Boyan Wu Portfolio

Master of Fine Arts, Interior Design, Pratt Institute

bwux7@pratt.edu

Interior Design

"The Whispering Leaves Tea House"

A Japanese tea ceremony experience store for Ippodo Tea

This project is a lighting and material-driven space project that explores Kyoto architecture and Japanese tea ceremony culture to determine the function and atmosphere of the interior space. Then through the use of materials, lighting, and furniture combinations, an innovative Japanese tea ceremony experience space is created.

Design Idea

Kyoto has a long history in Japan and is one of the important birthplaces of the Japanese tea ceremony. In Kyoto, the tea ceremony is regarded as an art and culture whose traditions are inseparable from Japanese history, philosophy, and religion.

The history of tea in Kyoto can be traced back to the 9th century. At that time, tea was mainly used as a medicinal herb. Later, tea gradually became a popular beverage, especially among the nobility and samurai. In the 14th century, Japanese tea ceremony culture developed in Kyoto and became an important cultural activity. In Kyoto, there are many historical sites and traditional cultural places related to the tea ceremony.

Ippodo Tea is known as "one of the best matcha teas in Japan" and is famous for its high quality Japanese green teas such as Uji Matcha, Genmaicha and Sencha.

- Sencha is one of the most common teas in Japan and one of the most common teas in Kyoto.This tea is made from tea leaves that are roasted and crushed into a fine powder. Sencha is usually served with dessert during the tea ceremony.

- Matcha is one of the essential teas in the Kyoto tea ceremony. Matcha is made from high-quality green tea leaves that are stone-ground to a fine powder. This tea is considered very noble and precious because it requires an elaborate production process and high-quality raw materials. Matcha is considered to be a respected and appreciated tea in the tea ceremony.

- Kyoto is also famous for its genmaicha. This tea is made from a blend of green tea and brown rice and has a light taste and a strong aroma. Genmaicha is considered a very healthy tea.

I deconstructed the above colors in a collage style and combined them with my understanding and tea ceremony experience to finalize the materials. In the process, I chose materials that would make the tea room more harmonious, natural, and calm. For example, I chose wood as the primary material because it creates a warm and cozy atmosphere and also fits the spirit of the tea ceremony in pursuing natural harmony.

In addition to wood, I used other materials to enrich the tea room's design. For example, I chose a green carpet because it reflects the spirit of the pursuit of natural harmony in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. In addition, I also chose washi paper to decorate the tea room to enhance the traditional Japanese atmosphere of the tea room.

Soft yellow lighting can create a warm, cozy atmosphere for wood materials, making them look more natural and organic. On the other hand, cooler lighting, such as blue light can accentuate the coolness of a marble or metal surface. The height of the lighting position can also impact the material effect. For example, lights above the ceiling can create a soft ambient glow for marble and metal surfaces, making them appear smoother and shinier. On the other hand, lights on the floor can create a more natural light effect for wood materials, enhancing their texture and grain.

Lighting Plan

Furniture Plan

Restroom Reception

Lounge

Experience

Exhibition & Display

Employee Meeting Room

Elevation of Reception

Elevation of Experience space

Elevation of Gallery

HRÍB Side Table

HRÍB Side Table

Furniture Mood Board

The design aims to provide a holistic approach to treating epidemic depression, addressing both the physical and mental aspects of the condition. The space will serve as a safe and nurturing environment for individuals to seek support and improve their mental wellbeing.

The space incorporate natural elements, such as natural light, plants, and wood material to create a calming atmosphere. And spaces provided private and communal, where individuals can engage in activities such as meditation, yoga, therapy, and exercise.

The outbreak of the global pandemic has caused widespread anxiety and depression among the population. To address this issue, the proposed space aims to provide a sanctuary for individuals suffering from epidemic depression.The space will be designed to facilitate the treatment of depression through a combination of mental and physical activities.

Studies conducted in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic have shown a significant increase in the prevalence of depression. In January 2021, a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 41.1% of respondents reported adverse mental or behavioral health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, related to the pandemic. Another study published in August 2020 reported that the prevalence of depression symptoms increased from 8.5% before the pandemic to 27.3% during the pandemic. Furthermore, a study in February 2021 found that the incidence of depression during the pandemic was 3.3 times higher than before the pandemic. These data highlight the need for support and resources for individuals suffering from depression during the pandemic.

Site analysis

32.73°

127.91°

Bayard-Condict Building

Treatment method

1. Entrance

2. Reception

3. Waiting Lounge

4. Consultant Room

5. Mental Therapy / Office

6. Corridor

7. Restroom

8. Stair

9. Patio

10. Public Lounge

11. Oval-Threshold

12. Restroom

13. Locker

14. Physical Therapy

15. Group Room

16. Cafe Coner

Section C-C

Section B-B

Section D-D

Waiting Lounge

CEILING

DROPPED CEILING

PARTITION

CUSTOMIZED FURNITURE SPIRAL STAIRCASE

11 Floor Exploded Axonometric

Consultant Room Therapy Room

CEILING

SKYLIGHT DROPPED CEILING

WOOD GRATING

SPIRAL STAIRCASE

PARTITION

12 Floor Exploded Axonometric

Locker

Public Lounge

Enter The Moon

A Retail Of Akari Lamp In NY

Aakari gives the image of sunlight iand moonlight pouring out into a room.

---Isamu Noguchi

The inspiration for this space comes from noguchi's desire to simulate moonlight through Akari, thereby creating a warm and hazy space. In Japanese culture, there are a lot of poetry describing moonlight, but what is interesting is that poets usually do not directly describe moonlight, but express the softness of moonlight through other objects.

This coincides with Noguchi's work to a large extent. By studying Noguchi’s sculptures, three concepts suitable for expressing this space are summarized, namely: Height, Enclose, and Hide.

Concept Driver

月さすや谷をさまよふ蛍どち

Moonlight in the valley, Flowing fireflies are hesitating.

Moonlight and Clound

Moonlight in nature

——原石鼎

----Sekitei Hara

Noguchi came up with a logo for Akari that combined a stylized sun and crescent moon like the ideograph it is based on （明）. The ideograph became synonymous with Akari, featured on the early envelopes and packaging and in the form of a red stamp at the base of each lantern.

cloud cover the moon

cloud shade the moon

Inspration of Noguchi sculpture

cloud under the moon

Meditation room

Diagram

Katchina

Black hill

Moonlight Soft light Shade

Deconstruction of Akari

Akari = Weightlessness + Illumination

Making process

Elements box

container

illumination

structure

structure paper tools

washi paper

metal stick

Akari box

Metal stick

Washi paper

Design language | washi paper

Cocept Diagram

Height change

Height change

Hight & Display

Thickness & Perception of light

Visible & Invisible opaque only transmit light translucent

Washi paper Assemblies

Design language | box

Kirei Board | modulize

Function

Storage

Mountable

Combination

Combination

Joint

Storage

Mountable

Design

Random combination

Interior display

Diverse scenario

Axonometric explode drawing

restroom with ADA

ceiling

backyard

steel beams & petition girder

retail

movable shoji screen petition

bookshelves

Function anlysis

cafe

educated

modularized furniture

book sale

expericing area cashier & storage

Ceiling

Extra Ceiling (large size)

56+40+6=102 Akaris

Hutong--Home

Beijing's Hutongs, which are connected in all directions and closely related to Beijing's history, and become a symbol of Beijing's culture of the ordinary people.

For Beijingers, once stepping into Hutong, it feels as comfortable at home. Along with eating, drinking, chatting, taking naps, or selling merchandise. Hutongs are like a huge living room for those who live inside. With the development of society, many of them can not escape the fate of being demolished, while those existing ones are lack of former vivid sense.

Therefore, this project intend to condense the Hutong culture of Beijing in one traditional house through the project of "H²" means Hutong and Home. People could have a chance to grasp the real relative culture.

An Neighborhood Center in the Old Beijing City

Background Introduction

Analysis of External Environment

Before 1988, Beijingers mainly lived in single-story houses with small yards and dense spacing, which were gradually formed communities;

From 1988 to 1998, the government began to demolish the old houses in traditional urban areas on a small scale, while some people moved out and lived in departments

From 1998 to 2008, with economic development, the government started to demolish traditional urban areas on a large scale and construct high departments. Most residents moved out and v was gradually destroyed.

Analysis of Internal Environment

Before 1988, the boundary of “homes” were broad and vague. Once stepping inside the Hutong from main roads, it felt like staying at home. Behaviors and dressing are as casual as their own homes.

From 1988 to 1998, parts of old houses and Hutong were replaced by new types of communities due to the policy from the government. The scope of the home was also shrunk together with the vanishing of Hutongs.

From 1998 to 2008, with large-scale demolishing of old urban areas, roads were widened.A large number of people moved out and the scope of the home was gradually shrunk due to increasing occupation of newly-built apartments.

From 2008 to 2018, awareness to protect cultural heritages began to rise, while plans to demolish traditional urban areas were suspended and Hutong was protected.

From 2008 to 2018, although the plan of demolishing was suspended, the scope of homes was scattered.

30 Years-changes of Zhuanta Hutong

In 1988, people living in Zhuanta Hutong had abundant activities.

In 2018, after suffering a series of demolishing plans, former vivid scenes and sense of life are all gone with people once living here.

Number of Hutong

Functional Design Plan Layout

Facing the yard

Quiet

Be seated for a while

Shades of trees

Facing the yard

Noisy

Social space

Sit down and have a drink

Attached

Small space

Basic functions

Near to nature

With landscapes

Have a rest

Concept Collage

Interactive

Both quiet and noisy

Sitting on the ground

Full of Zen

Traditional Beijing style

Lively

Activity space

Multiple functions

Shades of trees

Core space

Mood Board

Relax

Taking to each other

Delightful

Fishpond

Semi-open space

Semi-private space

Cosy

Quiet

Like staying at home

Whispering

Artistic

Public space

Casual

With landscapes

Glancing without blind angle

Breezy

Tile sea

Platform

5. Party Space

6. Yard(with Canopy)

7. Front Hall

8. Zen Space

9. Reading Space

10. 2nd Floor Terrace

11. Fish Pond

12. Bamboo Pavilion

Bluestone Slab Black Marble

Wooden Fence

Green Brick Roof Tiles Bamboo Curtain

Concrete Black Square Stone Glass

Structure & Details

Spatial Presentation

Render

Render

Terrace

Attachment to the view standing on the roof is always hunted for those people living in Hutong. Once getting on the roof, they can enjoy the endless tile sea formed by tile slope roofs.

Terrace and courtyard with canopy

Canopy

As a very crucial element in the traditional Beijing courtyard, the canopy can keep sands in the spring and strong sunlight in the summer away. People used to cool themselves and have different activities. It can be said canopy has created a large cozy public area for the traditional courtyard. In addition to conventional functions, the canopy I set in the yard could be shaped accordingly, creating different atmospheres.

Table tennis mode

To keep wind and strong sunlight during games.

Game mode

To blocking out strong sunlight and heat in the summer

Performance mode

Hanging spotlights on the canopy to increase the atmosphere

Leisure mode

Reading and social spaces could be divided into the courtyard.

Comparing with traditional seats, flexible modular ones could be applied on the 2nd-floor platform. People are available to move freely to meet different scale and functions. The whole space could also be divided based on demands.

Football match mode

Cover each corner with a canopy to prevent the ball from unexpected flying outside walls

Open-air cinema mode Lights could be adjusted though angle changes of the canopy. People could appreciate artworks.

To keep raindrops outside and allow people to watch movies outdoors even on rainy days

Children playing mode

Lower down the canopy and children are allowed to jump up and have fun.

Art exhibition mode

Party mode

Canopy can be transformed and tailored to different types of parties

Section 2-2

Model Presentation

Material:

Base: white foam board

Main part: wood board

Roof structure: log bar

Glass: transparent acrylic

Decoration: branch, wire, black gauze, LED light

Scale: 1/4"=1'-0"

Size: 11-1/32" x 10-3/8" x 3-5/8"

Cemetery 05

Memorial A

Architecture

Chinese people have been traditionally in awe of death since ancient times and regarding death as one of the most important things in life. Therefore, there are many ceremonies to pay tribute to the deceased ones.

Cultural Context

In Chinese customs, mourning and paying tribute to the deceased ones every year at Qingming Festival has been a tradition since the ancient times. People visit tombs to honor the memory of the dead.

In folk tradition, there are three main ways for people to pay tribute: burning paper money (paper made to resemble money) for their deceased family, burying relics, and honoring the memory of the deceased with family members by telling stories in their life, so as to ensure that their memory lives on.

1. Burning paper money. People believe that after death, a person’s soul will enter into another world (the underworld) and then continue to live there.The ancient Chinese believed that the living can send money to the dead by burning paper money, so as to provide them with a comfortable afterlife in the underworld.

Site Analysis

2. Burying relics. According to folk customs, family will bury the ashes and favorite items of the deceased, so that the deceased will have a home in the underworld and can still have those things that he or she liked when alive. And people can pin their grief on these relics.

3. Honoring the memory of the deceased. People will tell the stories of the dead in his life because in folklore the deceased can hear it in the underworld when someone talks about them, and thus feel gratified knowing that they have not been forgotten, so that they can, pass through the gate of life and death to reunite with their family in their family’s dreams.

This cemetery is located in the northwest of Beijing. It is where my grandparents are buried, and therefore the place where I come to pay tribute to them every Qingming Festival. However, I found that the function in the cemetery is rather simple. There is only a large stretch of cemetery, no place to store relics, no quiet places for private talks, and even no place to burn paper money. It’s not convenient for people to honor the memory of the deceased through traditional Chinese rituals. Therefore, I choose an undeveloped triangular plot in the cemetery to allow people to honor their deceased ones in a traditional way.

This world Underworld

Concept Generation

0. Ancient Chinese philosophy holds that everything in the world is composed of five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, which are known as the Five Elements. They are interconnected by the rules as such: water engenders wood, wood engenders fire, fire engenders earth, and earth engenders metal. My design is inspired by the Five

1. The site is shaped as a triangle, which is separated by a pool,water is used as a boundary to symbolize the boundary of life

2. Two floors extended downwards represent the three traditional ways of people’s memorial ritual. And wooden floors are paved.

3. A traffic core is set up and the bottom is filled with soil to symbolize the return of the flesh to nature after death.

PaperBurningSpaceRecallSpaceRelicStorageSpace

4. A chimney is installed at the second-floor underground space for paper burning, which, at the same time, can add a touch of solemnity to it.

5. Finally, a relic storage space and a mourning space are built, which are connected with a

Main Entrance

Public Hall

The public space can function as a cemetery service center, which is also an access leading to more private mourning area on the lower floor. This floor gives an emotional buffer for people. Whether it is people who just come in or are about to leave, they can all take a rest, chatting with their families to adjust their emotions. In addition, different mourning activities can be organized for people.

In Chinese myth, people will cross the NaiRiver after passing away, and then they will enter into a post-mortem world to start a new life, so water is considered as the boundary of life and death in China.

The pool is used to separate the real world and the underground. People can enter the cemetery by walking along the pathway while passing through the pool and chimney, or enter the main entrance of the building to reach the underground space via the slope next to the pool.

Material: White marble and dark concrete create a serious and melancholy atmosphere in the space, while the brown color of the concrete flooring gives a sense of closeness.

Paper Burning Space

The paper burning space consists of five concrete chimneys, representing the five elements of all life in Chinese culture. People can show their grief for the deceased ones by burning paper money at the bottom of the chimney according to customs. Also, this can largely avoid any hidden hazard of forest fire in the cemetery.

Staircase & Patio

The triangular spiral staircase is used to communicate with the main space of the building. This not only echoes the exterior of the building, but also saves space. Considering the B2 and B3 floors are high, in addition to the small rest platforms at the corners, a longer rest platform is set up as a buffer in the middle of each floor. People can rest on the platform or look out from the

Bamboo symbolizes life in Chinese culture. It can create an atmosphere of solemnity, gradually soothing people's emotions after entering the building.

Red spider lily, also called resurrection lily in China, grows alongside the Hell-River and leads to the underworld in folktale. It can guide the dead, evoke their memories before they passed away, and make the dead reborn in the underworld. And the flower can also comfort the grieving family.

Relic Storage Space

The relic storage space is designed as an oval shape to avoid obvious edges and corners, so as to soften the space atmosphere. This is to ease people's sadness. The oval wall avoids a primary and secondary spatial relation, indicating that life is equal. Grids for storing relics are installed onto the wall, and people can store the belongings of the deceased in line with the custom.

A tree is planted in the middle of the space and a patio is set at the top to let the sunlight shine in, injecting a touch of vitality to the entire space. Meanwhile, sunshine and growing tree symbolize rebirth, and will thus comfort the people inside who are grieving.

Relic Storage Space

The Corridor

Two corridors are derived from the main space, one of which connects the recall space, and the other the relic space. Due to the functional differences from both the paper burning space and the mourning space, the emotions that people may generate can be largely different. Therefore, two different forms of corridors are utilized to connect the two spaces, so that people can feel their emotional changes.

Light Analysis

Black cardboard is used to make a rectangular carton to simulate the corridor. On the top, different shapes of openings are cut to simulate the corridor lighting of three modes.

Recall Space

In the cemetery, people can only honor their memory of the deceased hastily in front of the tombstone. Since there is rarely no privacy outdoors, their sorrow and grief cannot be vented fully.

Branches

In the corridor leading to the relic space, 8 branches of different lengths are set up to symbolize the four stages of life: childhood, adulthood, middle age, and old age, which are divided by stairs; when passing through each stage, people can see two completely different scenes, which represent the human world and nether world respectively. With these branches and downward stairs, people can feel the depressive emotions while passing through the corridor. Those emotions will swing along the change of space, and will eventually be released when people reach the relic space.

The recall space is designed to have several rectangular spaces with different heights, representing people's pieces of memory. People come here alone or in groups, sobbing alone or telling past stories to their children, in order to let out the sadness in their hearts.

Corridor Path and Emotional Fluctuations

Line Double Track Punctiform

Fungus Canopy

The project is a parametric design undertaking that espouses a bionic theme and is situated in front of Pratt Higgins Hall. Drawing inspiration from the bamboo mushroom, a fungus known for its intricate and robust structural properties, the design has been deconstructed and subjected to mechanical analysis through the use of Kangaroo software.The resulting outcome is a membrane and steel Pavilion that exemplifies the integration of natural systems into a parametric design framework.

The Pavilion is designed to provide students with a semi-open, ventilated space that is conducive to free movement and dynamic interaction. This spatial arrangement is predicated on an appreciation for the importance of air circulation and fluidity, thereby creating an environment that is both comfortable and functional for its users.

A Pavilion At Higgins Hall

The pavilion is a critical piece of infrastructure that connects the open space in front of the Higgins Hall building to the entrance of the building itself. It serves as an entrance threshold, providing a transitional space for students and visitors to prepare for entry into the building. The pavilion should be designed to not only provide shelter from the elements but also to create an open, airy, and welcoming space for students.

The pavilion was inspired by a fungus called Bamboo Mushroom, a light and solid structure. By studying its structure and designing it parametrically with Kangaroo software, the shape of the pavilion was finalized.

The design informed by the surrounding landscape and architecture of Pratt Institute. The pavilion blend into the environment while serving as a bold statement of modern design. It is a space that students and community members will be drawn to, not only because it provides shelter but also because it serves as a gathering place for socializing, studying, and collaborating.

Exploded Axonometric Drawing

Steel structure

Membrane structure

Assembly

Other Works

Professional Work | Furniture Design

International Cultural Silicon Valley in Beijing 798 Artdist (Fairy Land Cenre)

Location: Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

Year: 2018

Status: Finished

Total Area: 146849.94 m2

Project Highlight:

This project (FAIRY LAND CENTRE) is located on Jiangtai Business Centre, Chaoyang District. It has very important meaning as a key industrial project of greening experimental area. The whole park includes office, business, exhibition, and others module.

The park is next to the 798 ArtDist, so artistic style is utilized on interior design. A unique working space is presented by a large atrium, transparent spaces, modern and pure design methods. This project has been get the Gold LEED-Core & Shell Certificate by U.S. Green Building Council.

Plan of Ground Floor, Tower A

Plan of Ground Floor, Tower B

Rendering of the Lobby, Tower B

Rendering of the Lobby, Tower B

Rendering of the Lobby, Tower B

Performing Art Center For The Beijing Sub-Center

Location: Tongzhou District, Beijing, China

Year: 2020

Status: In Process

Project Highlight:

The Performing Arts Center for the Beijing Sub-Center is a state-of-theart cultural venue designed to showcase a diverse range of performing arts, from theater and dance to music and more. The center is located in the heart of the Beijing Sub-Center, with easy access to transportation and other amenities.

The building is an architectural masterpiece, with a sleek and modern design that blends seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. The exterior features a series of interlocking geometric shapes that create a sense of movement and energy, while the use of glass and other materials allows natural light to flood the interior spaces.

In addition to the performance spaces, the center also includes several rehearsal studios, dressing rooms, and other backstage areas to support the needs of performers. There are also a number of public spaces, including a lobby and lounge area, cafes and restaurants, and outdoor areas for relaxation and socializing.

Shared Lobby VIP Audience Hall Front Lobby Audience Hall

Rendering of Shared Lobby

Drama Theater -- Front Lobby

Rendering of Drama Theater Front Lobby

Rendering of Drama Theater Front Lobby

Construction Drawing

Project: Huangling New District Kindergarten

Construction drawings

- Furniture Design