Shortly after she was named dean of the School of Architecture (TSOA) in 2021, Stephanie Lin started plotting a campus exhibition centered on organic architecture, a concept popularized by Frank Lloyd Wright, the luminary who also founded the experimental institution in Paradise Valley, Arizona as the Taliesin Fellowship in 1932.
The Welcome Center’s frames can be occupied by visitors, creating open space for informal activities
Unveiled in 2022, the group show, Lin says “invited a fresh perspective on the use of the word organic and celebrated its multifaceted nature” through installations from 10 different architectural studios. Earlier this year, she also orchestrated an outdoor exhibition of student and faculty works that put the spotlight on reclaimed materials. Both exhibitions were designed by Present Forms, the New York practice Lin helms.
Following a three-year residency at Arcosanti, an experimental town in central Arizona, TSOA moved to the Cattle Track Arts Compound in Scottsdale in 2023, a storied setting for an unconventional, hands-on architectural education. Students, whether they are on the rigorous master’s of architecture track or partaking in the two-month immersion program, recognize that the integrative curriculum is distinctive.
Core classes and studio projects culminate in a design-build thesis, but daily life is interwoven with a commitment to the school’s tight-knit community that permeates academic discussions. “Learning how to resolve conflict and developing respectful communication skills are all part of professional growth. “This, in turn, allows students to take initiative and be leaders in their circles,” explains Lin.
The Organic exhibition at TSOA examines interpretations of the world through works by students
This also dovetails with TSOA’s mission to make student projects more collaborative throughout the design and construction phases. “There is a shift away from singular individuals toward more collective forms of thinking and practice,” Lin adds.
It’s a mindset that Lin has long embraced in her own work. In Vancouver, her childhood was dominated by creative activities like repeatedly sketching her bedroom and poring over books of mazes, which hinted at her future architecture studies at UC Berkeley and the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
“I was spatially aware and cognizant,” she recalls, noting that even playing the piano helped prepare her for her career. “I attribute it to a sense of craft because of the precision and technique-based training that come with it.”
The Veil chair by Present Forms repurposes materials from Covid-era outdoor dining structures
The Welcome Center at Governors Island in New York, designed by Office III, a design collective comprising Present Forms, Studio Sean Canty, and Ryan Golenberg
This article originally appeared in HD’s July 2024 issue.
