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.

George Bernard Shaw once said, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” Generally, adults grow out of playing. Why? Play is inherently human, fulfilling a need for expression resulting in mental and physical health benefits. Play releases endorphins – the body’s natural feel-good chemical. Play is contained, curated, and only acceptable in specific spaces. However, it is a necessary component for our everyday happiness. Should we have to seek playgrounds or parks to fulfill our playful desires? Imagine if we encountered playful design in our daily, everyday spaces? What would these architectural details and elements look like? The focus of my thesis is to figure out how to design playful elements into our everyday spaces to promote and provide more opportunities for adults to play.

The existential crisis of individual, community, and environment that was accelerated post-2020 created a need to mitigate the transformation of current industry infrastructure into human infrastructure. This thesis explores the role of interiors as a narrative device within speculative future design methodology, utilizing interior design as a tool for decoupling design from consumerism. It does so in two parts.“ First, in the initial phase, a new academic process is introduced to bridge the gap between contemporary research and practical design applications. The process proposes an equation that generates functional future fictions. The second phase applies the proposed process into present-day design application, through the lens of the contemporary housing crisis.Thus, through multiple speculative scenarios, this thesis initiates a dialogue to shift values within the field of design.

Underground Transit Station — a liminal space that makes waiting an event. A place of repeated and layered transitions experienced actively or passively, giving unique opportunities to observe physical and social space in the present time, at a present scale and with present people. These daily transitions become an elevated journey through spatial perceptions and interpersonal dynamics.

Urban Frame Station is a space that lives in the future and has memories, experiencing direct interactions with time through the senses.

How does this station remember us waiting?

This thesis proposes a blending of built and natural environments in the urban fabric. The design blends both physical elements and features as well as social relationships between people. Blending is a way of thinking about the shared experience of the city, incorporating people, landscape, and the built environment.

‘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.

The current segregation of living and non-living systems, especially in our cities, has had devastating effects on both humans and the environment. With biotecture, the synthesis of biology and architecture, we can design a brighter future, in which our philosophical understanding of the ‘natural environment’ incorporates architecture as an integrated constituent.

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.

Isolation and disconnect in cities and neighborhoods has been shown to decrease community engagement and cause a rippling effect that contributes to communities' economic instability, social issues, and environmental challenges. How can public community spaces bring people together to strengthen social bonds, encourage civic engagement, and promote the wellbeing and overall sustainability of neighborhoods?

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

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.

Mino is a large entertainment and leisure art mall. It is built in the abandoned PECO power station which located in Fishtown.

Three Court Green is a mixed use residential project offering luxurious urban living centered around three unique courtyard experiences. It explores the crossing point between vernacular lessons in thermal comfort and contemporary expectations of urban living.