Architecture Commons^™

Urban Mitigation And Adaptation: Ecological Design Strategies For Flood Resilient Environments And Community Health In Athens, Makenna Chambers

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

According to FEMA, flooding is the most frequent and costly natural disaster in the United States (National Flood Insurance Program and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2010). The risk it poses to both people and property will only increase in the coming years due to the increasing effects of Climate Change. Additionally, the effects of Climate Change mean that areas that were once safe from flooding are now in danger and their current infrastructure was not designed to withstand the impact and effects of the more frequent and dangerous flooding occurrences. Climate Change effects temperature, sea levels, and the increasing …

Transparency In Architecture: Reflecting The Practice Of Democracy In City Halls, Ana Mendoza

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The last election cycles of 2016 and 2020 became a tumultuous time for many Americans. More than ever, Democracy has been tested through recent events and has had many doubting the integrity of our governmental structures and the strength of our civic buildings. The events of January 6th unfolded before all of America’s eyes as we witnessed the breaching of the United States Capitol, which was supposed to be the most secure and honored building in Washington. America’s cultural diversity brings different opportunities within distinct contexts. So how do we reflect our ideals and necessities into the city halls that …

[F]Ree-[Dom] Space: Trauma-Informed Planning And Place Making Within Women And Children's Rehabilitation Centers, Rodolfo Alcaraz-Navarrete

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis researches and understands the struggles of domestic violence survivors and implements design strategies to provide a safe and stable shelter for those affected by domestic violence in Georgia. The design methodology and research will include literature reviews and precedent studies to observe and better understand the challenges that need to be met in order to provide a safe haven for victims of domestic violence to grow and succeed when the time comes to return to the world. The goal is to, through architecture and design, provide an opportunity to engage and bring awareness to the public of the …

Lungs Of The City: B[Re]Athe - Exploring How Architecture Can Improve Air Quality, Jessica Rimmel

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

One of the most critical elements for survival is air. Air pollution and air quality are often seen as an issue that needs widespread intervention to make a difference. It becomes a problem that people think is too big for them to make any meaningful change. There is a lack of education and acknowledgment of the quality of the air we breathe every day. Prolonged exposure to pollutants in the air can lead to lasting negative effects on one’s health. Air pollution affects our communities disproportionately, the young, the aging, and minority community members are especially susceptible to being exposed …

Vida: Community Center In The Heart Of Bogota, Juan Sebastian Mejia Ceballos

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Abstract

Bogota is the capital of Colombia known for its beautiful culture, architecture, music, food, ambiance. All these things are only seen in the northern portion of the city. When looking at the southern portion of the city, this is where the true neglect of a government shows. There is a lack of care, love, and respect for a city. It is noticeable that there is hierarchy where the elite live in the north and the poor live in the south.

This is the first issue addressed in this thesis.

When looking at the city and its relation to the …

Equity In Healthcare Design: Sustainable Placemaking Interventions For Refugees And Displaced Communities, Eunji You

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Since 1990, the city of Clarkston has brought thousands of refugees from Asia, Africa, South America, and beyond. Now, roughly half of the population constitutes refugees that represent 60 different languages and nationalities. In Clarkston, a sustainable healthcare facility is integral for the design of a family-centered medical facility to promote health equity by providing access to care at all levels. Infant mortality is rising amongst minority groups, and advanced care for adults and children of all ages and disabilities in low-income areas is becoming more inaccessible. The design of the healthcare facility aims to strengthen racial-ethnic minority groups in …

Facilitate Learning: Using Architecture As A Teaching Tool, Doron Zarur

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis proposes a new design for an architecture school that looks beyond the verbal and formal way of teaching, engaging students with multiple modes of learning to help them understand the fundamentals of architecture. The thesis looks at the positive impact of this new learning style - providing spaces that visually teach the construction and concepts of building, the foundation of architecture. This research explores visually providing various types of structures in the same space that students learn, strengthening the learner’s understanding and enabling a broader perspective of the content. It also can lead to better solutions for design …

Colloquium, Or The Argument For A New School Of Architecture..., Austin Turner

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Colloquium, or an argument for the new school of Architecture... is an interrogation on the power of Architectural discourse and its impact on the built environment.

The research begins by analyzing the works and theories of four distinct architects: Peter Eisenman, Rem Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid, and Bjarke Ingels. During my investigation, I ask myself, “What happened in their school environment that made them great,” or in other words, “What can a student, like me, do to be like these people?”

To answer this question, I found the best way to analyze this would be to look back on their own …

Proposing A Second Life - (Adaptive Reuse) For Underutilized Condemned Masonry Buildings In Cuba, Fernando Asamoa

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

From 2000 to 2013 nearly 3,856 partial or total buildings collapsed in Havana, Cuba with a 206,000-home deficit thus adding to its severe housing shortage, reported by officials. Officials have also estimate 28,000 people live in buildings that could collapse at any moment and yet some residents refuse to leave structures that authorities have declared unsafe. Locals have described the deaths witnessed from structures collapsing however Cuban officials do not release figures on those killed or injured in building collapses in attempt to minimize the severity of the situation. This thesis aims to investigate an adaptive reuse strategy needed for …

Beirut's Burden, Joelle Osta

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This is a proposal for a waste management facility to be built in the busy city of Beirut to educate the public and prevent further damage to the environment‭.‬

This facility collects‭, ‬transports‭, ‬processes‭, ‬recycles‭, ‬and monitors waste materials from both businesses and private residences‭. ‬There is a sorting and processing wing to separate waste into different categories‭. ‬

Proper incineration of certain types of waste will generate green energy and the gases emitted from the decomposition of trash in landfills can be used as a renewable energy source‭. ‬Through the use of extremely high temperatures‭, ‬trash is converted into …

Skins+Fabrications: Addressing Fashion And Clothing Waste, Renee Palmer

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Articles of clothing; they are the second organ, the Second Skin. Their functions are to protect the body from the harsh external elements and create a sense of design with Fashion—the same as exterior facades on a building. However, where architecture and Fashion differ is sustainability.

The Global fashion industry contributes 10% of greenhouse emissions. From that 10%, about 13 million tonnes of clothing waste ends up in landfills or burned. Most of the waste comes from the Fast Fashion Industry, which sees cheap labor from underdeveloped countries to maximize profits. These companies will spend a good portion of their …

Reclaiming Identities | A Cultural Center For The Tachi Yokut Tribe, Emily Harrington

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The purpose of this thesis project is to answer the question, “How can Contemporary Architecture address the identities of Indigenous people of North America?” Within this thesis project will be a comprehensive Cultural Center design that addresses a specific tribe’s needs in the case of physical needs, mental needs, and most importantly needs of identity. The specific tribe will be the Tachi Yokuts of the San Joaquin Valley, whom used to be the largest tribe in California before colonizer invasion. Since the identity of Indigenous populations in North America have been stripped and forcibly forgotten it is most important to …

A Quarry In The Urban Landscape: Building Down In Architecture, Derrick Kafunda

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

A quarry is an excavation or open pit mine that does not mine for minerals like copper, gold diamonds or any other precious gemstones but for materials that are mainly used in the building industry from the surface of the earth. As this process takes place the dust from this process is released in the atmosphere and when the process is complete the pit is usually not buried. What usually remains are the left-over debris and water from the rain which forms an artificial lake. If unattended, Pit Lakes, as they are called, become dumping grounds. This research will aim …

Prototyping Attainability: A Guide For Incremental Density In Communities, Quinlan Mcfadden

Masters in Architecture Program: Theses

In the absence of direct public investment solutions, Prototyping Attainability, explores how the combination of building typologies and land uses can achieve attainable housing strategies by striking a balance between shared community spaces and optimizing density, without disrupting the existing residential landscape. Through this exploration of research and design, strategic changes in zoning, regulation and typologies will be brought forward to aid the framework process of solutions to the housing crisis not only within Nebraskan communities, but in communities nationwide.

Holistic Generations | Reshaping A City's Health, Tania Rodriguez Serrano

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

In Puerto Rico everything seems emptier. The more hurricanes hit us, the less opportunities there are, the more corrupt the government gets, then the more people leave. The Puerto Rican population is rapidly decreasing. The small town of Jayuya, Puerto Rico is one that seems to be very lonely these days. I scarcely see my generation and the older generation is getting left behind. Due to this the town is basically a ghost town by the time 4pm hits. If my generation leaves, then who takes care of the older generations? Who maintains the town alive? When asked these questions …

Working Modular | The Modular System That Crosses The Boundary Between Micro And Macro Offices, Enrique Brimmer

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

I am designing an infrastructure that helps the growth of modules in a macro scale. For example, the office typology is one that isn’t easy to change, as shown in the past. As times change and people move around, our buildings need to be able to adapt and grow with us. That is why the ability to move and change module orientation is important to the growth of a building. In the micro scale I am going to be designing unique modules that can be easily repeated to create large and small spaces. These modules will have the opportunity to …

Repurposing Storage: Spatial Transformation Of Self Storage, Tina Cerda

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

What was once confined to the attic or garage has exploded into a billion-dollar industry. Today, there are around 50,000 storage facilities nationwide. This accounts for 2.3 billion sq ft in rentable space. To give you some scale that’s 3 times the size of Manhattan. That’s enough space for all 330 million Americans to physically stand under the facilities’ rooftop at this very moment. As many Americans begin to downsize, reduce their ecological footprint, and become less mobile. The need for temporary storage during resettlement and relocation is on a decline. How will these facilities then be utilized when excessive …

Sheltered City: A Prevention For Homelessness Through Sheltered Designs, Kena Fairfax

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

“Nothing but stable housing fundamentally differentiates those who experience homelessness and those who don’t, and all people deserve the human right to housing (pg. 1),” quoted by the National Health Care of the Homeless Council, can serve as a driving influence in developing solutions to address homelessness. The poignant experience that homeless people shared and described serve as an inspiration to better these individuals’ lives. As a substitute, approaching homelessness in a political or financial position, this thesis is to provide solutions to shelters architecturally.

Delving into precedents, each are separated into four categories such as singular, community, group, and …

Art For Healing: An Exploration Of Spaces To Facilitate Arts For Therapeutic Healings, Ana Gabriela Hernandez Delgado

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Mental health is a complex and ever evolving State of being that architecture and technology play an important role in. For women, some of the ways that depression comes about is when we go through life-changing events. Giving birth, having an abortion, sexual harassment and assault just to name a few. Women have a higher chance to have severe depression and relapsing. With major depression comes the higher rate of suicide. Centers of this type have been improving their designs, but in a way that still feels like the old.

My interests lie in new forms of architecture related to …

Airtime: Integrating Acoustics Into The Design Process, Daniel Richardson

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Background

As part of the sensory experience, acoustics serves an important role in facilitating the social functions of a space. The acoustic response of a space plays a part in determining its social atmosphere, as well as how it functions for certain occupancies (eg. clarity in a classroom, projection on a stage, fullness in an orchestra). The acoustics of a space is determined by the assembly and materials of its envelope, as well as the occupation within. Commonly, specific acoustic solutions like panels, foam, or sound batt insulation are used to manage or treat the acoustic qualities of a space. …

Aquatic Architecture, Jonathan Bonaparte

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

For centuries, mankind has been building their architectural cities near or around water. It has its advantages such as transportation, convenience for the trade routes and water survival. As the earth gets hotter every year and the ice glaciers continues to melts, the ocean sea levels will continue to rise.

Assuming that the projected sea water levels for 2050 are correct, 95% of coastal cities around the world are at risk from rising sea levels and unpredictable storm surges. The coastal cities are going to have to adapt and change its way of thinking with the encroachment of the sea. …

Design Diplomacy - Cooperative Living, Kameren Horton

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

From 1990 through 1996, we witness a significant shift within the city of Atlanta. In the Summer of 1996, the Olympics was hosted in Atlanta. Techwood Homes at the time, was the first large affordable housing project in that area. In 1991, there was an order for the demolishment of Techwood Homes. However, it wasn’t until 1995, when the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) decided to begin demolition after waiting 4 years prior to the Olympics.

Several other large housing projects were demolished to make room for Olympic venues. This is where we see redevelopment. This is where we see a …

The Labyrinth Archetype, Zachary Chimoff

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis looks at the myth of the labyrinth, a philosophical metaphor for life, and creates a modern version.

Diy; Strategic Sustainable Homes Rethinking Ghana's Housing Crisis, Michelle Leal

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The irony is that a profession that is responsible for cratering to one of the most basic human needs, is so economically out of reach for those in developing countries such as Ghana. Africa's housing already insufficient and continues to be expensive and not meeting the soaring demand, leads to the continent to face a housing crisis. This problem either leads people to become homeless or are forced to move into neglected unsanitary areas. The intent of my thesis is to provide a DIY; sustainable strategy home in which the locals learn and benefit from building a permit eco-friendly home. …

Tensegrity - Is It A Bridge? Buiding? Skin?, Freddy Portugal

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Tensegrity is an amazing concept in which it can look asthetically pleasing as well of having the structural strength to create long and short spans. It is a concept that hasnt been around too many years and its something not many people know about. Im hoping to educate you on this thesis and show how great it is to explore a new structure.

Floating Edge: Modular Living, Jonathan Cruz

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis aims to develop an alternate solution for rising sea levels. By adopting flotation technology which is successfully implemented in building on water. This thesis primary objective is to examine and discuss the relationships between floating architecture, and the possibility of a new modular way of living in these coastal areas. This thesis will also explore the technologies and processes incorporated in the foundations of floating constructions and the accessibility of the structures through well-planned grids. To develop an alternate solution for land reclamation and rising sea levels.

Architecture As Medicine: Designing Spaces For The Mind, Body, & Spirit, Tyler Cox

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

How can architectural space provide a holistic approach to health and wellness through an experience that enhances the mind, body, and spirit? As Socrates said in the 4th century B.C., “the part can never be well unless the whole is well.” Holistic Health is a lifestyle and way of thinking that considers the multitude of connected aspects of wellness and recognizes the whole person: physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. This holistic outlook on health should be of major consideration when designing a space, especially while America is currently experiencing a health epidemic. What if there was a place that …

Where Dreams Begin: Challenging The Architecture Of Migrant Detention, Pablo Garcia

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Today, more than 40 million people living in the US were born in another country, accounting for about one-fifth of the world’s migrants. Even though the US is a nation comprised largely of immigrants and their descendants, immigration remains one of the most fraught social and political issues of modern times. People dream of moving into the country seeking a better life than the one they are leaving behind. Yet, upon arrival, they face inhumane circumstances due to the recent influx of people seeking asylum within the US. According to the Department of Homeland Security, over 3 million people arrived …

Preservation And Public History In Mound Bayou, Mississippi, Walker Bray

Honors Theses

This paper is an exploration of the history of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, an all Black community in the Mississippi Delta formed by freedmen in the wake of Reconstruction. This paper also discusses the ways in which Mound Bayou citizens are working to preserve their history and make it known to a wider audience. In particular, this work discusses the recently opened Mound Bayou Museum of African American Culture and History and related efforts to restore and preserve historic structures in Mound Bayou. In addition, this work also seeks to explore ways in which the University of Mississippi can effectively supplement …

Independence Through Unseen Architecture; Investigating Multi-Sensory Design For The Visually Impaired And Blind, Taylor Trevino

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Sensory abilities are what shape our consciousness of the surrounding environment and our concept of the world. Architecture has been based upon aesthetics, function, and form over periods of time to appeal and interact with the senses of its users. What if one or more of your senses cannot utilize space as it was intended? A primary sense in relation to architecture is sight. Which then leads the question, how can architects design insightful architecture for those who can not see it? According to the World Health Organization, there are “285 million people globally with visual impairments, of whom 39 …