SAMANTHA AGOSTINELLI
Pratt Institute
Bachelor of Architecture
SAMANTHA AGOSTINELLI
EXPERIENCE
Dedicated and diligent, I am a rising fifth-year undergraduate architecture student at Pratt Institute, driven by a profound passion for my craft. I approach every project with meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to delivering excellence
My enthusiasm spans both analog and digital realms of design, cherishing the seamless integration of diverse disciplines. I thrive in environments where creativity meets technical precision , constantly seeking new avenues to enhance my skills and contribute meaningfully to architectural innovation.
EDUCATION
PRATT INSTITUTE
B. Arch candidate New York August ‘21 - May ’26
GPA 3.9
ESCONDIDO CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL
College Preparatory California Aug ‘17 - May ’21
GPA 4.5
2025 The Richard & Emanuela Piccolo Scholarship Travel fund awarded to one student for the Rome program of Spring 2025 MERITS
2024 New York City Post, SAME Scholarship Fund Awarded to two Pratt Undergraduate Architecture students, recognized for their academic achievements and potential in the field of architecture and related sciences
2024 Featured in Archinect Article
Notes on Progress: Sixteen Women Discuss What It Means To Be Female in Architecture School
2021-2024 President’s List
Achievement of 3.6 GPA or higher
2021-2026 Presidential Merit Scholarship
2021, 2024 In Process
Published in school-wide archival book
Invited by Dean Quilian Riano to represent Pratt Institute
2018-2021 Field Award: Liberal Arts
Presented to a single graduate in recognition of outstanding achievement and contribution 2023 ArchLeague Annual Student Program
2021 Most Valuable Student Scholarship Awarded by the Elks National Foundation
Revit, Rinoceros, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, V-Ray, Twinmotion, Enscape, Grasshopper, AutoCAD
3D Modelling, Rendering/Visualization, Site Analysis, Physical Model Making, 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, CNC Milling
Committee Leadership, Data Organization, Maintaining Records, Social Media Management, Production Design
(CONVERSATIONAL)
Brooklyn, NY Chester, NJ
+1 (760) 498-5085
samanthaagostinelli03@gmail.com
FABRICATION AND 3D RENDERING INTERN
Joe Ginsberg Design New York June ‘24 - Present
-Developed vector line drawings for molds used in casting liquid crystal, ensuring precision and alignment with project specifications
-Assisted in the fabrication process of an artwork at The Ukrainian Museum, gaining hands-on experience in art production and installation techniques
-Created 2D visualizations of luxury interiors to showcase designs to prospective clients, leveraging AI, 3D modeling in Rhino, V-Ray, and Photoshop to develop a high-quality catalogue of interior spaces
-Engaged in problem-solving and critical thinking to support project timelines and quality standards, contributing to the successful completion of installations
PRESIDENT & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Femmes of the Future New York August ‘23 - Present
-Orchestrated and participated in an all-female panel discussion held at the Center for Architecture, collaborating with the City College of New York AIAS Chapter to promote diversity and empowerment within the architecture and design community
-Conceptualized, marketed, and executed a school-wide design challenge on Mars, fostering creativity and teamwork among students while generating enthusiasm for an upcoming lecture featuring ICON3D Tech
VICE PRESIDENT
Pratt AIAS Chapter New York August ‘23 - August ’24
-Spearheaded the organization and coordination of cross-departmental panel lectures in collaboration with other AIAS Chapters in New York City
-Led the planning and execution of seven exclusive architectural firm tours, providing invaluable industry exposure and networking opportunities for the entire Pratt undergraduate architecture third-year class
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
Pratt School of Architecture New York August ‘21 - Present
-Advocated for my peers, sharing their concerns, suggestions, and experiences with the faculty of Pratt SoA
-Attended bi-monthly meetings with the Chair of Undergraduate Architecture, Stephen Slaughter, to discuss academic concerns
-Involved in decision making and planning of school-wide events at Student Council meetings
PEER ADVISOR & TUTOR
Pratt Institute New York August ‘23 - Present
-Provided training for Adobe Suite, Rhino 3D, V-Ray, studio drawings, critique practice, and time management
TEACHING ASSISTANT
Pratt Institute New York January ‘24 - Present
-Assisted underclassmen in software tutoring, drawing representation, and production of drawings through the use of Rhino3D and Adobe Creative Suites
REFERENCES
David Kim dkim67@pratt.edu 310.594.9672
Pratt SoA Acting Assistant Chairperson
Farzam Yazdanseta fyazdans@pratt.edu 718.399.4362
Pratt SoA Associate Chairperson of Undergraduate Architecture, co-founder of Studio FOU
Stephen Slaughter sslaught@pratt.edu 718.399.4307
Pratt SoA Chairperson of Undergraduate Architecture
IN & UP
PROFESSOR
COURSE PROGRAM LOCATION
Spring
Emergent Cohousing CommunitiesMultigenerational Housing
Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
Located directly across from the Lafayette Gardens Playground, this multigenerational housing project celebrates the connection between urban living and nature , responding thoughtfully to the surrounding environment and community needs. The vision for this building is rooted in the desire to bring the park “in and up,” integrating natural elements across different floors and levels of the structure. By drawing from the brownstone typologies and the varied height levels of neighboring mixed-use buildings, this design honors the architectural vernacular while introducing contemporary spaces where families can thrive across generations. Windows puncture the building’s form, framing views that link the interior spaces to the park outside and allowing daylight to animate the facade.
Thomas Hanrahan
2024, Comprehensive Design II, Partner Sehinta Khan
WEST ELEVATION
The punctured facade reflects the diverse housing typologies surrounding it, creating a rhythmic play of windows and green spaces.
SOUTH ELEVATION
Segments of the top floors are carefully up generous areas for the duplex and framing distinctive views.
carefully pulled down to open units, offering larger terraces
RESIDENTIAL AND RECREATIONAL
The long section of this building illustrates the journey of the park as it flows up and into the residential space. Two grand staircases serve as dynamic, topographical features , lifting the park’s landscape from the street to a second-floor park level that weaves through the building’s interior. This terraced green space continues to ascend through the three residential floors, connecting duplex units with pockets of greenery
PLANS
Second (park) floor (above)
Third (residential) floor (below)
EXTERIOR RENDER (Rhino, V-Ray, Photoshop)
The punctured facade reflects the diverse housing typologies surrounding it, creating a rhythmic play of windows and green spaces.
Four distinct unit configurations (two simplexes and two duplexes) cater to a range of household needs and provide flexible living arrangements for diverse family types. Where units converge, shared garden spaces emerge, forming zones where residents can socialize and connect.
The design encapsulates the vision of multigenerational housing by fostering a balanced ecosystem where green spaces, social areas, and the architectural form come together to enhance daily living for families across generations.
1, 2, 3 BEDROOM UNIT DIAGRAM
SIMPLEX & DUPLEX UNIT DIAGRAM
basswood, museum board, acrylic sheet, 3D
MODERN TIMES
PROFESSOR
COURSE PROGRAM
LOCATION
Adam Elstein
Fall 2024, Advanced Design I “The Intersection of Architecture and Photography”
Maker Space, Photography Gallery, and Large Format Printing Hub
Manhattan Ave. Park, Greenpoint, NYC
Situated at the end of Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, this photography museum responds to the site’s rich history of manufacturing and craftsmanship. The project engages with the tradition of large format photography not only as an art form but as a means of spatial exploration, using imagery to reveal the textures, materials, and architectural language of the area. This initial research informed the architectural approach—one that frames space not just as a container for photography but as an extension of the medium itself. The design is informed by an understanding of photography as both a framing device and a method of documentation
SITE COLLAGE
TYPOLOGY COLLAGE (Photoshop)
Through 16mm film photography, the study captures the textures of industrial facades, the presence of workers, and the structural typologies that define the area.
16mm PHOTOGRAPHY
16mm PHOTOGRAPHY
LONGITUDINAL SECTIONS
As photographs blend and wrap around the architecture, the museum itself becomes an extension of the artwork, creating a fully immersive visual experience
IMMERSIVE DISPLAY
A layered spatial organization , where intersecting volumes and transparent boundaries allow photographic works to be displayed freely across floors, walls, and ceilings. Every surface becomes an active site for display, transforming circulation spaces into immersive viewing experiences
Rather than static, framed photographs, the design encourages engagement through movement , with artwork enveloping visitors from unexpected angles. This approach challenges conventional exhibition formats, rethinking how imagery interacts with architecture to create a dynamic, multi-sensory environment.
THE BOUNDS OF HUMAN PERCEPTION
Herbert Bayer argues that designs have traditionally been constrained by a limited, horizontal field of vision , guiding the eye to follow a fixed, predictable path. In an effort to break this traditional and constraining display style, this project emphasizes the physiological importance of the human eye and its role in how we perceive and engage with space. By presenting images and objects beyond the horizontal plane , the design encourages active viewer participation, allowing visitors to piece together patterns and derive meaning from the work in a more dynamic, immersive way.
HERBERT BAYER : EXTENDED FIELD OF VISION
INTERIOR RENDERS (Rhino, Illustrator, Photoshop)
Photography exists as both a physical and atmospheric presence. By enveloping the viewer’s field of vision—and even extending beyond it—the unique display transforms static images into immersive experiences, allowing photography to shape the perception of space itself.
RAMPSCAPE
PROFESSOR
COURSE PROGRAM
LOCATION
Ronald Didonno
Fall 2023, Comprehensive Design I, Partner Ashwati Bartaria
Fresh Food Market and Community Learning Center
Lower East Side, New York
This fresh food market and community learning center, positioned at the northern tip of Sara D. Roosevelt Park, serves as both a resource and a symbol of sustainable living for the Lower East Side. The seven-block park itself acts as a natural gathering place for the community, bordered by low-income NYCHA housing, luxury apartments, and public school. This project introduces a semi-commercial fresh food market with a community learning center to meet these needs, creating a space where residents can learn about nutrition, cooking, and sustainable gardening practices.
MARKET MODEL: basswood, museum board, acrylic sheet, 3D printed PLA
EAST ELEVATION
classroom and garden-side facade shows how the two spaces are interconnected formally and functionally
Our design approach took the public space of the park and expanded it vertically. The roof of the market is sloped, creating an elevated green space that feels like a continuation of the existing park. The building entrance is oriented along Houston Street, the busiest thoroughfare, to draw in passersby and provide views into the bustling market space below through a transparent glass facade. This connection between the street and the market creates an inviting, open atmosphere for the community.
DETAIL
SECTION
A sloped green roof with rainwater collection, composting toilets for passive heating, water phyto-filtration systems, and layered thermal zones, all work together to create a resource-efficient environment that enhances community access and engagement.
The
The side facade uses material creating an intriguing layering
WEST ELEVATION
NORTH ELEVATION
material to break up the functions of the space, layering of materials
The front facade showcases the ramping roof, inviting passerby in
PLANS
Second (ramp) floor (above)
First (market) floor (below)
Sustainability is at the core of this design, heating, water phyto-filtration that the roof where children can learn to ens, where community members can BUILDING SYSTEMS
CHUNK MODEL: basswood, museum board,
design, which incorporates features such as composting toilets for passive that routes gray water from kitchens through filtration plants, and gardens on to grow and harvest vegetables. Adjacent to these gardens are learning kitchcan participate in cooking classes using the produce they’ve cultivated.
TAPROOT
PROFESSOR
Kayleen Kulezsa
COURSE
PROGRAM
LOCATION
Extension and Film Center
Located at the Marcy Library in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, this project transforms a mid-century branch library into a dynamic extension for audiovisual education and film . The design reinterprets the relationship between public and private spaces, pushing and pulling these boundaries to blur the lines between library, park, and city , thus making the space accessible and engaging for both viewers and creators alike. At the heart of the design is the “tap root,” a central core that serves as a vertical spine for circulation and spatial organization . This core rises lightly from the ground, symbolically and structurally like a root tapping into the earth and spreading upwards and outwards.
Spring 2023, Intermediate Design II
Library
Bed Stuy, Brooklyn
CHUNK MODEL: basswood, museum board, acrylic sheet, concrete
Around this root, programmatic geometries are nested , creating a catalog of interconnected modules that cantilever off the core, allowing for a playful arrangement of spaces . The public areas are placed around the root, while private spaces are subtly nested behind it, offering secluded areas for content production. This core also functions as a grand staircase and atrium, defining the spatial rhythm of the building as each volume extends vertically around it.
ELEVATION
PRECEDENT ANALYSIS:
CAIXA FORUM, SPAIN
VOLUMES
ROOT STRUCTURE
This core also functions as a grand staircase rhythm of the building as each volume
CLINGING VOLUMES
The porous nature of the central root offers glimpses into the three main theaters as users ascend the floors. Each theater pushes against the core, with screens that are visible from both inside and outside , offering an intriguing peek at what’s being shown. This design allows the building itself to act as an interface for cinema , inviting passersby and library visitors to experience film in a new way. By raising the floors, the ground level remains open, allowing the park’s energy to extend into the building and draw in the community from the street level.
NORTH (left) AND SOUTH (right) SECTIONS
SECTIONS
staircase and atrium, defining the spatial volume extends vertically around it.
SECTIONAL MODEL: basswood, museum board, acrylic sheet, concrete
CAPRA IBEX
PROFESSOR
COURSE PROGRAM
LOCATION
Spring 2023, Advanced Representation
Temporary Installation
The Natural History Museum, New York
Drawing inspiration from Ursula Commandeur’s intricate ceramic work, this conceptual installation is set within a digitally crafted environment reminiscent of the fossil exhibit at the Museum of Natural History. Every detail of this environment was meticulously modeled , from the glass railings to the showcase containers, capturing a museum-quality level of realism . Using V-Ray, I applied custom textures and lighting to enhance the space’s tactile depth, followed by detailed post-processing in Photoshop, resulting in a visually rich, immersive presentation that highlights the artistic intersection of nature and design.
Farzam Yazdanseta
INTERIOR RENDER ( V-Ray, Grasshopper, Photoshop)
DETAIL INTERIOR RENDER ( V-Ray, Grasshopper, Photoshop)
METABOLIC
PROFESSOR
COURSE
PROGRAM
LOCATION
Jason Vigneri-Beane
+ in process +
Spring 2025, Advanced Design II “Civic Reparations”
Institute, Museum, and Performance Space
Tiber Island, Rome, Italy
Rome and its river share a metabolism—both ingesting , transforming , and redistributing material over time. Spaces of gathering, whether natural or architectural, remain fluid, constantly reshaped by movement and accumulation. The shifting contours of the Tiber, redefined by tides and sedimentation, mirror the way Rome’s urban fabric evolves through cycles of construction , deconstruction , and reuse . Like the river, the city metabolizes its own history , breaking down and reassembling fragments of the past.
By understanding monuments as part of this larger material cycle, it becomes possible to rethink their role within Rome’s landscape, engaging with both their historical presence and their potential for transformation.
TIBER ISLAND SECTION
The creation of the embankments in 1926 replaced a dynamic, permeable edge with a rigid, controlled boundary, severing the city from its river
NATURAL AND BUILT METABOLISM
Both natural landscapes and built environments exist in a continuous state of flux, shaped by the forces of time, material circulation, and human intervention.
LIFE
OF A MONUMENT
Just as rivers carve, deposit, and reshape the land over time, architecture is formed through cycles of construction, deconstruction, and reuse.
GENERATIVE TECHNIQUES
Each intervention plays with the scale, memory, and material history of these monuments, creating a network of reimagined public spaces.
TEN INSTANCES
EXTEND, MIMIC, INHABIT
Using three generative strategies—” extend ”, “ mimic ”, and “ inhabit ”—the design aims to reactivate lost or fragmented spaces. “Extend” expands a monument’s original footprint, reconstructing what has been lost, such as completing the circular plan of the Theater of Marcellus. “Mimic” duplicates elements of a ruin, allowing for playful reinterpretations, like reinhabiting Ponte Rotto. “Inhabit” reactivates erased urban fabric , particularly where the embankment walls severed connections to the river.
Inspired by spolia and Rome’s continuous material transformation , these ten interventions speculate on a re-metabolization of the city, revealing its layered history in new and immersive ways.
