Architecture Commons^™

Unplanned Public Nature Interiority, Kendra Locklear Ordia

Interiority

This paper advances a theory of urban interiority through the concept of public nature interiority, integrating ecological thinking into the spatial, sensory, and temporal conditions of exterior spaces that feel interior. Drawing on works by Tine Poot, Richard Sennett, Liz Teston, and Suzie Attiwill, it challenges binary distinctions between interior and exterior, emphasising relational and dynamic urban conditions. Using Attiwill's notions of collective individuation and an ecology of subjectivity, interiority is reframed as being shaped not only by human perception and experience with nature but also by biotic relations and multispecies interactions. The theory is situated within terrain vague—indeterminate, overlooked …

The Impact Of Modernism On Contemporary Erbil Architecture, Ashna Abdulqader Hussein, Nassir Sabat Sani

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

This study focuses on the impact of Modernism on contemporary architecture in Erbil, a city with a history dating back to the fifth millennium B.C. Emphasizing the historical significance of the central ancient citadel and its ties to the third family of the Sumerian empire and transformative Assyrian conquests, the research intricately navigates the discourse surrounding modernist architecture and its effects on Erbil's identity. Using an evaluative lens, it discerns how contemporary architectural trends have influenced the city's historical buildings, urban planning, and local environment. Through a descriptive and interpretive methodology, the study unveils the intricacies of Erbil's architectural transition, …

What Is Lost When Time Is Saved: Drawing In Collaboration With The Urban Periphery, Carmen Ribaudo

MFA in Visual Art

I pay attention to the overlooked spaces where land and industry meet, prompting me to wonder what can be gleaned in the oily and cracked urban periphery. With a focus on my hometown St. Louis, this industrial city is my subject matter. And so, I draw in a neighborhood bisected by a highway. I animate with sand near the river confluence on land preserved after a historic flood. I make my own bricks in this Brick City, setting up in locations of former terra cotta clay mines. I sit in the tension of what author Michael Martone calls the “midwestern …

Prosthesis, Alexander A. Grosek

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the hospital as a prosthetic—a structural and spatial support for the human body in moments of vulnerability. Like a crutch or cast, the hospital temporarily supports patients in their transition from horizontal (infirm) to vertical (mobile), yet its architecture often fails to contribute meaningfully to that healing process. While clinical treatment is prioritized, the spatial, emotional, and sensory dimensions of care are neglected. What supports what becomes a central question: the building holds the body, but the body also gives meaning to the building. Their relationship is reciprocal.

Rather than proving that good design improves health—an idea …

Viewing From The Sidelines: Tackling Temporality Impacting Displaced Refugees By Humanizing Border Design, Robinson Badell-Garcia

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Every day, you follow a routine that brings comfort- be it work, errands, or family care. Now, imagine the unthinkable: your stable world collapses around you, leaving you homeless and adrift. Stripped of job and shelter, what’s the best option? To leave and seek answers in unfamiliar places while grappling with the profound isolation and discrimination that comes from being displaced.

As architects, our role is to communicate people's dreams and realities, striving for a sustainable future while fostering dialogue and care. This thesis focuses on the architectural response to the increasing displacement along the Türkiye-Syria border, exacerbated by ongoing …

Safety Net: Hope Amongst The Housing Crisis In Lagos, Nigeria, Mayowa Odunjo

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Lagos, Nigeria, home to over 22 million people, stands as Africa’s most populous city. The African Giant of Nigeria holds over 260 million people with the workforce falling on the backs of Millennials and Generation Z. On the surface, this could be seen as an advantage; a youthful, energetic labor force that any economy would benefit from. However, in Nigeria, this demographic reality also presents a unique set of challenges that has been exacerbated by inadequate housing, overpopulation, and rapid urbanization.

The housing crisis in Lagos, fueled by failed government support and initiatives along with rapid population growth, leaves many …

Urban Refuge: Plausible Architectural Solution For The Unhoused, Cameron Lewis

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Growing up in and around Atlanta, the presence of unhoused individuals has always been a stark reality. My dad often recounted how many people experiencing homelessness he would pass on his commute downtown, and as a child, I vividly recall seeing groups of unhoused individuals at MARTA stops and on the streets. Even as I’ve grown older, these same scenes are still there. According to the 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, over 653,000 people nationwide were reported homeless, with 256,610 of them unsheltered. In Atlanta, the 2024 Point-In-Time count revealed a …

The Architectural Identity Of Jeddah, Lujain M. Abulzawaid, Mervat El-Shafie

Effat Undergraduate Research Journal

Urban design is the psychology behind the course of action, presence and usefulness of urban areas and cities. The Urban plan combines development, scenic engineering and public management to make metropolitan spaces viable and engaging. This paper presents a brief insight of Jeddah 's architectural identity. Comparative case studies are assessed to measure the effects of architecture on the urban context and its influence on social and cultural lifestyles. In this work, four case studies were analysed, which are Dr. Bakhsh Hospitals Group (BHS), Souk Al Shatea, Golden Tulip Hotel and City Center. This has been done to understand how …

Fugitive Colors, Natalie Rose Eddings

Theses and Dissertations

My objects are meditations on intertwining themes of labor, rest, and interiority and their shadow sides—power, subjugation and the gaze. I couple materials that have millenia-long histories such as metals, glass, paper and clay with found objects and plat materials to illustrate narratives and exhume memories. Drawn from nature and technologies of land, plant stewardship and the domestic realm, I imagine my sculptures as life supporting vessels or magical enclosures.

Through sculpture, photography and printmaking, I build structures that are space of quiet to be filled with thought, healing and development. Like incubators and seed pods, my work is protective …

Toward A Construct-Based Definition Of Urban Green Space: A Literature Review Of The Spatial Dimensions Of Measurement, Methods, And Exposure, Doo Hong Lee, Brent Chamberlain, Hye Yeon Park

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Student Research

Interdisciplinary research has significantly advanced our understanding, benefits, and measurements of Urban Green Space (UGS). Further, the rapid expansion of research on this topic has resulted in a diverse array of definitions, which can rely on implicit assumptions without a formal definition. This variability highlights the need for a carefully structured framework to refine and combine these definitions. This narrative review examines constructs underlying UGS, particularly focusing on the spatial aspects of how we spatially measure UGS, the measurements of UGS, and how we define exposure; the latter focuses on two methods: viewsheds and image segmentation. Our findings reveal a …

Digital Twinning For Resilient Global Supply Chains: Three Case Studies, Gawon Yun, Douglas N. Hales, Leo Hong

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

Global supply chains have vulnerabilities, and these escalate in crisis times like pandemics or wars. Digital twinning of supply chains can provide early alerts and timely interventions. We examined three companies in different industries using Digital Twin (DT) technology to improve their supply chain performance. We found that while DT successfully enhanced performance indicators, the dollar and time costs were significant, creating barriers to wider DT adoption. We conclude by outlining the positives and negatives of implementing Digital Twins in global supply chains.

Rehabilitation Of The Street: Design Strategies To Increase Diversity In Downtown, Atlanta, Abigail Akridge

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Streets in Atlanta have become exclusionary to one or more functions, uses, and communities. Streets dominated by a single demographic or function contribute to urban decline. Such streets lack diversity in activities and uses, leading to increased crime, decreased engagement, and a dying urban fabric. Architects play a crucial role in reversing this trend by designing with a focus on streets’ implications and the needs of diverse communities. By prioritizing diversity and inclusivity in street design, architects can foster a thriving urban environment. The goal of my thesis is to propose an urban design process centered on the street section, …

Scientific Development And Utilization Of Underground Space Resources To Stimulate High-Quality Urban Economic Development, Rong Yi

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Accelerating the development and utilization of urban underground space holds significant strategic value. It can effectively alleviate land resource constraints, enhance national defense and urban resilience, support urban renewal, and drive economic growth. Nevertheless, challenges remain in China's current approach to underground space development, including delayed planning, insufficient geological surveys, lack of regulatory frameworks, and fragmented industry management. During the transition from the 14th to the 15th Five-Year Plan, there is an urgent need to establish six integrated systems to ensure the scientific and efficient use of underground space: strategic planning, geological surveying, legal and regulatory standards, investment support, scientific …

Beyond The Visual: The Impacts Of Urban Soundscapes On Landscape Design And User Experience, Beth Sipzner

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

The purpose of this research is to examine how visual stimuli affect an individual’s perception of the soundscape. Soundscapes are the acoustic environment perceived by people, whose character is determined by the action and interaction of natural and human factors (Maffei & Masullo, 2019), also understood as the overall sound environment perceived by people. By understanding user perception and preferences, designers can create more aesthetically pleasing spaces that align with the sounds of urban life. The research poses two questions: (1) What are aural and visual elements that impact urban soundscape experiences? and (2) How do aural and visual stimuli …

A Critical Assessment Of Tiny Urban Forest Methodologies And Their Regional Adaptation For North Central Texas, Michael E. Moore

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Urbanization has led to significant environmental and social challenges, including biodiversity loss, resource depletion, and climate concerns (McDonald et al., 2008). In response to these issues, innovative methods such as Tiny Urban Forest Systems (TUFS) have gained attention. TUFS are densely planted clusters of trees and shrubs designed to emulate the structure and ecological functions of natural early successional forests (Lewis, 2021). For this study, TUFS are defined as small, high-density green spaces incorporating multi-layered native woody trees and shrub species within rapidly urbanizing areas, offering both environmental and social benefits (SUGi, 2023). This research examines the feasibility of implementing …

Urban And Community Tree Cover In The Mountain West, Zachary Billot, Zachary Walusek, Annie Vong, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Environment

This fact sheet examines data on tree cover and impervious cover in urban land for the United States and for the five states in the Mountain West: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The original report includes data for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Planning For The Preservation Of Biodiversity And Environmental Assets In Support Of Sustainable Planning In Urban Areas, Case Study: Batu Licin City, Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan, Dharma Kalsuma, Hendricus Andy Simarmata

Smart City

Planning for preserving biodiversity and environmental assets in urban areas is crucial in supporting sustainable planning. This study aims to design a strategy for preserving biodiversity and environmental assets in Batu Licin, Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan, to support sustainable urban planning. The method used is field observation and literature study. The results showed that the Batu Licin area has a relatively high potential for biodiversity and environmental assets. However, along with the growth of the Batu Licin urban area in the future, it will undoubtedly be a source of pressure on biodiversity. Several strategies can be implemented to overcome …

Making Pla(Y)Ces: Softening The City Through Play, Shivani Pinapotu

Masters Theses

Cities that grow naturally over time integrate spaces of gathering that allow for serendipitous happenstance. However, the cities we design today instruct and codify through intentional planning and design; they assign use, hardening specific function to place. Such strategies lead to spaces devoid of spirit, inculcating in city-dwellers to a sense of disconnect from the city.

In contrast to this, the places we make as children, express our intuitive, direct, and unselfconscious relationships with space and one other. These spaces embody softness through their malleability and adaptability, borrowing from the world around them and imbuing the ordinary with imagination. …

Public-Ish, Aliah Werth

Masters Theses

Climate change affects public space, and architecture must establish tenets that prioritize pedestrians in this difficult era. Greywater re-use can be a mechanism for creating shade, and in turn, public space.

As heat waves grow more intense, the vast swaths of asphalt that connect commercial zones pose greater risks to public health and to urban vitality. This thesis records the typical material, spatial, and lived conditions of strip malls in urban heat islands, and demands more from infrastructure in public-ish space.

Heat violence weaves through Los Angeles’ built form. Parking space minimums, required setbacks, and height restrictions pull buildings away …

Evanescent: Animating Space, Kyle Servando

City and Regional Planning

A redesign of the open space of The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA into an plein air gallery for the public to be their own artists.

Stripe Malls (A Comparative Study Between The Experience Of The Private And Government Sector In Sheikh Zayed City), Ahmed Mahmoud Nagi

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This paper discusses the phenomenon of the spread of strip malls on the highways surrounding the cities, by comparing the experience of the private sector represented by (The Stripe) on the Dahshur link road and the experience of the government sector represented by (Chill Out) on the 26th of July corridor in surrounding area of Sheikh Zayed City. In spite of the spread of e-commerce, which has negatively affected large malls, strip malls are constantly increasing, as they have many competitive advantages. The study aims to evaluate this incoming urban phenomenon, its suitability to Egyptian society, and its impact on …

Lightning Up Lives - Architecture As Conductor, Andrea Suros

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Over the last eight years, millions of Venezuelans have had to get used to living between blackouts and electricity rationing. The causes of the crisis are multiple and complex and differ depending on whom you ask. The government rejects that there are problems in the electrical system and attributes the cuts to alleged sabotage, and the rationing to the drought and excessive demand. Electrical engineers attribute power outages to power generation deficits, on the one hand, and lack of system maintenance, on the other. Because of the situation with the electrical resource, the government shuts down the power for four …

Reinventing Greyfields, William Jones

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Since the 21st century began, sports involvement within society has grown as sporting events have become significant spectacles. Thus, major stadia came to be to hold spectators. Unfortunately, many are on the city's outskirts due to the size of their parking lots, categorized as greyfields. Greyfields are 'Underused' land or a 'sea' of asphalt concrete. The problem of creating greyfields within cities harms the urban fabric and the actual relationship between the stadium and the city. They are creating a disconnection between the two. This proposal is to design an urban hub around a chosen existing stadium to enrich the …

Urban Integration, Daylan Cowart

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Human Scale has been incorporated into urban design for a long time. Now it seems as though the urban environment is going away from that. Buildings are getting taller, spaces are being designed for the sky and not the ground. This thesis will study and test ways of designing for pedestrian comfort, safety, and interaction, while activating an existing public space.

Festive Space, John C. Goddard

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Atlanta struggles with a challenge for its citizens in the form of pedestrianism. Over time, the city’s infrastructure has morphed into one that encourages vehicular movement. This leads to a breakdown in the use of streets for pedestrians outside of their strictly desired destination. Eventually this compounds to encourage against socialization. Furthermore, citizens may be affected mentally and emotionally when they come in contact with people less frequently. The design idea of this thesis revolves around creating incidental spaces in people’s path of travel that encourage stopping and even socializing. Revitalization helps not only the pedestrian scene, but also with …

Asylum In America: Designing A Relief Center For Social Integration, Edgar Plascencia

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

On the east side of Atlanta, near Krog Street Tunnel, a Vacant Freight Container parking consisting of 70 acres divides local communities from one another. Also contributing to this divide in this part of the city is a major artery Dekalb Avenue as well as the major rail infrastructure that travels through Atlanta. Due to the Sites Elevated from the ground Concrete pad, this accentuates even more how this site is interrupting the local society in the area.

Since the area of this part of town is lively and flourishing thanks to markets, business, residency and the beltline activating the …

Core Connections: Stitching Together The Heart Of Atlanta Through The Redevelopment Of Underground Atlanta., Amari Parrish

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The heart of Atlanta, a prosperous tourist destination brimming with life, has found itself containing areas that have been commercially cut off from inner-city connections in contradiction to being in a heavy transit area. Atlanta’s longstanding history of inhabiting smaller sub-cities inside a larger context that houses a constantly growing population has become overshadowed by traffic, underutilized spaces that create massive voids, and fragmentation which prevents the city’s unification. Core Connections focuses on creating a mixed-use development comprised of parking, retail, and office that reconnects the surrounding contents of Downtown Atlanta and repairs the area as the city’s core. Core …

Environmental Evaluation Of The Alternative Housing Environments Of Slums, Aya Abd El-Maksoud Maan, Alaa Mohamed Shams, Mohanad Ali Fouda

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The government has built many similar units all over Egypt, especially Cairo, without considering the differences between residents, studying the areas from which they came, or preparing the neighborhoods they moved to, and they did not follow Vision 2030, which stipulates achieving sustainability in modern urban societies. The research aims to prepare alternative housing areas to be environmentally sustainable and to provide guiding principles for the design of alternative residential neighborhoods. The researcher used the applied approach to the Asmarat neighborhood as one of the built-up neighborhoods to solve the problem of slums in Cairo and was evaluated by the …

The Myth Of Solidarity: The Formalization Of Segregation And Externalization Of Class Through The Estate System In Cali, Colombia, Juanita Castaneda Norena

Library Map Prize

No abstract provided.

Urban Wildlife Management Planning Process And Conflict Mitigation: A Case Study Of Denver’S Canada Goose Management Plan, Brent Johannes

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

In 2019 and 2020, the USDA in coordination with Denver Parks and Recreation removed 2,174 geese from 6 different parks within the City of Denver. The removals and use of lethal methods to manage the concerns related to the geese population in Denver’s parks caused a public conflict and resulted in multiple legal challenges with the City of Denver. The opposition group claimed that the city did not sufficiently engage with the public in the formation of the goose management plan, and did not provide any public notification about the plan to remove geese. City officials have claimed that attempts …