ALEX CHEN PHENOMENOLOGICAL JOURNEYS
516.993.6188 cc735@cornell.edu 81 Centre Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030
Chen, Chuan Hao (Alex) Resumé Education
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. Major: Architecture. B. Arch expected 2013
Presentations & Exhibitions August ‘08 to current
• Cornell Traditions Service Fellowship • Cornell MMHESS East Asia Summer Traveling Program Travelled to China, Japan, and Korea to develop a manual of preservation strategies of traditional architecture • Cornell in Rome Program Visited architectural sites in Italy and throughout Europe
ABBR Presenter February 2012 Thumbnail, Pecha Kucha Night, Cornell University • part of ten faculty / student presenters on the topic of abbreviation • Lectured to ~ 200 people Circolo Art Show November 2011 Rome, Italy • Exhibited photographs at contemporary art show
Publications
• Elemental, Instrumental (2011), contributed works • Modulatory Effects of hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) tissue extracts on the in vitro growth of its pathogen, QPX (2008), researcher
Relevant Experience Trip Leader and Designer March ‘10 to current Alternative Breaks, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY • Led 6 students on a one week spring break service learning trip • Prepared curriculum and facilitated weekly preparation meetings • Arranged housing and transportation and coordinated site activities • Oversaw the safety of the trip participants • Designed & curated presentation for non-profit clients • Created a poster advertising the program, illustrated ads Intern January ‘11 Kushner Studios • Interned alumni for two weeks as part of the Cornell Extern program • Made site measurements, drafted architectural drawings compiled company portfolio, organized office • Delivered construction material, handled incoming calls Extern January / June to August 2010 Cornell Urban Summer and Winter Extern Program, NY • Shadowed various Physicians and health administrator, Dr. Weber, Dr. Pannullo, Dr. Platt, Dr. Wilkin, Dr. Belfi, and Ms. La Tempa. • Assisted with procedures such as CyberKnife, history and physical examinations, infrared coagulation • Collected and input patient data for future study • Observed physicians at work in private practice, emergency room, clinic, inpatient, outpatient, and operation rooms
Work Experience Peer Advisor and Student Assistant August ‘08 to Current Dept. of Arch., Art, & Planning Career Services, Ithaca, NY • Critique resumes, communicate with alumni and employers • Perform administrative tasks, update database, assist with workshops • Receive mail, maintain office, design and post flyers and brochures • Worked about 6 hours per week for the past 5 semesters Computer Lab Monitor August to November 2011 Cornell in Rome Program, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY • Troubleshoot for computer and printing issues • Assisted with computer usage, maintained computers and supplies • Set up AV equipment for lectures Farm Manager May to October 2009 Dilmun Hill Student Farm, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY • Co-managed farm with two other managers • Grew 20+ varieties of vegetable, herbs, and fruits on 1.5 acres • Led volunteers during work parties, ran on campus vegetable stand, organized outreach activities, and coordinated website content • Worked 20 hr / wk for about 4 months, 10 hr / wk for 3 months
Skills
AutoCad, Rhinoceros, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, & Acrobat laser cutting, 3D printing, wood and metal working, model-making Mandarin Chinese, fluent in reading and speaking
Table of Contents
FIREHOUSE
URBAN SIGNAGE INSTALLATION
KUNSTHALLE
ARCHITECTURAL RESEARCH
LIBRARY EXTENSION
STRUCTURES MODEL
PHOTOGRAPHY
C ORNELL FIRE HOUSE
Buried Viewscapes
The firehouse is sited on a hill with visual access to surrounding interests such as the student organic farm, vet school barn, and science research tower. The project sought to enrich the firemen’s daily schedule by creating a buried instrument to view the site. As the firemen carry out their daily routine, they are always refreshed by the sights while having immediate access to the fire trucks Comprehensive Design Prof. Vincent Mulcahy and Alex Mergold
Views on the Site
Firemen Activity Correlation with Views
Sketch Model Evolution
1F Apparatus Bay
2F Living / Working Quarters
Proposed Construction Timelapse
Heating System
Ventilation / AC System
Drainage System
S IGNAGE INSTALLATION
Layered Transformations
The Ithaca Urban Signage Installation reactivates the Ithaca parking garage by building a map of signs on its facade. The collected signage map is a site analysis product that directs visitors to interesting sites in the city. Overtime, the signage map becomes an anchor for advertisements that build layers upon the installation, creating a pochade of constantly changing lighting qualities Design II Prof. Vincent Mulcahy and Alex Mergold
Existing Urban Signage and facade
Signage Map on facade
parasitic advertising layers
B UFFALO KUNSTHALLE
Urban Gallery
The Buffalo Kunsthalle Art Gallery injects new cultural blood into the aged city. The museum is designed as a series of terraced galleries facing the Buffalo city hall, acting as urban bleachers to view the activities of the city. The terrace is enclosed by a large glass crystal that erupts out of a large underground hypostyle hall, activating large scale urban activities. Design III Prof. Jerry Wells
The gallery is on terraces that look out onto the city. A large hall is buried underneath a large museum garden for sculptures and installations
M MHESS RESEARCH
Preservation Strategies
Yu Yuan, Shanghai China, wooden garden pavillion with gutted interior converted into a concrete museum space
Beijing Siheyuan remodelled for western expats buying a second home in old Beijing neighborhoods. total retrofit
Seoul hanok, tectonical preservation built with traditional structures and methods. minimal system modernization
MMHESS, or manual of mutant, hybrid, endangered, and super species, investigates the interplay of traditional culture and global commercialized processes within China, Japan, and South Korea in the context of building preservation. The preservation strategies were collected and one discovered strategy, retrofit of traditional structures, is shown. Examples include a Chinese garden pavillion, a Siheyuan, and a Hanok.
Summer Travelling Research Studio Prof. Yehre Suh and Prof. Leondard Mirin
RETROFIT Gradients of Preservation
The Double Shell Sub-strategy Pre-Condition
Post-Condition
Exhibition Hall Architectural Economical Historical Social
over-courtyard-so-you-destroy-the-siheyuan-idea-Sub-strategy I. Original Structure
II. Keeping the Roof
III. New Foundation Laid and Basement Dug
IV. Installing New Steel Structure
Siheyuan Architectural Economical Historical Social Cosmetic Repair and Systems Replacement Sub-strategy Fallen Tile Exposed Rafters
Wood for ondol
Roof is Repaired
Hanok
Water Heater Replaces Ondol Radiant Heating Pipes House is Occupied Disused Hanok Damaged Wall
Windows Repaired and Walls Repainted
Architectural Economical Historical Social
S TOCKHOLM LIBRARY
Interdiscplinary Hybrids
The Stockholm Public Library project sought to expand the amount of currently available space . The project was seen as an opportunity to find new ordering systems for knowledge. Here, the idea of nodes as subjects and edges as interdiscplinary searches was explored. Staircasese connecting different subjects were created in a gridded stack system, unleashing possibilities for the way fields of knowledge are united Design VI Prof. Jim Williamson
Cube as a Vehicle for Interdiscplinary Connections
Connection Strategies
Library as an Analogy of the Node and Edge System
8 subjects 8 nodes 8 floor plates
28 staircases 28 edges connecting 8 nodes
8 floors 28 staircases
Temporal Occupany Snapshot of edge / node activation 1 8
2
3
7
6
4 5
Program & Longitudinal Section
SWEDISH INSTIT U TE OF C HILDRENS BOO KS
RESTAURANT THE VOLUME
TEACHING ROOMS
TEMP EXHIBIT PACE S
CAFE
ADU LT LEARNING ZO NE
LARGE AUDITORIUM
CHILDREN’S LEARNING ZONE
N EW S ZO NE
3rd Floor Plan
CAFE
STUDIOS
SMALL LEC TURE HA LL
Cross Section
THE ROYAL WEDDING: V
2012 NOBEL PRIZE TO BE HELD AT THE STOCKHOLM PUBLIC LIBRARY
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T AIPEI 101
Mega Structures
Taipei 101 was the World’s Tallest Building, with structural innovations that allowed it to stand on the earthquake prone island of Taiwan. My partner and I investigated the structural systems of Taipei 101 and soldered a structural model of the skyscraper (h: 1.2 m) The model consists of 191 floor beam plates soldered onto 16 core and 8 outrigger columns.The building rests on a pile foundation. Structural Systems Prof. Brett Schneider
L A BELLA FIGURA Street Fashion
M I L A NO
R OMA
NAPOLI
TORIN O
The street fashion photography project explored the identities of the inhabitants of Rome, Turin, Milan, and Naples. The Pictorial research expounded the Italian culture of a good first impression “La Bella Figura” as well as the regional flavors of the much sought after Italian style. Exhibition Curated by Liana Miuccio
Chen, Chuan Hao (Alex) cc735@cornell.edu 81 Centre Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030 516.993.6188