Christina Ciardullo AIA is a Senior Architect (NY) and a PhD student at the Center for Ecosystems in Architecture working on the integration and scaling of plant-based systems in built environment ecosystems.

With an undergraduate background in astronomy and philosophy, and a Masters of Architecture from Columbia University, Christina bridges a career between practice and research at the intersection of the natural sciences and the built environment, designing for a sustainable future for Earth and Space.

Christina’s experience is diverse ranging from NASA Johnson Space Center’s Habitability Design Lab to the NYC Department of Urban Design. She was the 2016 Buckminster Fuller Institute Fellow, and the 2015/2016 Ann Kalla Fellow at Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture teaching interdisciplinary design studios between engineers, scientists, and architects designing habitats for closed-loop off-world applications for which she received a NASA Space Consortium Grant.

In her work in practice, Christina has held significant roles in projects which bridge multiple science and engineering teams in project work. At Ennead Architects, Christina was Project Leader of a team of ecologists and engineers together winning Leading Innovation in Resilient Waterfront development for an ecologically integrated coastal development in the FAR ROC Design Competition. At Ennead, Christina used her knowledge in astronomy as a critical design team member in the winning entry for the Shanghai Planetarium. At the offices of Foster+Partners, Christina helped to organize the company’s efforts in design for outer-space applications with the Specialist Modeling Group. At the Laboratory for Visionary Architecture in Berlin, Christina was a senior designer and project coordinator for the winning commission for the German Pavilion in the Sustainability District at the 2020 Dubai EXPO.

Christina is a Co-Founder and Principal Architect of SEArch+ (Space Exploration Architecture) which develops evidence-based human-supporting design concepts for space habitats in close collaboration with interdisciplinary science and engineering teams. SEArch’s team won the 2015 Phase 1 NASA Centennial Challenge to 3D Print a Martian Habitat with the “Mars Ice House.” SEArch+ went on to place first in the 2019 Phase 3 NASA Challenge with their project “Mars X House.” SEArch+ continues a relationship with NASA Langley Research Center and NASA Marshall Space Center on closed-loop and advanced structures for space applications. SEArch’s work has been exhibited in multiple international design museums, and Mars Ice House is part of the permanent collection at SF MOMA.

She is a member of the American Institute of Aerospace and Aeronautics (AIAA) Technical Committee on Space Architecture and a Member of the American Society for Heating Refigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

AWARDS 
Buckminster Fuller Fellowship // Buckminster Fuller Institute // 2016 
Ann Kalla Teaching Fellowship // Carnegie Mellon University // 2015-2016 
Honor Award for Excellence in Overall Design // Columbia University // 2010 
William Kinne Fellowship // Columbia University // 2010 
Lowenfish Memorial Prize // Columbia University // 2010 

GRANTS 
NASA // PA Space Grant Consortium // 2016 Frank Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry // Carnegie Mellon University // 2016 
ProSEED Crosswalk Grant for Interdisciplinary Research // Carnegie Mellon University // 2015 
MAPS Grant// Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society // 2015

COMPETITION WINNING WORK 
German Pavilion for EXPO 2020 // LAVA // 2018 Winning Design for German Sustainability Pavilion 
Mars X House // SEArch+ // 2018 NASA Centennial Challenge to 3D Print a Mars Habitat 1st Place / 100% Virtual Design 1st Place / Construction Level 2 1st Place / Construction Level 1 4th Place / 60 % Virtual Design 
Best Closed Habitat Design // 2016 ESA Closed Habitats Forum 
Mars Ice House // SEArch+CloudsAO // 2015 1st Place NASA Centennial Challenge to 3D Print a Mars Habitat Architizer A+ Award: Architecture & 3D Printing 
Mars Habitat // Foster+Partners // 2015 2nd Place NASA Centennial Challenge to 3D Print a Mars Habitat 
Shanghai Planetarium // Ennead Architects // 2014 Winner // Invited architectural competition 
FRED: Fostering Resilient Ecological Development // Ennead Lab // 2013 Winner for Leading Innovation in Resilient Waterfront Development. FARROC Competition 
Weightless Pull // CO Design // 2012 1st Place SUPERFRONT Public Summer Installation 
Pulled Reclamation // CO Design // 2011 Runner-Up FIGMENT Pavilion Competition
Calculated Pull // CO Design // 2010 Finalist Univ of Houston TEX FAB ‘Repeat Competition in Digital Fabrication