Gridscape

Tina Nguyen and Kraig Sims, Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning

Faculty Advisors: Glenn Wilcox, Associate Professor of Architecture, Taubman College; Mark Meier, Lecturer in Architecture, Taubman College; Chris Humphrey, Director of Fabrication Research, Rice School of Architecture

We are applying for the Student MicroGrant to advance our research project, Gridscape – an interdisciplinary exploration at the intersection of architecture, digital fabrication, computational design, interactive media, and performance art. This fusion of disciplines drives the creation of a dynamic, responsive pavilion that redefines human interaction with built environments.

The interdisciplinary nature of Gridscape is crucial because it aligns with the project’s core objective – creating a space that encourages social interaction and redefines spatial agency. Gridscape challenges traditional architecture by shifting control from static design to user-driven adaptability. Instead of dictating movement, the pavilion invites participants to shape and personalize their surroundings through computational design, prefabricated modular systems, and responsive technologies. Embedding interactivity at its core, the project fosters social engagement and pushes the boundaries of contemporary design and fabrication.

Art plays a central role in shaping Gridscape, transforming it from a structure into an immersive, participatory experience. The pavilion merges architecture, performance, and digital media, redefining public space as an evolving artwork. The project integrates artistic expression across multiple dimensions: (i) sculptural and aesthetic innovation, (ii) light and shadow as interactive art, (iii) performance and movement integration, and (iv) user-driven creative engagement.

As a group project, Gridscape thrives through interdisciplinary collaboration, driving innovation while demanding strong coordination and adaptability. We plan to navigate challenges by holding regular team meetings, managing time and resources, integrating digital and physical systems, and balancing creative vision and technical feasibility.

We will carry out Gridscape in a nine-week timeline, processing through research, prototyping, fabrication, and final refinement. In the first two weeks, we will conduct material studies and explore interactive design elements. Over the next three weeks, the digital fabrication lead will develop small-scale prototypes while the parametric design lead will optimize the parametric screening models. Once finalized, we will move into full-scale fabrication. During the final four weeks, we will assemble the pavilion and work with our advisors to integrate sound and movement sensors. In the last phase, we will document the project through a short film and display our modular sets at the Duderstadt Center’s gallery.

We expect our research to be the foundation for future on-campus interactive installations that fight against social isolation and encourage community engagement. We also hope our project will become an inspiring interdisciplinary collaboration that leads to innovative design solutions.

Our team has two members, Kraig Sims and I – Tina. Even though we both have backgrounds in architecture, we bring distinct expertise – I specialize in digital fabrication, while Kraig focuses on computational and parametric design. In addition to my architectural experience, I have performed as a dancer for the Vietnamese Student Association at UMich and UC Berkeley, which strengthen my understanding of movement and spatial interaction. Our skills equip us to execute this project successfully. Besides, we have secured mentorship from faculty in dance, architecture, digital fabrication, and computational design, ensuring Gridscape benefits from a well-rounded research approach.