ADC3
—
—
Alternative Desert Cities 3
Benitez Concept Timeline

Alternative Desert Cities 3

Concept image illustrating a timeline from known urban form to a merged mountain/housing city by student Salvador BenitezConcept image illustrating a timeline from known urban form to a merged mountain/housing city by student Salvador BenitezConcept image illustrating a timeline from known urban form to a merged mountain/housing city by student Salvador BenitezConcept image illustrating a timeline from known urban form to a merged mountain/housing city by student Salvador Benitez
Concept image illustrating a timeline from known urban form to a merged mountain/housing city by student Salvador Benitez
Concept image illustrating a timeline from known urban form to a merged mountain/housing city by student Salvador Benitez

Concepts

Sections

Diagrams

City

Housing

Urbanism

Teaching

RELATED RESEARCH IMAGES

View from the bottom of the terraced housing community covering Camelback Mountain by student Miguel Ceniseros NunezView from the bottom of the terraced housing community covering Camelback Mountain by student Miguel Ceniseros NunezView from the bottom of the terraced housing community covering Camelback Mountain by student Miguel Ceniseros NunezView from the bottom of the terraced housing community covering Camelback Mountain by student Miguel Ceniseros Nunez
Conceptual section for simple housing bars topped with gardens set against the Phoenix mountains by student Michael FelixConceptual section for simple housing bars topped with gardens set against the Phoenix mountains by student Michael FelixConceptual section for simple housing bars topped with gardens set against the Phoenix mountains by student Michael FelixConceptual section for simple housing bars topped with gardens set against the Phoenix mountains by student Michael Felix
Stepping housing section showing the units, gradens and circulation of the funnel-shaped forms by student Brandon ShiehStepping housing section showing the units, gradens and circulation of the funnel-shaped forms by student Brandon ShiehStepping housing section showing the units, gradens and circulation of the funnel-shaped forms by student Brandon ShiehStepping housing section showing the units, gradens and circulation of the funnel-shaped forms by student Brandon Shieh
Extended mountain elevation diagram showing the various formal and programatic design decisions by student Salvador BenitezExtended mountain elevation diagram showing the various formal and programatic design decisions by student Salvador BenitezExtended mountain elevation diagram showing the various formal and programatic design decisions by student Salvador BenitezExtended mountain elevation diagram showing the various formal and programatic design decisions by student Salvador Benitez
Perspective view from the top terraces of the proposed housing layer on Camelback Mountain by student Miguel Ceniseros NunezPerspective view from the top terraces of the proposed housing layer on Camelback Mountain by student Miguel Ceniseros NunezPerspective view from the top terraces of the proposed housing layer on Camelback Mountain by student Miguel Ceniseros NunezPerspective view from the top terraces of the proposed housing layer on Camelback Mountain by student Miguel Ceniseros Nunez
Massing model illustrating student Michael Felix's proposal for a pinwheel set of housing framing the mountains in PhoenixMassing model illustrating student Michael Felix's proposal for a pinwheel set of housing framing the mountains in PhoenixMassing model illustrating student Michael Felix's proposal for a pinwheel set of housing framing the mountains in PhoenixMassing model illustrating student Michael Felix's proposal for a pinwheel set of housing framing the mountains in Phoenix
Concept diagram by student Michael Felix illustrating the ambition to blend city with desert through fragmentationConcept diagram by student Michael Felix illustrating the ambition to blend city with desert through fragmentationConcept diagram by student Michael Felix illustrating the ambition to blend city with desert through fragmentationConcept diagram by student Michael Felix illustrating the ambition to blend city with desert through fragmentation
Regional plan for a series of aquatic and interconnected circular cities set within the Saguaro Lake by student Haodong GongRegional plan for a series of aquatic and interconnected circular cities set within the Saguaro Lake by student Haodong GongRegional plan for a series of aquatic and interconnected circular cities set within the Saguaro Lake by student Haodong GongRegional plan for a series of aquatic and interconnected circular cities set within the Saguaro Lake by student Haodong Gong
Study of a stacked massing volume as one of the proposed infrastructural nodes in student Salma Osuna Lopez's urban proposalStudy of a stacked massing volume as one of the proposed infrastructural nodes in student Salma Osuna Lopez's urban proposalStudy of a stacked massing volume as one of the proposed infrastructural nodes in student Salma Osuna Lopez's urban proposalStudy of a stacked massing volume as one of the proposed infrastructural nodes in student Salma Osuna Lopez's urban proposal
Early massing study looking at the potential for a thickened wall-like mass creating micro-climates by student Marcia IbarraEarly massing study looking at the potential for a thickened wall-like mass creating micro-climates by student Marcia IbarraEarly massing study looking at the potential for a thickened wall-like mass creating micro-climates by student Marcia IbarraEarly massing study looking at the potential for a thickened wall-like mass creating micro-climates by student Marcia Ibarra
Series of formal diagrams depicting the conversion of golf courses into housing landscapes by student Lauren BennettSeries of formal diagrams depicting the conversion of golf courses into housing landscapes by student Lauren BennettSeries of formal diagrams depicting the conversion of golf courses into housing landscapes by student Lauren BennettSeries of formal diagrams depicting the conversion of golf courses into housing landscapes by student Lauren Bennett
Early concept image anticipating a proposal that would merge an urban mass into a mountain valley by student Salvador BenitezEarly concept image anticipating a proposal that would merge an urban mass into a mountain valley by student Salvador BenitezEarly concept image anticipating a proposal that would merge an urban mass into a mountain valley by student Salvador BenitezEarly concept image anticipating a proposal that would merge an urban mass into a mountain valley by student Salvador Benitez
Perspective of an aggregation of modular pyramidal massings set into the Phoenix mountains by student Lamarra CarterPerspective of an aggregation of modular pyramidal massings set into the Phoenix mountains by student Lamarra CarterPerspective of an aggregation of modular pyramidal massings set into the Phoenix mountains by student Lamarra CarterPerspective of an aggregation of modular pyramidal massings set into the Phoenix mountains by student Lamarra Carter
Elevation rendering of a modular system of housing based on an indoor/outdoor 'H' shaped unit by student Weicheng WangElevation rendering of a modular system of housing based on an indoor/outdoor 'H' shaped unit by student Weicheng WangElevation rendering of a modular system of housing based on an indoor/outdoor 'H' shaped unit by student Weicheng WangElevation rendering of a modular system of housing based on an indoor/outdoor 'H' shaped unit by student Weicheng Wang
Section of downtown Phoenix showing relation between a new diagrid city and the existing city by student Brennan RichardsSection of downtown Phoenix showing relation between a new diagrid city and the existing city by student Brennan RichardsSection of downtown Phoenix showing relation between a new diagrid city and the existing city by student Brennan RichardsSection of downtown Phoenix showing relation between a new diagrid city and the existing city by student Brennan Richards
Plan drawing of the existing mountain ranges and the infill mountainous housing bar between by student Salvador BenitezPlan drawing of the existing mountain ranges and the infill mountainous housing bar between by student Salvador BenitezPlan drawing of the existing mountain ranges and the infill mountainous housing bar between by student Salvador BenitezPlan drawing of the existing mountain ranges and the infill mountainous housing bar between by student Salvador Benitez
Collage of a the desert on fireCollage of a the desert on fireCollage of a the desert on fireCollage of a the desert on fire
Section drawing of a single diamond shaped housing mass revealing a diversity of internal spaces by student Lamarra CarterSection drawing of a single diamond shaped housing mass revealing a diversity of internal spaces by student Lamarra CarterSection drawing of a single diamond shaped housing mass revealing a diversity of internal spaces by student Lamarra CarterSection drawing of a single diamond shaped housing mass revealing a diversity of internal spaces by student Lamarra Carter
Concept urban plan for linear bars of housing extending across a historic wash in Phoenix by student Julien GutierrezConcept urban plan for linear bars of housing extending across a historic wash in Phoenix by student Julien GutierrezConcept urban plan for linear bars of housing extending across a historic wash in Phoenix by student Julien GutierrezConcept urban plan for linear bars of housing extending across a historic wash in Phoenix by student Julien Gutierrez
Pulled apart massing diagram showing the distinct programs and units within a housing proposal by student Weicheng WangPulled apart massing diagram showing the distinct programs and units within a housing proposal by student Weicheng WangPulled apart massing diagram showing the distinct programs and units within a housing proposal by student Weicheng WangPulled apart massing diagram showing the distinct programs and units within a housing proposal by student Weicheng Wang

RELATED PROJECT IMAGES

OTHER PROJECTS

The challenge of creating a pair of studio apartments that can fill a lifted 16'x16' void necessitates the creation of a quick, mobile, and opportunistic building system that can react to the found conditions of the site. Access to the site is limited and the ground must be free.
Framework: Inverted Square Pyramid (FW:ISP) reimagines the traditional pyramid by flipping it upside down, shifting its focus from the cosmos to the people. The structure’s apexes become seating points within a flexible, interactive framework that encourages public engagement and play.
Scaffolding is often seen as a temporary urban necessity—functional, but rarely celebrated. This project reimagines scaffolding as an architectural intervention and public art piece throughout Española Way, transforming it into a vibrant, interactive element in Miami Beach’s urban fabric.
The YELE music studio competition, underway before the earthquake, must respond now, but plan for the future of the community. Music is relief in a time of tragedy. The goal is to meet the most basic survival needs now while leaving spaces for future growth through self sustaining phases.
Infrastructure as urban performance. Serving as both a backdrop to elegant theatrical dances and a framework for holding a wandering public, the Dance Machine enacts performance through both its program and its existence as a merged urban extension of the Queensboro Bridge.
The Urban Test Object (UTO) serves as a large-scale intervention that accelerates our relationship with the future city. Rather than solving issues like density, infrastructure, or access, the UTO heightens awareness of the rapid urban transformations shaping our future.
The GBN project sites itself as this link connecting the busiest night life district and revitalized neighborhood park in the north, the largest beach front in the city to the south, and establishes the cities first large public plaza and recreation fields adjacent to the new building.
The RACA project must meet two demands: A. REFLECTION (museum) or B. CONTINUATION (practice + addition). The current program and its stagnancy has left the site forgotten—it is a typical static museum on a living site. The site and addition must constantly change through the participation of people.

OTHER RESEARCH