ADC2
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Alternative Desert Cities 2
Zhong Urban Plan

Alternative Desert Cities 2

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
Urban plan of a network of towers and connections tangled further into Phoenix's highway interchanges by student Xingyu Zhong
Urban plan of a network of towers and connections tangled further into Phoenix's highway interchanges by student Xingyu Zhong

Plans

City

Infrastructure

Infill

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
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
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
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
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
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 YELE music studio competition, underway before the earthquake, must respond now, but plan for the future of the community. Music is relief in a time of tragedy. The goal is to meet the most basic survival needs now while leaving spaces for future growth through self sustaining phases.
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.
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.
Planes, frames, and volumes are fundamentals to all assembly logics. With the proliferation of additive production methods, the possibility of volumetric prefabricated components has the potential to radically alter the way that we conceive of construction and the permanence of building parts.
Utilizing built form as a strategic carrier of culture in opposition of the status quo, the Hellinikon project links the disconnected suburban mountain communities to the east with the sea to the west while splitting the Hellinikon International Airport and Olympic Park into distinct zones.
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 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.

OTHER RESEARCH