Dezeen School Shows: an experimental fashion complex that combines design and research and a bird-watching centre designed as an "oasis of New York's wildlife for city kids" are included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at the School of Visual Arts.

Also included is an agricultural centre that aims to address food access issues and an industrial heritage site intended to connect scientists and engineers.

School of Visual Arts

School: School of Visual Arts
Courses: Senior Thesis
Tutors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee

School statement:

"The 2022 SVA Interior Design: Built Environments Senior Thesis addresses a wide range of project types, combining them to create a sensitive aesthetic interpretation of our built environment that centers on sustainability and responsibility.

"This year, students brought a new vision to classic programmes, such as fashion houses, hotels, spas and community centres, utilising biophilic and technological design to redefine these interior spaces and places for the 21st century."

Baixinggaole by Botao Wang

"The Tengger desert in central north China bordering Mongolia continues to expand, merging with two other deserts, the Ulanbuh and Badain Jaran. This expansion is beginning to threaten some of the larger urban areas in northern China. Since 1958, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration has started 'afforestation' programmes to create green belts to stop this desert expansion.

"Baixinggaole is a research and residential station at the forefront of this afforestation programme. This scientific oasis in the desert will provide greenhouses, laboratories, living quarters for scientists, educators, workers and visitors, and an educational centre for visitors to learn and get involved in."

Student: Botao Wang
Course: Senior Thesis
Tutors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: bwang5[at]sva.edu

SHAN山 by Junyan Lu

"SHAN山, is a Chinese cultural centre located on the edge of the historical Chinatown district in New York City. SHAN山's mountain form will serve as a touchstone for the Chinese American community, as well as be a dynamic new space showcasing the diversity of the most populous country on Earth.

"SHAN山 will also promote the dynamic modern culture of China today, by linking both old and new. SHAN山 will be a centre that enhances and promotes these connections, giving the world a better understanding of the vibrant and rich culture of China."

Student: Junyan Lu
Course: Senior Thesis
Tutors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: jlu12[at]sva.edu

Fushion by Gavin Xinze Li

"Fushion is an experimental space that aims to be a new prototype for a comprehensive fashion complex that combines research, design, fabrication and manufacturing.

"Fushion is located in a series of abandoned oil storage tanks on the seaside of the Bronx in New York City. The utilitarian and soon to be obsolete fossil fuel storage tank structures are reimagined for the 21st century where each one is transformed into specialised environments that allow for new processes and ideas in fashion to grow and flourish.

"The complex and its tanks are connected with the addition of a giant elevated cloud surface that functions both as a roof and an inspirational garden landscape. This cloud acts as a fabric drape over the existing monumental structures, softening the historic industrial artifacts and creating unique spaces for workers and visitors to experience."

Student: Gavin Xinze Li
Course: Senior Thesis
Tutors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: xli36[at]sva.edu

Intersection by Jiabao Li

"China's pop music has exploded in the last decade. Reality TV singing competition shows have created a large fan population eager to see their singing idols for fan meetings and showcases. There is a strong market for stars and fans to interact with each other outside of large concert halls.

"Smaller intimate music venues would be ideal places for this to occur, giving fans and music audiences an ability to see current and future music stars. Intersection is a music venue that will enhance the fan experience.

"In addition to live performances and intimate gathering spaces, it will be installed with the latest technologies such as XR and autostereoscopic, to create spaces that merge virtual and physical realities, enhancing and combining our digital and physical experiences with music."

Student: Jiabao Li
Course: Senior Thesis
Tutors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: jli49[at]sva.edu 

Oasis by Yoojin Lee

"Mental health challenges exist frequently throughout the United States and the world. Roughly one in five adults has a diagnosable mental illness in a given year, but less than half of affected people receive treatment.

"Oasis is a mental health centre that aims to treat people who have a mental illness and have difficulties accessing proper care. Impediments to mental health care are great, with costs and social stigma being major reasons many don't seek help.

"Oasis will offer a variety of programmes and activities, including psychotherapy, counselling and complementary health approaches that focus on food, physical activities, art, nutrition, etc.

"The space will use principles of biophilic design to create a calm and nurturing environment to help the users start and continue their journey in healing."

Student: Yoojin Lee
Course: Senior Thesis
Tutors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: ylee145[at]sva.edu

Refuge by Yudi Chen

"Refuge is a bird-watching visitor centre located in the Jamaica Bay Area of Queens, in New York City. This is an all-season refuge from the city and a bird's paradise. The facility features different exhibits that highlight Jamaica Bay's extraordinary animal and plant life and ecological history.

"With the outbreak of the global epidemic, harmony between humans, nature and animals has attracted more and more attention. A more convenient service guide attracts more people to come here to closely feel the charm of ecology — a veritable oasis of New York's wildlife for city kids."

Student: Yudi Chen
Course: Senior Thesis
Tutors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: ychen98[at]sva.edu 

Re:Centered by Ariella Ahdut

"Being centered means having a reference point, a place to come back to when life, stress, and emotions push you off balance.

"Re:Centered is a holistic health and wellness centre based on the five elements of traditional Chinese medicine. The practice strives to maintain balance and harmony between the body, mind and environment.

"These five elements represent how all aspects of human health, like nutrition, movement, and emotions, are interconnected with nature and our surroundings.

"This design also employs biophilic design principles to create a calm and functional space for users, helping them lessen their anxiety and live more consciously.

"Re:Centered is a welcoming space where people can gather, reflect, or have meaningful interactions with like-minded individuals embarking on a new health journey."

Student: Ariella Ahdut
Course: Senior Thesis
Tutors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: aahdut[at]sva.edu

Long Island City Community Center by Shuangyu Xi 

"Long Island City is a vibrant community in Queens New York City that is going through substantial growth and change. The population has increased by over 100 per cent between 2010 and 2020 and has a young median age of 34.

"To support the new and existing population, this new LIC Community Centre (LICCC) is created in the image of the vibrancy of the neighborhood.

"LICCC will be a gathering space for people of all ages and all backgrounds to come together for structured and unstructured activities throughout the day and evening."

Student: Shuangyu Xi  
Course: Senior Thesis
Tutors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: sxi[at]sva.edu

Haven by Xiran Geng

"Our industrial heritage leaves behind not only physical monuments that embody past memories but also the trajectory from past to present to future. These buildings are a record of our collective history and memories of our ever-evolving city.

"Haven is a transitory residential community serving the reimagined manufacturing industry in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The planned 3.3 gigawatt wind turbine farm off the coast of Long Island will be assembled at this industrial heritage site.

"The new workforce for this new economy manufacturing center could be the start of a renaissance for manufacturing jobs in New York City. Haven will be a hub connecting builders, researchers, engineers and scientists.

"Located within walking distance of the turbine assembly facility, Haven's residents will create a new standard for industry-supported housing."

Student: Xiran Geng
Courses: Senior Thesis
Tutors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: xirangeng[at]gmail.com

Homegrown by Sky Morales

"Homegrown is an urban agricultural center focused on education and production. It serves as a model to address food accessibility issues and provides resources for independent agriculture within urban spaces.

"It is important to celebrate food, not only to learn how you can grow it in the city but also to establish a connection with what you can grow. Homegrown was created with the intention of reconnecting people to their community.

"Within this centre are spaces programmed to fuel curiosity and empower community members to engage with one another as well as their surroundings."

Student: Sky Morales
Course: Senior Thesis
Tutors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: smorales3[at]sva.edu

Find out more about courses at the School of Visual Arts on Dezeen Courses.

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and School of Visual Arts. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.