Are there higher dimensions within or beyond our world? The relationship between 2D and 3D worlds sparks curiosity about how 3D might relate to higher dimensions. In this analogy, the 2D world can be understood as a projection of the 3D world from a two-axis perspective. What if the 3D world is merely a projection from a 4D realm, introduced by an additional hypothetical axis—W? Could it be that the world we live in is just one of many projections from a higher-dimensional reality? This was the central question explored in our 704 studio.

The site we focused on is in Waxahachie, Texas, located above the Superconducting Supercollider (SSC), also known as the Desertron. The SSC, a particle accelerator complex, was designed with a planned circumference of 87.1 kilometers (54.1 miles) and an energy capacity of 20 TeV per proton. It was intended to be the largest and most powerful particle collider in the world. With this context, we delved into particle physics, seeking higher-dimensional theories that could inform our design of architecture at this scale.

At the smallest scale, the quantum mechanical level, the forces that define the structure between the smallest particles and the characteristics of different atoms are theorized in String theory. According to current physics, these forces are governed by the vibrations of the string—the most fundamental unit of energy. These vibrations, within a higher-dimensional framework, define the properties of atoms and, ultimately, the fabric of the universe.

Although the 11-dimensional structures of String theory are invisible to the human eye, the geometry within which the string vibrates is called the Calabi-Yau manifold. This mathematical construction has been described in equations that allow scientists to generate models and visualize different projections of higher-dimensional forms. Building on this knowledge, we were taught to understand the higher-dimensional characteristics by manipulating the inputs in these equations. Through these adjustments, we explored how the varying relationships between these inputs could be translated into architectural language, allowing us to represent these abstract concepts in tangible forms.