USC Architecture XpoInstructor: Lisa Little
The Anthropocene is often described as the epoch in which humans reshaped the planet to sustain habitation. One of its most far-reaching consequences is climate change, now evident from the deepest oceans to the highest layers of the atmosphere. It is increasingly recognized that current building strategies, despite good intentions, are not going to solve […]
This thesis argues that the primary value of architecture lies in the layers of memory, experience, and meaning over time. It challenges the conventional notion of architecture as a complete and static object, instead proposing it as an evolving condition – a Living Archive, through which meaning emerges from the accumulation of the intangible. The […]
a thesis by Samuel Tung With the rise of AI, data centers have become ubiquitous, inevitable, and insatiable. Our dependence on their 24-7 operation guzzles excessive water and power to the point where existing infrastructure and natural resources are severely stressed. To compensate, data centers must operate as machines of gross self-sufficiency. Framing them as […]
Seen from a distance, the tree appears as a singular form; seen up close, it is an intricate network of individual environments in communication with one another. This thesis proposes we learn from the framework of this natural system in order to highlight the complexities of individual systems coexisting within a larger gathering space. Located […]
Suburban housing is organized around an assumption of permanence, where the house operates as an isolated unit. The fires in Altadena exposed this fragility. As homes burned, the networks that sustained communities began to unravel. This project proposes a shift away from a model that enables community displacement toward one that supports communities during periods […]
This thesis challenges the assumption that heritage architecture must preserve both its physical fabric, spatial order, and programmatic use, an approach that often results in static and underused spaces. Using the courtyard as a testing ground, the project redefines the protected void as a negotiable spatial field capable of supporting evolving forms of occupation. A […]
THESIS: Traditional architecture's exclusive focus on the human experience has caused devastating planetary impacts, contributing to climate change by destroying the ecosystems of keystone species. To reverse this damage, architectural design must evolve beyond anthropocentrism and prioritize regeneration. This shift is crucial in the Southern Ocean, where foundational Antarctic Krill have plummeted due to human-induced […]
Given the increasing pressures of climate instability, urban architecture must abandon modern perceptions of comfort, reorienting its ranges from optimal to livable, creating comfort through passive environmental exchange rather than continuous technological intervention. Redefining how spaces are occupied, buildings can no longer be conceived as sealed and tightly regulated environments, instead, the design must allow […]
Temporal Assemblies, Embedded Technology, Trackable Lifespan, and Ephemeral Cycle We live in a paradox: we know our time is limited, yet we design with an obsession of permanence. As we convert office cores into residential towers, we accumulate skyscrapers of construction waste and dead land. The question we must ask is “how can we design […]
Forests cover ⅓ of all land on Earth, yet we often treat them as obstacles rather than infrastructure. Integrating urban development directly into forest ecosystems allows us to utilize the collective intelligence of trees, which is essential as 13 million hectares are lost annually to urban demands. This mass deforestation destroys a vital defense against […]