Ivy_Folio_2023

Ivy Mengshu Li

Architecture Portfolio April. 2023

Designer

EPILEPSY IS DANCING

Title

Project QUADRANTS

Section Drawing

Scale: See drawing for scale designation. Dimensions in millimetres unless otherwise marked.

Project No. Draw by Checked by Date

Note

2019-01 ML Nobody 2019-03-29

Cut me in quadrants Leave me in the corners Oh now it’s passing Oh now I’m dancing

ARCHITECTURE MENIFESTO

As an architect, I believe that our work should aim to challenge conventions and push boundaries. Architecture is a tool for social, environmental, and cultural transformation, not just for creating functional spaces.

Integration is key - the ability to blend different functions and elements seamlessly into a cohesive whole. The Greenline project is a prime example, integrating urban agriculture, livestock facilities, fresh food markets, and public spaces into existing infrastructure to tackle urban densification.

I also believed that digital technologies have transformative power, as demonstrated in the Mass Movement project. By creating an immersive exhibition that showcases the intricacies of the replication process, the project aims to inspire visitors to rethink their relationship with technology and the environment

Architecture can also be a force for personal and social empowerment, as seen in “A Little Life”, where hoarders can store and display their collections in an organized and artistic manner.

At the core of our architectural philosophy is the belief that architecture should not just reflect society, but also challenge it. By constantly exploring new possibilities and thinking outside the box, we hope to create a more sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful world for all.

The Greenline

- Infoodstructure

Mass Movement

- A musuem made digital

A Little Life

- A glimpse into obssessive mind

Furniture Designs

- The Yoga Mat Stool

- The Elephant Stool

- The Plastic Bag Stool

- The Pin Stol

Infoodstructure

“

University: MSD, University of Melbourne

Studio Leader: Chris Smiles, Joachim Clauss

Project Location: CBD-Southbank, City of Melbourne

-Laurie Colwin-

The sharing of food is the basis of social life.”

The Yarra River has been a significant food source and meeting place for indigenous Australians since prehistoric times, much like other mother river that have nurtured civilizations throughout history. While early European settlers primarily used it for agriculture, the landscape of the river has dramatically changed since 1835 due to industrialization and shipping growth, leading to the construction of major infrastructure works.

Over the course of two centuries, the lower part of the Yarra River has transformed into the vibrant heart of Melbourne, which is now considered one of the most liveable cities in the world. However, the long-term urban densification trends has resulted in rapid growth of building density, reduction in public space per capita and significant farmland loss in the city’s foodbowl. Simply building higher and moving farmland further away will not provide a sustainable solution to this issue.

The Greenline project aims to tackle the challenge of urban densification through an innovative approach. Instead of relying on traditional rural farmlands, the project proposes an urban agriculture and livestock facility that seamlessly integrates into the existing railway, bridge, and dock infrastructure on the site. This approach is a contemporary take on food sourcing. It is an “Infoodstructure”.

INFOODSTRUCTURE

The “Infoodstructure” project is an experimental attempt to integrate urban farming into existing infrastructure, creating generous public spaces and greenery for the urban dwellers and visitors.

By combining the farming and food-related activities within public spaces, the project aims to build a robust, food-secure community, promote healthier diets and lifestyles, and develop a more sustainable and resilient city. To minimize disruption to the site, the project uses modular frames generated by a parametric form. This approach allows future adaptation to changes and growth of the cityscape, making it a city intervention that can potentially grow and expand in dense urban areas. The modular form also allows functional spaces and “farmland” to be plugged in, creating interesting indoor and outdoor space combinations through adjustable initial parametric inputs and various plugging methods.

In addition to the building forms.

The project also seeks for greater accessibility from the precinct, by creating continuous water fringe walkways, establishing new pedestrian connections to the south bank, and introducing activities and lighting that promote penetration through dark space under the railway.

ENTRANCE FROM DOCKLAND

LIVESTOCK COW SHED MELBOURNE AQUARIUM STEP SEATING

Project form

The architectural form of the project was designed to address the issue of pedestrian disruption caused by motor vehicles.

The initial shape of the voxels, or three-dimensional pixels, was created based on a designed pedestrian route (indicated by a green arrow) using Grasshopper software. The train and driveway corridors were then removed from the initial voxel shape. Framing structures were then created from these voxels. Using these framing structures, which have specific designed sizes, has the advantage of allowing for modular production off-site and quick assembly on-site, thus minimizing the disruption to the busy transport in the area.

Veges and Fruits

Animal Products

Seeding Feeding Cleaning

De-worming Watering Fertilizing Harvesting Distribution

Egg collection

Post -processing

Farmer’s Market

Cafe and Restaurant

Growing vegetable and fruit, raising cows and chicken

Farming Activity

Food Therapy:

Gathering and Relaxing

Milking

Post -processing

Food -processing Factory Food Product

Urban Kitchen:

Cafe and Restaurant:

Food Factory:

Fresh Food Market:

Project Details

The project involves farming activities throughout the entire journey.

As part of the project, Batman Park will be redesigned to create a grass field for livestock in the middle, surrounded by a leisure and sitting space, as well as flexible green space and walkways in the outer areas.

Additionally, the under-railway spaces adjacent to Batman Park will be repurposed as functional spaces, such as a slaughterhouse, cheese and milk factory, among others. The project includes a “next-door” café and burger shop, which significantly reduce the carbon footprint of food delivery and transportation by sourcing all food locally onsite.

Moreover, the design will provide visitors with an opportunity to take an in-depth look at how the food is processed before being distributed to the market, including an education and demonstration tour for both children and adults to promote appreciation for food.

Section B-B Scale

The project is based on the philosophy of “growyour-own-food,” with the Greenhouse and Vege Terrace offering participants the opportunity to experience farming activities in urban areas and earn food in exchange for labour. The Urban Kitchen provides a space where people can bring freshly picked vegetables and cook them on-site, enjoying a healthy and delicious meal after a day of farming. The facility can also assist the homeless population by providing them with access to nutritious meals.

The railway currently creates an obstruction between Melbourne CBD and Yarra River, hindering connection between the two areas. To address this, the project aims to utilize the under-railway spaces as functional areas, such as a fresh food market during the day or a street food market at night. Additionally, artists will be invited to create lighting installations and hard landscapes to attract more foot traffic. This approach will increase site permeability and accessibility, potentially reducing crime in the area.

The project also includes the creation of a full journey and site short-cuts, including a continuous water fringe path for pedestrians and cyclists. A new pedestrian bridge will extend the green journey to the south bank, connecting to the lively riverside area and aiming to attract office workers from the other side of the river to the “infoodstructure”. The project intends to integrate these food-related activities into their daily work and life, promoting a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.

02 MASS MOVEMENT

- A Museum Made Digital

“By making many reproductions, it substitutes a plurality of copies for a unique existence and it permitting the reproduction to meet the beholder or listener in his own particular situation. It reactivated the object reproduces. “

University:

- Benjamin Walter, The Work of Art in the Age of Machine Reproduction-

MSD, University of Melbourne Studio Leader: Ben Water Project Location: Ian Potter Museum, Melbourne

The project Mass Movement explores how the mass reproduction can transform the original artefacts and the space, and promote critical thinking about the relationship between reality and virtuality.

While mass production is not a new concept, the advent of digital technology has revolutionized the process of reproduction. With the latest tools like scanning and 3D printing, reproductions can now be made with greater flexibility and variation than ever before. This exhibition showcases a selection of vessels being scanned, 3-d printed, displayed and destroyed. By repeatedly continuing the process, the original artefacts will be altered and transformed into a new object.

The process of mass reproduction is not only carried out physically, but also digitally, and can be viewed through VR glasses. The spaces and artefacts are edited and reproduced repeatedly, creating a new virtual experience that challenges visitors to question their assumptions about what is real and what is not.

Overall, the exhibition aims to explore the complex and evolving relationship between reality and virtuality, through the process of mass reproduction physically and digitally. By examining the boundary between the two, visitors are invited to reflect on how technology is changing our relationship with the physical world and the implications of this for our understanding of reality.

Project Details - Real Room Experience

The chosen site is located on the first floor of Ian Potter Museum. By entering the exhibition space, visitor will need to step on an elevated glazing floor. At one end of the room, there are six plinths and two robotic arms. The exhibited vessels are continuously being printed with the robotic arms and transported via conveyor belts under the glass floor to the void behind solid concrete wall, where there is a void between the old construction and the new.

Visitors are not allowed to enter the void, but they can view the behind wall situation through the side window and small hole on the wall for peaking. Mirrors on each side of the void reflect the narrow space, creating a perception of infinite space. Here, the 3D-printed artefacts will be rescanned to generate the next set of data for 3D printing. After scanning, these replicas will be recycled, and the material will be used for next printing. Then the whole process will repeat.

In the real room, visitors have the opportunity to see physical reproductions of the scanned and printed artefacts. By examining these objects up close, visitors can explore the nuances of the scanning and printing process and consider how these techniques can alter our perception of reality.

Project Details - Virtual Experience 1

Visitors to the exhibition can only catch a glimpse of the behind-wall situation through a small peaking hole in the wall, as access to the void behind it is restricted. This void sits in the space between the old and new constructions and is an integral part of the exhibition. Mirrors have been installed on both sides of the void to create a field in the exhibition space. This field not only reflects the narrow space of the void, but it also creates a sense of infinity, drawing the viewer into the artwork.

The plurality of objects on display has impacted the uniqueness of the original artefacts. However, the use of mirrors and replicas in the exhibition space has created a new experience that challenges the notion of a singular, authentic original. The constantly evolving nature of the exhibition, with the 3D-printed replicas being rescanned to produce the data for the next printing, creates a dynamic environment where visitors can question their assumptions about the relationship between the original and the copy, reality and virtuality, and the role of technology in shaping our perceptions of the world.

Project Details - Virtual Experience 2

Visitors can use VR glasses to explore the space created by digital mass reproduction. In the virtual room, the exhibited artefacts together with the space are divided into halves and mirrored, creating two segments. This process is repeated with each segment to create four, eight, sixteen, and so on, until the segments and the space become continuous and fluid that have noneform, none-size, or none-reality.

This process of digital reproduction allows for a transformation of the exhibited artefacts into something that blurs the boundary between the objects and the space. Visitors can experience this transformation through the virtual reality glasses, creating a new way of understanding the relationship between reality and virtuality. The division and mirroring of the space and objects into smaller segments highlights the plurality created by mass reproduction and challenges the traditional notion of a unique existence for an object. Instead, the fluid and continuously changing nature of the replicated artefacts raises questions about the nature of reality and perception.

CAMERA USED FOR SCANNING ARTEFACTS BEING RESCANNED

DESTROY THE REPLICAS AND RECYCLE THE MATERIAL FOR REPRODUCTION

MATERIAL ROLL - FROM RECYCLE PRODUCED ARTEFACTS

A Little Life -

A glimpse into obsessive mind

“Things get broken, and sometimes they get repaired, and in most cases, you realize that no matter what gets damaged, life rearranges itself to compensate for your loss, sometimes wonderfully.”

-Hanya

Yanagihara, A Little Life-

University: MSD, University of Melbourne

Studio Leader: Rennie Liffen

Project Location: Midsummer Park

There are various architectural designs for humans, animals, and lives. However, this particular design is intended for objects, and a group of individuals known as hoarders who accumulate excessive amounts of objects within their homes. While hoarding may seem insane, it is a real and prevalent issue affecting 1 in 50 people according to the International OCD Foundation.

Hoarders crave recognition from others, whether it be from friends, family, or themselves. Rather than simply discarding their possessions, this project aims to celebrate their incredible collections. By providing a space where hoarders can store and display their treasures in an organized and artistic manner, this project empowers them to share their obsessive minds with others.

Three spaces: Storage, Exhibition, and Public interaction

Forming a Threshold

Storage shelf to define spaces

The storage warehouse is constructed with a timber framing structure that serves as shelving for storing objects. The shelving unit extrudes above the roof, becoming part of the building’s form. The building does not have physical walls, and all spaces are defined by the shelves. Each community member has their own space to store their collections, such as Susan’s kitchen and Akio’s workshop, which are private, while the space in between is common. The movable shelves with wheels can be repositioned to encourage interaction among the members, gradually shrinking private spaces and increasing common space, as the members become more embracing each other.

The community members not only store their collected objects here but also create artworks with them, guided by an artist alchemist. There is an art workshop underground, where the ordinary manufactured objects, such as a pot or oven, can be transformed into art through simple repositioning or joining, titling, and signing. This exhibition is open to the public and is an opportunity to appreciate the hoarders’ unique collections and artistic creations.

To enter the underground gallery, hoarders must descend a narrow staircase that becomes even narrower at the end, creating a transition from a crowded storage space to a more pressured stair corridor before reaching the spacious gallery. This arrangement is intended to provide hoarders with an experience of space variation, allowing them to appreciate the difference between full and empty spaces and find their most comfortable threshold. The threshold also serves as the closest point of interaction between hoarders and the public viewers.

ROOM

2. SUSAN’S KITCHEN

3. MIKE’S TEA ROOM

4. AKIO’S ART WORKSHOP

5. QIAN’S ROOM

6. OUTSIDE CORRIDOR 7. UNDERGROUND GALLERY

ENTRY

PUBLIC LOOKOUT M. MEETING POINT

I have named this space “A pensive” after the magical item in the Harry Potter books that serves as a repository for processing and releasing memories. The pensive is described as a stone bowl with intricate carvings that has the capacity to hold an infinite number of thoughts extracted from a person’s mind with a wand. In the Muggle world, this building will serve as a pensive for our hoarder community, offering storage for both physical and mental items. Here, they can proudly showcase and celebrate their life collections while also shedding themselves of any excess memories, thoughts, or emotions that may come with them. Through this, our community can find solace and release from the pain and anxiety of loss, freeing them from the constraints of compulsive hoarding.

THE YOGA MAT STOOL

2020 VIVID Design Awards Finalist

This stool is a unique concept that explores the potential of using layered fabric as a load-bearing material by simply rolling it up. Taking this concept and experimenting with an old yoga mat – when cutting half the rolled tube into strips – it created a hairy, fun, and playful stool that gives a second life to old mats. The yoga mat material is soft to the touch but has enough strength to support weight, which makes it an ideal candidate for this type of experiment.

Building on this idea, we also created the Fabric Stool, which follows the same principles of rolling and cutting layered fabric. By avoiding the use of chemicals to create structural support, the stool maintains the fabric’s softness while also introducing multiple layers of colourful and vivid fabric patterns for a visually engaging and unique design.

The Yoga Mat Stool is an experiment of the concept to develop a piece of structured furniture with soft synthetic material without adding chemicals

By avoiding the use of added chemicals, the design achieves strength and stability by manipulating the material itself. This approach enables the stool to retain the essential characteristics of the fabric, such as its colourful and soft texture

The size of the Yoga Mat Stool can vary by adding multiple rolls

The ‘flower’ shape of the stool derives from a simple ruleroll, wrap and cut

The Yoga Mat Stool

The Yoga Mat Stool

The Yoga Mat Stool

The Yoga Mat Stool

THE ELEPHANT STOOL

2020 VIVID Design Awards Finalist

The Elephant Stool draws inspiration from the art of Japanese origami, which is known for its intricate and precise folds and clean lines. The stool was designed to showcase the potential of using a single sheet of material that is cut and scored, and then folded to form functional furniture. This approach allows for an efficient use of material and production resources, while also resulting in a visually striking and unique design. The stool was created using a Metal laser cutter, which allowed for precise cutting and shaping of the material to achieve the desired form.

The Elephant Stool

A stool developed from folding a single steel sheet

(2) Folding to Stand

(1) Square Paper

(3) Trim

(3) Flatten

THE PLASTIC BAG STOOL

As the name suggests the stool is made completely from old, used plastic bags. Through a process of heat welding plastic bag fragments by an Iron, Ivy developed a technique to increase the rigidity of the plastic material and by reducing the density along key lines, allowing it to easily fold into structural shapes. By carefully selecting the colours of the original bags, the final design results in a marbled-patterned material that is both structural and beautiful.

The idea behind this stool project is to create functional furniture out of one of the most common waste materials - plastic bags. The process is simple, accessible and eco-friendly, requiring only common household items.

The process involves creating individual sheets, connecting them through ironing additional layers, folding them into shape, and producing the final product.

The project represents an exciting and challenging effort to create furniture using the most common recycling material, while also offering a straightforward and accessible process for upcycling plastic bags at home.

The Plastic Bag Stool

A stool developed from purely plastic bags using household item

The Pin Stool The curvature is design to best fit human body

The Pin Stool

A parametric designed stool

THE PIN STOOL

The stool design is inspired by the Butterfly Stool created by Japanese designer Sori Yanagi. It is made from a 4’ x 4’ x 1/2” sheet of birch plywood, but instead of being hand-crafted, it was created using parametric design tool Grasshopper. The shape of the stool was developed using various control points, and Grasshopper automatically completed the process of unrolling and fattening the surfaces for CNC cutting, making it easier to make changes and iterations.

Two hidden dice were used to fix the top left and right parts together, and two additional dice were used to fix the bottom. By following this approach, it becomes possible to easily design and manufacture a variety of shapes and types of furniture.