ADC2
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Alternative Desert Cities 2
Nelson Urban Plan

Alternative Desert Cities 2

Urban plan showing the Salt River preserve in Phoenix infilled with housing and nature by student Kali NelsonUrban plan showing the Salt River preserve in Phoenix infilled with housing and nature by student Kali NelsonUrban plan showing the Salt River preserve in Phoenix infilled with housing and nature by student Kali NelsonUrban plan showing the Salt River preserve in Phoenix infilled with housing and nature by student Kali Nelson
Urban plan showing the Salt River preserve in Phoenix infilled with housing and nature by student Kali Nelson
Urban plan showing the Salt River preserve in Phoenix infilled with housing and nature by student Kali Nelson

Plans

Infill

Teaching

Landscape

Urbanism

RELATED RESEARCH IMAGES

Urban massing model for a series of landscape bars cut into the landscape by student Amberley JohnsonUrban massing model for a series of landscape bars cut into the landscape by student Amberley JohnsonUrban massing model for a series of landscape bars cut into the landscape by student Amberley JohnsonUrban massing model for a series of landscape bars cut into the landscape by student Amberley Johnson
Aerial perspective showing the possibility to multiply autonomous housing forms across Phoenix by student Zihao LiAerial perspective showing the possibility to multiply autonomous housing forms across Phoenix by student Zihao LiAerial perspective showing the possibility to multiply autonomous housing forms across Phoenix by student Zihao LiAerial perspective showing the possibility to multiply autonomous housing forms across Phoenix by student Zihao Li
Combination section and isometric drawings of a study for a vertical terraced farm by student Zihao LiCombination section and isometric drawings of a study for a vertical terraced farm by student Zihao LiCombination section and isometric drawings of a study for a vertical terraced farm by student Zihao LiCombination section and isometric drawings of a study for a vertical terraced farm by student Zihao Li
Perspective studying the potential for hybrid vertical farms and housing set within the fields of Phoenix by student Zihao LiPerspective studying the potential for hybrid vertical farms and housing set within the fields of Phoenix by student Zihao LiPerspective studying the potential for hybrid vertical farms and housing set within the fields of Phoenix by student Zihao LiPerspective studying the potential for hybrid vertical farms and housing set within the fields of Phoenix by student Zihao Li
Exploded program diagram illustrating the varied typologies and functions within the communities proposed by student Zihao LiExploded program diagram illustrating the varied typologies and functions within the communities proposed by student Zihao LiExploded program diagram illustrating the varied typologies and functions within the communities proposed by student Zihao LiExploded program diagram illustrating the varied typologies and functions within the communities proposed by student Zihao Li
Elevation of an urban community of towers below a shade canopy as a new model for desert living by student Tiffany HartonoElevation of an urban community of towers below a shade canopy as a new model for desert living by student Tiffany HartonoElevation of an urban community of towers below a shade canopy as a new model for desert living by student Tiffany HartonoElevation of an urban community of towers below a shade canopy as a new model for desert living by student Tiffany Hartono
Conceptual urban sections studied at various scales for a flat and high density urbanism in Phoenix by student Ian BirlConceptual urban sections studied at various scales for a flat and high density urbanism in Phoenix by student Ian BirlConceptual urban sections studied at various scales for a flat and high density urbanism in Phoenix by student Ian BirlConceptual urban sections studied at various scales for a flat and high density urbanism in Phoenix by student Ian Birl
Isometric drawing of a regional infrastructure of towers connected by housing and transport by student Amy DickerIsometric drawing of a regional infrastructure of towers connected by housing and transport by student Amy DickerIsometric drawing of a regional infrastructure of towers connected by housing and transport by student Amy DickerIsometric drawing of a regional infrastructure of towers connected by housing and transport by student Amy Dicker
Urban section illustrating the layers of landscape, housing, and canopy cover for creating a new city by student Cecile KimUrban section illustrating the layers of landscape, housing, and canopy cover for creating a new city by student Cecile KimUrban section illustrating the layers of landscape, housing, and canopy cover for creating a new city by student Cecile KimUrban section illustrating the layers of landscape, housing, and canopy cover for creating a new city by student Cecile Kim
Street perspective showing the inclusion of additional programs throughout the suburbs by student Christopher FernandezStreet perspective showing the inclusion of additional programs throughout the suburbs by student Christopher FernandezStreet perspective showing the inclusion of additional programs throughout the suburbs by student Christopher FernandezStreet perspective showing the inclusion of additional programs throughout the suburbs by student Christopher Fernandez
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
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
Model showing the densification of the suburbs with additional housing units by student Christopher FernandezModel showing the densification of the suburbs with additional housing units by student Christopher FernandezModel showing the densification of the suburbs with additional housing units by student Christopher FernandezModel showing the densification of the suburbs with additional housing units by student Christopher Fernandez
Perspective and diagram of a mountain housing unit utilizing the natural properties of the earth by student Brandon PowellPerspective and diagram of a mountain housing unit utilizing the natural properties of the earth by student Brandon PowellPerspective and diagram of a mountain housing unit utilizing the natural properties of the earth by student Brandon PowellPerspective and diagram of a mountain housing unit utilizing the natural properties of the earth by student Brandon Powell
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
Aerial perspective showing the layouts of stacked housing units along Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoAerial perspective showing the layouts of stacked housing units along Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoAerial perspective showing the layouts of stacked housing units along Camelback Mountain by student Donglei CaoAerial perspective showing the layouts of stacked housing units along Camelback Mountain by student Donglei Cao
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
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
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
Combined plan and section study for a hidden community of underground mountain dwellings by student Brandon PowellCombined plan and section study for a hidden community of underground mountain dwellings by student Brandon PowellCombined plan and section study for a hidden community of underground mountain dwellings by student Brandon PowellCombined plan and section study for a hidden community of underground mountain dwellings by student Brandon Powell

RELATED PROJECT IMAGES

OTHER PROJECTS

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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Bathaus is a small hybrid building that expands the visitor center at the Gropius House while simultaneously functioning as an ecologically sensitive bat sanctuary. Integrated directly into the architecture, a series of vertical slot bat habitats are carved into the façade and form.
The Miami Beach House is constructed as a series of platformed spaces that continuously step upward within a tropically climatized shell. Continuing the structural experiments of the Metabolist movement, thirteen modular concrete platforms branch from two vertical cores.

OTHER RESEARCH