Bundled into rattan-wrapped mega-columns (a), the paper tubes demonstrate versatility while minimizing mass and embodied carbon as they distribute the load of a draped roof composed of steel cables and pre-stressed concrete (d). Be design embraces the expressive potential of minimal materials, weaving paper tubes into permeable partitions (b), insulated wall assemblies (c), and circulation guides that blur the line between structure and artwork.
Less is More:
Experiments in “Cheapskate Architecture”
O2AA in Oakland, CA
Mixed-Use Project
Led by Yasmin Vobis, Spring 2025
Coined by Frank Gehry, “Cheapskate Architecture” refers to a design approach that prioritizes the use of unconventional, inexpensive, and readily available materials or construction methods in pursuit of being economical. Rather than masking material limitations, Gehry elevated them into aesthetic and structural opportunities, demonstrating how innovative form can emerge from resourceful choices. In this spirit, my project explores the economy of lightness through the utilization of paper tubes—inspired by Shigeru Ban—as structural, spatial, and aesthetic elements.
Beneath the canopy, distinct programmatic spaces for studios, exhibition, living, and work are shaped by the same curvilinear language of the roof, creating fluid connections across the site. It exemplifies an architectural approach that achieves more with less.