About
Living in Technology and Design
Rather than optimizing materials or forms, Ultra Space asks how environments, surfaces, and objects can embody presence, perception, and relational awareness.
Beyond Efficiency
We prioritize research that foregrounds awareness, interpretation, and adaptation, considering architecture as an active participant.
Redefining Spatial Agency
Ultra Space asks: What constitutes spatial life? How might sensory mechanisms, artifact-making, and spatial assembly be reimagined and reorganized into alternative spatial systems?
Themes
Inspired by the work of Arakawa and Madeline Gins, Ultra Space investigates the relationship between the body and space through themes of embodiment, movement, and perception. Offering research opportunities for students, faculty, and recent graduates, we generate encounters between art, science, and engineering through research and prototyping. We produce artifacts, installations, and spatial experiments that often interface with technology in unexpected ways, always asking how we can connect more deeply with the spaces we inhabit.
Major themes include:
- The relationship between the body and space
- Designing for environments beyond Earth as a challenge to spatial thinking
- Embodied ways of “seeing” through the whole body
- Movement, time, and perception
- Human–machine calibration
Research Lead
Courses
Ultra Space founded through two courses designed and taught by Dana Karwas at the Yale School of Architecture:
ARCH 6114: Mechanical Artifact
Together, these courses form the pedagogical foundation of Ultra Space, where research extends into exhibitions, events, publications, prototypes, collaborative teaching, and more.
Featured Projects
Ultra Space produces experimental projects that probe the intersection of body, perception, and environment. These projects emerge from courses, fellowships, and collaborations. Discover more projects here.
Sky Manta is a unique Aero-Amphibious Vehicle that integrates eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing), sea glider functionality, and tailless aircraft design. It enables seamless transitions between air and water travel. This innovative design reimagines how humans explore coastal and aquatic regions, pushing the boundaries of aero transportation. The first phase of the project involves utilizing airflow simulations to determine the ideal form for a low-drag flying machine. Next, the aircraft fuselage’s performance will be evaluated as a sea glider. Finally, the eVTOL system will be integrated into the aircraft, completing the design for dual functionality in both air and water environments.
Sea Jetpack investigates movement ecology and adaptation, translating the dynamics of aquatic life into human-augmented mobility. A wearable underwater propulsion device, it is designed to enhance divers’ mobility, enabling extended range and duration of underwater exploration. Its innovative design allows for hands-free operation while effectively countering strong water currents. This project represents a journey toward achieving a high level of design excellence. Fluid dynamics simulations were employed to optimize the jetpack’s shell for streamlined performance, while the craftsmanship incorporates durable materials like stainless steel and carbon fiber, ensuring reliable operation in extreme environments. The components are meticulously sealed to withstand water pressure at depths of up to 30 feet. The project also involved close collaboration with engineers for prototype testing, refining the jetpack to meet the demands of underwater exploration.
A wearable device that measures stellar time signatures, collapsing astronomical data into personal timekeeping. SPACE TIME ASYNCHRONOUS RELAY WATCH When the answer to “how many kilometers” no longer means anything, so we ask instead: “how many seconds?” What’s it like to miss someone across vast time and space? Imagine the future of deep space travel, communication delay, and the reality of talking to loved ones. A time keeping and space keeping system, a pair of devices for a pair of loved ones, that accompanies each person on his/her/their journey into deep space.
Publications
"Ultra Space: Dana Karwas in conversation with Sarah Oppenheimer," Maquette
"What I'm Working On: Dana Karwas and Ariel Ekblaw", Maquette
"What I'm Working On: Madeline Pages", Maquette
"Yale project brings creative expression to space flight," YaleNews
"CCAM kicks off two-day symposium, 'Ultra Space,'" Yale Daily News
Events
Ultra Space research has anchored CCAM events including the CCAM symposia Arakawa+Gins and Adaptation/s and been featured as part of Illuminations, Machine as Medium: Matter + Spirit, and others.