Browsing by Author "Ishida, Aki"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 23
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    Architecture as a Constellation of Elements
    Surty, Abdul Dayyan Abdul Wahab (Virginia Tech, 2021-07-01)
    The thesis seeks to uncover making of architecture as a constellation or cluster of elements which assemble to form spaces humans inhabit. In doing so, it explores the architecture of incompleteness, where fragmented elements combine to form a dialogue with their adjacent elements, intensifying the user's encounter with the structure. Plurality of elements is exposed by increasing their number from single to multiple in varying levels of transparency with the surroundings. The subtraction from a volume to reveal the additive quality of the structure is an effort to amplify the role of structural assembly that elevates the act of visual containment. Agglomeration of members and layers is vital to realize architecture. The programmatic aspect of this thesis manifests itself in a resort town where the proposition of three types of cabin, opposing in character, take shape. The relation of architecture with the ground is primarily observed as resting, floating and sunken. This connection is nourished by exploring the orders, rules and patterns offered by the context. It's an act of revealing and concealing clusters of members in action and assembly.
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    Architecture of the In-Between
    Cross, Carolyn Page (Virginia Tech, 2022-08-15)
    This thesis aims to codify the physical in-between condition to understand how space is perceived in moments of time. The relationship between two dimensional vision and three dimensional space is utilized to direct orientation and give spacial identity to urban outdoor conditions and the architecture that inhabits it. The site is located in Greenville, South Carolina between a single family residential neighborhood and a dense multi-use downtown condition. The land was once used for a sanatorium and then Greenville General Hospital. What remains is a large plot of land amongst small residential plots searching for a sense of identity and orientation. As the neighborhood turns to multi-family housing and commercial development draws near, there is awareness of a fleeting sense of place that will be lost if a firm foundation in historical and contextual identity is not established.
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    Beyond 9 TO 5 : Redefining the Role of Office Buildings
    Mistry, Nupur Shailesh (Virginia Tech, 2024-06-03)
    This thesis delves into the transformative potential of office buildings, which have traditionally functioned as private, employee-centric spaces. It confronts the challenge of reviving inactive urban areas by advocating for the reconfiguration of certain segments of these buildings into accessible public spaces. The research proposes an in-between typology, redefining office buildings into the community fabric while preserving essential privacy and security for business operations. By employing architectural strategies that enhance welcoming atmospheres, and helps bring in the street energy into the building. It advocates for the creation of vibrant, interactive zones where individuals can gather, socialize, and celebrate cultural and day-to-day events, facilitating access to the interesting parts of the building. This approach not only promises to elevate public engagement but also aid potential economic benefits for businesses by transforming underutilized spaces into active community hubs.
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    Birth Village
    Srinivasan, Tharun Bhalaji (Virginia Tech, 2024-06-25)
    Maternity embodies the essence of creation and continuity, holding profound significance on our planet. It signifies the genesis of life, a cycle that perpetuates through generations, shaping societies and civilizations. Beyond its biological import, maternity encompasses nurturing, compassion, and resilience, which are fundamental for individual well-being and the planet's sustainability. Maternity also fosters interconnectedness, as each child born becomes not just part of a family but a member of the larger human family, highlighting the universal bond of humanity. My thesis seeks to explore the intricate dynamics within healthcare facilities, examining the perspectives of patients and medical professionals while considering the historical backdrop of childbirth within a village setting. The primary objective of my thesis is to confront the increasing maternal mortality rates in the United States by examining the pivotal junction of healthcare infrastructure and maternal health. This entails conceptualizing a "birth village" that not only revolutionizes the childbirth journey, creating a more nurturing and therapeutic ambiance through biophilic design, but also places a strong emphasis on the comprehensive wellness of patients
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    A Bunker Garden: Mindfulness-Based Landscape Design to Restore Physicians from Burnout
    Philen, Melissa (Virginia Tech, 2017-11-03)
    Landscape architects design healing gardens at healthcare facilities to support patients, visitors, caregivers, and staff. Many acknowledge that medical staff regularly visit healing gardens to escape work-related stress (Marcus and Sachs, 2014). Rarely, however, are healing gardens on medical campuses designed specifically to support physicians' well-being. There is a void in healing garden design theory. Reports on the prevalence of physician burnout, warn of a widespread crisis and dismal reality within the medical community (T. D. Shanafelt et al., 2015). Researchers pronounce an urgent need for evidence-based interventions, which address individual contributing factors to burnout (Christina Maslach, Jackson, and Leiter, 1986). By investigating the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program, an evidence-based therapy, clinically proven to cultivate emotional healing, for physicians suffering burnout, this research reveals how a therapeutic garden could meld mindfulness-based practices with environmental theory; healing garden design precedents; and healthcare design typologies. Finally, mindfulness-based landscape design guidelines describe how a private, restorative, healing garden could help maintain physicians' well-being and rehabilitate physicians experiencing burnout due to emotional exhaustion within the workplace.
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    Elevating Small Town Streetscape
    Bhatia, Shivani (Virginia Tech, 2023-07-27)
    This thesis explores the possibility of vertically expanding the urban fabric of Blacksburg, a small town, by building multilevel streetscapes and community spaces that contribute to the town's character and identity. The vertical street could accommodate more amenities, commercial spaces, and residential units without encroaching on surrounding natural areas or sprawling into the outskirts. Through an analysis of existing urban design principles and case studies of proposed vertical cities, the research will investigate the feasibility and benefits of implementing a vertical street circulation system in a small-town context, serving as a focal point for social interactions, cultural activities, and community engagement and fostering a sense of place.
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    Encapsulated Masculine Dreams: The Cultural and Material Impermanence of the Nakagin Capsule Tower
    Ishida, Aki ("Ion Mincu" University Press, Bucharest, 2023-03-15)
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    Framing Hudson Square: A Stair Encloses a Converging Grid in the City
    Herrero, Sofia Helena (Virginia Tech, 2014-02-03)
    This thesis explores an alternate typology for a residential high rise in the Hudson Square neighborhood in Manhattan. The units that make up the building are organized with stairs and corridors placed along the interior perimeter of the unit which both bound the central floor space and expose it, creating a layered vertical circulation space around a central, permeable core. The collective organization of units within the building recapitulate their interior organization to form the building object creating a whole that is governed by the same organizational rules as the parts. The building is created as an object in the city meant to frame the duality between transparency and reflection, between lines and surfaces and ultimately between exhibition and anonymity.
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    Hózhó, A Rainbow Project for Healthy People
    Melhem, Sari (Virginia Tech, 2021-09-27)
    This thesis thrives to promote community health and wellbeing through smart design, celebrating culture(s), and offering efficacious and real-world solutions to mitigate certain challenges arising from the imminent threat of climate change and the gradual depletion of our planet's natural resources. The projected building harnesses naturel forces, minimizes energy consumption, and uses natural/passive strategies like thermal mass and natural ventilation. Interior spaces enjoy an abundance of Natural lighting, biophilic attributes, and thera-serlized or uninterrupted views. It generates electrical energy due to adequate solar power and clear skies, especially in hot and arid climates like the proposed location of the project in Tuba City, AZ. In my proposal of a sustainable, community-focused, wellness center, this project will attempt to embrace diversity, celebrate the Navajos heritage through incorporating their belief system and culture into the genius Loci of the place, which will have a long-term healing effect on patients during their journey of recovery. The Navajo nation is a native American reservation and a self-governing community located in the southwest of the US between four states (UT, AZ, NM, CO). Since it's an Underserved, marginalized, and medically under-resourced community, the Navajo Nation was prone to COVID-19 onslaught in 2020, which resulted in substantial number of cases compared to other US states.
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    Lantern Field: Exploring Participatory Design of a Communal, Spatially Responsive Installation
    Bortz, Brennon; Ishida, Aki; Bukvic, Ivica Ico; Knapp, R. Benjamin (NIME, 2013-05)
    Lantern Field is a communal, site-specific installation that takes shape as a spatially responsive audio-visual field. The public participates in the creation of the installation, resulting in shared ownership of the work between both the artists and participants. Furthermore, the installation takes new shape in each realization, both to incorporate the constraints and affordances of each specific site, as well as to address the lessons learned from the previous iteration. This paper describes the development and execution of Lantern Field over its most recent version, with an eye toward the next iteration at the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery during the 2013 National Cherry Blossom Festival inWashington, D.C.
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    Living in the moment: Approaching Mental healthcare design through adaptive reuse and sensory stimulation
    Suvarna, Rishabh Suresh (Virginia Tech, 2024-06-04)
    This thesis intends to explore the idea of transforming unused lifeless space which is surplus and old into a holistic mental healthcare space. The world has never been the same since the pandemic and one of the major trends that have been seen post-pandemic is the work from home culture, Major companies have chosen this model and not planning to turn back, this has led to the decline in use of office spaces. Most of the office buildings now are seeing a sharp decline in occupancy, this has led to question the usage of such unused workspaces. There have been projects in the recent years where such conversions have taken place such as the 1633 Broadway by SOM. The design takes an intentional approach of carving out a monolith mass which had more than 50-feet of depth strategically to create floor plates appropriate to a residential use case. This also allowed the transformed building to access natural light. Mental health can play a crucial role for the coming generations and the overall health of the city. It is time that we look for spaces which can be converted to facilities which not only provide traditional mental health clinics but also green public spaces which contribute in lowering the mental stress. To cater to mental healthcare on a larger scale it important to have access to green spaces, a space where a person can go and have lunch, a space where a person can enjoy their walks or just take a break. Even though New York has green spaces such as Central Park, Bryant Park, Washington Square park, high line and much more it is not enough for the everyday local to access them based on their location of work and stay. New York has a couple of mini parks sprinkled across the city such as Paley Park, Green-acre Park. These parks are a breath of fresh air for people living nearby as they have their own private space in this chaotic city. Being mindful of such strategies can prove useful while designing the building for mental health care not just for the people using the building but also for the people of New York living in and around the building. Some neighborhoods in Manhattan have ample of green spaces as well as spaces where they have good views from their apartments while some neighborhoods lack access to such spaces. In order to be efficient and right in choosing the site, it is important to map such factors which will guide the site selection process. It has been observed that more expensive neighborhoods such as Hudson Yards, Tribe-ca, So-Ho already do have access to green spaces and places which contribute to mental well being of a person. People staying near the Central park have access to such a large green space and hence those areas were not considered while selecting the site. The intervention makes more sense if it happens on a site which falls on the areas which are deserted of green spaces. Hence, Midtown-West was looked at after studying various neighborhoods in and around Manhattan. The design follows an adaptive reuse approach where the heritage building is sensitvely altered to create spaces which contribute towards the program of the building. Voids are carefully sculpted out of the existing facade while keeping the essence of the building intact.The proposed design intends to make the visitor aware about themselves through architectural features that engage the five human senses. Variations and randomness found in nature is also mimicked in the space which generates curiosity for the person experiencing the same. The orderly and monotonous spaces are avoided by adding natural features and elements such as plants and shrubs. Uses of natural materials such as wood and stone create a sense of warmth and do contribute in create an atmosphere where a person can connect with themselves. Natural light is invited into the space through large openings and cut outs in the slab. The proposed structure is set in from the primary façade to create an in-between space which acts like a buffer space between the external world and the structure. The façade acts like a horizon which a person can use to orient themselves with respect to the building. All these design gestures contribute towards a person's mental awareness and thus making a person to be in the moment. Being aware of the impact that built spaces can have over a person's mental health, the design takes an approach which focuses on how a person feels in a space. The architecture and the user do have a conversation through light, materials, wind and sound to achieve a space which positively impacts a person's mental health.
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    Monumentality of Serenity and Dynamism
    Lai, Qianru (Virginia Tech, 2020-11-30)
    Monumentality derives from the eternal need of people to own symbols to reveal their inner life and social conceptions. I want to design a building to represent Modern Monumentality. This project came from the idea of " Serenity and Dynamism", which came from the famous wood-print " The Great Wave off Kanagawa". Mont Fuji is the symbol of Japan, a sacrid object of worship, and holding a place in Japanese beliefs. Mont Fuji gave the direction in my thesis. This project can wake up memories in local residents' deep minds. Architecture can be a bridge to make a connection between the past and the future. It's not only the memory, but also a sense of identity.
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    Natural Light Transition Through A Healthcare Setting
    Al Hourani, Ehab Faisal (Virginia Tech, 2021-09-20)
    Healthcare workers' overall performance and patients' well-being are crucial to wellness design and the overall productivity of the working environment. The purpose of this thesis is to narrate how natural light - a key aspect of biophilic design - can give great health outcomes and enhance the placemaking of a healthcare setting. Hence, this dissertation attempts to deal with placemaking and formation as an inside-outside dialogue that connects users to nature by implementing the idea of transitioning natural light through space and structure. In doing so, lighting explorations were conducted as series of physical models and case studies to help understand and analyze various effects of light at different times of the day. These explorations narrate a story about the journey of the medical worker and the patient throughout the setting of the apertures, walls, path, and canopy. Also, in response to the topography, a south-facing aperture wants to be framed, while a north-facing aperture can be an open wall, a smooth polished continuous wall and path can act as a canvas when the filtered light falls on it, while rough fragmented walls rise from earth acting as structural walls, and a cluster of trees can act as a natural canopy to provide shelter from the sun, while a steel canopy can shelter other areas from the rain or sun.
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    OPEN (at the) SOURCE: Luminescent Forest and Cloud
    Knapp, Benjamin; Zacharias, Kari (Virginia Tech. Moss Arts Center, 2015-04-23)
    Two interactive explorations of light created by four ICAT faculty fellows that transcend discipline boundaries to inspire new kinds of experiences. These ideas of communication and revealing are wonderful emergent properties created through the integral coupling of aesthetic and technological innovation at the nexus of science, engineering, art, and design.
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    Optic Revelation
    Dize, Nicholas Paul (Virginia Tech, 2024-06-03)
    The thesis explores the utilization of light as a medium. How does light affect human experience? The revelations produced in this thesis showcase the beauty of seemingly mundane daily occurrences. Architects are the stewards of the built environment. Design application in a building directly contributes to daily human experience. Why can't standardized design application include the mastery of light? The design objective in this thesis is to manipulate light by creating spaces that enrich the viewer's comprehension of these experiences. The development of each space relies on experimentation, solar geometry, form, and materiality to achieve each revelation. Each exhibition is designed to be an immersive experience where the presence of an individual allows the space to be revealed. In some of the experiments light uses the individual as the medium, while the other experiment's revelations are presented to the individual. While exploring the collection of spaces, each individual will encounter topics of sight, movement, and sky.
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    Out of context: Spatializing culture in a pluralistic reality
    Suthar, Mansi Dharmendrakumar (Virginia Tech, 2023-07-27)
    This thesis explores the relationship between architecture, cultural identity, and context in a pluralistic reality, focusing on the context of Indian temple complexes in the American suburb of Jersey City. It argues that Architecture becomes alienating when its form and function do not reflect the culture of its occupants, resulting in inflexible and un-adaptable spaces. Traditional temple complexes in India serve as examples where space is activated daily, expressing authentic cultural symbols that emerge from the community's experiences and demand for expression. However, With the increasing prevalence of Indian culture in American cities, insular temples so thoroughly commit to traditional authenticity to such an extent that they lose the ability to self define and relate to their surrounding context. By analyzing customs and traditions, this thesis emphasizes on the importance to reinterpret and incorporate them into contemporary architectural terms, rather than merely adapting traditional forms, The project proposes a contemporary design intervention for the Indian community in Jersey City's India Square, aiming to provide a space that represents their cultural identity while engaging with the broader American narrative. By studying the principles of a temple in a secular way and integrating elements that represent the Indian community, the design seeks to create an immersive experience for visitors and foster a stronger sense of community and connection to the built environment. Through an exploration of architectural design processes, historical context, and community engagement, the thesis aims to demonstrate how architecture can respect existing conditions, relate to current needs, and provide opportunities for expansion and adaptive reuse. Through the integration of archetypal experiences and rituals related to the site's festive celebrations, it creates a dialogue with the surrounding socio-cultural context that also promotes collaboration and inclusivity.
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    The Pause: Re-Thinking Housing Through a Lens of Social Isolation and Loneliness
    Lodha, Bhavika (Virginia Tech, 2024-06-10)
    My thesis explores the profound impact of contemporary residential architecture on social interaction and a sense of belonging among dwellers. Based on personal experiences in the United States, a critical examination reveals a prevailing trend towards isolation within modern living spaces, fostering disconnection and loneliness. As an architect, I have tried to investigate the spatial and architectural barriers that hinder social cohesion, emphasizing the vital role of "pauses" in facilitating human interaction and community engagement within built environments. Drawing inspiration from historical precedents and vibrant urban settings like the North End in Boston and plazas in Paris, this study advocates for a transformative approach to residential design. By integrating elements reminiscent of lively streets into vertical housing projects, the aim is to create opportunities for spontaneous human interactions. The research delves into specific examples, such as the Foxridge apartments in Blacksburg, to identify and address architectural deficiencies that inhibit verbal and non-verbal communication. Through innovative design interventions and strategic placement of communal spaces, my thesis proposes a paradigm shift towards architecture that fosters community bonds and enriches daily life experiences. It underscores the inherent potential of architecture to bridge societal divides and counterbalance the pervasive trend towards digital engagement, promoting holistic well-being through meaningful human connections. Ultimately, my thesis advocates for a human-centric architectural ethos, envisioning spaces that not only accommodate but actively cultivate a sense of belonging and social connectivity.
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    A Place of Pause, Architecture that can De-Stress
    Shenoy, Rachana Ganesh (Virginia Tech, 2023-07-27)
    This thesis explores the connection between Architecture and mental- health. This fast-paced world has led to people dealing with large amounts of stress. There comes a time when one needs to be distracted from their day-to-day tasks that affect their mental health. This thesis not only looks at how to divert individuals/ capture their attention for an extended period but also at providing comfort and a place where one can rest. The project also deals with human perception- When an architectural project heightens a user's visual, auditory, tactile, or olfactory senses, the user is more present in the space. The brain tries to interpret the images, smells, or sounds being heard. Hence, Focusing on an experiential journey/ submersive experience that plays with one's senses becomes crucial. Explorations are a large part of the thesis, after which decisions have been made to design the pavilion and the screens. There was only one question in mind "How can I design a place that allows people to De-stress?
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    Re_Imaged: Reimaging architecture through artificially intelligent generated images
    Gajjar, Charmi Praful (Virginia Tech, 2023-07-27)
    Artificial Intelligence is a machine learning technique that exists everywhere in our day-to-day life. From a simple Google search that provides answers to any questions, to autocorrect suggestions provided while writing emails, we encounter AI in every next phase of our life. Humans have developed an invisible trust in AI that remains unrecognized. Artificial intelligence (AI) development in architecture has been a protracted and intriguing process. Recent advances in text-to-image generating software powered by AI have proven to be an efficient tool for architects to visualize their designs with a different perspective and enhance the thinking process. However, the lack of the tool's ability to capture the designer's integrity has shown the requirement for human involvement. This thesis claims that human decision-making skills remain crucial despite AI-augmented design's benefits. By conducting a comparative analysis between human-developed architecture and AI-augmented designs through the process of AI text-to-image generating tool Stable Diffusion, the thesis argues that human brain involvement is necessary due to the lack of Stable Diffusion's ability to understand architectural drawings and elements, the ability to representing architectural depth through spaces and emotions, and its inadequate learning from the past design experiences.
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    Reimagining medical workspaces through on-site observations and bodystorming
    Ishida, Aki; Martin, Thomas; Gracanin, Denis; Franusich, David; Buck, Carl; Parker, Sarah H.; Knapp, R. Benjamin; Haley, Vince; Zagarese, Vivian; Tasooji, Reza (2023-01)
    Clinicians in acute care hospitals experience highly stressful situations daily. They work long, variable hours, complete complex technical tasks, and must also be emotionally engaged with patients and families to meet the caring demands of this profession, which can lead to burnout. In response to these challenges, a multi-disciplinary team from Virginia Tech collaborated with Steelcase to study the impact of medical workspaces on the clinician experience and how those workspaces could be improved to reduce some of the sources of burnout. The team sought to identify conditions that could either aid or hinder clinician workflow and affect burnout rate, then based on interviews and in-situ ethnographic studies, generated design concepts for nurse stations, both centralized and mobile. Using digital and physical full-scale prototypes, we enacted clinical care scenarios to seek feedback and reflect on the design.