معرفی
Caroline O'Donnell is the Edgar A. Tafel Professor of Architecture in the Department of Architecture at Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. She served as Chair of the Department and is a licensed architect, educator, and researcher with a strong focus on ecological design, sustainability, and architectural theory. She is the founder and principal of CODA (Caroline O'Donnell Architecture), a practice based in Ithaca, NY, known for innovative, environmentally responsive design.
- B.Arch, Manchester School of Architecture (2000)
- M.Arch, Princeton University (2006)
Her research centers on sustainability, material innovation, and the circular economy, explored through her leadership of the Ecological Action Lab (EAL) at Cornell. Her work challenges conventional material use by experimenting with waste, biodegradable substances, and 'nose-to-tail' design practices. Projects like Primitive Hut and Etvitim at Art Omi demonstrate her commitment to reimagining architecture’s relationship with nature and material lifecycles.
O'Donnell’s publications, including Niche Tactics, The Architecture of Waste, and Werewolf, reflect a deep engagement with architectural theory, ecology, and cultural narratives. Her edited journals—Cornell Journal of Architecture (issues 8–10) and Pidgin—further establish her as a key voice in architectural discourse.
Her recent articles and books explore themes of material metamorphosis, performativity, anti-aesthetics, and narrative in design. The works collectively emphasize a shift from static form to dynamic, responsive, and ecologically grounded architecture, often drawing from biological analogues and philosophical inquiry.
- MoMA/PS1 Young Architects Program Winner (2013)
- Pelli Clarke Pelli Fellowship
- MacDowell Colony Fellowship
- AIA Peconic Jury Award
- Europan Competition Prizes
- Heywood Medal and Suzanne Kolarik Underwood Prize
O'Donnell has advised numerous projects and research initiatives through CODA and the Ecological Action Lab, securing grants such as the NEXUS-NY and Cornell Council for the Arts awards. She has previously taught at Harvard GSD and The Cooper Union, mentoring the next generation of architects. Her collaborative work with OMG (O'Donnell Miller Group) extends her research into walking pavilions and decomposing structures. Future work continues to explore the boundaries of architecture, waste, and narrative, pushing the discipline toward more resilient and imaginative futures.
