Dezeen School Shows: a scaffolding system that transforms buildings into vertical farms is among the projects from New York Institute of Technology.

Also featured is a proposal that integrates ecological presentation into Rio de Janeiro's tourism industry, and a project that addresses the city's recurring power outages.

New York Institute of Technology

Institution: New York Institute of Technology
School: School of Architecture and Design
Course: Masters of Architecture (MArch)
Tutors: Marcella Del Signore and Evan Shieh

School statement:

"ARCH 802_Design‐Research Studio 'Multiple Grounds: Defining Resilient Spatial Futures' is the final semester studio of the Master of Architecture programme at New York Tech's School of Architecture and Design (SoAD).

"The studio tasks students to engage in the dense and complex district of Sao Cristovao in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as a laboratory, engaging in the theme of resiliency. Defined generally, resiliency is 'the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; the ability of a something to spring back into shape (elasticity)'.

"Within the context of design, the studio charges designers to investigate architecture's capacity to create and contribute to the resiliency of the various social/cultural, environmental/ecological and infrastructural/network systems of the city through architectural interventions that have the capacity to generate a continuum between its multiple 'grounds'."

Vessel of Light: A Spiritual Descent into Earth by Aarsh Dipak Nandani

"Located in São Cristóvão, a culturally diverse neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Vessel of Light is a thesis project that reimagines sacred space as an inclusive, contemplative landscape rooted in the elemental and experiential.

"The proposal responds to the city's layered history of religion, culture and infrastructure, revealed through analytical mappings of population density, cultural institutions, open spaces, public services and mobility networks.

"The design expresses spirituality through sensory experience, shaped by the four fundamental elements: earth, air, water and light. The entire building is embedded below ground, allowing the site's surface to function as a fully public park, accessible to all. Above ground, there are sculptural forms that channel daylight and natural ventilation into the interior, while symbolising moments of vertical spiritual connection.

"The single-floor subterranean structure includes spaces for prayer, meditation, ritual ceremonies and collective gatherings. A cultural zone features classrooms, a library, workshops, an exhibition gallery and an amphitheatre, programmes that serve both children and adults throughout the day.

"Materiality reinforces the elemental narrative. Terracotta surfaces evoke earth, open skylights bring air and light into the heart of the structure, and two stepwells, one publicly accessible in the park, and one interior, honour water as both sacred and shared."

Student: Aarsh Dipak Nandani
Course: MArch
Tutors: Evan Shieh and Marcella Del Signore
Email: ar.aarshnandani[at]gmail.com

The Agrarian City by Aneesha Muthuraj and Rajni Kathiriya

"In a time when urban centres face growing food insecurity and rural traditions risk being forgotten, architecture has the potential to bridge the gap between cultural heritage and contemporary urban challenges.

"This project began with two key questions: how can architecture reconnect Brazil's deep agrarian identity with its current urban food insecurity? How can we transform abandoned structures into systems that grow food, share knowledge and empower local communities?

"From these questions, The Agrarian City was born. It is a design framework that proposes scaffolding systems and modular toolkit insertions to retrofit unused buildings into vertical teaching farms. These structures not only produce food but also serve as platforms for education, skill-building and community gathering.

"Our pilot site in São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, is rooted in the principles of adaptive reuse, seasonal crop planning, and integrated spatial systems that blur the lines between agriculture, learning and public life.

"By treating architecture as an evolving, regenerative system rather than a static form, the project aims to demonstrate how the built environment can support ecological restoration, food justice and social empowerment

"At its core, The Agrarian City is about growing, reusing and educating, rethinking the role of architecture as a living system that cultivates resilience and belonging within the urban fabric."

Students: Aneesha Muthuraj and Rajni Kathiriya
Course: MArch
Tutors: Evan Shieh and Marcella Del Signore
Emails: amuthu02[at]nyit.edu and rkathi01[at]nyit.edu

Energy Networks: Stitching Infrastructure through Land and Water by Neha Mudu and Sarvesh Sanket Joshi

"This proposal envisions a renewable energy power plant designed to act as a resilient backup system for Rio de Janeiro's industrial zones, addressing the city's recurring power outages while supporting long-term sustainable urban development.

"The design responds not only to the functional need for energy resilience but also to the environmental and social challenges faced by rapidly urbanising coastal cities.

"At the heart of the project is a hybrid energy infrastructure that integrates four key renewable sources — hydroelectric, geothermal, solar and wind.

"A central feature of the project is a spine-like elevated pedestrian walkway, a linear path connecting the energy-producing nodes across the site. It guides movement whilst educating the public about sustainable energy systems.

"The walkway is embedded with piezoelectric panels that convert foot traffic into electricity, symbolising how everyday public activity can contribute to a collective energy future.

"Along this spine, key programmatic zones unfold, including educational centres, community spaces, research pods, and waterfront public areas. The project becomes more than a utility – it transforms into a civic landscape where infrastructure, technology and people converge.

"By treating renewable energy infrastructure as a public asset, this proposal aims to blur the boundaries between utility and urban experience. It supports energy independence, encourages public engagement and creates a resilient framework that can adapt to future environmental and social needs."

Students: Neha Mudu and Sarvesh Sanket Joshi
Course: MArch
Tutors: Evan Shieh and Marcella Del Signore
Emails: sjoshi16[at]nyit.edu and nmudu[at]nyit.edu

Roots and Rails by Alyssa Ascani, Naomi Metzger and Siraphat Sukarom

"Roots and Rails is a design thesis focused on reimagining food distribution infrastructure in Brazil at a micro scale, specifically in the São Cristóvão neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.

"The project addresses food insecurity, infrastructure inequality and community disconnection, proposing a local food network.

"The thesis transforms underutilised land and divides urban infrastructure, specifically the railway corridor, into a linear public food system, with three vacant or unproductive sites along the railway, connected with a continuous 'spine' built above the tracks.

"This elevated path hosts production, consumption, exchange and celebration programs, forming the core of a new community-based food network.

"The spine includes community gardens, open markets, dining areas and public spaces. It is accessible via existing pedestrian bridges and integrates with surrounding neighbourhoods, connecting local businesses, bars, restaurants and homes.

"Additional elements include amphitheaters, educational classrooms, seed exchange hubs and compost stations. Organic waste is collected, composted and returned as fertiliser, creating a sustainable loop that reduces pollution and supports local agriculture.

"Roots and Rails reclaims neglected infrastructure to serve the local community, transforming a divisive element of the city into a unifying, productive space."

Students: Alyssa Ascani, Naomi Metzger and Siraphat Sukarom
Course: MArch
Tutors: Evan Shieh and Marcella Del Signore
Emails: aascani[at]nyit.edu, nmetzger[at]nyit.edu and ssukarom[at]nyit.edu

EcoScape: When Nature and Culture Converge by Nadia Bryson and Fairy Patel

"EcoScape is a sustainable architectural proposal that reimagines tourism in Rio de Janeiro by integrating ecological preservation, cultural heritage and urban development, with a proposal for a green infrastructure network throughout the city.

"Inspired by the Eden Project, EcoScape merges immersive biomes – such as rainforest, aquatic environments, butterfly sanctuaries and wetlands – with educational and public spaces designed to foster environmental awareness and biodiversity conservation.

"The spatial design follows a progression from compact cores to open, connected networks. Circulation rings, transitional nodes and elevated pathways allow for seamless visitor flow while preserving natural terrain.

"Zones are designated for specific types of tourism – beach, cultural, eco-adventure, festival and sports – with modular structures like open-air pavilions, courtyards and arenas accommodating various activities.

"Ultimately, EcoScape envisions a future where nature is not a backdrop to tourism, but the primary experience. It transforms Rio into a living landscape where ecological awareness, cultural celebration and sustainable development converge, inviting visitors to become participants in preservation rather than passive consumers."

Students: Nadia Bryson and Fairy Patel
Course: MArch
Tutors: Evan Shieh and Marcella Del Signore
Emails: nbryson[at]nyit.edu and fpatel18[at]nyit.edu

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and New York Institute of Technology. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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