APPLICATION NUMBER: 22113745
PORTFOLIO CAIRU CHEN
2017-2021 SELECTED WORKS
APPLYING FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, MLA I UCL
CONTENT PROJECT 01
JIANGSU, NANJING
The Renewal of River Landscape PROJECT 02
GUANGDONG, SHAOGUAN
Landscape Reconstruction of Temple PROJECT 03
JIANGSU, NANJING
Neighborhood Park PROJECT 04
JIANGSU, NANJING
JIANGSU, NANJING
Landscape Architecture Design OTHERS
Stele Pavilion / Photographs / Paintings
GUANGDONG, SHAOGUAN
T
PROJECT 01. JIANGSU, NANJING
he Central River is located in Jiangning District, Nanjing. It reaches Yunliang River in the north and Lingli Pump station in the south. The project takes the upper course of the river as the design base. The area has poor water quality, complicated pollution and barren vegetation. Although the traffic on the surrounding roads is smooth, it is inconvenient for pedestrians due to the lack of sidewalks. However, some people still enjoy fishing here, and occasionally great egrets can also be seen on the bare shore.
The Renewal of River Landscape INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC WORK
COMPLETION TIME: 2021/04
It could have been a vibrant place. Thus, this project aims to achieve the harmonious symbiosis between man and nature. The design will help purify the water, improve the water quality, and create wetland habitats for living creatures. Meanwhile, the waterfront activities space will be implanted to stimulate the vitality of the site.
■ PRECIPITATION
■ SURROUNDING
AREA: 31.5HA (RIVER AREA: 7.6 HA)
ANALYSIS
LAND USE ANALYSIS
The north side of the river is covered with a large area of bare soil and construction waste. The south side is connected with farmland. Pollutants in the surface runoff will flow through bare soil, construction waste and farmland , and then into the river. N
2020 average precipitation Historical annual average precipitation
■ TRAFFIC
The flood season of the river is from June to September every year. The flood level of the river would last for about 10 days at most. Concentrated precipitation intensifies the accumulation of rainwater on the impermeable pavement, increasing the surface runoff. Moreover, pollutants carried by surface runoff will aggravate river pollution.
ANALYSIS
■ ACCESSIBILITY
ANALYSIS
5 Min 10 Min 15 Min
There are two entrances connected to the factory at both ends of the road, which are the destinations of the trucks. Truck exhaust emissions and brake pads along the way are some of the main sources of pollution on the site. ■ CROWD
The analysis takes the traffic nodes on both sides of the design base as sampling points and radiates to the surroundings. Within a 15-minute walk, it covers campuses, residential areas and the factories.
100
200
Water Resources Green Space Farmland Bare soil Impermeable Pavement
ACTIVITY ANALYSIS
The design will take both the activity needs of the existing users of the site and potential users into consideration. It will set up diversified functions to stimulate the vitality of the site.
0
School Tourist Student Resident Staff
Factory Garbage Treatment Station Auto Repair Shop
300M
■ STEPS
OF ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT Preliminary work
Optimize the revetment
Demolish the wall along the road, so that pedestrians will have a good visual experience while walking along the embankment road of the river.
The aquatic plant filter tank is set near the path of dense vehicles to filter sediment through plant roots and absorb excess nitrogen and phosphorus.
Artificial floating islands are set in the river. The roots of plants help purify the water and provide habitats for animals.
Relocate the serious pollution points. (The original auto repair shop on the bank of the river)
The Oxygen aeration equipment is set in a large area of water to increase the oxygen content of water and improve the living environment for fishes.
Artificial wetlands are set on gentle slopes to purify the water and increase biodiversity.
E x c a v a t e t h e construction waste overlay on the surface, and select valuable bricks and stones for recycling.
The Dry streams are built in the periphery of farmland to hold back the pollutants in surface runoff through farmland.
Artificial islands replace part of the farmland, providing an undisturbed living environment for creatures.
On the south side of the river, replace the rubble revetment with gabion revetment.Reuse the recycled bricks and stones as the filling of the gabion revetment.After finishing the gabion revetment, fill the top surface with loam, artificial transplanted turf, and grass seeds.
■ PLANTS
Purify the water
On the north side of the river is a natural slope revetment.The design will move the embankment to the north to slow the slope and plant a buffer zone to reduce pollutants carried by surface runoff.
■ MASTER
■ RENDERINGS
PLAN
Main Entrance Plaza
Aquatic Plant Filter Tank
Waterfront Platform
Oxygen Aeration Equipment
Flyover
Dry Stream
Bird Watching Platform
Artificial Floating Island
Fishing Platform
Artificial Island
Square
Artificial Wetland
■ TECHNICAL
DTAILS
AQUATIC PLANT SCIENCE POPULARIZATION
MAIN ENTRANCE PLAZA
1.25 0.90
Wooden handrail
0(M)
Grass WATER RECYCLING
Cantilevered Platform
1.Sand cylinder 2.Cistern 3.Pump
Viewing Platform Second Entrance Plaza 3
2
1
WATERFRONT ACCESSIBLE PLATFORM
N 0
■ BIRD
100
200
300M
WATCHING TOWER F2
A-A'
B'
A'
A
■ ARTIFICIAL
FLOATING ISLAND
B-B' 15
F1
12 F4
B
9 6
F3 0(M)
■ RUBBLE
REVETMENT
People can wander on the wooden walkway, have a rest on benches surrounded by aquatic plants, and climb the bird watching tower to observe birds at different altitudes. It provides people with a variety of opportunities to come into contact with nature, which can improve people's awareness of the environment and enhance their sense of environmental protection.
As the water level rises, it will be pulled towards the wooden plank road under the combined action of buoyancy and rope pulling force and be restricted to a certain range.
PROJECT 02. GUANGDONG, SHAOGUAN
Landscape Reconstruction of Temple INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC WORK
This reconstruction project aims to transform the temple, which is half-hidden in the mountains, into an eco-friendly space for visitors to experience its religious background. Thus, visitors may not only focus on themselves, but pay more attention to the historical and cultural background of the site, as well as the deep cultural significance.
AREA: 75 HA (BUILDING AREA: 2.3 HA) COMPLETION TIME: 2020/10
■ LOCATION
N
anhua Temple attracts many visitors because of its religious and historical background as the ancestral temple of Zen Buddhism. But for many visitors, the temple is simply a place to carry their expectations. Can the former Buddhist monastery still carry forward the concept of Zen culture in a more diversified way?
■ TRAFFIC
ANALYSIS
■ SURROUNDING
LAND USE ANALYSIS
Where do people come from? 26% Shaoguan Cities in the Pearl River
35% Delta Economic Circle 39% Other cities
1 hour
2 hours
City Centre
0
Railway Station
Site Major cities Driving distance
New City Centre
The temple is located in Shaoguan, the northern city of Guangdong Province. More than half of the tourists come from within Guangdong Province. ■ TRAVEL
500
Culture area
Commertial area
Educational area
Farmland area
Water resource
Residencial area
The site is located in the foothills of the Yuling branch, backed by the mountain and facing the water. Its southern entrance is connected with the main road (one-way street).
Railway Station
MODE ANALYSIS
■ CROWD Age
18%
32%
40%
10%
Bus
Tourist Bus
Car
Others
Income
The diversity of people's travel modes and their respective proportions have guiding significance for the establishment of the parking lot at the entrance of the site.
40 min
Driving Distance
Main stations
Express way
Site
Accessibility road
19-44
Average
Education Level
Qujiang District
Main towns
ANALYSIS
High
45-59
0-18
Low
None
60+
Bus Passenger Station Longgui Town
N
1000M
10 min
■ CROWD
High School
College
Postgraduate Others
ACTIVITY ANALYSIS
Site Visitor category: Leisure tourist, Devote Buddhist believer, and Buddhist partitioner. Activities include sightseeing, photography, prayer, rest, worship, meditation, etc.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35KM
■ TRAFFIC
FLOW
■ ECOLOGICAL
RESOURCES
Ficus religiosa L.
Ginkgo biloba L.
Cinnamomum camphora`
■ ANCIENT
■ MASTER
PLAN
N
AND FAMOUS TREES
There are 16 species of ancient and famous trees, totalling 304 trees. Among them, nine water pine trees have a history of more than 500 years. ■ BIRD
RESOURCES
The incense smoke of the site has affected the air quality to some extent and disturbed the living environment of birds.
Route for Buddhist pilgrim Route for Buddhist ■ HISTORICAL
SEQUENCE
The temple is built leaning the mountain, the halls are on the same axis, the structure is strict, and the priorities are clear. The impermeable pavement of the site has been affecting the growth of tree roots.
Pass space Stay space
Ficus microcarpa Linn. f.
■ SPACE
8.
EVOLUTION
Tang Dynasty
Song Dynasty
Republic of China
7.
5. 6.
4.
3.
In the Tang Dynasty, the Sixth Patriarch Huineng started to spread Zen in the temple. Since then, Nanhua Temple has become the ancestral temple of Zen Buddhism. It also received the imperial edict specially granted by the emperor. ■ DESIGN
In the Song Dynasty, nearly half of the buildings in the temple were ashes after a w ar. Fortunately, The Five Hundred Rohan left in the temple is the only existing song Dynasty wood carving in China.
In the Republic of China, under the auspices of the Buddha of Xu Yun, they opened a square, planted trees, and built new halls in the temple, forming a new pattern and style, which continues to now.
2. 0
50
100
150M
1.
1.Entrance Square
2.Ecological Parking Lot
3.Exhibition Space
4.Free Life Pond
5.Meditation Space
6.Courtyard Space
7.Incense Burning Place
8.Prayer Space
STRATEGY
Heighten the site atmosphere
Increase religious experience
Improve environmental friendliness
1)The entrance square with a lotus sculpture pool is intended to impress visitors with an image that symbolizes Buddhism. The row-planted trees can enhance the guidance of the open field. The whole space forms a sense of order.
Open fires of incense were replaced by illuminated flowers and combined with fog, breeze, and wood percussion sound. It is a more environmental-friendly way to recreate a sense of ritual and atmosphere of 7)the incense burning place.
8)The prayer space around the original bodhi tree takes wood as the main material to form an enclosed space. Simple colours and red blessing woods in the space bring an affinity atmosphere of blessing.
The imperial edict in the centre of the site is enclosed by layers of stones, forming a centripetal space which can gather the surrounding views. Trees with red ribbons are taken as the backdrop for 3)the display of cultural relics. ■ REVETMENT
FORM Shoal habitat is conducive to improving biodiversity. It is beneficial for fish to spawn. It can also provide a living environment for birds and amphibians. Rubble revetment will be used in the steep pond edge to reduce the horizontal width and reserve space for the tortoises to stay.
Visitors can sit in front of the window and enjoy zen tea. From the framed view of the round window, 6)the courtyard space spread around the retained trees in the centre of the site can be seen.
Meditation and walking clockwise around a Buddha are both ways to practice Zen. The whole 5)meditation space is centred with the mirror pool and bamboo as the background. It is located in the forest, away from the hustle and bustle.
Fir piles are used as a revetment to retain the soil and provide a growing environment for aquatic plants. The water plank is set for visitors to experience the ecological environment of the waters.
PROJECT 03. JIANGSU, NANJING
Neighborhood Park INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC WORK AREA: 0.33 HA (BUILDING AREA: 0.03HA) COMPLETION TIME: 2021/09
T
he site is located in an abandoned bus station in the centre of a concentrated residential area in Nanjing. The design aims to transform the idle station into a vibrant open space on the street corner and use it as a link to connect the intergenerational relationship and continue the memory.
■ BACKGROUND
In the 1980s, with the acceleration of Nanjing's urbanization process, a large number of rural labour forces flooded into the city. To address the housing difficulties of the new permanent population, the government invested in the construction of several concentrated residential areas as workers' dormitories.
2
Central Gate Overpass (It was officially opened to traffic in 1986 and is the first urban overpass in Jiangsu Province.)
Nanjing Railway Station
Sanpailou Street North Station
5 3 Boulevard: Under the guidance of city planning in 1929, the government planted plane trees along Zhongshan Road. 4 City Railway: Built-in 1908, it is the earliest rail transit in Nanjing. Youth Square
I
n 1985, Nanhu New village residential area, together with Nanhu Station, was completed. Since then, Bus No.13, which starts from Nanhu Station, has picked up groups of workers from the terminal station(Nanjing Railway Station).
Shanxi Road Station
In 1986, Mr Wang took the bus heading for the new residential area. Along the way, the threedimensional traffic, the roadside trees and the remaining train tracks formed his first impression of Nanjing.
Wutai Mount Station
For decades, Mr Wang gradually adapted to the city. He and his family experienced a lot in Nanjing by taking Bus No.13.
Hanzhong Road Station
They experienced the atmosphere of the Sanpailou night market, participated in the opening ceremony of the new children's playground, watched the water curtain movie for the first time in Xiliuwan Park, and regularly exercised with friends in the Wutai Mountain stadium. Every bit of life made Nanjing more concrete in his mind. More than ten years later, new bus stations, efficient subway routes, and conveniently shared bicycles replaced Bus No.13 gradually. Subsequently, Nanhu Station declined and became an abandoned grey space.
Nanjing Auto Repair Factory 6 The largest outdoor playground was built in Nanjing in 1989. 7 Xiliuwan Park has the largest water screen movie. 8 Wutaishan Gymnasium is the first choice for Nanjing citizens' fitness and entertainment.
City Centre
9 With the completion of Metro Line 2, most residents around the site choose the subway as their main travel mode.
10
Nanhu New village
0
500
1000M
N
Start and End Bus Stations Bus Stops Along the Way City Centre
■ OPEN
SPACE ANALYSIS
■ LAND
USE ANALYSIS
■ SITE
ANALYSIS
Residencial area Commertial area Administrative area Educational area
Branch Road The site is surrounded by many schools and ageing communities, so children and the elderly are identified as the main target groups. There is a lack of suitable public space for children and the elderly within a 15-minute walk. ■ CROWD
Visaibility 0% 40% 80%
ACTIVITY ANALYSIS
100%
Arterial Road
Secondary Arterial Road
The surrounding roads are urban feeder roads with a low level of circulating traffic. The surrounding site is predominantly residential, with two schools to the north and a commercial area to the south. Overall, the site is located at a traffic node with a large number of people passing by on weekdays and is easily accessible to neighbouring residents, making it the perfect location for a neighbourhood park.
■ DESIGN
Site
Sidewalk
Temporary parking space
Shop
STRATEGY
Accessibility
Diversity
Readability
Energy Conservation
Demolition of the existing borders on the east and south to Incorporate diverse activity spaces in combination with the Arouse the memories of the visitors through the form of scene Reduce site energy consumption through rainwater circulation facilitate visitors' access to the site activity needs of the investigated population reproduction and solar power generation
■ MASTER
PLAN
■ SCENE
REPRODUCTION
B'
1.Main Entrance Plaza 2.Service Building 3.Children Slide
6
14
4.Dry Fountain 5.Sandpit 6.Fitness Area
Traffic Light
13
12
10
7.Train Track 8.Bus No.13
1.Sign in the main entrance plaza
Children's Playground 3.Slide 5.Sandpit
7
Water Curtain Movie
2.Movie screening space
City Railway 4
Overpass 2
Bus No.13
9.Trestle
8.Bus No.13
Fountain
7.Power train
7
4.Dry fountain
Platanus Tree
3
11.Tree pool bench
8
Wutai Mountain Stadium 6.Fitness area
11
9.Trestle 10.Second Entrance Plaza 11.Platanus Tree
10
12.Resting Area
8
13.Public Toilet Entrance 14.Vending Machine
9 7 6
A
5
■ A-A'
2
SECTION Service Building
3
Children Slide
Dry Fountain
Sidewalk
Road
13
4
A'
1
7.2
B
3.6
N 0
■ B-B'
10
0(M)
20M
SECTION Entrance Space
Children Slide
Sandpit
Bus No.13
Platanus Tree
Public Toilet Entrance
1
Vending Machine
1
The memories of the place make Mr. Wang stop and the diversified activity spaces make his grandson linger. His grandson becomes a regular visitor to the park. Then a new story begins.
■ SERVICE
BUILDING
Present
Renewal
■ TRAFFIC
FLOW
■ ENERGY
CONSERVATION
As the new park opens, Mr. Wang takes his grandson re-enter the site. Going through the construction of traffic lights, they are first attracted by the dry fountain. 2
The departure station of the power train
3
Elevators are installed in the service building as a supplement to connect the air and ground transportation routes to ensure barrier-free traffic.
4
■ WATER
Roof gardens and rainwater gardens are set up to collect and filter rainwater and surface runoff, and use it for plant irrigation and other landscape water to form water recycling.
RECYCLE SYSTEM 1. Cistern
Solar panels on the roof of the building could provide some of the site's energy needs.
Movie screening space
2. Filter Pump
No power type of amusement devices could provide energy for dry fountain.
7 Children's sandpit with cleaning pool 6
2.
5
1. ■ PLANTING
The original shell of the bus is removed to connect with the outside space, forming a square space with the inner window as the viewing surface.
8
DESIGN PLAN
■ TREES S
N
Fitness area
Cinnamomum camphora (Linn) Presl
N Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb.
Osmanthus Ligustrum fragrans lucidum (Thunb.) Lour.
9 ■ SEASONAL
CHANGE
Gaura lindheimeri Engelm. et Gray Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser. Trifolium repens L Euonymus fortune Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Teucrium fruticans L. Kerria japonica
A transparent water curtain wall separates the public toilet and the site.
The traffic light structure in the entrance leads the crowd to the platane trees.
Hibiscus syriacus Linn.
0
10
20M
Oxalis corymbosa DC. Glandularia × hybrida (Groenland & Rümpler) G.L.Nesom & Pruski
Platanus orientalis Linn.
Ginkgo biloba L.
PROJECT 04. JIANGSU, NANJING
Landscape Architecture Design INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC WORK AREA: 0.03 HA COMPLETION TIME: 2021/11
T
he project is located in the South Ten Mile Ditch, Maigaoqiao area, Nanjing, where a bridge is designed to provide passage and public space for the neighbourhood. The design will also incorporate the history of the area, resulting in a bridge that connects not only the two sides of the river, but also the past and present of the area.
■ LOCATION
1
This area was initially known as the premises of Nanjing's main brick and tile factory. In 1945, the Huadong Electronic Tube Factory moved here, with the employees being the first residents of this area. Over time, some of the old residential areas along one side of the river has been preserved, and new residential and commercial buildings were built on the other side. Later, after the regulation of the river, a new park was built along the river. ■ Huadong
Electronic Tube Factory ■ New
0 ■ SITE
N
250
500M
■ Brick
and Tile Factory
ANALYSIS
2
3 ■ USE
DEMAND
1. We are so miss about the old days we lived with other colleagues. We have lived here for almost 40 years since we retired. 2. Since the river was regulated, it has become an ideal place for wild fishing. 3. It would be much more convenient to have a new bridge set in the middle, right in front of the park entrance.
Residential Area
■ DESIGN
PROCESS
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
A 2D plane is set up above the river so that the neighbourhood can easily pass through it.
The staircase, combined with the ramp, is set to ease the gradient and create a 3D space.
Three platforms are added to divide the entire space into three.
The spaces near the revetment are equipped with benches for people to sit and watch, while the middle one is used for viewing the river.
To make a difference to the views of the river viewed from both sides, the middle platform is moved southwards.
The platform on the west of the river is moved down and the function becomes a waterfront accessible space.
■ WALL
■ GROUND
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
The walls are set up to divide the space.
The height of the walls is adjusted to meet the needs of the viewer.
The walls use both opaque and transparent materials to create a different spatial atmosphere.
Break
Detailing
Arch
Glass
0
FLOOR PLAN
■ ELEMENT
Red Brick
10M
N
■ ROOF
Continuity
5
■ LOWER
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
■ TOP
VIEW
A'
A
■A
- A' SECTION
■ Aluminum plate (screw) ■ Structural steel tubing ■ Stainless steel plate
(argon arc welding)
■ Water retaining groove ■ Aluminum plate (screw) ■ Structural steel tubing ■ Aluminum plate (screw)
■ Steel
grille
Rainwater is intercepted on the east side of the roof and discharged into the green belt on both sides. On the west side of the river, surface runoff seeps from the grid plate, flows through the planting pond of the secondary revetment, and finally discharges into the river. 0
1500
3000MM
■ RENDERINGS
Through the ever-recurring elements of red bricks, glass and arches as a metaphor, memories of the past are linked to people through a bridge.
■ MODEL
Under sunshine, people outside the bridge are watching when those whose inside are watching either.
OTHER WORKS
N
Research on Chinese Traditional Garden Architecture COURSE ASSIGNMENT
■ TOP
VIEW
0
2.5
5M
MODEL Each timber-framing building is made of hundreds of thousands of prefabricated standardized timber pieces based on geometry and logic organization, they interlock with each other without the use of nails or glue. UPPER EAVE
A
A'
COMPLETION TIME: 2019/12 TOU-KUNG
COLUMN
ROOF BEAM 5177
3200
5177
LOWER EAVE
13555 ■ A-A'
SECTION
0
2.5
5M
TOU-KUNG 13.657 12.750
STELE PAVILION The pavilion is located in the tomb of Emperor Jiaqing of the Qing Dynasty. ■ A stele is erected inside the building to show the emperor's merits. ■ It has a double-layered four-sided roof covered with glazed tiles. ■ The whole pavilion is built on a square white marble base.
11.802
ROOF BEAM
■
REFERENCE: Decade of Surveying and Mapping of Ancient Chinese Buildings: Surveying and Mapping Collection of School of Architecture, Tsinghua University ( in Chinese)
ROOF BEAM
8.885
COLUMN 5.595
±0.000 -0.810
STONE BASE
OTHER WORKS
Photographs
Paintings
Through the camera lens, press the shutter button. Then, many wonderful moments are captured within the photos.
RAINDROP
ZOSTEROPS JAPONICUS
PEN DRAWING
CAMELLIA SP.
BUMBLE BEE
BELLIS PERENNIS L.
PENCIL SKETCH
CAIRU CHEN E-MAIL: chencr0311@gmail.com TEL:(+86) 139-5198-0133