Olena Petsyukh
GROW & BUILD. Sustainability Making Center
I developed my thesis project in response to the growing need for environmental education, proposing a sustainability-focused making center for children.
The goal of the Sustainability Making Center is to foster environmental stewardship and creativity through interactive learning environments. Its hands-on activities are designed to inspire future generations to embrace eco-friendly practices, use renewable resources and sustainable materials, and respect nature. In addition to offering experiential learning spaces, the building itself serves as a teaching tool by showcasing exposed bio-based construction materials.
The program of the center is organized according to three distinct levels, each responding to environmental conditions and supporting educational and making activities.
The ground level is primarily devoted to outdoor programming, as the site lies within a designated flood hazard area. By limiting enclosed structures at this level, the design embraces resiliency while maximizing opportunities for open-air learning. This level features an outdoor workshop where children can engage with natural materials, an open field for exploration and play, and a seaweed farm that introduces the concept of aquatic cultivation and its ecological benefits. The grounds also hold several nursery areas, in which plants and organic materials used in the center’s workshops are grown.
On the first level of the building are dedicated studios for working with mycelium and algae—two fast-growing, biodegradable materials that represent sustainable alternatives to traditional construction and packaging materials. A greenhouse is also located on this level, serving as both a learning space and a productive environment where plants and biomaterials are cultivated.
The second level supports more advanced fabrication activities in two workshops: a dry shop, intended for practices such as woodworking and mycelium shaping, and a wet shop, designed for working with clay mixed with straw and other bio-based materials.
