Donovan Wessel
4th Year
My fourth year of architecture school marked a shift in focus. Unlike previous years, which emphasized conceptual development and design experimentation, this year centered around synthesizing everything I had learned from studio projects and architecture-adjacent coursework into the creation of more complete architectural proposals.
VAULTS
Location
Vaults challenges the conventional notion of underground seed storage by exposing the seed vaults for all to see. The exposure symbolizes the growth process of a seed, transitioning from hidden to revealed, much like a seed's natural growth into a plant. The vaults become a central visual element, emphasizing the importance of preservation and education.
Denver, CO
Date
Fall 2024
Vaults also explores a powerful dichotomy. The vault's reliance on advanced technology and meticulous human effort starkly contrasts the natural, self-sustaining growth process of seeds. Three driving elements fueled the unique character of Vaults: exposure of unseen elements, a public and private parti, and a five-foot structural grid system.
PIER ZERO
Location
San Francisco, CA
Date
Spring 2025
Focused on reversing San Francisco’s “doom loop,” Pier Zero proposes a new urban landmark that combines ecological awareness with public engagement. Pier Zero features a series of immersive, multi-sensory exhibitions interwoven with public nature modules. Through each installation, the effects of rising seas are made tangible, telling stories of impermanence, erosion, and disappearance.
To create change, a project must be more than a white box museum; it must be an experience, a call to action, and a catalyst for change. Through a series of sensory-driven exhibition modules, users confront the reality of rising sea levels in San Francisco, not from data alone, but through feeling and immersion.
