Fany Kuzmova: Ithaca (un)Seen Cartographies

Exhibition Abstract

Cities are shaped not only by their physical structures but also by the invisible networks that sustain daily life. Social infrastructure—the public spaces, services, and informal systems that connect communities—determines how cities function, who they serve, and who they exclude. Although students live in Ithaca, they often engage with only a fraction of the city. Ithaca (un)Seen Cartographies presents work from the Spring 2025 seminar Urban Canvas: Mapping Ithaca's Social Infrastructure, taught by Department of Architecture Design Teaching fellow Fany Kuzmova, which challenges these limitations by using mapping as a tool for critical inquiry. Through spatial analysis and fieldwork, students investigate the relationships between people, policies, and place. Some projects examine mobility and accessibility, while others explore ecological systems, sensory experiences, or speculative urban futures. By translating urban complexity into visual form, these mappings reveal the forces—both visible and unseen—that shape collective life.

Biography

Fany (Stefana) Kuzmova is an architectural designer focused on the intersection of architectural design, urbanism, and community engagement. Her research explores how architecture can foster inclusivity and empowerment within urban spaces and social infrastructure. Her teaching emphasizes architecture as a tool for critical inquiry and social transformation, with a particular interest in the role of design in shaping equitable futures. She has worked on projects across diverse scales in both Europe and the United States.