Spring 2018

Parsons School of Design I MFA Thesis Studio

Street lighting is a fundamental factor that shapes our experience of the urban nightscape. Different lighting conditions often impact our perception of the space, decisions that we make, or even how we live our lives. My thesis explores this intertwined relationship between our perception, street lighting, and how lighting ultimately influences one’s perceived level of safety.

In 2016, New York City has launched the Mayor’s Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety (MAP) and additional generator operated floodlights were placed in areas to elevate light levels in an assumption that well-lit streets increase the perception of safety and would reduce the crime rate.

Though the city’s attempt to decrease crime rate was a first big step to bring positive changes to neighborhoods, other sacrifices were made along the way especially when it came down to the quality of life of the residents. Their solution created other problems, such as loud generator noises and glare issues.

This project attempts to understand the residents’ perception of safety at night to provide an alternative solution that may allow to tackle increased level of perceived safety and quality of life at Jacob Riis Houses. Is there a way that would allow for the city to provide a safer nighttime environment without having to sacrifice the quality of life?

It is my hope that this study will allow people to reexamine their priorities in design decisions and understand that we in fact have a chance enhance people’s lives through our designs and further impact the world around us.

Fall 2017

Parsons School of Design I Allied Studio Arch + Lighting

Komorebi is a Japanese term that describes light that is filtered through trees. The concept of this project is to capture of the qualities found in nature and translate them into a constructed environment. The project challenges the boundary between manmade qualities and how to integrate them into a harmonious design.

Spring 2017

Parsons School of Design I Natural and Technological Light

Riis Community Library plays a center role in creating a place where people are encouraged to interact with another within the community and find a sense of belonging in the Lower Eastside neighborhood.

The fenestration design captures three different levels of interaction that are envisioned for the users: the sky, neighborhood, and people. Based on the application of the space, these three fenestration designs alternate to compliment activities that take place within the space.

Fall 2016

Parsons School of Design I Lighting Design Studio I

Hands On traces back to the idea of the original artisan workshop to embrace the spirit of creativity in a community. The goal of this project is to produce a working space that captures the sensation of warmth and comfort by providing warm accent lights through the space. Different workshops that are expanded within 3 floor space encourage people to move around and collaborate with each other. Hands On also provides highly task specific lighting to cater to a wider ranger of users.

October 2017

Parsons School of Design l Light Space Art

Dissolve is a temporary art installation conducted by students in the Light Space Art elective, which looks at the point of confluence between interior and exterior, artificial light and natural light, as each dissolves into the other over time. The installation served as a feature and back-drop for the Natural Light and Architecture conference that took place at Arnhold Hall, The New School on 26th

Spring 2017

IES Student Competition Honorary Mention

Ombra is a lighting installation that explores the relationship between light and scale that plays a siginificant role in our perception. Through creating multiple shadows, it challenges the way we perceive the world around us.