Brian Chen, Architecture Portfolio 2013-2014

Arch. + Design BRIAN CHEN

Selected Works 2013 - 2014

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Resume

Brian Chen Hi, I am a second year student at the University of Waterloo School of Architecure. My passions in life are many, I like oil painting and drawing, and have always been deeply involved in music and instrumental performance. My experiences in travel, people, and my appreciation of culture and adventure are one of the many elements that have shaped my work.

Fluent in a variety of digital programs.

Skilled in rendering, post production, drafting, drawing, and layout Strong written and oral communication through teaching positions and leadership roles.

Proficient graphic communication skills developed by previous graphic design experience.

Experienced in collaborative work settings.

Bilingual in English and Mandarin.

SKILLS DIGITAL

Rhino 3D, Vray, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, Sketchup, Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, Revit (Learning), Rendering, Layout, Drawing

TECHINICAL

Physical Modeling, Hand Drafting

LANGUAGES

English and Mandarin (Fluent Orally)

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EDUCATION Upper Canada College Completion of Full International Baccalaureate Diploma, Ontario

2006 - 2013

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

2013 - Present

Candidate for Honours Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Co-op

EXPERIENCE English Teacher Taught english to Taiwanese students in rural areas (Changhua, Xinzhu, Lukang).

Conducted daily classes to a classroom of 30 students in highly varied age groups, and organized extracurricular activities.

2011 , 2014

Art Instructor: Horizons Art Program Taught art to Toronto inner city youth.

2013

Marketing Director: Upper Canada College International Club Organized and selected suitable merchandise to maximize event funding; resulting in considerable profit.

2013

Contact Information ADDRESS: 384 Douglas Avenue, Toronto, Ontario EMAIL: bchen574@gmail.com PHONE: 905-906-3569

EXTRACURRICULAR Awards / Competitions 1st Place: Superskyscraper Competition Winning Project: TUBE 3

2014

Upper Canada College Art Award, 2013 Graduating Class Given to student with the highest finishing grade average in visual arts.

2013

1st Place: Key Club Poster Design Competition Design competition (East Ontario District): use smart graphic media to inspire Key Club service initiatives.

2013

Graphic Design Art Director: Upper Canada College Designed all student visual media and advertising for school events and initiatives.

Collaborated with a wide range of student clubs and individuals, and event arrangers.

Bulletin Editor: Key Club, Upper Canada College Designed club media for promotion, event advertisement and representation in district events.

2012 - 2013

2012 - 2013

Music First Violinist: Taiwanese Chamber Orchestra Preserving Taiwanese folk music in today’s western Toronto music scene.

Second Violinist: Orchestra Toronto Professional and non professionals perform a full season of recitals at the Toronto Center of the Arts Concert Hall.

Second Violinist: Upper Canada College Strings Ensemble

2011 2011 - 2013

2010 - 2012

Projects Bill Gates Foundation: Reinvent the Toilet Challenge Conceptualized as a team, a low cost working toilet for a third world country.

Budgeted fabrication, and designed graphic material to promote product.

2013

Leaf Drawing, Interactive Art Installation Initiation and organization of school wide interactive art installation.

“Draw your interpretation of a tree”: a drawing set that studies how factors such as age affect artistic expression.

2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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01 Modern Lofts. Box House Residential / Commerical

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02 Junk Space. Garden Houses Residential

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03 ssef comp. Urban Frames Public

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04 Oasis. Summer House Pavilion

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05 Tube x 3 (1st Place Winner) Commercial / Conceptual

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Extra Artworks Residential / Commerical

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

01 Modern Lofts.

Box House DESCRIPTION

Modern Lofts is a mide sized residential complex located in downtown Toronto. The project is aimed at providing architectural solutions to unused land in the core of the city.

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Box house attempts to unite the residential elements surrounding its property. Currently an empty parking lot on the brink of neither a city or neighborhood context, it is reused as a residential complex that provides both private living and a space that is sensitive to and embraces the present community around it.

St. Clair and Westmount Ave, Toronto

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1B Design Studio

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Site Strategy Family Oriented Community

Daycare / Playground

The site sits in the center of three significant points of gathering, all family oriented, indicating the main nature of foot traffic in the area. The public space below the residence becomes a place of gathering for these famillies, something the area was lacking due to its location which is neither fully residential or urban.

Commercial C

Box House

Residential Westmount Ave.

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School

Box house creates a space that mixes commercial, park, and playground to balance local resident needs.

Church

Church / Daycare Playground R

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School

Selected Works 2013 - 2014

1 Residential Units 2 Elevator / Stairs 3 Resident only Entrance 4 Commercial Space (Cafe)

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5 Public Courtyard 6 Daycare Playground

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Ground Floor Program Publc Garden. Cafe. Children’s Playground The ground floor program creates a public space that attracts foot traffic but also maintains the privacy of the cafe and residents through subtle changes in elevation that categorize and separate spaces by function.

Daycare Playground

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Resident Only Entrance Cafe Commercial Space Public Courtyard Playground

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East West Section

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Westmount Ave

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

Commercial Space: Cafe

Public Courtyard

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Elevations Steel Facade Steel panel facade and window arrangement vary every other floor.

East Elevation

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

South Elevation

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Residential Unit Floor Plans

Floor 1+3 Plan

Each residential unit is designed with family living in mind; each contains a large master bedroom, a smaller bedroom, and a large central living space containing the living room, kitchen/dining area and balcony set in to tie the spaces together. A laundry room, and a large pantry are also included.

1 Master Bedroom 2 Single Bedroom 3 Living Room 4 Kitchen/Dining dfRoom

Floor 2+4 Plan

5 Pantry 6 Laundry room 7 Washroom

East - West Unit Section Floor 2

Floor 1

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

D i n i n g, B a c l o n y, L i v i n g R o o m , Fo u r t h F l o o r We s t U n i t

Living Room, Second Floor East Unit 10

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

02 Junk Space.

Garden Houses DESCRIPTION

is a residential complex located in Cambridge, Ontario. The project focuses on revitalizing abandoned public spaces by repurposing them as residential spaces.

Green Houses takes a site sensitive approach to this problem by redirecting the focus of the space. Three seperate buildings create a wall that encloses an elevated courtyard.

The complex then merges onto the front road creating a more pleasant entrance.

LOCATION

COURSE

Cambridge, Ontario 1B Design Studio, group project, in collaboration with, Kate Brownlie, Mac Van Dam, Christina Varriano

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Site Strategy Refocusing Views. Redirecting Entrance. .

Three buildings units enclose an elevated courtyard that resfocuses views onto the adjacent street and parkland. The elevated courtyard merges onto the nature of the sloped earth berm and the adjacent street condition. The main entrance is now redirected to the west side.

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East West Section

North South Section

Elevation Change Diagram

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7.5m 6.5m 2.5m

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Elevated Courtard

Sloped Earth Berm

Park Land

Parking Lot

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Parking Lot

2.5m

Elevated Courtard

6.5m

Sloped Earth Berm 7.5m

Park Land

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

Parkland

Unit A a

Unit C

Unit B

Parking

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Residential Unit Floor Plans

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Unit A. 2 Floor Unit Unit B. two 1 Floor Units Unit C. two 1 Floor Units

Unit A

Floor 1

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Floor 1 Unit

Floor 2 Unit

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Unit B

Selected Works 2013 - 2014

Sliding panels provide adjustable shading to suit personal comfort.

c Floor 1 Unit

Unit C

Floor 2 Unit

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

03 ssef comp.

Urban Frames DESCRIPTION

LOCATION

COURSE

Urban Frames is an competittion entry for the steel span competition. By embracing the notion of span, Urban Frames is a merging of the pedestrian crossing as a means of passage and another way to experience the city. The project brings the busy people of the city a different rythm to their daily journeys, making a pleasant difference to their everyday routine.

Yonge and Dundas, Downtown Toronto 1B Environmental Design, group project, in collaboration with, Veronika Bojic

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Interior View View the city from 2 frames Pedestrians can enjoy the city environment below from two different levels. A higher passage way is dedicated pedestrian circulation. A lower level seating area brings the viewer another step closer to the city life below; tilted windows give a direct view down to street level.

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

Construction Detail

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

04 Oasis.

Summer House DESCRIPTION

LOCATION

COURSE

Oasis Summer House is a passive climate responsive pavilion located in the mountain valleys of the Wulai district. Without the use of additional energy sources, the building takes advantage of wind, ventilation, solar orientation, and nature to create a comfortable space in a warm and humid climate.

Wulai, Taipei, Taiwan 1B Environmental Design

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Passive Climate Response Smart Ventilation Design + Experience Variety The buidling is passively responsive to local environmental conditions. Cross ventilation is encouraged through strategic placement of openings and high ceilings rid the space of hot air and the river stream also provides evaporative cooling.

Ventilation Diagram: North - South Section

stack effect

SOUTH SECTIONobservatory outdoor NORTH -indoor space space

evaporative cooling southeast winds

North Elevation

Site Plan Metal Shutters protect the building in preparation for typhoons. The building is also raised 80 cm off the ground to encourage ventilation below and protect the floor from the humid foundation.

Closed Facade:

Strategically placed openings take advantage of the southeast winds.

Smaller openings on the windward side of the building and larger on north side ensure effective cross ventilation. A running stream is used to cool the outer areas of the building.

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South Elevation

Raised Foundation

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southeast winds

Selected Works 2013 - 2014

SITE LOCATION

The observatory is located at the edge of a cliff where a river flows below, making for a magnificent view.

The site is located in the Wulai district of Taipei, a 50 minute drive from the city, deep in an area of lush green mountains and hot springs. The building is located on a cliffside where a river runs below.

Observatory Diagram

NORTH - SOUTH SECTION

Viewpoint

North - South Section

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Indoor Space + Outdoor Patio Space Two Different Experiences, One Building

Indoor Space

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

Outdoor Patio Space

outdoor patio space

observatory indoor NORTH - SOUTH SECTION space

Indoor Space The indoor space is designed to keep cool during warm and humid summers. Punctured window patterns along the continous form make for interesting views and sufficient lighting. The space is versatile and allows for a variety of indoor activities.

Outdoor Patio Space The semi -outdoor space is a shaded patio space that is open to the breezes and nature around it, making it most suitable for rainy days. Placed adjacent to a river stream, the patio is slightly raised for those who wish to admire it from above, however a lowered seating area opens down below to bring you closer to the plant life.

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

05 1st PLACE WINNER

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DESCRIPTION

Tube x 3 is a conceptual project that speculates on the potential of marine architecture. The floating form is the result of mixing the typologies of marine life and environment underwater, man made structures on land, and our efforts to create spaces in the sea. By bringing all three conditions side by side, a unique experience is created that amplifies our understanding of environmental boundaries.

Pacific Ocean

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Tube x 3

Super Skyscraper Competition // Ocean Skyscraper group project, in collaboration with Catherine Tan, Bennet Oh, Helena Tse, George Xing, Sharon Kwan, Melanie Lo

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Reinventing the Hotel Typology Underwater Depth Sensitive Layering of Programming Programs that require maximum access to air and sunlight, which includes agriculture, access, and public beach, are located above sea level. Underwater floors explore the unique opportunity to have an underwater garden view on one side, and fresh air and natural lighting on the other. They are occupied by hotel, business, commercial, and cultural centers.

Medical Medical M e d i c aCentre l C e n tCentre er

Helipad HHelipad eliopad

Hotel Lobby Hotel Lobby

Dance Room Dance Room

Agriculture Agriculture Agriculture

FinancialFinancial Financial

Restaurant/Bar/Cafe Restaurant/Bar/Cafe

Theatre Theatre

SSwimming w i m m Swimming i n Pool g P o o lPool

Dock

DDock ock

Office

Office

Fitness Centre FFitness i t n e s Centre s Center

Commercial Commercial Centre Centre

W e a t h eWeather r M o n Monitor itor Weather Monitor

AAdministrative dministrative Administrative

Hotel

ad

Hotel H o t eLobby l Hotel L o b Lobby by

Dance Room DDance a n c eRoom Room

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Restaurant/Bar/Cafe R e s t a Restaurant/Bar/Cafe urant / Bar / Cafe

TheatreTTheatre heater

Office O f f i c eOffice

GGallery/Convention allery / Gallery/Convention Convention

es Centre

Commercial C o m mCommercial e r c Centre i a l C eCentre nter

SecuritySSecurity ecurity

e nistrative

H o t e l Hotel Hotel

M e cRoom h a n i cRoom al Room Mechanical Mechanical

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Spa

Hotel

Gallery/Convention Gallery/Convention

Security Security

Mechanical Mechanical Room Room

Selected Works 2013 - 2014

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

Tube x 3 System Circulation / Marine Life / Sunlight

Tube x 3 employs a number of sustainble approaches; passive ventilation is achieved by wind catchers that tunnel the powerful ocean breeze into the floors. The building is designed to stay within the epipelagic layer of water in order to allow sufficient sunlight to reach through water. The atrium ensures natural sunlight and fresh air circulation. Eco friendly energy is collected from wind, sun, tide, and flow battery technology. Rain water is also collected for gray water use and a portion of food and water is produced locally on floating gardens and desalination plants.

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

+EXTRA ARTWORKS

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Meiji Shrine, Oil on Canvas, 2013

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Oil Paintings 35

Selected Works 2013 - 2014

2 W a n d e r e r, O i l o n C a n v a s, 2 0 1 4

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Y i e l i u , Ta i w a n , 2 0 1 4

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2 Y i e l i u , Ta i w a n , 2 0 1 4

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Selected Works 2013 - 2014

To k y o, J a p a n , 2 0 1 3

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4 Y i e l i u , Ta i w a n , 2 0 1 4

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Thank You.

Contact Information :

Address: 384 Douglas Avenue, Toronto, Ontario Email: bchen574@gmail.com Phone: 905-906-3569

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