Natural disasters have been increasing in occurrence in recent years. Indiscriminately landing upon cities throughout the globe, they often far exceed a community’s capacity to respond.

How can architecture address and serve as a link between the past and the future in a community in the aftermath of a large-scale disaster? How can it aid in keeping memories of destruction while also enabling and serving as a catalyst for the community to move forward towards a sustainable regeneration?To address these questions, a space for people to remember, to share experiences, and to celebrate life, is explored.This project softens the edge of the large 12.5 meter tsunami wall proposed in the small city of Rikuzentakata devastated by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Through the varying scales and program of spaces, the project allows visitors to learn about the city and the tsunami event, and the local community to come together to build connections and begin to rebuild and create a sustainable city.

The Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts in Vancouver connect various environments within its proximity including the highly contrasting neighborhoods, many of the city’s athletic facilities, and the multiple nodes of transportation passing through the site.

Addressing these unique characteristics of the viaducts, what is proposed is repurposing of the viaducts for the function of a year-round outdoor swimming facility: the Aqua-nect. It’s location offers swimmers a new experience of the city, currently only accessible by vehicles.

Swimming necessitates the act of “disrobing”, symbolizing an act of disarmament. Thus, this is a space where contrasting demographics can convene with anonymity. No matter the origins of the swimmers, they regard each other as equal in their bareness.

(in collaboration with Stephanie Au)

Located in the heart of Hollywood, this site sits at the meeting point of a glamorous tourist-driven Hollywood Boulevard and a smaller scale lower income residential neighborhood. This library accommodates these two demographics and introduces the community as an integral part of the site. Visitors are drawn from the glamorous side of Hollywood Boulevard, up through the building and book stacks via ramps, with views down into the lower level programmed with community focused amenities. An additional entrance at the lower level is oriented towards the community, passing through a large community garden.

Theoretically, a continuous elevation line runs through the topography of Tokyo. Focusing on the Shibuya watershed, this site is located in the town of Ebisu along this line.

This project is an exploration of the future city and how it can be informed by natural flows. Creating a network of branch-like buildings, the building complex reaches to the sky for sun and wind, and creates permeable land to increase green space in the densely populated city of Tokyo. A bike path runs through, under and above the buildings inviting the public to enjoy an interactive public roof-scape.

The simple shelter provides a small level of privacy for spontaneous use by passerby. The shelter has a sculptural quality and although light in weight, provides flexibility in use, inviting one to investigate its form. Using bamboo, string, and cloth, this exercise considers the inert properties of each material.

Located in Seattle's Discovery Park.

Through the process of paper making, pulp is separated from water and is dried to become the delicate end product of paper.

This building designed for five artisan paper makers is comprised of a wet shop, dry shop, gallery, archive space, office, and small studios for each artist. The building structure mimics the paper making process, beginning with the heavy stereometric wet shop and slightly raised dry shop at the lower level, and the other programs comprised of lighter tectonics above.

This modest shelter is to be used as a place of retreat and gathering for an outdoor education program in Seattle's Cleveland Memorial Forest. Utilizing a simple by-pass system and considering the structural capabilities of the material, this building is situated near a path to welcome students and provide adequate shelter and social space. A bench and floor protrude from the structure, reaching out and serving as a welcoming gesture into the shelter.