Dana Cupkova is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the Cornell University and the principal of DCm-STUDIO; an architectural practice which deals with both real and speculative projects. Her work explores spatial organizations derived through the systematic subversion of normative architectural models and their adaptation to local ecologies. Her design for the Sandra Gering Gallery in Chelsea (in collaboration w/Martin Myers) won a New York Designs 2005: So what’s the big idea? award sponsored by the Architectural League. Most recently her work has been included in the book Young European Architects published by DAAB GmbH in Köln. Her current research is focused on ecologically adaptive component construction systems, their methods for fabrication and assembly and their cultural and socio-political effects. This body of work was recently presented at Smart Geometry Conference 2008 in Munich.  She has recently co-founded the research and design collaborative Epiphyte Lab with Kevin Pratt.