Work Samples from 2017-2019

Work Sample Summer Intern Zhichao Wei

BIO

Architecture comes from life, and should finally serve life. The strategy of selected designs in this portfolio utilized different architectural elements to create or shape the space for society. When consolidating the materials for further developing architecture understanding, I found that the architecture should never be a cap that placed on top of the ground. It should be generated from the regional context, which finally serves and reflect the regional potential.

In order to develop a better understanding of architecture, it is necessary to understand the regional potential from the urban context.

CON TE NTS 01 VISUAL WITH CULTURE -- LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE PILSEN MURAL CULTURE CENTER Group Work IIT 4th year studio, fall 2017

02 RESIDENTIAL LIFESTYLE IN AGES -- TRANSITION BETWEEN GENERATION NEW YORK CITY MULTI-APARTMENT Indivisual Work spring 2017

03 UTILIZATION OF COURTYARD-- PRSENTATION OF EXTERIOR MULTI FUNCTION COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER Group Work IIT 4th year studio, spring 2018

04 ARCHITECTURE OF INVISIBLE--FUN PALACE FOR GLOBAL URBAN NOMAD Barcelona Cultural Observatory Group Work IIT 5th year studio, fall 2018

05 URBAN PERIPHERY IN FLUX -- INTERSECTION BETWEEN NATURE AND BUILD Boston Suburb Revitalization Group Work GSD 1st year core studio, fall 2019

VISUAL WITH CULTURE--LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE PILSEN MURAL CULTURE CENTER Fall 2017 Instructor: Peter Landon&Bryant Pitak Teammate: Jingyan Ma Site: Chicago, IL Public spaces are where we learn about each other, and take part in the interactions, exchanges, and rituals that together comprise local culture. These spaces reflect the community that we live in and are the best places for us to begin modeling a new way of thinking and living. The intention of the design project is to investigate the Chicago neighborhood of Pilsen for its demographics and urban characteristics along with studying specific and overall site conditions. Building off research and analysis, the project will propose a neighborhood redevelopment and design a community cultural center with a flexible learning facility that can connect with both the Mexican and gentrifying communities through Art. The site is adjacent to West 16th Street which has elevated train tracks with murals on street level. As a predominantly Mexican neighborhood in Chicago, the project is looking for a place that document, archive, exhibit and develop new forms of mural art as it interprets the culture of Pilsen.

Pilsen Mural Culture For over 150 years, Pilsen was recognized as a port of entry for immigrants. It was first dominated by Eastern Europeans, then shifted to Latino and finally became Mexican-American community. The diverse population background enhanced the culture experience in this neighborhood. Murals played the dominant role in expressing the culture here. They are historically connected to Mayan and Aztec cultures which have influenced Mexican artists.

Large amount different forms of murals were created based on the various conditions of position to draw on.

20%

Demographic

40%

60%

Citizen, Naturalized

Citizenship and National Origin Citizen, US-Born Race and Ethnicity Race among Hispanics Hispanic Ancestry

80%

Not Citizen

Hispanic

Mixed

White

Black Other Other

White

Mixed Puerto Rican

Mexican

Other

Exsit Mural Forms Mural Region

Program Layout There are three main interior programs in this project: exhibition, library and working studio. The program layout would be an exhibition at the front door, library at center and working studio at last, which tied to the idea of the learning sequence. The exterior backyard on the north side combined with the landscape, transformed from the original abandoned train track, presents the mural art in different forms.

Mural Wall Condition The abandoned train track on the north side of the site is transformed into a landscape for people presenting and engaging various forms of murals. Diverse wall conditions increase the diversity and creativity of the mural.

Learning Sequence People first get known the murals in the exhibition area. Then the library gives a deeper comprehension by providing formal documentation. The studio space at the end allows people to engage with the art by themselves.

Obstacle The main circulation path is shaped by the obstacles, defined as the place unable to pass, with the sequence of learning. It allows people to experience more of each program.

Minor Path Besides the main obstacles that form the main circulation path, there are minor obstacles, like bookshelf and transparent exhibition board, that form the minor path. People can choose those paths to discover by themselves.

Embeded Rooms Along the circulation, there are individual rooms that offering group meeting and basic functional space to support the whole building.

Programming The interior exhibition space allows artists to present their works to the public. Visitors can view the murals not only from local works but also worldwide. When moving into the library, people can inquire the information, like history and process of the mural, to help them further develop the understanding of mural art. The studio space is mainly for the artist who needs space to practice. Visitors can also learn and make their own murals from those artists.

Day in Mural Center

Exterior Exhibition The exhibition space for murals is not limited to the interior wall panel. It could appear at any exterior space on the site with diverse forms. The diverse spatial conditions not only present a different form of murals to the visitors but also inspire mural artists to be more creative.

Re-use of abandoned train track The train track transferred into a landscape, which formed a garden space with the element of the mural.

Later on stage The project could combine with the housing program, which provides the dormitory place for artists who come from far away and people who want to learn the mural.

RESIDENTIAL LIFESTYLE IN AGES -- TRANSITION BETWEEN GENERATIONS New York City Multi-Apartment Spring 2017 Indivisual work Site: New York, NY The project is focusing on the interaction between generations. The young generation, especially in New York City, generally lives at a quick pace, which makes the environment around them more simple and effective than the old generation. This impact that they caused to the society accelerates the lifestyle of the next generation. The high-speed pace did advance the economy and physical living quality of the society.

On the other hand, it also increases the clinical depression as well as other mental stress. It is necessary to find the balanced pace of life. Contrary to the young generation, the old generation lives at a slower pace. By merging the two generation, the project provides the spatial quality to allow the interaction between them, both physical and visual.

Historic NYC Townhouse

Minimalist Modern House

Townhouse

Assembled Studio

Apartment

Single Family House

Housing typology The project includes four types of housing units, townhouse for elder generation, studio, two bedroom and family units for young generation.

Each of them is developed while keeping their identities.

TOPOLOGY STRATEGY Complexity Most of the houses built in the previous generation contain higher complexity in many ways, especially in presentation. The facades of those houses were designed based on different architectural styles that merging complexity into aesthetics.

The project keeps the complexity in the architectural opening, windows, for the elder generation.

Minimalist People become more and more efficient when technology gets upgrade more and more. The new generation’s life get simple and efficient which makes the architecture become simple. The new generation prefer the architecture to be minimalist which make the building simple but direct. The windows on the new generation’s units are minimalist but integrity.

The Cathedral Church Subway Services Site

Central Park

Unit type I: Single Studio

Unit type II: Two Bedroom

Unit type III: Townhouse Unit

Unit type IV: Family unit

14'

14'

5'

20'

5'

12'1/2''

11' 5'

9'

9'

5'

5'

11'

5'

9'

5'

9'

8'1/2''

14'

11'

5'

5'

13'1/2''

5'

4'

5'

11'

5'

9'

5'

9'

8'1/2''

Second Level Plan

5'

5' 5'1/2''

8'

8'

5'1/2''

11'

11'

9'

9'

9'

9'1/2''

Third Level Plan

5' 5'1/2''

15'

21'1/2''

10'

14'

14'

Fifth Level Plan

Units Layout Diverse formal strategy for different unit types differentiate the residents into groups. Residents under the same group would like to have the same life style. Grouping strategy prevents disruption of their routine by others that have different schedule.

Atrium Center atrium space allows people with diverse generational identity to engage with each other, which balance the pace of each generation.

Public Atrium Opening up the center area increase the engagement of two generations.

The vegetational platform provides the environment for older people to hang out and increase the chance to meet new members among their generation. While older generation holding up activities, the young generation would be affected both heteronomously and autonomously.

People who engaging into the older generation would learn from them.

Others could also perceive the slow pace lifestyle by looking through the windows.

UTILIZATION OF COURTYARD-- PRSENTATION OF EXTERIOR MULTI FUNCTION COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER Spring 2018 Instructor: Eva Kultermann Teammate: Jingyan Ma Site: Chicago, IL The project will engage in the design development of an urban community services center in collaboration with Bright Star Community Outreach. The Urban Resilience Network (Turn Center), inspired by NATAL in Israel, is dedicated to serving Chicago with counseling and other social services aimed at minimizing negative factors that cause violence while increasing protective influences that foster community. The TURN Center endeavors to focus on four core services: counseling, mentorship, parenting, and workforce development.

Program Distrubution Retial

Office

Corridor Circulation Education

Vegetation Application Assembly

Counseling

Framed and Public

Shared and Public

Shared and Private

Accessible and Public

Courtyard & Circumstances The principle of courtyard is the connectivity with exterior environment. Linking the exterior with diffierent interior space advanced the experience and quality of interior space.

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F

A

H

E

C

B

D

Ground Floor Plan

Corridor Circulation Based on the separative program distribution, the circulation system bridging those programs throughout the site. People can travel from program to program directly by the corridor circulation. The size and shape of the each individual corridor are relatived to its function and usage.

A: Retail B: Assembly C: Community Kitchen D: After School Classroom E: Open Courtyard F: Counselling Reception G: Counselling Room H: Building Reception

F B

A

D

G

C E

Second Floor Plan

A: Office B: Meeting C: Executive Office D: Roof Garden(Office) E: Library F: Family Counselling G: Roof Garden (Public)

Picturesque Patio (445 sq ft)

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Central Courtyard (985 sq ft)

+ Private Courtyard (1700 sq ft)

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Internal Playground (2960 sq ft)

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Vegetation Application With the services center assigned programs: Worshipping, Educating, Retailing, Working and Counseling, the layout is intend to be seperated rather than a mix whole. Church assembly takes place at corner of the sire, near the intersection. Educational classroom located on the west which primarily where student come from.

Program Distrubution Church assembly takes place at corner of the sire, near the intersection. Educational classroom located on the west which primarily where student come from. Retail, first floor on the east, is adjacent to the commercial corridor. Offices are on the second floor, top of retail and assembly. Counseling, requiring privacy, is seperated with streets by other programs.

Picturesque Patio

Internal Playground

The combination of vegetation and corridor enable the natural light and ventilation get to the adjacent program

A outdoor green space that can only get in from inside, which provides the privacy to the children.

A'

A

Section A-A'

B'

B

Section B-B'

C'

C

Section C-C' D'

D

Section D-D'

Upper Floor Roof Garden

Private Courtyard

Public terrace for lullabying from work and experiencing outside

Private counteryard, only open for people who come for trauma counseling

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②

③

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① ballast on 8'' polyurethane insulation on roof memberane on steel decking on open web steel truss (R=50) ② 6'' precast concrete panel on 4'' steel stud frame and 4'' polyurethane insulation on sheathing board (R=26.5) ③ sheathing board on 4'' concrete slab on 2'' polyurethane insulation on gravel ④ waterproof membrane on 2'' polyurethane insulation on concrete foundation system ⑤ subsoil drainage system

ARCHITECTURE OF INVISIBLE--FUN PALACE FOR GLOBAL URBAN NOMAD Barcelona Cultural Observatory Fall 2018 Instructor: Luis Ortega Teammate: Lu Xu Site: Barcelona Fun Palace Project, 1964, was an interactive and adaptable, educational and cultural complex for London. It was thought of as a civic infrastructure for education and cultural projects. Highly flexible, it was meant to host and support education and cultural activities for certain timespans. It motivates social interaction and encourages people learning from each other by observation and engagement.

The space in the Fun Palace is arranged by adding prefabricated architectural elements to the main framework, which achieved space diversity. Spaces can be closed to allow privacy or be fully exposed to the public and allow social learning.

The project enhancing the learning process of observing and engaging by introducing the idea of stage and observatory. People using the stage space, organized or autonomous, are observed and learned by others, which cause the stage to become a centralized space. The observatory is for groups that involving diversity and expect distinctive spatial conditions to learn and engage with others. While learning engagement, people require various space to expand the capacity of the origin. This process is also exposed to the public, which makes them be observed and learned by others.

Straw Model Implement The connections between layers not only physically shaped the space, but also connected the space in program.

Sphere Condition The sphere shape site condition transferred the boundary of each layers into circular shape. It creates a centralized condition towards the center.

Site on Plaza de Catalunya implement in Barcelona Plaza de Catalunya is both geographic and psychologic center of Barcelona. It is also a transfer station of many transportation system, which makes the user to be both location citizen and tourist.`

TYPOLOGY DIVERSITY

1:Entrance

2:Pathway

3:Bandshell Space

4:Roofed Open Space

5:Amphitheater

OBSERVE & BE OBSERVED Each layer have various ground properties which addressing the observer into a different condition from performer to allow the observer developing in different scenes

Centralized stage area for holding up activities.

People in this area is observed and learned by the people on the upper level

Overhead observational deck for learning from the lower level. While people learning from the lower level, they are also observed by higher level

Fountain Keeping the water feature from original plaza makes this center become most interactive.

Plaza Open space for people presents themselves heteronomously.

Exhibition Space for exhibition type activities with the original monument at the center.

Winter Christmas Night Market Summer Daytime Concert

URBAN PERIPHERY IN FLUX -- INTERSECTION BETWEEN NATURE AND BUILD Boston Suburb Revitalization Fall 2019 Teammate: Christopher D'Amico Site: Boston, MA The project located at the Route 128 Station in Westwood, MA, an urban peripheral area in flux. Like many suburbs in the United States, Westwood reached its peak in the 1970s and has since been in a state of stasis, albeit a relatively prosperous one in this case. However, as current thinking on urban design shifts from a myopic focus on the city center to the broader urban region and hinterland, there has been renewed interest in the developmental potential of places on the urban periphery.

Site Natural Residents

The ecology of the place serves as the identity of the place for much of its history, a diverse ecosystem of flora, mammals, birds, and marine life that permeate the Neponset River watershed, and the surrounding protects areas such as blue hills reservation. The contents of the ecology changes from the uplands to the wetlands, a transect which encourages movement for resources and migration.

Edge Condition

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Man-made Man-made

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Man-made Hard Pavement

Wild Nature Man-made

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Wild Nature Hard Pavement

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I Hard Pavement

Wild Nature Residential

Hard Pavement Man-made

Site Edge typology

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Man-made Wild Nature

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Man-made Wild Nature

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I Man-made

Man-made Wild Nature

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Wild Nature Man-made

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Hard Pavement Wild Nature

Wild Nature

I Hard Pavement

I Hard Pavement

Different site conditions around route 128 response to the ecology. The most apparent interactions were through these edge conditions and separation between built areas, constructed greens, cultivated land, and preserved natural landscape.

Many of these areas produce a binary of humans versus the ecology, the idea is to negotiate this binary in a way that can be weaved together and productive for both systems.

Migration pattern

Most of the migration activities occur from uplands to the wetland, east-west oriented. Opening up the man-occupied development for the natural corridors allows the natural residents passing through continuous development.

Desinate Circulation

Providing a central axis for the main circulation minimizes the interference of animals that occurred at the edges of the development. This central axis also designed to connect the route 128 and Dedham St, the two networks that facilitating the outer connection.

Housing strategy along green corridor

Don't worry, I'll watering those roof greens after the coffee break.

Nothing is better than the fresh air after the light rain, especially combined with the smell of the greens.

Deeeeeeeeer...

Housing strategy along main street

Have you seen the catch that Julian made last night in Superbowl? One against three !!!

The line weight for the whole diagram should be lighter.

Also, adding an outline to the whole diagram makes it pop up more.

Deeeeeeeer...

Night-time natural residents migration

Most of the migration occurs at night when the human activities lowering. Framed pedestrain covered with plants minimizes the effects on the animals from human nighttime activities.

"over here, there are very nice berries that can feed our entire group. Son, don't bother your sister, she is dining."

Listen, It seems like there are some turkeys outside. I wish I can be one of them, simple and easy. Not worry about too much.

"The ground feels different than usual. It's not soft. Where are the grass and berries? I shouldn't come down to here"

Let's go to the next store to check if they have the dress for me or not. If not, we can go back to get the one I tried on.

Driving here can never get me wrong because there is only one main street that connects every retails, restaurant and offices.

Grazing on the courtyard roofscape is relaxing. Not worry too much about running off.

Day-time human activities

Along the development spine for the human is the conception of a traditional American urban corridor which contains ground floor commercial, offices, and residences that are flexible within the grid and exemplify the traditional main street.

Architecture and Other Outdoor Garden Pavilion

Verticle screen in the middle not only separates the pavilion in two parts but also provides the shade for the sitting.

Montessori School Learning Toy

The process of constructing the sticks and nodes allows kids to develop further creativity and imagination.

Zhichao Wei (312)-468-8634 zwei@gsd.harvard.edu