PORTFOLIO
2 018
ALISON HUO
Table of Contents
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THE WANDERING
RADIANT GARDEN
Non Architecture Showing Competition
topic Concept & Notation given
collaborate with Ben Chang & Shengjie Qiu
by Bernard Tschumi
right: rendering of the showing museum
page 33
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5
EXPERIENCES OF SELF
PEDESTRIAN HOTEL
Fairy Tale 2019
boutique hotel at Queen West
page 1
page 43
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WANDERLAND
THE MAKING OF A BOOK
thesis 2017
featuring McLean Residence
page 11
page 53
EXPERIENCES OF SELF Fairy Tale Competition 2019 Siteless Speculation [Fall 2018]
Chapter I: The Unknown Self Time is the thief, I have known this for a long time. I have always thought that my physical body is rotting and decaying. My own spirit carries the memory and travels through time in the universe. Perhaps the time that I am experiencing right now is what it has been encapsulated from the past, it is simply replayed again and again in different scenes and locations. Who am I? A question in which I have no answer for, yet a question that repeats. My curiosity longs for the answer, and can no longer live in the midst of all this without knowing anything about oneself. After a prolonged contemplation, I decided to go on a journey to find out the nature of who I am.
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Chapter II: Let’s Unify Everything - WORKER I walked through woods and crossed rivers. I arrived in a town. After a much-needed sleep, I opened my eyes. A white lumpy ceiling engulfed the entire periphery of my vision. The noise from the streets pulled me towards the window. There was an air balloon crossing the sky, and something seems to be falling down from it. I decided to walk out. Flyers are dancing all over the sky. I grabbed on that fell in front of me. An ordinary building was highlighted on the flying, it immediately caught my eye. A new building project is commencing and they are looking for workers. For some reason that I cannot explain, I decided to join the workforce. I arrived at the construction site the next morning. I noticed that all the finished structures are identical. They are all rectangular in shape with a flat roof. The ground floors are public spaces and the private units are on top. Everything is the same with no exception. Nothing is special, yet the atmosphere is cold and rigid. It feels like me, a common person. I walk into the office and ask for a job. After an interview, they decide to let me start working right away, and also, I have a new name called K12-3710. I start working at the site days and nights. We follow the same schedule every day. Works start at the early morning, finishing in the afternoon, watching TV at the night time at home, and get up again at the same time next morning. Everything is common, nothing can get me excited, not even the completion of the construction. I started questioning whether is this who I am? Is this who I am looking for? Following what has been told by others without hesitation or a second thought. I feel like I am becoming one of those buildings that with a feeling of death and silence, so I decided to leave this place for good.
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Chapter III: Walking on The Edge of Periphery – DREAMER I am back on my journey. After passing through a few small villages, a series of circular arches middle of the woods drew me towards them. As I am approaching the arches, a voice echoed in the air, “welcome traveler, you are about to enter the dream world. We welcome you to be a dreamer of dreams, a realm in which our subconscious emerges into forms. Be warned, do not lose yourself in the imaginaries.” I would like to dream. After an explanation with the staff in the dream world, they lead me to a room that has a helmet and bed. “please come over, put on the helmet and lay down here, then you can start dreaming” I put on the helmet and lay down. Just right after making myself comfortable, I hear “Three, two ...” I felt my body being pulled down, and I was suddenly in free fall. I noticed that I am surrounded by cloud-like space. It feels so innocent and so pure. It should be decorated. My emotions and thoughts are leaking out of my body. They solidified into tangible pathways and steps. As more and more of my subconscious thinking came out of my mind, strange and massive structures are created. They look so sculptural but it also feels light as a feather. I wonder do they actually carry any weights of thoughts. Probably it should be tremendous and monumental. I keep diving into my dream for a million miles deep. My body gets stronger along with this realization. I never feel so energetic, I can see things with perfect vision, my muscles are built up strongly. Everything is powering up. I feel invincible, and this is incredible. “Warning, warning. Power overflows. Warning, warning. Initiating emergency shutdown.” Unfortunately, I became so addicted to my own dream that I completely ignore the warning. The dream starts collapsing, and the darkness is rapidly corroding the space. It was out of control. The last scene I could remember was I fell down from the higher up.
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Chapter IV: Wandering in The Abyss – EXPLORER I awoke on a pathway, more accurately a pathway that consists of lines. I sat up slowly and observed this space. It is beyond what I have known from the normal world. Pathways are extended along the wall and floor; the staircase leads you up to the ceiling. Does this space actually make sense? I guess the gravity does not apply in this dimension because I am upside down right now. I keep exploring between those transitional spaces, it has been a decade already. I wonder, does everything only have one single purpose? is a wall just a partition? Is a ceiling just a rooftop for shelter? Are floors only for stepping on? I guess in this dimension, there isn’t a distinct definition, everything is ambiguous. I start to reflect, then what is the purpose of this journey, and what am I actually looking for? A name, a title or a right choice. What am I expecting for the answer? I am worthless, this journey is meaningless or I am always living in the uncertainty of time. Those questions keep amplifying in my mind. One day, While I was going through one of the transitions, I was transmitted.
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Chapter V: Return to Zero I am floating. What surrounds me are fragments of memories and time. I see a light source in the distant. Everything started from there. Like the primordial sound of the universe, the singular point sparked with the all-encompassing potential of totality. Its form is ambiguous and its implications uncertain. I can’t help myself but reach towards it. I think I know who I am now. I am nothing. And being nothing, I am everything.
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WANDERLAND Thesis 2017 [Fall 2016 - Winter 2017] Liberty Village, Toronto, Ontario
The thesis focuses on architecture in an intimate scale. A series of small to mid-size structures in a metropolitan context attempts to redefine Liberty Village from a predominately commercial and vehicle environment into a more civic environment such as park, playground, local market, etc. At the same time, it interprets the entity of architecture as fragments of experiences within the environment could be viewed as an unity rather than various individual and unlinked buildings. The intention is to create a detour that transforms the pedestrian view of the urban context into a civic environment within Liberty Village. The injection of small interventions spread around the neighbourhood as a perception of wander-land and wonderland.
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+
=
Paper
+
Rain cover
=
Sleeping space under a cover
Table
+
=
Division
+
Shelter
=
Tree
+
Congregation
=
Structure
Living Space
Diagrams of relationship between human & objects. [everything can be architecture, not merely just building.]
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WITHOUT PROGRAM Spaces for seating and lay down
INTERACTIVE SPACE [SMALL INTERVENTION]
ARCHITECTURAL INTERVENTION A functional object that associates with the historical aspect of Liberty Village and fragments of daily experiences, which have potential to transform into architectural spaces.
WITHOUT PROGRAM Experiential spaces: texture, lighting, vision
CHARACTERISTIC · small / intimate · playful · civic
WITH PROGRAM · vending machine · market booth
RELATIONSHIP OF PLACEMENT
on the ground
semi-in the ground
in the ground
CONDITIONS OF SPACE
above the ground
STUDIES OF INTIMATE SPACE
PHOTO BOOTH
PUBLIC WASHROOM
VIDEO/SOUND BOOTH
Strachan Ave
Residential Area Retail/Office/Food Service Food Service Retail Office Unknown ! - Intervention
R
N
L-1 S-1
C. P. R.
King St W
B-1
L-2
L-3
Dufferin St
MASTER PLAN
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L-3 Pedestrian Bridge L-3 is a lineal long structure that cuts through a parking lot, which also it is a silent protest. It conveys wanting of more civic environment and potential co-existing usages with parking lots.
S-1 Canopy S-1 is a prototype that contains both shelter and retail functions. It intents to create a civic space for local market and congregation in a large urban contain.
L-1 Framework
R
C.P.R
L-1 S-1
.
B-1 Z-1 Z-2
S-2
L-2 W
L-3
B-5
B-3
in
B-4
fe r
St W
St
B-I
uf
King
B-2
D
St ra
ch a
n
Av e
The intention of L-1 demonstrates the one the basic function of architecture which is shelter. It is a prototype that connects interventions and urban space.
R - Space of the memorial Located at Liberty Village Park at East side of Liberty Village, where is used to be Toronto Central Prison. R is an intimate structure that as the reminder of the history, so as a sculpture that compliments the space, time and memory.
W - Public Washroom W is a functional structure that increase the awareness of personal needs in public space
B-1 Playground
B-I路r
B-I路k
Z-1 Market Booth
Z-2 Seating Area
B-2 Photo booth
B-3 Photo booth
B-I路t
B-I路l
B - 1 RESTRING SPOT
Hanna Ave Hanna Ave 19 B series
B-1 B-1 Spot Resting Resting Spot
Hanna Ave
Entry to Liberty Village Market
N
Liberty Village Market
Liberty Village Market B - 1 20
B - 2 PHOTO SPOT
B - 3 PHOTO SPOT
Liberty StSt Liberty
23 B series
BB-2 -2 Photo Spot Photo Spot
Toronto Carpet Factory Toronto Carpet Factory
BB-3 -3 Photo Spot Photo Spot
KingKing St St WW
B - 2 & B - 3 24
W WASHROOM
DN
+ 3000 mm
Jefferson Ave
N
Liberty St
W W Washroom
Washroom
27 W
Liberty St
Liberty St
Jerfferson Ave
Jefferson Ave
washroom 28
M1
M2
Mowat Ave
DN
+ 4000 mm
M1
M2
M3
L-3 PEDESTRI
L - 3 PEDESTR
IAN BRIDGE
RIAN BRIDGE
M3
M4
Fraser Ave
M4
N
Mowat Ave
31 L - 3
L-3 Pedestrian Bridge
Fraser Ave
L-2 Walkthrough Canopy
Pardee Ave
pedestrian bridge 32
43°39’01.8”N 79°23’11.1”W TORONTO, CANADA
RADIANT GARDEN [Summer 2016] UIA-HYP 2016 International Student Competition Finalist Concept & Notation, given by Bernard Tschumi Collaborator: Ben Chang, Shengjie Qiu
Beyond the conventional means of a resting ground for the dead, the Radiant Garden is a cemetery for the living. It acts both a memorial for our mortal coil and a reminder of our inevitable death. A manifestation of infinity in singularity. The spatial experience of an architectural intervention is dictated by the movement of people. Notations provide a multi-sensory guide, maneuvering the flow of people through the space. Movement can be described as a series of action through time and space, directly altering the human experience. An infinite possibility of movement is contained within space and time. In other words, limitless variations of experiences are contained within the human condition.
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E
INIT
FIN
ITE
INF
IN
TA N
GI
BL
E
TA N
GIB
TH EA
E LIF
LE
D
MOV
EMEN
T
NOTATION
ITY
LAR
GU SIN
The infinite possibility of movement is not created through the notations placed within a space. A single notation within itself, contains the infinite possibility. The Radiant Garden is the threshold between life and death, materializing the idea of infinity as a singularity. The essence of the space is empty, while the spatial experience is revealed through the ethereal quality of light.
lack of notation
35 summer 2017
linear notation
cross notation
directed notation
limited notation
infinite notation
Park
Cultural Building
Business Building
Radiant Garden is an extension of Queen’s Park, driving Toronto’s urban greenery into the cluster of mid and high-rise buildings in downtown Toronto.
The northern end of the site is surrounded by heritage buildings, reminiscent of the past.
High-rise buildings are located on the southern side of the site. The cemetery is in the threshold between the Cultural Center and the Financial District of Toronto.
6:00 PM
6:00 PM 12
:00
12
:00
PM
PM
M
0A
6:0 0 6:0
SU M M
WINTER
AM
ER
Traffic Flow
Pedestrian Flow
Sunlight
Radiant Garden is a space of tranquility amidst the turbulence of a major intersection in downtown Toronto. Automobiles and streetcars surround the entrance, a display of modernity’s fast paced movement.
The busy and chaotic pedestrian movement of downtown Toronto circles the environment. Despite the hustle, the site is isolated in the middle of the traffic island. The experience of human movement is evident, yet secluded in the periphery.
While the northern end of the site is brightly lit, the southern financial skyscrapers cast a large shadow onto the environment. The site contains the vividness of sunlight and the atmospheric heaviness of darkness.
radiant garden 36
A bamboo forest is a modular wonder of nature.
Density reveals the spatial quality of a space, guiding people through notations.
Round up the sharp edge to broaden and enhance the spacial quality.
While taking away the differing density, the guiding notation is reduced.
The modularity maintains an even spatial experience without a direct emphasis on notation.
Materiality limits the spatial experience within the confines of physical notations.
The intangible quality of light removes the boundaries of material notations, revealing an infinite possibility of movement within the space and time.
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10 M 9M 8M 7M 6M 5M 4M 3M 2M 1M 1M 2M 3M 4M 5M 6M 7M 8M 9M 10 M 11 M 12 M 13 M 14 M 15 M 16 M 17 M 18 M 19 M 20 M
10 M 9M 8M 7M 6M 5M 4M 3M 2M 1M
1M 2M 3M 4M 5M 6M 7M 8M 9M 10 M 11 M 12 M 13 M 14 M 15 M 16 M 17 M 18 M 19 M 20 M
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The Radiant Garden is the resting ground for the dead. While each individual light column symbolizes a deceased, a central light beam projects from deep beneath the earth to the heavens above. The massive light column is the unification of the infinite consciousness into a singularity.
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Moment 1
Moment 2
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The Radiant Garden is an island of light floating in the vastness of the infinite universe. The surrounding walls and ceilings are coated with Vantablack, the darkest substance known to man, absorbing 99.965 of visible radiation. The floors are covered with polished black marble, faintly reflecting the image of the visitors. Each light beam is a burial ground for a deceased. A mirrored system collects the light beam between the floors then magnifies the light upwards to the level above. A singular light beam is projected into the sky from the grounds below.
R23
85
34
°
R1875
41
1°
13°
From a distance, one can be reminded of the memories of the loved ones who have passed. The infinite memories of the dead are unified in a solitary light beam to represent the collective consciousness of eternal rest. 42
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PEDESTRIAN HOTEL [Winter 2016] Retail & Hospitality Queen West, Toronto, Ontario Collaborator: Shengjie Qiu
The idea starts by asking what is a hotel, only a temporarily solution of accommodation for visitors? The site of Retail & Hotel is located on Queen St West, between Abell Street and Lisgar Street. On the site, where has an existing postal office and park that recently under renovation. The key intention of Pedestrian Hotel is the public space (exterior/interior) within the hotel as a walking experience. Hotels typically segregate their private rooms from the green or public area, which makes it inaccessible to the overall public. The idea of making the shared spaces of the hotel are truly open for the public to visit, engage and merge the boundary between hotel residents and general public visitors. 44
Site of Retail & Hotel Residential Area Business Improvement Area
Pedestrian
Street Car
Ab
et
re St en e W Qu
Program Layout
Exterior Corridors
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ell
Lis St
ga
rS t Auto
Retail Space
Hotel Lobby
Restaurant & Bar
Hotel Room Type A
Hotel Room Type B
Hotel Room Type C
Each block represents a type of hotel room as a void that stacks up to each other. It forms a four-storied high hotel with an open courtyard that connects to adjacent streets.
Reduce the height of hotel to match up the local building height of Queen Street. At the same time, it forms a border view of the courtyard.
Exterior corridors are added to the hotel, connects to all hotel rooms and lobby that located at the building of postal office.
Exterior facade acts as a translucent filter creates a layer of privacy between the private hotel room and the streets. Two proposal building were discarded and turn into a public park.
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3
Lisgar Street
2
1
Queen Street West
47
4
4
4
3
2
1
1 2 3 4
Retail Store Hotel Lobby Restaurant / Bar Exterior Terrace
N
48
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East Elevation
Section Through Gallery
Interior Views
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Cross Section
Section Through Restaurant/Bar
Exterior Views
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THE MAKING OF A BOOK featuring McLean Residence drawings and photos are provided by Boxer Architects book size: 7.5” x 9.5” cover: 300gsm white/antique finish 100% cotton paper text: 175gsm off white uncoated paper mylar sheet font: Kilm Type Foundry Tiempos Complete printed on mid-February, 2018, Toronto, ON
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Ins: @alifokk