Architecture Commons^™

Jiquilisco Bay Mangrove Restoration Center, Julio Romero

Architecture Theses

Due to advanced degradation of mangroves, local ecosystems and social structures suffer. Non-profit organizations, consisting of community volunteers and researchers from abroad, are on the forefront of these restoration practices. Protecting these forests prevents local families from starving and keeps their homes from flooding. Applying research-based thinking to create a lab and education space for better implementation of restoration policies on a site-by-site basis was crucial, and the result was a low-tech space with serious material considerations based on local construction and best practices based on improvements in relatively low-tech seismic and water impermeable technology. The result is a celebration …

School: A Community And Environmental Resource, Samantha M. Kelley

Architecture Theses

Schools play an important role in the lives of children, and can play a larger role in the broader community. Throughout history, schools have existed that have been connected to the environment, whether it was to simply provide children with the opportunity to spend time outside, or to teach students about the natural world. With the state of climate change that exists today, connecting students to the environment is of utmost importance. Students must understand the environment, in order to appropriately understand the threat of climate change, and ultimately take action to combat it.

Schools are an ideal location to …

Dissolving Boundaries: Revitalizing A Forgotten Neighborhood In Los Angeles, Dominic Cirillo

Architecture Theses

Studying great American Cities and their development also gives us insight into the problems many cities have faced during industrialization and urban growth. Los Angeles, California is at the forefront of these issues caused by its age old paradigm of progression and innovation above all in order to reach prosperity. From Bulldozing entire historic districts to constructing over its former rail system in order to accommodate for its rapid growth (twice that of an average city). In this process of urbanizing, the city had almost forgotten about its community identity and neighborhoods. Urban sprawl has caused a weaker city center …

Linking Space: A Transit Oriented Design, Jessica Vara

Architecture Theses

I propose to impact change for people and planet by architecting a community within a dense living space that is sustainable by means of public transportation that would enable travel to all essential activities as well as many leisurely places, events, stores, shopping centers and theaters. The carefully planned and architected ecosystem would blend commodities of life with dense living spaces to provide a self- sustaining community within a city. People who work outside of the ecosystem could utilize it by connecting through branches of the public transportation system. People who live within the ecosystem could depend on various means …

Community Connections: Relief Through Athletics, Joshua Arthur

Architecture Theses

A sports based recreation facility can significantly enhance the quality of life in a community. Activities held within these facilities can encourage participation, promote health and well-being, and foster a sense of community and togetherness. Today with crime and obesity being increasingly troublesome in the US a space focused on athletics, health, and wellness would allow for kids to have a plethora of activities to do after school and on weekends. There they can make friends, learn about health, and stay off of the streets. Sports and recreation can demonstrate and contribute to the sustainable use of natural resources. They …

Continuation Of A Life Worth Living: Empathetic Design For The Alzheimer’S Community, Leslie Hulbert

Architecture Theses

This thesis’ mission is to create a comfortable environment for those suffering with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The institutional environments of the past are not sufficient for such individuals and their families. A community atmosphere is what they need; an entire complex just for them. The victims of this terrible memory defeating disease just want to go home. For many, this is not possible, therefore they should be given an environment that reminds them of home. They should have their own space that is customizable and warm. They should also be free to wander at their leisure. Their freedom should not …

Cohousing And The Greater Community: Re-Establishing Identity In Taunton’S Weir Village, Andrew Kremzier

Architecture Theses

This proposal seeks to bring new life to the former industrial district of the post-industrial city. Existing in a society based on services and technologies, these villages must either adapt to meet the needs of business or serve another purpose within the community. The project for the Weir Village falls into the latter category, as its aim will be to create a cohousing community within Taunton. The new development will strengthen the character of the village and be able to affect the community beyond the site’s physical boundaries. It will create affordable alternatives to housing for those who do not …

Aesthetically Pleasing: Rehabilitating A Community, Joseph D’Oria

Architecture Theses

This thesis project calls for a drug rehabilitation facility in either Trenton or Hamilton, New Jersey with an attached community center. The new design will be a part of an existing building in efforts to revitalize a community and its architecture.

New Urban Living: High-Rise Vertical Farming In A Mixed Use Building, Boston, Ma, Zachary Silvia

Architecture Theses

The focus of the project is the combination of vertical farming and living in a structure that provides for itself and the surrounding community. Essentially, the result is communal living through vertical farming. To raise awareness and invite surrounding neighbors and workers into the process, the first four floors are dedicated to social interaction and a display of the systems at use. Along the path from a public market, to a café, and finally to a gathering space, visitors walk along a ramp/display of the aquaponic system.

Creating Community: Mixed Use Development In New Bedford, Ma, Matthew J.B. Cate

Architecture Theses

In creating a new type of community for New Bedford, MA, there was an awareness of both the existing community, context, and people, while realizing a need for change. The design uses the concept of adapting the existing density into two modes. First, merging the existing residential fabric and merging it with a public program including both commercial and retail development. Second, focusing that new typology into a smaller more refi ned space, while creating new public areas for communal enjoyment and development. Creating such an idea of living takes the existing unused exterior spaces allotted to the typical housing …

Allston Artist Village, Meaghan Earner

Architecture Theses

Architecture should evoke community. The built environment should encourage engagement between people in both public and private realms. We will teach, learn, sell, and celebrate art. This artist village explores the idea of the individual and their relationship to the whole. The project delineates individual and community spaces through their separations and connections. The goal is a more diverse engagement of all members of the community.

Reconnecting Schools And Neighborhoods: A Proposal For School Centered Community Revitalization In Baltimore Maryland, Cody Miller

Architecture Theses

This project explores the concept of school-centered community as a key aspect in assisting urban renewal through architecture. It employs this concept through the architectural design of a middle school in Baltimore, Maryland that has a focus on music. The existing context of an urban site in the Oldtown area is analyzed to generate a solution to the area’s educational problems as well as to provide an urban renewal plan. In order to develop a project that has great potential to succeed, the projects site was specifically chosen based on its context.