Mariano’s thesis investigates the intersections between vertical architecture and capital in the context of late 20th and early 21st centuries. Mobilizing architectural theory vis-à-vis political economy, critical urban theory, and science fiction studies, the research inquires into the status and potential futures of very tall buildings in an age characterized by pervasive financialization, planetary urbanization, and anthropocenic dynamics. He holds a Master in Architecture degree (with Distinction) from the Harvard GSD.