For Open Studios, Baba presents a body of work at the intersection of speculative design and realized practice. These proposals explore new ways to recondition both the site and social behaviour during periods of extreme heat. On July 18, 2023, temperatures in Rome reached 41.8°C (107°F), with an average of 40°C (104°F). As summer temperatures continue to rise, expansive paved sites such as Piazza del Popolo—spanning approximately 17,000 square meters—are becoming increasingly inhospitable, intensifying the city’s urban heat island effect. Drawing on the Italian Renaissance garden as a model of respite and comfort, Baba’s project uses tapestry weaving as both a metaphor and a method to evoke the ephemeral qualities of garden landscapes. Through a series of weavings, drawings, photographs, and data analyses, she examines the textures, density, and spatial organization of shade, and its role in the city of Rome.

Tameka Baba is a recipient of the Garden Club of America | Prince Charitable Trusts Rome Prize and an Assistant Professor of Practice in Landscape Architecture at The Ohio State University’s Knowlton School. Based in the Midwest, and developing a practice titled the Fabricated Landscape Lab, Baba integrates textile crafts—such as weaving and sewing—into landscape design, bridging art, public engagement, and ecological systems. Baba is committed to creating sites of communing that support care, resilience, and community agency.  

She holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from The Ohio State University and a BA in Architectural Studies from Kent State University. During her time at the American Academy in Rome, she developed a temporary installation for the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale and an exhibition at Temple University Rome.