While digital work culture can keep us tethered to enclosed indoor environments, working spaces emerge as a unique opportunity to reimagine the workplace experience. This thesis explores how indoor-outdoor architecture can be integrated into work environments to promote wellness, productivity, creativity, and foster a deeper connection to nature. By blending built environments with natural elements, the design aims to evoke the openness, calm, and restorative qualities we associate with the outdoors. Drawing on principles of nature-inspired design, this research investigates how elements such as daylight, greenery, water features, natural ventilation, and natural materials can shape more human-centered workspaces. The thesis proposes a coworking model that redefines the modern workplace—transforming it into a dynamic, inclusive, and rejuvenating ecosystem aligned with the evolving values of contemporary work life.

The dominant approach in contemporary design emphasizes standardization and efficiency. Sadly, this often overshadows or destroys the unique character and history of buildings. In contrast, this thesis proposes a design ethos that embraces the patina of wear and the feeling of material authenticity. Rather than erase imperfections or overwrite the past, it engages the tactile evidence of time: layers of paint, repairs and alterations made over time, strange patches and conjunctions of materials, and traces of age and use.  Intervention is not seen as a disruption, but as a continuation: a gesture in response to existing conditions. In particular, handmade materials carry the presence of their maker and enter into dialogue with the building’s embodied history, deepening the sense of place and presence. Tool marks, joints, brushstrokes - these become signs of life, not flaws to be corrected. By honoring these imprints—of both time and human labor—this thesis work resists the notion of a finished or perfected space. Instead, it celebrates the building as a living surface, continually shaped by time, use, and care.

Public interior space is crucial to the development and support of communities. It supports civic engagement by providing spaces for connection, activity, and reflection leading to deeper belonging to and stewardship of one’s community. In public space, the transitional non-programmed spaces can create greater opportunity for a wide range of uses and interaction between diverse users. However, public space is unequally invested in. Socio-economic status, as well as race and gender have a huge impact on how public spaces are shaped. Public space should be equally accessible and supportive for all communities. I began this project considering my own experience of public spaces, and how they supported or failed to support me and my community. I am interested in how public interiors can be repurposed to support connection and activity, creating space that is approachable, inclusive, and can be community defined, supporting democracy and the fabric of our cities.

Within the large population of unhoused individuals all over every major city across the United States are a demographic of unhoused women affected by domestic violence. So many of the women who experience violent relationships struggle with the decision of leaving due to housing instability, financial control, and safety. Current statistics reveal that there is a corresponding relationship between unhoused women and domestic violence, and the women who chose to escape these relationships face barriers accessing safe shelters, mental health support services and legal support. The shelters unhoused women currently have access to are not only unsafe, overcrowded and lack privacy, but they do not provide domestic violence victims with the supportive environment and tools that they need to recover. Housing solutions for unhoused women affected by domestic violence need to be designed with a system supporting them throughout their entire journey of regaining stability and integration back into society.

In today’s fast-paced world, many young adults entering a new stage of independence experience heightened anxiety and isolation from their surrounding communities. My thesis explores how interior environments can support this transitional period by fostering emotional well-being and a sense of belonging. Focusing on post-college adults, my design prioritizes comfort and familiarity by drawing on residential cues that evoke the feeling of home. This approach creates a gentle, welcoming atmosphere that reduces the psychological barriers often associated with social spaces. Rooted in the principles of slow architecture, the design encourages users to move at their own pace, absorb their surroundings, and engage mindfully. Flexible zones accommodate varying comfort levels, offering options for solitude, casual interaction, or deeper connection. By creating spaces that feel safe, nurturing, and intuitively navigable, this project aims to bridge the gap between isolation and community and support mental health through thoughtful, human-centered design.

 Omnipresence means being in multiple places simultaneously. Screen-based tools are reshaping presence and embodiment by blending physical and digital realms; humans now exist in a phygital state. The digital age has absorbed many everyday embodied activities into virtual interactions, and in turn, people are bringing those virtual interactions into physical spaces. Historically, design has defined human activity within the physical environment—offices, for instance, facilitate work. Today, a smartphone can transform a desk into a retail store, a doctor’s office, or a family gathering. This thesis explores the omnipresent condition and examines how interior design can support phygital existence. Through a series of site and programmatic prototypes, it investigates design strategies that enhance the ease of phygital embodiment. Drawing from cinematic references, the thesis develops a material, aesthetic and detail approach that reflects today’s screen-based omnipresence and considers how interiors might better accommodate the fluid, multispatial nature of contemporary life.

Focusing on environments that support families undergoing long-term medical treatment, the project explores how spatial design can provide the structure necessary for stability during disruption while fostering warmth through materiality, sensory interaction, and emotional security. The idea of structure offers support and a sense of order, essential for families navigating complex and life-altering circumstances. Warmth, meanwhile, extends from material and color choices to encompass the emotional and psychological impacts of space, comfort, trustworthiness, and creating an environment conducive to healing and wellness. By merging these elements, the design aims to create a space that offers both practical support and emotional solace, contributing to a sense of rejuvenation and optimism.

When one emigrates to another country in search of better opportunities, it often comes with a sense of loneliness and anxiety, as they must start from scratch, leaving behind their friends and family, and adapting to a new culture with minimal support. In such a context, having a strong, united community becomes essential to help immigrants navigate the difficult initial months and adjust to their new reality. Latinx immigration has increased in recent years, doubling the number of immigrants between 2000 and 2022, growing from approximately 130,000 to 252,400. As a result, 22% of Philadelphia’s population is Latinx (Philadelphia Research and Policy Initiative, 2024). Despite this growth, there are few spaces where the Latinx community can come together, connect with their roots, and create meaningful interactions that foster a sense of belonging and cultural pride. As a designer, I am motivated to address this gap by focusing my work on helping create a consolidated and united Latinx community. My goal is to design spaces where immigrants can feel at home and find support, allowing individuals to connect with their emotions, strengthen their identity, and feel supported as they adapt to a new country and reality.

Generative AI is transforming the design process with unparalleled efficiency, precision, and adaptability, allowing for highly customized and optimized spaces. However, as AI-driven tools increasingly shape the way environments are conceptualized and brought to life, a critical question emerges: can algorithms - built on patterns and data - truly capture the cultural narratives, emotional connections, and contextual nuances that give spaces their meaning and soul? This tension is particularly evident in large retail stores, where the design of transitional spaces plays a crucial role in shaping the overall experience. Rather than serving as mere connectors, these spaces have the potential to transform stores into "experience-scapes," immersing users in a seamless journey that fosters discovery, engagement, and emotional connection. AI can optimize layouts for efficiency, but can it truly curate the experiential and narrative-driven depth that makes a space memorable? Or does the essence of transformative design still lie in the human ability to infuse creativity, intuition, and lived experience into every detail?

Tourism in cities has increased worldwide, leading to cultural commodification and the displacement of local residents due to increased living costs and a saturation of short-term rentals. How can cities cultivate spaces that serve their residents while also allowing travelers to visit more mindfully? Drawing inspiration from Albergo Diffuso, an Italian concept which disperses hotel accommodations and programming throughout a small village, this project aims to create a new model for hospitality and urban planning. Using Charleston, South Carolina, as a prototype, tourists are integrated into the city's fabric through homestays with locals, keeping long term residents, now also homeowners, within city limits. This hospitality model integrates local businesses and accommodations within a one-block radius, so locals can stay local, and tourists can experience a curated authentic visit. Through this approach, my thesis presents a scalable framework for cities facing similar challenges, ultimately reimagining tourism to actively support locals rather than displacing them.

Set in a historic church in Philadelphia’s Italian Market neighborhood, The Living Mosaic is a gathering place designed to reflect the energy, diversity, and culture of its community. This project explores how creative interior environments can support meaningful connection by integrating food, drink, and play into everyday life. Community kitchens, a coffee-to-wine bar, workshops, and active zones foster joy and a deep sense of belonging. Vertical gardens, an outdoor wine garden, community garden beds, and a neighboring pocket park blend nature into the experience. The design encourages lingering, learning, and spontaneous interaction across generations and backgrounds. In contrast to the fast pace and isolation of urban life, The Living Mosaic creates an inclusive, welcoming environment where people feel supported and connected to something greater. It is a celebration of everyday moments, neighborhood rhythms, and the simple joy of being together.

Many unhoused individuals avoid traditional shelters due to overcrowding and institutional designs that overlook their emotional and psychological needs. In cities, the limited availability of supportive environments further reinforces cycles of isolation and invisibility. This thesis examines how interior architecture can serve as a transformative tool,creating spaces that restore dignity, safety, and belonging.Focusing specifically on shelters for women and single mothers, it explores how design can foster emotional healing and stability. By incorporating calming, nature-inspired palettes, soft textures, residential-scale furnishings, and spatial layouts that promote autonomy and privacy, the built environment can begin to undo the sense of exposure and powerlessness many residents feel. These design choices provide a  setting for recovery, reflection, and growth. In creating spaces that prioritize safety both physically and psychologically, the project also emphasizes features such as clearly defined personal zones, secure entryways, warm lighting, and communal areas that encourage voluntary interaction rather than forced proximity. Through such details, the shelter becomes more than a temporary refuge;it becomes a space of dignity and hope, where women can begin to feel safe, seen, and supported in rebuilding their lives.

As individuals increasingly seek culturally immersive and emotionally resonant experiences, this project explores how interior environments can celebrate identity without resorting to literal or stereotypical representation. Conceived as a contemporary oasis, the design offers a curated journey within a hospitality setting inspired by Middle Eastern culture – one that invites pause, reflection, and discovery. Rather than mimicking tradition, it evokes cultural memory through sensory storytelling, material richness, and spatial sequencing. The goal is to create an atmosphere that is both approachable and transportive, appealing to a broad audience, including those unable to experience such cultures firsthand. By navigating the space between authenticity and entertainment, the project proposes a design framework that honors cultural depth while prioritizing enjoyment, accessibility, and emotional impact.

Black oppression is spatial, as it has always involved exposing us to harmful environments or denying us spaces for healing. To express ourselves, to take up space, and to move freely—to be, in whatever way we choose—is to resist that oppression. In response, Black leaders throughout history have created meaningful spaces that sustain our communities. These spaces often subvert traditional architectural limits, instead pursuing healing, liberation, and joy through their own design logic.

Sound and movement are central to these spaces, giving them vibrancy and expanding their meaning beyond their structural limits. In pursuit of Black joy, this project examines the sounds, motions, and creativity that shape Black spaces, and re-imagines them as architectural elements. In doing so, it transforms the built environment for our community's benefit.

The digital nomad lifestyle, blending remote work with extensive travel, has grown exponentially over the past decade. While it offers unmatched freedom and flexibility, finding suitable infrastructure—like co-working spaces, Airbnb, and wellness-oriented environments—often requires significant time and effort. These elements are rarely integrated or located conveniently together, creating friction in an otherwise fluid lifestyle. Existing setups tend to prioritize function over experience, limiting opportunities for deeper connection with the space and its surroundings. By incorporating natural elements, engaging the senses, and allowing for individual customization, we can transform temporary spaces into immersive environments that support focus while inviting exploration. The concept of meandering—wandering through spaces that spark curiosity and reflection—can be embedded in design to enrich daily routines. Through biophilic design, sensory richness, and a reflection of local authenticity, we can create cohesive, inspiring spaces that not only meet the practical needs of nomads but also elevate their journey.

Art is both an individual and social practice. Individual, in that privacy allows the artist to reflect, focus, and experiment freely. Social, in that shared spaces like galleries, studios, and performance venues facilitate interaction and connection. A balance of these two environmental conditions is the crux of optimizing creative flow. Artists will always create despite limitations; however, this thesis examines how refining access to live-work space can benefit artists and musicians, with a focus on integrating communal areas to foster stronger connections with neighbors, and flexible private studio spaces that prioritize artists’ individual needs. Through considered porosity of views and customizable furniture kits, the design strategy aims to create thresholds that encourage informal exchange and lateral learning—where ideas are shared across disciplines and experience levels. These design decisions promote a culture of collaboration and a sense of belonging, establishing the foundation for a vibrant and connected creative community

This thesis proposes a new model for affordable housing that supports long-term financial growth by allowing residents to pay reduced rent while advancing their careers. The design prioritizes economic mobility, giving tenants the time and space to focus on professional development and save money—ultimately enabling them to leave the housing program with higher incomes than when they entered. The project is built on three key principles: first, that people should be able to prosper financially without leaving their home communities; second, that affordable housing must provide comfortable, spacious living units to support resident wellbeing and foster community; and third, that amenities should not be viewed as luxuries, but as essential responses to resident needs. Amenity spaces are intentionally integrated throughout the design to offer meaningful support and enhance quality of life. This model reimagines affordability as a foundation for upward mobility, not just as a measure of cost.

Addiction is not merely a personal struggle; it is shaped by environmental and social forces that often lead to isolation and weakened community connections. In recovery, fostering social relationships is crucial, as shared experiences encourage openness and lasting bonds. Digital communities also play a vital role, enabling individuals to build meaningful connections across distances while expanding support networks and perspectives. This thesis introduces a new model for addiction recovery centered on community, connection, and healing. By integrating inpatient and outpatient care, it fosters stability and continuity, helping individuals build lasting relationships while easing transitions between structured support and independent living. By integrating technology and thoughtful design elements—fostering familiarity, safety, and a sense of control—this model creates environments that feel hopeful and empowering, reshaping recovery spaces into places of growth and optimism.

This thesis investigates the role of interior design as a spatial storyteller, focusing on how environments shape perception, identity, and power dynamics. Drawing on examples from set design, entertainment architecture, and prison systems, it explores how design can both invite and restrict human experience. Central to this investigation is the Panopticon and its evolution from a tool of psychological control to a pervasive force in today’s digital surveillance culture. Using Eastern State Penitentiary as my intended site, the project proposes a conceptual reimagining of the prison as a participatory nightclub experience. Here, surveillance is transformed into play, encouraging guests to explore the tension between autonomy and observation. By reframing a site of isolation through the lens of collective nostalgia, evoking the intimacy and energy of house parties, the design challenges institutional narratives of control instead offering a space for reconnection, identity reclamation, and sensory liberation.  

Metropolitan life imposes psychological and health pressures on its residents. Unavoidable crowds, narrow spaces, the pace of life, and air and visual pollution cause a remarkable decline in people's satisfaction and well-being. With rapid urbanization, city dwellers have lost touch with nature. Urban buildings are sealed against the outdoors, resulting in closed internal spaces devoid of quality air, natural light, and green spaces, which all negatively impact human behavior and welfare. Improvement efforts involve creating opportunities for escape and establishing a relationship between humans, nature, and interior spaces in urban landscapes. Incorporating natural ventilation, passive shading, programmatic orientation, shading devices, and features like an evaporative pool and green elements aims to design captivating interiors that encourage reevaluating the connection between urban living and the environment. This thesis seeks to create compelling environments that promote ecological sustainability, support the biophilia hypothesis, and offer social opportunities in urban settings. The ultimate goal is to design livable places that enhance well-being, foster a harmonious coexistence between humans and their urban surroundings, and promote a sustainable and fulfilling urban lifestyle.