[ METAMORPHOSIS ]
Cui Qijian's Portfolio, Selected Works 2014-2019 Applying for MDes, Critical Conservation, Harvard GSD
Prologue [ METAMORPHOSIS ] Numbers of derelict infrastructure were left after the "Big Leap" and China economic reform in the 80s. In the drastic transformation from an industry-based economy to a service-based city for many Chinese cities, how to make industrial buildings properly preserved and repurposed has become a new issue of great importance and urgency in the protection of our cultural heritage. This portfolio shows my own thinking of several different architectural methods and approaches towards fragmented infrastructure.Meanwhile, "Cloud & Rain" emphasize on critical thinking about regional cultural heritage and construction
Content of [ METAMORPHOSIS ] 01
Miniaturized Hong Kong
Page 1-20
Hong Kong Central Escalator Commuting Sytem - Urban Design
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Contemporary Social Condenser
Page 21-36
Wuhan Hankou Pier Retrofitting - Architectural Design
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Cloud & Rain
Page 37-46
Lou Na Traveller Dwelling - Architectural Design
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Shadow Fabrication
Page 47-60
Qi Fa Neighborhood insertion - Architectural Design
Cui Qijian, Bachelor of Architecture Huazhong University of Science and Technology TEL: +8615000625799, Email: qi5cui@gmail.com
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Other Works "The Drone"-Velux Competition "#Hashtag"-Exhibition Volunteer
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01 Miniaturized Hong Kong Central Escalator System Reconstruction
SA Open Project 82, Group Work Team Member: Cui Qijian, Tian Yuan Instructor: Yin Ting Urban Design - Open Studio(2019 Summer) Research(70%), Design(70%), Model(90%), Drawing(60%)
Hong Kong central escalator system has been existing for almost 40 years, it served the city as the product of high efficiency. During morining rush hours 6a.m.-10a.m. the escalator function from south to north (foot of hill), aims to serve the office crowd. From 10 a.m.-24 a.m. escalator running in a opposite orientation for travellers and civilians. But after 40 years evolution, escalator can no longer fit the local identity, strategy is in need.
The special characteristic Hong Kong pocess is unique, culture identity vary from block to block dramaticly. We hope to show not only the high efficiency quality but also the extrem culture diversity quality. The strategy we apply can be split into urban level and human scale level. On a urban scale speaking, we input a new closed cummuting system which work on two level (escalator level, cable car level), to increase the efficiency from 6 a.m.-10 a.m. Human scale speaking, the most basic componet is a special module fit both track and cable car system.
Station represents the strategy on architectural level, each station's form or specialty is extract from local block to show the most significant aspect of the neighborhood. The first station is reconstructed based on the original famous Central Market, the second station represents the famous street market, the third one is based on Soho Bar area and the last one enlarge the XieLi St. Mosque.
Central Escalator Skyscrapers
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Escalator As Central Axis
Quality 2: Extremly Culture Diversified [10 a.m.-24 a.m.]
Along the history of Hong Kong’s development, there is a major axis around which the government fill the sea to expand the urban area, the axis then become the escalator route.
Beginning
6-10 DOWN
Developing
10-24 UP
Escalator Direction
Compeleted
Quality 1: Extremly Efficient [6 a.m.-10a.m.] From 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. the Escalator is going through the morning rush clock, which shows the original idea. Despite the effect of the escalator in the rush hours, it also function for residence and travelers
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During the rush hours, the local white-collar occupy the most of the pedestrain stream
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Project Strategy
System Catalogue
1 architecture, 2 urban strategy
Box
System Layer
The box is designed with many ways of use, cable car, rail car, moveable module for citizens. And also various of function as following:
The system is made up of 4 layers. Each layer exists at a certain height level and connected vertically by 4 stations
Add Moving Box With Various Function
Add boxs that could satisfy the different needs of various group of people. And this approach also gives the possiblity to reveal the real identity of HongKong to the world. MOST EFFICIENT &MOST DIVERSIFIED. For example: providing the rush hour workers with coffee-function-based boxs, boxs with morning tea function for tourists. Meanwhile, these boxs are working as a commuting machine that is similar to the triditional “Ding Ding ” Car that origin from British Overground.
Add Station For Culture Identity
Station Set four stations in four different blocks. The first use of stations is for users to drop off or getting on for commuting efficiency. And the other use is to show the speciality of these four culturly-different blocks to travellers and residence. Moreover, the stations are developed vertically for two reasons — Vertical Function Recombination & City Cable Car Possibility. Except for the “Market” because the original building’s history and plan carries enough culture identity.
There are total stations inserted in our system. Each of them tend to show the unique culture of the block they locate in. Therefore they are largely different in space and part of function.
Input Cable Car System To Form A Loop
The input of cable car system enable commuting system to become a closed loop. When the boxs reach the end station they are automaticly transformed into cable car or rail box along the escalator. It not only creates order but also random possibilities
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System Flow Diagram Diagram aims to show the escalator systm as whole. Including several different components the system poccesses also option users have during commuting.
The Mechanics is made to achieve the possibility of turning the rail-based moudle to cable car.
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Central Market Station
Tea House Station
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Soho Bar Station
The Mechanics is made to achieve the possibility of turning the rail-based moudle to cable car. 4 7
Mosque Station 8
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Central Market Station
Central Market Station is remoulded by the famous central market.
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Tea House Station
Tea House Station locates near Central Lan Fong Yuen and the famous Luk Yu tea house which has been existing for almost a century.
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Soho Bar Station
Soho Bar Station locates in the famous soho district area where the local youngsters fancy for social activity or drink.
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Mosque Station
Mosque Station is the terminal station of the system. It locates in the famous Xie Li St. Mosque, which offers a religion center for the area. 10
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Central Market Station
Central-Market Station is reconstructed based on the famous Central Market which was built in 1939. It was originally built for the personal seller of fruit, snacks, etc. But since 2017, it has been wasted. We re-distributed the market that the third and the forth level will be a platform for our new commuting system also there are several stores on the side, functioning as breakfast restaurant, convenient shop, hair salons, fruit shop, etc. First floor will be open as free space for the civilian to use. Citizens can unload the modules to the ground floor to form the space they want for this neighborhood. Existing old market
Input the module system
Module Movement Analysis Level 3
Rush Hour
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Add neighborhood function
Form a closed loop
Open Ground Floor Movement Level 1
Off Hour
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Tea House Station
Tea House Station
Cantonese Tea Station consists of a street market that extracted from the nearby neighborhood and a Cantonese morning tea which represents the local breakfast culture. Module can travel through the old-fashioned elevator which is the component for the street market. Off Hour
Station Generation
Generate a station structure
Turn street market into station
Add the function of morning tea
Add transportation function
Rush Hour
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Off Hour
Soho Bar Station
Soho station is consisted of the several features The function is defined as bar and outdoor activity platforms since participants are more likely to hang around both inside and out of the bar. Platforms are divided in to large, mid and small for different events happening there.
Take down original building
Generate a station structure
Put uneven sized platforms to the station structure
Extend certain platform to roofs of buildings for bigger area.
Rush Hour
Remould some facade according to the platform location. 15
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Station Generation
Mosque Station
Mosque station is the last station of the commuting line, it function as both a station and a mosque. The module track goes into the station beneath the major architecture directly into the bathing area. From there the passenger who is willing to get off can start his ritual as a Muslim from bathing to praying or going to the top of the tower. Meanwhile the underground has extra space for module DIY, for example cutting hair and bathing module fits the station for its function. The top of the tower serve the mosque as a calling tower, from which leader can call the surround Muslim to the station for praying.
[ Call People to Prayer ]
[ Platform ]
[ Sequence ]
[ Prayer ]
Off Hour
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Rush Hour
[ Ablution ]
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View from Central Market Station
View from SOHO Bar Station
View from Tea House Station
View from Mosque Station 20
02 Contemporary Social Condenser Wasted Pier Group Reconstruction
Group Work Team Member: Cui Qijian, Jin Wandi Instructor: Mei Jiang Architecture Design - Core Studio(2018 Fall) Research(60%), Design(80%), Model(90%), Drawing(70%)
Wuhan's Hankou Beach Wharf Group was once the busiest and most vibrant area in central China. With the development of modern transportation, the Hankou Wharf Group has gradually declined, and has fallen into an obsolete and lifeless area, even separated from the rest by fencing. We want to activate the whole pier area along the Yangtze River and endow these industrial heritage with new functions and significance through the renovation of one of the piers. We define architecture as a contemporary social condenser.
We use several logics to arrange the activities. The most important one is that activities go from public (social encouraged) to private so that on the ground floor social action can be promoted so that exciting vibe can be spreaded from architecture to further area in a linear order. Secondry logic is that installation are arranged based on their property whether activities happen in water or ground.
Happiness is regarded as the intrinsic driving force of the social condenser. Each installation is created based on one specific pleasant activity people would like to do in riverside area. Architectural forms and structural systems are drawn from the image of the boat of the ancient pier, the Monroe sparrow every day. So that people can re-see such urban images and landscapes. Meanwhile certain period of history can be respected and remembered in this way.
Installation Design Process
Architecture Generation Process
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Public Activity History
The Begining of Wharf
Growing As a Industry
"Eastern Chicago"
Being Replaced
Abandoned
Due to the limited technical level in the old days, river transportation became the main way of transportation. More and more people participate in it, which makes the water trade usher in a sustained climax for a period of time. It also attracted people who enjoy water activities to have fun here. However, with the development of the times, more and more convenient modes of transportation have emerged. Some wharfs have been suspended or demolished. At present, most of the wharfs are in a state of abandonment, which also leads to the desolation and lack of access in this area.
Low Participation
Young Age Structure
Site is located at the Hankou Wharf which consists dozens of wasted pier and several working ferry boat pier provide thousands of people for the site. Large amount of residents live around the site who live here for centuries. Their activities are generated through the interference of the Yangtze River. Meanwhile, the area is going through some changes that would bring new crowd to the site.
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Fun Palace - Cedric Price
Urban Scale Generation The HanKou Wharf area still has two working pier as the ferry boat for transportation and view which contribute the major visitor traffic for the wharf area. Renovation project is not only for the single wasted pier but for the whole area, so a urban scale strategy is in need to activate the linear area.
Philosophy
Original Diagram
Step 1 Take Down the Wall
You can change it at any moment, anything can be plugged in. “Choose what you want to do – or watch someone else doing it. Learn how to handle tools, paint, babies, machinery, or just listen to your favourite tune. Dance, talk or be lifted up to where you can see how other people make things work. Sit out over space with a drink and tune in to what’s happening elsewhere in the city. Or just lie back and stare at the sky.”
Taking down the wall that prevent the area from urban profile can enable the basic sight contact.
Step 2 Float the Station
Compress
Make the ground floor more fluent by overheading the station to increase the urban fluency and accessibility
Swing
Bounce
Diving
Fishing
Bathing
Splash
Peak
Meditate
Maze
Rail Car
Skate
Beer
Bungee
Climb
Ferris
Slide
Step 3 Build the Bridge Build the bridge on the second level to make a pedestrian path and connect the other station
Flexible Structure
Step 4 Reuse the Cable Car Reuse the cable car as a tourist-based transportation system and also a installation itself
Interfere
Happy Activities Extension
Step 5 Input the Architecture Architecture can form a aggregation effect with the park nearby to generate a activity center in the area.
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Design Concept A social condenser can be defined as a space or volume that causes the overlap and intersection of different programs and agendas, bringing people together for an eventual shared purpose by which they are united by way of social collision, or social interaction within the volume. These differing agendas may constitute intended or unintended routes through space and time - this increases the likelihood and perhaps intensity of social interaction. In the publication Content, Rem Koolhaas defines a social condenser as 'the programmatic layering upon vacant terrain to encourage dynamic coexistence of activities and to generate through their interference, unprecedented events'
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Installation is combination of the major activity-Dancing and minor activity-Swing, also inserted the interference of the flash light
Installation is combination of the major activity-Basketbal and minor activity-Bouncer, also inserted the interference of the moving hoop.
Installation is combination of the major activity-Torrent and minor activity-Spray, also inserted the interference of the Water Wave
Installation is combination of major activity-Peak and minor activityPhotographing, also inserted the interference of the Rotating Tube
Installation is combination of the major activity-Ping Pong and the minor activity-Skate Boarding, also inserted the interference of the Water Wave
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Installation is combination of the major activity-Bear Bar and the minor activity-Social, also inserted the interference of the Water Wave
Installation is combination of the major activity-Diving and minor activity-Elevator, also inserted the interference of the floating board
Installation is combination of the major activity-Fishing and minor activity-Movie, also inserted the interference of self-control board
Installation is combination of the major activity-Squirt Gun and minor activityThe Moveable Board, also inserted the interference of People's Movement
Installation is combination of the major activity-Meditating and minor activity-Electronic, also inserted the interference of the Rotating Wall
Installation is combination of the major activity-Children's Land and minor activityIce Cream, also inserted the interference of the Rotating Serving Track
This installation is the Composition of the major activity-Cable Car, which will go into the ferris wheel. Each cable car has different function to be interference
Installation is combination of the major activity-Bungee and minor activity-Shouting, also inserted the interference of the Visual Change
Installation is combination of the major activity-Climbing and minor activity-Gaming, also inserted the interference of the Vertical Wall
Installation is combination of major activity-Ferris Wheel which is a way for people to observe different activity happening in architecture which function as a elevator
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Program
Pleasure Condenser
Diagram aims to explain the generation of the architecture including the events, interference, movement.
The result is various based on the specific logic that you use to array the activity events. The logic we use is that from bottom to top the events go from social to isolate so that the event at the bottom can attract more people and spread the vibe to a wider range of area.
SILDER ELEVATOR VISUAL
The rail fiills the part of building's sky so that the participant can have a flexible canopy and sky.
Slider Atrium creates a wide space for us to engage a social connection
Peak Tube
The voice of bungee participants as one of the way to spread the vibe
Cable Car
BBQ Slider
Swing
Running
The newly built city highline has become the major entrance for the social condenser.
Form Origin The origin of the architecture form comes from the acient city form which consist of board, pole, sail.
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Dance-Slider-Seat-Bar
Social action triggered by motion is designed. Plan is collaged based on activity
BBQ-Dessert-Peak-Bungee
The activity flow is arranged from static to gradually self-indulgence
Swing-Diving-Meditate-Fishing 31
Pleasure activities that origin from the riverside area. 32
Top Floor Plan - The Canvas The top floor of the Pleasure Condenser aims to creates an environment of peaceful atmosphere and self-indulgence, so it is mostly consisted of meditation, peak, bungee and also the intersection of vertical elevator.
Old Neighboor and Social Condenser On a urban scale speaking, the Social Condenser compelete the functioning relationship throughout the urban scale from the Old neighboor - Park - Concession Building - Road -Social Condenser - Yangtze River 33
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03 Cloud & Rain On Site Wood Building Proposal
Group Work Collaborate With Other 6 Teamates Instructor: Wang Ping Architecture Design - Core Studio(2017 Fall) Research(60%), Design(90%), Model(100%), Drawing(90%)
"Cloud & Rain" try to emphasis on reminding the traveller to pay attention to the local context. LouNa is famous for its soft weather that almost half of the year is drizzie day. So that the local architecture uses sloping roof to drain the rain. But since we aim to arrange the traveller to experience that characteristic, we design the roof in a oppsite way that collect the water by the central funnel installation. Rain will follow through central hole and fall down to the water canal on the ground. The form was inspired by the triditional chinese toy "East, South, West, North". Each part is responsible for a living function. South for living room, North for entrance, East for bedroom, West is for half outdoor space. All structure nodal point is designed with pre-manufactured structure, nails and screws.
Shape Origin Rain Sun Cloud
The form tranformation is abstract from local's natural environment - karst landform and local residence. The housing typology in Louna is unique, people try to lift the building from the ground to avoid humid and rainning. We reverse the roof slope to create a funnel so that rain can be collected for the solo traveller to experience the special context.
Chongqing
Zhangjiajie
Tujia
Louna
Guilin
Chongqing
Tujia
Louna
Guilin
Zhangjiajie Shape Transformation
Weather - Mountain - Housing Typology Range from Mid West to Mid East
Diaojiaolou, also known as stilted building, is a traditional residence of Miao, Zhuang, Buyi, Dong, Shui, Tujia,etc. There are totally 5 wildly used typologies . Stilted building is designed to fit the local weather which has a lot of rainning days around the year as well as humid environment. The way each typology fits different environment vary from each other according to the varying mountain shape and weather. Moreover, each typology can develop into a housing proto-type of traveller's dwelling. The similarity theyshare makes the form more reasonablle.
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The form of the house is abstract of triditional Chinese paper art - "Dong, Nan, Xi, Bei" which splits from center into four body with same size. We try to adjust each part for different living function, such as living, sleeping etc. Finally we achieve the goal of balancing different function's area and structure rationality of dwelling.
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Construction Process The on site construction process should take several factors into account, for example, number of constructors, local weather, material processing difficulties. Nine steps total are considered to be done. From placing the concrete foundation to pave the bamboo cover, each step aims to take the shortest period for quick build on site.
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Step 1: Use short-pedriod and water proof concrete to form the foundation
Step 2: Install the four center columns and tie them to create a center structure.
Step 3: Tie the thread of the four dual columns to center structure .
Step 4: Use the pre-installed structure to fix the four "Y" columns.
Step 5: Install the secondry structure of the architecture to combine column system.
Step 6: Use thin wood strips to fill the ribs for roof and platforms.
Step 7: Install the roof and platforms with wide wood strips and nails.
Step 8: Install the bamboo made walls and water channel which create privacy.
Step 9: Waterproof the entire house to prevent it from frequent raining.
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Ground Plan 1:500 1. Activity Room 2. Half-outdoor Platform 3. Bedroom 4. Porch 5. Entrance Platform 6. Viewing Platform 7. Cornfield
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Relationship With Context "Cloud & Rain" not only emphasize the relationship between the traveller and rainning, it also explores the relationship between architecture and nature context, in this case the cornfield. Louna is rich for its agriculture which is mostly consisted by cornfield, put the architecture on a rather flat mountain corner that covered by cornfield can give traveller a peaceful environment that is middle point between nature and human activity. From "Cloud & Rain" you can see pure nature on one side of the platform and the village on the other which is covered by the roof.
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Central Funnel
Corner Joint
"Y" Joint
[Structure Joint Catalogue ] 43
Corner Joint fuses several compelicated joint at corner and also decrease the sharp space feeling for the traveller
"Y" joint spreads from one wood pillar into two bridges. Using inherent insertion of steel board to reinforce joint.
Bottom Load Joint
The joint uses triangle joint to reinforce the intensity of three bridges joint here.
Central Pillar Joint
Mountain shape component solve the problem of the joint between bridge and pillar
[ Rainning Night View ]
[ Physical Model 1:5 ] 44
[ Section 1:50 ]
B-B'
Bambo Wall Light Structure Wall Brick Foundation Water Inlet
A-A'
Rain Inlet Water Outlet
Glued Wood Strips Wood Ridge Pre-produced Component
Section & Foundation Detail [ Relation with Context & Roof Material Plan ] 45
Section aims to discribe the detail of the roof structure and central funnel structure while presenting the relationship between building and environment. Fundation detail articulates that we use several pre-installed components with quick-dry concrete to create a solid foundation for building. Other than component and foundation, the rest of building is made of wood. The tilt angle of the component is small enough to hold up the load of itself
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04 Shadow Fabrication Old Residential Reconstruction
Individual Work Instructor: Chen Qiuyu Architecture Design - Core Studio(2017 Spring) Project Duration: 8 Weeks
"Qi Fa" Neighborhood was created during a very special history segment - "The Big Leap" in the 1960s. At that time, China was trying to uprise quickly so that we imitate Soviet collectivism as well as their house form. The neighborhood had developed since. During 1980s, more residentials were built in difference under the background of China's economy boost, and couple of more in 2000s. Nowadays, the neighbor is occupied mostly by land lord and renters.
Yangtze River Site
In 1970s, collectivism was at its prime, aquantence society which is a by product of collectivism was brew secretly. Surprisingly, the mechanism of shadow play matchs the social form at that time, which was very popular in the local area. The combination of shadow play and collectivism background will retell the story of this magical place in form of architecture and human activities.
Strategy 1: Collectivism & Shadow Play
Strategy 2: Break the "Grid"
The specific society and neighborhood form is created under the influence of collectivism socialism which breeds the potential Aquantence Society. The relationship is similar to the triditional chinese art - Shadow Play, the combination of shadow play and Soviet From architecture vividly tells the story of this special site. Projection of different period are as follow
The old Soviet form residential is mostly grid and rectangle, but since the economy reform, the civilian’s need is recombined more and more special need has occured. In this site, there are actions of remoulding the street void space with Abnormal Shape and dynamic objects which indicate the local site’s Grid needs to be broken. The method to break the grid is divided into three degrees.
Large Scale Strategy Split the neighborhood's major street to activate the inside vibes and commercial potential. Also, the rise of the central street will increase another access from the outside to this originally closed block. The zig-zag shape breaks the rigid grid that was created back to 1960s for collectivism.
House Scale Strategy
Module 3m is a scale extracted from the original architecture as a basic scale of module to reshape the street
Human Scale Strategy Local civilians began to create self-built space since the original collectivism dorm can not meet the need of their daily life. For example, there is only one kitchen per three dorms so that locals do their chores outside under their self-built room with canvas, threads, tree and poles. These spaces represents the recombination of people's need after the end of collectivism. Nowadays, difference is comming into obvious.
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TYPOLOGY
Typology Catalogue
Module Catalogue
The original activity typology existing in the site. I list the total four most active typology including their composition, space order and location.
The Basic Module is transformed from the original typology I studied earlier, the scale not only fit the human scale but also fit the original scale of neighboor
Sidewalk Snack
Step 1 Install the Hinge Joint The main loading structure of the building in the triangular structure which uses hinge joint to passes the major load into the ground. And it doesn’t create anyother force to the old buildings.
Resturant
Step 2 Remould the Building The third level of the project has a extended area of the kitchen of the foodstall which requires a remoulding of the old building.
Food Stall
Step 3 Assemble the Module Assembling the modules according to the customized number and typology of each elements to form the main body.
Step 4 Create the Shadow The last step is to install the shadow element-animal curtain, the process can be decided by users whether to put on a wall or door or transparent curtain.
Chess 53
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Ground Floor Plan Ground Floor is designed for personal seller and pedestrians As the most important street in the neighborhood it is set to be the widest pedestrians road considering the situation of people line up for the snack around the rush hour
2nd Floor Plan Second Floor is designed for people who would like to grab a bite really quick. This circumstance mostly happen on office group nearby, who prefer food with lower price and a place to social with their co-workers.
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3rd Floor Plan 3rd Floor is designed based on the original commercial deli on the first floor, as the ground floor is occupied by snack cart, original food stall is moved to the third floor. Kitchens are arranged in the old Resi to make the upper level more alive. There are two bridge connecting from third level to fourth level.
Top Floor Plan Roof floor focus on pleasure activity. Since the neighbor is surrounded by high towers, sunlight is hard to gain with the narrow road between buildings, we are trying to lift the activity level to roof top to increase the quality of the old’s life.
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Section & Activity Form Limited space between two buildings is fully used, the void space makes sure the ground flood has enough room for potential pedestrain in the future.
[ Ground Floor ] 59
[ Roof Top ] 60
05 OTHER WORKS
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" The Drone " - Proposal For Velux Competition
Exhibition Volunteer - #Hashtag - Shanghai
Teamwork with Li Aohan, Yuan Jin Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 2016 Fall
Volunteer, work with Shi Ji, Feng Lixin Shanghai Power Station of Art, 2017 Winter
With the high-rises appear more frequently in these days, light pollution has made severe consequence to cities such as heated island effect, and more directly, it has a negative influence to our daily lives. Meanwhile the vast neglected energy behind the light pollution which should have been used is wasted. Our original idea of the device is to improve the urban public light and redistributing enery.
The #Hastag exhibition marks a physical location for digital social space. Used extensively in social media. "#" works not only as labels of categorized information, but also as embodiment of interactions between the digital and the real. This binary of "#" has inspired the exhibition to reconfigure the roles of art meseums, artists, and visitors, by inviting all parties to step out of their longestablished identities to the virtual world.
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