Thao Nguyen received his Master of Architecture at the University of South Florida, all the while pursuing other academic and professional studies including graphic design, film, and electronic media. Before his current position as Architectural Technician at Gensler in Atlanta, Thao’s professional background included Director of Marketing at Fraze Design and Graphic Design at Velocity Media. These various experiences help to foster the appropriate background that would creatively drive Thao’s Architectural career into new creative heights.

DESIGN CONCEPT: To integrate the surrounding context, a minimal gesture integrated with coarse materiality bends outward and inward to figuratively bring the quality of the exterior context into the small space. Interior lights drawing ones perception upward before expanding outward within the butterfly roof allows the space to become an indicator of usage or non-usage. The butterfly roof, in conjunction with openings below allows negative pressure to bring ventilation through the space, allowing any heat or vapor to escape the space. The narrow space is made to feel much wider by the large openings above, which brings natural lighting from the sides. Materials will include recyclable steel sidings and recyclable wood left from previous construction that may occur on site.

Volunteers are needed to build the structure and iMPACT your community.  Please sign up on the YAF volunteer building page if you are interested.