New Mexico, United States - Ghuta, Syria This project explores how traditional and modern irrigation systems have shaped rural landscapes and building patterns in two geographically distinct yet thematically connected regions: southern New Mexico and rural Damascus, Ghuta In New Mexico, the shift from community-managed acequia systems to centralized canal infrastructure transformed not only land use but also the form and placement of barns, granaries, and fields. Similarly, in rural Damascus,Irrigation canals—fed by Barada River branches, and wells—played a defining role in organizing farmland and supporting earth-built agricultural structures across the Ghuta region. By comparing these two case studies, the project investigates how water access and infrastructure governance influence spatial organization, social dynamics, and rural architecture.