emergency architecture thesis

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Emergency and relief architecture

The deteriorating situation of the inhabitants of many countries, especially in the Near East and Africa, has resulted in a growing number of people being forced to leave their homes. UNHCR has reported that the number of forcibly displaced people increased to 65.6 million in the year 2016 as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human-rights violations. This was an increase of 6.1 million over the 2014 figure. It was also the highest number on record since the end of World War II. This number increased by 23.1 million in the five years since 2011. However, in addition to the forcibly displaced people, there are many people who lost their homes because of natural disasters, and those who have become homeless for a variety of other reasons. In the year 2015, 364 natural disasters (not including epidemics and insect infestations) were recorded by EM-DAT (the International Disaster Database), which resulted in 22,773 deaths and 98.6 million affected people. Another global prob...

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Home > Colleges, Schools, and Departments > School of Architecture > School of Architecture Dissertations and Theses > Senior Theses > 415

Architecture Senior Theses

Emergency Homes

Author(s)/Creator(s)

Denise A. Lee

Document Type

Thesis, Senior

Spring 2017

housing, disaster, emergency, relief, aid, refugee, crisis

• Disciplines

Architecture

Description/Abstract

“Designers cannot just stand by and watch as the refugee crisis unfolds,” and although architects and designers can’t save the world, through design, we can alleviate consequences of scarcity. It’s not about creating a structure that will withstand the ends of time or endure the most extreme climate, it’s about how to respond in an emergency with the most geographically intelligent prototype that utilizes the utmost importance of on site materials so the bare minimum of an instruction manual or few key tools to offset distribution obstacles. This thesis is aimed to design for the 99 in disaster relief.

Additional Information

Thesis Advisors: Daekwon Park with Francisco Sanin

Recommended Citation

Lee, Denise A., "Emergency Homes" (2017). Architecture Senior Theses . 415. https://surface.syr.edu/architecture_theses/415

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Emergency Relief Station

This thesis explores the potential large public architecture offers for efficient transformation into a relief station in post-disaster situations. The increase in catastrophic disasters globally has demonstrated a widespread lack of preparedness in these situations. There is a shortage of safe, comfortable, and self-sufficient hubs for coordinating relief activity, for sheltering temporarily and providing emergency care to disaster victims, and relief personnel.  Disaster relief generally involves the urgent dispatching of medical supplies, food, water, blankets, sanitation systems, temporary shelters, and relief personnel to affected locations. Following the recent devastating spate of earthquakes and flood disasters in New Zealand makeshift relief centres were set up in public parks, schools, and community facilities to house displaced victims. These were set up to function as efficient relief stations. The facilities also depend heavily on deployed relief supplies and the public for donations and support. In addition, these relief hubs are quickly overwhelmed and in adverse weather conditions, they are inadequate for providing warm, dry, hygienic, and safe environments for sheltering large numbers of people including the injured and the sick.  This thesis explores how an airport may be designed for a dual purpose and the feasibility and complexity of planning and designing public space for transformation into a disaster relief station.

Copyright Date

Date of award, rights license, degree discipline, degree grantor, degree level, degree name, anzsrc type of activity code, victoria university of wellington item type, victoria university of wellington school, usage metrics.

• Interior design
• Architectural design

Emergency and relief architecture

Motivation and guidelines for temporary shelters.

• Jerzy F. Latka TU Delft, Architecture and the Built Environment

The deteriorating situation of the inhabitants of many countries, especially in the Near East and Africa, has resulted in a growing number of people being forced to leave their homes. UNHCR has reported that the number of forcibly displaced people increased to 65.6 million in the year 2016 as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human-rights violations. This was an increase of 6.1 million over the 2014 figure. It was also the highest number on record since the end of World War II. This number increased by 23.1 million in the five years since 2011.

However, in addition to the forcibly displaced people, there are many people who lost their homes because of natural disasters, and those who have become homeless for a variety of other reasons. In the year 2015, 364 natural disasters (not including epidemics and insect infestations) were recorded by EM-DAT (the International Disaster Database), which resulted in 22,773 deaths and 98.6 million affected people. Another global problem is homelessness, i.e., a situation in which people or families cannot afford the kind of shelter that is considered adequate and meets the requirements for a minimal existence. This is a problem that occurs not only in poorer countries, but also in so-called developed countries. The OECD database on affordable housing states that 1,777,308 homeless people were reported in OECD countries in 2015. As it is very hard to define or recognise a homeless person, this number may be ‘off’ by quite a significant margin.

Since 2015 there has been a large influx of people from the Near East and African countries in Europe. This influx has caused the largest migration crisis since World War II. By the end of 2016, Europe was hosting approximately 10.2 million of people of concern, including 6.6 million asylum seekers and refugees, 3 million internally displaced persons (including returnees) and more than 570,000 stateless people. There is a lot of debate on the subject of refugees and immigrants and on the policies in place to help them. However, the political discussion on this is beyond the scope of this work, so the author will not comment on it. The focus of this part of the thesis is on potential architectural solutions for people who find themselves in a difficult housing situation, for whatever reason.

In this thesis, emergency and relief architecture is understood to refer to structures, buildings and infrastructure that support people in need, such as forcibly displaced people, victims of natural disasters or homeless people.

Each of the aforementioned groups requires a different approach with regard to safety, policy and medical or psychological support. Each group is also characterised by different factors. In order to understand the differences, so as to be able to provide the right type of support, it is important that we gain an insight into the characteristics of each group.

Both emergency shelters and temporary houses can be made out of paper components. Depending on the situation, they can be either temporary or semi-permanent shelters or buildings.

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Fiume, Federico. "Emergency Modular Architecture." Doctoral thesis, Università degli studi di Trento, 2022. http://hdl.handle.net/11572/329050.

Dyck, Darlene. "Recovery through architecture, an emergency women's shelter." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp01/MQ42340.pdf.

Gutíerrez, Juan Pablo. "A model approach for effective emergency telecommunication architecture for Texas border cities /." View online, 2006. http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/114/.

Weiss, Erica A. "Lights, camera, emergency : preemptive planning for disaster relief." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/58383.

Sinisterra, Maria Alexandra 1975. "Rethinking emergency habitats for refugees : balancing material innovation and culture." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28813.

Chigani, Amine. "A Campus Situational Awareness and Emergency Response Management System Architecture." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26782.

Distefano, Dario Luigi. "Precast lightness, cardboard architecture responds to emergency - design, prototyping and testing of a high performance emergency house-kit." Doctoral thesis, Università di Catania, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10761/4195.

Voros, Jamie L. "One size does not fit all : innovation in emergency housing with a focus on Nepal 2015." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/106409.

Henry, Danielle L. "Supporting the System: Emergency Medical Shelters Serving in the Aftermath of a Disaster." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1336682799.

Monteiro, Douglas Machado. "A proposal for an architecture to extract information from sms messages during emergency situations." Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10923/7249.

Praechter, Breanna. "Transitions: Bridging the Gap between Emergency Shelters and Permanent Solutions in Disaster Reconstruction." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1397476621.

Aksoy, Mustafa. "A Secure Wireless Network Architecture Proposal To Be Used By Governments In Case Of Emergency Situations." Master's thesis, METU, 2007. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12608975/index.pdf.

Brink, Chadernnay. "Moving towards a strategy for the sustainable delivery of emergency housing and temporary residential accommodation in the City of Cape Town." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13015.

Sundin, Lena. "Saving Lives With Geo-Spatial Web Standards : A Test Architecture for Evaluating the Possibility of Sharing Heterogeneous Data Among the Emergency Services." Thesis, Mittuniversitetet, Institutionen för informationsteknologi och medier, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:miun:diva-19022.

Tschofenig, Hannes [Verfasser], Xiaoming [Akademischer Betreuer] Fu, Dieter [Gutachter] Hogrefe, Thomas [Gutachter] Schmidt, Marcus [Gutachter] Baum, Ramin [Gutachter] Yahyapour, and Delphine [Gutachter] Reinhardt. "A Secure and Privacy-Friendly IP-based Emergency Services Architecture / Hannes Tschofenig ; Gutachter: Dieter Hogrefe, Thomas Schmidt, Marcus Baum, Ramin Yahyapour, Delphine Reinhardt ; Betreuer: Xiaoming Fu." Göttingen : Niedersächsische Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Göttingen, 2019. http://d-nb.info/1202145736/34.

Henriques, Sofia Ribeiro Tomé. "Arquitetura." Master's thesis, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Arquitetura, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/20116.

Sousa, Raquel Alexandra Gomes. "Arquitectura de emergência." Master's thesis, Universidade de Lisboa. Faculdade de Arquitetura, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/10564.

Valentin, Marcos Vargas. "Saídas de emergência em edifícios escolares." Universidade de São Paulo, 2008. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/16/16132/tde-15072010-163048/.

Stránská, Aneta. "Design obydlí pro humanitární účely." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta strojního inženýrství, 2011. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-229422.

COSBITT, NICOLE. "MORPHOGENESIS: BUILDING AS A NATIVE PLANT." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1179327038.

Hook, Martyn Richard, and martyn hook@rmit edu au. "The act of reflective practice; the emergence of iredale pedersen hook architects." RMIT University. Architecture and Design, 2009. http://adt.lib.rmit.edu.au/adt/public/adt-VIT20100209.150125.

Jenkins, Jacob Luke. "Navigating campus: a geospatial approach to 3-D routing." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/15638.

Al, Hadhrami Tawfik Ahmed Ali. "Wireless mesh networking architectures and protocols for emergency services." Thesis, University of the West of Scotland, 2014. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.738481.

Rocha, Altino João Magalhães 1968. "Architecture theory, 1960-1980 : emergence of a computational perspective." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28316.

Salama, Ortar Llana. "Civic performance Art and the Architecture of Emergency : A critical assessment of four civic performance art projects and a follow-up project at one of the original sites to reassess results in the perspective of elapsed time and the unending environment." Thesis, Roehampton University, 2008. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.515250.

McQuoid, Malcolm Robert. "A neural architecture for emergent serial behaviour." Thesis, Oxford Brookes University, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.389104.

Ruthven, David Benjamin. "The interactive medical emergency department [iMED] architectural integration of digital systems into the emergency care environment /." Connect to this title online, 2007. http://etd.lib.clemson.edu/documents/1181669333/.

Rosenberg, Alice (Alice S. ). "Planning ahread [sic] : the emergence of clean energy technology." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/57772.

Alfaris, Anas (Anas Faris). "Emergence through conflict : the Multi-Disciplinary Design System (MDDS)." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/49718.

Osorio, Urzúa Carlos A. (Carlos Alberto) 1968. "Architectural innovation, functional emergence diversification in engineering systems." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/38530.

Outlaw, Milan (Milan Jean-Marie). "Submergence as emergence : expanding social waterscapes in a shrinking city." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/111496.

Pedret, Annie. "CIAM and the emergence of Team 10 thinking, 1945-1959." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33271.

Bouchard, David S. M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Embodied emergence : distributed computing manipulatives." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/41743.

Press, Joseph. "Emergent pedagogies in design research education." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/69369.

BARR, DAVID F. "DATA ARTICULATION." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1187022382.

Rushfeldt, Laura E. "Architecture's grand tourism : the emergence of Prishtina within a global discipline." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/57677.

Lee, Tien-Yun. "Outlining the indeterminate emergence : landscape as a framework in contemporary urbanism." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45963.

Soderberg, Nick. "The emergence of Cretan palatial society : an architectural perspective." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2014. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.648870.

Rohde, Frank. "Design and Implementation of Role-based Architectural Event Modules." Master's thesis, Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2016. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-208762.

Weinstock, Michael. "The architecture of emergence : the evolution of form in nature and civilisation." Thesis, Open University, 2016. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.700483.

Ednie-Brown, Pia Hope, and pia@rmit edu au. "The aesthetics of emergence." RMIT University. Architecture and Design, 2008. http://adt.lib.rmit.edu.au/adt/public/adt-VIT20080804.161628.

Girten, Brendan. "A Need for Change: Emergent Architecture in a Complex Landscape." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1617106323720889.

Deitle, Scott Edward. "[Un]checked Emergence: infusing the human element into algorithmic design." Thesis, Montana State University, 2008. http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/deitle/DeitleS0508.pdf.

Ho, Joseph Chi-Chen 1975. "Surface space : digital manufacturing techniques and emergent building material." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/67170.

Gunter, Dawn. "Emergent Morphogenetic Design Strategies." Scholar Commons, 2010. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3433.

Türtscher, Philipp. "The emergence of architecture in modular systems : coordination across boundaries at ATLAS, CERN." kostenfrei kostenfrei, 2008. http://www.unisg.ch/www/edis.nsf/wwwDisplayIdentifier/3578.

Palmer, Fleur. "Using emergent technologies to develop sustainable architectural composites." AUT University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10292/933.

Giacomo, Nelson Schietti de. "Diretrizes projetuais para unidades de urgência e emergência hospitalares eficientes." Universidade de São Paulo, 2011. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/16/16138/tde-13012012-150453/.

Alt, Reuben. "Wild Urban Woodlands: Addressing the Emergent Typology of Post-Industrial Forest Succession." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1368024538.

Chivers, Peter George. "The Tectonics Of Place-Making: Building, Site And Emergence." Thesis, University of Sydney, 2020. https://hdl.handle.net/2123/24132.

5 Pioneers of emergency architecture

The world is progressing at a very fast rate and so are we adapting to its changes. Changing times have made us more prone to natural and manmade disasters. A disaster leaves an unchangeable impact on the community, leads to loss of life, resources, and infrastructures. Such a situation calls for cost-efficient architecture, low maintenance, modular, built in no time, and made by using materials most easily available and familiar to the community for which it has been built. 

Several architects all over the world have given their entire lives for helping out disaster struck communities and have developed dwellings and buildings which have completely changed the faith of these people. Here are the top 5 architects who have created an everlasting impact in the world with their humanitarian work:

1. Shigeru Ban

Over three decades, the Shigeru ban has touched millions of lives with his architecture. He has worked all over the world from India to Italy to Japan and Sri Lanka, with his extensive knowledge of recyclable materials like paper and cardboard, he has constructed high quality, cost-efficient dwelling. Three of his prominent projects are listed below:

i. Cardboard Cathedral, New Zealand

In 2011 a massive earthquake struck the city of Christchurch in New Zealand, as a response to this situation, ban designed a triangular cathedral out of paper tubes which have a capacity of 700 people

ii. Paper Log House, India 

Shigeru ban designed this house in Bhuj, India after the earthquake of 2001 by using the rubble from destroyed buildings for the foundation, traditional mud flooring, and woven cane mat for the roof along with paper tubes for constructing the walls.

iii. Tsunami Reconstruction Project

Kirinda is a village located on the south-east coast of Sri Lanka , most of the buildings of this village were swept away by Tsunami. Ban replaced the temporary houses of this village with permanent low budget house-made using compressed earth block (CEB) which locally available in Sri Lanka

2. Yasmeen Lari

RIBA acclaimed Yasmeen Lari has constructed more than 45,000 houses since 2010 under the relief disaster management program using local materials. Her journey began in 2005, when a massive earthquake hit Pakistan, inflicted terrible damage to the infrastructure. Lahri decided to do something for the affected community and built houses for them using vernacular techniques and materials available at hands like mud and bamboo. She also runs an organization where she trains villagers to build their own homes.

3. Alejandro Aravena

“We don’t think of ourselves as artists. Architects like to build unique things. But if something is unique it can’t be repeated, so in terms of it serving many people in many places, the value is close to zero.” These words by Alejandro Aravena clearly shows his compassion for the people and is one of the most socially involved architects of the century. After the earthquake and tsunami of 2010, he constructed Villa Verde in Constitución. The main concept was to develop ‘half houses’ and they involved people in constructing to reduce the costing of the entire project. In this setup residents took over the initiative to build up the rest of the by saving money, slowly shifting a makeshift low-end housing to a desirable housing unit.

4. Stefano Boeri

The earthquake of 2016 devastated the city of Amatrice and the surrounding villages in Italy. Stefano Boeri along with Renzo Piano-designed the new Amatrice catering to the social needs of the residents of this town. He built the new school canteen and the city center, Polo del Gusto Square , with the buildings accommodating eight restaurants. This provides new jobs and revived tourism which in turn gave the much needed kick start to the economy of the city.

5. William Ti

When the world was in chaos, hospital beds were filling up quickly, cases were doubling every second and everybody was in the fear of catching coronavirus, William Ti, the principal architect of WTA designed a mobilized emergency quarantine facility (EQF). This EQF made up of easy to use, flexible, and readily-available materials, is replicable and scalable was made in just 5 days to meet the growing demand of hospital beds at the same time helping to flatten the curve. In a race where speed is of the essence, WTA’s design provides a space for 1000 beds, fully ventilated and equipped with toilets and donning- doffing areas in no time.

While we acknowledge the work of these architects, we should ask ourselves a simple question: what is our roles as architects, is it to create a tall building which talks only money and looks like a gem whose future is as uncertain as David in Caracas, Venezuela or is it our responsibility as professionals to contribute to the society in times of crisis and dire need, to build infrastructure which is the need of the hour.

Rudraakshi, architecture is an expression of values, tradition, culture and emotions. She believes in achieving aesthetics through a sustainable and vernacular approach. Through the power of her words, she aims to give a new perspective to architecture.

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Home > Theses and Dissertations > Theses > All Theses > 715

Structures Serving the Visibly Homeless: An Emergency Shelter Response in Charleston, South Carolina

Ellen Martin , Clemson University Follow

Date of Award

Document type, degree name.

Master of Architecture (MArch)

Legacy Department

Architecture

Committee Chair/Advisor

Allison, David J.

Committee Member

Erdman , Jori

Detrich , David

Oka , Yukari

This thesis is an architectural exploration into how to partially address the housing crisis affecting the visibly homeless population of Charleston, South Carolina. Thousands of men, women, and children in the United States are homeless in Charleston there is a significant and increasing number of visibly homeless. Those who sleep outside shelters are generally known as the 'visibly homeless' or street homeless. The visibly homeless is the most underserved group within the entire homeless population and is composed of those who sleep in places not intended for human habitation, such as bus stations, subway trains, automobiles, doorways, and abandoned buildings. These individuals exist at the threshold of meeting their basic physiological needs such as warmth, food, clothing, security and shelter. Shelter as a necessity rather than as a negotiated commodity is the reality of a homeless person. Shelter that strives to satisfy basic physiological, social, safety, and self-esteem needs and utilizes affordable construction strategies can best support the visibly homeless in Charleston. The issues and complexities of homelessness and mental health will drive this thesis investigation. An architecture is proposed to meet the basic needs of Charleston's most exposed and critical population--the visibly homeless. This thesis first identifies homelessness as a housing emergency and examines the causes and effects of homelessness. This visibly homeless population is very difficult to obtain an accurate count or profile, but through informal personal interviews with the test population, greater insight was gained about their living situation and resultant mental stability. Secondly, this thesis examines the hierarchy of needs, formulated by Abraham Maslow. This hierarchy identifies the needs that we as a civilization must satisfy to survive and that require fulfillment to become the individuals we are all capable of becoming. Research also examined Oscar Newman's defensible space principles, which attempt to deter crime through the physical environment. Crime deterrence is essential when addressing the visibly homeless--a population who is vulnerable and regularly victimized. Lastly, this thesis explores the relief efforts offered for those who have suddenly become homeless due to natural causes and compares those to the efforts taken to those who are homeless due to a complex set of circumstances, some innate and some contracted. The design principles and strategies employed in the creation of relief housing for the victims of the Kosovo war were examined and adapted. Housing relief efforts should be responsive to homelessness with the same level of urgency and intensity as those measures taken with victims of natural disasters. This research led to the formation of design principles that can appropriately accommodate the housing needs of the visibly homeless in Charleston. Structures serving the visibly homeless must respond to personal selection of site whenever applicable and appropriate. The siting of these structures and the dwelling units themselves must provide defensible space through territoriality and surveillance opportunities that support personal space. These structures must also allow for universal and flexible living which support personalization and varying levels of privacy. Lastly, structures serving the homeless must utilize affordable construction methods, materials, and labor which respond to the limited financial resources available to the homeless and their supportive organizations. These design principles will aid in the creation of an architectural response. The test site for this thesis has been self-designated by the local homeless population itself, as it is in close proximity to the existing homeless shelter. The residents of the site have chosen to, or have been forced, to live outside the existing shelter, but still require the services provided by the shelter including mental health counseling, food services, and medical attention. This urban campground is designed as a supplement and as an alternative to the traditional shelter model existing in Charleston. The strategy of this thesis is to create shelter that supports well-being and mental health through spaces that accommodate basic needs and create defensible space.

Recommended Citation

Martin, Ellen, "Structures Serving the Visibly Homeless: An Emergency Shelter Response in Charleston, South Carolina" (2009). All Theses . 715. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/715

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Architecture, Master of (ARB/RIBA Part 2) MArch ARB Pt 2

Awards: MArch ARB Pt 2

Study modes: Full-time

Accreditation

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Architecture, Master of (ARB/RIBA Part 2)

Upcoming Introduction to Postgraduate Study and Research events

Join us online on the 19th June or 26th June to learn more about studying and researching at Edinburgh.

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Programme description

The two-year Master of Architecture (MArch) programme offers a unique studio-based and research-led learning experience, and the opportunity to develop designs that engage with complex urban settings, innovative material systems, and critical forms of inquiry and representation, elaborating on nuanced responses to the pressing environmental, socio-economic, and political questions facing architectural practice in the 21st century.

Based in one of the most beautiful and architecturally significant cities in the world, the MArch programme at the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA) combines creative inquiry and academic rigour with a deep sense of professional responsibility, empowering our students to imagine and prototype forms of spatial practice that are low-carbon, situated, inclusive and regenerative.

As a student, you will work in close contact with world-leading researchers, and benefit from a series of guest lectures and workshops with eminent practitioners and scholars. You will have access to state-of-the-art studios and to the broad range of technical facilities within the Edinburgh College of Art, including digital fabrication (CAD/CAM), casting rooms, and printmaking suites, as well as wood, metal, and glass workshops, all supported by specialised technical staff. Fostered by this vibrant environment, the MArch programme has developed an ethos of design enquiry through making.

The programme has Architects Registration Board (ARB) prescription and Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) validation. RIBA validation was achieved in 2011 and again in 2017 and 2022.

For further information about ARB and the prescription of architectural qualifications, visit:

• Architects Registration Board

Programme structure

The MArch is delivered through a diverse set of elective design studios, each focusing on a specific urban setting or geographical area, and on a set of thematic concerns. We offer complementary courses in theory, technology, and professional practice to engage with different facets of contemporary architectural discourse, and to develop core professional competencies. Uniquely, the programme offers two curricular pathways, allowing students to complete either a one or two-year design-studio thesis, prioritising either breadth or depth of enquiry.

Design studios

The design studio is the heart of the MArch curriculum, and accounts for 160 credits of the programme. As a student, you will have the opportunity to explore different design approaches, and to develop your own specialism, by choosing from a range of design studio options. Each studio is led by a dedicated academic staff member whose expertise and research agenda frame the themes of investigation, and typically involves a field trip to sites of national or international interest, or an in-depth and hands-on multi-day workshop with invited experts. Many studios engage in elements of collaborative work, fostering creative and social exchanges amongst peers.

Curricular pathways

The MArch design studios operate through one of two curricular pathways, chosen by the student on arrival in Edinburgh.

Students on the Modular Pathway will develop two, independent year-long design studio projects, completing a highly resolved thesis while also developing a portfolio typified by breadth of enquiry. Modular studios are open to both 1st and 2nd year students, and offer opportunities for peer learning between cohorts.

Students on the Integrated Pathway will develop one design thesis project over the two years of the MArch programme, engaging with a wide range of architectural scales, from the urban strategy to the construction detail in a comprehensive project.

You can view examples of work completed in previous MArch studios through the collection of degree show catalogues available here:

MArch Degree Show Catalogues .

Complementary courses

The remaining 80 credits comprise four compulsory non-studio courses.

Architectural Technology Research (ATR) supports students in innovative and creative research projects linking material and environmental approaches to the Climate Emergency. It encourages practical and exploratory studies in technical themes of particular relevance to the student’s selected studio and design project, working towards their seamless integration. ATR is a 20-credit course, and it runs throughout Semester 1 with a series of lectures on contemporary architectural technology and environmental issues.

Structured through a series of thematic theory seminars, of which students follow one of particular interest or concern to them, Studies in Contemporary Architectural Theory (SCAT) develops an in-depth knowledge of contemporary architectural discourses, drawing on historical and interdisciplinary texts as necessary. Students work in thematically organised groups, led by staff with specific expertise in the material. This allows for more active student participation, fosters the nuanced interpretation and debate of issues, and promotes a multi-perspectival approach. SCAT is a 20-credit course, and it runs throughout Semester 2.

In the second year of the MArch programme, the 20-credit course Architectural Management, Practice and Law (AMPL) explores the urgencies affecting architectural practice, and introduces students to the political, ethical and social context within which architects work. Through a series of lectures, workshops and drawing-based studies, it invites students to research and critically reflect upon three priorities for contemporary practice identified by the RIBA: Health and Life Safety, Ethics and Social Purpose, and Climate.

The Programme concludes with two plenary 10-credit courses which document and represent different aspects of the student work. The Design Report (DR) is a comprehensive document that describes in detail one of the projects completed during the programme, and offers an opportunity for students to reflect on the research and design development undertaken, to position their work beyond the institution, and to take responsibility for their design decisions in relation to the associated social and environmental effects. A companion piece, Academic Portfolio (AP2) , is a curated representation and comprehensive record of the body of work developed during the programme, which demonstrates its relation to professional requirements and critically reflects upon, and celebrates, the breadth of enquiry undertaken.

Visiting Contributions

Each year, we welcome a number of distinguished guests to the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA). These international experts each deliver a free public lecture, in addition to engaging closely with staff and students through masterclasses, tutorials, discussions and crits.

Recent Geddes Visiting Fellows have included Gloria Cabral (Studio 4.4), Arne Vande Capelle and Gaspard Geerts (Rotor), Samia Henni, Flores & Prats, Katja Grillner, Hélène Binet, Anuradha Mathur & Dilip da Cunh, and Luis Callejas. Recent George Simpson Visiting Professors have included Jan De Vylder & Inge Vinck, O’Donnell + Tuomey, Peter Salter, Wang Shu & Lu Wenyu (Amateur Architecture Studio), Stan Allen, and Michael Webb. Recent David Skinner Memorial Lectures have been delivered by Brett Milligan, Teresa Moller, Jo Gibbons, Jaqueline Osty, Marti Franch, and Henri Bava.

In addition to programme-specific seminars in Architectural History & Theory, Conservation, and Landscape Architecture, ESALA also curates Frictions , the ESALA Public Lecture Series , which has had, in recent years, a specific focus on the climate emergency, interconnecting environmental pollution to the issues of colonisation, segregation, racism, forced migration, and to systems of injustice. Recent guests have included Shahed Saleem, Hannah Le Roux, Daniel Barber, Ursula Biemann, Joseph Grima, Anupama Kundoo, Bellastock, Alison Killing, Hélène Frichot, Jane Hutton, Giorgos Kallis, Cooking Sections and Rania Ghosn.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of the Master of Architecture programme will have the capacity to:

• Conceptualise, research and structure a rigorous architectural design thesis enquiry
• Develop a critical architectural response to a culturally, politically, and/or environmentally charged urban context
• Devise and articulate a complex spatial, programmatic, material, structural and environmental architecture to high level of resolution
• Formulate and reflect upon a mode of contemporary architectural practice with reference to contemporary architectural theory
• Achieve, at Part 2 level, the General Criteria and Graduate Attributes as defined by the Architects Registration Board of the UK

Career opportunities

Students in the Master of Architecture (MArch) gain excellent skills in the development and articulation of spatial, programmatic, material, structural and environmental architectural designs capable of nuanced responses to the complex challenges facing the built environment in the 21st century.

Our MArch degree forms the second stage in a process that will enable you to register and practice as a professional architect in the UK.

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree in architecture prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) at Part 1 or equivalent standard demonstrated in your portfolio.

As part of the application process, you must submit a personal statement and CV.

You must submit a portfolio as part of your application. On the first page of the portfolio incorporate your name and UUN (if applicable) and include examples of your work on the following pages. You should read the application guidance before applying as there are particular guidelines on portfolio and reference requirements:

* Preparing your application

If you do not hold an ARB Part 1 qualification, you will need to obtain qualifications at Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 level before being eligible for registration. For further details, please contact the ARB:

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in writing, and 6.0 in all other components. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in writing, and 20 in all other components. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 176 in writing, and 169 in all other components.
• Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 62 in writing, and 59 in all other components.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

The programme is postgraduate taught but undergraduate funded.

Tuition fees

Scholarships and funding.

• Edinburgh College of Art scholarships

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
• Contact: College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office
• Programme Director, Dr Simone Ferracina
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 2312
• Contact: [email protected]
• Postgraduate Admissions Office
• College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
• 57 George Square
• Central Campus
• Programme: Architecture, Master of (ARB/RIBA Part 2)
• School: Edinburgh College of Art
• College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

MArch Architecture - 21 Months (Full-time)

Application deadlines.

We strongly recommend you submit your completed application as early as possible, particularly if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. We may consider late applications if we have places available.

• How to apply

You must submit one reference with your application.

You must submit a portfolio and a CV as part of your application. You won't be able to submit your portfolio immediately, but you'll receive an email prompt within a few days of submitting your application that will explain how to upload your portfolio.

You should read the application guidance before applying as there are particular guidelines on portfolio and reference requirements:

• Preparing your application

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

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Public Spaces with Scaffolding: an Alternative in Emergency Situations

• Written by Clara Ott & María Francisca González | Translated by Clara Ott
• Published on May 29, 2020

When facing emergencies such as natural disasters, warfare or pandemics, architecture must offer immediate and effective solutions. In these unfortunate circumstances, the priority is usually to solve problems around housing, however, once the emergency is under control, the focus starts to slowly move towards meeting places such as community centers, neighborhood councils and public spaces.

To create new meeting places in emergency situations, scaffolding is a good alternative regarding construction speed and tight budgets. Although they are usually used as temporary structures, they also allow creating a quickly composed space playing with horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines, and the combination with other materials such as textile, wood, polycarbonate and metal.

Scaffolding is a structure created from precast metal elements that allows the creation of spaces with different proportions, dimensions and heights. They are adaptable and can be placed on different types of surfaces, either next to a facade or as independent structures.

Some of the great advantages of scaffolding is that they use cold joints, platforms can be made of different materials, they are easy to assemble, disassemble and to transport. From the various combinations, we detected four typologies that function as alternatives of public emergency spaces using scaffolding:

Temporary Gallery in Shichengzi Village / Fuyingbin Studio

Scaffolding and safety mesh

"Scaffold is the most typical reusable material, with standardized components, various forms, and extremely convenient construction process. According to the existing steel pipe specifications from the scaffold leasing station, we designed a module system for the scaffold gallery, which can be built quickly according to the village public space without any impact on the existing environment."

Next Gen Park / KOGAA Studio

Scaffolding and inflatable screens

"The design combines either rented or reusable materials that are simple, economical, robust, and quick to build with. The primary structure is a simple scaffolding system."

Conexidade Installation / Estúdio Chão

Scaffolding and shade mesh

"The same system was used as a support for furniture and meetings, living and play areas. Without any separation of ambiance, climate or floor, each space was designed as an invitation to enjoy and celebrate being in the square."

Pabellón Temporal IX BIAU / Diego Avendaño + Juan Manuel Balsa + David Coffio + Francisco Figueroa Astrain

Scaffolding and silo bags

"Faced with the temporary requirement, it was decided to develop a scaffolding structure, being a completely recyclable system. It has a cast of repeatable modules allowing quick on-site assembly."

Luminous Drapes / Studio Toggle

"A low-tech, cost-efficient, incremental, modular system was developed using re-usable construction scaffolding and laser-cut IKEA drapes."

Prototype Square / Mailītis A.I.I.M.

Scaffolding and wooden sleepers

"The modular scaffolding structure is filled up with local timber and creates a shelter for the visitors and a stage for concerts. A massive stack of the timber sleepers serves as terrace stairs and benches."

Level Up / Brett Mahon, Joonas Parviainen, Saagar Tulshan, Shreyansh Sett

Scaffolding and wooden platforms

"In an era where permanence of the built form has been defining architecture, Level Up celebrates Ephemeral Urbanism, inviting everyone to ponder material and spatial impermanence."

Polycarbonate

Temporary workshop & recreation centre of qianyi farm / big smallness studio + wuhan adap architects.

Scaffolding and polycarbonate panels

"In response to the needs of the site, the building can be reworked and demountable, the construction must touch the earth and reversible, so the construction site used scaffolding “structure", columns and beams are steel pipe, malleable iron fasteners fixed and connected to each bar."

Dadad Market / Bangkok Tokyo Architecture + OPH

Scaffolding and corrugated polycarbonate

"The structure itself can be easily dismantled and re-assembled. It consists of repetitive pipe members and clamps similar to those of typical scaffolding system. Simple frames in a check-board layout create a microcosm of little plazas and alleyways accessible from many directions."

Sava Installation / Openact Architecture + Sara Palomar Studio

Scaffolding and metal plates

"Expanding into a 7 km long area of inundation zone, the project transforms the riverbanks with subtle landscape interventions and employs 9 activator structures (temporary scaffolding pavilions) with varying programs to be interchanged in various combinations in between sites, in different seasons, with the ability of dismantling in case of raising water levels."

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Joseph Wakim PhD Thesis Defense

Physical models of chromatin organization and epigenetic domain stability, event details:, this event is open to:.

Joseph Wakim PhD Candidate Chemical Engineering Academic advisor: Professor Andrew Spakowitz

Abstract: Physical Models of Chromatin Organization and Epigenetic Domain Stability

Although there are about 200 distinct cell types in the human body, all somatic cells in an individual share the same genetic code. The spatial organization of DNA plays an important role in regulating gene expression, enabling broad cellular diversity. In each cell, approximately two meters of DNA is organized into a cell nucleus only about 10 microns in diameter. This high degree of compaction is achieved by wrapping DNA tightly around histone octamers to form units called nucleosomes. These nucleosomes are arranged into tight chains called chromatin. Chemical modifications along the chromatin fiber, known as epigenetic marks, cause chromatin to phase separate into loose “euchromatin” and dense “heterochromatin.” Genes in euchromatin are accessible to transcriptional machinery and are more likely to be expressed, while those in heterochromatin are inaccessible and tend to be suppressed. Dysregulation of 3D chromatin architecture has been implicated in several age-related disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

During this presentation, I will explore how patterns of epigenetic marks and conditions in the nuclear environment dictate chromatin organization. I will begin by focusing on the transcriptionally active euchromatic phase. Despite its overall accessibility, euchromatin is characterized by isolated clusters of nucleosomes, which can affect local transcription levels. I will introduce a model that explains how nucleosome geometry and positioning are affected by trace levels of epigenetic marks in euchromatin, causing clusters to form along the chromatin fiber. Using this model, I will evaluate the physical factors dictating cluster sizes.

I will then introduce a model that explains how interacting “reader proteins,” which preferentially bind specific epigenetic marks, affect large-scale chromatin organization and contribute to the segregation of euchromatic and heterochromatic phases. I will demonstrate that direct interactions between different reader proteins are not required to facilitate their crosstalk. Rather, due to the shared scaffold to which reader proteins bind, chromatin condensation by one reader protein may indirectly support the binding of another. According to our model, if different reader proteins compete for binding sites along the chromatin fiber, large-scale chromatin organization can be remodeled in response to changes in reader protein concentrations. By characterizing modes of epigenetic crosstalk, I will demonstrate the interdependence of multiple epigenetic marks on the spatial organization of DNA.

Overall, my presentation will leverage principles from polymer theory, statistical mechanics, and molecular biology to identify factors contributing to the physical regulation of gene expression. The projects I will discuss offer a framework for evaluating how changes in epigenetic patterning and the nuclear environment affect local chromatin accessibility, which is implicated in cell differentiation and age-related diseases.

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Professor Emeritus David Lanning, nuclear engineer and key contributor to the MIT Reactor, dies at 96

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David Lanning, MIT professor emeritus of nuclear science and engineering and a key contributor to the MIT Reactor project, passed away on April 26 at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Massachusetts, at the age of 96.

Born in Baker, Oregon, on March 30, 1928, Lanning graduated in 1951 from the University of Oregon with a BS in physics. While taking night classes in nuclear engineering, in lieu of an available degree program at the time, he started his career path working for General Electric in Richland, Washington. There he conducted critical-mass studies for handling and designing safe plutonium-bearing systems in separation plants at the Hanford Atomic Products Operation, making him a pioneer in nuclear fuel cycle management.

Lanning was then involved in the design, construction, and startup of the Physical Constants Testing Reactor (PCTR). As one of the few people qualified to operate the experimental reactor, he trained others to safely assess and handle its highly radioactive components.

Lanning supervised experiments at the PCTR to find the critical conditions of various lattices in a safe manner and conduct reactivity measurements to determine relative flux distributions. This primed him to be an indispensable asset to the MIT Reactor (MITR), which was being constructed on the opposite side of the country.

An early authority in nuclear engineering comes to MIT

Lanning came to MIT in 1957 to join what was being called the “MIT Reactor Project” after being recruited by the MITR’s designer and first director, Theos “Tommy” J. Thompson, to serve as one of the MITR’s first operating supervisors. With only a handful of people on the operations team at the time, Lanning also completed the emergency plan and startup procedures for the MITR, which achieved criticality on July 21, 1958.

In addition to becoming a faculty member in the Department of Nuclear Engineering in 1962, Lanning’s roles at the MITR went from reactor operations superintendent in the 1950s and early 1960s, to assistant director in 1962, and then acting director in 1963, when Thompson went on sabbatical.

In his faculty position, Lanning took responsibility for supervising lab subjects and research projects at the MITR, including the Heavy Water Lattice Project. This project supported the thesis work of more than 30 students doing experimental studies of sub-critical uranium fuel rods — including Lanning’s own thesis. He received his PhD in nuclear engineering from MIT in fall 1963.

Lanning decided to leave MIT in July 1965 and return to Hanford as the manager of their Reactor Neutronics Section. Despite not having plans to return to work for MIT, Lanning agreed when Thompson requested that he renew his MITR operator’s license shortly after leaving.

“Because of his thorough familiarity with our facility, it is anticipated that Dr. Lanning may be asked to return to MIT for temporary tours of duty at our reactor. It is always possible that there may be changes in the key personnel presently operating the MIT Reactor and the possible availability of Dr. Lanning to fill in, even temporarily, could be a very important factor in maintaining a high level of competence at the reactor during its continued operation,” Theos J. Thompson wrote in a letter to the Atomic Energy Commission on Sept. 21, 1965

One modification, many changes

This was an invaluable decision to continue the MITR’s success as a nuclear research facility. In 1969 Thompson accepted a two-year term appointment as a U.S. atomic energy commissioner and requested Lanning to return to MIT to take his place during his temporary absence. Thompson initiated feasibility studies for a new MITR core design and believed Lanning was the most capable person to continue the task of seeing the MITR redesign to fruition.

Lanning returned to MIT in July 1969 with a faculty appointment to take over the subjects Thompson was teaching, in addition to being co-director of the MITR with Lincoln Clark Jr. during the redesign. Tragically, Thompson was killed in a plane accident in November 1970, just one week after Lanning and his team submitted the application for the redesign’s construction permit.

Thompson’s death meant his responsibilities were now Lanning’s on a permanent basis. Lanning continued to completion the redesign of the MITR, known today as the MITR-II. The redesign increased the neutron flux level by a factor of three without changing its operating power — expanding the reactor’s research capabilities and refreshing its status as a premier research facility.

Construction and startup tests for the MITR-II were completed in 1975 and the MITR-II went critical on Aug. 14, 1975. Management of the MITR-II was transferred the following year from the Nuclear Engineering Department to its own interdepartmental research center, the Nuclear Reactor Laboratory , where Lanning continued to use the MITR-II for research.

Beyond the redesign

In 1970, Lanning combined two reactor design courses he inherited and introduced a new course in which he had students apply their knowledge and critique the design and economic considerations of a reactor presented by a student in a prior term. He taught these courses through the late 1990s, in addition to leading new courses with other faculty for industry professionals on reactor safety.

Co-author of over 70 papers , many on the forefront of nuclear engineering, Lanning’s research included studies to improve the efficiency, cycle management, and design of nuclear fuel, as well as making reactors safer and more economical to operate.

Lanning was part of an ongoing research project team that introduced and demonstrated digital control and automation in nuclear reactor control mechanisms before any of the sort were found in reactors in the United States. Their research improved the regulatory barriers preventing commercial plants from replacing aging analog reactor control components with digital ones. The project also demonstrated that reactor operations would be more reliable, safe, and economical by introducing automation in certain reactor control systems. This led to the MITR being one of the first reactors in the United States licensed to operate using digital technology to control reactor power.

Lanning became professor emeritus in May 1989 and retired in 1994, but continued his passion for teaching through the late 1990s as a thesis advisor and reader. His legacy lives on in the still-operational MITR-II, with his former students following in his footsteps by working on fuel studies for the next version of the MITR core. 

Lanning is predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Gloria Lanning, and is survived by his two children, a brother, and his many grandchildren .

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MFA Thesis Exhibit Offers Deeper Understanding of Queer, Neurodivergent Experience

• Post published: May 20, 2024

Emily Burkhead is an intermedia artist and filmmaker from Memphis, Tennessee, who graduated from Michigan State University in Spring 2024 with an MFA from the Department of Art, Art History, and Design . She is exhibiting her thesis project, Trigger/Glimmer/Something Else , as part of the 2024 Master of Fine Arts Exhibition , which runs through Sunday, May 26, at the  MSU Broad Art Museum . The Trigger/Glimmer/Something Else installation is comprised of a wall of mixed media made of faux fur, 3D filament, clear marine vinyl, and found objects. In front of the mixed media wall, there is a multichannel video installation with two text videos and one short skit video. The text videos are parts of a manifesto that describes how Burkhead’s social experiences as a queer, neurodivergent child manifest into larger institutional systems and how she came to embrace her “otherness” from a young age. The middle channel is a socio-surrealist film that uses humor and satire to examine the neurodivergent experience.  

“Through this composition, I explore my sensory ‘triggers’ and ‘glimmers,’” Burkhead said. “I take on the role of ‘Mrs. Bubblegum,’ a children’s show host whose story she reads to the audience that takes a strange turn.”

Burkhead was selected as this year’s recipient of the Master of Fine Arts Prize, which was presented during the MFA Exhibition reception on April 6. She earned the MFA Prize for her thesis project. Presenting her with the award was guest juror, Teréz Iacovino, Assistant Curator of the Katherine E. Nash Gallery at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

“Winning the award has been a tremendous honor,” Burkhead said. “It was a shock to say the least. I’m very grateful to everyone who helped support me on my MFA journey including my primary advisor, Lara Shipley .”

Burkhead’s journey into the world of art was unconventional. Initially driven by a deep-rooted interest in film, she tried to abandon this passion in college and pursued a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from Rhodes College, graduating from the program in 2020. However, her passion for art reignited during her junior year when she began taking digital art classes, leading her to work on experimental film and video. The absence of a traditional film production program at Rhodes College prompted Burkhead to seek interdisciplinary film and studio art programs, which led her to MSU’s MFA program.

Without a traditional MFA background, Burkhead spent the early part of the program honing her studio practice. During this period of hard work, she found a balance between intuitive creation and guided practice.

“I went into art and film because it helps me answer complex personal questions, but I want to make those questions accessible to others. Otherwise, how else do I learn if I’m just making things in an echo chamber?”

“I begin by following my gut, then examining the work, getting feedback, figuring out what it means, and lastly setting goals for more production, if necessary,” she said. “I went into art and film because it helps me answer complex personal questions, but I want to make those questions accessible to others. Otherwise, how else do I learn if I’m just making things in an echo chamber?” Burkhead’s work encompasses various mediums, including video art, experimental textiles, found objects, collage, and 3D printing, as she navigates existential questions and seeks a deeper understanding of herself and the surrounding social landscape within a broader cultural context.

“I follow intuitive inquiry that seeks a deeper understanding of myself within a broader cultural context,” she said. “Why am I so apprehensive to be overly or inadequately feminine? Why do I feel othered? Why am I attracted to this garish material while being afraid to wear it? Since making the shift from creating films that are structured with a beginning, middle, and end to fostering a fluid studio practice, I have found freedom following my investigation of the material wherever it leads guided by my introspective exploration.” Burkhead’s approach to translating complex emotions into visual form is rooted in vulnerability and experimentation. Embracing risk-taking in her craft, she explores new avenues of expression, allowing her work to evolve organically. She was first influenced by experimental filmmakers such as Maya Deren and Cecelia Condit. She continues to draw inspiration from their exploration of the feminine psyche and the broader artistic tradition of feminist film and art. Some of the more recently discovered artists she looks up to include Mika Rottenberg, Bonnie Lucas, Hito Steyerl, and Diana Cooper.

“In my current body of work, I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from the queer, trans, disabled, and neurodivergent communities online,” Burkhead said. “Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have so much content that allows people like me to embrace their inner child regardless of what they may have lost while coming of age.”

MSU’s MFA program has shaped Burkhead’s artistic practice, providing opportunities for growth and interdisciplinary exploration. Looking ahead, she envisions expanding her practice to encompass mixed media, textiles, and performance art while integrating surrealist video. She aims to create art that resonates with neurodivergent, queer, trans, nonbinary, and disabled individuals, challenging societal perceptions and fostering understanding beyond social media platforms. In Trigger/Glimmer/Something Else , Burkhead hopes to reveal the complexity of neurodivergent minds and queer childhood experiences while subverting typical expectations. Through her detailed and multifaceted work, she invites viewers to contemplate the intricacies of identity and existence, sparking conversations about inclusivity and acceptance in contemporary society. For more information on the MFA Exhibition, see the  2024 MFA Exhibition web page .

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