Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture

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Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture

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  • Project Name: Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA
  • Student Name: Junzhe Wang
  • Softwares/Plugins: SketchUp , Rhinoceros 3D , V-Ray , Runway , Adobe Premiere Pro
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Excerpt: ‘Liquid. State. Society.’ is a master’s design thesis by Junzhe Wang from the ‘Bartlett School of Architecture – UCL’ exploring fictional architecture as a response to LA’s growing inequality and housing crisis. Inspired by The Ghost in the Shell’s “Solid State Society,” it envisions a future where flexible, inclusive, and affordable housing preserves identity and urban life. Merging narrative world-building with speculative design, the project reimagines architecture as a tool for resilience, ensuring LA remains a place of belonging for the next 50 years.

Introduction: In his groundbreaking 1989 manga The Ghost in the Shell, Masamune Shirow introduced the concept of a “Solid State Society,” envisioning a world in 2034 where social hierarchies have become nearly impenetrable due to mass migration and the uneven distribution of wealth, housing, and culture. In this future, human consciousness is deeply entwined with mass-produced technology, as individuals escape into the digital realm, uploading their minds to the cloud in search of identity—separate from the city where they no longer belong.

While Shirow’s ideas may have once seemed radical, many of his predictions are materializing. As Los Angeles continues to absorb waves of migrants and cultural shifts, economic inequality widens, making it increasingly difficult for the working class to secure housing amid a growing homelessness crisis. The American Dream feels increasingly out of reach, as individuals find themselves trapped by monopolistic forces that limit personal freedom, gradually erasing individuality from the urban landscape.

In response to this trend, the concept of “Liquid State Society” emerges as a counterpoint—an alternative vision that resists the dissolution of the self within the metropolis. In an LA where walls confine the mind, Liquid State Society offers a speculative outlook on the city’s next half-century, striving to preserve both personal identity and urban life.

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Site Context

Set in Los Angeles, the project explores rising economic disparity and urban displacement, where corporate monopolies and digital integration erode individuality. As housing becomes inaccessible and social mobility declines, the city’s identity shifts. In response, the project reimagines urban space as a means to preserve individuality and resist the homogenizing forces of technology and economic control.

Design Process

Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
The Hive in Culver City, designed by Synthesis Architects (Huang) | Inside the roof-extension pepper plantation of LAPD Station in Malibu (Gallagher)
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Workers operating cranes to lift pre-fabricated units onto the site (Chushaonic)
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Installment art on display at LACMA by Sasha Litz, using disposed EV batteries (Litz) | Views from within El Segundo Central Park (Grimsby)
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Newly renovated metro station at Palms (Fletcher)

Serving as the foundation for the project, Los Angeles Major Event Catalogue 2023–2033 documents key events that shaped the city over a decade. Created by the UCLA AUD Yearbook Team under Professor Neil M. Denari, it covers architecture, technology, politics, and more. Highlighting sustainable design, cultural shifts, and policy changes, the book explores LA’s resilience and transformation, making it a vital resource for researchers and urban enthusiasts.

Final Outcome

Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Exterior Render: Two Clusters of Housing Units standing next to the Ballona Creek.
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Physical Model

By 2033, despite a slowing population growth, Los Angeles has reached a breaking point where suburban sprawl can no longer support its rising population. Housing prices have surged—up 64% from 2013 to 2023 and projected to climb another 81% by 2033. Expected ADU and upzoning reforms fell short, while West LA faces a record housing deficit as costs keep rising.

Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Exterior Render: Cantilevered Housing over the Metro E-Line train.
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Physical Model
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Physical Model

Following his re-election, Governor Gavin Newsom introduced new amendments to SB9, allowing selected city-owned land to be rezoned for residential use. A section of Ballona Creek along Jefferson Boulevard was among the first areas chosen. To cut costs and balance single-family homes with denser housing, a 1,200-foot-long project spanning the Metro E-Line and Ballona Creek will create 1,500 to 2,000 purchasable housing lots. These lots, with smaller footprints and stricter height limits, offer a more affordable alternative to traditional private-owned homes.

Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Physical Model
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Exterior Render: The structural members holding up the housing units, at dawn.
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Physical Model

Built in phases, the Liquid State Society project is expected to reach 50% capacity by 2040 and 90% within the next decade. Designed to adapt to the city’s housing needs, it aims to ease the burden on future Angelenos, shaping a more flexible and accessible urban landscape.

Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Exterior Render: A row of tenants holding yellow umbrellas, walking in front of the building in the rain.
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Physical Model
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Physical Model

Conclusion: The project reimagines housing in Los Angeles as more flexible, affordable, and inclusive. By rethinking urban space and zoning, it provides an alternative to traditional homeownership, addressing economic challenges while protecting individuality. As the city continues to change, this project adapts with it, helping create a more balanced, accessible, and resilient future.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]

Design Process

Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture

Final Outcome

Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture
Liquid. State. Society: An Alternative Speculation into the Next Half Century of Living in LA | Masters Design Thesis on Fictional Architecture

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