Browsing by Author "Borunda Monsivais, Luis Ricardo"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Chronicle of confinement: A tale of Dystopian Chains and Utopian dreams
    AlHajj, Rayane M. (Virginia Tech, 2024-06-11)
    This architectural thesis reimagines the design of prisons, proposing a new typology that helps with a more beneficial transition for prisoners back into society. By drawing insights from documentaries, movies, interviews, and existing prison models, the thesis envisions a utopian prison environment centered on rehabilitation and social reintegration. This approach challenges the conventional punitive model and aims to address the pressing issues of high recidivism rates and the marginalization of ex-offenders. The proposed prison design integrates structured psychological treatments, meaningful social interactions, and opportunities for skill development and personal growth. These elements create a dual reality for prisoners, juxtaposing the harsh physical conditions of confinement with a supportive psychological environment that encourages inner resilience and hope. This thesis explores the architectural symbolism embedded in both dystopian and utopian prison designs, reflecting societal values of control, oppression, freedom, and rehabilitation. By emphasizing the power of hope and imagination, this thesis provides a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between physical confinement, mental resilience, and societal ideologies. It aims to shed light on the human capacity to maintain agency, identity, and purpose even in oppressive environments, contributing to broader discussions on justice, rehabilitation, and societal change.
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    Ecological Knowledge Center, Amazon
    Jami, Raj Kumar (Virginia Tech, 2024-06-03)
    This thesis examines the relationship between the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) of Amazonian communities and their sustainable indigenous architecture. Over centuries, these communities have profoundly influenced the Amazon rainforests through their distinctive lifestyles, cultural practices, and ancestral knowledge. My research delves into their nomadic traditions, cultural significance, farming techniques, and understanding of life cycles. By exploring these elements and advocating for the restoration of their traditional ways of living, we can foster forest regrowth and biodiversity, ultimately enhancing the health and purpose of our forested areas. This study seeks to identify commonalities among different communities and understand how their ecological knowledge can aid the modern world in addressing deforestation and maintaining ecological balance. By integrating this traditional wisdom with contemporary practices, we can develop strategies to combat environmental degradation and support sustainable development. The insights gained from this research can contribute to more effective conservation efforts and promote a deeper appreciation of the invaluable role that indigenous knowledge plays in preserving our natural environment.
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    Habitat on Mars
    Hadkar, Aditi Anil (Virginia Tech, 2024-05-31)
    The information contained in this thesis explores ways to develop a habitat for human settlement on Mars. Currently, most designs for living on Mars focus primarily on survival and emphasize the technological aspects necessary for sustaining life. However, there is a lack of holistic consideration for what life on Mars would entail beyond mere survival. These existing designs are understandably geared towards astronauts who will spend only a few months on Mars. In contrast, this project is dedicated to envisioning the future of Mars settlement, aiming to support astronauts who intend to permanently live and establish communities on Mars, ultimately transforming them into Martians. The project adopts a human-centric approach by integrating biophilic design principles to enhance the well-being of future Martian inhabitants. It seeks to address potential psychological challenges that settlers on Mars may encounter, offering innovative solutions rooted in biophilia. This approach aims to create environments that foster connection with nature, promote mental health, and support overall quality of life for individuals living on Mars. Humans have evolved over millions of years to thrive on Earth, and many of our primal instincts are deeply rooted in our hunter-gatherer ancestry. Transitioning humans to live on another planet would uproot them from their natural environment, potentially depriving them of these primal instincts and causing psychological challenges. (Szocik, n.d.) This project aims to address these issues through architectural solutions. By designing habitats that consider and accommodate our innate instincts and connections to nature, we can mitigate the psychological impacts of living on a different planet. The goal is to create environments on Mars that resonate with our evolutionary heritage, fostering psychological well-being and adaptation in extra-terrestrial settlements.
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    In Pursuit of Reconciliation: A Dialogue of Form and Facade
    Carr, Makila J. (Virginia Tech, 2023-07-27)
    The built environment has largely separated itself from the natural one, making demands of nature, and requiring the natural environment to exist on its terms. This prevailing condition has led to the detriment of the natural environment and consequently, those who must inhabit both. Because of this, a shift from the domination of the natural environment to reconciliation with it is necessary. Serving as an intermediary between these two worlds, architecture has the potential to blur the boundaries once created by the built environment in the pursuit of reconciliation. Architecture can learn from the natural environment and take that which has been poorly adapted to aim for a more synchronous future. Shaping culture and perspective, architecture can serve as a signal to humanity that this reconciliation is worth pursuing. This thesis explores the dialogue between form and facade to comment on architecture's flawed yet hopeful path as it seeks a more sustainable relationship with nature.
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    the Next Library
    Daitha, Maithreyi (Virginia Tech, 2023-07-24)
    In a world where knowledge is the driving force behind human progress, it becomes imperative to understand the intricate dynamics of its creation, preservation, and distribution. This architectural thesis delves into the essence of knowledge and aims to unravel the profound meaning behind these fundamental aspects. By examining the Great Library of Alexandria as a symbol of a global knowledge and fragility, we embark on a transformative journey. The thesis investigates the nature of knowledge itself, posing essential questions about its essence and significance. What does knowledge truly represent, and how do we acknowledge its value in our lives? Through a comprehensive exploration, we aim to comprehend the creation of knowledge and its transformative potential in various domains. Furthermore, the Great Library of Alexandria stands as a compelling symbol of fragility, emphasizing the delicate nature of the artifacts we create. This iconic institution serves as a poignant reminder of the impermanence that surrounds human achievements. By studying the library's historical significance, architectural intricacies, and its ultimate demise, we gain profound insights into the precarious nature of preserving knowledge. By embarking on this journey, we seek to understand not only the importance of preserving knowledge but also the means to achieve effective preservation. Ultimately, this research aims to use AI text to image tools (midjourney) and traditional architectural inquiry methods to deepen our appreciation for the vast wealth of knowledge we have generated and highlight the responsibility we bear in safeguarding and sharing it. By understanding the fragility of knowledge, we can foster a collective consciousness that recognizes the transformative power of knowledge.
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    Skyward Serenity
    Pednekar, Prathamesh Sunil (Virginia Tech, 2024-05-31)
    This thesis explores the challenges of urban sprawl and land scarcity, focusing on Mumbai, a city constrained by geographical boundaries and marked by high population density. With Mumbai encircled by the sea on three sides, opportunities for horizontal expansion are severely limited, prompting the exploration of vertical development as a sustainable and innovative solution. This research proposes a vertical urban model that stacks traditional city sectors—residential, commercial, and recreational—within a compact vertical space. The aim is to house a growing population efficiently, while freeing ground-level areas for vital green spaces such as farms and public parks, especially targeting the eastern coast of Mumbai, the city's last undeveloped frontier. A central element of the thesis is the design approach, which counters the typical social isolation found in high-rise living. Drawing inspiration from the communal dynamics of Mumbai's traditional chawls, the proposed architectural model merges communal living areas with private spaces to foster both community interaction and individual privacy. This hybrid design approach is thoroughly developed through an analysis of chawl lifestyles, adapting their community-enriching aspects to suit the demands of modern urban living in vertical structures. By investigating the feasibility and benefits of vertical integration through detailed architectural designs and urban planning frameworks, this study not only addresses Mumbai's physical constraints but also prioritizes the psychological and social well-being of its inhabitants. The outcome is a holistic urban development model that not only enhances urban life quality but also provides a template for other densely populated cities facing similar challenges. This thesis sets a precedent for future urban planning endeavors, promoting a balanced, sustainable approach to city development that can be adapted globally.
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    SMARTGUIDE: Revolutionizing the Depth and Dependability of Vision-Impaired Navigation
    Gandham, Rishith (Virginia Tech, 2025-01-03)
    Globally, over 2.2 billion people face vision impairment, necessitating innovative solutions for safe, independent navigation. Traditional aids like canes, guide dogs, and GPS offer basic support but lack the sophistication to provide contextual understanding, precise navigation, or real-time hazard alerts. This project presents SmartGuide, a mobile app designed to enhance the independence of visually impaired users through AI-driven features. SmartGuide offers three main functions: (1) Smart Vision, using the GPT-4 Vision API to deliver spoken feedback about surroundings; (2) Navigation, combining QR code detection via YOLO with ZoeDepth for depth estimation, guiding users to destinations through the shortest path calculated by Dijkstra's algorithm; and (3) Obstacle Detection and Alerts, where YOLO identifies obstacles, and ZoeDepth estimates their distance to inform users of potential hazards. By adapting its responses based on user feedback, SmartGuide provides personalized, reliable guidance that empowers visually impaired individuals to navigate with confidence and safety, advancing the field of accessible technology.