Rusher Studio's Design Victories in 2024
Three students were awarded two winning entries in major design competitions during the Fall 2024 semester in Tom Rusher's Studio, ARCH 4556.
Beacon: International Design Competition
Joel Colunga and Tri Nguyen spearheaded the BEACON: International Design Competition effort with their innovative entry, "Luminary Tide." Their winning design focused on a site between the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges along the East River in New York City. The competition encouraged participants to explore using light as a communal gathering device, drawing inspiration from the experience of gathering around a fire. Colunga and Nguyen's proposal reimagined an abandoned urban space by strategically redirecting water flows and reshaping the water's edge, revitalizing an old city canal. This approach helped manage runoff and transformed the area into a vibrant public venue and a poetic urban feature. Their vision included the creation of a New Urban Illuminated Node, which integrated park-like elements, expansive gathering areas, entertainment zones, new transportation infrastructure, and spaces for public discourse.
Full entry: https://uni.xyz/competitions/beacon/entries
Underwater Web: International Design Competition
Haley DeGidio won the Underwater Web International Design Competition for her The Cathedral of Breath entry. This competition dealt with Biomimicry, diverse communities, the Diving Bell Spider, sustainable practices, and scalability. DeGidio's design dealt with both an above and underwater habitat for various diver types, from expert level to novice tourists for viewing underwater environments. The notions of Poetics of Architecture, Novelty of Tectonic Techniques, and Dynamic Engagement were also explored. She designed speculative underwater systems, including air channeling fish gathering systems for enhanced ecosystem development, coral reef extenders for reconstituting dying reefs, and breathing apparatus stations for decentralized oxygen recharging underwater.
Full entry: https://uni.xyz/competitions/underwater-web/entries
These outstanding projects from Rusher Studio's senior design class reflect exceptional talent and reinforce the next generation of architects' commitment to sustainable and innovative design practices. Such achievements underscore architecture's significant role in enhancing urban and underwater environments, fostering community engagement, and promoting sustainability.
