Roots of the Future: College of Design Senior Show

Chris Wingate and Wesley Stabs

The Urban Lung

Boards and multiple small models

LaCrosse, WI and Duluth, MN

B.S. in Architecture

The focus of the final undergraduate studio examined emergent and self-organizing properties that are embodied within natural and manmade systems.  This bottom up perspective into naturally occurring phenomenon resulted in a design that is less rigid than traditional top down design.  It opened the door to non centralized, non hierarchal investigations that would soon propagate our design.  The “Urban Lung” takes a rigorous look into site performances and the integration of interacting programmatic pieces.  The project attempts to recognize and respond to the functioning that the site and city offer.  The programmatic uses and the layers of interacting functions within the design become an extension of the city.