Rothsothearith Sam

Growing up in Cambodia, I was surrounded by the beauty and intricacy of historical architecture. Temples that map spatial hierarchy and symbolic representations of mythic geography. My father, an architect, nurtured that fascination, inspiring me to look beyond structures and see the dialogue between form, function, and feeling.

My professional journey in structural engineering has deepened my appreciation for the technical precision behind visionary design. Yet, I’ve always felt compelled to bridge the gap between architecture’s expressive ambition and engineering’s structural logic. This passion has driven me toward parametric design, a field where geometry, performance, and aesthetics converge through computation. I see it as the future language of collaboration between architects and engineers, one capable of shaping spaces that are both beautiful and intelligent.

Lattice of Light

Positioned on a rooftop terrace, the pavilion’s doubly curved gridshell structure is optimized to balance material efficiency with solar exposure. The photovoltaic skin captures sunlight for energy generation while producing an ever-changing interplay of light and shadow.

Insula Trabeculae

A multi-level organic mid-rise defined by fluid curves, interconnection inspired by the spongy tissue of bone, and a central atrium that encourages community interaction and the pervasion of daylight.

Fractal Forum

This community centre is nestled between the rigid geometries of a dense urban core. Layered façades of mesh and glass blur the boundaries between public and private, interior and exterior, allowing light, movement, and conversation to permeate the structure.

The Echo Canopy

This pavillion redefines the open-air music bowl as a living resonance chamber within the landscape. Its sweeping parabolic shell captures and projects sound naturally, transforming the park into an immersive acoustic field. The gridded structure filters daylight into rhythmic patterns, echoing the pulse of performance while maintaining a gentle harmony with its surroundings.

Dawn over the Printed Hearth

This intends to capture the warm, organic character of a 3D printed concrete home, where the curvilinear layout informs both spatial flow. The kitchen’s 3D printed island counter echoes the home’s sculpted geometry.

Acknowledgement of Country

The School of Design and Architecture respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and knowledge-keepers of the lands, waters and sky that surround us, where we work, learn, create, communicate and make place. We recognise that sovereignty has never been ceded and this always was and will always be Wurundjeri Country. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who continue to make a better world through design.

We extend our acknowledgement to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, students, alumni, real-life clients, and knowledge keepers, who have contributed to our own education diversity and growth. We will continue to ensure that staff and students respectfully honour ancestral connection to Country and Place in everything that they do.

We are dedicated to the notion of design to make a better world and we acknowledge that making tools, shaping place, sharing stories, making meaning, wayfinding and collaborating have long been and continue to be both central and integral to First Peoples' cultures. We recognize that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ cultural contributions have continued relevance to design practice and commit to: reconciling ancestries of design and contemporary practice as well as pursuing culturally and professionally appropriate ways to engage with a diverse population of colleagues, industries and clients. In a time of treaty-making and voice we understand that there are overlaps between caring for Country and the sustainable production of goods, services, experiences, products and buildings.

Guided by the principles of respect, reconciliation, and reciprocity we undertake to indigenising and decolonising design practice by dismantling colonial structures and challenging biases that have marginalised Indigenous voices and design.

As students of SoDA you will be given opportunities to both engage with and educate yourself in Indigenous creative practices and cultural protocols through a lens of inclusivity, diversity, respect, mutual understanding, inter-cultural dialogue in all aspects of design practice. Indigenous people have been telling stories, making tools, and connecting to Country through visual media, placemaking and place marking for more than 60,000 years and these practices are part of an ongoing, evolving and live tradition.