ADC2
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Alternative Desert Cities 2
Powell Site Plan

Alternative Desert Cities 2

Site plan locating a community of housing and infrastructure into the contours of South Mountain by student Brandon PowellSite plan locating a community of housing and infrastructure into the contours of South Mountain by student Brandon PowellSite plan locating a community of housing and infrastructure into the contours of South Mountain by student Brandon PowellSite plan locating a community of housing and infrastructure into the contours of South Mountain by student Brandon Powell
Site plan locating a community of housing and infrastructure into the contours of South Mountain by student Brandon Powell
Site plan locating a community of housing and infrastructure into the contours of South Mountain by student Brandon Powell

Plans

Diagrams

Housing

Infrastructure

Landscape

Teaching

RELATED RESEARCH IMAGES

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
Isometric drawing of a node cluster linking together a new lifted urban infrastructure in Phoenix by student Amy DickerIsometric drawing of a node cluster linking together a new lifted urban infrastructure in Phoenix by student Amy DickerIsometric drawing of a node cluster linking together a new lifted urban infrastructure in Phoenix by student Amy DickerIsometric drawing of a node cluster linking together a new lifted urban infrastructure in Phoenix by student Amy Dicker
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
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
Urban plan for a micro-community of housing and services around a reservoir by student Huyen PhamUrban plan for a micro-community of housing and services around a reservoir by student Huyen PhamUrban plan for a micro-community of housing and services around a reservoir by student Huyen PhamUrban plan for a micro-community of housing and services around a reservoir by student Huyen Pham
Perspective of the exterior public spaces within a self-sustaining mountainside community by student Camille MedeirosPerspective of the exterior public spaces within a self-sustaining mountainside community by student Camille MedeirosPerspective of the exterior public spaces within a self-sustaining mountainside community by student Camille MedeirosPerspective of the exterior public spaces within a self-sustaining mountainside community by student Camille Medeiros
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
Urban massing model for a series of infill towers on the unused land around highway interchanges by student Xingyu ZhongUrban massing model for a series of infill towers on the unused land around highway interchanges by student Xingyu ZhongUrban massing model for a series of infill towers on the unused land around highway interchanges by student Xingyu ZhongUrban massing model for a series of infill towers on the unused land around highway interchanges by student Xingyu Zhong
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
Concept collage studying earthen masses that merge with Phoenix's South Mountain preserve by student Brandon PowellConcept collage studying earthen masses that merge with Phoenix's South Mountain preserve by student Brandon PowellConcept collage studying earthen masses that merge with Phoenix's South Mountain preserve by student Brandon PowellConcept collage studying earthen masses that merge with Phoenix's South Mountain preserve by student Brandon Powell
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
Axonometric diagram illustrating the variety and organization of a tower with shared farming terraces by student Zihao LiAxonometric diagram illustrating the variety and organization of a tower with shared farming terraces by student Zihao LiAxonometric diagram illustrating the variety and organization of a tower with shared farming terraces by student Zihao LiAxonometric diagram illustrating the variety and organization of a tower with shared farming terraces by student Zihao Li
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
Diagram of harnessing the natural convective currents within the microclimate of a mountain by student Kyron HardyDiagram of harnessing the natural convective currents within the microclimate of a mountain by student Kyron HardyDiagram of harnessing the natural convective currents within the microclimate of a mountain by student Kyron HardyDiagram of harnessing the natural convective currents within the microclimate of a mountain by student Kyron Hardy
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
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
Urban plan of a network of towers and connections tangled further into Phoenix's highway interchanges by student Xingyu ZhongUrban plan of a network of towers and connections tangled further into Phoenix's highway interchanges by student Xingyu ZhongUrban plan of a network of towers and connections tangled further into Phoenix's highway interchanges by student Xingyu ZhongUrban plan of a network of towers and connections tangled further into Phoenix's highway interchanges by student Xingyu Zhong
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
Initial study sketch for terraced housing units within the Salt River wash in Phoenix by student Cecile KimInitial study sketch for terraced housing units within the Salt River wash in Phoenix by student Cecile KimInitial study sketch for terraced housing units within the Salt River wash in Phoenix by student Cecile KimInitial study sketch for terraced housing units within the Salt River wash in Phoenix by student Cecile Kim
Site plan for a first community and future expansion plans on the mountains above Saguaro Lake by student Camille MedeirosSite plan for a first community and future expansion plans on the mountains above Saguaro Lake by student Camille MedeirosSite plan for a first community and future expansion plans on the mountains above Saguaro Lake by student Camille MedeirosSite plan for a first community and future expansion plans on the mountains above Saguaro Lake by student Camille Medeiros

RELATED PROJECT IMAGES

OTHER PROJECTS

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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.

OTHER RESEARCH