Category: ARCH 502A: Hidden Infrastructure

The world is not built for seniors in mind. With a focus in Los Angeles, there are many environments from sidewalks to living spaces that are not friendly for seniors. If environments are not friendly, this could create barriers to interactions with the environment leading to depression, isolation, and even death. Since the “Crossing” has occurred, the population percentage of ages 65 and above is growing so rapidly that it is driving seniors to slowly isolate themselves from the rest of the world because the existing infrastructure is not designed for the aging population nor is it designed to accommodate a person’s full life cycle. This questions if Architecture is a barrier or if Architecture may be a solution.

House+: Mobility Plug-Ins for the Aging Population is an exploration of a plug-in system using a kit of parts in order to create an accessible space and make a change within the social dynamics of the multigenerational experiences. The challenges focused in this thesis are about changing the existing living conditions for seniors and how cities can be rebuilt accessible and integrable for multigenerational spaces without affecting new generations and incorporating the population as a whole rather than isolated groups. While specifically focusing on the aging population, this plug-in system can be customizable to the user to age with them accommodating a person’s full life cycle.

This thesis explores digital media as a form of representation. The conversation focuses on the imagery of Los Angeles that is “driven” by automobiles – Gas Stations, billboards, drive thru’s, and stripmalls. In the near future, the population of Los Angeles will reach 13 million people. The seemingly boundless real estate of Los Angeles soars. The city extends vertically; not upwards, but downwards to accommodate automobiles. As the infinite grid of city blocks completely consume the vast landscapes of Los Angeles– mountains, valleys, plains, and sea coast, –the city becomes pixelated with rectangular street blocks, connected by a web of highways and streets. “Pixel” is the keyword of this thesis. Pixelation reflects the increased residents of Los Angeles, and pixelation is also the smallest unit of any visual digital media, which us humans are already at the point of no return. It is not a bad thing; all we can do is to fully embrace pixelization. Digital media becomes a form of representation; screens become the facade.

An at Home Manual for Urban Grafting investigates the evolving dynamics between bio-building materials and aging buildings – where their intersection results in a system for urban reuse and climate intervention.
This proposal explores the potential of future urbanism through the introduction of advanced biomaterial envelopes in the form of permanent scaffolding. Extruded realms of space form a network on the surface of existing buildings to support, enhance, and provide beyond its original purposes. Such a system deviates from existing building surface mediations by employing algae and mycelium to achieve results in both realms of reuse and climate positive energy production. As it evolves in time, the intervention intrudes into the existing spaces and creates new typologies centered around current programs, arriving at new urban spatial conditions.
Urban grafting beckons the utility of architectural reuse to adapt existing structures, to evolve needs and sustainability standards mirroring the plasticity seen in grafted plants, and to ensure the longevity and relevance of the current built environment. To raise awareness of the lasting effects of short-lived buildings through the lens of climate change, this project provides a case for biomaterials as a worthy strategy for future building.

Do you feel safe on Los Angeles public transportation? ‘Lights Camera Action’ explores how scale, tools, and users impact safety on Los Angeles Public Transportation. Every community addresses safety differently; some utilize technology and police while others promote grass-root actions and unspoken guidelines. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics in mind, this thesis works alongside existing transit improvement projects to increase safety at the scale of the vehicle, the station, and the surrounding area. Several perceived and proven safety methods are examined and tested for their potential efficacy in Los Angeles. For a better understanding of these seemingly hidden components, the methods are broken down into place (lights), tools (camera), and community (action). Ultimately, increased safety on Los Angeles public transportation means community involvement as it leads to a redefinition of place.

While wood offers a short-term sustainable alternative to concrete and steel, owing to its lower carbon emissions, concrete and steel are favored for long-term sustainability considerations. However, integrating adaptable rooftop configurations, particularly through prefabricated modules, into construction practices can enhance sustainability beyond material choices alone. Through a comparative analysis of wood, concrete, and steel, particularly in the context of constructing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), this thesis explores the potential for holistic sustainability, encompassing not only ground-level construction materials but also innovative roof additions to elevate environmental performance.

This thesis explores Los Angeles as a food desert, and how food vendors provide an informal resource that impacts the street at a human scale and transportation at an urban scale. Street vendors become an agent for urban renewal to create equitable pedestrian friendly third spaces.

The project publicizes data as a method for storytelling liminal spaces, such as streetscapes, alleyways, lots, and their contributions (or lack thereof) to community. Illustrating data will visualize LA as a design desert, including existing programs and missing resources from in-between built spaces. This proposal showcases street vendors as an agent for urban renewal using technology to reconstruct and reimagines these in between spaces. This includes proposals at three levels, and developing methods for (1) grounded, (2) aspiring, and (3) revolutionary change in historically divided LA communities. This enables pedestrians to take back the street as a public, communal space.

This thesis explores Los Angeles as a food desert, and how food vendors provide an informal resource that impacts the street at a human scale and transportation at an urban scale. Street vendors become an agent for urban renewal to create equitable pedestrian friendly third spaces.

The project publicizes data as a method for storytelling liminal spaces, such as streetscapes, alleyways, lots, and their contributions (or lack thereof) to community. Illustrating data will visualize LA as a design desert, including existing programs and missing resources from in-between built spaces. This proposal showcases street vendors as an agent for urban renewal using technology to reconstruct and reimagines these in between spaces. This includes proposals at three levels, and developing methods for (1) grounded, (2) aspiring, and (3) revolutionary change in historically divided LA communities. This enables pedestrians to take back the street as a public, communal space.

Numerous communities across the United States are confronted with heightened crime rates and a dearth of facilities and initiatives fostering social interaction. Many streets languish in neglect, presenting a disheveled and underutilized appearance. Taking the abundant alleyways in Los Angeles as a prominent illustration, I propose a transformation of these overlooked informal spaces into a fresh network for pedestrian pathways and recreational pursuits, seamlessly woven into the existing urban infrastructure of streets and sidewalks. Drawing inspiration from the malleability and versatility of Origami, the design envisions structures capable of effortlessly morphing to accommodate diverse user requirements. This endeavor seeks to link the expansive multi-story buildings characteristic of Los Angeles, reinvigorating communal engagement and recreational opportunities, thereby amplifying safety and enlivening the city’s thoroughfares. Such an approach holds promise for replication across neglected spaces nationwide, fostering community upliftment on a broader scale.

My thesis involves reimagining the concept of “time” in relation to the human experience and space. The project involves transforming the airport from an urban and architectural typological study into an extreme city. Since more people are traveling in the future, the airport experience should be improved and create a sense of “staying” rather than mere “waiting”. To craft environments that encourage passengers to actively engage with entertainment, interact with their surroundings, and have control over their time.

By studying the urban and architectural typology of Los Angeles and Las Vegas, I borrowed the architecture from both cities and transformed it into new designs through intersecting, stacking, and scaling. The project is divided into three main categories: hospitality, entertainment, and sports. This reimagined airport aims to welcome visitors from across the globe, not just as a point of transit but as a destination for entertainment and leisure, inviting them to stay and enjoy city travel.

The ‘Designing the Future: Architectural Systems for Enhancing Mental Health’ model integrates the latest architectural designs with the latest technologies to respond how to overcome the existing barriers to access. The United States, a country that is overwhelmed by mental health problems more and more with every passing day, calls for quicker access to treatment and care. This project argues that the mental health therapy of the future will lean on developing ways of increasing access to services rather than only expanding their availability as well as innovative integration of architectural and technical solutions to build therapeutic and barrier-free environments. Taking a user-centered approach means that these clinics can set up spaces that are not only friendly and non-stigmatizing but also motivates people to look for help. Furthermore, using advanced technology such as telehealth platforms, virtual reality therapy, and the artificial intelligence driven diagnostic tools can greatly broaden the reach of mental health services. Therefore, they will ensure availability of effective treatment not only the privilege but the right of all people. This thesis puts forward the multidisciplinary approach to mental health care, where the innovative architectural and technical responses become foundation of a more inclusive, effective and accessible mental health therapy system in the United States.