October Student Member of the Month

Kelsey Buenz

Iowa State University

Architecture Student

1. Why did you choose the design/construction field?

The way we design is a creative, iterative, and thorough process. It is so different than how other fields and disciplines practice. It is a process that takes passionate individuals to pursue and it is a process that I have found works well for me.

2. What is the most unusual medium you have used for a model, and what did it represent?

I once used electrical tape in a model to illustrate a narrative of uncertainty and confinement. The tape was stretched and tangled inside of an acrylic box. The tape was self-structuring and created interesting connections with its clear acrylic bounds.

3. What has been your favorite studio trip so far?

Visiting New York City for Arch 302 studio was an exciting and eye-opening trip for me. The city is full of prominent architecture and sites that I have studied in school – it is rewarding to experience the spaces first- hand. I realized for myself that the possibilities and commotion of the city were best experienced over a short time period and that there was a lot to appreciate about living in the Midwest.

4. What is the best advice you have received from a professor or mentor?

“We are planting seeds of change, the fruit of which we might never see.”

I believe that the design field is critical in the process of putting new ideas into the world. Many may view the ideas as too progressive and may not accept them but we have to continue to be a voice for the issues we see. When we are contributing to the built environment, I think the hope is that our creations outlive us. In that, there is a responsibility to be aware of the way they participate in the social, cultural, and environmental settings of the future.

5. How has Iowa Women in Architecture influenced you?

Iowa Women in Architecture has allowed me to find confidence by being surrounded by successful professionals and students. We all have so much to learn from each other and Iowa Women in Architecture creates a space to do that.

Aligning Edges

This project aims to reconnect the historic ruins of ‘il Torrione’ and the park back to the Roman neighborhood. The ground-level design extends the public park space with a community building and a pavilion. The solids work in continuity with the urban fabric and help shape the void of the park by aligning towards the urban edge. The historic ruins of the park are a focal point for the cafeteria, courtyard, coworking, and housing spaces.