Dezeen School Shows: a dance studio designed to be accessible for blind and visually impaired people is among the projects from students at the School of Visual Arts.
Also featured is a nature-inspired nightclub and a medical centre featuring biophilic design.
School of Visual Arts
Institution: School of Visual Arts
School: BFA Interior Design: Built Environments
Courses: Senior Thesis
Instructors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
School statement:
“The 2025 Senior Thesis in Interior Design: Built Environments at SVA showcases future-forward design proposals that address urgent global and local challenges – from climate resilience and adaptive reuse to cultural preservation and community wellbeing.
“Students explore complex real-world issues through research-driven, interdisciplinary approaches that bridge architecture, urbanism and environmental systems. Each project demonstrates a deep sensitivity to site, history and the human experience, resulting in spaces that are both imaginative and purposeful.
“Grounded in sustainable thinking and social responsibility, this body of work reflects the evolving role of interior designers as spatial storytellers, problem-solvers and agents of change in our built environments.”
Forest Flux by Tiffany Chen
“Forest Flux is a nature-inspired nightclub and food court that reimagines nightlife with wellness in mind. Addressing post-pandemic demands for healthy late-night options, it offers fresh, nutritious food in a vibrant, music-driven space.
“Curved walls and organic forms flow with the rhythm, guiding guests through a dynamic environment anchored by a spiral staircase wrapped around a central tree.
“Above, two rooftop lounges provide panoramic views and a peaceful escape. Below, winding seating fosters intimate social zones.
“Surrounded by greenery and movement, Forest Flux blends the energy of a nightclub with the calm of conscious dining in a truly immersive setting.”
Student: Tiffany Chen
Course: Senior Thesis
Instructors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: tchen30[at]sva.edu
Toki House by Atalia Fragoletti
“Toki House is a home and studio hosting artist-in-residency programmes for Japanese master craftsmen, offering space to explore tradition through the lens of New York City.
“Rather than leaving heritage behind, the programme invites artists to reimagine their craft in a dynamic, urban context.
“Toki House fosters cross-cultural exchange and creative renewal by placing time – honoured practices in conversation with the city’s vibrant energy.
“Surrounded by new rhythms, residents experience fresh perspectives, sparking unexpected ideas and innovations.
“The result is a powerful blend of tradition and transformation – where heritage evolves and artistry takes on new, inspiring forms.”
Student: Atalia Fragoletti
Course: Senior Thesis
Instructors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: afragoletti[at]sva.edu
Neotide by Junhan Han
“Neotide envisions a future city reshaped by rising seas, offering an architectural response to climate disaster.
“Set in a world submerged by water, Neotide functions as both sanctuary and memorial – a space to grieve what’s been lost and imagine what can still be created.
“The structure blends remnants of the past with futuristic design, honouring memory while fostering resilience.
“More than a building, Neotide is a symbol of adaptation and hope, offering the community a place to gather, reflect and begin again in the face of environmental transformation.”
Student: Junhan Han
Course: Senior Thesis
Instructors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: jhan164[at]sva.edu
Octa Nexus by Liwen He
“Octa Nexus is a cultural and community centre located in Xinjiang, a diverse region once central to the Silk Road.
“Rooted in octagonal geometry – a symbol of unity – the design fosters connection among the area’s 56 ethnic groups.
“It blends traditional motifs with contemporary architecture to support education, cultural exchange and community-building.
“Open public spaces invite gatherings and dialogue, reinforcing the values of inclusion and shared heritage.
“Octa Nexus stands as a beacon of cultural convergence, preserving Xinjiang’s rich legacy while offering a modern space where diversity is celebrated and new forms of collaboration can emerge.”
Student: Liwen He
Course: Senior Thesis
Instructors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: lhe19[at]sva.edu
Next Happiness by Bojun Huang
“Next Happiness transforms a prominent building near a bustling Shanghai alley into a vibrant hub for sports, entertainment, retail and community.
“Located just steps from the designer’s childhood home, the project blends familiar surroundings with new purpose.
“By integrating street culture and athletic spaces, it encourages youth engagement, social connection and neighbourhood vitality.
“The design aims to create a local landmark where friendships form and wellbeing flourishes.
“Rooted in the belief that people are happiest when close to joy, Next Happiness brings energy and community spirit to a revitalised corner of the city.”
Student: Bojun Huang
Course: Senior Thesis
Instructors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: bhuang7[at]sva.edu
Lento by Shukin Li
“Lento is a music therapy centre in Long Island City serving individuals with special needs and the broader public seeking stress relief.
“Designed around the healing power of sound and space, the centre includes therapy rooms, a performance hall, cafe and offices – all within a warm, inviting environment.
“Inspired by sonata form, the site is divided into three sections: exposition, development and recapitulation.
“Two buildings are connected by a curved walkway with views of nature. Piano-like forms shape the interiors and roof, whose rhythmic waves correspond to musical chords, allowing architecture, music and emotion to resonate together in harmony.”
Student: Shukin Li
Course: Senior Thesis
Instructors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: sli45[at]sva.edu
Heart of the Chengdu by Songlin Lu
“Heart of the Chengdu explores how modern architecture can honour ancient heritage while supporting sustainable urban growth.
“Located in the capital of Sichuan Province, the project reflects Chengdu’s role as a historic cultural and commercial hub within the ‘land of abundance.’
“Drawing from over 5,000 years of Bashu civilisation, it seeks to integrate traditional elements into contemporary design.
“As the city faces rapid development, Heart of Chengdu responds to the urgent need for balance between modernisation, historical preservation and community renewal – offering a thoughtful framework for the city’s next chapter rooted in culture, identity and resilience.”
Student: Songlin Lu
Course: Senior Thesis
Instructors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: slu9[at]sva.edu
Ravenswood by Jaewan Park
“Ravenswood reimagines New York City’s largest power plant as an energy-positive, community-centred complex.
“Located on 28 acres in Long Island City, Queens, the site once supplied over 20 per cent of the city’s electricity but now faces urgent decommissioning due to high emissions.
“The project’s first phase replaces outdated infrastructure with renewable energy systems and integrates Distributed Energy Generation (DEG) alongside residential, educational and research facilities.
“By transforming a legacy of fossil fuels into a model for sustainable urban living, Ravenswood becomes a catalyst for clean energy, community renewal and environmental stewardship in the heart of the city.”
Student: Jaewan Park
Course: Senior Thesis
Instructors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: jpark201[at]sva.edu
Twin Springs by Yuanhao Shen
“Twin Springs responds to the urgent need for energy-efficient architecture in Jinan, China – a city with extreme seasonal climates.
“The project utilises the area’s underground spring water along with sustainable systems like geothermal pumps, air convection and plant walls to reduce reliance on air conditioning and promote year-round comfort.
“At its core is the revitalisation of a historic 19th-century stone building, originally built by a German architect, now reimagined as a cultural hub.
“Featuring a tea house, exhibition space and water-focused installations, Twin Springs strengthens community ties while honouring Jinan’s natural resources and architectural heritage.”
Student: Yuanhao Shen
Course: Senior Thesis
Instructors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: yshen26[at]sva.edu
Studio Sensorielle by Morgan Jourdin
“Studio Sensorielle is a dance space for the blind and visually impaired, created in response to the isolation and disconnection of a post-covid world.
“Its mission is twofold: to empower the blind community to confidently engage in a discipline from which they’ve often been excluded and to invite sighted participants to explore the power of physical vulnerability.
“Through shared movement, Studio Sensorielle fosters empathy, connection and a deeper understanding of diverse lived experiences – building a truly inclusive community grounded in trust, expression and embodied awareness.”
Student: Morgan Jourdin
Course: Senior Thesis
Instructors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: mjourdin[at]sva.edu
Evergeen Centre by Louisa Gutenberger
“Evergeen Centre reimagines psychiatric care on the abandoned grounds of Letchworth Village, once a site of neglect and trauma.
“Built atop Stewart Hall and its adjacent dorms, the centre connects three structures with glass greenhouse bridges that immerse patients in nature.
“Guided by six of the 14 patterns of biophilic design, it blends natural light, organic materials and therapeutic spatial experiences to promote healing.
“The Evergreen Centre responds to a growing need for psychiatric hospitals that reflect current mental wellness research – offering a space where nature and care converge to foster dignity, recovery and a renewed sense of place.”
Student: Louisa Gutenberger
Course: Senior Thesis
Instructors: Gita Nandan and Anthony Lee
Email: lgutenberger[at]sva.edu
Partnership content
This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and the School of Visual Arts. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
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