PORTFOLIO Typology and Phenomenology
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020
The charm of architecture lies in its context and its spatial characteristics. For me, the methodology of architecture is something between typology and phenomenology. Through the study of typology, we can understand the origin of architectural design, while the phenomenological approach helps us understand the quality of space.
CONTENTS 01 New Stilted Building Recreation Center Design, Enshi 02 Collision Folk Custom Museum Design, Enshi 03 The Imperfect Campanile Canossian Church Protective Design, Wuhan 04 Coronavirus The Entry in "House in Forest" Competition 05 Track Back Urban Design of Historical block, Wuhan 06 Reserved Green Design of Research Building, Wuhan 07 Aqua Domicile The Entry in "Drawing of the Year 2019" Competition
MODERNITY IN TRADITION
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The recreation center was built of local abandoned materials. and is open to villagers and tourists. While providing reading space for children in the countryside, it also provides a stage for local craftsmen to show themselves.
New Stilted Building Recreation Center Design
Bachelor of Architecture June 30, 2017 Tutor: Pang Hong Solo Work Pengjia Village, Enshi, China
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
Allocation
Offset
Inspired by Tujia "San Heshui" form, the volume was divided into main areas (display, reading, toilet), secondary areas (hand workshop), and Auxiliary areas (coffee, shop).
The three modules were offset to craft corridor space, stair space, and natural views.
Frame
Embed
The building adopteded the unique wooden frame of traditional Tujia "stilted building".
Two glass blocks were embedded in the corridor, the form of which was inspired by the Tujia white tiger totem.
01 The New Old One
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Boundary of the Building The glass volume of the building is inspired by Tujia white tiger totem. Since ancient times, the Tujia people have regarded the white tiger as a god and regarded its image as a totem, and its pattern has gradually evolved from the initial simple geometric shape to the more figurative seal now.
Living by the Mountains The intelligent Tujia people created unique stilted buildings that allowed them to inhabit the steep slopes. Pengjia village is surrounded by rolling hills and lush vegetation. The climate here is suitable. Even if the seasons change, the vegetation of the mountains and the wild is always green. There is a stream in the mountains, and the river is crystal clear.
Nirvana of the Village "Autumn wind rustles sorrow to kill. Out of sorrow, into sorrow". The prosperity of modern cities has also failed to bring people happiness, and the quaint villages seem to have unspeakable inconveniences and pains of change. Tradition and modernity are inextricably linked and inseparable. So the original intention of the design "New Stilted Building" is to let city people remember traditions, promote superb carpenter craftsmanship, find gaps in the busy life, find habitats in our buildings, feel the washing of the soul. We hope that the residents of the village will use architecture as the media to display their culture and craft, understand the mainstream trend of thought in modern times, understand the power of science and technology to change their lives and interpret contemporary values, and no longer make migration a lost regret but a kind of hope.
01 New Stilted Building
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
Structure Diagram The traditional wooden frame of Tujia residence is used as the load-bearing structure of the recreation center. Beams and columns connected by mortise and tenon are the main bearing components. The roof truss structure consists of enclosing purlins and rafters.
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A. Main Entrance B. Secondary Entrance C. Entrance Hall D. Rest and Reading Area E. Souvenir Store 01 New Stilted Building
F. Exhibiton Area G. Guard Room H. Toilet I. Kids Corner J. Activity Room
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Pitched Roof Detail - Roofing Tile - Flashing - Plywood Sheathing
Timber Frame Detail - Wood Rafter - Wood Purlin - Wood Beam - Wood Brace - Circular Wood Column
vertical Baffles - 30*200mm Wood Baffle @100 - 50*400mm Wood Baffle @200 - 30*200mm Metal Frame
Floor-Ceiling Detail - Solid Wood Flooring - Wood Rafter - Wood Ceiling
Foundation Detail - Patand - Waterproof Overlaying Soil - Concrete Foundation
Gable Structure - Wood Beam - Wood Brace - Circular Wood Column
Pitched Roof Assembly - Roofing Tile - Plywood Sheathing - Wood Rafter - Wood Ring Beam - Wood Purlin
Floor-Ceiling Assembly - Solid Wood Flooring - Wood Rafter - Wood Ring Beam
Wall Panel - Plexiglass Panel - Wooden Grating - Insulation Plasterboard - Rubble Bulkhead vertical Baffles - Wood Baffle - Metal Frame
Structure Diagram The traditional wooden frame of Tujia residence is used as the load-bearing structure of the recreation center. Beams and columns connected by mortise and tenon are the main bearing components. The roof truss structure consists of enclosing purlins and rafters.
01 New Stilted Building
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
Architecture as an Exhibit The building itself is like an exhibit placed in a glass box for visitors to see. Tujia craftsmen gather in the workshops on the second floor of the recreation center to introduce traditional Tujia handicrafts to tourists and promote their products to stimulate the local economy.
01 New Stilted Building
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1-1 Section
Difference in Elevation The building is raised above the ground to accommodate the elevation difference. This method is one of the characteristics of Tujia stilted building.
Wood and Glass The facades of the building were inspired by the Tujia stilted building. Wooden grilles are combined with modern glass materials to creat vivid light and shadow.
01 New Stilted Building
TRADITION IN MODERNITY
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Stilted building contains the context of Tujia architecture. After the interpretation of modern building technology and materials, this traditional building type has finally been passed on, and it gonna have new space and light.
Collision Folk Custom Museum Design Center Design
Bachelor of Architecture November 13, 2015 Tutor: Li Tao Solo Work Pengjia Village, Enshi, China
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
Village
Access for Traffic
Scenic View River
Distribution
Geometry
The river and terrain of the site defined the area of the building. The surrounding small houses limited the height of the building.
Determined the orientation of the building according to the distribution of roads and water. Determined the layout according to the traditional form of Tujia dwellings.
Sequence
Motif
The volume was subdivided to add landscape layers to echo the topography of the site.
Small volumes were introduced to eliminate the sense of pressure brought by the large volume building.
02 Collision
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Exploded Diagram Vertically, the museum consists of traditional wooden volumes superimposed on modern concrete volumes, and horizontally, it can be divided into two volumes connected by glass corridors. The building's central void is designed for communal gathering.
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A. Main Entrance B. Fire Exit C. Landscape Stairs D. Secondary Entrance 02 Collision
E. Green Square F. Covered Bridge G. Parking Area H. Freight Entrance
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Experience in Section The organization of the museum adopts the gardening techniques of Chinese classical gardens - influencing the spatial sequence by changing the building volume, and Ingeniously using the architectural contour to enframed scenery or just leaking through scenery by accident.
Vertical Section Elements of the pitched roof of the Tujia stilted building are adopted in the design of the museum's section and facade, creating a unique spatial experience while allowing air circulation between the floors, generating a thermal compression effect, and promoting indoor heat dissipation. 02 Collision
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Balanced Spaces, Charcoal Sketch The space near the central corridor of the museum is in an appropriate balance between tradition and modernity. Concrete, glass, steel, and local wood add radiance and beauty to each other.
Entrance Hall The museum's bordering programs are noticeably confined and dark. high contrast between spaces and features heightens the interior experience and promotes movement towards the central Exhibition hall.
02 Collision
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Boundary of the Building In order to prevent exposure to the west sun, the window opening area of the northwest facade of the museum was reduced. And the building faces nature in pure concrete.
Emotional Spaces Different materials in the museum give different emotions to the spaces. The wood is approachable and used as the main material for the entrance hall. The concrete material is cold and hard, suitable for external walls to isolate external interference. The glass material is transparent and flawless, which is used for framing the scene and pulling in the distance between people and the outside world.
As the Tradition Collide the Modernity For today's world, folk culture is both fascinating and often out of place. A variety of factors limit the integration of folk culture and modern civilization, and no one can predict the trend of history. But it is only when two cultures collide, in a blaze of light, that we can see our way forward. By means of architecture, I simulated a collision between modernity and tradition. When the characteristics of traditional Tujia architecture are reconstructed by modern architectural techniques, the space and shadow of the architecture take on a new look. Not only do we get a unique new building, but we also find the beauty hidden at the intersection of time and space.
02 Collision
MONUMENT IN RUINS
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The original building, the observatory in the church, was destroyed by the war, leaving only half its ruins. After structural restoration and redesign, the site became the bell tower of the church and stood as a monument.
The Imperfect Campanile Canossian Church Protective Design
Master of Architecture May 31, 2019 Tutor: Tong Qiaohui Solo Work Wuchang District, Wuhan, China
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
Repair
Structure
The original structure of the building was strengthened, the original walls were cleaned, and the cracks were repaired with lime.
The damaged beams were reinforced with steel, and a new timber dome was added to the original structure and covered with plexiglass.
Function
Landscape
The restored building was used as a clock tower, and the interactive wall was added.
Pedestrian roads were planned, and the open space between the bell tower and the building behind was transformed into a garden space.
03 The Imperfect Campanile
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
Status Analysis The building is affected by vegetation, and there are many gaps and cracks in the bricks, endangering the load-bearing structure. In the original structure of the building, there were eight columns and four beams. At present, there are only four columns, one complete beam, and two half-beams. The original entrance to the building was blocked by bricks, cutting off access to the interior space. In front of the building is an empty space where old people often gather for social activities such as square dancing.
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Wooden Frame
Ring Beam
Vitreous Brick Wall
Wooden Dome
The Bell
Columns
03 The Imperfect Campanile
Sunlight Board
Rocky Architrave
Brick Wall
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Glass Block Each glass block on the back wall of the building is regarded as a musical note, and the music of Bach's famous Catholic anthem "Christ lag in Todesbanden" is recorded on the wall by the glass blocks. The silhouette of the vegetation behind the brick wall is reflected in the bell tower through the glass brick wall hollowed out at the back of the building, giving a sense of solitude and meditation.
03 The Imperfect Campanile
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Plane & Facade The original structure consists of eight columns, four beams and a complete stone dome. After being bombed by the enemy, the dome of the building was blown up, leaving only half its original structure.
Section The back wall of the building is adjacent to the seminary building, with only a narrow strip in the middle. The land is now covered with plants and has been designed as a garden space. 03 The Imperfect Campanile
TYPOLOGY IN NATURE
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The Isolation cabin was inspired by 2019-nCoV. People will live here, exchanging light, air, water with nature through these pyramidal holes sticking on the cabin, which resemble the spikes on the surface of coronaviruses.
Coronavirus The Entry in "House in Forest" Competition
Master of Architecture February 8, 2020 Tutor: Shan Sixue Solo Work Larix Gmelinii Forest, China
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
Sleeping Area
Living& Cooking Area
Bathing Area
Allocation
Spike
The spherical volume was divided into areas of Living& Cooking, Bathing, and Sleeping.
The pyramidal holes inspired by coronavirus allowed people exchanging light, air, water with nature through it.
Embed
Choreography
The volume was embedded in the ground to improve the insulation of the house.
Active and passive solar energy systems integrated into the building's exposed facades.
04 Coronavirus
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A-A Section
Learn From the Virus The architecture is closely combined with the environment, reflecting the survival philosophy of the virus. Moreover, the unique shape of this construction helps to create an extraordinary inner view of light and shadow.
Metal Grating The metal grille outside the metal framework can not only strengthen the plank member but also make the building structure more stable. Solar panels are placed outside the exposed metal grille to absorb the sun's energy and power the building.
Skin & Spikes The skin laid by the double-layer waterproof wooden board wraps the metal frame of the building. The pyramidal holes inspired by coronavirus are made of sheet metal pieced together and covered with wooden boards.
Metal Framework The metal framework of the sphere cut by the Tyson polygons generated by the parameterization technique is the loadbearing structure of the building. The structure has strong stability and good compressive and corrosion resistance.
Inner Space The inner space of the building is divided into three floors, with the basement for bathing, the first floor for living and dining, and the second floor for bedrooms.
04 Coronavirus
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
Water Exchange System The pyramid-shaped spikes at the bottom of the building go deep into the ground to exchange water with the surrounding environment. The clean groundwater is sucked into the filtering device through the siphon phenomenon of the spikes and then enters the net reservoir at the bottom of the basement of the building for the residents to use. The sewage generated by the residents is discharged into the ground through the spikes.
Air Exchange System The pyramid-shaped spikes on the ground exchange air with the environment. After the fresh air enters the interior of the building, it is drawn out of the spurs at the top under the effect of thermal pressure ventilation, completing the air circulation, and completing the heat exchange.
2nd Floor Plan
1st Floor Plan
Basement Floor Plan 04 Coronavirus
HISTORY IN CITY
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The Dazhimen area was once the most prosperous area of Wuhan, but with the abandonment of the railway station, the economic development of the area gradually lags behind, and it is in urgent need of renovation and revival.
Track Back Urban Design of Historical block
Bachelor of Architecture March 30, 2017 Tutor: Zhang Hanqing Team Members: Li Lei, Deng Jinlong Role in Team: Types Analysis, Historical Analysis, Building Design
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
Pattern
District
The design area was established, and a field survey was conducted to explore the figure-ground relationship of the area.
According to the survey data, the region was divided into five districts.
Path
Node
The paths within the site are planned to form an organized and interconnected transportation system.
The node area and important landmarks were designed to highlight the regional characteristics.
05 Track Back
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The History of the Area Dazhimen is one of the most favorable traffic areas in Wuhan. The first Yangtze River tunnel and the first rail line pass through it. The plot is located in the core circle of Hankou and the former concession area of Hankou, adjacent to the old concession area with the most significant historical and cultural characteristics of Wuhan. This is the area where public service facilities such as schools, parks, hospitals, businesses, and financial services are most concentrated in Hankou. It is one of the areas with the highest land value and is also a hot spot for urban development.
Unkown
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Historic
10 Storeys
History
Old
6-9 Storeys
Entertainment
New
4-6 Storeys
Office&Commerce
Relatively New
1-3 Storeys
Residential
05 Track Back
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
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A. Railway Strike Exhibition Hall B. People's Theater C. Zhuoya Building D. Station Road Commercial Street
E. Resettlement Community F. Dazhimen Railway Station G. Li-fen Life Experience Area H. Railway Culture Square
Streams of people mainly come from metro station, Dazhi road and Station road.
This area includes many Li-fen buildings. The left are better preserved while the right are heavy damaged.
The nodes of railway cuture square are linked to the nodes in the site. So the square is summary of this site.
Important buildings: Liushaoqi Former Residence, People's Theatre, Jinghan Station, Zhuoya Building.
Renovate surrounding buildings to form different area: Railway strike Exhibition Hall, Railway Culture Life Experience Area, Station Road Commercial Street, Railway Culture Square.
Through two main streamlines and Station road, every node is linked as a whole one.
Resettlement Residential Area Station Road Commercial Area Railway Culture Life Experience Area Railway Strike Exhibition Area Railway Culture Square
Preserve Buildings Renovated Buildings New-Built Buildings
05 Track Back
Historical Buildings Entertainmental Buildings Residential Buildings Commercial Buildings
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Railway Strike Exhibition Hall Railway Strike Exhibition Hall was reconstructed from Liu Shaoqi's former residence and several residential buildings around it. During the May 4th movement, Liu Shaoqi led a strike by railway workers against the exploitation of the working class by the comprador bourgeoisie.
Liu Shaoqi Former Residence Theme Hotel
Main Road Boot Space
Landscape Trees Square Waterscape
Exhibition Area
Communal Space
Green Area
Traffic Organization The main entrance to the building is located to the north, bordering Railway Culture Square. South of the building facing the street for the secondary entrance, convenient traffic, is used as the vehicle entrance. The east entrance of the building is adjacent to Li-fen Life Experience Area.
05 Track Back
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Station Road Commercial Area
Railway Culture Square Railway Culture Square was transformed from Jinghan Railway Station and its tracks. Square area south and planning area border, north adjacent to Jinghan Avenue. The area is well suited for use as an urban landscape to separate the historic reserve from the highway.
05 Track Back
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Li-fen Life Experience Area As the most representative architectural community, Li-fen architecture is a unique form of folk dwellings in Wuhan. It originated in the late 19th century after Hankou opened its port. Li-fen Life Experience Area is transformed from "Xincheng Li" and "Futang Li". The buildings in Li-fen are mostly twostory, brick and wood structure, with a neat appearance and spacious streets. In this design, we transformed the old buildings there into commercial Li-fen and residential Li-fen.
Commercial Li-fen
Residential Li-fen
Zhuoya Building The Zhuoya Building is a commercial building in the Station Road Commercial Area. The building is seven stories high and encloses a square in the center.
Resettlement Residential Area Resettlement Residential Area is used to accept those as homes damaged or hope to improve the housing of Li - fen residents. There are four high-rise residential buildings in the area, two of which are newly built. The building has ample daylight, wide views, and excellent views.
05 Track Back
NATURE IN MODERNITY
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In the high-rise office building, the large steps between floors are used to create public Spaces with flexible functions. Vertical greening is used to strengthen the connection between human and nature and retain valuable air.
Reserved Green Design of Research Building
Bachelor of Architecture January 12, 2017 Tutor: Li Kun Solo Work Wuchang District, Wuhan, China
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
Volume
Function
The most economical volume that fits the site was established. The paths of the site were planned.
The functions of the office building were arranged according to the demand.
Virescence
Stairway
The floors of the building were staggered to form greenways, and attached green sunspaces are arranged on each floor.
The large steps between floors are used to create public Spaces with flexible functions.
06 Reserved Green
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A. Main Entrance B. Exhibition Hall Entrance C. Secondary Entrance D. Auditorium Entrance E. Freight Entrance
F. Exhibiton Area G. Traffic Core H. Cafe I. Auditorium J. Fire Control Room
1-1 Vertical Section The tower core tube structure is 99.55 meters high, with 23 floors (4 floors of podium) and 2 floors of underground parking. Each floor of the building is surrounded by landscape verandas, providing users with a good view of the landscape. 06 Reserved Green
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
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First Floor Underground A. Parking Entrance B. Traffic Core C. Parking Space D. Underground Warehouse
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Second Floor Underground A. Parking Entrance B. Traffic Core
C. Parking Space
D. Underground Warehouse
2-2 Cross Section In the building, glass curtain walls are used in large areas to provide sufficient lighting for the building and provide a good lighting environment for the vegetation in the building; the earth-covered roof allows the vegetation to have a stable growth environment and provide sufficient nutrients for it.
06 Reserved Green
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
Structure Analysis The concise structure system not only makes the building have good stability but also reduces the construction cost. Cantilever beams were used to support the overhanging earthen floor slabs.
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Second Floor A. B. C. D. E.
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Antechamber Seminar Room Traffic Core Lecture Hall Atrium Projection Room
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Third Floor
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Lecture Hall Seminar Room Traffic Core Projection Room Sound Regulation Room
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Perspectives A. Subentricular Perspective B. Balcony Perspective
C. Cafe Perspective
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Fourth Floor A. B. C. D. E.
Four Typical Floor Planes
06 Reserved Green
Exhibition Hall Specimen Room Office Traffic Core Conference Room
UTOPIA IN FUTURE
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In the future, humans will be forced to live in the oceans due to the rising sea levels. Therefore, I have envisioned a situation in which human beings can live in the ocean while remaining in maximum harmony with Marine life.
Aqua Domicile The Entry in "Drawing of the Year 2019" Competition
Master of Architecture October 30, 2019 Tutor: Shan Sixue Solo Work The Indian Ocean
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
300 Meters of Life The 300-meter-deep ocean where the building is located is inhabited by a wide variety of marine life. Living in harmony with these creatures is one of the important issues in the design.
Underwater Tunnels Tunnels at different depths allow different sizes of Marine life or transportation vehicles to move through the building. Gaps in the honeycomb hatches at the bottom of the building provide habitats for plants and animals on the seafloor.
Traffic Streamline The central cylinder of the building serves as the main external traffic function. There are six large elevators inside the tube, located in six directions. Each of these large elevators contains three small elevators that can operate independently. The concatenation and superposition of residential units in the building form a rich traffic network interlaced vertically and horizontally. There is a spiral ramp in the Business & Entertainment Area below the Residential & Office Blocks, leading to the Green Landscape Area at the bottom.
07 Aqua Domicile
Cao Mingwei Spring 2020 Portfolio
07 Aqua Domicile
CAO MINGWEI FINN0430@WHU.EDU.CN + 8 6 15 0 0 2 7 7 5 17 3
EDUCATION 2021
Wuhan University, School of Urban Design of Wuhan University Degree: 3-Year Master of Architecture
2018
Wuhan University, School of Urban Design of Wuhan University Degree: 5-Year Bachelor of Architecture
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2017 - 2018
Architects & Engineers, Co., Ltd. of Southeast University, Nanjing, China Design Intern Dormitory&Cafeteria of Chengxian College of Southeast University, Nanjing Industrial Building of Suqian Yimei Textile Co. LTD, Nanjing Office Building of Qilihe Park, Nanjing
2018
Atelier UPA, Wuhan, China Design Intern Planning of Citrus Town in Songshan Village, Yidu Passenger Station of Qinglin Ancient Town, Yichang Huairou Residence, Beijing
2018
Citic Pacific Properties, Wuhan, China Design Management Intern Citic Pacific Harbour City, Wuhan (15 & 21# Block-Residential and Commercial, 16# Block-International School)
2019
AREP, Wuhan, China Design Intern Hanyang Railway Station, Wuhan Urban Design of Dongfeng Avenue, Hanyang, Wuhan Xi'an East Railway Station, Xi'an Zhaoyu Ancient City, Qi County
2020
Tong Qiaohui Architecture Studio, Wuhan, China Student & Member Hongshan Middle School Nanhu Campus, Wuhan Interior Design of the National Optoelectronics Research Center, Wuhan
INVOLVEMENT 2014
Bellastock Self-build Festival 2014: “Waterworld China”, Hanyang The event organized in the framework of France-China 50. Used bamboo to make some floating constructions beside Hougong lake.
2016
Workshop: “Regeneration of History Urban Quarters”, Wuhan The event organized by Wuhan University. Cooperated with students from Taiwan to protect the old residential buildings of Wuhan.
2018
Workshop: “Regeneration of Historical Buildings”, Wuhan The event organized by Wuhan University. Cooperate with international students to protect the historic buildings in Wuhan.
RESEARCH 2018
Research on protection and Regeneration Strategy of Industrial Building Heritage Based on Thermal Comfort Improvement — A Case study of Wuhan Volunteer Research Assistant Youth Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China
2020
Research on the Construct of College of Engineering and its Atrium — The Early Architecture of Wuhan University Second Author Published in New Architecture, Issue 2, 2020
SKILLS Languages: Chinese(native), English(CET-4, CET-6)
Model Skills: PVC, Wood, Cardboard, Plexiglass, Clay, Bamboo, Concrete
Softwares: Sketch-Up, AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino(Grasshopper), Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Lumion, V-ray, MS Office, Python
finn0430@whu.edu.cn Wuhan University, Wuhan, China