Architecture Commons^™

Godless Pious: Buddhist Sacred Space, Holly Kang

Architecture Thesis Prep

The present dissonance between the practice and architecture of Buddhism can be resolved through the programmatic revision of the sacred complex that prioritizes the interdependence of the sacred, the banal and the profane.

Curated Disorders, Nathanael Bengio

Architecture Thesis Prep

By using the techniques of contradiction that existed in Dadaism fused with those of psychoanalysis and defamiliarization in Surrealism and Nouveau-Realism, my thesis examines the possibility of an architectural typology that critiques hyper-functionalities, anonymous ornament and the general facelessness of most commercialized architecture today. Within the context of a Haussmannian facade will be created a simple matrix that allows for the displacement of architectural elements in and out of their intended contexts leading to the curation of the reverse, the disordered twin.

Dwelling In Density: A Study On High Density Residential Architecture, David Domke

Architecture Thesis Prep

This thesis aims to propose an high density plan for Philadelphia by cataloging existing vacancy levels, define variously dense formal typologies within these vacancies, and strategically implement high-density architectures within the existing urban fabric to accomodate future growth.

Augmenting The Third Teacher, Christina Hoover

Architecture Thesis Prep

This thesis explores the formal and material design potentials of the school and contends that for it to adapt to the needs of today’s techno-centric youth, dynamic and responsive materials should be integrated to enhance the environmental quality of spaces for a child’s developmental benefit.

Cuba: Architecture And The Social Order, Jessica Obregon

Architecture Thesis Prep

As the Cuban society emerged and developed, the combined forces of slavery, feudalism, capitalism, and socialism had a great impact on its architecture. When architecture ceases to be an “effect” to become a “cause”, architecture becomes a tool to affect social change.

An Architecture Of Dimensions: 2d, 3d, 4d, Etc., Tiffany Montanez

Architecture Thesis Prep

A funhouse, a building equipped with trick mirrors, shifting floors, and other devices designed to scare or amuse people as they walk through is the program of choice. Funhouses are designed for the perception of the user. They provide an amusing architecture, as well as an architecture driven by position, form, and most importantly, experience.

Spatializing The Corridor, Mengru Li

Architecture Thesis Prep

The goal of this thesis project is to develop a model for a public corridor that would serve as the basis for the future development in the planning of a new district.

Designing For A Resilient Waterfront, Laura Festa

Architecture Thesis Prep

The project will use soft infrastructure systems to create a more environmental, technical, and economically resilient waterfront development. The threat of rising sea level will become the framework for a flexible and holistic design between architecture, landscape, and soft infrastructure. By arraying the activities of recreation, ecology, and urban development along the waterfront and combining these design strategies with a soft infrastructure system, the coastline of East Boston has the potential to become a precedent for other urban waterfronts vulnerable to sea level rise. By rethinking the division between landscape and infrastructure to form a soft infrastructure system, solutions can …

Storrytelling And Its Mediums: The Spatial Implications Of Creative Collaboration Spaces, Omal-Hoda Kassim

Architecture Thesis Prep

For this specific thesis we will be focusing our area of study of ‘storytelling’ on Film/Cinema, Animation and Comics. The three disciplines require highly creative people who are required to be multi-talented, as well as collaborate highly with one another. This coerced collaboration is one key point of study for this thesis.

Civic Composition: An Architectural Solution To An Urban Problem, Kaan Sanalan

Architecture Thesis Prep

The project I am proposing, “A New Way to Expand our

Cities: a Concentration of Civic Infrastructure”, offers a

solution to this ill growth expansion. A hyper dense populated

city big enough to support public transportation and

other amenities less populated areas do not, in simpler

terms, human oriented cities with concentrated civic infrastructures

(for example: schools, city halls, museums, spa

centers, transportation centers, commercial areas and low

income housing). This can be done easily with the encouragement

of the private sector and no zoning or mixed use,

but instead, more general rules and guidance which create

more opportunity to …

Energy Modeling And Implementation Of Complex Building Systems, Kurt Rogler

Architecture Thesis Prep

Complex/dynamic systems and technologies

are gaining traction in architecture, but accurate

analysis and simulation of conflicting dynamic

systems within a building model has yet to be

achieved. Most ideas of analysis and simulation

revolve around a set process: model one instance

of a building (i.e. without changing parameters)

and analyze in a separate program. The use of a

parametric base for analysis/simulation plugins,

as well as an easily manipulatable and responsive

model would not only further the accuracy of

testing the effects of multiple dynamic systems, but

become a new tool that merges model, behavior,

analysis and simulation to strive …

Open Tectonics, Steven O'Hara

Architecture Thesis Prep

Tectonics is the project of following rules. It is the process of accepting what is given to us and making the best of it. We, as architects, assemble these predetermined components without question, albeit with potentially great results. By understanding the materials, processes, design, and jigging of building components, the limitations of actualizing designs can be eroded, challenging the relationship between designer, builder, and user.

Unlocking The Architectural Lessons Of Life On For Life At, The Beach: Mixed-Use Housing And Planning, Flagler Beach, Florida, David O'Bryan

Architecture Thesis Prep

Flagler Beach, Florida will be the stage for this architectural experiment. Chosen for its efforts to hold on to it’s vernacular architecture, economic mix, cultural diversity and environmental expression, while challenged by the pressures of tourism and gentrification that it may not even know exists. Its origin was that of a destination place that converted to a hometown community that now has difficult decisions to make possibly loosing what makes it currently a great place. Flagler Beach could fall prey, as other beach communities have, and become forced under development pressures, into a place that it never intended to be.

Active Density: Stimulating The Urban Domain In High-Rise Social Housing Developments, Heather Dela Cruz

Architecture Thesis Prep

I propose to retain the benefits of vertical housing and improve upon it by

up-zoning the block and building low-rise, high-density mixed-income structures

on the site’s perimeter. The new construction will include public amenities that are

lacking in the immediate area such as retail, restaurants, work space, and public

service facilities. Through adaptive re-use of mega blocks will be reclaimed. This

mixed-use approach to the expanded occupancy will also restore the diversity that

was lost when the towers were first built.

Contemporary Sacred Space, George Guarino Iii

Architecture Thesis Prep

I’m interested in the kind of constituency that thinks something along these lines: that

thinks, “I can’t believe in any of this stuff. I can’t believe in the doctrines. I don’t think these

doctrines are right. But,” a very important but, “I love Christmas carols. I really like the art

of Mantegna. I really like looking at old churches. I really like turning the pages of the Old

Testament.” Whatever it may be, you know the kind of thing I’m talking about -- people

who are attracted to the ritualistic side, the moralistic, communal side of religion, but can’t

bear …

Inhabiting Urban Voids: Urban Infrastructure In Sao Paulo, Andrea Novazzi

Architecture Thesis Prep

Single-functioning infrastructure produces residual spaces within the urban fabric of a city. Existing structures may be ‘thickened’ through the implementation of different programs. The singularity of infrastructural elements creates a ‘clean’ environment lacking use or character. Infrastructure is a public service that enables human interaction. “Thickening” the infrastructure with public programs, either formally or informally, may facilitate an ‘event’ happening between individuals. My thesis asserts that within the urban voids generated by existing infrastructure, public programs may be implemented in order to promote spaces that encourage different human transactions and encounters, to create a spatial identity.

Big Urban Things, Nathan Geller

Architecture Thesis Prep

This project has evolved from an interest in architecture’s role and impact in the city, as well as a developing interest in the philosophy of Object Oriented Ontology. As a way to explore these interests, this project is about contextualizing Bigness through the writings of Graham Harman.

Fields In Fields, Or Infinite Space, Joshua Graham

Architecture Thesis Prep

I contend that the Field is important and

worth examining because it values the

“Typical” as a means of generating the

atypical, to borrow the term from Koolhaas.

This condition of “typical-ness” can criticized

for its repetition or sameness, however it is

only because of this repetition and sameness

that differences, mistakes, slips can emerge!

Therefore, I will begin with fields. I will

collect them. I will read about them. I will try

to diagram them. I will rescale them. I will

combine them. I will use images to make new

fields; reimagine territories.

Perception, Megan Rand

Architecture Thesis Prep

In today’s age of technology, online media allows wider access

to architectural photos and information. Through images provided

by architectural firms, magazines, amateur photographers, official

websites, and social media, one can experience a building to

an extent, without ever visiting that physical place. This greatly

impacts the discipline of architecture, as the general public is

able to view, interpret, and criticize works without the consent

or the input of the architect. Before the rise of social media,

architects had great control over what information and images

were released for a project, controlling the perception of the

general public.

“There’S No Way I’M Moving Into A Nursing Home. You're Going To Have To Shoot Me First.", Robert Moldafsky

Architecture Thesis Prep

Current retirement homes near universities introduce the burgeoning minds of college students and the academic culture of a university, the lectures, professors, and resources to satisfy the mind, but do not provide a bridge for the experience and knowledge of the elderly to benefit the university. One area of a possible Collective Group Form is the University medical center. The elderly require more medical attention as time goes by and Universities have some of the most advanced and highest ranked geriatrics programs. Perhaps there is a cross over where the university provides medical services and the elderly are available to …

Non-Stick, Adrienne Sheriff

Architecture Thesis Prep

Rethinking the spatial implications of the appliance

within the kitchen. Reorganizing the role of the kitchen

within the home. Reasserting the role of architecture in

order to create a relevant kitchen and a relevant home.

In setting up a territory for exploration, this thesis

becomes positioned for dual audiences: the techniques

and grounding intentions to be for the profession, but the

results of that exploration to be felt and experienced by

the lay person.

As my exploration continues, I will be interested in seeing

the various ways in which drawing can act as a producer

rather than merely a recorder.

Infra[Re]Structure, Sara Minsley

Architecture Thesis Prep

This project contends that through the mediation and expression of systems, energies and flows the pedestrian can reclaim the experience of the street.Crucial to this is an understanding of what is on the street and how objects and people are situated on the streets currently. Through exploiting these issues New York City the pedestrian is offered a more engaged experience of moving through the city.

Urban Systems Of The Refugee Camp, Julia Slater

Architecture Thesis Prep

Upon completion of my research I will design a system that allows the

flexibility needed by the people as well as the control the government

and NGO’s are responsible for providing. I will focus on the way playing

with the relevant scale can help to bridge the gap between indi

vidual

and group. Special configuration is a key component in forming

communal spaces. The integration of these spaces on every scale is

fundamental to achieving success. Issues of permanence can be addressed

though alternative building methodologies, and the lessons

learned from indigenous people.

Thickening: A 21st Century Approach For Resilience In Infrastructure, Marco Antonio Ravini

Architecture Thesis Prep

Infrastructure should be designed for higher RESILIENCE, not permanence. Rather than over-engineer to resist the inevitable failure of individual components, the next generation of public infrastructure needs to exceed its technical specifications and seek opportunistic hybridity between systems. In doing so, new possibilities for multi-layered use/outputs emerge which contribute to a more productive and resilient infrastructural lifespan.

Architecture Connects, Ryan Desilva

Architecture Thesis Prep

The envelope is the transaction zone between the ideal climate and the natural climate. The envelope has an important use as a driver for adaptive building use.

House As Mediator: Integrative Typology As Connector Between Land And Sea, Samantha Kudish

Architecture Thesis Prep

Rather than the water being an obstacle to coastal residential communities, water can act as an opportunity. Instead of barricading these areas from the water, integrating it with the area would create communities that are capable of living in unison with the ocean. This can introduce new typologies of housing that can withstand the continuing rise of sea levels. Blurring the line between land and sea by living with the sea will allow coastal regions to stay afloat, benefiting from ever-changing water conditions. A proposed new housing typology would introduce a new program to coastal neighborhoods, rather than putting up …

Sitopia, Cesi Kohen

Architecture Thesis Prep

In the projected future urban world where NAFTA doesn't exist, fresh/organic fruits and vegetables are produced within the urban realm. The goal is to create a symbiotic relationship between agriculture and architecture; analyze how spaces and typologies are challenged in order to accommodate farming; and systematize new spaces through restructuring of the code.

Decay And Opportunity Of Architecture, Alexa Hansford

Architecture Thesis Prep

This thesis aims to develop a connection between the newly elevated downtown Brooklyn and the cultural/civic center of lower Manhattan. One of the growth projects is known as the Urban Farming Initiative. Private areas through out the five boroughs have been redeveloped into community gardens. The public then cultivates and reaps goods for their personal use. Through the expansion of the Urban Farming Initiative this new network connection can act as the "bridge" between the two major city centers as well as creating a central hub for the farming network.

Determining Thresholds Of Annoyance To Tones In Noise, Jennifer Marie Francis

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Thesis, and Student Research

Building services equipment often produce noise with prominent tones that can lead to complaints from occupants in the built environment. Previous studies have investigated human perception to tones in noise but it is still unclear at what threshold of prominence these tones lead to human annoyance. The goal of this research is to apply two different methods towards defining thresholds of annoyance to two tonal frequencies: 125 Hz and 500 Hz. In Method I – Direct Assessment with Task, subjects are exposed to 10 minutes of broadband noise with a tonal frequency set at a certain level of prominence while …

Designing Acoustics For Linguistically Diverse Classrooms: Effects Of Background Noise, Reverberation And Talker Foreign Accent On Speech Comprehension By Native And Non-Native English-Speaking Listeners, Z. Ellen Peng

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Thesis, and Student Research

The current classroom acoustics standard (ANSI S12.60-2010) recommends core learning spaces not to exceed background noise level (BNL) of 35 dBA and reverberation time (RT) of 0.6 second, based on speech intelligibility performance mainly by the native English-speaking population. Existing literature has not correlated these recommended values well with student learning outcomes. With a growing population of non-native English speakers in American classrooms, the special needs for perceiving degraded speech among non-native listeners, either due to realistic room acoustics or talker foreign accent, have not been addressed in the current standard. This research seeks to investigate the effects of BNL …