Architecture Commons^™

Closed For Storm: Open For Opportunity Revitalizing New Orleans At The Six Flags Site, Jackson Crow

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

New Orleans, a city known for its rich culture and historical significance, has faced its fair share of challenges, including natural disasters and economic struggles. One notable symbol of these struggles is the abandoned Six Flags theme park. This thesis proposal aims to explore the potential of revitalizing the old Six Flags site as a means to revive the city, while at the same time giving back to the community by enhancing its economic, cultural, and recreational offerings. The site will also double down as a safe center if another catastrophic hurricane hits the city.

The Space In-Between: Establishing Co-Housing Solutions For Post Foster Youth, Ashley Maloney

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The space in between addresses the issue of post-foster care youth aged 18 to 24, navigating the challenging transition to adulthood. Located in the Overtown District in Miami which is a region grappling with one of the highest rates of homeless foster youth in the nation, the research explores the unique challenges, experiences, and outcomes faced by these individuals as they age out of the system.

The lack of funding and support for aging-out youth poses many consequences, such as increasing their vulnerability to homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration compared to their peers. This thesis aims to shed light on this …

Networking: Plugging-In To The Suburbs, Joel Burnette

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Postwar planning has led to the disruption of sufficient urban design. Effects such as urban sprawl and the spread of low-density housing has created issues with residents having to heavily rely on commuting to cities by automobiles, creating a car-driven environment as opposed to one that is pedestrian-friendly, and also causing an increase in air pollution. The aim of my thesis is to establish a mixed-use community west of the North Springs MARTA Station as a solution to localizing services in order to counter these problems of separated zones and urban sprawl. Using precedents of past and present mixed-use developments, …

Tribal Restoration, Texas Totten

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

An architectural thesis should center around unresolved challenges within the field. Within our nation, numerous architecture-related issues persist, with many awaiting effective and lasting solutions. Some of these challenges are glaringly evident, drawing attention as eyesores, while others remain unnoticed, escaping the public's scrutiny. Paradoxically, the issues that often elude widespread attention are those most in need of urgent assistance. A prime illustration is the ongoing housing crisis afflicting Native American tribal lands. For years, these reservations have grappled with persistent poverty, with the lack of access to affordable housing emerging as a prominent and pressing concern. Unfortunately, these tribal …

Juxtapositions: Exploring A New High-Rise Topology, Jacob Powell

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The movement of people in urban areas creates a symphony of activity in public, private, commercial, leisure, work, and living spaces. However, high-rises often lack the public space found in more horizontal neighborhoods, with rows of nondescript doors leading to isolated floors. This thesis aims to challenge this narrative by bringing public space to high-rises, negotiating the boundary between public and private space, building internal and external connections, and uniting the city's horizontal movement with the high-rise's three-dimensional movement. By doing so, it seeks to create a sense of community within high-rises and enhance the urban experience for their residents.

De-Fragmentation: Bridging Two Fragmented Communities Through Well Being In The West End Neighborhood, Mark Pinkney Jr

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The intention of this thesis is to create a “Bridge” between two communities that are dealing with Physical and Social fragmentation. To address the issue of fragmentation, the design’s program will introduce 3 Well Being Programs. Physical Well Being, Intellectual Well Being, and Well Being through Sense of Community.

The West End community presents two forms for fragmentation Physical and Social. The specifically strives to create engagement between the older community in the West End historic neighborhood and younger community of the Atlanta University Students.

The 3 Well Being programs include on the Intellectual side a Trade school. The Physical …

Dialectical Utopism In Architectural Praxis: A Critique And Vision For Spatial Revolution, Self Governance, And Social Transformation In Niger, Abdoulaye Idrissa

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

In January, amidst one of Niger's most turbulent periods of socioeconomic and political unrest, I departed from the chaos-laden streets that had become scenes of collapse and despair. As an architecture student, compelled by the urgency of the situation, I embarked on a journey to explore the transformative potential of architecture in the face of such crisis.

From the bustling streets filled with the disheartened faces of the unemployed to the frontline confrontations between government forces and disillusioned inhabitants, the disarray of law and order paints a stark picture of societal fragmentation. Yet, amidst this turmoil lies an opportunity for …

Liminality In Cultural Narratives: Reviving Abandoned Mall Spaces With Focus On Economic Efficiency And Social-Environmental Cohesion, Edwin Osmin

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis focuses on the problematic design trends of malls, particularly those that prioritize economic efficiency at the expense of social and environmental considerations. It highlights how many struggling or closed malls share similar design strategies, often focusing on retail anchor stores and circulation-centric layouts. These design choices have contributed to an unsuccessful typology over the years.

The thesis aims to address this issue by proposing a new approach to a case in Duluth, Georgia. It centers around the concept of liminality, referring to a transitional state characterized by continuity, obscurity, and sentimentality. By applying this concept, the thesis suggests …

[A]Rchitectural_[I]Ntelligence: A Visual Design Journey Through The Lens Of Ai, Cameron Fiveash

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in architecture has revolutionized design thinking, providing architects with powerful tools for exploration and creation. This thesis examines the transformative potential of AI engines, particularly MidJourney, in enhancing architectural design processes. MidJourney's advanced image analysis capabilities offer architects a unique opportunity to study architectural forms through AI, fostering a symbiotic relationship between human creativity and machine intelligence.

The research explores AI's evolving role in the creative process, emphasizing its ability to augment human ingenuity rather than replace it. Architects can leverage MidJourney's AI engine to explore diverse design possibilities and discover innovative solutions to …

Reviving The Lao Vernacular: Preserving Culture Through Floating Communities, Julianna Viengxay

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The goal of this project is to strengthen a community through a series of cultural activities coexisting with nature with treehouses, houseboats, and a community center through ecotourism in Lao. There has always been floating communities on land, and water due to the heavy amount of rainfall, and monsoons from May to October. A strong focus on design elements such as material, form, and structure while preserving the local culture. Emphasizing the importance of the Lao vernacular with form, and how symbolism throughout in Lao architecture as expression.

Analyzing the indigenous way of local construction to understand the complexities of …

Alt-Sensory, Yevguenni Marseille

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

For blind pianists like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, or a deaf drummer such as Evelyn Glennie, how is it that they explore music? For a deaf and blind activist like Helen Keller, how could she have explored the world? The intent of this thesis is to discern and then integrate the spatial qualities that enhance communication and exploration for the sensory impaired into the public fabric. Simultaneously, the goal is to design a space that supplies to the needs of the sensory Impaired while incorporating the desirable features of the unimpaired. Typically, sensory impaired design, otherwise known as accessible …

Port City Revitalization: Reconnecting The City Of Charleston To Its Historic Waterfront, Riley Ransom

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

From fortified settlements to bustling epicenters of production and commerce, port cities have pioneered the course of urban sprawl throughout history. Yet, as port specialization advances and new infrastructure emerges, the once vibrant historic port sites are left neglected. The disconnect is reflected in three dynamic relationships between the city and the port, the city and the water, and the land and the water. The city has grown away from the port, the port infrastructure has been regionalized, and as a result the two have become separate entities. In this process the city is now isolated from the water as …

Stuck In Motion : Finding Function Through The Flux, Nia Lankford

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Artists of all kinds including architects have studied in-depth the dimensions of the natural and built-world that surrounds us in order to produce the theories that have now formed the base of our discipline. Among these naturally formed dimensions lies human scale and proportion, a topic tightly woven within the historical fabric of art and architecture. Vitruvius, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Le Corbusier are just 3 of the many that have dared to define the rules the human body. Human centric design is a form of design that responds directly to the human body as well as human nature in …

Escape: Striving For Well-Being Through Architecture, Moises Marquez

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The escalating issue of physical inactivity among children in the United States, propelled by pervasive technology, demands urgent attention. Sedentary lifestyles, characterized by excessive screen time and poor diets, have become the societal norm. The impact extends beyond physical health, affecting cognitive development, social interaction, and nutrition. Prolonged screen time hinders cognitive functions and impedes social development, while unhealthy dietary choices lead to malnutrition, obesity, and chronic diseases.

In response, institutional agencies like the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have formulated guidelines to combat sedentary lifestyles, emphasizing the critical role of childhood and adolescence in …

The Greenway: Design Strategies For Detroit Revival, Alberto Zarco Amezquita

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Detroit, Michigan symbolizes the transformation that took place in cities across the American Rustbelt from major industrial centers to sparsely populated shrinking cities. Vacant lots now cover what once used to be a vibrant place of neighborhoods, factories, and schools. How do we intervene in such an urban context in order to stop the further decay of the city and bring back people, businesses and social life. The thesis focuses on the central part of downtown Detroit and proposes an urban design intervention centered around the concept of a greenway. I superimpose the analysis of the street network in the …

Bespoke Moon, Austin White

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Welcome to Bespoke Moon by Austin White. The next high-tech, component-based system that allows architects and designers to fully immerse themselves in design once again.

Designers grow up nurturing a passion for design, then to eventually attend school to hone their skills. However, bringing these designs to life in the built environment involves a lot of tedious work and time to ensure safety, structural integrity, and compliance with codes. With that in mind, I aim to transform our traditional processes.

Bespoke Moon’s component-based system utilizes 3D-printed, prefabricated steel components that lock, seal, stack, and interlock in a unique way, allowing …

Urban Mixed Income, Mixed Use Transit Orientated Design A Precast Prefabricated Modular Design Solution To Atlanta's Housing Affordability Crisis, Taharka Askia Muhammad

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis will focus on urban housing affordability with an emphasis on quality mixed income, mixed use, transit orientated housing development (TOD). The primary goal is to provide an adequate number of affordable housing units to allow diversity and inclusion for residents of lower income in nearby communities or otherwise provide greater housing affordability overall. This research aims to propose new construction and creative innovations with precast, prefabricated modular architecture which will take advantage of cost offset strategies, lower cost of construction, efficiency, and speed of construction. The design phase of this thesis will develop a design proposal for the …

Architecture As A Form Of Care, Sara Clement

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The emergency department (ED) is often internalized, cut off from the natural world, and structured around efficiency, despite its effect on patient health. It’s a critical healthcare setting where patients seek immediate medical attention for a wide range of conditions, often under circumstances of extreme stress and urgency. Efficient patient care within the ED is paramount to ensuring positive outcomes, yet the question remains: Can emergency department design optimize efficiency without compromising the experience of patients and staff? Given the pivotal role of EDs in healthcare delivery, it is essential to strike a balance that ensures efficient patient care processes, …

Safe Passage, Tenzin Senge

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

After the Cultural Revolution of 1959 in China which led to the occupation of Tibet, the people of Tibet suffered the loss of homes and were stripped away from their socio-cultural ethos. As displaced Tibetans, the next generations will grow up without a nation, their self-identity and live with uncertain future. To this day, thousands of Tibetans are fleeing into neighboring countries every year by crossing the treacherous (cold freezing) Himalayas mountains with great hardship, even the most experience hikers find this task challenging. Issues arise for these refugees trying to escape, and questions tend to pile up about the …

Dorm Reform: Enhancing Student Well-Being At Kennesaw State University Marietta Campus Through Innovative Design Strategies, Kayla Langston

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

In recent years, there has been a discernible deterioration in the mental well-being of college and university students, as evidenced by an increase in reported levels of anxiety, stress, and depression in these populations, as documented by the National College Health Assessment. This decline has been further exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has intensified feelings of isolation and disrupted traditional support systems. While conventional approaches to addressing these mental health challenges primarily involve counseling services, support groups, and student outreach initiatives, these strategies often overlook a fundamental aspect of students' overall well-being – the quality of their residential …

Re-Offense To Re-Integration, Re-Imagining The West County Detention Facility, Madison Frei

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

ABSTRACT

In the United States today, the incarceration experience has become entirely barbaric and inhumane. Basic needs are neglected, drug smuggling runs rampant, and the mental health crisis within the system is worse than ever before. The re-offense rate for formerly incarcerated people is one of the highest in the world. These issues stem from poor design choices meant to provide minimal social interaction between inmates, little to no privacy, and limited access to programmatic uses that contribute to the betterment of mental health. Building prisons better suited for rehabilitation instead of punishment will not only lower this statistic, but …

Modulating Recycled Plastic - A Sustainable Solution To Plastic Pollution Through Innovative Recycling, Galo Cruz

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Initially celebrated as a miracle material, modern society’s dependence on plastics has resulted in urgent environmental challenges. The consequences of this dependence are: widespread plastic pollution, an environment grappling with near-indestructible waste, and a health crisis fueled by malignant microplastics. In response to this urgent junction of environmental challenges, this research sets forth to further the transformative approach explored by Janel Sitt’s 2020 thesis and aims to answer the following questions:

1. Why does our dependence on single-use plastic jeopardize our environment, severely impacting food supplies, marine life, and overall quality of life?

2. As designers, are there opportunities for …

Parametric Bamboo, Dominic Reilly

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis project explores the potential of using bamboo as a sustainable material in building parametric designs. The construction industry has a significant impact on the environment, and the use of sustainable materials in architecture is becoming increasingly essential. Bamboo is a versatile and sustainable material that has been used for centuries in various cultures worldwide. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that can grow up to 91 cm per day and matures in just three to five years, making it an excellent alternative to traditional building materials like wood and synthetics. The project aims to investigate the properties of bamboo …

Tides Of Memory: Restoring The Soul Of The Shoreline, Ruth Llorente

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Guayaquil, with a population of approximately 3 million inhabitants, is the largest city in Ecuador and home to the most important port in the country, driving its commercial and industrial activity. Despite significant urban expansion in the last 40 years, urban planning has been lacking, leading to informal settlements and overcrowding. While the city government initiated projects to attract tourists and uplift residents, these efforts focused on central areas, leaving many in poverty and segregation.

Isla Trinitaria, a major informal settlement, suffers from high density and poor living conditions, attracting migrants seeking better prospects. Although the city eventually provided basic …

Interdisciplinary Couture: A Translation From Fashion To Architecture, Michael Toache

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Haute Couture or ‘high dressmaking’ is a term used for fashion designers to implement one-of-a-kind designs custom fit for an exclusive collection. Within the realm of design, there lies a relationship between fashion and architecture. Humans formed the earliest iterations of spatial boundaries by implementing weaving techniques made with plant fibers and posts. We created fences before we clothed ourselves. Weaving these boundaries or textile walls was instituted in some of the earliest forms of architecture still used today. The process of design that drives the creation of the spaces we inhabit today is created by the same beginnings as …

Digital Tectonics: Developing An Architectural Design Process, Megan Eaton

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis investigates the transformative role of computer software in reshaping architectural design processes. It explores how digital tectonics, facilitated by Grasshopper, revolutionize architectural practice by offering novel avenues for innovation and efficiency. Central to this research is the development of a systematic design methodology that seamlessly integrates Grasshopper into the architectural workflow. This study looks at worship spaces and war memorials as precedents and studies their procession and experience. It uses the procession as a design parameter to be input into Grasshopper to generate design ideas. Additionally, the thesis addresses practical considerations, including the constructability of Voronoi structures. By …

The Art Of Experience: Changing Architectural Designs Through The Perception Of Light, Brett Hembree

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

We are constantly surrounded by and inhabiting the built environment. Architecture can affect someone’s mood in the most subtle of ways. The spaces we inhabit have an impact whether you are aware of it or not. Peter Zumthor said, "Architecture is a service, a process, a way of building and leaving the world a little better for our presence." The question becomes, "How can we use lighting in architectural designs to create impactful experiences for those in the space?" My thesis explores how we design spaces and what strategies can be implemented to influence the viewers’ perception. We are shaped …

Stitching Atlanta's Hbcus: Campus Design As The Site Of Integration, Nicole James

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The DEI initiatives, which aim to cultivate an institutional culture at the intersection of diversity, inclusivity, and equity, have permeated every corner of public life. One can trace these initiatives to the rise of multiculturalism in the 1960s civil rights and other emancipatory movements that demanded the recognition of differences in general and ethnic, gender, religion, and cultural differences in particular. In architecture, however, the discourse of intersectionality arrived late and only in a fragmentary fashion. While Edward Soja, Saskia Sassen, David Harvey, Henri Lefebvre, among others, have underlined different dimensions of the relationship between space and politics, the intersection …

Rock To Renewal - Depleted Quarry Revitalization, Daija Laney

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Healing the wounds of the earth and its people through the revitalization of depleted quarries Revitalizing depleted quarries is essential for healing both the scars on the earth's landscape and the adverse effects on local communities. Despite their necessity for construction, quarries often leave lasting negative impacts, diminishing the quality of life for nearby residents and harming the environment repeatedly. This thesis advocates for a comprehensive approach to revitalizing the depleted quarries by, integrating ecological restoration, economic redevelopment, and community engagement through an architectural lens. By implementing these restoration techniques and incorporating architectural design principles driven by ecological, social, and …

Nomad Unit, Thiago Degrossi

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis explores the transformative potential of van conversions into sustainable living spaces through the integration of spatial operations, efficient design, and renewable technologies. By examining various case studies and employing design experiments, the research investigates how space optimization, energy efficiency, and minimalist design can contribute to a lifestyle that is both eco-conscious and adaptable. The study focuses on the design and build process of converting a Ford Transit into a full-time, livable space of 100 square feet that incorporates advanced movement mechanisms, such as telescopic furniture and pivot-rotation elements, to maximize the utility of every inch. The van conversion …