Felix's Portfolio 2016–2018

FELIX YIU SELECTED WORKS 2016–2018 felix.yiu@berkeley.edu

CONTENTS ARCHITECTURAL STUDIO THE CONVEYOR CITY

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SPRING 2018 | UC BERKELEY | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN IV Site Analysis + Design + Diagramming + Drawing + Rendering + Modelling

LOFT

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SPRING 2017 | UC BERKELEY | INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION Parametric Design + Fabrication + Diagramming

S TA C K

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FA L L 2 0 1 6 | P E R S O N A L P R O J E C T Conceptual Design + Fabrication

UNFOLD

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FA L L 2 0 1 7 | U C B E R K E L E Y | A R C H I T E C T U R A L D E S I G N I I I Precedent Study + Diagramming + Modelling

URBAN FRAMES

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FA L L 2 0 1 7 | U C B E R K E L E Y | A R C H I T E C T U R A L D E S I G N I I I Site Analysis + Design + Diagramming + Drawing + Collaging + Modelling

D E S I G N C O N S U LT I N G D_SIGNS

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FA L L 2 0 1 6 | B E R K E L E Y I N N O VAT I O N | C L I E N T: T H E H O U S E User Research + Spatial Analysis + Visual Design + Prototyping

A ‘CASE’ STUDY S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 | B E R K E L E Y I N N O VAT I O N | C L I E N T: P O D O L A B S User Research + Precedent Study + Persona Development + Product Design + Prototyping

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ARCHITECTURAL STUDIO These projects focus on architectural design that range from formal and c o n c e p t u a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n , p r e c e d e n t s t u d y, t o s i t e - s p e c i f i c i n t e r v e n t i o n s .

THE CONVEYOR CITY A City with Conveyor Belts Running Across the US-Mexico Border

* C h o s e n P a r t i c i p a n t o f t h e 2 0 1 8 – 1 9 ‘ Tw o S i d e s o f t h e B o r d e r : R e d e f i n i n g t h e R e g i o n ’ E x h i b i t i o n a t Ya l e U n i v e r s i t y

SPRING 2018 | UC BERKELEY | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN IV I N S T R U C T O R : R AV E E VA R N C H O K S O M B AT C H A I PA R T N E R : PA R A M A S U T E J A Site Analysis + Design + Diagramming + Drawing + Rendering + Modelling

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XL: GLOBAL SCALE

F o r a l o n g t i m e , b u t e s p e c i a l l y r e c e n t l y, t h e U S - M e x i c o b o r d e r h a s

blend of natural and cultural richness found nowhere else on either

By tur ning the border from a line to be crossed into a focal plane

been a topic of heated contention. Drama and politics aside, could it

side of the border that radiates and spreads to adjacent regions?

d e s e r v i n g o f i t s o w n g l o r y, T h e C o n v e y o r C i t y o f f e r s a n a l t e r n a t i v e

be that the border is more than just a one-dimensional line between

A place that efficiently operates as a major network connecting all

lifestyle and cultivates a new culture in an area that was once

two countries, but a place that maximises its unique geographical

transportation hubs and a metropolis where robust job growth and a

marginalised.

location to create linkage to all cities? A place that boasts a unique

growing economy attract people to move there?

The Conveyor City connects with fellow cross-border cities.

The connection expands with other neighbouring cities.

A network of cities reaching deep into both countries is established.

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TRANSPORT HUB

FULFILMENT CENTRE

ART GALLERY

TRANSPORT HUB

FULFILMENT CENTRE

THEATRE

TRANSPORT HUB

FULFILMENT CENTRE

WILDLIFE

INITIAL COLLAGE STUDIES I performed these conceptual collage studies before diving deeper i n t o f i n e - g r a i n e d d e s i g n . To d i r e c t l y c o n f r o n t i s s u e s o f p e r m a n e n c e / t e m p o r a l i t y a n d s e g r e g a t i o n / t r a n s g r e s s i b i l i t y a t t h e b o r d e r, I c o m b i n e d the programmes of transportation hub and fulfilment centre, which e m p h a s i s e t h e m o b i l i t y o f h u m a n s a n d g o o d s r e s p e c t i v e l y.

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TRANSPORT HUB

FULFILMENT CENTRE

OFFICE

TRANSPORT HUB

FULFILMENT CENTRE

RESTAURANT

TRANSPORT HUB

FULFILMENT CENTRE

URBAN PARK

INITIAL COLLAGE STUDIES W ith transportation hub and fulfilment centre as base, I mixed and matched other programmes to create an activity and diversity that leverage the unique border condition not found elsewhere in either the US or Mexico.

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L: TERRITORIAL SCALE The Conveyor City is really a network of cities linked to one another b y a s e r i e s o f c o n v e y o r b e l t s r u n n i n g a c r o s s t h e U S - M e x i c o b o r d e r.

The conveyor belts transport both people and goods, eliminating t h e n e c e s s i t y o f h i g h w a y s a n d a u t o m o b i l e s . S t a r t i n g a t t h e b o r d e r, the conveyors reach into deeper regions of the countries, eventually establishing a constant and endless exchange between the countries.

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M: CONTEXTUAL SCALE T h e p r o j e c t h o n e d i n o n t h e b o r d e r c o n d i t i o n b e t w e e n Te c a t e , C a l i f o r n i a , a n d Te c a t e , B a j a C a l i f o r n i a . I t i s n o t t h e s p e c i f i c i t y o f t h e s i t e t h a t w e f o u n d i n t e r e s t i n g , b u t q u i t e t h e c o n t r a r y. I t s g e n e r i c n e s s strengthens the premise of the project: The Conveyor City does not overtake whatever used to be there, but grows from and adapts to the existing urban fabric. In this particular iteration, the City includes a transportation hub, a fulfilment centre, a convention centre, a cultural centre, and blocks of housing.

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SECOND FLOOR

THIRD FLOOR

S: BUILDING SCALE Agricultural fields are dispersed amongst all the other programmes at the lower level and act as a food source. These belts facilitate cross-border movement and ultimately bring forth a new urbanism that boasts self-sufficiency but all the more recognises the importance of interdependence between cities and countries. While spread out h o r i z o n t a l l y, t h e C i t y i s s t r a t i f i e d v e r t i c a l l y w i t h r e s p e c t t o s p e e d : T h e highest conveyor belt is reserved for people and goods that travel at the fastest speed across the longest distances, while the belts on the ground level serve local traffic and transport needs.

GROUND FLOOR

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FORMAL STRATEGIES

PROGRAMMATIC TYPOLOGIES

FIGURISATION

DIVERSIFICATION

MONUMENTS

CONVEYORS

TRANSPORTATION HUB

HOUSING

CULTURAL CENTRE

PROPAGATION

FRAGMENTATION

FIGURE-GROUND I

FIGURE-GROUND II

FULFILMENT CENTRE

CONVEYOR CONNECTOR

CONVENTION CENTRE

CONCEPTUAL COLLAGES

INTERSECTION

FIGURE-GROUND JUXTAPOSITION

TRANSPORTATION HUB

CONVEYOR BELT

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SECTION CUTTING THROUGH TRANSPORTATION HUB & CONVENTION CENTRE

SECTION CUTTING THROUGH TRANSPORTATION HUB & FULFILMENT CENTRE

CONCOURSE OF TRANSPORTATION HUB

PUBLIC CORRIDOR ABOVE HOUSING

CONVEYOR BELT

INTERIOR PERSPECTIVE IN TRANSPORTATION HUB

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LOFT A 1 2 - f o o t - t a l l P r e - f a b r i c a t e d Wo o d e n To w e r

*Recipient of Special Recognition Award at CED Circus Spring 2017

SPRING 2017 | UC BERKELEY | INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION INSTRUCTOR: DANA BUNTROCK PA R T N E R S : G A B R I E L L A M , PA R A M A S U T E J A Parametric Design + Fabrication + Diagramming

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PROMPT + PROCESS

MATERIAL + ASSEMBLY

This design-build project is designed to reach the ceiling of

The design was fabricated primarily with digital means like laser

Wurster

we

cutting. The fins (vertical elements) are broken up and fastened to

generated a series of dynamic forms by superimposing a sequence

Hall

at

UC

B e r k e l e y.

Using

parametric

design,

one another using lap joints, while the rings (horizontal elements)

o f i n t e r s e c t i n g c i r c l e s a n d t h e n s t a c k i n g t h e m v e r t i c a l l y.

are connected to the fins using notches.

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IMAGINATION + PROJECTION F o r m l o s e s m e a n i n g w i t h o u t c o n t e x t a n d p r o g r a m m e . To i n s t i l i n t o t h i s p r o j e c t a s o u l , w e i m a g i n e d t h e u s e o f t h e s t r u c t u r e a s a bookshelf, and modified the design so that light tubes could be inserted within the structure for illumination and wayfinding. The orientation of the fins and depth of the rings were also optimised to support book storage.

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S TA C K A Collection of Sculptures Produced by Laminating Solid Surfaces

FA L L 2 0 1 6 | P E R S O N A L P R O J E C T Conceptual Design + Fabrication

ACRYLIC

This series of solid-void studies began with making a few subtractive interventions into simple cuboids.

transforms the space that was defined originally by the surfaces of the volume. Devoid of site and scale, this

The cuboids are then modelled and reconstructed with the operation of lamination, which recreates and

e x p e r i m e n t f o c u s e s o n t h e w a y f o r m a n d m a t e r i a l i t y c h a n g e s o n e ’s p e r c e p t i o n o f s p a c e .

PLYWOOD

CHIPBOARD

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UNFOLD P r e c e d e n t S t u d i e s o f Tw o J a p a n e s e B u i l d i n g s

FA L L 2 0 1 7 | U C B E R K E L E Y | A R C H I T E C T U R A L D E S I G N I I I INSTRUCTOR: RUDABEH PAKRAVAN Precedent Study + Diagramming + Modelling

FACADES EXPLODED

PRECEDENT STUDY MODEL

KENGO KUMA: ASAKUSA TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE If you do not lear n precedent, whatever that is, you do not lear n the discipline and you can never change it.’

– Peter Eisenman

This series of diagrammatic precedent studies uses the operation of ‘unfolding’ to ‘unfold’ r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h i n a r c h i t e c t u r a l d e s i g n . I n t h e A s a k u s a To u r i s t I n f o r m a t i o n C e n t r e , a p a r t f r o m s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e b u i l d i n g ’s s p a t i a l o r g a n i s a t i o n a n d e x t e r n a l p e r f o r m a n c e , t h e f a ç a d e s c o m m u n i c a t e t h e d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e ‘ p u b l i c ’ a n d t h e ‘ p r i v a t e ’ . P a r t i c u l a r l y, t h e p r o j e c t i o n a n d r e c e s s i o n o f p l a n e s c o n t r o l p r o m i n e n c e , w h i l e t h e d e n s i t y, o r i e n t a t i o n , a n d p l a c e m e n t o f t h e w o o d e n l o u v r e s m o d u l a t e v i s i b i l i t y, t h e r e b y c h a n g i n g t h e p e r c e p t i o n o f p u b l i c a n d p r i v a t e s p a c e .

FACADES UNFOLDED

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FACADES UNFOLDED

SANAA: GIFU KITAGATA APARTMENT BUILDING I s t u d i e d S A N A A’s u n o r t h o d o x h o u s i n g p r o j e c t i n K i t a g a t a w i t h t h e

i n d i v i d u a l u n i t s t h a t c o n s t i t u t e t h e b u i l d i n g . F i n a l l y, d i v e r g i n g f r o m t h e

Through this, I discovered how the architect treated the ‘public’ and

same method. First, the massing of the building is unfolded, as if it

old method, I developed a series of isometric diagrams to highlight

‘private’ façades of the building and units differently depending on the

is an origami construct. The same operation is then repeated to the

and reveal relationships between isolated elements of the building.

site condition they each engage with.

UNIT TYPES UNFOLDED

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WINDOW + PRIVATE CIRCULATION

PRIVATE TERRACE + PUBLIC HALLWAY

PUBLIC CIRCULATION

UNIT TYPE

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URBAN FRAMES A L i v e - w o r k H o u s i n g P r o j e c t o n B r o a d w a y, O a k l a n d , C A

FA L L 2 0 1 7 | U C B E R K E L E Y | A R C H I T E C T U R A L D E S I G N I I I I N S T R U C T O R : R U D A B E H PA K R AVA N Site Analysis + Design + Diagramming + Drawing + Collaging + Modelling

APERTURE AS ‘GROUND’

APERTURE AS ‘FIGURE’

E L E VAT I O N A S G E N E R AT O R

A B S T R A C T S PAT I A L C O N S T R U C T

The elevation is not merely the final result of architectural design, but can also be an initial generator of

The spatial construct explores two primary faces with opposing natures: aperture as ‘figure’ and aperture as

space. Through an abstract spatial construct, this project begins by understanding the solid-void field

‘ g r o u n d ’ . M o r e o v e r, w h e n t h e c o n s t r u c t i s c u t , i t p r o d u c e s s i m i l a r r e a d i n g s i n p l a n a n d i n s e c t i o n . T h e f i e l d

c o n d i t i o n s m e n t i o n e d i n C o l i n R o w e / F r e d K o e t t e r ’s C o l l a g e C i t y i n e l e v a t i o n ( r a t h e r t h a n i n p l a n ) a n d

lines in the plan below are drawn to punctuate the space produced by the parallel arrangement of the walls.

e x p l o r i n g h o w s u c h c o m p o s i t i o n c a n l e a d t o m o r e l e g i b l e f a ç a d e s t h a t d e s c r i b e p u b l i c a n d p r i v a t e s p a t i a l i t y.

ELEVATION (APERTURE OVERLAY)

PLAN

SECTION I

SECTION II

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SITE READINGS (GROUP WORK) A s a s t u d i o , w e w o r k e d o n t h r e e d r a w i n g s o f B r o a d w a y i n O a k l a n d , i n s p i r e d b y r e a d i n g s b y K e v i n Ly n c h (The Image of the City), Aldo Rossi (Architecture of the City), and Colin Rowe/Fred Koetter (Collage City).

T h e f i r s t d r a w i n g f o c u s e s o n Ly n c h ’s a n d R o s s i ’s i n t e r e s t i n l e g i b i l i t y, a n d m a p s t h e s i t e i n a x o n o m e t r i c b y h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e f a ç a d e s a l o n g B r o a d w a y. T h e s e c o n d a n d t h i r d d r a w i n g s e e s t h r o u g h t h e l e n s o f R o w e / Koetter and their interest in figural street space, mapping the streets and any void in the street/private boundary as solid.

BUILDINGS AS VOID

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STREET AS SOLID

BUILDINGS AS VOID

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LIVE-WORK HOUSING

‘SITE ELEVATION’ Based on the site readings, I gave my abstract spatial construct an

a t o t a l o f 2 9 6 u n i t s . Ta k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t t h e b l o o m i n g a r t s s c e n e

incorporates multiple amenities that cover different aspects of the

architectural scale, context, and programme. By aggregating multiple

in Oakland, the project seeks to provide housing, exhibition, and

work of artists, enables them to collaborate with each other across

c o n s t r u c t s o n e a b o v e a n o t h e r, t h e m a s s i n g o f a h o u s i n g p r o j e c t i s

coworking studio space primarily for artists of various disciplines

media and disciplines, and even activates the ground into an arts

produced. The project comprises four buildings that occupy their

(and their families), including but not limited to visual arts, conceptual

fair/gallery space akin to the way the First Friday festival activates

own individual blocks on Broadway in the city of Oakland, providing

arts, textile arts, and performing arts. The affordable live-work space

Te l e g r a p h A v e n u e .

SITE MAP OF BUILDINGS WITH ARTISTIC PURPOSES

SITE PLAN

SITE ACTIVATION DIAGRAM

O a k l a n d ’s a r t i s t i c c o m m u n i t y h a s s e e n e x t e n s i v e g r o w t h i n t h e

The four proposed buildings wrap around the block to create

The courtyards add to the current collection of public spaces,

last decade, but there is still far from enough viable workspace

an urban condition on the street and simultaneously define a

mid-block breaks, and parklets, connecting traffic arteries and

and affordable housing to meet the needs of resident artists.

courtyard behind it as another space.

stimulating urban movement.

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STREET ELEVATION

The public, street-facing façade of the buildings features a group of

city can be seen and understood. The pivot doors on the ground floor

windows as the ‘ground’ sequenced to fragment the view towards

allow the exhibition hall and the street to bleed into one another and

t h e c i t y, c r e a t i n g d i f f e r e n t ‘ c o n s t r u c t e d p e r s p e c t i v e s ’ u n d e r w h i c h t h e

create a thriving urban condition.

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COURTYARD ELEVATION

T h e o t h e r, m o r e p r i v a t e f a ç a d e f a c e s t h e c o u r t y a r d a n d f e a t u r e s t h e

recreational spaces for residents such as lawns, sand pits, and

windows as the ‘figure’ that reveals the interior public space to the

musical fountains, as well as artistic spaces for artists to mock up

e x t e r i o r. T h e c o u r t y a r d i s c o m p o s e d o f v o l u m e t r i c e x t r u s i o n s a n d

and display their artwork and sculptures.

extractions in a similar vein as the ones on the façade. They create

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ARTIST LOFTS

UNITS

MEETING SPACE

ARTIST LOFTS

UNITS

COWORKING SPACE

ARTIST LOFTS

UNITS

EXHIBITION HALL

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PARTIAL THIRD FLOOR PLAN

The exterior and interior walls, with the exception of party walls, share

to be adaptable to modular development. Despite the repetitive spatial

t h e s a m e t h i c k n e s s t o e n f o r c e a s e n s e o f s p a t i a l c o n s i s t e n c y. A s a r e s u l t

a r r a n g e m e n t , h o w e v e r, t h e r e a r e s t i l l d e s i g n v a r i a t i o n s t o b e o b s e r v e d a s o n e

of aggregation, floor plans are repetitive in nature, allowing the design

travels through the building.

PARTIAL SECOND FLOOR PLAN

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INTERIOR – COWORKING SPACE

INTERIOR – 2-BEDROOM APARTMENT

INTERIOR – 2-BEDROOM APARTMENT

CHUNK MODEL OF APARTMENT COMPLEX

EXTERIOR – BROADWAY SIDE

EXTERIOR – COURTYARD SIDE

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D E S I G N C O N S U LT I N G These projects were done using human-centred design principles for reallife clients, with a scope encompassing research, design, and prototyping.

D_SIGNS Signage Designs for a Startup Incubator

FA L L 2 0 1 6 | B E R K E L E Y I N N O VAT I O N | C L I E N T: T H E H O U S E PA R T N E R S : T I G E R F U , G E O R G E H E I B E L User Research + Spatial Analysis + Visual Design + Prototyping

00 ABOUT THE HOUSE

storage

maker space

living wall

T h e H o u s e i s a s t a r t u p i n s t i t u t e t h a t i s h o m e t o B e r k e l e y ’s

what they need, when they need it. My team performed an

innovators. W ith a coworking office location on Bancroft

extensive UX evaluation and offered a signage overhaul to

Wa y, T h e H o u s e h e l p s b u i l d f o u n d a t i o n s f o r g r e a t b u s i n e s s e s

optimise the space.

whiteboard space

informal meeting rooms

with a support platform providing founders at all stages with

workstations

01 RESEARCH: SPATIAL ANALYSIS

conference room

kitchen

USER WORD CLOUD reception retail space

02 SYNTHESIS: KEY FINDINGS We asked residents of The House to mark up a floor plan

was used to draw a heat map, revealing areas that need

indicating which areas they used the most and the least

proper signage. A system of exterior signage and interior

f r e q u e n t l y, a n d d e t e r m i n e d t h a t s o m e o f t h e s p a c e s a r e

signage, including branding, labelling, and wayfinding was

underused owing to the lack of proper signage. The results

subsequently developed.

welcome area

underuse

overuse

HEAT MAP

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03 PROTOTYPE: INTERIOR SIGNAGE

WAITING AREA

LIVING WALL

WORKSPACE

MEETING ROOM

LIBRARY

STORAGE

RETAIL AREA

KITCHEN

PHONE BOOTH

BRAINSTORMING SPACE

MAKER SPACE

RESTROOM

INTERIOR SIGNAGE SYSTEM

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A ‘CASE’ STUDY Accessory (Case) Designs for a Portable Camera

S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 | B E R K E L E Y I N N O VAT I O N | C L I E N T: P O D O L A B S PA R T N E R S : E U N I C E K I M , VA R N A VA S U D E VA N , V Y L U U User Research + Precedent Study + Persona Development + Product Design

00 ABOUT PODO Designed by Podo Labs, Podo is a wireless ‘stick-and-shoot’ camera that turns any surface into a photo booth.

With your phone acting as both the viewfinder and remote, you can simply stick, snap, and share. My team was tasked to 1) provide insight into its market

audience,

2)

synthesis

those

findings, and 3) design accessories for the camera so that they fit into each

Large pixels on sensor and ring of flash produce high-quality images.

unique use case.

Full rotating hinge lets you shoot at any angle

Micro-adhesive sticky pad grips just about any surface.

App comes with features like video, time lapse, and photo booth mode.

01 RESEARCH: PERSONA DEVELOPMENT

ARTHUR

BRIDGET

CARLOS

DAISY

ELAINE

44-yr/Professional User

26-yr/Adventurous User

32-yr/Routine User

17-yr/Fashionable User

72-yr/Limited User

‘ I l i v e f o r p h o t o g r a p h y, l i t e r a l l y. I l i k e

‘YOLO, ya know? I vlog about how I

‘I like recording moments of my life with

‘ M y h a i r, m y n a i l s , m y c l o t h e s , a n d

‘I try to stay in touch with the current

experimenting with different techniques

live life to the fullest all the time, but I

m y f r i e n d s a n d f a m i l y. H o w e v e r,

my

my accessories are all an extension

trends and connect with my grandkids.

and

but

s t i l l h a v e n ’ t f o u n d t h e o n e d e v i c e t h a t ’s

smartphone

me

o f m y c h a r a c t e r. U s i n g m y p h o n e j u s t

I’d like a camera that is easy to use,

sometimes traveling around with all my

handy but versatile enough to record

the best balance of affordability and

feels too basic, and I want to be able

e a s y t o c a r r y, a n d i f i t d o e s n ’ t e a s i l y

bulky equipment just to do a couple

and do justice to all the stunts I do, like

p h o t o q u a l i t y, a n d a D S L R i s w a y t o o

t o c u s t o m i s e m y c a m e r a s o t h a t i t ’s a s

break

shots is kind of a hassle.’

rock-climbing and roof-hopping.’

expensive and complicated.’

unique as I am.’

‘cause sometimes things just happen...’

positions

of

p h o t o g r a p h y,

camera

doesn’t

give

e v e n i f I d r o p i t , e v e n b e t t e r,

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02 SYNTHESIS: KEY FINDINGS

COMPLEMENT

CUSHION

CUSTOMISE

The accessory has to highlight the strengths

Podo is delicate, especially at the lens and

An

of Podo, including its small, portable, and

h i n g e , a n d e s p e c i a l l y w h e n i t ’s u s e d i n h i g h -

the otherwise bland camera into a trendy

accessory

manoeuvrable nature.

risk situations.

gadget.

product needs to be cost-effective.

accessory

is

an

COMPETE

opportunity

to

turn

While

s e c o n d a r y, is

not

the

price

an

tag

of

afterthought.

the The

03 PROTOTYPE: ACCESSORY DESIGN CONCEPT 1: THE STRESS CUBE

CONCEPT 2: THE WRISTBAND

PLUNGER

WELD

SKIN

POCKET

BUTTONS

WEDGE

Designed to cater mostly for the Routine

Although this concept targets the

Users, The flexible skin doubles as a bumper

Adventurous

and

a n d a f i d g e t t o y.

Users,

application

its

Fashionable can

extend to everyone.

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