My name is Catherine Yan, a fourth-year landscape architecture student at the University of Guelph in Canada , just finished a semester abroad at the National University of Singapore also studying landscape architecture!
I’ve always taken an interest in the built environment and the natural landscapes that narrate our daily lives, and how it creates co-existence with the culture and history of a space.
With that, I strive to pay attention to details that may seem insignificant to others, because I firmly believe these subtleties are the missing pieces in building a strong identity that resonates with people.
CATHERINE JIAXIN YAN
OALA, CSLA, ASLA STUDENT MEMBER
TORONTO, CANADA
(647) 879-9668
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
University of Guelph, Ontario Agricultural College
2021 - Present, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
Exchange at the National University of Singapore
January - May 2024, Singapore, Singapore
EXPERIENCE
LABash Conference Marketing Director
February 2024 - Present, Guelph, Ontario
Collaborating with the LABash Planning Committee and executing marketing and branding strategies in preparation for 2025 conference
University of Guelph BLA Student Senator
August 2024 - Present, Guelph, Ontario
Participating in assessing the educational policy of the university, determining the courses of study and standards of admission to the University
NAK Design Strategies
Landscape Architecture Internships
May - August 2023 & May - August 2024, Toronto, Ontario
Participated in all stages of landscape architectural projects from pre-design to tender
Developed rendered masterplans, CAD baseplans, and prepared for client review presentations
University of Guelph
Land Arch Student Society Publicist
September 2022 - July 2024, Guelph, Ontario
Managed official University of Guelph Landscape Architecture Instagram and Facebook accounts, and created landscape architecture related content to increase program presence within the industry
University of Guelph
Parametric Design Research Assistant
May 2022 - March 2023, Guelph, Ontario
Facilitated interviews with industry professionals and educators
Produced graphic visualizations from questionnaire data
Participating in preparing presentation for the CELA accepted abstract
University of Toronto Field Crew Volunteer
September - December 2021, Toronto, Ontario
Conducted tree inventory through various methods of measuring, photography, and silviculture knowledge in effort to conserve Ontario Place.
DISTINCTIONS
OALA Student Scholarship November 2024, Guelph, Ontario
Walter H. Kehm National Scholarship Nominee November 2024, Guelph, Ontario
LACF Alain Lamontagne Scholarship September 2024, Guelph, Ontario
Vera Bezeredy BLA Design Scholarship December 2023, Guelph, Ontario
Ottawa Urban Design Awards - Award of Merit November 2023, Ottawa, Ontario
National Captial Commission - Honourable Mention April 2023, Ottawa, Ontario
WINTER STATIONS Winner - WE[AR] February 2023, Toronto, Ontario
Dean’s Scholarship November 2022, Guelph, Ontario
OAC BLA Class of ‘82 Peer Mentorship Award November 2022, Guelph, Ontario
UofG Landscape Architecture Entrance Scholarship September 2021, Guelph, Ontario
Connecting and documenting the lost items in times of industrial displacement
05/2024 During a time of redevelopment, the people of Sungei Kadut Eco-District (SKED) in Singapore fall into a grey area where they are at great risk of being left behind and forgotten. In a time of flux, this enclosed garden is created and dedicated to document their experiences and preserve the legacy to ensure their stories are not lost to time.
While it is an exciting process in revitalization and creating new opportunities, its negative impact on a human scale is overlooked
The chosen site is situated in an area that has seen lots of changes, where it has witnessed existing factories undergoing demolition and remediation, and finally emerging into new estates.
History of Site
Facade Study Existing Culture
Architectural
TOP
Spaces designed to display and care for the “displaced“ items, creating a living archive
BOTTOM
Central space activated by people, encouraging interaction with nature and past elements
TOP
Cultivating a sense of familiarity with the objects of living memories
BOTTOM
The site embraces transformation that occurs incrementally, mirroring the gradual evolution of the site
Creating harmony between the existing forms of life in an urban setting
10/2023 Achieving the municipal climate adaptation goals through balancing ecological functions and human-use priorities. The proposed design is categorized into four main goals, improved biodiversity retaining all of the water run-off, incorporating interactive programmings, and finally introducing environmental education.
Low STM Capacity
Highlights the close relationship between storm water resources and the natural landscape
High STM Capacity
Creating adaptable wetlands, highlighting the crucial role of sustainable strategies in shaping landscapes for the community
Kitchen Garden Children’s
Children’s Garden
Flower Garden
Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubecens
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
Eastern Bluebird Silalia sialis
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza geogiana
Bioretention Area
Polishing Cell
SWM Creek Perimeter Berm
12/2022
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Course: Urban Design Studio
Advisor: Afshin Ashari, Nadia Amoroso
Media: Rhino 3D, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
Rees Street REDON
Urban public spaces that create interpersonal connections with nature.
The Don River system is facing poor resource management, the river has suffered geophysical transformations leading to its current form. With this revitalization project, REDON emphasizes the holistic approaches to designing public spaces that create interpersonal connections with the natural world around us.
Utilizing the natural processes of water filtration by re-introducing rock sediments, sands, minerals, and plants to ultimately aim to cleanse water onsite before entering Lake Ontario
Concentrate
As a pedestrian would the site, the water of ponds and streams infiltration from the
Filtrate
Concentrate would experience will form series streams after its initial the sky
Celebrate
The site will become an area that provides visitors with refreshing rest spaces, a place to celebrate nature and the importance of urban green spaces
Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Course: Construction
Documentation Studio
Advisor: Steven Clarke
NATURE OVER ORDER
Reclaiming the spaces ruled by schedules and infrastructures
12/2023 Through expansive planting beds and crawling vines, the concept showcases nature’s ability to always prevail. It explores the rigid borders and lines rule our lives made of grids and rectangles. Redefining the way we prioritize green spaces and usable areas, our immersive courtyard shows it is possible to balance both.
Immersive green space providing the flexibility for students to relax and rest
Spring
Red Bud
Karl Foerster
Rhododendron
Bush Honeysuckle
Bearberry Stonecrop
Bristle-Leaf Sedge New England Aster
Bur Oak Cranesbill
Wood Fern
Climbing Hydrangea
Austrian Pine Dwarf Mugo Pine Canadian Hemlock Marginal Wood Fern
Summer Fall Winter
Excerpt of the layout plan from the mock 100% IFC package
Schematic section illustrating elevation change
03/2023
Competition
Advisor: Brendan Stewart
National Capital Commission RIVERSIDE RIBBON
Weaving identity, service, and reconciliation into the Capital Core
Located on the unceded traditional Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation, the space recognizes the importance of reconciliation in the Capital Core region with the proposal of a government-driven healing space. The Sussex Drive Corridor serves as a key opportunity to ‘re-stitch’ the urban and natural fabric of Ottawa into a dynamic riverside public realm of interest to all Canadians.
Through the use of enriched green spaces, a unified streetscape, and enhanced existing conditions, our design aims to create a renewed experience along Sussex Drive that pays homage to the ideas of identity, service, and reconciliation in the nation’s capital.
The Civic Works Gallery educates the public on the projects of the National Research Council (NRC)
Co-working Commons was previously the NRC’s parking lot provides outdoor spaces for the employees
In the winter, the Co-working Commons transforms into a public skating rink to invite the public in and further the cutlure of ice-skating in Ottawa
Rather than a physical installation,this immersive and interactive experience is an interactive augmented reality installation that demonstrates the strength of solidarity in addressing social challenges. It encourages visitors to explore at their own pace, striking up conversations with other visitors and, most importantly, becoming allies to these communities.
2023/2024
NAK Design Strategies INTERNSHIP
Professional work samples
Throughout my four month internship at NAK Design Strategies, I was able to work on projects varying in scale, style, and purpose. The following pages provides an overview of the scope of project and level of detail that was expected and fulfilled.
This graphic package was prepared for design panel and client review. Showing the relationship between the public spaces and store frontages, creating opportunities for privately-owned-public spaces (POPS).
This drawing set was prepared as part of a 75% design development submission, sent out to all consultants for review.
Package include the following: public utilities, layout and surfacing, soil volume, planting, landscape section and details
