o c o t i l l o

Tucson, AZ, United States

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o c o t i l l o

Tucson, AZ, United States

Firm

Roundhouse Platform

Type

Cultural › Observation Tower Pavilion Sculpture
Educational › Other

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2025

SIZE

0 sqft - 1000 sqft

BUDGET

$0 - 10K

Located in Tucson, Arizona, o c o t i l l o is a collaborative, student-built installation that reimagines the everyday features of the bench, stair, and fence as an integrated—and interactive—architectural experience. The project draws inspiration from the ocotillo, a cane-like, spiky shrub endemic to the Sonoran Desert, in its restricted material palette of linear members, and from the etymology of the Nahuatl word ocotl, meaning torch or candle, in its responsive nocturnal illumination. Measuring just eight feet in each direction, the project acts as an observation chamber, engaging the rhythms of an expansive landscape through spatial modulation, material experimentation, and digital storytelling.

In concept, o c o t i l l o reconsiders a vernacular construction technique of building ocotillo fences common throughout the region, exploring a material substitution with stock 2 by 4 pieces of dimensional lumber. The installation is composed of a series of simple interlocking frames, these standardized architectural elements are configured in a variety of ways in order to offer a multiplicity of seating, shade, and viewing platforms. Each layer of the construct expands or contracts, forming a series of framed views or shaping spaces of possible encounter. Using a simple construction system with studs, screws and jigs, the kit of parts is made of only standard, unaltered parts, allowing for the possibility of future reconfigurations and reuse in a circular process of construction.

At its core, the installation o c o t i l l o is a sculptural series of planes and platforms, including a horizontal bench—split in half, pushed up, and pulled down—and a set of vertical fences—which taper and pinch as they move inward—mirrored across a central axis, creating a spatial rhythm that draws users into its form. Underneath and overhead, a sloped plane transitions from flooring to canopy condition modulating light and enclosure—acting like a stair rising toward the front and descending toward the rear. This gradient of openness and compression guides both perception and movement, framing the bench, the fence, and the stair as not only as places of rest or circulation, but as expanded spatial thresholds. An upper platform, accessible from the back, offers a second tier where students often gather to work or socialize—further reinforcing the installation’s role as an active part of public space. Between the upper and lower seating platforms, an intentional “X” is formed from smaller blocking, marking a visual focal point, inviting exploration and anchoring the installation with graphic clarity.

In a variety of ways, the o c o t i l l o project also incorporates a digital layer: a series of QR codes embedded in the bench link to individual student work, transforming the installation into an evolving exhibit. Visitors are invited not just to sit, but to scan, discover, and connect with the design process behind the project. An upper platform, accessible from the back, offers a second tier where students often gather to work or socialize—further reinforcing the installation’s role as an active part of public space. Equipped with a series of addressable leds, at night the installation responds to movement, to touch, and to the distance of the passersby. The lighting of the installation acts as a barometer, it dims, glows, and fades in response to the unique durational and social conditions of the site—changing in both brightness and color.

Since its completion, o c o t i l l o has drawn steady engagement from the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA) and the broader University of Arizona (UofA) campus community. Outside of studio hours, students have been observed gathering around it—using it as a social space, study spot, or simply a point of interest. Constructed by the 4th year undergraduate Desertification + Democracy studio, the project merges full-scale fabrication with real-world use, creating a design that is both an architectural artifact and an active environment.

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Lead Architect: Brendan Sullivan Shea

Email : brendansullivanshea@gmail.com

Team Members: Altaf Aladwani, Basel AlKhaneeny, Kobee Austria, Richard Biocca, Seth Bulin, Tom Feng, Perla Germani, Quinlan Hartmeister, Lena Lieu, Abigail Martinez, Mike Morales, Anthony Rascon, Sofia Silva-Castellanos, Anselmo Vinhas, Noémie Despland-Lichtert

Photo Credits

Basel AlKhanenny, Quinlan Hartmeister, Damien Narum-Brelay, Brendan Sullivan Shea

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o c o t i l l o

Tucson, AZ, United States

Other Projects by Roundhouse Platform

Agg Hab

o c o t i l l o

Tucson, AZ, United States

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team