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Alternative Desert Cities 1
Phoenix 2070

Alternative Desert Cities 1

The studio was tasked with proposing housing for 5,000 people anywhere within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area (The Valley of the Sun/Salt River Valley/Metro Phoenix). Students defined this demand on their own terms and through narratives that they  individually created and developed each throughout the semester. While the housing requirement was the only explicit programmatic concern, ancillary programs in support of the housing (office, industry, transport, farming, entertainment, sport, education, etc) were up to the discretion of each student in accordance to their specific project scopes.

Though the task operated at a range of scales that differed from student to student, the inherently diverse and flexible tools and methods of architecture were utilized to best demonstrate the unique qualities in each project. Both conceptual and detailed drawings/models were coordinated across the studio to illustrate a comprehensive and comparative collection of 16 unique conceptual desert cities.

PROGRAM: 4th Year Undergraduate Studio

UNIVERSITY: Arizona State University

YEAR:
2017
News:
ReDesign.School Interview

The Future of the City

City

Housing

Infrastructure

Studies

Teaching

Model of a pair of housing bars built above the lightrail lines that run through Phoenix by student Lexie SanchezModel of a pair of housing bars built above the lightrail lines that run through Phoenix by student Lexie SanchezModel of a pair of housing bars built above the lightrail lines that run through Phoenix by student Lexie SanchezModel of a pair of housing bars built above the lightrail lines that run through Phoenix by student Lexie Sanchez

Linear housing bars extruded along lightrail infrastructure to create a charged urban interior zone in Downtown Phoenix.

Model of a pair of housing bars built above the lightrail lines that run through Phoenix by student Lexie Sanchez
Model of a pair of housing bars built above the lightrail lines that run through Phoenix by student Lexie Sanchez

RESEARCH IMAGES

Section drawing of a new housing typology that combines a vertical tower and a horizontal slab by student Yuchen ZhaoSection drawing of a new housing typology that combines a vertical tower and a horizontal slab by student Yuchen ZhaoSection drawing of a new housing typology that combines a vertical tower and a horizontal slab by student Yuchen Zhao
Isometric drawing of a concept for a self-constructed cellular city cluster by student Andrew SynacekIsometric drawing of a concept for a self-constructed cellular city cluster by student Andrew SynacekIsometric drawing of a concept for a self-constructed cellular city cluster by student Andrew Synacek
Aerial site perspective of urban masses that collect and harvest water along the canal by student Isabelle BorieAerial site perspective of urban masses that collect and harvest water along the canal by student Isabelle BorieAerial site perspective of urban masses that collect and harvest water along the canal by student Isabelle Borie
Urban plan illustrating various stacked housing canopies attached to towers above Phoenix by student Yuchen ZhaoUrban plan illustrating various stacked housing canopies attached to towers above Phoenix by student Yuchen ZhaoUrban plan illustrating various stacked housing canopies attached to towers above Phoenix by student Yuchen Zhao
Large urban aggregation of informal housing structures proposed by student Brittany ClevelandLarge urban aggregation of informal housing structures proposed by student Brittany ClevelandLarge urban aggregation of informal housing structures proposed by student Brittany Cleveland
Model of a proposal to combine the highway, housing, and parks as a new urban infrastructure by student Genevieve MillerModel of a proposal to combine the highway, housing, and parks as a new urban infrastructure by student Genevieve MillerModel of a proposal to combine the highway, housing, and parks as a new urban infrastructure by student Genevieve Miller
Long section of mountain housing that cuts across Camelback Mountain in Phoenix by student Lindsey GriffithLong section of mountain housing that cuts across Camelback Mountain in Phoenix by student Lindsey GriffithLong section of mountain housing that cuts across Camelback Mountain in Phoenix by student Lindsey Griffith
Concept section of a city of infill that grows organically throughout the voids of Phoenix by student Andrew SynacekConcept section of a city of infill that grows organically throughout the voids of Phoenix by student Andrew SynacekConcept section of a city of infill that grows organically throughout the voids of Phoenix by student Andrew Synacek
Section drawing of multiple housing blocks built above Phoenix's highway infrastructure by student Genevieve MillerSection drawing of multiple housing blocks built above Phoenix's highway infrastructure by student Genevieve MillerSection drawing of multiple housing blocks built above Phoenix's highway infrastructure by student Genevieve Miller
Plans of various levels of public spaces within a linear housing infrastructure by student Rikkie PedregonPlans of various levels of public spaces within a linear housing infrastructure by student Rikkie PedregonPlans of various levels of public spaces within a linear housing infrastructure by student Rikkie Pedregon
Perspective looking out to the exterior view within a typical urban unit by student Monique PaulisPerspective looking out to the exterior view within a typical urban unit by student Monique PaulisPerspective looking out to the exterior view within a typical urban unit by student Monique Paulis
Site plan illustrating a lifted urban mass set above the landscape with voids by student Evan EppersonSite plan illustrating a lifted urban mass set above the landscape with voids by student Evan EppersonSite plan illustrating a lifted urban mass set above the landscape with voids by student Evan Epperson
Model of a collection of self generated housing masses along the unused areas around the airport by student Nika PniakModel of a collection of self generated housing masses along the unused areas around the airport by student Nika PniakModel of a collection of self generated housing masses along the unused areas around the airport by student Nika Pniak
Site plan for a new community of stepped housing units along the canal by student Isabelle BorieSite plan for a new community of stepped housing units along the canal by student Isabelle BorieSite plan for a new community of stepped housing units along the canal by student Isabelle Borie
Perspective of mountain dwellings merging into Camelback Mountain as a new form of living by student Lindsey GriffithPerspective of mountain dwellings merging into Camelback Mountain as a new form of living by student Lindsey GriffithPerspective of mountain dwellings merging into Camelback Mountain as a new form of living by student Lindsey Griffith
Model of a new housing infrastructure that moves through the unused areas of the suburbs by student Rikkie PedregonModel of a new housing infrastructure that moves through the unused areas of the suburbs by student Rikkie PedregonModel of a new housing infrastructure that moves through the unused areas of the suburbs by student Rikkie Pedregon
Combination of plan drawings of linear housing that steps over Camelback Mountain by student Lindsey GriffithCombination of plan drawings of linear housing that steps over Camelback Mountain by student Lindsey GriffithCombination of plan drawings of linear housing that steps over Camelback Mountain by student Lindsey Griffith
Massing perspective of a proposal for a self-sustaining community set in the desert landscape by student Monique PaulisMassing perspective of a proposal for a self-sustaining community set in the desert landscape by student Monique PaulisMassing perspective of a proposal for a self-sustaining community set in the desert landscape by student Monique Paulis
Concept diagram of a skinny desert housing typology that infills and shades downtown Phoenix by student Yuchen ZhaoConcept diagram of a skinny desert housing typology that infills and shades downtown Phoenix by student Yuchen ZhaoConcept diagram of a skinny desert housing typology that infills and shades downtown Phoenix by student Yuchen Zhao
City plan to use housing bars to define and connect the edges of Phoenix with infrastructure by student Nadya LakaevaCity plan to use housing bars to define and connect the edges of Phoenix with infrastructure by student Nadya LakaevaCity plan to use housing bars to define and connect the edges of Phoenix with infrastructure by student Nadya Lakaeva
Urban plan illustrating a new lifted infrastructure above the highway interchange by student Genevieve MillerUrban plan illustrating a new lifted infrastructure above the highway interchange by student Genevieve MillerUrban plan illustrating a new lifted infrastructure above the highway interchange by student Genevieve Miller
Urban section proposing a stepping mass that embeds itself into and on top of the warehouse district by student Israel LozoyaUrban section proposing a stepping mass that embeds itself into and on top of the warehouse district by student Israel LozoyaUrban section proposing a stepping mass that embeds itself into and on top of the warehouse district by student Israel Lozoya
Perspective of desert housing masses camouflaged as mountains by student Claire HinchmanPerspective of desert housing masses camouflaged as mountains by student Claire HinchmanPerspective of desert housing masses camouflaged as mountains by student Claire Hinchman
Massing model illustrating a form of housing block that is lifted above the desert by student Monique PaulisMassing model illustrating a form of housing block that is lifted above the desert by student Monique PaulisMassing model illustrating a form of housing block that is lifted above the desert by student Monique Paulis
Urban section of a linear massing that moves between the existing suburbs of Phoenix by student Rikkie PedregonUrban section of a linear massing that moves between the existing suburbs of Phoenix by student Rikkie PedregonUrban section of a linear massing that moves between the existing suburbs of Phoenix by student Rikkie Pedregon
Exploded axon diagram of a concept proposal to develop housing about the highway interchange by student Genevieve MillerExploded axon diagram of a concept proposal to develop housing about the highway interchange by student Genevieve MillerExploded axon diagram of a concept proposal to develop housing about the highway interchange by student Genevieve Miller
Concept animation for channeling the forms of the desert into a new community by student Claire HinchmanConcept animation for channeling the forms of the desert into a new community by student Claire HinchmanConcept animation for channeling the forms of the desert into a new community by student Claire Hinchman
Street perspective of an urban mass that steps over the existing warehouse in Phoenix by student Israel LozoyaStreet perspective of an urban mass that steps over the existing warehouse in Phoenix by student Israel LozoyaStreet perspective of an urban mass that steps over the existing warehouse in Phoenix by student Israel Lozoya

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