EARTHPILES - by Gaurav Puri, Jingyi Wang, Ruchi Singhania, Yuxuan He in the IDEAS Urban Strategy Studio at the UCLA School of Arts and Architecture. Instructed and advised by Jeffrey Inaba​, Gillian Shaffer & David Jimenez Iniesta

Gaurav Puri, Jingyi Wang, Ruchi Singhania, and Yuxuan He are students in UCLA Architecture and Urban Design’s Master of Architecture II (M.Arch.II program). Archinect was able to connect with Puri, Wang, and Singhania to explore their final project within their IDEAS - Urban Strategy program. Recognized as an institution focused on its research-based approach and student-faculty collaborations, UCLA's IDEA's programming enables students to explore topics that focus on issues and solutions whose application can be actualized.

Together, the team, under the instruction of Associate Adjunct Professor Jeffrey Inaba, Gillian Shaffer and David Jimenez Iniesta, explore Los Angeles's iconic Bunker Hill and its historical transitions with regards to land-use. By breaking down the area's topographic and land transformations, the group works together to explore new design methods to create a more substantial "foundation for post-disaster urban life." In addition to their exploration of land-use, they share their own experiences during the pandemic and their transition to remote learning.

Archinect's Spotlight on 2020 Thesis Projects: 2020 has been an extraordinarily challenging year for architecture graduates. Students were displaced as schools shut down, academic communities had to adapt to a new virtual format, end-of-year celebrations were canceled or changed dramatically, and now these students are graduating into an extremely challenging employment market. To support the 2020 class we're launching a summer series of features highlighting the work of thesis students during this unique time of remote learning amid COVID-19. Be sure to follow our 2020 thesis tag to stay up to date as we release new project highlights.

The iconic Bunker Hill in Los Angeles has undergone several land transformations [...]these topographic changes and its unstable grounds on top of a liquefaction zone, this area is susceptible to damage in the event of an earthquake.

Please briefly describe your thesis/final project and your inspiration.

The iconic Bunker Hill in Los Angeles has undergone several land transformations, most notably in the years 1850, 1970, 2000, and throughout its short history. Due to these topographic changes and its unstable grounds on top of a liquefaction zone, this area is susceptible to damage in the event of an earthquake. 

A new typology of shells and piles compose a new construction method for reassembling disaster debris, where rubble gets recycled and reconfigured into a new foundation for post-disaster urban life. 

Bunker Hill is a prototype for new architecture throughout the rebuild of Los Angeles after 2050.

The most important suggestion would be to have an open dialogue with your peers and instructors.

Through remote learning, and having classes three times a week, we haven't felt isolated and the studio's (virtual) morale has remained high.

How did your project change as studios transitioned to remote learning?

The transition to remote learning has been smooth so far. The instructors have been very helpful in creating this transition. However, we faced issues in making design decisions as a group after the remote learning commenced. Earlier, we would discuss all the aspects of the project and divide the work among us. But now the decisions are made by the individual working on different parts of the project which sometimes results in incoherent final outcome. The interaction with physical models to see the design as a prototype has also been a real challenge.  

Any tips for students working through their final projects?

The most important suggestion would be to have an open dialogue with your peers and instructors. Through remote learning, and having classes three times a week, we haven't felt isolated and the studio's (virtual) morale has remained high. They are the ones who would be able to guide you during a stressful work situation.