Ferras Coulibaly
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
School of Architecture
“Glitched Systems” is a product of manipulating established architectural works, reinterpreted through the theme of “glitch.” The aim is to devise an abstract form that retains its allure in chaos while preserving a sense of reality and purpose. The project introduces unexpected juxtapositions and distortions, challenging traditional notions of structure and order. By embracing this disruption, the project envisions a new design language where fragments of the past merge with radical contemporary forms, creating a unique aesthetic that bridges history and innovation. © Ferras Coulibaly.
Jury
Monica Chada
Andrew Santa Lucia
Stephen Slaughter
Robert L. Wesley (Chair)
I am deeply honored and profoundly grateful to receive the 2024 Robert L. Wesley Award. I extend my sincerest thanks to the SOM Foundation and the distinguished members of the jury for this incredible recognition and opportunity. This award will significantly contribute to my pursuit of advanced studies at the graduate level, where I aim to cultivate positive change and make a lasting impact on our communities.
“Prod. Library” is a contemporary library situated in the Chelsea District of New York City, conceived as a “people’s library.” The design reimagines the traditional role of libraries, transforming them from mere repositories of history and information into dynamic cultural beacons. This shift emphasizes the library’s evolving function not only as a space for preserving knowledge but also as a catalyst for the creation of new ideas and experiences. © Ferras Coulibaly.
“Prod. Library” serves as a space where traditional library functions are reimagined. Production spaces invade the library in the form of large objects that function as rooms where users can actively create. Within these structures, there is a performance auditorium accessible to professionals and the broader community, an immersive exhibition room, and a project lab also open to both professionals and the public. Additionally, a dedicated space for kids and teens fosters creativity and exploration. These production spaces create tension between the old function of the library and the new function that is proposed as they coexist together. © Ferras Coulibaly.
Ferras is one of the most advanced and intellectually mature undergraduate students I have had the pleasure of working with—wonderfully reliable, widely capable, and enthusiastically engaged.
Riley Studebaker, Lecturer, School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
“Gateways Exhibition.” Following two digital shifts in architecture—one in the early ’90s and the other ongoing—this transformation extends to design thinking. As digital media increasingly dominates our visual landscape, the role of craft in architecture may shift from the physical to the digital realm. This design-build studio explored a hybrid architecture where architectural articulations serve as trackers for virtual overlays. © Ferras Coulibaly.
The “Gateways Exhibition” is a collection of objects that serves as trackers leading to an augmented reality heterotopia. The collection of objects aims to blur the lines between physical construction and digital augmentation, provoking a deeper exploration into architecture’s role in shaping our perception within a hybridized world. © Ferras Coulibaly.
Ferras Coulibaly
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
School of Architecture
Ferras Coulibaly
is a fifth-year architecture student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a four-year member of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS), and a candidate for a minor in artificial intelligence. From an early age, Coulibaly was captivated by the spectacle of construction, an experience that ignited his passion for architecture and has profoundly influenced his approach to design. While deeply committed to architecture, he also developed a strong interest in technology, innovation, and computer science, prompting him to explore the intersection of these fields. His academic and professional pursuits are driven by the belief that technology and computational methods can be leveraged to create sustainable, socially conscious communities that emphasize cultural competence and equity. This vision has informed his undergraduate studies in architecture and his professional experience, including his recent role as an urban designer with the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. Outside of his academic and professional endeavors, Coulibaly has a deep appreciation for fashion, dance, and automobiles, and he seeks to integrate these passions into his broader work, using architecture as a platform for positive change.