Marcus was awarded the 2015 James Hunter FAIA Traveling Award for research in South America by the American Institute of Architects. This highly competitive recognition facilitated an academic experience with the AA (Architectural Association) Foreign Schools' location in São Paulo, Brazil. Here, in-depth research focuses on the urbanism of the megacity of São Paulo, the cultural issues of the favelas, connections to the existing urban farmers market, and new concepts of connective infrastructure. This work explored the complex interplay between the city's dynamic urban environment and its diverse cultural fabric, offering new insights and potential solutions for sustainable urban development. This research highlighted the challenges and opportunities within São Paulo's urban landscape.
The design methodology focused on the dynamic character of urban edges, specifically exploring the transformative potential of Vila Leopoldina in São Paulo. Recognizing that urban edges differ from city centers, the workshop emphasized the edge's role as a site of rapid change and diversity. The aim was to conceptualize Vila Leopoldina as a hybrid space—part city, part infrastructure, part landscape, and architectural environment.
The workshop involved developing an urban proposal that reimagined Vila Leopoldina with new mixed-use programs and an urban market. Emphasis was placed on creating synthetic connections that linked the Pinheiros and Tietê rivers, fostering unexpected patterns of organization, growth, and usage. During this process, the area's potential for generating new geographic terrains and stimulating diverse activities was explored.
The production strategy included advanced digital techniques, focusing on dynamic and parametric modeling, such as Maya, coding, and GH. These methods were used not only to generate formal organizations and structures but also to challenge and re-formulate established urban planning concepts. The approach included investigating kinesis, feedback, connectivity, adaptability, differentiation, and variability to develop novel design strategies. Specific programmatic distributions, traffic circulation, and phasing strategies were assessed and determined based on individual group research. This comprehensive approach aimed to project visionary concepts onto the cultural fabric of the city while seeking to integrate and connect the urban edge back into the city's core.