Suspended Urban Garden

This project served as my Senior Capstone at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Image with three horizontal sections labeled 'RESEARCH,' 'DEVELOPMENT,' and 'SOLUTION' featuring greenery. Each section contains text listing related steps or concepts.
Green fern leaves with text "RESEARCH" and bullet points: "Problem Statement," "Target Audience," "Research," and "Expert Interviews."
New York City skyline with skyscrapers and problem statement about urban stressors and mental health.
Overhead view of pedestrians walking on a tiled floor, accompanied by text detailing the target audience for a specific project aimed at urban dwellers aged 25-65.
Research text about human-plant relationships, highlighting nature's psychological and physical health benefits, alongside an outdoor scenic view. The text discusses nature's role in reducing depression and aiding recovery, with a path and trees under a bright sky in the photo.
A group of people waiting at a subway platform labeled 42nd Street. The right side features text discussing urban psychology, mentioning topics like population size impact, urban stressors, city layouts, innovation centers, and identity formation.
Text on left discussing insights about human emotional states and environment. Green leaves with water droplets on right.
Close-up of green fern leaves with the word 'DEVELOPMENT' and a list: 'Inspiration, User Persona, Early Sketches, Concepts, Refinements' overlaid.
Collage of architectural and design inspirations featuring nature and modern structures, including plant installations, geometric architecture, abstract sculptures, and interiors with natural elements.
User persona for Lyssa, a 32-year-old HR representative living in New York City. She is a full-time working mother with a three-year-old daughter, married, and owns a dog. Her household income is $120,000, and she lives in a two-bedroom apartment with her family. Lyssa's stressors include commuting to work, public transportation, crowds, traffic, construction, and noise. Her commute takes 55 minutes and includes walking, subway, and daycare drop-off. She has access to a small park for greenspace but lacks a restorative natural environment.
Collection of architectural and design sketches featuring various innovative concepts and structures, including modular units, futuristic homes, and organic shapes, with handwritten annotations detailing design elements and ideas.
Concept sketches for urban green spaces, including Experience Pods, Subway Car Garden, and Subway Station Garden. Features designs like hanging gardens and reflective floors to introduce nature in urban settings.
Concept sketches and notes for subway station garden and signage design, featuring geometric structures with plant integration, material specifications, and architectural elements.
Green leaves on a vine-covered wall with "Solution" text and a list including "Suspended Garden," "Physical Model," "Signage System," "Recommended Plants," and "Sources."
Subway station with suspended garden, featuring lush green plants hanging from the ceiling. Commuters walk below near store fronts in the lobby area. The text on the right describes the benefits and setup of the suspended garden system.
Assembly diagram of a modular planter system with labeled components, including frame, planters, pentagonal hardware, spaghetti irrigation, and various parts like chain and silicone plug.
Geometric modular lighting system with triangular panels and black fixtures
Design model with triangular pattern and artificial greenery
A design model showcasing a geometric plant structure inside a transparent box. The model features a tessellated pattern of triangles and includes greenery. Text on the right describes triangle ratios and tessellations, with diagrams illustrating the geometric arrangement.
Subway station interior with a train at Chambers Street. Hanging plants with signage and a planter displaying a city map on the platform. Descriptive text about the signage and plant system.
Conceptual designs of triangular suspended displays with "Downtown & Brooklyn QNR" signage and wooden elements, shown from various angles.
Recommended plants for low maintenance and low light include Philodendron, Hedera Helix, Bromeliads, Scindapsus, Draecaena, Tradescantia, and Ferns.
Close-up of green leaves with water droplets