ADC2
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Alternative Desert Cities 2
Birl Urban Plan

Alternative Desert Cities 2

Urban plan of a porous, flat, and dense new city surface combining farming and housing in Phoenix by student Ian BirlUrban plan of a porous, flat, and dense new city surface combining farming and housing in Phoenix by student Ian BirlUrban plan of a porous, flat, and dense new city surface combining farming and housing in Phoenix by student Ian BirlUrban plan of a porous, flat, and dense new city surface combining farming and housing in Phoenix by student Ian Birl
Urban plan of a porous, flat, and dense new city surface combining farming and housing in Phoenix by student Ian Birl
Urban plan of a porous, flat, and dense new city surface combining farming and housing in Phoenix by student Ian Birl

Plans

City

Teaching

Urbanism

RELATED RESEARCH IMAGES

Section of a standard housing pair with a roof farm, three floors of housing, and a covered path by student Alejandra LobatoSection of a standard housing pair with a roof farm, three floors of housing, and a covered path by student Alejandra LobatoSection of a standard housing pair with a roof farm, three floors of housing, and a covered path by student Alejandra LobatoSection of a standard housing pair with a roof farm, three floors of housing, and a covered path by student Alejandra Lobato
Perspective from the terrace decks of the combined farming and tower typology proposed by student Zihao LIPerspective from the terrace decks of the combined farming and tower typology proposed by student Zihao LIPerspective from the terrace decks of the combined farming and tower typology proposed by student Zihao LIPerspective from the terrace decks of the combined farming and tower typology proposed by student Zihao LI
Exploded isometric diagram of the layers for a topographic housing community by student Camille MedeirosExploded isometric diagram of the layers for a topographic housing community by student Camille MedeirosExploded isometric diagram of the layers for a topographic housing community by student Camille MedeirosExploded isometric diagram of the layers for a topographic housing community by student Camille Medeiros
Concept collage illustrating the ambition to embed a new form of housing into farming circles by student Alejandra LobatoConcept collage illustrating the ambition to embed a new form of housing into farming circles by student Alejandra LobatoConcept collage illustrating the ambition to embed a new form of housing into farming circles by student Alejandra LobatoConcept collage illustrating the ambition to embed a new form of housing into farming circles by student Alejandra Lobato
Section perspective study of stepped housing that follows the curves of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoSection perspective study of stepped housing that follows the curves of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoSection perspective study of stepped housing that follows the curves of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoSection perspective study of stepped housing that follows the curves of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei Cao
Series of exterior perspectives of housing and communal program blended into the desert landscape by student Amberley JohnsonSeries of exterior perspectives of housing and communal program blended into the desert landscape by student Amberley JohnsonSeries of exterior perspectives of housing and communal program blended into the desert landscape by student Amberley JohnsonSeries of exterior perspectives of housing and communal program blended into the desert landscape by student Amberley Johnson
Perspective from inside a unit showing the potential programming of communal spaces as events by student Ian BirlPerspective from inside a unit showing the potential programming of communal spaces as events by student Ian BirlPerspective from inside a unit showing the potential programming of communal spaces as events by student Ian BirlPerspective from inside a unit showing the potential programming of communal spaces as events by student Ian Birl
Section perspective revealing housing units embedded into the landscape of South Mountain by student Brandon PowellSection perspective revealing housing units embedded into the landscape of South Mountain by student Brandon PowellSection perspective revealing housing units embedded into the landscape of South Mountain by student Brandon PowellSection perspective revealing housing units embedded into the landscape of South Mountain by student Brandon Powell
Concept collage illustrating the potential for a community of windows nestled into South Mountain by student Brandon PowellConcept collage illustrating the potential for a community of windows nestled into South Mountain by student Brandon PowellConcept collage illustrating the potential for a community of windows nestled into South Mountain by student Brandon PowellConcept collage illustrating the potential for a community of windows nestled into South Mountain by student Brandon Powell
Units plans illustrating the various spaces and levels of an underground housing unit by student Amberley JohnsonUnits plans illustrating the various spaces and levels of an underground housing unit by student Amberley JohnsonUnits plans illustrating the various spaces and levels of an underground housing unit by student Amberley JohnsonUnits plans illustrating the various spaces and levels of an underground housing unit by student Amberley Johnson
Section showing the relationship of the landscape of the Salt River with the infrastructure of housing by student Kali NelsonSection showing the relationship of the landscape of the Salt River with the infrastructure of housing by student Kali NelsonSection showing the relationship of the landscape of the Salt River with the infrastructure of housing by student Kali NelsonSection showing the relationship of the landscape of the Salt River with the infrastructure of housing by student Kali Nelson
Section of a typology of housing that combines mid-rise farming terraces with towers by student Zihao LiSection of a typology of housing that combines mid-rise farming terraces with towers by student Zihao LiSection of a typology of housing that combines mid-rise farming terraces with towers by student Zihao LiSection of a typology of housing that combines mid-rise farming terraces with towers by student Zihao Li
Unit diagram showing the variations of connected living types sharing a linear bar by student Amberley JohnsonUnit diagram showing the variations of connected living types sharing a linear bar by student Amberley JohnsonUnit diagram showing the variations of connected living types sharing a linear bar by student Amberley JohnsonUnit diagram showing the variations of connected living types sharing a linear bar by student Amberley Johnson
Perspective of a series of towers and landscaped connections above the desert floor of Phoenix by student Xingyu ZhongPerspective of a series of towers and landscaped connections above the desert floor of Phoenix by student Xingyu ZhongPerspective of a series of towers and landscaped connections above the desert floor of Phoenix by student Xingyu ZhongPerspective of a series of towers and landscaped connections above the desert floor of Phoenix by student Xingyu Zhong
Perspective of a new community of dwellings that have settled in the Salt River preservation by student Kali NelsonPerspective of a new community of dwellings that have settled in the Salt River preservation by student Kali NelsonPerspective of a new community of dwellings that have settled in the Salt River preservation by student Kali NelsonPerspective of a new community of dwellings that have settled in the Salt River preservation by student Kali Nelson
Aerial plan of the suburbs with the multiplication of additional backyard units by student Christopher FernandezAerial plan of the suburbs with the multiplication of additional backyard units by student Christopher FernandezAerial plan of the suburbs with the multiplication of additional backyard units by student Christopher FernandezAerial plan of the suburbs with the multiplication of additional backyard units by student Christopher Fernandez
Model showing the spread of secondary backyard units throughout the suburbs of Phoenix by student Christopher FernandezModel showing the spread of secondary backyard units throughout the suburbs of Phoenix by student Christopher FernandezModel showing the spread of secondary backyard units throughout the suburbs of Phoenix by student Christopher FernandezModel showing the spread of secondary backyard units throughout the suburbs of Phoenix by student Christopher Fernandez
Mass study separating communal and private facilities within a stepped mountainous landscape by student Camille MedeirosMass study separating communal and private facilities within a stepped mountainous landscape by student Camille MedeirosMass study separating communal and private facilities within a stepped mountainous landscape by student Camille MedeirosMass study separating communal and private facilities within a stepped mountainous landscape by student Camille Medeiros
Exploded diagram of the components creating a community on the new lands of the Salt River by student Cecile KimExploded diagram of the components creating a community on the new lands of the Salt River by student Cecile KimExploded diagram of the components creating a community on the new lands of the Salt River by student Cecile KimExploded diagram of the components creating a community on the new lands of the Salt River by student Cecile Kim
Pair of perspectives illustrating the communal shifts in the farmed landscape between seasons by student Alejandra LobatoPair of perspectives illustrating the communal shifts in the farmed landscape between seasons by student Alejandra LobatoPair of perspectives illustrating the communal shifts in the farmed landscape between seasons by student Alejandra LobatoPair of perspectives illustrating the communal shifts in the farmed landscape between seasons by student Alejandra Lobato

RELATED PROJECT IMAGES

OTHER PROJECTS

The CART live/work housing prototype adds a vertical profile to downtown while converting an underutilized public path into an urban gesture by introducing of a specialized food cart zone in New Haven. The CART residents would rent and appropriate the moving space as a means of expanding their zone.
Seeing Park Avenue as an underutilized zone that connects four vibrant neighborhoods from 42nd Street to 144th Street, Infrastructural Infill is a study testing the potential to locate a combination of mixed-use housing and transportation in the residual spaces caused by urban infrastructure.
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.
Space has become redundant again. Popular culture is uninterested in the goings-on in space. Once achieved, mans absurd relation with space becomes yesterdays news. To become relevant to the public, CASIS must be an amenity and not a mission. Instead of promoting an HQ, make it a public interface.
In Tempe there are two pedestrian axes: Mill Avenue and Palm Walk. Mill Avenue is successful and Palm Walk is not. Is there a way to make the palm trees useful to the students? The PEP structure is powered by buried hydraulic pressure systems giving vertical movement to the layer/palm interface.
Seating design is vital in fostering communal interactions in shared spaces. Rooted in the organic growth principles of the Metabolist movement and the transformational geometric language of digital Metaballs, Meta-Bench forms an experiential seating system which individuals can move and adjust.
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 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.

OTHER RESEARCH