ADC2
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Alternative Desert Cities 2
Cao Section Perspective

Alternative Desert Cities 2

Section perspective between two paired housing bars set within the microclimate of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoSection perspective between two paired housing bars set within the microclimate of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoSection perspective between two paired housing bars set within the microclimate of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoSection perspective between two paired housing bars set within the microclimate of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei Cao
Section perspective between two paired housing bars set within the microclimate of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei Cao
Section perspective between two paired housing bars set within the microclimate of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei Cao

Perspectives

Sections

Housing

Teaching

Urbanism

Landscape

RELATED RESEARCH IMAGES

Plan study for a unit made up of multiple separable pie-wedge pieces by student Cecile KimPlan study for a unit made up of multiple separable pie-wedge pieces by student Cecile KimPlan study for a unit made up of multiple separable pie-wedge pieces by student Cecile KimPlan study for a unit made up of multiple separable pie-wedge pieces by student Cecile Kim
Exploded isometric concept drawing showing the layering of housing, farming, and community by student Alejandra LobatoExploded isometric concept drawing showing the layering of housing, farming, and community by student Alejandra LobatoExploded isometric concept drawing showing the layering of housing, farming, and community by student Alejandra LobatoExploded isometric concept drawing showing the layering of housing, farming, and community by student Alejandra Lobato
Concept collage projecting the Phoenix suburbs in 2070 as inhospitable for human habitation by student Brandon PowellConcept collage projecting the Phoenix suburbs in 2070 as inhospitable for human habitation by student Brandon PowellConcept collage projecting the Phoenix suburbs in 2070 as inhospitable for human habitation by student Brandon PowellConcept collage projecting the Phoenix suburbs in 2070 as inhospitable for human habitation by student Brandon Powell
Perspective within a new modular urban infrastructure of transport and housing that grows over Phoenix by student Amy DickerPerspective within a new modular urban infrastructure of transport and housing that grows over Phoenix by student Amy DickerPerspective within a new modular urban infrastructure of transport and housing that grows over Phoenix by student Amy DickerPerspective within a new modular urban infrastructure of transport and housing that grows over Phoenix by student Amy Dicker
Exploded program diagram of the various programs and modules set within the mountain landscape by student Brandon PowellExploded program diagram of the various programs and modules set within the mountain landscape by student Brandon PowellExploded program diagram of the various programs and modules set within the mountain landscape by student Brandon PowellExploded program diagram of the various programs and modules set within the mountain landscape by student Brandon Powell
In progress study section for a new lifted urban infrastructure that hovers lightly above Phoenix by student Amy DickerIn progress study section for a new lifted urban infrastructure that hovers lightly above Phoenix by student Amy DickerIn progress study section for a new lifted urban infrastructure that hovers lightly above Phoenix by student Amy DickerIn progress study section for a new lifted urban infrastructure that hovers lightly above Phoenix by student Amy Dicker
Model of serpentine housing bars made up of stacked units along the contours of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoModel of serpentine housing bars made up of stacked units along the contours of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoModel of serpentine housing bars made up of stacked units along the contours of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoModel of serpentine housing bars made up of stacked units along the contours of Camelback Mountain by student Donglei Cao
Building plan showing the communal ground floor of an independent circular housing block in Phoenix by student Huyen PhamBuilding plan showing the communal ground floor of an independent circular housing block in Phoenix by student Huyen PhamBuilding plan showing the communal ground floor of an independent circular housing block in Phoenix by student Huyen PhamBuilding plan showing the communal ground floor of an independent circular housing block in Phoenix by student Huyen Pham
Section perspective of the suburbs showing a doubling of suburban density in Phoenix by student Christopher FernandezSection perspective of the suburbs showing a doubling of suburban density in Phoenix by student Christopher FernandezSection perspective of the suburbs showing a doubling of suburban density in Phoenix by student Christopher FernandezSection perspective of the suburbs showing a doubling of suburban density in Phoenix by student Christopher Fernandez
Aerial view of a model for a pixelated community growing out of the contours of the mountainside by student Camille MedeirosAerial view of a model for a pixelated community growing out of the contours of the mountainside by student Camille MedeirosAerial view of a model for a pixelated community growing out of the contours of the mountainside by student Camille MedeirosAerial view of a model for a pixelated community growing out of the contours of the mountainside by student Camille Medeiros
Introduction image of the Alternative Desert Cities studio showing a colorized map of the Phoenix sprawlIntroduction image of the Alternative Desert Cities studio showing a colorized map of the Phoenix sprawlIntroduction image of the Alternative Desert Cities studio showing a colorized map of the Phoenix sprawlIntroduction image of the Alternative Desert Cities studio showing a colorized map of the Phoenix sprawl
Collage perspective studying the possibility of a hybrid housing and farming typology around Phoenix by student Zihao LiCollage perspective studying the possibility of a hybrid housing and farming typology around Phoenix by student Zihao LiCollage perspective studying the possibility of a hybrid housing and farming typology around Phoenix by student Zihao LiCollage perspective studying the possibility of a hybrid housing and farming typology around Phoenix by student Zihao Li
Perspective collage studying a mass that mimics the adjacent desert landscape by student Amberley JohnsonPerspective collage studying a mass that mimics the adjacent desert landscape by student Amberley JohnsonPerspective collage studying a mass that mimics the adjacent desert landscape by student Amberley JohnsonPerspective collage studying a mass that mimics the adjacent desert landscape by student Amberley Johnson
Interior perspective of a double height housing unit tucked into the landscape by student Amberley JohnsonInterior perspective of a double height housing unit tucked into the landscape by student Amberley JohnsonInterior perspective of a double height housing unit tucked into the landscape by student Amberley JohnsonInterior perspective of a double height housing unit tucked into the landscape by student Amberley Johnson
Aerial perspective of two paired undulating housing bars tucked into Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoAerial perspective of two paired undulating housing bars tucked into Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoAerial perspective of two paired undulating housing bars tucked into Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoAerial perspective of two paired undulating housing bars tucked into Camelback Mountain by student Donglei Cao
Collage landscape perspective of a future Phoenix of independent cities scattered in the desert by student Kyron HardyCollage landscape perspective of a future Phoenix of independent cities scattered in the desert by student Kyron HardyCollage landscape perspective of a future Phoenix of independent cities scattered in the desert by student Kyron HardyCollage landscape perspective of a future Phoenix of independent cities scattered in the desert by student Kyron Hardy
Concept diagram for cutting and peeling up the desert landscape for housing by student Amberley JohnsonConcept diagram for cutting and peeling up the desert landscape for housing by student Amberley JohnsonConcept diagram for cutting and peeling up the desert landscape for housing by student Amberley JohnsonConcept diagram for cutting and peeling up the desert landscape for housing by student Amberley Johnson
Concept axonometric drawings for an archipelago of new lands and units within the Salt River wash by student Cecile KimConcept axonometric drawings for an archipelago of new lands and units within the Salt River wash by student Cecile KimConcept axonometric drawings for an archipelago of new lands and units within the Salt River wash by student Cecile KimConcept axonometric drawings for an archipelago of new lands and units within the Salt River wash by student Cecile Kim

RELATED PROJECT IMAGES

OTHER PROJECTS

The Craft School is a participatory design and construction initiative that places students at the center of creating their own learning environment. It recognizes that education is not only about what happens inside the classroom, but also how the classroom comes to be.
The Butterfly Theater is a living pavilion—part sculpture, part habitat, part playground. It takes inspiration from the elegance of flamingos and the presence of butterflies in Miami Beach, transforming the park’s open center into a place of movement, color, and quiet spectacle.
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.
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.
QTCT is tasked to blend these two identities onto one site—a give and take relationship between beach ambitions and urban necessities. QTCT is a sampling of two worlds: on one hand it is the embodiment of the language of the beach and on the other it is a detailed and exacting built urban space.
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.
Expanding the mission of the local Biscayne National Park Institute, MICROGROVE is a living research community designed for scientists, ecologists, researchers, and eco-tourists, dedicated to the study, restoration, and increased social awareness of coastal ecosystems.
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.

OTHER RESEARCH