[DO]NATION by Isabella Calidonio Stechmann and Tanvi Marina Rao

Isabella Calidonio Stechmann and Tanvi Marina Rao are recent graduates of Syracuse Univesity's School of Architecture B.Arch program. Archinect connected with the duo to explore their final project DO[NATION]. With guidance from their thesis advisors Daniele Profeta, Greg Corso, and Kyle Miller, the two students explore overconsumption, waste, reuse and the relationship of these concepts to the potential growth of a city. 

According to Stechmann and Rao their project "imagines the start of a community that counteracts the single-use of objects and their frivolous discard once they have been exhausted of their utility value. Investigating the donation center model, the results culminated in a design of an intentional community based on a system of logistics that deals with excess through collections and encourages the reuse of donated goods."

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.

Waste should be seen as the point of departure for the speculation on the future of architecture and cities. Our interest lies in a particular type of waste, discarded domestic objects [...] DO[NATION] speculates the future of cities and architecture by critiquing the exasperating rate of overconsumption and overproduction of everyday objects.

Briefly describe your thesis/final project and your inspiration.

Waste should be seen as the point of departure for the speculation on the future of architecture and cities. Our interest lies in a particular type of waste, discarded domestic objects. One of the methods of disposal of these objects is through the act of donation. DO[NATION] speculates the future of cities and architecture by critiquing the exasperating rate of overconsumption and overproduction of everyday objects. It imagines the start of a community that counteracts the single-use of objects and their frivolous discard once they have been exhausted of their utility value. Investigating the donation center model, the results culminated in a design of an intentional community based on a system of logistics that deals with excess through collections and encourages the reuse of donated goods. DO[NATION] is a community of people who are as ever changing as the objects that go through it. It is a disposable society. It receives meaningful things. Beautiful things. These things are found in DO[NATION]. 

...architecture school will prepare you well for evolving under difficult circumstances. We had to constantly remind ourselves of this and the fact that every other time we felt this way in previous years, we made it through, and we would do so once again. 

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

There was a huge shift in how to deliver our project but also how to consider a new mentality for thesis that we had no precedent for. The digital pin-up changed our deliverables more than we thought. Both of us enjoy making physical models and our research phase consisted of producing them to develop our thesis contention. When circumstances changed, we realized we were lucky enough to be able to adapt without hurting our original thesis intent too much. That wasn’t the case for many of our classmates who relied heavily on a physical presentation. But again, they still persevered and had amazing projects. 

When circumstances changed, we realized we were lucky enough to be able to adapt without hurting our original thesis intent too much. That wasn’t the case for many of our classmates who relied heavily on a physical presentation. But again, they still persevered and had amazing projects.

Mentality wise, we were discouraged for a while. After five long years of architecture school we could not wait to present our work to our peers as well as walk around Slocum Hall to view the work of others. Mostly, we missed the constant back and forth with classmates that were unplanned and casual, but incredibly nurturing to both thesis and our learning in general. The uneasy feeling of not knowing what the digital presentation would be like caused plenty of demotivation. On top of it, we were drowned with issues unrelated to academics that inhibited our way of perceiving our work and priorities. We were up in the air for some time, but like in everything else, we adapted. University and specifically architecture school will prepare you well for evolving under difficult circumstances. We had to constantly remind ourselves of this and the fact that every other time we felt this way in previous years, we made it through, and we would do so once again. 

Talk things out [...] and read as much as you can in the early stages of development. Everything you want to do has probably already been introduced in one way or another. 

Any tips for students working through their thesis?

Remember that a thesis project is like a long studio project that you have complete control of. If you feel stuck, ask yourself, what would be the next step in a normal studio? Talk things out. Talk to your advisors, to your friends, to your family, to previous thesis students, to professors you’ve never spoken to before. Email anyone. There’s nothing to lose and most new perspectives will help. Lastly, read as much as you can in the early stages of development. Everything you want to do has probably already been introduced in one way or another.