Katie Stranix Named 25-26 Loghaven Artist Fellow

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Assistant Professor of Architecture Katie Stranix has been named a 2025–26 Loghaven Artist Fellow.

Loghaven Artist Residency’s mission is to serve artists by providing them with a transformative residency experience and continued post-residency support. The residency, which is fully funded, is located on ninety acres of woodland in Knoxville, Tennessee. Artists live in five historic log cabins that have been both rehabilitated and modernized to create an ideal setting for reflection and work, and they have access to new, purpose-built studio space. All Loghaven Fellows are awarded stipends to support the creation of new work during the residency.

Stranix is one of two architects to be accepted into the program this year, and she succeeds Associate Professor Elgin Cleckley who was a 2023–24 Loghaven Fellow. Her practice and research focus on transforming everyday spaces through playful and inviting design elements that enhance physical, mental, and social well-being. Stranix, who co-founded the design collaborative Office of Things in 2016 and co-leads the design firm XBA Architects explains, “I primarily design and research restorative spaces at a range of scales. Our projects operate at multiple scales to promote and heighten the value of the human experience in the built environment.”

During her residency, Stranix plans to explore new approaches to restorative design, testing “formal, spatial, and material ideas for a series of restorative elements intended for use within work and educational environments.” She will investigate how these spaces can address the sensory needs of neurodiverse individuals, creating environments that foster accessibility and mental health. She hopes to engage with Autism Breakthrough of Knoxville and Autism Site Knoxville to gain valuable feedback and consider temporary sites for her work that could serve both the organizations and the greater Knoxville community.

Stranix’s work at Loghaven also supports her ongoing book project, which examines historical and contemporary small-scale restorative spaces worldwide. Through this work, she aims to share strategies for enhancing everyday spaces and promoting mental and emotional well-being across diverse environments.

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