Zuren Thungdemo Kikon
My time at Penn has allowed me to truly establish myself as a designer. Over these three years, I’ve moved from searching for answers to learning how to ask the right questions—questions that reflect my values, curiosity, and evolving understanding of landscape. I’ve come to see landscape not just as a discipline, but as a way of thinking—fluid, critical, and deeply connected to architecture and urbanism.
I found myself especially drawn to landscape urbanism, and thinkers like Lebbeus Woods, Peter Zumthor, and Paul Rudolph have profoundly shaped my approach. Though architects, their work speaks deeply to landscape. The more I’ve studied, the more the boundaries between disciplines feel artificial. Architecture, landscape, and urbanism are entangled; separating them risks making each less effective, less imaginative.
Penn has given me the tools to navigate and challenge these overlaps. As I enter professional practice, I hope to continue exploring these intersections—and one day, return to Weitzman to teach, collaborate, and question alongside future students.
I found myself especially drawn to landscape urbanism, and thinkers like Lebbeus Woods, Peter Zumthor, and Paul Rudolph have profoundly shaped my approach. Though architects, their work speaks deeply to landscape. The more I’ve studied, the more the boundaries between disciplines feel artificial. Architecture, landscape, and urbanism are entangled; separating them risks making each less effective, less imaginative.
Penn has given me the tools to navigate and challenge these overlaps. As I enter professional practice, I hope to continue exploring these intersections—and one day, return to Weitzman to teach, collaborate, and question alongside future students.
