The uniquely independent masters program here at the Waterloo School of Architecture continues to grow, and each term brings new graduate students accompanied by their diverse thesis objectives. Over the next few weeks we will be profiling these future masters and their work in hopes of shedding light on the breadth of research and design happening within the school.
This week features masters students who are at various stages of developing their thesis work.
Immersed in their research, writing, and design speculation, masters students are often elusive creatures; hidden behind a fortress of books, obsessively consumed in personal projects. But don’t fear them, they’re not dragons. Approach them, ask them questions, because they’ve been in your position. Once upon a time, they too entered into the ambiguous and challenging world of the architecture undergraduate and they persevered! Talk to them, for they are wise.
Petra Bogias | M5
Where can you be found? 2023.
How do you prefer to procrastinate?
Coffee shop, extra long lunches, blogging, and social media.
Tip from an elder.
Automate your InDesign files!! Ask me and I’ll show you how!
Summarize your thesis in a sentence or two.
I’m working on living architectural membranes. This term I’ll be fabricating some silicone prototypes and testing them with algae.
May Wu | M5
Where can you be found? RM 2023.
Tip from an elder.
Write a little bit everyday.
Summarize your thesis in a sentence or two.
My thesis intends to reconnect people with urban water and the Garrison Creek by making water a prominent play element in one of the Toronto city parks, Fred Hamilton Park. This approach can be widely adopted at a network scale to enable Toronto citizens of all age groups to be actively involved in contributing to the urban water cycle through productive play.
Tim Wat| M7
Where can you be found? Office 3011.
How do you prefer to procrastinate?
YouTube is the worst.
Tip from an elder.
Visit and spend time in architecture that you like.
Summarize your thesis in a sentence or two.
How does architecture engage us on a spiritual level?
M1 Studio Project
Deborah Wang | M4
Where can you be found?
The first office by the loft, facing the river (room # ?), but mostly in Toronto.
How do you prefer to procrastinate?
By working on other projects.
Summarize your thesis in a sentence or two.
The living interact with the dead.
Claire Lubell | M3
Where can you be found? When in school I can be found in 3011, but most of my time is spent working at home in Waterloo.
How do you prefer to procrastinate? Netflix addictions!
Tip from an elder.
Appreciate the freedom to define your own work!
Summarize your thesis in a sentence or two.
I’m studying Johannesburg, partly out of obsession after living there, and because I believe its exceptionally compressed and contested history can inform contemporary urban theory and processes of urbanization more generally. I’m using it to frame a methodology for future research which I plan to develop further in an urban design postgraduate degree.
