdf, 65. (Alyssa Hill, MArch '24, CC BY)

Expanding Transparency

Centering the social in the adaptation of a Modernist residential tower in Boston

Bennet Hulverson

The critical expansion of Modernist concepts of transparency through the definition of a social dimension will decrease isolation and promote community building in the adaptation of the Doris Bunte Apartments in Boston, MA.

The tower-in-the-park typology was the chosen architectural language of Urban Renewal. Urban Renewal was isolating across inter-personal and civic scales making it destructive to the social health of communities. This thesis addresses these various forms of isolation by reconsidering Modernist and defining new concepts of transparency to include social transparency. Transparency in Modernism was conceptualized as both a visual and spatial idea: “literal” and “phenomenal”. Social transparency defines the ability to foster community, collectivity, and sustained interaction, promoting the accumulation of social capital. Through the definition of this new concept of transparency the potential isolations of Modernist residential design can be mitigated.

The design bridges a new connection to the street through the creation of public and commercial spaces at the ground level. Sustained social interaction is facilitated through the creation of new social spaces of varying levels of publicness, linked through visual, spatial, and social concepts of transparency. The addition also reinforces the tower structurally and extends its useful lifespan. This thesis defines and architecturalizes a new concept of transparency to encourage the growth of social capital in an aging and dysfunctional Modernist tower.

SEMINAR fAculty | Demetra vogiatzaki fAculty A dvISoR | jen lee michaliszyn

Right Exploring transparency through contrasting modes of representation, "Expanding Transparency" (Bennet Hulverson, MArch'24, CC BY)

SOCIAL TRANSPARENCY:

The ability to foster community, collectivity, and sustained interaction; openness, accountability, authenticity.

MIXING: Intervention design must encourage social interaction and mixing or residents through establishment of shared social space.

Addresses: INTER-RESIDENT ISOLATION

Addresses: HOMOGENEITY

Intervention design must include a range of unit types to encourage a greater variety of resident types. MIXED-USE: Intervention design must include

Addresses: RESOURCE ISOLATION

1 BEDROOM

BASE TRANSPARENCY: Intervention design must exhibit site porosity at the base, encouraging resident-community mixing.

Addresses: CONTEXTUAL ISOLATION

2 BEDROOM EFFICIENCY

VARIETY:

Temporalizing Reconstruction

The Acceleration of Ukraine's Architectural Resistance

Ivan Kadurov

Ukraine has had a long history of struggle with its large neighbor. The nation and its infrastructure have been battered, resulting in an inability to support its population. This is most evident in cities such as Kyiv which lacks critical infrastructure while hosting an increasing population. A heavily compromised sector is that of education, with only 25% of the youth currently being able to attend school. My thesis proposes the repair of a partially damaged Krushevka apartment block, to provide adequate space to serve as a temporary school. Media has played a crucial role throughout history in how conflicts are percieved and understood by the outside world. Through the use of contemporary systems such as social media, satellite imagery, and photogrammetry, information of the conditions within a conflict zone are almost instantaneously shared. This allows for the acceleration and simultaneity of the architectural processes of (short term) repair, and (long term) reconstruction. An initial repair will function as a patch, a simple enclosure that permits the use of the floor space in the most abstract manner. As time goes on, the patch will to be substituted by reconstruction which will be the permanent design and will become an architectural statement of Ukraine's resistance.

SEMINAR fAculty | DEMETRA VOGIATZAKI

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | ANN BORST

fAculty A dvISoR | JEN LEE MICHALISZYN

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | ALEX MURAWSKI

DAVID R ABKIN A LEX FISHER

Key methods for reconstruction in war-time and post-war Ukraine, and the effects of the conflict on the people, "Temporalizing Reconstruction" (Ivan Kadurov, MArch'24, CC BY)

Right

Replanting The Seed

Rewilding the Landscape of Barbados through medicinal gardens

Rolissa King

Growing connections: Transforming urban spaces by rewilding and carving the landscape to create an integrated environment that rebuilds cultural traditions, whilst also providing a place of healing, both internally and externally.

The movement to reconnect humans with nature has been slowly growing. Many urban dwellers and communties are disconnected from nature and its benefits, specifically the benefits of herbal landscapes. Architecture can raise awareness to the benefits of medicinal herbal-gardens and their healing capabilities. By creating spaces that expand on cultural knowledge and practices, it'll seek to influence the existing urban fabric or existing landscapes to improve the environmental, social, physiological and mental well being of the user in the space. The goal is to understand how the implementation of medicinal landscapes can positively impact their communities, whether through horticultural means or by creating a healing space of refuge.

SEMINAR fAculty | IngrId strong

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | glorIa Chang

fAculty A dvISoR | MICh ael Wolfson

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | darIo BoyCe

Right The Garden Path, "Community Medicinal Garden" (Rolissa King, MArch '24, CC BY)

The River Floods Through It

Utilizing Spatial Strategies to Create Resilient Spaces

Matthew Kleckowski

Enhancing the resources of the Winooski River will revitalize Montpelier’s riverfront and residents' daily lives through harmony with the river.

Resilient infrastructure, such as elevated buildings, will ensure that the city can withstand and recover from the challenges presented by increased rainfall. Better land use planning emphasizes the creation of a “green network” throughout the city that can turn into a water feature during the flood season. By fostering a sense of shared responsibility and empowering residents to participate in flooding preparedness, we will see a more engaged community that will create a more resilient, informed, and cohesive Montpelier.

Targeting the most vulnerable areas in Vermont, like Montpelier, will create a more defined model for dealing with increased flooding. The revamped urban landscape will tie into Montpelier’s unique identity and become a testament to human adaptability and harmony with nature.

SEMINAR fAculty | ingrid strong

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | mike wolfson

fAculty A dvISoR | mike wolfson

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | troy peters

Right Urban redesign of downtown Montpelier, VT that utilizes spatial strategies to create a vibrant and resilient urban fabric,, "Composite Drawing" (Matthew Kleckowski, MArch '24, CC BY)

1927 FLOOD LEVEL - 27‘

2023 FLOOD - 21’

MAJOR FLOOD STAGE - 17.5’

FLOOD STAGE - 15’

ACTION STAGE - 11’

NATURAL WATER FILTER

Inclusive Urban Narratives

Adapting Old San Juan's Historical Fabric For Accessibility and Engagement

Miranda Klope

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, a city entrenched in centuries of history within its fortifications, calls for a transformative adaptation to create an informative, multi-sensory experience that caters to users of diverse abilities.The adaptive approach aims to make the historical urban fabric accessible through mobility sensory paths, incorporating elements such as seating, planter boxes, commercial shops, and food zones. By intertwining contemporary activities with historical components like salsa dances, religious marches, art exhibits, and military drills, the design seeks to resurrect and make accessible the echoes of the past.

Recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1983, the fortifications symbolize Puerto Rico's complex history, weaving together narratives of pirates, colonial rivalries, and strategic battles. The city's fortifications, a testament to Spanish colonial rule and strategic military history from 1533 to 1897, offers a unique canvas for an inclusive heritage and multi-sensory design.

The layers of history embedded in the city provide an unparalleled backdrop to explore how inclusive architecture can amplify the educational and cultural significance of heritage sites, ensuring a lasting impact for people of all ages and abilities. Through prioritizing inclusive design and incorporating multi-sensory focal points, the thesis endeavors to enhance accessibility while immersing individuals in the rich cultural impact of Old San Juan.

SEMINAR fAculty | GUL ALEXANDER

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | JEN LEE Mich ALiszy N fAculty A dvISoR | ANTh

| c ARLA GAUTiER

Drawing of limitation awareness through historical awareness storytelling based in multi-sensory studies to enhance and create an informative, immersive experience within the historical fabric,

Right

"Composite Drawing" (Miranda Klope, MArch '24, CC BY)

Quieting the Human Spirit

Creating spaces for serenity nestled into the daily routine

Shania Knowles

Creating spaces for quiet nestled into the everyday routine through a palette of spiritual elements. The world today is quite chaotic and loud, from human rights violations and genocide to a rapidly changing climate, today more than ever, the world needs a quiet place for meditation, contemplation, and connection to others. These spaces of quiet are designed in a way that makes them easily accessible for everyone, this is achieved through the development of a palette of elements such as lighting, materiality, a crafted approach, and inhabiting the walls. These elements can then be applied to a multitude of different sites. The sites chosen to develop and then demonstrate this palette are examples of busy spaces which are immersed within the urban fabric of Boston, MA in order to provide respite in a chaotic world. .

SEMINAR fAculty | IngrId Strong

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | John EllIS

fAculty A dvISoR | MIk E WolfSon

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | AnnE- C AtrIn SChultz

Right A composition of drawings and images, "Quieting the Human Spirit" (Shania Knowles, MArch '24, CC BY)

Reimagining Phoenix

Designing Natural Strategies Improving Urban Microclimates

Nicholas Leighton

Creating microclimates in arid regions within the urban fabric, through the strategic use of native vegetation, material usage and application, and innovative architectural forms to help facilitate the natural exterior conditions, plays a pivotal role in mitigating the urban heat island effect.

In Phoenix, AZ; the arid climates propensity for heatwaves calls for the innovative "cool zones" concept to counteract the urban heat island effect, which significantly elevates urban temperatures. These zones combine native vegetation, high-emissive materials, and novel architectural designs to reduce ambient heat through facilitating the occurring wind patterns. Native vegetation offers shade and promotes evaporative cooling, lowering air temperatures. High-emissivity materials on facades and pavements efficiently release heat, enhancing the cooling effect. Innovative architectural designs improve airflow and shading, further cooling the environment. The strategic placement of these "cool zones" throughout Phoenix's urban fabric addresses heatwave challenges holistically, delivers immediate temperature relief but also establishes a sustainable model for urban development in arid zones. It underscores a commitment to improving urban livability and environmental resilience, demonstrating how these design strategies can effectively mitigate heat-related issues in urban settings, making Phoenix a leading example of adaptive and sustainable urban planning in response to climate challenges.

SEMINAR fAculty | GreG LoG an dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | John eLLis

fAculty A dvISoR | CaroL Burns

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | n J unaka

Right Massing working with natural conditions, "Reimagining Phoenix" (Nicholas Leighton, MArch'24, CC BY)

Beyond Waiting Rooms

Guiding the In-between

Pemma MacPhail

A journey is guided along a path through the forest of the Dartmouth Medical center campus, redefining this underutilized space through programmatic design interventions, the directing of a wooden deck system, and the refuge of both roof and tree canopies. This initiative seeks to transform the traditional hospital waiting experience into one that promotes distraction, repose, and active engagement, enhancing the overall quality of experience for individuals utilizing the hospital campus.

The concern is the lack of access to resources for the Outpatient Surgery Center (OSC). Due to a forested area that divides the campus The expected treatment experience of the main hospital differs from this new space due to these paths being about transitional spaces that bring moments of reflection, repose, or distraction that don't feel anything like being in a hospital. This atmosphere is meant to parallel the average clinical experience, such as the relationship to nature that is able to be fostered on the site. Through influence from the New England vernacular style these wood timber structures along with a wood decking system, direct and guide people to these new amenities. As a result, the thesis influences a new circulation experience and promotes a new type of clinical infrastructure to be utilized in the future.

SEMINAR fAculty | Gul DoGusan a le xanDer dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | samuel m a DDox fAculty A dvISoR | a nthony Piermarini

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | Calvin Boy D

Right Demonstrating a journey along the buildings while moving from one program to the next, through the woods. "Beyond Waiting Rooms: Guiding the In-between" (Pemma MacPhail, MArch '24, CC BY)

Salutogenic Schools

If existing middle schools were adapted with Salutogenic Design strategies, the mental and physical health of students aged 10-14 would increase

Mckenzie Matz

On average, children spend 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, 36 weeks per year in school. Students are influenced by their environment, and it should be mandatory to design the best quality schools for all.

Salutogenic Design is a concept that creates an evironment to encourage wellbeing. Aaron Antonovsky’s concept of Salutogenics would help prevent mental and physical health concerns in students. Antonovsky, a medical sociologist, attempted to understand the relationship between a person’s health and their physical environment. This thesis adapts Middle Schools with Salutogenic Design because of the myriad of health concerns in adolescents. For example, “1-6 Adolescents aged 10-16, struggle with obesity”, because of a lack of physical activity and poor nutrition. According to studies, “5 million school-aged children have asthma”, often stemming from poor air circulation in schools. And because of digital technology, the current average attention span is 47 seconds, which makes passive learning environments ineffective. Many of these current healthcare concerns stem from inadequately designed educational buildings. This project showcases design interventions at McDonough Middle School, an existing school located in Hartford, CT. The design rethinks sterile, common, programmatic spaces such as the classroom, double-loaded corridor, and cafeteria to become rejuvenating spaces that are beneficial to the overall wellness of both students and teachers.

SEMINAR fAculty | Dimitra vogiatzaki

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | samuel ma DDox fAculty A dvISoR | JeN lee miCH alisz YN INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | kat Y flammia

The application of Salutogenic Design techniques to McDonough Middle School in Hartford, CT. "Salutogenic Schools" (Mckenzie Matz, MArch ‘24, CC BY)

History Wilson Street School

Horace Mann

Right

Sustainable Architecture in the Dominican Republic

Transforming Education with Ecological Designs

Francesca Mazzarella Damasco

This study aims to provide a responsive model for the community's educational needs and create a replicable pilot model that can be utilized in similar climates. This thesis will expand access to education through ecological design in a variety of communities. By addressing the lack of educational infrastructure in a zone of the Dominican Republic this thesis project will implement ecological, sustainable, low-cost structures and materials.

Given the expanding population and the existing conditions of a third-world country, the shortage of adequate school infrastructures in a particular zone of the Dominican Republic poses a significant obstacle to the education of its people. This research endeavors to address this pressing issue by thoroughly examining the existing educational levels and assessing the needs of the community.

The implementation of agricultural education in basic secondary school students as a way to solve the problem related to the limitations of the educational system

The purpose of the proposal is to ensure the preparation of the adolescent student at a higher level for the care of the agrosystems, promote agricultural education, the development of this model promotes and promotes knowledge and increases agricultural productivity and the capacity and potential of the students.

SEMINAR fAculty | gul dogusan alexander

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | lora kim

fAculty A dvISoR | anthony Piermarini

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | isidro sanz

Right Conceptual Analysis of an Agro-Educational Infrastructure, "Composite Drawing" (Francesca Mazzarella Damasco, MArch '24, CC BY)

Hands Working:

The design and architecture of wood shop space for the 21st century

Trevor Melendy

By focusing on designing a space for 21st-century craftsmen that expresses how craft has evolved we can reintroduce handicraft into a technological world. The crafts of today are not the same as they were in the past because of technological advancements, mass production, and time constraints. The spaces that craftsmen work in have changed. This space is design to have a reactivation a love of making. The building embodies the aspect of craftsmanship leading to ideas reconnecting with our potential to create useful items. The society aspects to craft and community are also activated in the space. The space encourages community and social interaction. The camaraderie will build a knowledge base that helps spread knowledge of craft.

SEMINAR fAculty | IngrId strong

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | john ellIs fAculty A dvISoR | MIke wolfson INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | ChrIs sledzIona

Right Identifying the structure and layout of a wood shop when designing and creating space for craft influenced by the community, "Hands Working" (Trevor Melendy MArch'24, CC BY)

Lighting The Path

Advocating for the Underserved Through a Network of Safe Passageways and Destinations for

Pedestrians at Night

Chrisoula Moraitis

A welcoming public environment is essential to the feeling of safety while walking at night. Although every person deserves comfortable lighting and a balance of darkness, historical redlining and discrimination have left neighborhoods underserved. Within the diverse district of Roxbury, MA, aspects of architectural lighting in public areas are lacking as citizens struggle for equity within their own community. Designing with light and darkness can transform ignored spaces into more functional areas at night and inspire placemaking, fostering safe areas for people to gather at any time. Through a network of smaller interventions in open public spaces, areas will be rejuvenated and activated, transformed into functional spaces for community usage, to journey through or stop and rest within. Proper and comfortable exterior lighting must be advocated for and implemented within underserved marginalized communities through listening to the needs and concerns of local members and involving them in the process, inspiring feelings of ownership and agency.

SEMINAR fAculty | GreGory LoG an

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | a nn Borst fAculty A dvISoR | CaroL Burns INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | edward BarthoLomew

Right The Relationship Between the Parts and Whole. Photoshop diagram of overall project, "Safe Passageways and Leading Lanterns" (Chrisoula Moraitis, MArch '24, CC BY)

Brick by Brick

Uncovering the spatial potential of informal settlements. The case of Kibera

Timeus Mulinge

This thesis addresses Kibera's lack of quality public spaces and the fabric that composes it, causing social inequalities and revealing its social and political challenges. This study aims to reimagine the form and function of earth blocks, produced and co-owned by the people, in order to create new housing typologies. It allows for an incremental housing approach that contributes and shapes the quality of public spaces in Kibera. The envisioned outcome is a holistic improve-ment of the quality of life and strengthened community bonds through public spaces that directly foster community development.

O O riginally c onceived t o address t he f undamental needs for safety and shelter, Kibera lacks quality communal areas that engage the arts and economic exchange, neglecting the potential for fostering thriving communi-ties. This research proposes new ways of thinking of the mud blocks (with unique possibilities and owned by the people) in relation to shifting typologies and buildings in terms of urban fabric are effective tools for introducing a level of breathability that prioritizes healthier living conditions and supports self-actualization.

SEMINAR fAculty | ANNE-CATRIN SHULTZ

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | ANN BORST

fAculty AdvISoR | ANTONIO fURgIUELE

INdEpENdENt AdvISoR | IgNACIO C ARDONA

Right "Brick by Brick: Uncovering the spatial potential of informal settlements: the case of Kibera" (Timeus Mulinge, M.Arch'24, CC BY)

A Drawing's Responsibility

Scales of

Experience

Layal Nassif

This thesis is about drawing experience. Architectural drawings typically cater to the needs of builders; however, designs are ultimately created for people, not just for construction. If the primary purpose of design is to cater to those experiencing the space, why is it not crafted through the perspective of the users. It is the drawing’s responsibility to translate the architect’s intent into a tangible representation of that vision, ensuring it communicates effectively the authentic experience of a space. The use of the three experiential scales: intimacy, inquisitiveness, and impression, accurately portray the experience of space through drawing that leads to spaces that do not merely exist but spaces that promote different scales of experience.

The thesis uses the site of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and proposes a drawing room that demonstrates these drawing principals. Mediating the design process and the experiential qualities of a drawing room designed in between the contemporary extension and the existing early Beaux-Arts design. The space is designed through the new drawing methodology using the three experiential scales to portray the experience of space leading to spaces that are intimate, provoke curiosity, and leave a lasting impression.

SEMINAR fAculty | RobeRt CowheR d

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | John ellis

fAculty A dvISoR | tatJana CRossley

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | John ellis

Right " Museum of Fine Arts Drawing Room Composite" ( Layal Nassif, MArch '24, CC BY)

Embracing Social Architecture for Seasonal Housing Shared Ground

Andrew Nelson

The seasonality of cape cod has led to a housing shortage, posing a challenge for seasonal workers in securing suitable accommodations. The implementation of shared spaces in seasonal worker housing during the summer and repurposing them as artist residences and studio space in the off-season on cape cod offers a versatile solution that aligns with the changing needs of the community throughout the year.

The intricate interplay between a booming tourism industry, a shortage of affordable housing, and the reliance on seasonal workers highlights the complexity of the region's housing crisis and the necessity for comprehensive community planning. e xamining the role of social architecture in addressing the pressing housing challenges confronted by seasonal migrant workers and artists, the application of shared spaces in providing supportive living arrangements for seasonal populations is implemented. recognizing the significance of social connectivity in shaping built environments, this exploration revolves around how intentional design can encourage meaningful engagements among inhabitants. Deepening the understanding of social architecture and how it can be used to address broader societal issues can promote equitable access to housing for all members of society.

SEMINAR fAculty | Lora Kim

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | Jen Lee michaLiszyn

fAculty A dvISoR | marK PasniK

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | macK enzie Perry

Right The use of shared spaces in seasonal housing will foster more social connectivity, " shared Ground" (andrew nelson, march '24, cc By )

Revitalizing the Street Life of Boston Residential Neighborhoods Alleys & Local Shops

Duy-Quang Nguyen

This thesis seeks to achieve a balance between comfort and convenience in Boston residential neighborhoods. It embraces immigrant cultural diversity, tackles the limitations of mobility and socio-economic equity through the development of the back alley and the insertion of commercial programs.

This thesis serves as a template for professional designers, planners, engineers to revitalize neighborhood fabrics. It is intended to support a thriving local community. It is considered from the the perpsective of a multi-cultural individual who has experienced lifestyles in Vietnam and North America, and so the thesis learns from urban street life and the benefits it has on communities.

The proposal uses urban planning research such as Jan Gehl's four principles that make a city livable: lively, safe, sustainable, and healthy, to reshape under-utilized alley spaces. It develops pedestrian spaces that support easy access to amenities, safe spaces for activities away from car traffic,and an empowered neighborhood.

SEMINAR fAculty | robert cowherd

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | Lor A KIM

fAculty A dvISoR | tAtJANA croSSLe Y

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | MA r K e . MULLIGAN SUNeeth P. JohN

Right The proposal at multiple scales integrating commercial activities in the back alley space, " Alleys & Local Shops" (Duy-Quang Nguyen, MArch'24, CC BY)

Interfacing Infrastructure

Transforming Urban Boundaries into Catalysts for Exchange

Alissa Oliveira

Large scale transportation infrastructure, originally intended to enhance connectivity in the 20th century, has formed divisive boundaries. This thesis reimagines urban infrastructural divides as layered interfaces to propel a new generation of social, economic, and environmental exchanges. It aims to foster new community engagement and interconnectedness through social, environmental, and material interactions. Fall River, like most cities in America, faces the divisive legacy of large infrastructure. Once known as the world’s textile hub, its prosperity stemmed from the Quequechan River, which powered the mills during the Industrial Revolution. However, a generation of neglect led to the river’s decline, resulting in its diversion into underground channels beneath the city and the construction of Interstate 195. The existing infrastructure, rich history of the river, and adjacent neighborhoods create an opportunity for a new type of interface; one that fosters environmental rejuvenation of the river’s ecologies, facilitates social exchange within the local communities, and encourages economic revitalization. This project extends beyond Fall River and serves as a model for other divided cities.

SEMINAR fAculty | Burcu KutuKcuoglu

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | MIcH AEl WolFSoN

fAculty A dvISoR | ANtoNIo FurgIuElE INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | lIANA A lEKSANYAN

Right Reimagining the divided landscape of Fall River, "Interfacing Infrastructure: Transforming Urban Boundaries into Catalysts for Exchange" (Alissa Oliveira, M.Arch '24, CC BY)

[Dis]Assembly Row

Rescaping The Earhart Dam through Historic Ties in the Age of Sea Level Rise

Laura Pease

This thesis redesigns the interface of the Earhart Dam as a living breakwater that fosters habitual environments for the users of the Mystic River.

Water has always been the designer of our environment. The anthropocene has affected urban hydrology by shifting natural recharge systems and preventing them from connecting to groundwater zones, such as at Assembly Square, where the Mystic River meets the Boston Harbor.

Assembly Square used to be a tidal marshland that is now a sea of pavement that creates a defensive armature against oncoming flood events. Hard and gray infrastructures like concrete barriers or seawalls create an armored shoreline that only deflects the rising tides to communities suffering from environmental injustice. When barriers and seawalls inevitably fail, the total devastation becomes far more severe for low-lying communities. How deep of a tub are we willing to build ourselves?

The high percentage of impervious surfaces requires an “unscaping” or "dis-Assembly" at the interface of water and land. This will involve a comprehensive three-part metropolitan phasing plan at Assembly Square that designates zones for Retention, Detention, and Absorption. In the absorptive zone, the Earhart Dam is incorporated into a spongey and resilient "U"-shape that restores the riparian boundary, delays flooding, and bridges a new connection across the Mystic River.

SEMINAR fAculty | DEMETRA VOGIATZAKI

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | MIch AEl WOlfsOn

fAculty A dvISoR | JEn lEE MIch A lIsZ yn

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | sAMuEl M ADDOx

Right. Discursive image portraying simultaneous views juxtaposing the relationships between the part and whole, "[Dis]Assembly Square" (Laura Pease, MArch '24, CCBY)

Music and Architecture

A

Spatial Sequence Through a New Contemporary Performance Space

Typology

Charlie Perechinsky

In exploring the intersection of music and architecture, this thesis proposes designing a new contemporary performance typology that performs before the musical performance. Traditional concert halls often prioritize acoustics and formal aesthetics, sometimes at the expense of spatial dynamism. This study aims to redefine the relationship between music and architecture by envisioning a new typology of performance spaces that prioritize spatial sequence and experiential flow.

Drawing inspiration from musical compositions, which unfold through time in a sequence of notes and melodies, this research seeks to create a spatial experience that parallels the progression of a musical piece. By integrating elements such as varying floor heights, dynamic spatial volumes, and innovative daylighting and circulation orientation, this new performance space aims to enhance the audience's sensory experience through sequence to create a deeper connection between music and architecture.

Spatial sequence can be designed to enhance the performance experience. Through a combination of theoretical analysis and design testing, this research seeks to push the boundaries of traditional concert hall design and open up new possibilities for architectural expression in the realm of music performance.

SEMINAR fAculty |RobeRt CowheR d

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | John ellis

fAculty A dvISoR | tatJana CRossley

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | aksel solbeRg

Right Composite Image of a New Performance Space Typology Translated from Music, "A Sequence of Forms" (Charlie Perechinsky MArch '24, CC BY)

Translating a New Vernacular Vermont's Abandoned Buildings

Cal Perkins

This thesis argues that integrating historical ruins into contemporary architecture is not just about preservation, but a radical act toward cultural and environmental sustainability. Such reimaginations can act as catalysts for community revitalization, educational opportunities, and economic development. The research underscores the transformative potential of blending historical conservation with contemporary architectural practices, advocating for methodologies that both preserve and reinterpret ruins within modern contexts, thereby fostering a dialogue between past and present.

Set against Vermont's agrarian backdrop, the thesis explores the potential of vernacular ruins, viewing them not as static relics but as dynamic elements capable of adapting to new uses and meanings. A new paradigm is proposed for transforming forgotten structures into vibrant spaces that harmonize with their historical and cultural milieu.

The discourse of this thesis presents studies to illustrate the application of these principles, highlighting the balance between preserving a ruin's historical essence and infusing it with new life. This synthesis of conservation and innovation enriches the architectural landscape, contributing to a more sustainable and culturally resonant built environment, embodying the concept of 'ruin rearticulation.'

SEMINAR fAculty | lora kim

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | a nn borst

fAculty A dvISoR | mark pasnik

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | aaron weinert

Right First Methodist Church, Corinth Corners VT, "Ruin Rearticulation" (Cal Perkins, MArch '24, CC BY).

Generating Teenage Empowerment

A Spatial Justice Approach to Public Space Linkages in Roxbury

Kaitlin Pettenger

This thesis explores the intersection of teenage empowerment and spatial justice within the context of Boston's evolving public space and development dynamics. There remains a significant gap in engaging the teenage population in shaping public spaces. This research emphasizes the potential for teenagers to not only reshape public spaces but also to enrich our understanding of spatial justice and community empowerment.

Historically, Boston's development initiatives, particularly during the urban renewal era of the 1950s, often overlooked community voices, leading to displacement and inequality, notably in areas like Roxbury. While recent shifts in planning prioritize community involvement, there's a distinct lack of attention to teenagers' needs and perspectives.

This thesis argues for the importance of creating inclusive public spaces that cater to teenagers, acknowledging their unique spatial perceptions and contributions. By involving teenagers in the design and development of public realms, we can foster empowerment, social cohesion, and a sense of belonging.

fAculty | Gul DoGusan a le xanDer

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | lora Kim

fAculty A dvISoR | a nthony Piermarini

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | Danyson tavar es

SEMINAR

Right Composite context drawing with building plans, "Generating Teenage Empowerment" (Kaitlin Pettenger, MArch '24, CC BY)

The Second Life of Buildings

Adaptive Reuse through Facade Designs

Daniel Caetano Reis

This thesis investigates the complex connection between adaptive reuse in architecture, mainly through facade redesign, and the evolving demographic landscape of urban areas. It challenges the conventional approach to building renovation by advocating for facade designs that preserve historical integrity and dynamically respond to different demographic groups' diverse and changing needs. This research aims to demonstrate how adaptive reuse can be a tool for social inclusion and cultural representation while addressing the practical challenges of meeting varied demographic demands in urban redevelopment. The ultimate goal is to establish a framework where facade design in adaptive reuse projects serves as a bridge between the past and the present, catering to a spectrum of ages, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds and fostering sustainable, inclusive urban communities.

The goal of this design study is to demonstrate the integration of facade studies to the existing building in the current site. This is accomplished by a succession of steps: additions, wrapping, weaving, and stacking. These techniques demonstrate numerous adaptive reuse options through façade design, emphasizing their ability to change the building's present conditions in connection to its surroundings.

SEMINAR fAculty | Gul alexander doGusan

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | lora kim

fAculty AdvISoR | anthony Piermarini

INdEpENdENt AdvISoR | Peter lewandowski

Right Axonometric drawing highlighting the adaptive faces to improve the facades, creating a more desired design, "A Second Life" (Daniel Reis, MArch '24, CC BY),

An Architectural Journey

Circulation as the Backbone of Design

Riley Sagan

The thesis focuses on the role of circulation and its ability to create cohesive space to connect communities. When we design a building around movement and sensory experience, architecture is more holistic. Architecture should focus on the journey through the site and the building, allowing a person to experience the built environment in a stimulating and communal way. Design strategies such as sight lines to other parts of the building can make it appealing to an occupant to want to continue on their path and see what lies beyond. Views back outside the building and to nature allow for moments of reprieve along the path, creating spaces where one can stop and collect themselves. By placing destinations along the path, it will emphasize the idea of taking these slower forms of circulation because that is the easiest way to get there, even if it technically may take longer. This is about changing someone's perspective on how they move through space. Ultimately, it is about slowing down to experience. Textures, colors and materials can all make someone be focused on the space they are in instead of focusing on a digital world. Being able to see what is happening all around you and having one's senses activated can create a new experience for people that continously changes.

SEMINAR fAculty | robert cowherd

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | ann borst

fAculty A dvISoR | tatjana crossley

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | candie bozzard

Right "Circulation Diagram" (Riley Sagan, MArch '24, CC BY)

A Temple of Water

Movement and Pause

Sam Sawyer-Standley

In design, water takes precedence working holistically with light, materiality, and weathering to affiliate with natural systems and processes to craft an environment that creates a sense of calm and helps to diminish anxiety.

Water, a fundamental element in design, shapes architectural spaces to evoke tranquility and ease anxiety. Integrated seamlessly with light, materiality, and weathering, water becomes transformative, enhancing human experiences within built environments. The interplay of water and light creates serene atmospheres, with reflections dancing across spaces, inducing a calming effect. Paired with natural materials such as weathered stone and aged wood, water fosters sensory experiences reminiscent of the outdoors, promoting authenticity and calmness. Moreover, water’s presence catalyzes transformation and resilience, akin to natural landscapes. Weathered surfaces symbolize adaptability, connecting design spaces with the cyclical nature of existence. In essence, water transcends aesthetics, becoming a catalyst for emotional well-being. By harmonizing water with light, materiality, and weathering, designers craft spaces that resonate deeply with individuals, offering sanctuaries of calm where the soothing sounds of flowing water, the gentle play of light, and the tactile experience of natural materials combine to create environments that nurture both the body and the spirit.

SEMINAR fAculty | GreGory LoG an

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | John eLLis

fAculty A dvISoR | CaroL Burns

INdEpENdENt A dvISoRS | GreGory LoG an Josh daiGL e

Right Celebrating the natural processes of water in Olmsted Park to create nominal transcendence, "A Temple of Water" (Sam SawyerStandley, MArch'24, CC BY)

Adaptive Reuse Can Uplift a Community

Reimagining Brutalist Concrete

Architecture as Heroic

Sabrina Silva

Adaptive reuse in brutalist architecture has been decaying for decades but can help uplift and support communities.

Brutalism has been seen in a negative light and has been deteriorating for decades. Communities and neighborhoods similar to Eastwick, Philadelphia have little to no support due to urban renewal plans that have failed in the past. The brutalist building of George Pepper Middle School sits abandoned between two neighborhoods with flooding issues. The brutalist style of architecture became popular during a time of urban renewal, with the idea of showcasing strength and community. To highlight the beauty in brutalism and save these buildings from demolition through adaptive intervention and sustainable design so that they can have an opportunity to reconnect communities. Inspired by adaptive intervention projects to address flooding issues and new pathways to create a more soft and welcoming entrance for the neighborhood. An adaptive reuse project that adds vegetation, better circulation, and maximizes daylight ideas to help save buildings similar to George Pepper and illustrates the original intentions of brutalists of the community.

SEMINAR fAculty | GreGory LoG an dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | Jen Lee Micha Lisz yn fAculty A dvISoR | c aroL Burns INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | MeLiti Dikeos

Right Transforming the site, entrance, and spaces creates a more welcoming and connected sapce for the neighborhood to gather, "Transformation of a Community Center" (Sabrina Silva, MArch '24, CC BY)

Out of Office

The Conversion of Empty Office Spaces

Joseph Slunt

This thesis revitalizes diminishingly utilized urban office spaces with the goal of encouraging communal, economical, and spatial relationship enhancement.

Office spaces are being under utilized, exacerbated by the influence of the work-from-home lifestyle. Because of this, multiple design organizations have attempted to create the ideal office to residential conversion. Each conversion has its own drawbacks and limitations. However, each of these open office spaces offer more potential to rethink city living. The open office spaces scattered across city landscapes present an opportunity to redefine housing in a city, while simultaneously addressing societal shifts and social structures in our day to day lives.

200 Vesey Street acts as a demonstration to test an office conversion that provides new social frameworks and community living. The design testing works in parallel to create a singular building that encompasses the programming intentions of the typical city bock. The reutilization of this representative space will have a cascading effect in down town Manhattan's existing office park ghost town. This proposal is designed to be replicable inside of any office building ranging from a 3story project all the way up to city limits. Office spaces have left a lot behind, but with those pieces, a new typology of building can emerge.

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | Jen Lee miCha Lisz yn fAculty A dvISoR | tatJana CRossLey INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | meR a J n asiR

SEMINAR fAculty | RobeRt CowheRd

Right Office building conversion implementation, "A Building's Possibilities" (Joseph Slunt, MArch '24, CC BY)

Suburban Revitalization

A framework for revitalizing suburban developments by implementing a sequence of densification, interconnectivity, and mixed use

Ryan Smith

This thesis investigates new approaches to suburban planning development in an effort to tackle the urgent challenges of extravagant housing costs, insufficient housing availability, and the demand for neighborhood models that are more inclusive.

A new paradigm of suburban living is proposed to be cultivated through the integration of retail spaces, public areas, and additional dwelling units (ADUs), as well as the modification of zoning parcels. The proposal aims to improve the utilization of land, and create more density, with the goal of tapping into the full potential of current properties. This would empower householders and families to actively participate in community development and variety of uses. A pivotal aspect of this vision entails the reorganization of zoning codes in order to foster the growth of interconnected and communal communities, thereby departing from the aura of exclusivity that frequently plagues suburban regions. This thesis seeks to cultivate stronger community alliances and promote a more sustainable suburban future by exploring ways to connect people and places through the creation of built public spaces, reconfigured housing arrangements, and mixed-use developments.

SEMINAR fAculty | GUL DOGUSAN ALEXANDER

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | LORA KIM

fAculty A dvISoR | ANTHONY PIERMARINI

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | JOHN TOMAZ

Right Overall suburban neighborhood site plan with the sequences of implementation, "Suburban Revitalization" (Ryan Smith, MArch '24, CC BY)

Buganda's Urban Renaissance

Restoring the bond between local traditions and customs

Joshua L. Ssebuwufu

This thesis posits the restoration of the symbiotic relationship between Buganda's indigenous local traditions, customs, and the built environment, aiming to mitigate the enduring effects of British colonialism, while enhancing social cohesion and sustainable development. The historical impacts of colonialism on the societal frameworks and landscapes provide a starting point that advocates for architectural interventions in colonial landmarks, particularly the Buganda Lukiiko (parliament). The design re-imagines this structure as a community-centric space and proposes a new Lukiiko that embodies and fosters socio-democratic practices which are core to Buganda's values. Furthermore, this thesis identifies strategies to integrate traditional knowledge into contemporary design, aiming to champion the resurgence of local traditions and customs for a renewed Buganda identity. This also counteracts the vestiges of British colonial influence. The research posits that such interventions can help Buganda, and Uganda at large, reclaim its narrative, celebrate cultural heritage, and promote sustainable urban growth, by providing a model for other post-colonial societies facing similar challenges.

SEMINAR fAculty | robert cowherd

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | mike wolfson

fAculty AdvISoR | tatjana crossley

INdEpENdENt AdvISoRS | unaka n. jonathan

INdEpENdENt AdvISoRS | manful o. kuukuwa

Right Analytique drawing showcases how traditional Buganda architecture, characterized by circular community spaces, emerges as a way to counteract colonial architecture of control, reviving indigenous customs and values in the urban fabric, "Buganda's Urban Renaissance" (Joshua L. Ssebuwufu, MArch '24, CC BY)

The Theatrics of Everyday Life

Herter Park as a Nexus of Human Spectacle and Interaction

Adam Sylvanowicz

The analysis of current site conditions uncovers a rich history of spectacle over time of Herter Park in Alston, MA, and offers an opportunity to transform it into a vibrant hub for interaction and connection. The everyday bustle of people going about their lives creates a web of interactions and events. By leveraging the dynamic landscape of Herter Park, this project reveals and celebrates the theatrical essence of daily life by establishing unconventional performance venues where the boundaries between actor and audience blur. By dismantling the traditional fourth wall in entertainment, we challenge preconceptions of what constitutes a performance. Through the creation of various follies, the goal is to uncover and showcase the sensory spectacles that unfold around us daily, emphasizing the potential connections when one views life through a different lens. The elimination of the fourth wall enables participants to immerse themselves in the surrounding action and transcend conventional roles of audience and performer. By integrating park users into the performance, we foster an environment without predefined roles or central characters; here, every individual can be both observer and actor.

SEMINAR fAculty | Demetra Vogiatzaki

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | John ellis

fAculty A dvISoR | Jen lee michaliszyn

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | kim Poliquin

Right Capturing spectacle through the history of Herter Park, "The Theatrics of Everyday Life: Herter Park as a Nexus of Human Interaction and Spectacle" (Adam Sylvanowicz, MArch '24, CC BY)

Reclaiming Overpasses for a Cohesive Urban Landscape Above + Below

Quincy Thomas

Fixed infrastructure in the United States often creates social and physical barriers within communities in urban environments. This thesis dissolves these social and physical barriers through the redesign of underutilized spaces above and below overpasses. By reclaiming existing highway infrastructure to promote social connectivity, pedestrian mobility, diverse programs, and green spaces, it attenuates the divides within communities and actively creates a cohesive urban landscape. Drawing from historical investigations, contemporary urban approaches, and infrastructural adaptations, the study presents strategies for overpass redevelopment. It engages with diverse stakeholders, including urban planners, transportation authorities, and community members, to foster collaborative approaches toward revitalizing urban spaces. Ultimately, the research envisions a future where overpasses serve as catalysts for social interaction, cultural expression, and equitable development. The outcome offers a comprehensive framework for reimagining the relationship between infrastructure and community, emphasizing the importance of inclusive design and community engagement in shaping vibrant urban environments.

SEMINAR fAculty | Lora Kim

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | miK e WoLfson

fAculty A dvISoR | m ar K PasniK INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | ignacio c ardona

Right Reclaiming the spaces above and below overpasses to attenuate social and physical barriers in the urban fabric caused by highway infrastructure, "Above + Below" (Quincy Thomas, MArch '24, CC BY)

Merging Coastal and Social Equity

Strategies for a Adaptable Future Resilient and Convergent

Nhan Trinh

Situated in a low-lying peninsula along, the neighborhood of East Boston waterfronts is vulnerable to coastal flood ing and storm surges. The combination of Climate Change and East Boston’s outdated infrastructure has exacerbat ed efforts to address the issue.

This thesis proposes a transformative strategy for East Boston coastline, that integrates coastal and social resilience. The project catalogs and merges different forms of environmental and social resilience strategies to allow for a new set of possibilities to engage with unique challenges posed by sea level rise. The project proposes a new master plan combining notions of resilience and a keystone community center that acts as a pivotal catalyst for sparking this revitalization. Through this merger of adaptive coastal resilience techniques and equitable social interventions, this thesis offers a new framework that advocates for a paradigm shift towards an inclusive approach. This projects paves the way for a more sustainable and equitable future for East Boston.

SEMINAR fAculty | Burcu KutuKcuoglu

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | gloria

fAculty A dvISoR | a ntonio Furgiuele

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | Shirine Boulo

Right East Boston's new proposed resilient coastline, "Resilient and Convergent: Merging Coastal and Social Equity Strategies for a Sustainable Future" (Nhan Trinh, MArch '24, CC BY)

A Community Home

Ryan Tupper

The Community Home project will address the three largest causes of homelessness in America: mental health, domestic violence, and addiction. It will create forms of community spaces that blend public and private.

Designing a space that fosters a sense of community, offers necessary assistance, and equips individuals with the resources to rebuild their lives is paramount to the success of the project.

The Community Home addresses these causes by providing a nurturing environment for personal growth. Creating communal spaces where individuals can unite to support one another, the initiative aims to facilitate collective improvement. This involves housing, medical social services, programs for vocational job training and employment. As well as preschool education, support for job seekers and reintegration support.

Illustrated in the composite drawing are key elements of Community Home, its strategic location and its integration within the broader community. By fostering connections between the local community and homeless individuals, the initiative seeks to bridge divides and offer a more effective approach to addressing homelessness.

SEMINAR fAculty | GreGory loG an dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | Gloria chanG

fAculty A dvISoR | c arol Burns INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | Jess h amilton

Re-Housing Homeless People through Integration Support Public

Lobby

Right Showcasing the main parts of the project that bring the community together to care for the people, "A Community Home" (Ryan Tupper MArch '24 CC BY)

Social Stair

Stressing the Break

Challenging toxic work culture with textile installations

Mai Linh Van

Contemporary office design is rooted in capitalist beliefs, resulting in a toxic work culture that demands ever increasing productivity from workers. These unrealistic standards cause high stress levels and burnout, leading to physical ailments, feelings of anger, resentment, and the degradation of vital parts in the brain. The architecturalization of this culture of efficiency is seen in the grid format of office spaces such as the Prudential Tower in Boston, Massachusetts. Within these office spaces, design elements of the suspended ceiling and cubicle reinforce this negative symbolism. To encourage workers to take effective and meaningful breaks to meet their physiological and physical needs, the office must be redesigned. This can be done using the existing WELL Building Standards, biophilic forms, and thoughtful material choice. This project will create an immersive break space that will manipulate air, light and sound utilizing iconic 1960s’ office design in the existing structure of the Prudential Tower. Thereby challenging and dismantling the current corrosive culture, beliefs, and practices of contemporary work environments.

SEMINAR fAculty | DEMETRA VOGIATZAKI

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | GLORIA CHANG

fAculty A dvISoR | JEN LEE MICHALISZYN

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | KIM POLIQUIN

Right T he redesign of offices with the integration of immersive break spaces that interact with air, light, and sound, "Break Space Performance" (Mai Linh Van, MArch '24, CC BY)

THE SUSPENDED CEILING

THE CUbICLE

THE HAMMOCK THE TENT

Art as Architectural Process Beyond Blueprints

Madison Vlcej

“Beyond Blueprints: Art as Architectural Process” argues for the inclusion of artistic processes into architectural design. The creative process outlined in the following pages begins by engaging with existing discourse from the De Stijl and with abstract expressionist movements to harness the creative energy of contemporary art and channel it into architectural design. After experimenting with color theory and exploring how the concept of depth is addressed and portrayed across different artistic styles, the author outlines a process for translating spatial relationships in painting into an inhabitable, architectural environment. As theorized, utilizing a creative process that maximizes opportunity for serendipity will, in turn, result in more interesting and creative architecture.

SEMINAR fAculty | IngrId strong

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | John EllIs fAculty AdvISoR | MIkE Wolfson

INdEpENdENt AdvISoRS | nJ Unaka, JEannEttE CarnEy

Right Collage image consisting of abstract paintings and model pieces, "Beyond Blueprints" (Madison Vlcej, MArch '24, CC BY)

The Missing Ingredient

Adapting Our Built Environment With Urban Agriculture

Amber Vuong

Due to shifting climate patterns, massive concerns around excess water have served an issue for many cities. In addition, the lack of access to fresh produce has become a concern for urban areas, leading to nutritional deprivation. The rising levels of water paired with food insecurity can be rethought as a productive system for urban agriculture.

East Boston is an example of a city that is challenged by these issues as the neighborhood experiences flooding and is a food desert. With concerns of both food insecurity and water inundation, the opportunity to turn excess water into a surplus can alleviate these concerns. In addition, it reveals an opportunity to create a network of systems in which an output of one system becomes an input for another. This thesis will introduce a new notion of urban agriculture that will allow the community to engage with farming through multiple perspectives. Furthermore, forming an interconnection of systems that support urban agriculture while incorporating both traditional and emerging methods of farming. This project also aims to encourage members of the community to become more knowledgeable and involved in their food production. Overall, the missing ingredient is an agricultural framework that involves the inputs and outputs of food, water, and community through emerging and traditional methods of farming.

methods faculty | BURCU KUTUKCUOGLU

design as research faculty | MICHAEL

WOLFSON

faculty advisor | ANTIONIO FURGIUELE independent advisor | SHIRINE BOULOS ANDERSON

WASTE (COMPOST)

SOLDIER FLIES

LIVING MACHINE

CHICKENS FISH

OUTDOOR GARDEN

BEES

Right The interconnection of water, food, and waste systems in East Boston, "Inputs and outputs of urban agriculture" (Amber Vuong, M.Arch '24, CC BY)

FOOD

HYDROPONICS

AEROPONICS

STORAGE

BIOREACTOR ALGAE

POTABLE WATER STORAGE

WETLAND/ DETENTION POND RAINWATER STORAGE

WATER

BLACKWATER STORAGE

GREYWATER

FISH

Interactive Perspectives

Reconnecting People with Nature

Riley Waggoner

The integration of Native American values into architectural design offers an opportunity to redefine our relationship with the land and its inhabitants. By embracing Indigenous perspectives, architects can create a new appreciation for the relationships between life forms, including the vital role of migratory animals such as elk and bison.

Acknowledging the wisdom of Indigenous cultures, deeply rooted in principles of coexistence with nature, architecture can evolve beyond physical structures to embody a harmonious balance between human development and environmental preservation. This shift in mindset prompts a new idea of land development practices, emphasizing sustainability and community engagement.

Looking at iconic landscapes like the Jackson Hole Valley, there lies an opportunity to honor Native American tribes who have long understood the significance of living in harmony with the land. By embracing their values, tourists and locals can create a deeper connection to their surroundings, by changing our perspectives, we can form a newfound respect and appreciation for the land and its inhabitants. Through this collaborative approach, we can aspire to create spaces that not only serve human needs but also celebrate the inherent beauty and resilience of the natural world.

SEMINAR fAculty | GreG loG an

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | lora kim

fAculty A dvISoR | carol burns INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | leah roGoz

Museum of Gysers

Right Interventions throughout Jackson Hole, Wyoming expressing the connection between people and animals have through a series of dwellings, "The Spirt of Design: Reconnection People with Nature" (Riley Waggoner, MArch '24, CC BY)

Bison Overlook

The Elk Pavilions

Playfully Secure

Hiding Security Elements Into Everyday Elementary School Learning.

Max Ward

Seamlessly integrating dynamic and engaging design elements that prioritize the physical well-being of students and staff, creating a harmonious balance between safety and the joy of education.

Safety in schools has become a pressing issue throughout the United States. While technology like cameras and metal detectors have begun to improve schools' physical security measures, they are also a distraction, specifically for younger students. Focusing on elementary schools in particular, safety measures are disguised into their everyday learning environment. Through adaptable spaces and furniture built to a child's scale, design becomes a tool for an inspiring learning environment that students become familiar and comfortable with. At the same time, these amenities are put in place to adapt and become security elements in the event of an emergency. When students are familiar with how these designs and spaces work, they will instinctively turn to them for protection. By placing playful, flexible design elements throughout the school, the deserved learning environment will be preserved and accelerated, while also being able to secure and protect those inside if ever needed.

SEMINAR fAculty | ingrid strong

dESIgN A S RESEARch fAculty | gloria chang

fAculty A dvISoR | michael wolfson

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | jim fischer

Right Adaptable spaces used everyday become familiar to students as elements of security, "Playfully Secure" (Max Ward, MArch '24, CC BY), human figures, Studio Alternativi.

Black Regionalism

Reconstructing Dorchester Bay, to promote agency with the (black) community.

Schuyler Wilkerson

This thesis exposes the generational systemic oppression, the lack of care in infrastructure, and the unwillingness to be better people. It proposes the rehabilitation of the oppressed, critiquing how natural resources have been extracted and ways infrastructure has failed.

The site, considered Boston's biggest housing project, becomes an exploration of the multi-layered personality, lifestyle, and experiences of the community and its members. The project develops a new public park to facilitate protection against the threat of rising water levels, while providing new learning driven infrastructure. Community members are internally motivated to thrive, historically, leading to a communal lifestyle of all ages and demographics. The day-to-day interactions between neighbors influence the community's value of caring for each other. Families uphold personal values in the apartments but worked with other families to solidify the neighborhood culture. Over time, the agency of the community is personified as a functioning system, extending to how children are nurtured in the neighborhood.

SEMINAR fAculty | RobeRt CowheRd

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | Sam maddox fAculty AdvISoR | tatjana CRoSSley

INdEpENdENt AdvISoR | n. johnathan Unaka

Right Regardless of the built environment children will always have the agency for freedom "Two Generations One Community" (Schuyler Wilkerson, MArch '24, CC BY)

Mass Housing's Incremental Strategies Agency Anchors

Mel Wilson

By leveraging standardized systems as a flexible framework, occupants can actively shape their living spaces, fostering a sense of ownership and adaptability within mass housing prototypes.

The integration of standardization and occupant agency forms the cornerstone of a progressive approach to mass housing design. While traditionally seen as conflicting principles, they can in fact synergize to create more responsive and adaptable living environments. Standardization offers a framework that ensures efficiency and consistency in construction processes, laying the groundwork for cost-effective and scalable housing solutions. On the other hand, occupant agency empowers individuals to personalize and customize their living spaces, fostering a sense of ownership and community engagement. By harmonizing these seemingly divergent forces, architects can strike a balance between efficiency and flexibility, meeting the evolving needs of occupants while maintaining structural integrity. This approach not only challenges the conventional notions of mass housing but also paves the way for more sustainable and inclusive urban development.

SEMINAR fAculty | Lora Kim

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | michaeL WoLfson

fAculty A dvISoR | m ar K PasniK

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | ignacio c ardona

Right Episodic axon series of two speculative occupants' adaption over time, "Agency Anchors" (Mel Wilson, MArch '24, CC BY)

Passive Recreation

Caretaking | 50 years

Growing Family | 10 years

Career Cultivation | 20 years

Added Comfort | 2 years

Added Comfort | 5 years

Adapted Unit | 0 years

Base Unit | 0 years

Gwen Stevens

Penn Hawkins

Gwen Stevens

Maya Stevens

The Reclaiming Ritual

Celebrating the Ritual and Palimpsest of utilizing reclaimed materials.

Nathaniel Worthley

Architecture that engages the ritual of of reclaiming discarded construction and industrial materials is palimpsestic. This ritual approach will help to create dignified, solid, and affordable living enviroments that evolve and adapt to the individual's architectural surr oundings o ver t ime.

This design concept revolves around the utilization of reclaimed construction and industrial materials. The objective is to craft from leftover or discarded materials, environments that not only function but are easy to construct and also remain cost-effective. These materials themselves also are embedded with the physical record of their existence and history. On a piece of reclaimed wood this history is expressed through the wood grain, tool marks, nail and screw bores and residue or markings left from paint, finishes, and stains. This project seeks to advocate for these materials through the ritual of reclaiming and repurposing them. Embracing the accumulated knowledge reflected on the materials. Rather than smooth or or hide the features that are considered imperfect, this design and building ritual seeks to display and celebrate those features. This ritual and celebration of palimpsest is key. The act of taking something once discarded and left behind and turning it into something beautiful is a path that I seek to explore to show others how they might also seek to use materials such as these to build and create.

fAculty | gul Dogusan alexanDer

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | samuel ma DDox fAculty AdvISoR | anthony piermarini

INdEpENdENt AdvISoR | parke m acDowell

Right Design process of material reclaiming, refinement, and resuse, "The Reclaiming Ritual" (Nathaniel Worthley, MArch '24, CC BY)

SEMINAR

NOT FOR SALE

Lily Yuan

Chinatown is a cultural enclave that transcends its physical construct. Behind its vibrant facade is a community that facilitates meeting and socializing for Chinese people with commonalities such as heritage, culture, and experience. Chinatowns across the nation are seeing trends of continued displacement due to increasing land values. As recent surges of Chinese migrants are entering the United States, there is more pressure added to the demand for affordable housing in Chinatowns. This project develops a housing typology that caters to the existing Chinese community as well as the new immigrants, while enacting anti-displacement strategies. The units include temporary, semi-permanent, and permanent options. This flexibility will shorten the wait for people who have been evicted or are seeking asylum. Along with the strategic mixed placement of these units, intergenerational relations will be encouraged through maximum opportunities for exchange along the building’s stepped form. The design elements will embrace the culture of Chinatown Boston for social mobility and empowerment. As the culture of Chinatown is distinguished more through experience of space rather than visual appearance. The project will maximize opportunities for connectivity and programming for collaboration with the existing organizations.

SEMINAR fAculty | BURCU KUTUKCUOGLU

dESIgN AS RESEARch fAculty | ANN BORST

fAculty A dvISoR | ANTONIO FURGIUELE

INdEpENdENt A dvISoR | MAT KUZMIK

Right. Elevate connections between people within the community in Chinatown, Boston. "NOT FOR SALE: Sustaining a Cultural Enclave"

(Lily Yuan, M.Arch'24, CC BY)

g uest r ev I ewers*

Marie-Law Adams

Co-founder, Landing Studio; Associate Professor, Northeastern University

Sameeta Ahmed

Principal, Saleem Ahmed Associates; Professor, Iqra University

Liana Aleksanyan

Designer, Meander Studio

Alpha Yacob Arsono

Assistant Professor, Northeastern University

Damian Bolden

Architect, Machado Silvetti Architects

Shirine Boulos Anderson

Adjunct Faculty, Wentworth

Richard Brown

Owner, Richard Brown Architects

Ignacio Cardona

Associate Professor, Wentworth

Ernesto Carvajal Maldonado

Co-founder Efimero; Adjunct Professor Wentworth

Brandon Clifford

Associate Professor, MIT

Robert Cowherd Professor, Wentworth

Michael Crosbie

Dean, College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture, University of Hartford

Josh Daigle

Designer, Studio DRAW

Meliti Dikeos

Associate Professor, Architecture

Danielle DiNoia

Designer, Klopfer Martin Design Group

Sedef Doganer

Dean, SoAD, Wentworth

Gul Alexander Dogusan

Adjunct Professor, Wentworth

Rami el Samahy

Principal, OverUnder

John Ellis Professor, Wentworth

Brooke Ensby

Designer, The Architectural Team

Emmanuel Esorno Founder, eoStudio; Visting Fellow, Northeastern University

Katy Flammia

Design Director, Spacesmith

Jennifer Gaugler

Architectural Historian, City of Boston

Carla Gautier-Castro

Founder & CEO, Konti Design

Kelly Hutzell

Associate Dean, SoAD, Wentworth

Mark Jarzombek

Professor, MIT Architecture

Andres Jimenez

Designer, Studio Enee

Nick Karytinos

Founder, tacet creations

Lora Kim

Associate Professor, Wentworth

Mark Klopfer

Professor, Wentworth

Alex Krieger

Professor Emeritus, Harvard GSD

Burcu Kutukcuoglu

Adjunct Professor, Wentworth

Mat Kuzmik

Principal, BWA Architecture

Ang Li

Assistant Professor, Northeastern University

Gregory Logan

Adjunct Professor, Wentworth

Parke MacDowell

Associate Principal, Director of Fabrication, Payette; Adjunct Professor, Virginia Tech

Sam Maddox

Visiting Assitant Professor, Wentwort

Jason McDonald

Architectural Designer,Isgenuity h

Dhruv Mehta

Adjunct Professor, Wentworth

Matthew Messere

Designer, Beyer Blinder Belle; Adjunct Professor, Wentworth

Mark Mulligan

Associate Dean, SoAD, Wentworth

Hubert Murray

FAIA, Principal, Hubert Murray Design + Planning; 1 for 3, Palestine

Elpida Peristeropoulou

Architect, Hresko Associates

Troy Peters

Professor, Wentworth

Ann Pitt

Associate Professor, Wentworth

Kim Poliquin

Project Architect, CBT Architects; Adjunct Professor, Wentworth

David Rabkin

Designer, Kallmann McKinnell & Wood Architects; Adjunct Professor, Wentworth

Jason Rebillot

Director of Graduate Programs, SoAD, Wentworth

Penn Ruderman

Owner, The Office of Penn Ruderman Architects; Critic, Rhode Island School of Design

Austin Samson

Computational Designer, Touloukian Touloukian; Adjunct Professor, Wentworth

Anne-Catrin Schultz

Professor, Wentworth

Hank Scollard

Founder, HANK

Humbi Song

Artist, Technologist, Researcher; Adjunct Professor, Wentworth

Ingrid Strong

Assitant Professor, Wentworth

Ryan Thomas

Visiting Assistant Professor, Wentworth

NJ Unaka

Associate Professor, Wentworth

Demetra Vogiatzaki

Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Adjunct Professor, Wentworth

Dana Mckinney White

Assistant Professor, Harvard GSD

Aaron Weinert

Owner, Studio DRAW; Adjunct Professor, Wentworth

Carla Wille

Senior Lighting Designer, Lam Partners

Allen Wong

Professor of Sociology, Wentworth

*at time of printing