Jozef Meyers, an architecture student and designer, draws inspiration from modern philosophies, world cultures, and the beauty of natural systems like deep ecology and mycelium networks. Growing up in a mid-century modern Frank Lloyd Wright house in Kalamazoo, he developed a passion for sustainable design and a desire to critique the works of iconic designers. His journey began with expressive paintings on societal dynamics and evolved into minimalist architectural projects that challenge conventional norms.
Jozef holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sustainable Design from the University of Michigan’s Stamps School and is pursuing dual Master’s degrees in Architecture and Urban Design at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. His work explores the intersection of design and ecology, aiming to create sustainable structures that harmonize with their environments and embody ecological intelligence.
Taubman College M.Arch
University of Michigan
School of Art & Design BFA
2020 - Present Portfolio
Jozef Meyers
CONTENTS
Arbor Green - Ann Arbor, MI (Summer 2024)
Oil Station transformed to Green Cafe
Vertical Generations - Detroit, Mi (Fall 2024)
Multi generational housing Complex
BIO-FUSION - Ann Arbor, MI (Fall 2023 - Spring 2024)
Mycelium furniture research & design project
Fischer House - Hatboro, PA (Fall 2024)
Construction Documentation
ECO-NODE - Copenhagen, Denmark (Summer 2023)
SDG
ARBOR GREEN
Regenerative Re-use in Urban Scale Summer 2024 (2 Weeks)
Location: Choice Quick Lube, 4000 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Instructors: Cyrus Peñarroyo & Ryan Ball
Type: Oil station turned into Cafe Community Garden
PROJECT BRIEF
Arbor Green No.1 transforms a former oil-changing station into a vibrant Green Café, inspired by deep ecology to foster community connections through plant exchanges and sustainable design. The wide garage doors, once used for vehicles, now serve as dynamic openings that invite natural light and fresh air, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor spaces.
A simple yet flexible grid layout for tables and chairs allows the café to adapt to various events, encouraging social interaction, plant sharing, and workshops on sustainability. From the east side, visitors first encounter a lush garden patio filled with native plants and cozy seating. Moving inward, the open garage doors create a transparent threshold, reinforcing the café’s mission of integrating nature with communal gathering spaces. The result is a fluid, inviting environment where sustainability and social engagement thrive in harmony.
ARBOR
// SW Axon
Traditional Suburbia surrounded by highways
// Site Context
// Plan Sketches & Diagrams
// Current Building
Quick Lube Oil Change
// Plan Diagrams
There was potential in the wide garage doors. By opening more of them, I could invite natural light and fresh air inside, creating a seamless flow between the indoors and outdoors.
ARBOR GREEN
// Plan View
North Section Perspective
//
// East Elevation
// Interior Perspective
// Interior Perspective
ARBOR GREEN
Jozef Meyers
Arbor Green No.1 merges nature and community, with an open café and garden patio inviting seamless indoor-outdoor connections.
ARBOR GREEN
// Interior Perspective
VERTICAL GENERATIONS
Multi Generational Housing Complex Fall 2024 (6 weeks)
Location: Detroit, Mi
Instructors: Adam Fure & Tess Clancy
Type: Multi generational housing complex amongst pre-existing buildings
PROJECT BRIEF
Starting with a long site containing four existing structures, this project reimagines a multi generational housing complex by integrating geometric form, natural light, and seamless indoor-outdoor connections. The original single-flat buildings served as a foundation, expanded upon to create a dynamic and adaptable living environment.
A system of walkable paths and breezeways was introduced to enhance mobility for all generations, fostering accessibility and shared spaces. At the beginning of the semester, a set of design rules emerged through iterative sketches and geometric studies, guiding the development of the project. These rules ensured a balance between private and communal areas while maintaining spatial cohesion. The diagrams illustrate this design process, highlighting the interplay of scale, privacy, and spatial layering in both plan and section.
// SW Axon
Concept sketches
PROJECT_2_PARTI
PROJECT_4_DIAGRAM.2
Early sketches led to a ruled system that guided the multi generational housing design, shaping light, form, and movement into a cohesive framework.
=COMMUNITY SPACES
= YOUNGER HOUSING
= FAMILY HOUSING
= ELDEST HOUSING
These diagrams illustrate the balance between big and small, private and public spaces, showing how they intertwine in elevation and section.
// Elevation Diagrams
DETAILED PLAN_FIRST FLOOR_3/32”=1’
DETAILED PLAN_SECOND FLOOR_3/32”=1’
DETAILED PLAN_THIRD FLOOR_3/32”=1’
DETAILED PLAN_FOURTH FLOOR_3/32”=1’
A_3/32”=1’
ELEVATION
SEC TION A_3/32”=1’
East Section // West Elevation
//
// South Section
// South Elevation
// Model Photos
BIO-FUSION
Mycelium Furniture Research & Design Project Fall 2023 - Spring 2024 (6 months)
Location: Ann Arbor, Mi
Instructors: Roland Graf & Glenn Wilcox
Type: Bio materials research and design development
PROJECT STATEMENT
Bio-Fusion rethinks the sustainable methods of influential modern designers by questioning their efforts through hands-on material experimentation. With a background in design, I felt driven to explore alternative materials, leading me to research bio materials, particularly mycelium— a biodegradable material with significant design potential.
My journey began with trial and error in growing mycelium, requiring precise environmental control. Overcoming these challenges turned setbacks into learning moments, revealing its structural capabilities. As cultivation improved, the fibrous networks of mycelium thrived, inspiring the creation of furniture prototypes that blend organic aesthetics with functionality.
Sketching was essential for refining chair designs, enabling iterative exploration of forms responsive to mycelium’s unique properties. Collaborative critiques with professors further advanced the designs, balancing aesthetics, sustainability, and integrity. The final pieces challenge traditional furniture materials and showcase mycelium’s viability as a sustainable option.
The exhibition of these works highlighted both the material’s potential and the broader implications of sustainable design. Through experimentation, collaboration, and innovation, Bio Fusion presents a new approach to materiality, redefining the relationship between design, nature, and sustainability.
// Mycelium Close Up
TESTING GROWTH
Cultivating mycelium showcases an innovative approach to sustainable design, turning research and challenges into valuable learning experiences and highlighting the potential for redefining material practices.
//Process Photos
// Exhibition Layout Sketches
// Chair Design Sketches
// Chair Design Sketches
// Rhino Construction
// Rhino Model
Construction Documents
Fischer House Construction Documentation Fall 2024 (10 weeks)
Location: 197 E Mill Rd, Hatboro, PA 19040
Instructor: Craig Borum
Type: Construction Documents
PROJECT BRIEF
This project involved a semester-long dedication to studying and creating drawings for the Fisher House by Louis Kahn. Without a provided model, we relied on analyzing photos and videos to understand its construction. This iterative process allowed me to model the house in Revit and navigate Revit and Rhino for 2D drawings, helping me learn various documentation methods.
ECO-NODE
SDG Parametric Pavilion Summer 2023 (4 weeks)
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Instructor: Sine Lindholm
Type: Sustainable Development Goal Pavilion created with bio materials
PROJECT BRIEF
ECO-NODE is an innovative project designed to enhance Copenhagen’s lively Meatpacking District. Known for its meat packaging facilities and vibrant nightlife, the district can become uncomfortably warm in summer, necessitating inviting, shaded spaces. Inspired by seed germination and natural growth patterns, ECO-NODE offers a parametric, open-source design solution: the Green Pavilion. Its node-based layout, mirroring plant root connections, provides flexible dining and relaxation areas linked by pathways. The structure forms a dynamic canopy, fostering community interaction. A living façade with a rope system for climbing plants like ivy encourages public participation, evolving into a communal artwork. Guided by deep ecology principles, ECO-NODE uses sustainable materials to enhance biodiversity, improve air quality, and offer natural insulation, promoting harmony between urban and natural environments. Through engaging design and community involvement, ECO-NODE symbolizes sustainable urban living and community solidarity, highlighting architecture’s potential to coexist symbiotically with nature. // Perspective
Site Context
The design mimics plant networks with node-based spaces for dining and relaxation, connected by pathways. This layout promotes interaction and adaptability, reflecting nature’s efficiency.”
// Site Diagram
Meyers
ELEVATION
Jozef
// Southeast Elevation // Southwest Elevation
Jozef Meyers
// Interior Perspective
ECO-NODE’s elevation invites visitors to plant their own greenery, transforming the façade into a collective symbol of community engagement and environmental stewardship.
