PROTFOLIO
Xinzhou Jiang (1994) Current MDes Interior Architecture year 1 student, monitor and TA in Rhode Island School of Design. (GPA: 3.7) Spent three years studying Interior Architecture Design at University for the Creative Arts, Canterbury, UK. And graduated from it in 2015 as a first-class undergraduate. With passion of being a professional interior architect, I choose to continue studying master degree of this major in RISD. Bilingual (Chinese), confident at AutoCAD, Indesign, Photoshop, Rhino (vray and 3dMax), hand-drawing, modelling, and have experience on woodwork and metalwork. Have strong dedication to detail, all tasks will be approached with enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Personal Page: jxzspacialimagination.weebly.com
CONTENT
Reading Room: The Connection
Margate, UK, 2013
Dreamland: Spectacle
Margate, UK, 2014
BL-NK-2: Children’s World London, UK, 2015
Providence Center
Providence, US, 2015
Memory Bench
Margate, UK, 2014
Void Interior Space
Providence, US, 2016
Other Projects & Works
Reading Room: The Connection Location: Resort Studio, Margate, UK Year: 2013 Type: University Project
The Reading Room Project was a student building project as a promotion of Margate Regeneration, and the idea of this project comes from the Georgian Reading Room in Margate. In this project, students were required to install a multidisciplinary reading room used for discussion, events and a medium for the sharing of ideas. The whole reading room is consisted of 22 modules and each student designed one modular for a specific function. After several group discussions, the final design of modular was decided to be a revolving bookshelf with unmovable base. Reading room project (2013) was received positive comments from public and it has been exhibited again in Folkestone in August, 2014.
My individual module, “the Connection” was aimed to create connections between outside and inside space of the Reading Room in a way to view and lighting. The concept comes from the idea of “creating a special window of Reading Room“ as the position of this module is the middle one in the front row. It was formed by five connections which was created by different ways. All of those ways were tested and developed in sketches, drawings and experiments for the requirement of building and using. The use of ergonomic study was extremely important to the final success.
The Connection: View and Light
2 Magnifying Glasses
Mirror + Local Sun Angle
Upside-down version of inside
Magnifying Glass For Reading
Opening for Passing Books
Inspired by the shape of the steamer, this “flower” can be open or closed by pushing or pulling one of the “flower petal”. This opening is aimed to control the levels of privacy and lighting, like the curtains of the window.
Dreamland: Spectacle Location: Dreamland, Margate, UK Type: University Project Year: 2014
First Floor
The town of Margate is a seaside town which was once a popular resort. Due to its particular geographic position, Margate successfully attracted visitors from London from the 18th century onwards. However, the seaside town faced an economic decline due to the reduce of visitor numbers in favour of foreign holidays. It’s renowned amusement park ‘Dreamland’ was threatened with closure due to the town’s decline. By developing a ‘meanwhile’ project in the Dreamland cinema, this project aims to find a way to support Dreamland’s regeneration.
Basement
This project was focused on the ground floor and basement of the two-storey block directly on Marine Terrace, which was built in 1934 as a frontage to the cinema complex. The ground floor has a long, deep block-shape space which was divided into two parts by the columns along the middle line. The facade of site faces the seafront, a beautiful seaside view can be seen from inside on the ground floor. The project was aimed to create a performance space on the site as well as a refreshment space to provide visitors with food and drink in a SPECTACULAR way.
Optical Test
My proposal of Dreamland Project is aimed to create a special spatial experience through the combination of optical art in 1960s and perspective illusion.
From random point of view
From certain point of view
1. Performance Space
The eastern part of the first floor is designed to be removed and a wall along the columns will be built to enclose the rest of the first floor space, which is going to be the refreshment space (Red), and the rest part of the building would be the performance space (Blue). A public interior (Green) will share a big window with the performance space.
2. Refreshment space
3. Public Interior
In this double-high performance space, there are two stages: one is a vertical stage and the other is a horizontal stage. The vertical stage will be formed by several black frames to provide a unique perspective view through the window of the ground floor level. And the user of the lift could also experience this spectacular graphic-style spatial view.
The seatings would be arranged surrounding the horizontal stage at basement level as well as on the walkway on the ground level. The arrangement of this type of stages is aimed to provide a flexible performance effect as well as a perspective view for visitors outside of window (public interior area)
Inspired by the perspective illusion experiment, the refreshment space would be installed with several vertical and horizontal block-shaped furniture hanging from new beams and related seating areas to provide different levels of privacy for visitors.
Prototype: random point
Prototype: fixed point
Those vertical lights and the edges of tables as well as horizontal lights in the seating area will form an optical perspective illusion when visitors stand in front of the bar. This illusion device is to provide a different experience of the sea view and bring a sense of “escape from everyday life”. In addition, those lightings would become the self-lighting sources and create a different atmosphere when the night comes.
A public interior will share a big window with the performance space. The view from the window to look at the performance space will have a similar perspective illusion. The aim of this area is to attract visitors and offer people in Margate a place of communication. The front door would close at night and provides shielding area for homeless people.
Day time, doors open, public interior area maintains in limited area.
Night time, doors close, public interior area extends to entrance
BL-NK-2: Children’s World Location:25-27 Curtain Road, London Year: 2015 Type: University Project
“INITION is a production company with a difference. Specialising in the development of immersive, installation-based experiences, we aim to bring great content to new technology platforms including 3D printing, 3D scanning, augmented reality and virtual reality.”
“We’re the leading children's charity fighting to end child abuse in the UK and Channel Islands. We help children who’ve been abused to rebuild their lives, protect those at risk, and find the best ways of preventing abuse from ever happening.”
The site of project 05.3 is located at 25-27 Curtain Road, London Borough of Hackney. This former office / light industrial space is a terrace of three-storey premises in brick, with good skylight condition and high ceilings on each floor. This project is aiming to shadow BL-NK space project, which calls for an adaptable space in which a series of events can be created throughout the year.
In my proposal, a children’s charity organization (NSPCC) will be the Creator and run the building in my brief. They will cooperate with the Curator: Inition, a technique company to help children and promote their business together to the public, which will be the Communicate. The proposal is aimed to create a playful and adaptable space for events and exhibitions to stimulate public interest, while education activities for children will progress daily and the result of it will also be the part of exhibitions and promotion.
Production Company Charity Organisation
Create: NSPCC (Children Charity Organisation)
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PROMOTION
Curate: Inition (Production Company)
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NSPCC: 154 Inition 310.5 Public: 416.2 Services: 84
Communicate: Public(BL-NK)
Precentages of space and circulations
Children Adult
Since the target groups are including children, it is important to keep their circulation separation from adults’.
First Floor: Adaptable Space
The first floor serves the local public as an adaptable space that can hold vary events, including lecture, performance. Therefore, this area features different types of multi-functional furniture that use to transform this area when needed.
The first floor also provides bar and local food service. The hexahedron shape of the dining table is especially designed for BL-NK branding.
The whole ramp is made of solid concrete and there are light installed on the ground and the side of the ramp to guide visitors. The entrance of this area is usually dark to emphasis the light of the reception and having contrast with children entrance. The entrance for children’s area features the product of ZSpace, and augment reality. ZSpace is a laptop-like product which can be remotely controlled by a pen. And augment reality gives a different image of you when you stand in the right of the camera.
The height of hanging chairs can be controlled by a motor shaft.
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Multi- Furniture: The chairs can easily become a table when needed.
Second Floor: Tech Experience Playground
The second floor is a tech experience playground designed for the children in NSPCC. The half of the floor is a rooftop playground, featuring a platform (7) that allows only children to enter Children World in the third floor. The experience room is designed to intrigue and bring fun to the children. All the high-tech equipment Inition has would be installed here, but in a playful way. The equipments including augmented reality (6), 3D theatre (2), 3D scanner & printer (1), visual reality (5) and 3D skydiving simulator (4). Flexible display boards. It can provide different display angles by setting them up properly. (3)
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IPad augment reality. The pattern that intrigue the augment reality will be printed on the ground. Children can see the stories or objects that do not exist, on the iPad screen. (6)
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Those screens (6.1) on the wall are the part of psychology therapy for those children. Those different TV screens show different positive stories when children present the cards that are given before entering this room. Those stories are going to be similar to those that used by the NSPCC.
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There is also an area that provides 3D scanner and 3D printer to allow children to make their own toys. This area is going to be monitored. (1)
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Third Floor: Children’s World & Office
According to research, the huge amount of children in NSPCC has trust issues with adults or feel uncomfortable with adults. An area without adults, that is the concept of Children’s World. Children’s World is only a peaceful space that provides children’s services including drawing tables, small scale playground equipments, tea tables, books and reading areas. The staircase on the platform allow children access this area, and a huge slide that connects the platform and third floor can bring them back to downstairs easily. The rest of this floor is the office of NSPCC, staffs in there still have access to this area by opening the front door when there is absolutely emergency.
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Providence Center
Provident Center is a mental health center located in Providence, RI. The site is an old industrial building surrounded by a circular ramp. For this reason and layout of the existing site, the lighting condition of the site is not ideal for patients in there. How to improve the existing space and make it more comfortable, but in the meantime still keep the security? It is the key question for this project.
Location: Providence Year: 2015 Type: University Project
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To gain more natural lighting, the scheme introduces three ways of bringing light. Skywell, double windows and lighting tube. Skywell is the main natural lighting source which is used to illuminate north part of the building. The translucent glass of therapy rooms allows patients in those rooms are able to enjoy the sunlight from skywell. The double windows, especially are designed Original Natural Lighting Condition Original Natural Lighting Condition for the dark areas on the second floor. And light tubes are designed to bring natural lighting to the first floor. B-B
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Since the entrances are many and structures in this building is complicated, the circulation in the building is still kept almost the same with original one. Changes occur on new reception areas, new staircase, cafe, and waiting areas.
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Softness In Space: Softness In Space: - Curve Surface - Curve Surface - Soft Material - Soft Material - Gental Color - Gental Color Softness In Space: - Curve Surface
1. Circulation 1. Circulation- Soft Material - Gental Color
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Strategy II: Softness tervention, curves partition walls are applied in Strategy II: Softness B-B
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every public area. They are mean to guide the patients more smoothly, and also give the sense of closure.
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In addition, the wall on each floor are painted in different colors in order to make patients distigue the them easily. Some of green plants are designed to be added in the skywell area to bring the natural environment to the space.
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Memory Bench Location: Dreamland, Margate, UK Year: 2014 Type: Practice Project
Memory Bench is a practical project which is aimed to help the declined city, Margate by bringing out the old memory in a creative way. The timber bench with Dreamland sign was installed on an existing bench in front of Dreamland, with several mp3s attaching the bench. Each mp3 contained loop audio memory of people about Dreamland from the interview. The visitors can listen those memories by sitting on this bench The Memory Bench was organized by a simulative practice, named InTime, which was formed by a group of four. As a technical manager, my role in this practice is to help solve the possible technical problem as well as determining the major decision.
InTime are a group of four Interior Architecture and Students, from Canterbury School of Architecture. The company was formed in January 2014, with the ambition to blur the line between the past, present and future. The interest into time was mutual between all four members, feeling passionate about recovering what has been lost in the past. Left to Right: Sara Ogbonna - Godfrey - Creative Director Sophia Clunies-Ross - Managing Director / Financial Manager Xinzhou Jiang - Technical Manager Felix Carter - Shaw - Marketing Director
Vision: To blur the divide between the past, the present and the future
Mission: To understand the meaning of time
Value: •Bring the lost dynamic back, from an individual to a whole society •Recall the starting point of every stories, including ourself •Solve Social problem
Void Interior Space Location: Providence, UK Year: 2016 Type: Practice Project
Purpose of Design
In order to help homeless people, we began our research on the data of homeless people in RI. According to interview with professor Hirsch and data from Crossroads RI, housing is the most urgent problem for this group of people. A proper temporary resident place can avoid a lot of homeless people living on the street, while providing them safety, privacy, dignity, and a start of their new life. It is easy to identify a problem that the current shelters are not enough to afford all of their possible customs. However, the problem of shelter’s shortage could not be solved by building more shelter, because the purpose of the shelter is let those people move into a permanent living place. Therefore, re-designing their living situation, or provided more bedding in a shelter is far more important than design a shelter on the street. And that is the main purpose of our design.
Site Consideration 1. Public space in the shelter (waiting area, dining area, staircase, etc.). 2. Existing empty interior space (church, warehouse, etc.) 3. Individual family room in shelter. Our final decision is to choose the empty interior space, which is a more common type of shelter and have weakness in keeping people’s privacy.
Privacy Research
In order to measure levels of privacy in different space, we use cardboard and masking tape stimulating the situation when people sleep in different half-closed spaces. There are two groups of testing, horizontal surface that tests different length of covering space on the side of the body, and vertical surface that tests different height of covering space around people’s head.
Structure Design
Inspired by foldable tent, we tested different shapes by folding one loop frame and combine with fabric. The final proposal is the one which covers the vertical surface and horizontal surface together. In the proposal, this structure should be lightweight, foldable, and able to resume the original form quickly. Therefore the material, especially for the frame, is important in order to make it work.
In material test, we tried different mental material first, Aluminium and copper both have great flexibility but it is hard to set them back to their original form. Brass is the most suitable material, but we give up the idea for its expensive price. The first prototype is made from fabric and PVC pipe. It has great flexibility, very easy to fold, however, it has problem hold themselves.
Measurement Experiments
We tried different scales based on human body and experient in order to determine the best measurement scale of the structure.
Final Design & Prototype The final scale is shown as drawings. It gives user privacy during sleep time while giving enough head space. This scale of the device also allows user side-lying when they need.
Elevation
Elevation 2
Plan
The final prototype is made by band saw and fabric. The band saw has strong flexibility, which means it can be folded easily, and it also can resume to the original form quickly and strongly.
Bodyscape (A): Shell Location: Canterbury City Year: 2012 Type: University Project
Bodyscape (B): Rope Curve Location: Canterbury Cathedral,Canterbury Year: 2012 Type: University Project
Pilgrimage Frame: Cheese Library Location: Oxfam bookshop, Canterbury Year: 2013 Type: University Project
Soane Museum: Research Club Location: Soane Museum, London YearL 2014 Type: University Practise
Other Works
Models/Sketches 2012-2015