ERNESTINA HSIEH Selected Works 2021-2023
Ernestina Hsieh
Table of Contents
CONTACT
WORK EXPERIENCE
ACADEMIC
Phone: 1-510-685-4839
Kohn Pederson Fox Associates (KPF)
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Email: ernestina.hsieh@yale.edu
3D printed facade panel options and site model; developed reflected ceiling plans and window-wall diagrams for a major public infrastructure project
San Francisco Planning Department Fourplex Prototypes Design Intern | Jun - Aug 2022 •
Created series of prototypes to streamline multifamily housing permitting process; approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in Aug 2022
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Organize and lead weekly meetings, workshops, speaker panels, and field trips for 75+ undergraduate students interested in architecture and urban studies
Yale Symphony Orchestra Performed with 100 members at 6 annual concerts for 1500 people
Spejlhuset
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Villa Savoye
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Small Objects
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utensils for my home
PROFESSIONAL 07
Fourplex Prototypes
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San Francisco Planning 08
Tillary Tower
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Hatfield Group
First Violinist | Nov 2018 - Jan 2021 •
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technical exercise
EXTRACURRICULAR
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Ori Pavilion
cafe on the lakes
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President | Aug 2022 - Present
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resting place
Developed structural facade details that conserve energy, lower cost, and protect buildings from external elements for 9 ongoing projects
Ink and Vellum: Yale Architecture and Urban Studies Society
Ensemble Park outdoor community space
Hatfield Group Facades Intern | May - Aug 2021
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artist residency
Architecture Intern | Jun - Aug 2023 •
Hozotsugi no Ie
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Transit Terminal
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Kohn Pederson Fox Associates EDUCATION
Yale University
PERSONAL
B.A. Architecture, GPA: 3.86 | Expected May 2024
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DIS Copenhagen Architectural Design Program | Sept - Dec 2021 SKILLS/LANGUAGES • •
Rhinoceros 3D, AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, Enscape, Bluebeam, 3D printing, Model building, Hand drawing Japanese (Fluent), Mandarin (Proficient), Cantonese (Proficient)
Urban Journal sketches and art
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ERNESTINA HSIEH
01 Hozotsugi no Ie Located on the grounds of the Josef Albers foundation in Bethany, Connecticut, Hozotsugi no Ie is an artist residency for woodworkers. The project’s landscape developed from a fragment of Albers’ 1933 piece, Zeltes (Tents). The residency’s design revolves around a sharp 6-foot drop in elevation, a key landscape feature. Inspired by Japanese woodworking traditions, Hozotsugi no Ie translates to “House of Mortises and Tenons”, reflecting themes of interlock within the structure and its connection to the ground. Layers of privacy shape the placement of the gallery, woodshop, and living areas, exploring the dynamics of solitude and togetherness within the residency.
Bethany, Connecticut Tei Carpenter/Adam Hopfner, Yale Academic Project Individual Work 2023
Concept sketches and chipboard models 1
ERNESTINA HSIEH
Movement Through a Central Passage The figure is derived by flipping and duplicating a fragment of Albers’ sculpture, Reverse and Repeat. The overlap becomes circulation to the public gallery facilitated by an exterior and interior stairwell, in contrast with a narrower interior stair used to reach residents’ private rooms, depicted by chunk models above. The site plan and collage studies illustrate the walking path seamlessly blend into transitory space through the building.
View from interior of central passage through the building
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ERNESTINA HSIEH
Circulation and Organization Hozotsuki no Ie accommodates four woodworkers and 12 visitors. The building features two cores connected by a central passageway—one filled with living and dining space, and the other housing the workshop and gallery. As visitors circulate, the ambient sounds of sanding and hand-sawing fill the gallery, while noise from heavy machinery is contained within a concrete annex of the woodshop.
ERNESTINA HSIEH
Intersection Latticed screen walls bring soft light into the building. Artist and viewer maintain a visual connection to the other approaching from opposite directions on their way to bedroom and gallery, respectively. The connection between artist and viewer mirrors the hundreds of mortises and tenons composing Hozotsuki no Ie.
ERNESTINA HSIEH
02 Ensemble Park Part playground, part community garden, and part performance space, hundreds of gates in New Haven’s theater district come together to form Ensemble Park. Derived from the term for a group of actors working together, Ensemble Park transforms a neglected parking lot into a vibrant area of accessibility and invitation. Some gates can be swung from, some can be passed through, some lying flat on the ground become garden beds, while others, tightly clustered, serve as platforms to walk on. Through the motif of gates, Ensemble Park integrates cultivation and recreation into a site of community engagement.
New Haven, Connecticut Surry Schlabs, Yale Academic Project Individual Work 2023
Concept sketches 5
ERNESTINA HSIEH
The Nature of Gates Gates become distinctive markers of passage, redefining passage through a neglected parking lot into opportunties for leisure and potential for community engagement. The park transforms existing access points to the lot into vibrant entries leading to clusters of gardens, play areas, and performance spaces. Markers of entry and passage: (Left) Sherman’s Alley sign, (Center) Paving changes to brick, (Right) Lamp posts frame the open lot
ERNESTINA HSIEH
Gates as Passage Each rectangular cluster of gates incorporates unique features, such as stage platforms or garden beds creating dynamic spaces to celebrate the arts, growth, and community. The central enclosed building serves as an information center and storage space for the community garden and performance equipment. Clusters of gates orient one towards the building through a series of posts and steps.
Gates are defined by a number of conditions: an entrance or barrier, a door or opening, two posts, or a single post 7
ERNESTINA HSIEH
Quasi-Interior Space Light and sound filter through the gates, creating a pleasant, semi-interior environment. Children and couples freely walk under or weave between posts. The gates encourage openness and movement, fostering a dynamic and inviting atmosphere throughout the park.
The park expands to meet the growing needs of community members
ERNESTINA HSIEH
03 Ori Pavilion Ori Pavilion is a resting place on a 40 x 40 ft area in Putney, Vermont. Inspired by the trees on site and slight incline of the terrain, the pavilion takes the form of a falling leaf from one of the many deciduous trees surrounding it. The pavilion is open to the air and features organic apertures in the roof created by folding certain areas in the roof plan. The name comes from “ori”, the Japanese word for “fold”, but can also be read as “weave”. The site has a slight incline and the structure gently falls to connect with the earth, curving with the natural landscape. The resulting curve functions as a ramp to the pavilion’s roof, allowing one to wander among the tops of trees that grow through the apertures of the roof.
Putney, Vermont Trattie Davies, Yale Academic Project Individual Work 2022
Concept sketches and paper cutouts 9
ERNESTINA HSIEH
Each paper model created unique spatial conditions for light and movement
From Two Dimensions to Three Figure-ground studies derived from the site became the basis for the plan. I created 11 variations of paper models by cutting and folding sketches of the site shaded in relation to what I had classified as figure or ground. These studies allowed me to further the idea of unified whole composed of unique pieces. The final pavilion is formed from a single organic slate folding out into a weightless structure of many parts.
Studies of light and movement through the above models contributed the largest influences in developing the final form of the pavilion
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Interior Spaces Apertures in the roof let large swathes of sunlight enter the pavilion, creating pleasant areas to rest and lean against the walls. The rigid material supports a ramp to the top of the pavilion so visitors can walk among the treetops. On a rainy day, the pavilion provides shelter, rest and reprieve from the elements.
Plan and section drawings convey the lightness of the pavilion structure
ERNESTINA HSIEH
Elevating the Pavilion A main characteristic of the pavilion is the thin walls that seem to fold down from the roof. These folding elements contribute to the lightness of the structure and balance delicately atop the terrain. The roof plan derives from the site as seen from above, where trees and ground weave into a unified whole. One can perceive the floating structure as a delicate leaf punctured by apertures created by natural forces.
ERNESTINA HSIEH
04 Spejlhuset Spejlhuset is a proposed 250 square meter cafe on the banks of Lake Sortedams in Copenhagen, Denmark. Previously serving as city fortification, Lake Sortedams is one of three lakes that curve around the Copenhagen city center. A proposed boardwalk for the cafe extends the landscape from the road to the lake and forms a sound oasis for runners and trail-walkers. Spejlhuset translates to “the mirror house” in Danish, referencing the clear reflection of the lake on the cafe’s glass facade. Original sketches entertained separated sections for the cafe seating areas; these units converged into a sleeker design that emulates a serene ribbon of light on the water’s surface.
The paths around the lakes were once popular with strollers, bikers, and runners. Between the lake basins is a main road with heavy traffic, resulting in a high level of noise pollution (red) along the banks of Lake Sortedams. The proposed cafe serves to revitalize the site by expanding the original walking route (dashed red) with a new boardwalk (green) to engage passersby.
Copenhagen, Denmark Soren Amsnaes, DIS Academic Project Individual Work 2021
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Interior Program The cafe design is developed around a space for people to socialize and enjoy the waterfront. Open seating areas promote social engagement between non-related parties. The seating organization facilitates interactions between individuals, small groups, and larger groups. Sketches of interior depict patrons naturally gathering in distinct areas of the cafe based on party size. Stepped seating creates variation in methods of engagement with other cafe patrons and perspectives of the lake view. Model photo showcases a clear line of visibility through the cafe and out to the water individual small group larger group
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The concrete back wall and extension of
The glass facade takes full advantage
the previous pathway allow for natural
of daylight through all the seasons,
sound dissipation from the busy street
precious in the Nordic countries. A
and an expanded area to walk, sit, or
generous roof eave and continuous
play. The noise-absorbent concrete
glass paneling on the southwest facade
walls face the highway to the northeast.
showcase full views of the lake.
Sketch of northeast facade and walkway
Sketch of east elevation and boardwalk
ERNESTINA HSIEH
During the daytime it is pleasant to sit by the water outside. The overhang and nearby trees provide shade for children to play within sight of those inside, with easy access between the two settings. At night, the cafe comes to life as an attractive destination visible from kilometers away. A warm glow in the dark is a sight for sore eyes especially in the winter, when a night in Copenhagen lasts almost 17 hours.
ERNESTINA HSIEH
05 Villa Savoye Originally designed as a vacation home for the Savoye Family, Villa Savoye rejects the common practice of designing rooms for specific purposes. Through observation of lighting and structure, I conducted a case study to illustrate how Villa Savoye utilizes uniform illumination and ventilation to present a free plan suited for healthy living and entertainment. The archetype of a modern home, Villa Savoye models the slender columns, banded windows, free facade, open floor plan, and roof garden of Le Corbusier’s 5 Points of Architecture. I used AutoCAD and Revit to develop detailed plans and a model of the structure to analyze the building further.
Rendering details highlight the open plan and ribbon windows, which are possible due to the introduction of pilotis
Poissy, France Case Study, Independent Individual Work 2021
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Elevating The Home Villa Savoye boasts a free plan, made possible by the elimination of load-bearing walls, consisting of partitions placed without regard for those on adjoining levels. In section, slender columns elevate the main living spaces, introducing it to light and air, while the ground floor designates a service division for the maid rooms and garage. 18
ERNESTINA HSIEH
Day and night renderings highlight the
The exploded axon reveals how the
open floor plan and ribbon windows of
central ramp moves inhabitants upwards
Villa Savoye. The terrace functions as an
through distinct private and public zones
open-air living room, while the accessi-
within the estate culminating at the roof
ble roof garden provides fresh air and
garden. This is further illustrated by the
insulation for the house.
rooms’ separate day and night functions.
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06 Small Objects Growing up, my daily utensils formed a unique set—wooden chopsticks, a metal fork, and a porcelain spoon—a tangible representation of the blend of Western and Asian culinary traditions in my household. These utensils symbolized the diverse ways that dishes were savored, with chopsticks for some, a fork or spoon for others. This project is my design of a cohesive set of utensils that celebrates the essence of Asian American life, blending various utensils from my childhood into a harmonious set. Through chopsticks, forks, and spoons, I aim to prompt users to ponder their perceptions of the “correct” way to eat and appreciate the beauty of savoring a diverse culinary heritage through contemporary design.
New Haven, Connecticut Tim Newton, Yale Academic Project Individual Work 2023
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ERNESTINA HSIEH
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ERNESTINA HSIEH
Theater for an Astronomer (Left) 10(h)”x12”(rad). Cast cement. Drawing of theater seating access. Charcoal on paper. Interactive Lamp (Right) 8(w)”x8(h)”x8(l)”. Interchangeable blocks. On/off states. Birch plywood, acrylic, and vellum. 22
ERNESTINA HSIEH
07 Fourplex Prototypes In San Francisco, local and state laws are paving the way to allow for the construction of four-unit buildings in neighborhoods that have traditionally been developed by single-family homes. My role was to research and develop four-unit building prototypes in a compatible and contextual manner within the Sunset and Richmond neighborhoods. Once implemented, prototypes would reduce the cost of building housing, demonstrate their feasibility, and streamline the city approval process. Furthermore, my work supports racial and social equity goals by enabling homeowners to better navigate the city’s code requirements, reduce professional services fees, and support home redevelopment with additional income-producing units.
A typical SF block showcases the natural integration of the proposed 3-4 story multi-family units among existing single-family units
(Top) Prototype sketch, (Middle) Typical Sunset neighborhood street, (Bottom) Precedent of multi-family housing in SF
San Francisco, California San Francisco Planning Summer Internship Individual Work 2022
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How It Works For this project, I created a series of prototypes to streamline the permitting process to help reduce cost for both the applicant and the city planning department. Residents would be provided the floor plans and sections of standard prototypes for use. Current and Proposed diagrams show a typical redevelopment of a Sunset neighborhood house pertaining to code. I focused on the neighborhoods of Richmond and Sunset because their standard plot sizes allow for best use of the prototypes presented. My proposal
Current
Proposed
was approved by the SF Board of Supervisors in August 2022 to become an official program funded by the planning department. Proposed floor plans and sections for redevelopment of typical unit in Sunset would be publicly available to SF residents
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Prefabricated construction saves time and simplifies the building process
Identifying Typologies My research identified two main typologies of new devel-
Modular patterns in various configurations maximize sunlight and
opment in San Francisco: three to four-story midblock
air for each multi-family unit
and corner units, depicted in orange. Implementing this program reduces time and cost barriers to the development of higher density multi-family units, serving the city’s goal of a more diverse and equitable San Francisco.
Modular units stack into a fourplex with a shared inner courtyard
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unit 1 unit 2 unit 3 unit 4 shared space
Examples of prefabricated and traditional construction developments that satisfy city building code regulations, while demonstrating flexibility in design that could be used across the city
The exploded axon demonstrates how a fourplex prototype might be occupied by multiple families of varying sizes. Within this envelope, a range of floor plans for multi-family use is easily attainable.
ERNESTINA HSIEH
08 Tillary Tower Tillary Tower is a 436,600 square foot, 32 story mixed-use building in downtown Brooklyn. As facade consultants, Hatfield Group developed the structural facade make up based on material choice. I was responsible for designing a custom structural detail that best represented the proposed facade. Over a period of two weeks I created the following details in AutoCAD, utilizing knowledge of wall structure for typical highrise structures with concrete slab floors. The screws, mullions, and corrugated metal panel used were from manufacturers we recommended to the architects. My work was reviewed by
Rendering via Aufgang Architects/Hatfield Group
Section detail of fixed transom at mullion connection
Section detail of metal panel facade covering concrete floor slab
a senior engineer and submitted to the architects to continue design development.
Brooklyn, New York Hatfield Group Summer Internship Individual Work 2021
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09 Transit Terminal At KPF, my main task was to 3D print facade panels and a site model at various scales. I adapted existing digital models developed by our team to suit the 3D printing fabrication process. My tasks required an operational understanding of Ultimaker S series printers to optimize their performance for our specific project requirements. I experimented with various filament types to best represent our project and was responsible for determining the level of detail to represent at each scale. These models were presented at a major coordination meeting towards the end of my internship. Specific details and location of the project subject to NDA.
Manhattan, New York Kohn Pederson Fox Associates Summer Internship Individual Work 2023
(Top) 1/8 inch scale facade panel, (Middle) In progress print of 1/100 inch scale ramp helix, (Bottom) 1/16 inch scale mock up of facade grid, (Right) 1/100 inch scale site model with proposed design massing 28
ERNESTINA HSIEH
10 Urban Journal Using art to capture moments in time.
Ending the Drought (Center) 18”x24”, acrylic on canvas Rosenborg Slot/Copenhagen (Top Right) A2, watercolor and pencil on paper Gråbrødretorv/Copenhagen (Bottom Right) A2, pencil on paper Semester Calendar (cont. Left) 36”x48”, gel pen on cardstock 10 Store Kannikestræde North (cont. Right) A2, pencil on paper 29
ERNESTINA HSIEH
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS A huge thank you to my instructors and mentors for their advice, inspiration, and encouragement throughout my studies and professional experience.
Yale University Tei Carpenter/Adam Hopfner Surry Schlabs Trattie Davies Bimal Mendis Tim Newton Erleen Hatfield Alexander Purves Victor Agran
Studio: Senior Design Project Studio: Methods and Forms II Studio: Methods And Forms I Studio: Scales of Design Small Objects Introduction to Structures Introduction to Architecture Drawing Architecture
DIS Copenhagen Soren Amsnaes Angela Gigliotti/Fabio Gigone
Studio: Architecture Foundations Urban Design Journal Sustainability and Detailing in Scandinavian Architecture
Professional Experience Eunsook Choi/Min Kim Trent Greenan/David Winslow
Kohn Pederson Fox Associates San Francisco Planning
Erleen Hatfield/Martin Finio
Hatfield Group
Web:
bit.ly/ernestinahsiehFA23
Phone: 1-510-685-4839 Email: ernestina.hsieh@yale.edu