Paniz Yousefi

I am a spatial designer with a background in architectural design, focusing on the social and environmental impacts of space on human experience and well-being. My practice examines how design influences the psychological state of individuals and societies, while also shaping our relationship with the planet, its ecosystems, and resources.
Drawing on insights from sociology, psychology, and ecology, I approach spatial design as an interconnected system where people, materials, and the environment continuously affect one another. Through attention to materiality, atmosphere, and sensory experience, I aim to create spaces that promote balance, empathy, and sustainability.

Best in Studio: The Future of Play

Play in Between - Perspective View

Play in Between reclaims the overlooked voids within Melbourne’s vertical fabric, transforming the space between two mixed-use buildings into a vibrant playscape. Responding to population growth and urban density, the project explores how compact urbanism can support social and environmental wellbeing. Encouraging controlled risk for children and connection for adults, it gives new life to forgotten gaps, turning voids into shared, breathable spaces that foster interaction, balance, and belonging.

The Entrance Threshold - The Social Overlook

-At ground level, the entrance unfolds as a green passage, softening the hard edges between the two existing
buildings. What was once a void becomes a shared landscape, offering both access and pause. A place where
residents and passersby move through layers of vegetation, light, and shade.
- At the upper level, a curved ramp unfolds a gentle arc filled with a woven net tunnel that continues the rhythm
of play and movement. Alongside it, seating areas emerge as pockets of rest, where adults gather, converse, and
watch their children explore below. This space becomes a point of connection, blending motion with stillness, play
with reflection.

Side Elevation - Exploded Structural Diagram

Level 3 Floor Plan - AA' Section

Because the focus was on the experience of climbing, falling, and spinning, the floor plates of each building were extended into the void, allowing them to collide and intersect in the middle. This intersection was identified as the ideal location for the central net tunnel. A soft, suspended core where children can safely climb and fall between levels

An immersive walkthrough capturing the spatial experience of Play in Between

[View full video here]

Design Integration Diagram

The diagram illustrates how the design occupies the void between
two existing buildings, linking them horizontally through communal
spaces on each level. While the play area rises vertically within the
void, these horizontal connections provide access, circulation, and
shared experience, integrating the new intervention seamlessly
with the existing buildings.

Best in Studio: The Future of Play

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