POWER THE STATIC | PORTFOLIO OF CHONG LI Selected Works 2011-2015 Applying for MSc Architectural Computation University College London
Chong Li B.Arch, Tongji University Email: catacil@163.com Tel: +86 18817598543 Student Number: 16108784
Power the Static
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Preface Architecture evolves constantly. While what presents to us is the concrete and motionless form, the hidden dimension is always dynamic, where architecture is influenced by the links and crossovers between disciplines. To “Power the Static� is to approach the generative moment when the rhythm of architecture echoes harmoniously with architects, inhabitants and its ambiances. The theme is presented by five works, in which element, architecture, and city are discussed- ranging from the micro exploration into timber joint to the macro research on urban issues. The macro-scope elements discusses transience and duration of elements in the new age of information wave, where computation and new structures are implemented. The architectural works explore the latency in architecture - how people influence the physical tangibleness through emerging technologies and traditional building techniques. The works concerning urban issues deal with the macro-scope of architecture - how the fragmented contributes a synthetic, flexible, and homogeneous superimposition. By the means of computation, lighting, vernacular techniques, and emerging technologies, I go beyond architecture to find various mediums reaching the essence of architecture. This portfolio presents my cross-disciplinary explorations to find the unknown and power the static.
Contents Scripted Timber --Exploration of Traditional Tenon-and-Mortise
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Interrelating Mask --Longchang Building Renovation Design
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Media Topography
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Overlapped River --Urban Design For North Bund
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Synecdoche Lujiazui --Research in the CBD of Shanghai : Lujiazui
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--Tongji University Campus Club Design
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Scripted Timber Exploration of Tenon-and-Mortise | 1-week Construction, 3-week Design | Instructor : Gao Yan | Summer 2015 Collaborator : Zhou Shu | Contribution : Concept 60%, Programming 50%, Drawing 70%, Analysis 60% Fabrication Team : Hu Yuqing, Wu Di, Jia Dianxin, Zhong Zhenxi, Li Yizhe, Xie Shujie, Zheng Jingyun With the development of technology, the relationship between material and fabrication has changed drastically. Traditional crafts require familiarity with the material contingencies while modern fabrication changes the character of the material to customize mass-production. Scripted Timber is a synthetic platform for Chinese Tenon-and-mortise timber joint, where the empirical hand-craft is combined with the computational generation. By the means of computation, the durational presenting and the exploration of new structure system are incorporated to promote the visualization and applicability of timber joint.
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Virtual Matching of Timber Joint
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Traditional Craftsmanship Wood in China witnessed long-standing priority to other materials used in architecture. And the invention of Tenon-mortise structure is crucial to the advantages of timber. From the chronology of Chinese timber structure below, the way of organizing timber changes drastically, during which the advantages of traditional joint are lost due to mass-production and reinforced timber.
Modern Structure
- Riveting
- Bending
- Bolting
Ancient Structure
- Dougong (10th Century)
- Pegging (6th Century)
- Weaving (3th Century B.C.)
- Piling (11th Century B.C.)
- Binding (5000 B.C.)
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Hand-craft Evaluation of Traditional Tenon-mortise Joint The analysis right shows typical timber Tenon-mortise joints as different structural elements. The force&durability evaluation examines the vulnerable parts which need advancing.
Beam End Joint
Planar Middle Joint
Planar Corner Joint
Beam Corner Joint
Beam Middle Joint
Intersection Joint
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Digital Craftsmanship In the digital age, CNC machines has greatly improved the efficiency of producing more precise joints. However, the limitation is that every joint still need to be designed accordingly. The scripted timber seeks to synthesize digital fabrication, autonomous structure, and material contingency and generating new joint syntax. [ Structure Optimization ] Reciprocal Assembled
[ Fabrication Evolution ] Hand-craft
Independant Identical
Customized
Mass-production Disassembled
saw
chisel
gauge
plane
Adhesive
Recycled
Autonomous
Industrialization
Convergent Joint
User
User Maker
Scripted Synthethis
Ope rator
Separated Durational Visualization
Fabri cator
Overlap
Combined
Mechanism and Robotics Coder CAM
[ Material Exploration ]
GH
Fabricator CNC
Design
Character of Timber Accessible
Visualized Fabrication Base
Flexible
Product
Component Class
Processable Vertical
Horizontal Diagonal
Changeable
Joint Combination BUNDLE-WOOD
Slab
Column
Slab
Column
TENON-MORTISE POLY-WOOD DIGITAL-WOOD
[ Computational Production ] Simplex
Mutiple (limited) Existing type
Permutation Combination
Empiricism
Virtual model
Process Presentation
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KUKA
Mutiple (unlimited) Inexistent Duration Computational script
Digital Fabrication Fabrication & Joint Experiment CNC Cutting
Typical Joint
Joint Assembly
Oblique Joint
Oblique Joint
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Cyber Craftsmanship There are four digital inputs in the Scripted Timber system - time, material, fabrication and structure. Four input together controls the outcome of the system. The system is durational, which runs and presents all the possibilities. At the same time, the best outcome is chosen and optimized through the process, which corporate the empirical hand-craft with the durational presenting and architectural computation.
Virtual System
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U se
r ’s S
el e
c ti
o
a ti o
Virt u
r ic
al
i
ti o n
b Fa
O
n pt
za mi
n
res en ting
Through the visualization of the convoluted coding process, the Virtual system enables individuals without professional knowledge to access and control the whole process and customize unique timber joint.
ng lizi ua Vis
Virtual Fabrication
In ter fac e
sP ult s e R
g
Vi
su alized Codin
Virtual System
Virtual Optimization Through the distortion of the timber, the weak direction of timber fiber could be avoided. The structural input can help filter the material contingencies and achieve diverse application. Distortion
Virtual Cut
Joint Optimization
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Computational Presenting & Designer's Selection The system presents various possibilites of timber structure with optimized joints. Power is back to individuals who choose according to their aethetics and needs.
Timber as beam
Timber as column
Timber as enclosure
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Possible Joint
Base Point Sub Structure Main Structure Virtual Generation Timber Simulation
Virtual system
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2012
Interrelating Mask Longchang Building Renovation Design | 12-week Studio Work | Instructor : Peter Sim | Spring 2014 Each time I visited Longchang Building, I would find the inner facade different. The changing life scenarios and gradual additions which compensated for absent programs contribute to the dynamic mask for the inner facade. With increasing desire for improving living standards, this project explores how the medium - time and emerging technology - works with the residents to generate the future mask.
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2015
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Inner Facade
Longchang Apartment Built in the 1920s 1920s - Jail 1950s - Office Building 1980s - Residence 2004 - Historical Site
Inner Facade
Longchang Road
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Chronology of Inner Facade Unlike the exterior facade facing the street, which is not allowed to add addition, the interior facade shows more precisely how the residents live and make use of the building. Time plays an important role in the dynamics the mask.
30 20
15 20
10 20
05 20
95 19
20 19
Problem-solving Mask The future mask will work functionally to solve the problem of circulation, sunlight, and greenery by the means of reflection and re-orientation. Existing Problems
Vertical Circulation
Shaded Area
Point Greenery
Light the Shaded
Vertical Gardens
Problem-solving
Vertical Circulations
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Mask Generation Through adding new blocks according to the existing axis and rotating the blocks to reflect sunlight, the static facade becomes fluid and provides new living scenarios in the coming future. Original Facade
Affiliated Blocks
Light Re-orientation
Greenery and Circulation
Static Plan
Fluid Plan
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Living Mask
Lighting Mask
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Mask Composition For the evolving facade, different programs are integrated. The blocks are the same, while the way to integrate the blocks contributes to the diversity of the compositions according to the residents’ needs.
7 7 5
3
4
2
4
Top Joint
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Continuous Section
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4
1
1
1
2
1 3. Lounge1. Kitchen 5. Library 4. Toilet 2. Study 6. Fitness
7. Greenery 8. Bedroom
Ground Floor Plan
Tectonics Axonometric
Bottom Joint
Joint with the Frame
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Facade Superimposition Facades of different time are properly connected under time. Every facade separately stands for its own time, while together reflects the history which the building have gone through. Despite the discrepancy of material and building technology, the juxtaposition ironically shows how social activities orient and link the differences. This is how architecture evolves in time.
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Blocks
Frame
Scaffold
Addition
Original Facade
Block
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Media Topography Campus Performance Center | 8-week Studio Work | Instructor : Xu Gan | Spring, 2013 Lighting Research Members: Zhang Yuchuan, Shi Hao, Luo Junlin, Zhou Shu | Contribution : 25% With the development of digital interaction, the physical propaganda is greatly weakened, whereas the need for real experience never stops. This project examined the application of lighting in shaping a new topography which acted reflectively and synthesizing the disparate activities happening. By the means of lighting, the activities happening and the links in-between could be shown by the building. Therefore, the generation is a participatory process during which individuals become inseparable from the sensational experience, and become part of architecture.
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Plan of information flow and circulation
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Topography Evolution The connections between high-spots on campus influence the latent topography of the site. Evolving from box to reflective pixel, the emerging ground acts as an inviting, multi-purpose, and dynamic architecture for students’ activities.
Lan
s
ink
eL
ap dsc
Campus Path
Cam
pu sP a th
Box
Slope
Reflective Pixel
Multi-purpose Hall
Campus Club
Grass Lawn
Main Sports Field
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Light as Media In the transformation between scenarios, lighting acts as a media to perform different topography on the same ground. Upon responding to the activities, different lighting shapes people as well as landscape.
Gravity
Acoustic
Lighting Experiments Experiments are conducted to explore the combination of lighting and how it influences plants, people, objects. The results are incorporated into the ground lighting assembly.
Mix-lighting
Landscape
Greenery
Objects
People
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Fluid Topography on Different Occasions Different circulation flows and activities influence the lighting scenarios on the reflective pixel, thus creating various media topography on the same ground. The reflective, changing topography is a self propaganda for the campus center and people become part of the architecture. Circulation Oriented
Activity Oriented
Mixed Programs
Multi-Influential Points
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On the Topography
Under the Topography
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Overlapped River North Bund Urban Design | 8-week Studio Work | Instructor : Xu Kai| Winter 2014 Collaborator : Mi Murong, Liu Xinwen | Contribution : Concept 40%, Block 4, Model 35%, Drawing 60% This project focuses on the renewal of waterfront typologies in the North Bund, Shanghai. Here, multiple layers are implemented to solve various problems. These layers focus on the river, which works as landscape, infrastructure or facilities. By overlapping the layers, the system is flexible, always evolving to accommodate local contingencies while maintaining overall continuity. The Overlapped River works as artificial ecology, which enhances the urban space in a discrete while synthetic approach.
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Rivers System in Shanghai The site is located on the intersection of two most important rivers in Shanghai, forming a triangle with the CBD and the bund. Bus
Metro Cruise
Hongkou Creek
Transportation Huangpu River
Yuhang Rd. Park
Site
Magnolia Plaza
Suzhou Creek
North Bund Park
Public Space 1933 Shanghai Hospital
Church Commercial Complex Cruise Terminal Art Museum
Points of Interest
The Main River Systems
Hongkou Creek Hongkou Creek
The Site
Suzhou Creek Suzhou Creek
Huangpu River Huangpu River
Inaccessibility to Riverfront
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River as Catalyst Even though the river resource is abundant in Shanghai, the sections show the separation between river and social activities. The scale of Hongkou Creek on site is the most suitable for water-friendly design in the main rivers.
Lujiazui
Hongkou Creek
Given the unpleasant conditions of the riverside in Shanghai, the strategy is to regenerate the obsolescent river. The concave river will be the new landscape and infrastructure for city life and serve as the catalyst to promote the riverside from downstream to upstream.
Program
Connection
Circulation
Residential Cultural
Residential Cultural
Commercial
Commercial
Business
Business
Multi-purpose
Tourists
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Through the renewal of typologies, the river wor The flexibility of the system is a bridging process, which straddles the a
New Riverfront Typology
Concave River
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Waterfront Layer
Landscap
rks as landscape, social space and public facilities. abstraction of planning and the site specificity of architectural practice.
pe Layer
Social Activity Layer
Facility Layer
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Overlapping on the River
Buildings
Facilities
Social Activities
Landscape
Waterfront
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Synecdoche Lujiazui Research on Shanghai CBD | West Bund Biennale | Leader : Li Danfeng, Zhou Jianjia | Fall 2015 Contribution : Concept 40%, Research 30%, 3D Modeling 50%, Drawings 80% Other Team Members : Pan Yixin, Hu Nan, Wang Yuze, He Yujing, Zhao Yuetong Realistic
Rhetoric
Figurative
Futuristic Collective Intersection
Mapping
Hotspot
Professional Chaos Architect Chronology
Visualization
Governor Analysis
Interpretation
Tourist
Jusxtaposition
Synecdoche
Birth of City
Overlapping
Workers Labyrinth
Amateur Needle
Sphere
Ring
Individual
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Grid
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Lujiazui History In one century, Lujiazui grows from industrial land, farm, slums, to one of the most prosperous CBDs in the world, during which the huge leap in the 1990s brought prestige as well as various problems to this land. Architects, planners, policy makers and people who live, work or travel constantly reshape Lujiazui in their own way, physically or virtually. The figure below provides the historical background for the anticipatory synecdoche.
Typology
Program Distribution
Status Fluctuation
R
Concession Era
War of Liberation
Cultural Revolution
Chronological Collage
Agriculture
1905
40
1910
1915
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
Industry
1945
1950
Office
1955
1960
Commerce
1965
1970
197
Lujiazui as CBD
Last Skyscraper
Mass Construction
Reform and Opening
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Residence
1980
Hotel
1985
1990
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
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Visualized Lujiazui in 2015 The lack of diversity in the hot-spots shows the improperness of city disperse. Visualized Lujiazui is based on the activity of different groups in Lujiazui and presents the various figurative interpretation which generates the new image of the CBD.
Workday - Heat Map from 0:00 to 24:00
Weekend - Heat Map from 0:00 to 24:00
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Workday
07:00
09:00
11:00
13:00
15:00
17:00
19:00
21:00
Weekend
07:00
09:00
11:00
13:00
15:00
17:00
19:00
21:00
The irregular crossroad typology is one of the most notorious “features� in Lujiazui where no intersection is perpendicular. Cars, buses, and pedestrians all have difficulty in the flowing.
5-intersection Road
4-intersection Road
3-intersection Road
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Figurative Interpretation of Individuals Just like Venice in Calvino’s world, vagueness never obstructs the reading of a city, instead, its complexity and change do. Synecdoche, the figurative way of interpretations, explores a new way to capture the essence of Lujiazui between the individual and the collective, the partial and the whole, the abstract and the concrete, the realistic and the futuristic, thus myriad of cities birthed.
Labyrinth City The system - twisted intersections of non-perpendicular roads - is like a labyrinth, which acquires Lujiazui with the uniqueness for touring experience.
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Grid City The extreme superimposition of the perpendicular grid shows the desire of better circulation system. The equity is achieved through multiple layers.
Ring City The ring creates the communal space in CBD, connecting the unreachable air, which is the desire for the workers inside.
Needle City The needle occupies the least area while provides maximum space. The emerging of needle fuses the difference and creates homogeneousness.
Sphere City Sphere helps obtain most volume with least surface. The canopy is a civic manifesto for the elite high-rise.
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Birth of New City
Overlapping Base With the built of the last skyscraper Shanghai tower, there is no space left for further construction in Lujiazui. The way for generating new image for the CBD is the figurative overlapping of different interpretations.
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Pedestrian Path The superimposition of Manhattan grid provides an alternative to the chaotic and impassable transportation system.
Light Tower The light tower is the phantom manifestation of the latent geometric order. The labyrinthine Lujiazui is re-oriented to homogeneousness and the heat map thus more dynamic.
Canopy for the Central Green Hard to reach and lack of program, the central green is overlapped by the sphere surface. The conservatory is an ironic construct to the elite fiscal skyscraper.
Super Overpass The enlargement of the original ring not only connects the main high-rises vehicularly, but also envelops the central green.
Urban Parasite The urban parasite is the historical remnant of previous slums. The layered blocks match and provoking the new built highrises.
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Acknowledgements I would like to thank all that have helped me with my work in this portfolio, especially my studio advisors Prof. Zhendong WANG and Prof. Quinsan CIAO, for their valuable criticisms and great support on my works. Besides, I sincerely appreciate the help from Mrs. Jianjia ZHOU and Dr. Danfeng LI during my internship. They helped me better understand myself and encouraged me to move forward. Lastly, I would like to dedicate this portfolio to my parents, for their selfless support, encouragement and understanding.
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