Daniels Faculty Post-Professional Thesis Booklet Winter 2024

Thesis Reviews Winter 24

Architecture (Post-Professional)

This book showcases final thesis projects produced by post-professional Master of Architecture students at the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. The postprofessional Master of Architecture is an advanced design and research program for individuals already holding a professional degree in architecture.

Master of Architecture Advisors

Jon Cummings

Noheir Elgendy

Paul Howard Harrison

Alex Lukachko

Carol Moukheiber

Reza Nik

Brady Peters

Simon Rabyniuk

Mason White

Master of Architecture (Post-professional)

Schedule

Apr 24

Keith Nathan Vincent So Tiu

Advisors: Jon Cummings, Paul Howard Harrison

Guests: Samantha Eby (Daniels Faculty), Laura Miller (Daniels Faculty), Evan Saskin (Blue Lion)

Zixun Zhang

Advisor: Jon Cummings

Guests: Laura Miller (Daniels Faculty), Sifei Mo (Daniels Faculty), Duanne Render (Gensler)

Mohanned Iskerandi

Advisors: Paul Howard Harrison, Brady Peters

Guests: Nicholas Hoban (Daniels Faculty), Daniel Cardoso Llach (Carnegie Mellon U), Laura Miller (Daniels Faculty)

Guests: Dr. Chandni Desai (New College), Jeannie Kim (Daniels Faculty), Lukas Pauer (Daniels Faculty) 11:00AM

Apr 25

Ardeshir Amini

Advisor: Alex Lukachko

Guests: Khat Baharikhoob (Dialog), Alstan Jakubiec (Daniels Faculty), Jeannie Kim (Daniels Faculty)

Opal Lin

Advisors: Reza Nik, Simon Rabyniuk

Guests: Kanwal Aftab (Daniels Faculty), Jeannie Kim (Daniels Faculty), Sifei

Noor Hamdan

Advisors: Noheir Elgendy, Carol Moukheiber

Ardeshir Amini

MARC (Post-professional)

Advisor: Alex Lukachko

Climate-Responsive Vernacular Architecture, Share Without Copyright

Our reliance on energy-intensive mechanical systems for indoor temperature regulation has significantly increased energy consumption. While Refrigeration and Air Conditioning account for 10% of global CO2 emissions, there is an increasing need for a passive cooling method in the face of climate change. Icehouses, as a type of climate-responsive vernacular architecture, exemplify passive design techniques and environmentally friendly cooling solutions rooted in Iran’s climate and history, offering a valuable approach to tackling environmental issues. In this project, the Icehouse complex has been deconstructed into its vital components to conduct a comprehensive analysis of its function as a potential solution in decreasing built environment GHG emissions.

Noor Nidal Hamdan

MARC (Post-professional)

Advisors: Carol Moukheiber & Noheir Elgendy

In search of Palestine that is more than just a memory –

In an exploration of Palestinian diasporic identity, this thesis employs the non-linear timeline wherein generational narratives and inherited memories reside. Looking into Ghassan Kanafani’s “Returning to Haifa,” the research reconstructs a speculative reality through literature and historical maps of Palestine, using Haifa as a primary case study. Palestinian architecture’s enduring presence amidst occupation underscores the tension between change and stagnation. By comparing evolving cartographic representations with personal narratives, the thesis questions the blurred line between history and fiction as Kanafani does in is writing. It aims to materialize memories within the built environment, acknowledging the unyielding presence of past lives and stories embedded in Haifa’s streets.

Mohanned Iskanderani

MARC (Post-professional)

Advisors: Brady Peters & Paul Harrison

Reimagining Erosion

The way nature constructs itself is very drastically different to how we do as human beings. Even though we are part of nature, our built environment is built through different strategies due to social or financial constrains without taking into consideration the important of diversity and complexity. This research focuses on the topic of erosion where nature and time become the means of craft to create complex spaces. As a result, a generational algorithm was designed following cellular automata and conway game of life rules to create a self organization method for form finding and spatial invention.

Opal Lin

MARC (Post-professional)

Advisors: Simon Rabyniuk, Reza Nik

Appearing And Disappearing-Foldable Urban Furniture

In my research on Multifunctional urban space, from the perspectives of passersby and lingerers, I aim to investigate how design interventions in urban settings can evoke a desire to linger, thus potentially alleviating the prevalent sense of loneliness and enhancing the pursuit of community belonging. Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is a renowned shopping and tourist destination in the heart of Shanghai, China, featuring hundreds of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. It blends modern urban vibes with Shanghai’s historical culture and offers a variety of architectural styles along the street.

Keith Nathan Vincent So Tiu

MARC (Post-professional)

Advisors: Jon Cummings, Paul Howard Harrison

Dwell Quest: Gamifying A Process for Toronto’s Multiplex Revolution

Dwell Quest is a design research project that aims to cultivate an engaging way of thinking about and challenging notions that surround Toronto’s most recently established 2023 Multiplex By-Law. Inspired by the theoretical concepts and frameworks of Open Building by Dutch architect and educator, John Habraken, the study investigates the ways in which user participation and architecture can co-exist. The study does not aim to be the be-all-end-all solution for affordable housing within the city, but hopes to encourage a more flexible approach to housing design as family forms change in the city of Toronto.

Zixun Zhang

MARC (Post-professional)

Advisor: Jon Cummings

Vacant City

This thesis focuses on addressing the issue of vacant office spaces in Shenzhen, particularly in the aftermath of the post-epidemic era that inflicted an economic downturn. The scarcity of tenants has affected numerous central office spaces, rendering them difficult to rent. The core objective of this study is to propose innovative strategies to reimagine and repurpose these underutilized office spaces. Drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese architecture, the thesis explores design ideas that evoke the essence of traditional building spaces, aiming to create a sense of cultural resonance among the populace. The final article is dedicated to different proposals for providing access to traditional office space.