Dongwei Chen Portfolio Samples

PORTFOLIO DONGWEI CHEN

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CONTENT MEILLE-FEUILLE Aquatic Center SUKKA 10.0 Design-build MAS HEADQUARTER Cultural DRYADES APARTMENT Multi-family Housing VESTERBRO CONCERT HALL Cultural MARDI GRAS INDIANS INSTITUTE Cultural MUSEUM OF THE CITY Museum BRION CEMETERY VISITOR CENTER Visitor Center TRAVEL SKETCHES Fellowship | Sketches

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LINGUISTIC STUDIES Education

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MILLE-FEUILLE Named after the famous French pastry, this project is a formal exploration of the tension between rigid gird and organic forms through the vessel of an aquatic center. My partner and I attempted to distill these tensions and explore the relationship between certain forms and experiences through models and drawings.

We start by asking this simple question: what are the potential relationship between a surface and the ground?

The challenge is then manifested both formally and programmatically, from one single surface, to a layered occupied surface.There is a sense of structured playfulness throughout this collaborative exploration.

5th Year Option Studio Advisor: Ammar Eloueini Partner: Maria Espinoza

view by the Olympic pool 4

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(A) sectional moments above / between / below the surface

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2a

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7d

3a 5a

1a 5b

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3b 2c

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3b

2b 4d 1b

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4b 7a

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3c

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2b 4b 6

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4c 2c 1c

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(B-1) 3x1 sectional collage

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(B-2) 1x3 sectional collage

A TAXONOMY OF SECTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS SURFACE ABOVE GROUND

IN SURFACE

ABOVE SURFACE

BELOWSURFACE

SURFACE BELOW GROUND

ABOVE SURFACE

diagram: relationship between surface and ground

1a 3b 2c

(C) 3x3 sectional collage

We started by creating a taxonomy of the surface-ground relationship, and how the interstitial space could be occupied (A). The three rows explores spatial experience to be in/on/ below the surface.

These moments are then composed either vertically or horizontally to create a sectional moment (B-1&B-2). Each composition in B-1 is consist of 3 moments on a continuous surface, while each composition in B-2 is consist of one of each category from A. Finally, a 3x3 sectional collage can be created by combining the previous sets (C) which start to suggest dynamic spatial qualities of each formal possibility.

This sectional part-whole approach allows us to explore sectional qualities of the surface through an iterative process.

sectional model

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OCCUPIABLE ROOF

WAFFLE STRUCTURE

HOTEL AND SPA

AQUATIC CENTER

PLAZA

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left top | 1/32 process structural model left middle| 1/32 process model without roof left bottom | 1/32 process model with roof right | final plan of hotel & spa

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hotel room entry guest swimming pool roof garden inside the spa

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1/16� scale section

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RETAIL

CHILDRENS CHILDRENSPOOL POOL 2b2b

GUEST GUESTROOMS ROOMS TYPE TYPEBB

CHANGING CHANGINGROOMS ROOMS

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STORAGE STORAGE

DAYCARE DAYCARE CENTER CENTER 66

2a2a 5a5a

7b7b

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3b3b

A “GAME BOX”

SPA RECEPTION

KITCHEN KITCHEN

SOLARIUM SOLARIUM

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LOUNGE LOUNGE

DINING DININGAREA AREA

GUEST GUESTROOMS ROOMS TYPE TYPECC

BAR BAR

RETAIL

STAFF OFFICE

FOOD COURT

BLURB BLURB

CHANGING CHANGINGROOMS ROOMS

An alternative path we took is through a “game box” where each programmatic element was assigned a form: blurb, wall, grid and rigid form. The “game box” informs our organizational strategy later in the project.

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BLURB BLURB

2c2c

1c1c

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LINE LINE

RIGID RIGIDFORM FORM FIELD FIELD

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SPA SPA

CHANGING CHANGINGROOMS ROOMS

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RECEPTIONS RECEPTIONS

POOL POOL RECEPTION RECEPTION

CAR CARPARKING PARKING BIKE BIKEPARKING PARKING

JACUZZI JACUZZI

STEAM STEAMROOM ROOM

HOTEL HOTEL RECEPTION RECEPTION

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RETAIL RETAIL

STAFF STAFFOFFICE OFFICE

FOOD FOODCOURT COURT

FIELD FIELD LINE

BLURB

CONTROL POIN TS

LINE LINE FIELD

RIGID RIGIDVOLUME VOLUME

RETAIL RETAIL

SPA SPA RECEPTION RECEPTION

RIGID VOLUME

CONTROL CONTROLPOIN POINTSTS

FIELD FIELD

CIRCULATION CIRCULATION

HOTEL HOTELSTORAGE STORAGE &&SECURITY SECURITY

BLURB

BLURB BLURB

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PARKING PARKING/ /CIRC CIRC

BLURB BLURB FORM FORM

BLURB FORM

FIELD

RIGID VS. ORGANIC The reflective material for the hotel floor changes color based on angle of viewers. Beyond the effect of estrangement, it also implies programmatic arrangement.

From above through the roof, the green reveals courtyards surround by hotel rooms. Visitors could ascend to the roof top for a better view of the city. The plaza in front the Olympic pool serves a public space where food trucks could park

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SUKKAH 10.0 Sukkah is a student-led design/ build project in collaboration with Tulane Hillel for the Sukkot holiday. The biblical definition of Sukkah require a fixed structure with roof constructed of natural material.

The design of Sukkah 10.0 incorporates Udukuri, a traditional Japanese wood craft technique that involves painting over plywood and polishing off the paint to reveal wood grain. Two sides of each wood panel are treated with colors in opposite sequence. The spatial arrangement follows a nine-square-grid. One “wall� is rotated to create entry, inverting the inside/outside relationship. The design and fabrication process is document and exhibited within the Sukkah.

Design/Build Project Faculty Advisor: Carrie Norman Udukuri Advisor: Adam Modesitt Student Team: Diego Schubb Elisa Bernstein Dongwei Chen Maria Espinoza Jared Faske Andres Hartman Emily Kanner Andras Kozicz Bela Lotozo Jack Morris

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Ethan Shaw Reed Smith Maggie Swinford Ross Garfield Caroline Garfield Ryan Shaaban Leah Bohatch Seth Laskin Ethan Lewis Jacob Taylor

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MAS HEADQUARTER As a non-profit advocacy organization, MAS (Municipal Art Society) celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2018. From sidewalk to skyline, MAS has played a critical in urban policy of New York City. The project propose a new headquarter for MAS at the triangular site across the historic flat iron building.

Reflecting upon its initial location at Villard House. the new MAS headquarter intends to regain the organization’s street presence through carving out a vertical promenade connecting critical MAS programs from the dense floor plates for rent office spaces. The building facade consists of paneled mullions with varied orientations, allowing lgiht

4th Year Option Studio Advisor: Richard Olcott

Wendy Redfield

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1/32� scale model in site context

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CROSS SECTION A-A’

1’0”=1/32”

CROSS SECTION B-B’

1’0”=1/32”

24 LONGITUDIANL SECTION A-A’ 1’0”=1/32”

left | site axon middle | cross sections right | sectional perspective showing key programs

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street view of MAS headquarter from madison square park

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top | interior render of Jane Jacobs forum bottom | bird’s eye view at night

interior render of cafe + gallery space

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DRYADES APARTMENT Dryades Apartment is a mixed-use multifamily housing complex on O.C. Hayley Boulevard in central city, New Orleans. Taking cues from the urban fabric around the historic site of Dryades Market in the 1900s, the project aims to provide affordable housing to young professionals working in the neighborhood.

A central shared space is situated on the 2nd and 3rd floor to provide the residents with gathering space and view to downtown New Orleans. Illuminated at night, it will also create a sense of home and safety for the pedestrians.

Inspired by the dynamic relationship between pedestrians and the residential streetscape in the neighborhood, gathering space of varying sizes are designed along circulation path in the apartment.

3rd Year Design Studio Advisor: Bruce Goodwin

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UNIT AXON

EXPLODED AXON

left | axon of typical unit layout right top| interior of a typical unit right middle| view from mezzanine into 2nd floor lobby right bottom| ground floor co-working space

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VESTERBRO CONCERT HALL In response to the vibrant history of Vesterbro neighborhood in Copenhagen, this unconventional concert hall welcomes audience beyond typical classical music fans through macro and micro scale.

Adjacent to a skating ground for local teenagers and gathering spots for homeless community, this concert hall aims at attracting potential audience through integrating the structure with existing urban conditions. Practice rooms in the periphery with curved roof allows “imperfect sounds� blended with urban activity.

Through flexible partitions, the project also challenges conventional spatial relationship between audience and performers, and the boundaries between formal performance and informal practice.

4th Year Copenhagen Design Studio Advisor: Maja Popovic

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Entrance Ticket Office Coat Check Foyer Men’s Toilet Women’s Toilet Cafe / Bar Music Hall Entrance to Backstage Backstage Rehearsal Practice Room Storage for Practice Outdoor Seating

A Open Practice: Passersby could grab a coffee and enjoy the weather-proof outdoor seating.

B Two-story Cafe: On the ground floor, the cafe is open to the public; on the level of the music hall, the cafe serves the audience as a bar.

C Concert Hall: A conventional concert hall serve as space for more formal performances.

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MARDI GRAS INDIANS INSTITUTE Can architecture be inspired by cultural garments?

This project starts with a set of drawings analyzing the arm piece of a Mardi Gras Indian suit and its relationship to human body. Taking cues from the folding and unfold , the, a private circulation is a folded path that connect important spatial nodes in the Indians’ daily routine.

Visitors have visual connection with the Mardi Gras Indians as they move around the building, but can only have physical contact with them at very specific location such as the performance space.

The Mardi Gras Indians Institute creates a place in the city for the special community as well as the general public who are interested in the Mardi Gras Indian culture.

2nd Year Spring Design Studio Advisor: Marcella Del Signore

right | exploded axon studying the relationship between human body and the Mardi Gras Indian suit (arm piece

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MUSEUM OF THE CITY The proposal for Museum of the City of New Orleans started with a series of hand-drawn diagrams studying the topography, natural landform and urban fabric of New Orleans at three different scales. By generating synthesis between the natural and human conditions, the unique pattern of urban development become the initial concept of the project.

The juxtaposition of diagonal orientation of Bayou Road, where the site is located at, and the vieux carre grid extended from French Quarter informs the primary geometry of museum plan. The diagrammatic physical model on the right highlight the palimpsest of different urban conditions.

2nd Year Fall Design Studio Advisor: Cordula Roser-Gray

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left | analysis diagrams of New Orleans at 3 different scales right | diagrammatic site model 37

BRION CEMETERY VISITOR CENTER How could Peter Eisenman’s 9-square grid in House VI engage with Carlo Scarpa’s poetic landscape at Brion Cemetery?

This project starts with a set of physical model studying Eisenman’s House VI highlighting its formal autonomy. The language of 9-square grid is then borrowed to create a visitor center for Scarpa’s Brion Cemetery in San Vito.

1st Year Spring Design Studio Advisor: Tiffany Lin

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NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LINGUISTIC STUDIES In directly adjacency to the Washington Monument and National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Institute of Linguistic Studies functions as a vessel to promote understanding of different culture and language systems in the United States through research and public exhibitions.

Formal strategy of the institute draws inspiration from and responds to the Hirshorn Museum. The spiral massing creates a spiral promenade for visitors, surrounding an elevated core containing the research labs. The dynamic sectional relationship allows visitors and researchers to be visually connected.

3rd Year Comprehensive Studio Advisor: Benjamin J. Smith

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right | ground floor plan middle | 3rd year gallery+research space right | section across library / circulation along gallery

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left | ground floor plan right | section across library /circulation along gallery right bottom | elevations 44

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top | interior rendering of research labs middle | interior rendering of gallery space bottom | interior rendering of entry ram right | section 46

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1/32� final sectional model

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PORTFOLIO DONGWEI CHEN