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

Diagram of a combination of housing and structural framework for inhabiting the river wash in Phoenix by student Kali NelsonDiagram of a combination of housing and structural framework for inhabiting the river wash in Phoenix by student Kali NelsonDiagram of a combination of housing and structural framework for inhabiting the river wash in Phoenix by student Kali NelsonDiagram of a combination of housing and structural framework for inhabiting the river wash in Phoenix by student Kali Nelson
Urban plan to foster a microclimate between paired housing bars on the northern face of Camelback by student Donglei CaoUrban plan to foster a microclimate between paired housing bars on the northern face of Camelback by student Donglei CaoUrban plan to foster a microclimate between paired housing bars on the northern face of Camelback by student Donglei CaoUrban plan to foster a microclimate between paired housing bars on the northern face of Camelback by student Donglei Cao
Unit plans of the three floors of the housing units embedded in a farmable landscape by student Alejandra LobatoUnit plans of the three floors of the housing units embedded in a farmable landscape by student Alejandra LobatoUnit plans of the three floors of the housing units embedded in a farmable landscape by student Alejandra LobatoUnit plans of the three floors of the housing units embedded in a farmable landscape by student Alejandra Lobato
Site plan of a massing set with the farmable landscapes on the perimeter of Phoenix by student Zihao LiSite plan of a massing set with the farmable landscapes on the perimeter of Phoenix by student Zihao LiSite plan of a massing set with the farmable landscapes on the perimeter of Phoenix by student Zihao LiSite plan of a massing set with the farmable landscapes on the perimeter of Phoenix by student Zihao Li
Concept collage study for a housing built into the contours of the mountains above Saguaro Lake by student Camille MedeirosConcept collage study for a housing built into the contours of the mountains above Saguaro Lake by student Camille MedeirosConcept collage study for a housing built into the contours of the mountains above Saguaro Lake by student Camille MedeirosConcept collage study for a housing built into the contours of the mountains above Saguaro Lake by student Camille Medeiros
Satellite aerial highlighting the various farming circles in Phoenix that could integrate housing by student Alejandra LobatoSatellite aerial highlighting the various farming circles in Phoenix that could integrate housing by student Alejandra LobatoSatellite aerial highlighting the various farming circles in Phoenix that could integrate housing by student Alejandra LobatoSatellite aerial highlighting the various farming circles in Phoenix that could integrate housing by student Alejandra Lobato
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
Plan view of a model showing a new density of housing extending and terracing into a mountain by student Camille MedeirosPlan view of a model showing a new density of housing extending and terracing into a mountain by student Camille MedeirosPlan view of a model showing a new density of housing extending and terracing into a mountain by student Camille MedeirosPlan view of a model showing a new density of housing extending and terracing into a mountain by student Camille Medeiros
Aerial perspective of a circular embedded housing and farming community with shared programs by student Alejandra LobatoAerial perspective of a circular embedded housing and farming community with shared programs by student Alejandra LobatoAerial perspective of a circular embedded housing and farming community with shared programs by student Alejandra LobatoAerial perspective of a circular embedded housing and farming community with shared programs by student Alejandra Lobato
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 of the gradual densification of the suburbs as a strategy for the future by student Christopher FernandezConcept collage of the gradual densification of the suburbs as a strategy for the future by student Christopher FernandezConcept collage of the gradual densification of the suburbs as a strategy for the future by student Christopher FernandezConcept collage of the gradual densification of the suburbs as a strategy for the future by student Christopher Fernandez
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
Unit diagram and perspective of a communal module for gathering water runoff on the mountain by student Brandon PowellUnit diagram and perspective of a communal module for gathering water runoff on the mountain by student Brandon PowellUnit diagram and perspective of a communal module for gathering water runoff on the mountain by student Brandon PowellUnit diagram and perspective of a communal module for gathering water runoff on the mountain by student Brandon Powell
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
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 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
Concept drawing of an idea for a lifted and additive urban lattice on the city, the suburbs, and farms by student Amy DickerConcept drawing of an idea for a lifted and additive urban lattice on the city, the suburbs, and farms by student Amy DickerConcept drawing of an idea for a lifted and additive urban lattice on the city, the suburbs, and farms by student Amy DickerConcept drawing of an idea for a lifted and additive urban lattice on the city, the suburbs, and farms by student Amy Dicker
Animation of a strategy to return the suburbs into native desert landscapes over time by student Amberley JohnsonAnimation of a strategy to return the suburbs into native desert landscapes over time by student Amberley JohnsonAnimation of a strategy to return the suburbs into native desert landscapes over time by student Amberley JohnsonAnimation of a strategy to return the suburbs into native desert landscapes over time by student Amberley Johnson
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
Model showing a collection of linear units open to the elements and landscape microclimate beyond by student Kyron HardyModel showing a collection of linear units open to the elements and landscape microclimate beyond by student Kyron HardyModel showing a collection of linear units open to the elements and landscape microclimate beyond by student Kyron HardyModel showing a collection of linear units open to the elements and landscape microclimate beyond by student Kyron Hardy

RELATED PROJECT IMAGES

OTHER PROJECTS

Coney Island will remain a MUTANT appendage at the farthest shore of New York City. Coney is an agglomeration of all of its histories and should continue to simultaneously move each agenda forward. Coney will continue to evolve through mutations— this vision will accelerate its hybridity.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.

OTHER RESEARCH