Undertaking a work of architecture utilizing modular construction is, in most cases, a design project dominated, or at least driven by, the most technical aspects of architecture. Technical aspects which haven't been completely figured out yet. Rather than making the decision to use a pre-determined structural system in the project before going through the design process, my thesis offers an example of how a more traditional and balanced approach can improve resulting buildings. In addition, rather than allowing the technology of the module to create the form of the building, show how a thorough study of program and form can influence the structure, even in an endeavor which usually requires such hard-nosed engineering. / Master of Architecture

The project is a mixed-use building based on three main Situationist themes: 1. The creations of situations - creating a foundation for the spontaneous interaction between users of a building and people randomly passing by. 2. The Labyrinth - a playful structure that is not necessarily rational and leaves scope for new discoveries that are not evident when you enter the building. 3. Unitary Urbanism - avoiding the sharp distinctions between workplace, residential housing and leisure, the building aims to integrate all aspects of human endeavor. The building should reflect all aspects of the city, hence being a condensed image of the city. The building contains shops, cafes, restaurants, apartments and movie theatres. The building is open and invites the users to explore. / Master of Architecture

As the cities grow, our lives get busier and we live further away from our families than we ever have before, have we thought about what life is like for our parents and grandparents at home? Can architecture help improve the mental and physical health of the occupiers? Design like a problem solver does not only mean solving pre-existed problems, but also thinking preemptively. Although technology can solve part of the problem, if we explore the role of design in our society and know how to apply good architecture to promote connection between generations, we can help elders feel active. We can even help prevent depression amongst seniors. In the near future, the population 65 or older will continue being the majority of the entire demography. And inclusive living will be an inseparable part of every future design project. Biophilic design would contribute to part of the solution as well. The elderly have lots to offer that the younger generations would need: experience, education, wisdom and most importantly, freetime; we can't leave all these resources aside. By encouraging interactions between different age groups, our children could benefit from all of this in one way or another that is going to be useful for their learning, and elders would feel they can also create value in the society. This thesis originates from a simple desire to make a safe and fun environment for my grandparents to spend their time in. And to make people be aware of their surrounding physical and also the psychological world. This design is site-specific, where the nearby park/trails and existing neighboring buildings become an integral part of the work. The beauty of the natural world always strikes me, thereby I try to work in response to that beauty. Protect the wetland park nearby and use it as an educational resource for people who come across my project. But whether socially or aesthetically based, in this work I seek to create a strong bond with the residents and visitors, to allow a place of lively interactions. I think architecture is not just physical walls and roofs enclosing a space, but a passage, a journey, a reflection of time. / Master of Architecture / As the cities grow, our lives get busier and we live further away from our families than we ever have before, have we thought about what life is like for our parents and grandparents at home? Although technology can solve part of the problem, if we explore the role of design in our society and know how to apply good architecture to promote connection between generations, we can help seniors feel active. We can even help prevent depression amongst them. The seniors have lots to offer that the younger generations would need: experience, education, wisdom and most importantly, freetime; we can't leave all these aside. By encouraging interactions between the two age groups, our children could benefit from all of this in one way or another that is going to be useful for their learning, and elders would feel they can also create value in the society. This thesis originates from a simple desire to make a safe and fun environment for my grandparents to spend their time in. And to make people be aware of their surrounding physical and also the psychological world. This design is site-specific, where the nearby park and existing neighboring buildings becomes an integral part of the work. The beauty of the natural world always strikes me, thereby I try to work in response to that beauty. Protect the wetland park nearby and use it as an educational resource for people who come across my project. But whether socially or aesthetically based, in this work I seek to create a strong bond with the residents and visitors, to allow a place of lively interactions. I think architecture is not just physical walls and roofs enclosing a space, but a passage, a journey, a reflection of time.

I believe that there are certain forces, I call them rhythms, which exist in the urban environment. They are rhythms because they are both physically and perceptually dynamic. These rhythms shape the city, and give character to the different neighborhoods in the city. They help organize the sites in those neighborhoods; they influence the designs of the buildings on those sites, the rooms within the buildings and even the buildings' smallest details. Rhythms are found at every scale of design. They exist regardless of language or articulation of the Architecture. They are independent of style or ornament. They are clues for the architect to discover and act upon. They can be anything from actual physical elements, to fleeting emotional ones. They allow projects to be tied intimately to the environment around them. They give the city its fabric. These rhythms are in a constant and dynamic evolution, yet they help produce and enhance something seemingly static - the sense of place, because they are already an intimate part of the place. I believe that architects have the opportunity to capture these rhythms, to manipulate them, and to use them in the creation of places which energize the user's experience. In fact, architects have the responsibility to do so in exchange for the privilege of impacting the development of the city. This project is an exploration of design with these rhythms. / Master of Architecture

We live in a society dominated by time. It plays a part in nearly everything we do. Time tells us when to wake up, when to eat, when to be at work, when its time to sleep, and so on. Just as people are controlled by time, so are the buildings we use. Th ese buildings oft en times are very narrowly used. As a result, portions of our cities are full of activity during certain times of the day, while at other times become deserted. What happens to the building when it is not being used? Does the building go to sleep? Do buildings need to sleep? Is it possible to design a mixed-use building in our nations capitol that never sleeps? Th ese are just a few of the questions that began this journey to design 24 hours building and the cyclical nature of the people that inhabit them. / Master of Architecture

As transportation systems, telecommunications, and methods of working and living evolve, it becomes clear that a centralized urban area is no longer necessary; a web of interconnected centers is the more likely result. This dissolution of urban density is occuring at a variety of scales, from the largest metro areas to smaller towns. Major "edge cities" have tended to develop at crossroads where radiating urban avenues intersect with concentric beltways. In our towns, smaller-scale edge cities occur at expressway exits outside the town limits, or where the business route into town separates from the bypass around it. "City/edge" is an architectural reconsideration of the edge city. / Master of Architecture

Thesis (M.U.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-163).

Mixed-use development is one of the canonical elements of modern urban planning theory and practice. The principles of this approach to development are applied throughout the world and have seen a resurgence in the last several decades as part of the rise of populist movements such as smart growth and new urbanism. At the same time, cities across the industrialized world have been reshaped within the broader context of fundamental restructuring in the labour market over the past several decades. The urban core of the post-industrial city has increasingly become the site of residential development amongst various complementary land uses, marketed to an upwardly mobile professional class. Who benefits from this kind of mixed-use development in the housing market? Despite its popularity, mixed-use development is not often examined with regard to the affordability of housing. This study explores the affordability of housing in areas zoned as mixed-use in the old City of Toronto in relation to shifts in the occupational structure of the city’s workforce between 1991 and 2006. Using census data and spatial analysis methods, the cartographic and analytical outputs of this study demonstrate two major findings: first, that housing in mixed-use areas was more expensive than the rest of the city over the study period; and second, that socioeconomic polarization between classes of occupations is not only evident in mixed-use areas, but in some ways more pronounced than in the rest of the city. Based on these findings, the study concludes with a realistic assessment of why and how academics, practitioners and policymakers active in urban planning should step up efforts to couple the revitalization of Toronto’s urban core with gains to the affordability of housing.

Thesis (M.U.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-163) Also available in print.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / William P. Winslow III / The proposed site development is situated in the ahupua’a of Honouliuli, in the district of Ewa on the island of Oahu, Hawaii and has been given the name Kaiaulu. Currently the University of Hawaii is planning to expand their campus in the Ewa district. The project site is 500 acres with the university occupying 204 acres. The remaining 296 acres of the site will be a mixed-use residential community. The design of the site addresses two main dilemmas: 1) creating a town-gown relationship between the university and surrounding mixed-use community and 2) promote the use of the two transit stations that will be located on the site for the new light rail system that will be implemented on the island in the next few years. To better understand the relationships between the institution and the surrounding neighborhood communities and how to successfully incorporate light rail stations into the communities, research was conducted to address the issues stated above. Literature was reviewed with a focus on the guidelines, principles, terms, and relative issues on each topic. Two precedent studies were then conducted relating to town-gown relationships and the implementation of light rail systems and stations. The program and the placement of the transit stations, the institution, and the mixed-use communities were based on the site inventory and analysis of the existing site. With the strategic placement of the transit stations and the university campus, students and residents of the surrounding community are encouraged to interact. Additionally, by making the transit stations welcoming, convenient, and safe, the light rail encourages the students and residents of the communities to lessen the use of their automobiles and use the public transit as a means of reaching their destinations around the island. The design of Kaiaulu brings the students of the institution and the residents and visitors of the surrounding communities together and creates a strong town-gown relationship.