Aleks Banas

Aleks is an Masters of Architecture Candidate, 2027 at the MIT, whose work intertwines spatial narratives with economic systems to address the complexities of urban life. She is particularly interested in designing spaces and frameworks that create economic and spatial opportunities for informal gatherings, often centered around food, within existing cities. This passion extends to heritage sites, where she explores how the renewal of historic environments can be informed by localized economies and communal practices.

Aleks’s research delves into food systems and the ways architecture and urban design influence how we eat and gather. Her projects aim to reimagine urban spaces as catalysts for social connection, using food as both a cultural anchor and a driver of informal community interaction. By integrating storytelling and visual experimentation into her work, Aleks crafts designs that foster dynamic, inclusive environments while respecting the historical and economic contexts of their settings​