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Resolution as Scale: From Pixel to Monolith

Instructor: Jia Zhou Zhu

Condensed City for Nomads

This thesis proposes a multi-building urban prototype for nomadic life, in which residential, office, and cultural-commercial programs are organized as distinct architectural volumes rather than merged into a single mixed-use form. The project is unified through shared commons and infrastructure that support arrival, mobility, work, social interaction, and recovery. These collective spaces operate as the connective tissue between buildings, enabling fluid movement and overlap between daily activities without dissolving programmatic clarity. Instead of prioritizing permanence, ownership, or fixed occupancy, the architecture emphasizes access, adaptability, and shared use as fundamental principles. By treating architecture as a framework of relationships rather than isolated objects, the project explores how future urban environments can accommodate mobility-driven lifestyles while still fostering community, productivity, and cultural identity. The thesis argues that separating programs while systemically integrating them offers a more resilient and flexible model for nomadic urban living.

Condensed City for Nomads