Yu Chen Design Portfolio 2023

Gubei Villa 2021 p1

Residential/Waterfeatures

Rulu Garden 2021 p11

Commercial/Roofs/Construction

Dinorwig in a ‘Nutshell’ 2022 p16

Planning-Design/Tourisum/Cultural Heritage/ Community

04 Rhythm of Life 2022 p25

Residential/ Micro-environmental design/Urban regeneration

Transnding Boundries 2019 p32

Refugee/Community/Urban Design

OtherWorksSelections 2019-2023 p38

Research/Activiities/Paingting/Photography

Selected from Field trip project to Lisbon in 2019

* All of the projects here do not represent the full length of the design process. If you interested in any particular projects, please feel free to contacts me.

01

Gubei Villa

Year in Practice

Shanghai, China

2021

Team Work

Client Private Client from ANTA Sports Design Team Heng Kang, Dayong Tao,Yu Chen, Liujun Du Services Concept design, Construction design Design Supervision

Location Gubei, Shanghai, China

Area 400sqm

Timescale 2021.07- now

Role in team Site Analysis, Conception Generation

3D model Rendering, Solid Model Making

This project aims to design the outdoor space of a luxury villa for a Private Client.

In this project, I was mainly responsible for the early and middle stages of the project. My work mainly includes discussing the design proposal with stakeholders, conducting on-site inspections, deepening on-site analysis, producing conceptual design texts, making solid models, and rendering conceptual visions.

Site Conditions

The garden entrance is away from the entrannce of the house. The main ground floor garden has long and narrow layout.

ȇ Overall Concept

Overall Concept

After understanding the client and his family's usage of indoor and outdoor spaces, we will incorporate the customer's religious beliefs and Buddhist elements into the garden design.

The Universe, by Gibon Sengai.

The symbols used in Zen meditation - Earth (□), Water (○), and Fire (△) - represent stable foundation, change and flow, and passion and energy respectively. These symbols help client and his family expand their imagination, enter deeper states of meditation, and express their inner experiences more freely. By observing the geometric patterns and plants associated with these symbols, clients can better understand their meanings and apply them to their meditation and daily lives.

Ground Floor-Main Garden Return Family Nature

ȇ Main Garden Masterplan

By creating concise and vibrant spaces as the main tone, we aim to provide our clients with a smooth transition to home, a delightful walking experience, and diverse opportunities for exploring the seasonal changes of the plants.

Zoning Analysis

ȇ Solid Model Showcase

ȇ Main Entrance Rendering

ȇ Recreational Area

The recreational area, situated in the front of the building entrance and being the widest space in the courtyard, serves as an outdoor space for various activities and also provides an important framed view from indoors. The garden's impact is softened by the strategic placement of shrubs, and the outdoor platform is artistically designed. Additionally, the incorporation of water features enhances the landscape with visual appeal and interest.

ȇ Solid model showcase

ȇ Hard Materials Selections ȇ Plants Selections

ȇ Recreactional area Rendering

ȇ Hard material selections

ȇ Plants Selections

Scultural Stones Tree Pit (Palo Gold) Barry grey stone paving

Gravel mix of palo gold and barry grey Gravel tree pit cover (palo gold and berry gery

Solid Model Scale 1:75

Drawn by Sun

Ilex rotunda

Malus × robusta Rehder Cuphea hookeriana Walp.

Trees Specimen tree Ground Cover Rhododendron simsii Planch.

Solid Model Scale 1:75

Drawn by Sun

Barry grey based Water features Sculptural platform (Seasame white) Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum'

Gardenia jasminoides Ellis

Buxus sinica (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) M. Cheng

Free form stone clading (Barry grey) Sculptural pond edges (Seasame white)

The underground light-well garden is located next to the Buddhist and meditation hall. It is usually used as a passage space which connect to the ground floor main garden.

Drawn by Tao

Smooth barry black pond Janpanese Maple Polytrichum juniperinum

Ardisia crenata Athyrium niponicum var. pictum

Palo Gold freeform glading Palo Gold tree pit

Barry grey rough finish Palo gold wall surface

4th Floor-Terrace

ȇ Light well garden vision redering

The underground light-well garden features a large framed view which provide sense of clam to the adjacent meditaion space. The combination of the natural stones wall and the water feature on the upper level creates a cohesive landscape, providing a serene and healing experience in the daily life.

The design language is consistent with the main gardens. We use geographical pavings to highlight the spaces for different functions. When viewed from inside to outside, it has a strong directional and orientational meaning.

Drawn by Sun

Sunlight Gathering Viewing

ȇ Plants Selections

ȇ Solid Model showcase ȇ Terrace rendering

ȇ Hard Materials Selections

Solid Model Scale 1:75

Drawn by Sun

Palo gold tree pits Barry grey

Prunus pendula Gardenia jasminoides Ellis

Euonymus japonicus 'Beihaidao'

Buxus sinica (Rehder & E. H. Wilson) M. Cheng

Gravel(Barry grey, 30%Palo Gold)

ȇ Terrace garden plan

ȇ Whole site Solid model 1:75

02

Rulu Garden

Year in Practice

Shanghai, China

2021 Team Work

Principle Landscape Architect Heng Kang

Client Sheng Yong Xing Restaurent

Design Team Yang Tang, Wei Sun, Shutong Guo,Yu Chen, Liujun Du

Services Concept design, Construction design, Design Supervision

Location Lujiazui, Pudong District, Shanghai, China

Area 400sqm

Timescale 2021.06-2021.10

Interior Design Daquan Wang-Tianzuo Space

Photography Credit Hao Chen Photography

Role in the Team Hard pavement selection, site analysis, on-site supervision, Plants management

This project aims to design the outdoor space of a Michelinrated roast duck restaurant located in the bustling Lujiazui commercial area in Shanghai Pudong district. Surrounded by towering buildings, the courtyard, situated in the atrium, offers customers aesthetic experiences while also serving as a promotional feature for the restaurant.

I was mainly responsible for the detailing and supervision stages of the project, which included producing construction drawings, visiting stone processing factories, supervising the construction site, coordinating on-site issues, and conducting preliminary pruning of the plants.

@Hao Chen Photography

The interior space of the restaurant is cleverly designed in the shape of the Chinese character " 回 ," which reflects the traditional "courtyard" structure. Our team collaborated with the interior design team to create various window scenes with distinct atmospheres, tailored to different functional areas such as open table seating, private dining rooms, corridors, and tea rooms.

ȇ Masterplan

The atrium is designed with a 360-degree view, where the sightline converges, drawing inspiration from the East Asian culture of "bonsai". The atrium itself can be seen as a large interactive bonsai, allowing guests to observe from a distance or fully immerse themselves in the experience, experiencing a modern interpretation of traditional Chinese gardens.

Design Concept

ȇ Location analysis in the highrise building ȇ Vision after establishment

@Daquan Wang-Tianzuo Space

Collaborate with Interior Design Team

Site View from high levels

View from 5F Corridor Window seats Tearoom

@Hao Chen Photography

Window scenery

The controllable misty “pond" reduces the weight of the rooftop garden, and the combination of freeform cladding stone pavements and natural groves creates a multi-level space with a beautiful form.

ȇ Plants Construction Details

ȇ Lightweight handling of stone

Hollowing out the inside of the stone to reduce weight while retaining its external characteristics.

Drawn by Tang

ȇ Window scenery after establishment

ȇ Freeform Clading Construction Details

Transporting the stone in blocks according to its patterns.

ȇ Overview after establishment

@Hao Chen Photography

@Hao Chen Photography

@Hao Chen Photography

Dinorwig in a 'Nutshell'

Exploring Dinorwig and Llanberis Valley

Llanberis, Wales

2022

Individual Work Master degree project

The development process for Dinorwig and Llanberis valley, located in the northwest of Snowdonia National Park in the UK, is based on a Planning to Design approach. The site is designated as an 'opportunity area' due to its UNESCO heritage status, rich cultural and heritage remains, and its significance as a gateway to Snowdon peak for outdoor enthusiasts. The region is known for its slate quarries, and this project aims to revitalize the abandoned large-scale quarry through landscape design, integrating it with the local community and tourism circuit. The focal point of the project will be 'Nutshell' Park, leveraging the area's abundant natural and cultural resources to create an immersive travel experience that appeals to a diverse range of visitors.

Conditions

Sections

Steep and slates ruins covered Llyn Peris bank(Section A-A'). Llyn Padarn bank has gentle slopes and lush vegetation(Section B-B').

Over time, waste slates that can be seen everywhere are left behind. As a witness to history, Welsh-speaking locals are also bearers of culture. Today, these fragments are about to become a calling card here, connecting the past and the future, as well as the local community and visitors.

Nutshell Park Viewing point rendering

Section of Llyn Peris Section of Llyn Padarn

Planning Strategy Plan

'Nutshell' Park 'Parc cnau daear

Take advantage of the unique geographical and cultural advantages of the site to build an attractive cultural travel hub. At the same time, with the vision of long-term development, we will build sustainable local communities that can cope with future changes. Build more distinctive local characteristics and cultural confidence.

‘Nutshell’ Park is a stage for deeper reflections on Dinorwig history and culture. Reinforcing its position as North Wales hub for a national cultural institution. The new nutshell park design principles capture the aspirations of a youthful democracy.The public realm and landscape create a memorable approach to restoring the quarry's history.

site location

Lakeside Corridor - exercise routesd; water edge habitats recovery

‘Events Lawn’ cultural events;Multifunctional space

Welcome Centre and new community hub Recycled materials made landforms and features The bio-pond in woodland recovery zone

Llanberis Village

Dolbadarn Castle

Llanberis Sewage

National Slate Museum

Design

Sections Section A-A' Section B-B'

Where Residents and Tourist Meet

How to play with the industrial remaines

The ways that reused industrial materials create space. 'Slate' become the features that connect people and nature together.

ȇ Activities Hub Detailed Plan

Strong sense of pride in community and desire to share its social and cultural identity with a wider audience.

Seasonal Flowing Trees

Shrubs

'Slate' Features below eye-level hight

'Slate' Features above eye-level hight

Where future and history Meet

Create a space for experiential learning to engage, inspire, and motivate young people, equipping them with balanced insight into food production, farming, and the environment. Promote awareness of sustainable farming practices to empower future generations with informed perspectives.

Porposed Outdoor classroom courses: Cultivation and collection course Welsh culture course Potential Colab Bangor University

04

Rhythm of Life

Urban Community Design

Kelham Island, Sheffield

2021/2022

Group Work

The aim of this design project is to explore and apply the principles and applications of Socially Restorative Urbanism in the context of Sheffield's urban regeneration.The project site is located in the central area of Kelham Island community, acting as a connection between two newly established residential blocks and a community activity center. However, many of these recent developments have primarily prioritized economic considerations, leaving questions about the long-term social sustainability of these models unanswered. This issue is particularly significant in the face of increasing global urbanization and the potential impact on urban social vitality following the Covid-19 outbreak.

One important aspect to be examined is the nature of 'Transitional Edges' and 'Microenvironments' as crucial components of socially sustainable urban form. These elements will be explored in the context of urban design decision-making, with the goal of creating spaces that enhance social well-being and support long-term community vitality.

ȇ Transitional Edge Evalution

experience of Microenvironment

Base Model made by Xia Jiang, Huishu Cao, Gong, Zhang and Yu Chen

ȇ Microenvironment Analysis

Double Layerd Cafe

ȇ Households Frontdoors Design

When the door is closed... it will form a private space and provide sense of security...

Households Frontdoor -Anna & Jack with their dog Lolo are living here

• Social

More balanced MYTO in this area

This transition space connect the lively community cafe and households.

1.Households front doors segments peovide buffer zone and more potential useages.

2. The Corridior area is formed my two multi-stem birch trees, along with the round shape advertised board to create a multi-functional space.

3. Double layered Cafe: Extended shelter provide larger outdoor space.

• Spatial

Corridor link the community courtyard and new lively street.

Balance of 'hide and reveal' proximity and distance

1. Newly opened windows and gates enhance the connectivity of indoor and outdoor, balanced the openess of the site.

2.Adjustable silding gates of the front gardens give residents their choices of different uses.

3. Flexible seating space

• Material Form, place and understanding

KEY Locality

Extent

Laterality

1. The layered cafe area will with lights, dotted with movable plants pots, accopanied with homemade stuffs shelf (Form).

2. The deck extended form the front yards privide opportunities for residents to make some improvements.(Place).

3. Grab a coffee from the window of the Cafe. (Undrstanding).

• Social

More balanced MYTO in this area

• Spatial

Balance of 'hide and reveal' proximity and distance

When the door is opened... Extend the area from privite to public space, and reduce the boundries

Public-private Gradient smooth thransition from private to public

• Material Form, place and understanding

Stage one Site and Community Surveys

Transcending boundries

Porter Brook, Sheffield

2019

Team: Imogen van ruiten, Oliver Pike, Fangchen Liu, Siqi Wang, Yu Chen

The project aims to transform an underutilized site in Sheffield city center, adjacent to Porter Brook and part of the cultural industries quarter, into a public green space that complements new residential buildings and serves as housing for both local people and refugees. The design will prioritize connections with the surrounding area, highlight the cultural character of the city, and consider ethnic and social factors. The overall goal is to create an urban ecological park that enhances the livability of the site, promotes connectivity with local green ecology, and fosters a sense of community. The project will be executed in three stages, including site research, overall concept planning in small groups, and detailed individual design.

Using graffiti pigments and drawing inspiration from the unique characteristics of the site, we created a design centered around the theme of 'Protest'. Incorporating elements of human and natural interventions in the site, the final result is depicted above.

Stage Two

Whole Design & Exhibition

Theme: Break the boundries

Our exhibition project features a combination of models and diagrams, enhanced with recycled plastic screens and projectors to create a captivating multi-sensory experience for visitors.

This conceptual experiment aims to understand the design objectives by using different colors of pigments to represent diverse people groups. The idea is to create a space where individuals from diverse backgrounds can meet and live together, fostering inclusivity and diversity.

The concept model features extensive use of recycled materials, making up 70% of the project, with a base created through laser cutting techniques. Red acrylics are incorporated to highlight the main road, also known as the fast pass, which connects the new housing with its surroundings, adding visual emphasis and significance to the overall design.

The green space will be thoughtfully divided into three levels, connected by gentle slopes and stairs, providing a seamless transition between the different heights of the new building and the original communities. This design approach ensures that each level serves a distinct purpose while harmoniously integrating with the site's topography and surrounding community.

Level one - surrounded by the new buildings, will provide a space for people to meet and engage in exercise activities.

Level two - will be transformed to a multi-functional space for outdoor exhibitions and visually-focused activities.

Level three - adjacent to the river, will primarily be utilized for ecological recovery, promoting the restoration of the natural environment.

Stage Three

Detailed Design

Theme: Connection

A waterside platform links the seating steps and basin area. Made by permeable stoneenameled steel grid which is not easily rusted after special treatment. Old wheel stones as site character will be placed as stepping stones.

The original Porter Brook channel will be widened and shaped to new form, the riverside area will become basin sas a part of SUDs. The Basins will be covered by the moist tolerant plants.

The base structure of the mound will be made by the materials from building the basin. That will reduce the transportation cost and form more changeable landform. Multi-stem Amelanchier lamarckii will give the lushly vegetated area more architectural structure.

Connecting channel separating from the main bridge to connect the mound, visitors can choose to enter the park from here. Non-slip aggregated pebble stone path is located at the gentle side of the mound.

Wide steps are also provided as a seating area. The seat will be made by precast concrete stones.

The walkway will be made by non-slip aggregated pebble stones, and the edge will be defined by the red bricks from the existing walls in site.

The main path without level change not only will become fast pass and also a symble of the park.

The walkway is made by stove-enameled steel grid which is not easily rusted.The bridge surface will be transparent, to solve the drainage problem, reduce the weight of the bridge, and the area under the bridge will not be too dark.

The model of the purposed Defra building

characters of detailed area

Section A-A' 1:100@A3

Section B-B' 1:100 @A3 Connection to the mound and riverside

Other works seletions

2019-2022

This section shows my explorations in recent years as continue to practice and become a professional and creative designer. It includes the research works, field research projects in Lisbon with course tutors and classmates, the Chatsworth Flower Show designed with other landscape designers, training projects have participated in the work, as well as my personal hobby of photography, which also helps me to re-examine design through the lens.

01 Street Gardens Related Research

Shanghai, London

2021-2022

Individul Works

Based on personal experiences in Shanghai and London, I conducted research on street parks, exploring how landscape design reflects social issues. Through a diary-format project on a renovated street park in Shanghai, I realized that landscape design is challenging in solving social issues, but these parks often reflect social problems. This led me to question how abstract landscape problems can be materialized in practical applications without ambiguity. My thesis project analyzed user experience in small parks in London and their application in China, aiming to better understand user demands and serve society through landscape design in future projects.

01 Street Gardens Related Research 2021-2022

02 RHS Chatworth Flower Show ‘Then The Moon Forgot’ 2020

03 Hand Drawing 'Imagination & impression' Field Trip in Lisbon 2019

02 RHS Chatworth Flower Show

‘Then The Moon Forgot’

Chatworth House, Sheffield 2020

Team Fangchen Liu, Elina, Yu Chen

04 Fieldwork activities 2021

05 Photography works selections 2019-2022

The theme of the 2020 flower show is 'Emotional States', focusing on the impact of plantings on individuals with mental health issues. The aim is to provide warmth and mindfulness to those struggling with low moods and distress. The arrangement of plants from left to right represents the process of self-seeking, with the intention of the moon symbolizing individuals seeking light despite their vulnerabilities.

ȇ Shanghai Street garden observations and analysis 2022

03 Imagination & impression

Field Trip in Lisbon

Lison, Portugal 2019 Individual Work

This project is inspired by a one-week department field trip to Lisbon, exploring the contrast between the objective reality of landscapes and the subjective memories of landscapes. The initial impressions of a green space are often based on second-hand resources like articles and photos, but the actual experience of visiting the site can be influenced by multiple senses such as sight, smell, sound, and weather. This creates a unique and individual impression of the landscape in each person's mind.

05 Photography works

selections 2019-2022

Individual Work

Nikon/Fuji

Digital Camera/35mm Film Camera

Plants Maintaining Hard paving selection and Processing factory visit

Hard Materials Learning Workshop

End of Portfolio

-Thank You-

Contacts

Email ychen1203abi@gmail.com

Phone +4407761664316

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/yuchen-701604252

Ins y.c.landscape

issuu https://issuu.com/abigailchen

Trim the rambling branches according to the shape of the tree

The stone selected at the quarry will be labeled and wait for further processing

Photos of the site after the pruning, a year after the project was completed

Professional craftsmen are processing the stones according to the design

Solid model workshop

Creating a stone texture using spray paint Samples of Different stones

Solid Model processing Same kind of Stone with differnt finishes