As society gradually emerges into a post-pandemic world, the significance of third places and their absence within communities has become increasingly evident. These spaces, separate from the first place of home and the second place of work, play a vital role in providing sociability and a sense of security for individuals seeking respite from their daily routines. The demand for spaces that cater to creative professionals or foster simple hobbies has risen, as they have been proven to have positive impacts on people's overall well-being. Moving forward, how can we adapt cities and bring back the valued third places that may have closed during the pandemic? Can this be achieved through the inclusion of accessible creative spaces, such as rehearsal studios or music rooms? Or is there a way to bridge the gap between creatives and the surrounding community through residency programs that provide safe environments to foster collaboration and mutual growth? Conceptualizing these spaces and implementing them on various scales throughout the city, showcasing the diversity from towering skyscrapers to initiate rowhomes, can help reflect on the distinct characteristics and needs of different neighborhoods within the urban landscape. By embracing these approaches, cities can revitalize third places, promote community connections, and nurture a thriving creative ecosystem that benefits individuals and the city as a whole.

Our physical environment affects our ability to function on a cognitive level. From sensory stimulation to light levels to a space’s ability to support a sense of community, our physical environment can either support our cognitive wellness or cause it to deteriorate. As we continue to scientifically advance as a species, or face more challenges of severe climate change, the rate at which we explore and encounter these extreme environments will continue to increase. This increase highlights the importance of understanding how to build and design environments that support people at the highest possible level. Whether it be space, the ocean floor, severely changed climates or, in the case of my thesis, the harshest land climate on our planet, the Antarctic, I believe designers have a unique opportunity to create spaces that allow people to not just simply survive, but to thrive. My thesis will explore how design can utilize research to create physical habitations that support cognitive function in one of the most extreme environments on our planet, Antarctica.

Is a life without anxiety possible? Many of us have grown accustomed to waking, working, and sleeping amidst anxiety. How can we shift from a constant state of anxiety to one where we occasionally experience anxiety but are mostly happy? Achieving a life without anxiety is possible when we liberate ourselves from the compulsive pursuit of specific goals and the sense of belonging they offer. It is important to understand who we are, cultivate a consistent sense of peace, and build genuine self-confidence. Nature plays a therapeutic role in promoting mental health by reducing activation in the amygdala, the stress-related brain area, and preventing mental disorders like anxiety and depression. My thesis will explore the possibility of a less anxious life by leveraging the therapeutic effects of natural environments and practices such as yoga and meditation. It will delve into how architecture, when embedded in the natural environment, can foster a closer bond between individuals and nature. This bond, supplemented by mindfulness practices, can alleviate anxiety, improve psychological well-being, enhance self-esteem and self-efficacy, and ultimately increase our happiness index, leading to a peaceful return to daily life.

People today are addicted to tangible material goods, neglecting the precious value of how intangibility satisfied people in the past. This thesis explores the possibility of conveying poetry into architecture, through a library and exhibition space that creates a calm and engaging space of immaterial possibility.

Discovering the emotional connections that people have to places can assist in creating habitats that people are drawn to and experience in a holistic way. Through research into rural community hardships, understanding how these issues may be mediated through place attachment, and emphasizing the specific experiential connection people have to natural surroundings, this thesis aims to enhance local commerce opportunities, bring awareness and positive experiences to the area, and incorporate connection to the land and surroundings. Utilizing local materials and resources helps realize the design intent to revitalize local architecture and highlight the beauty of historic structures.

Humans have an intrinsic psychological need to connect with nature and the natural environment. Architecture is created when humans build in response to the environment around them, and continuous creation of architecture creates the built environment. The treehouse, which is created in response to the environment of trees, is built for the interaction with and/or appreciation of the natural environment. The experience of being in a treehouse brings one to a deeper and more personal connection with nature.

‘Sustainable Tourism’ is a concept that has been in practice for fifty years, yet tourism remains unsustainable. Tourism in its own right cannot be sustainable, instead it must be reconceptualized as a tool to improve the well-being of host communities and sustain destination regions. This thesis explores how we, as designers, can harness the possibilities of tourism to create true and lasting sustainability.

Urbanization requires adaptation to population density and embrace of associated housing typologies, including vertical living that is cost-efficient, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive.

The definition of Oasis is “a fertile or green area in an arid region (such as a desert).” Translating the concept of an Oasis into a built urban setting, means creating a space in the center of a developed city where people can unwind, get away, restore themselves and feel at peace with nature, while being environmentally responsible.

This thesis project explores how the elementary shapes and forms cooperate and translate the design functionality and circulation within multiple dimensions. The transition between graphic 2 dimensional and extruded 3 dimensional spatial elements create a complex yet minimal interior architecture which accommodates a diverse range of programmatic functions.

It all begins with an idea.

Old buildings are an integral part of America’s cities. They tell us about the history of place, where we came from, and what happened before we were here.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.