Lifted Ecosphere

Publication Date

4-22-2026

Presentation Length

30 minutes

College

O'More College of Architecture & Design

Department

Architecture

Student Level

Undergraduate

Faculty Mentor

Brent Hunter

Presentation Type

Gallery

Summary

The design is rooted in the intersection between architecture and plant ecophysiology, the study of how plants interact with and adapt to their environment. In the humid, sun-intense climate of South Florida, this relationship becomes a guiding principle for both form and function. The building is conceived as a living system that responds to the same environmental forces that shape plant behavior: light, heat, humidity, and airflow.

This lifted form not only protects the building but also opens direct views toward the ocean, creating a shaded undercroft that encourages outdoor interaction and comfort. A semi-central courtyard, shaped by the idea of a pond, enhances ventilation, moderates temperature, and supports ongoing research into plant adaptation and growth. Through these strategies, the architecture becomes both a functional research environment and a responsive climatic system.

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