Landscape Architecture Portfolio (2019-2022)

PORTFOLIO | Landscape Architecture Xinlei Gu

Selected Works | 2019-2022 Rhode Island School of Design Master of Landscape Architecture Email: xgu@risd.edu Tel: (401)-542-1323

ABOUT ME

Xinlei Gu Email: xgu@risd.edu

Experiencing different things makes you better at each one of them. This sentence is my life mantra and has been influenced on my attitude and the choices that I have made. I chose landscape architecture as my major course of study since it allows me to explore the world, from nature to humanities, engineering to athletics, rationality to sensibility.

Tel: (401)-542-1323

GENDER

LANGUAGES

Tel: +86 13666130720

Female (she, her, her)

English

Graduate Landscape Architecture Student

Address: 1 Point St, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Proficient in Reading and Writing

NATIONALITY People Republic of china

EDUCATION 08/2019 - 05/2022

09/2014 - 06/2018

Rhode Island School of Design

Photoshop

Sketchup

Major: Landscape Architecture Degree: Master of Landscape Architecture

Illustrator

Lightroom

Indesign

Premiere

Nanjing Agricultural University

AutoCAD

ArcGis

Major: Landscape Architecture Degree: Bachelor of Engineering in Landscape Architecture

Rhinoceros

Hand drawing

Processing

Gravity Sketch

Procreate

YUYI Design, Shanghai, China - Landscape Architecture Summer Intern

06/2020 - 08/2020

• Work on several renders for project presentation (Wuxi opera house square, huazhu headquarter courtyard, etc.)

• Help refine the digital model of project site (tool: Rhino, Sketchup).

• Collect references for project presentation.

• Design pavement scheme for Hainan museum.

• Improved proficiency in using design software, e.g. Auto CAD, enhanced the ability of preliminary scheme logic analysis, and promoted teamwork ability

09/2021 - 12/2021

Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island of Design, United States - Teaching Assistant: Research, Thesis and design • Printing and preparing handouts, distribution of materials for class.

• Organizing the course submission and archive folders, checking all work is properly documented, and submitting the course work to the department archive • Maintenance of the course site on Canvas.

2

Mother Tongue

SKILLS

EXPERIENCE 07/2021 - 09/2021

Mandarin

Center for Transformative Arts, Advocacy and Social Impact (TAASI East), Providence, RI, United States & Batticaloa, Sri Lanka - Landscape Architecture Summer Intern • Work remotely with local people, communicate with them and understand their needs • Research on local textile industry (their operation mode and textile industry), and develop adaptive economic mode to help improve local economic level • Develop proposal for innovative fabric production • Work on the master plan for the local women village

03/2019 - 05/2019

Sichuan Provincial Architectural Design and Research Institute (SADI), Chengdu, Sichuan, China - Landscape Architecture Intern • Work independently on landscape installation design and the project was finally built.

• Work on the master plan for client.

• Collected preference for presentation • Work on renders, designed small entrance square.

• Improved proficiency in using design software, e.g. Auto CAD, enhanced the ability of preliminary scheme logic analysis, and promoted teamwork ability

PROJECTS

SELECTED WORKS 2019-2022

Part I P. 04-71 ACADEMIC WORK

NATURE COMMONS

DESIGN PRINCIPLE

URBAN COMMONS

MATERIAL & STRUCTURE

01

03

04

06

Break Through Barriers

Brownfield Restoration & Community Park Design

Humidity Manipulation Conceptual Design Exploration

02

Migration Corridor For Amphibians Ecologucal Planning & Design

Part II

P. 72-77

PROFESSIONAL WORK SAMPLES

SADI

01

04

Wuxi Opera House Square

Liujia-Ba Music Park

02

05

Huazhu Headquarter Courtyard Shanghai, China 2021

Intersection

Urban Design

Art Installation Design

05

07

"Many Centers" Connecting

Reshaping Landform

Urban Planning & Highway Design

YIYU DESIGN

Wuxi, Zhejiang, China 2021

In The Courtyard

Topography Design

Chengdu, Sichuan, China 2019

Jiang-jia Park Pergola Design Chengdu, Sichuan, China 2019

03

Mount Mogan Riverfront Planning Deqing, Zhejiang, China 2021

Part III

P. 78-85

OTHER WORKS

PLANT COLLECTION

DESIGN WORKSHOP

MODEL MAKING

DRAWINGS

01

02

03

05

Herbarium Specimen Making Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. 2020

Seawall Design

Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. 2020

Whitewood Butt-joint Making Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. 2019

Digital Illustration N/A 2018 - 2022

04

Surabaya Wetland Park Surabaya, Indonesia 2018

3

Part I

ACADEMIC WORK

4

01 BREAK THROUGH BARRIERS

Cabinates of Curiosity

Brownfield Restoration & Community Park Design Group Member: Yumeng Yan Location: East Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. Area: 13 ha Time: Mar.-May. 2020

Located on the east side of the Seekonk River in northern East Providence, Rhode Island, the Phillipsdale Historic District is a mill village covering over 80 acres of land along the Seekonk/ Blackstone River.The district contains a total of 114 historic structures, with half serving as worker housing, it is the largest concentration of historic resources built during the period of 1883 1958.

Like many historic post-industrial sites that landscape architects are called upon to adapt to new uses, this area of the waterfront has significant challenges in terms of fragmentation, access, likely contamination, low functioning ecology, and identity.

This project aims at transform the historic post-industrial site into a new mixed-ues community park, witch will creatively promote new forms of social life, urban nature, meaning, and value. Several design proposals have been developed to provide the opportunity for the residents of East Providence to connect to the river and the ecological program of creating viable habitat for a multitude of species.

5

ive rW ate rsh ed

Rhode Island

Local Anadromous Fish Species

Ten M

ile R

Name

width x length x depth

Breeding Season

minimun channel request (ft.)

Jun. - Oct.

6 x 10 x 2

May. - Nov.

5 x 10 x 2

May. - Sep.

5 x 10 x 2.25

Jun. - Oct.

20 x 40 x 4

American Eel A. rostrata

Blueback Herring A. aestivalis

Alewife

Site

Pomolobus

Shad

A. sapidissima

N

01

2mi

Omega Pond Dam

Construction time: 1918 Dam length: 200 feet Dam height: 18 feet Structural height: 20 feet Hydraulic height: 15 feet

Damed Fish Passage

Water Body

r

6

Stream

ive

The river cannot speak for itself. It needs loud voices of those who know it, and want to save it.

-Providence Journal-

River

eR enc vid Pro

Some fish populations in the North Atlantic complete their breeding duties by flowing upstream along Narragansett Bay when breeding season approaches.

However, urban development has caused a series of environmental problems, some of which have seriously threatened the reproduction of these migratory fish.

Take the construction of dams, most of the rivers across the historic range of them are now heavily dammed, eliminating many of the spawning grounds.

Green Space Dam

1939

1959

1989

1997

Current

Site Issue

The main problem around Phillipsdale is that the dam blocks the normal movement of the river, interferes with the normal migration of fish and reduces the water quality upstream, at the same time, it has the least interactive water edge as a post industrial site. Meanwhile, as cities expand, there is less and less green space available to residents.

er

Site Edge Condition site

site

Seko

nk Riv

site

Phillipsdale was originally a wetland, but as the factory was built, the riverbank gradually hardened, and after the factory was demolished in 1997, the site is now an abandoned wasteland. The omega dam on the south side of the site was built in 1918 and has been in use since.

The North side of the site is still industrial. The area of residential land on the east side of the site is increasing and the area of green space is decreasing.

old wharf+stone

wood column+stone

wood stick+vege

Omega Pond

site omega pond dam residential area factory rail road urban road

site

site steel wharf+stone

site vege

stone

7

Circulation

pedestrian

maintenance

Site Plan

8

Concepts

Phasing

?

1. Existing Condition

2. Fishway Building Establish fishway to help fish migration

1. Connect Water Body • Connectivity • Wetland Patch • Ecological Corridor

BARRIER

PASSAGE 3. Water Purification System & Tidal Islands

4. Road System

Through the terrain to build a natural water purification system and create several tidal islands

Construction of road network to increase the accessibility of the park

5. Vegetation Recovery

6. Service Facilities

By restoring the ecological environment of the park to build a pleasant climate, as well as purify water through a natural process

Placement facilities for residents to provide more recreational options

2. Activate The Edge • Intertidal Habitat • Sediment Catchment • Interactive Water Edge

HARDEN

INTERACTIVE

3. Create Buffer Zone • Flood Resilience • Submerge Habitat

INUNDATION

RESILIENCE

9

Proposed Programs

River Edge Activate

From INDUSTRY , COMMUNITY to ECOLOGY

The purpose of the project is to make Phillipsdale:

As Phillipsdale is surrounding by the factories, community and river, this project aims to make the site call back to its surroundings. The proposed programs form a network to provide different experience for all beings in Phillipsdale, eventually make the site one of the most vibrant knods in East Providence.

A Production Site For Oyster A Community Park For The Residents Nearby A Wetland For Anadromous Fish And Water Purification

Bu

ffe r

Zo n

e

Fis hw ay E

nt ra

nc e

INDUSTRY x-sport field

COMMUNITY

rain garden chain

educational corridor

oyster field

Tid a

truck parking lot

oyster bar

canoe club

l Is

lan

ds

Ce nt ra

lP on

d

runoff garden railroad

central pond

vernal stream

tidal island fish way

ECOLOGY

10

Ka ya k

Ra

Co n mp

cre

te Pro tec

to r

Water Purification System 5 stages have been proposed to purify water of Omega Pond before it flows into Seekonk River

Stage 5

Stage 4

Stage 3

Stage 1&2

11

Oyster Field

Oyster field at the shoreline of Seekonk river can purify the water and create multiple shoreline landscape. Also the oyster field could provide chance for public engagement.

Construction Oyster shells that have been recycled from the oyster bar can be used as construction material for road. Through this way can achieve the purpose of ecological sustainability.

Purification At the end of the runoff garden, oysters can filter pollutants either by consuming them or shaping them into small packets, which are deposited on the bottom where they are not harmful.

Education Trail right next to the purification field as educational site for visitors to have a closer look at the purification process of oysters.

Production The oyster field has been brought back and located at the shoreline of Seekonk River. It aims to provide local flavour for the oyster bar, as well as offer opportunities for community engagement.

Natural Fish Ladder

Use stones to create natural stairs for anadromous fish migration. Compare to the original fish ladder at the dam, the natural ladder has more gentle slope and leave more spaces for fish to rest between stairs.

Fish Ways Multiple fish ways in different sizes enable any species of anadromous fishes Moving upstream to fresh water to lay eggs.

Observation Platform The observation platform is for students, researchers or fisher lovers to count species and number of anadromous fish during migration seasons. It serves both the education and research purpose.

Railway

Fish View Fishes will perceive this fish way as an accessible and safe corridor during their migration, also the vegetated shoreline will protect them from predators such as eagles.

550ft, 2%

200ft, 3% 300ft, 4%

Shad

SEEKONK RIVER 0ft

12

Blueback Herring

300ft, 4.7%

Alewife

400ft, 4%

American Eel

OMEGA POND 16ft

Fish Way Entrance

13

14

02 MIGRATION CORRIDOR FOR AMPHIBIANS Ecological Planning & Design Group Member: Chenjie Zhang Location: Sault Ste Marie, MI, U.S. & Sault Ste Marie, ON, CA Area: 1,970 ha Time: Sep.-Dec. 2021

Under the global warming environment, the overall northward shift of the bioregion has become an inevitable fact. This project focuses on the migration of amphibians (mostly frogs) since they are considered to be highly sensitive to climate change dut to their highly water-permeable skin and ectothermic life history.

Usually it might take several generations for frogs to migrate from a existing habitat to a more ideal one. There are several barriers they may encounter during their migration such as dense urban area, farmland, rapid etc.

In this project, a Frog Spacial Explicit Model is applied to create a migration network in dense urban area for frog to move through.

Several programs are designed for frog habitat and human activities , frogs are the main clients in this project but at the same time we also try to use frogs as a zoom-in lens to explore multiple topics such as political border, ecological habitat, community engagement, etc.

15

Delimma of Amphibians Amphibians are likely to be highly sensitive to climate change for several reasons. Climatic shifts toward warmer, drier regimes are expected to have large effects on amphibians due to the physiological constraints associated with their highly water-permeable skin and ectothermic life history. These potential changes may affect stream flows, lake depths, the amount and duration of winter snow packs, pond hydroperiods, and soil moisture.

ANIMALS' NORTHWARD MIGRATION DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Predicted Bioregions Representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5 was used to represent the 21st century conditions that are to be expected without dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions or technological fixes

Site #3

Site #1 Site #2 Current

2050

16

2100

URBAN, BORDER and FROG MIGRATION

#1 | Sault Ste. Marie, ON, CA & Sault Ste. Merie, MI, USA

Frogs In Sault Ste. Marie

Sault Ste Marie, which means "the rapids on the saint marys river" in Old French, is once the country for Ojibwwa native nation. It has the most iconic water system management - soo locks that was designated to deal with the dramatic elevation change between the Lake Superior and Huron. However, both the fast moving water and these human infrastructures including the hard-edge riparians and international bridge deny the migration of amphibians and other animals. At the meantime, there is a well-preserved island called white fish island.

This chart shows all the frogs that lives in the region by their breeding season, life span, life circle. Since the travel distance various among different frog species, there would be several concentric circles instead of one. Some species are really vulnerable to climate change such as American Bullfrog, which takes almost 4 months for them to grow from eggs to mature, while their breeding is really short

#2 | Richelieu River Watershed

#3 | BWCAW

17

Breeding Pool

Adjacent Post-Breeding Habitat Element

Upland Overwinter Habitat

Permeable migration corridor/habitat

Wetland Buffer

Core Terrestrial (radius depends)

Breeding & Over Winter Habitat

Post-breeding Habitat

Spacial Explicit Model of Frog Migration The center is the breeding pond and it adjacent upland over winter habitat. Every spring, Frogs will breed in the breeding pool and then use the permeable migration corridor to move to the surrounding post-breeding habitat to avoid summer heat. When it moves into winter, they will use the corridor again to go back to the upland over winter habitat for hibernation. Dash line circle indicate the certain range of frog and it various according to different frog species, in the article, the wood frog for example, 400 meters.

18

Site Analysis

The landform, water flow and water catchments area we generated from the contour line, the existing forest and the urban fabric are four layers which is considered to be critical factors to apply the model on the site.

Surface Water & Catchment

Breeding habitat

the surface water flows and catchments allow us to decide the location of breeding pool

Topography

Over winter Habitat

the topography allow us to look at where the upland over winter habitats are

Existing Forest

Post-Breeding Habitat

the existing forest allows us to look at where are the post-breeding habitats, and where have potential to create one

Urban Fabric (Hard Surface)

Permeable Migration Habitat

Framwwork Plan

c

Apart from connecting the breeding pool and post-breeding habitat, we proposed several programs in the city and try to integrated them into the network, we have programs in the community on both sides to allow the migration go more smoothly, and a central land art at the border to celebrate this great migration, we want to let flow become visible at the border the urban fabric allows us to imagine the permeable migration corridor to connect the breeding pool and the post-breeding habitat and try to think about how human can be integrated in this great migration

19

Community Corridor - "Finger" Valley The most important ecological feature is this finger valley, which is a perfect place for having vernal pools since there can form little deltas at the bottom of the slope. The portion of clay is relatively high in this area, which is good for storing water. So we would like to take advantage of these ecological elements, provide the breeding and post-breeding habitats for frogs and try to let human see and engage into this process.

Existing Condition #1 - Residential Area Residential Area Saymour St.

North

Existing Condition #2 - School Area Sault Area Middle School

Residential Area

Sault Area High School

neighborhood

Site 2

#1 Proposal

#2 Proposal

Site 1

South

Frog Habitat Strategy

20

Existing Forest Area

farmland

Existing Forest Area

several vernal pools at the bottom of the slope for frog breeding, we also use the cribbings on the slope for both the soil stabilization purpose and providing shelter for frogs in summer.

several vernal pools at the bottom of the slope for frog breeding, we also use the cribbings on the slope for both the soil stabilization purpose and providing shelter for frogs in summer.

Human Interaction Strategy

Human Interaction Strategy

A loop trail that connects the existing urban road allows people to walk through the vernal pools and have several view sights of the area and frogs.

This area is more educational since it has two schools here. Three spaces for the students to observe and interact with frogs.

Community Engagement - Backyard Habitat This program is less site specific but more about residents participance. These two communities can become a really robust network to connect the community corridor, central landart, and northern wetland.

North

Typology #1 - Bioswale (fast pass)

Typology #2 - Backyard Rain Garden (provide breeding habitat)

For those who are not so fond of frog, a narrow bioswale is enough for frog to move through.

For those who love frogs, a rain garden is perfect for frogs to stay longer in the backyard and they have more breeding pools during their migration.

northern wetland

Canada

Backyard Frog Habitat US-Canada Border

Frog House Type1

Frog House Type 2

Frog House Type 3 USA South

community corridor

21

Three Seasons in Residential Area

22

School Area - Students & Frogs

student view

Platform #1 platform with binoculara for observation

frog view

student view

Platform #3

frog view

closer to slope for frog sound hear

23

24

03 HUMIDITY MANIPULATION Conceptual Design Exploration Individual Work Location: Barrington, Rhode Island, U.S. Area: 0.3 ha Time: Sep-Dec, 2019

The design principle studio (RISD 2019 Fall) is about expanding and exploring issues of design thinking, investigative making, and conceptual development, while also exploring the dynamic, spatial, and environmental elements specific to the medium of landscape architecture. First phase of this studio launched a series of experiments that help to develop an expansive set of creative methods for investigating design issues. Second phase of the studio is about using these tools to analyze issues of site, qualities of landscape space, and finally, to deploy these methods to create and convey a design intention.

In this project, I specificlly focused on the site humidity. Started from the soil profile analysis, I did several objective and sensual drawings and conceptual model to explore how the humity affect the site as a whole system. Departed from that, these processes helps me with developing design intension to ths site. The whole process is about humiduty manipulation.

25

Tillinghast Farm

Seeing the SITE Start a site walk to observe how does the soil profile related to the rest of the site. the drawings below show the distinct landscape characterictis of each part of the site (topography and ground surface texture).

north side: residential area

south side: beach

Tillinghst farm is a private property owned by RISD for continuing education for adults and youth, located at south Barrington.

Soil Horizons

Examing Moisture Transitions

organic A-roots 11''

B-roots small marbles 15''

C-larger marbles 16''

26

Beach

Marsh

Woodland

The brach is at south end of Tillinghast Farm, it is protected by sand dune stabalization.

Marsh is occupyied by spartina and phragmites. Here is the intertidal zone with brackish water.

The domain species in this woodland are oak, birch with the average hight of 70-80 ft.

Turf

The turf slope occupy nearly 1/3 of the whole site, it is also the area with the most dramatic topography change.

Feeling the SITE - Humidity Mapping A sectional mapping combines personal experience of the environmental phenomena with landscape local characteristics. It is focusing on humidity transition through Tillinghast Farm and different spatial conditions these transitions create. Additionally, These humidity transitions interfere with one another to manipulate the farm as a whole system.

Ground Surface

Groundwater

Bedrock south side: beach

north side: residential area

Modeling the SITE A sectional model conveys the thickness and richness of the different humidity conditions of the site, as well as reveals the threshold where different conditions overlaped.

Material: hot melt glue, wire

Marsh

south side: beach

Threshold

Downhill Woodland

Threshold

Turf

Threshold

Uphill Woodland

north side: residential area

27

Occupying the SITE The sectional model has been rescaled into human scale and embeded in to the threshold between the turf slope and downhill woodland. The drawings below convey the exploration of imagining occupation of the landscape in alternative ways.

Collaged Section The sectional model has been flipped upside down to form a connection between tree branches and the turf ground. This collaged section can be considered as the visualization of humidity threshold, as well as the representation of a phisical intervention.ways.

28

Development - Manipulate the Humidity Departing from the collaged section and extended plan, a series of testing have been done to explore the manipulation of humidity on site. The interventions focus on intergrating humidity system both horizantlly and vertically, as well as creating various landscape durning different seasons.

Section2-2 1:16

Testing Model

Section1-1 1:16

Section3-3 1:16

Plan 1:16

normal rainfall condition

brackish water

storm condition

fresh water

brackish water

29

Scene 1 | Summer

Scene 2

Scene 5

Scene 7

Scene 3

Scene 4

Scene 8

Scene 9

Scene 10 | Winter

Scene 6 | Fall

Storyboard - A Journey of Four Season The story is about a fantastical journey in the moss garden. A little girl is attracted by the garden and runs into the woodland. Time is fleeting while she is experiencing different landscape: the moss stair, the mound, the little pond, etc. The landscapes in different seasons are connected through this storybook.

30

Model Work Scale 1'' = 16' Material: clay, cardboard, aluminium mesh

31

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04 IN THE COURTYARD Urban Design Individual Work Location：Shanghai, China Area: 0.3 ha Time: Jun. 2019

Longchang Apartment was built in 1920s - 1930s. It was designed by the British during the British Concession. The initial name of Longchang Apartment is the patrol house on Gram Road. It is the office site of the patrol house in the public concession. The whole apartment is in a square barrel shape which looks like an ancient Roman Colosseum, with a spacious courtyard in the middle, like a large square surrounded by five-storey buildings with grey concrete.

After liberation, the south side of the patrol house became the office space of Yangpu District Public Security Bureau, while Longchang Apartment became the staff dormitory of the Public Security Bureau. Later, many people came in one after another. Most of them are office workers or businessmen in the vicinity. They move here because of the cheap rent and convenient transportation. It have maintained about 250 households all the time. Due to its unique historical role and value, Longchang Apartment in Shanghai was classified as an immovable cultural relic in 2004.

33

1970s

1990s

Present

1970s

1990s

Present

1970s

1990s

Present

1970s

1990s

Present

1970s

1990s

Present

1970s

1990s

Present

Crowded Passway After the elevator is abandoned, only stairs and corridors are left for residents. With the increase of the number of residents, the amount of debris piled on the corridor further reduces the access space.

Fragmented Public Space With the increasing number of the residents, the central courtyard was divided into fragmented pieces from its former whole.

A Unique Chinese Life Pattern “Tongzi" building, also known as Tube-shaned building, is a housing style with Chinese characteristics. It is the result of the tense housing distribution system of Chinese enterprises and institutions in the 1970s and 1980s. The long corridors, bathrooms and toilets are all public space, usually preceded by offces invarious units or dormitories for single workers. The courtyard in the center of a tube building is usually chaotic because of its small size and lack of proper management. Therefore, dirty and crowded is a summary of this living environment.

However, with the continuous development of society, the legacy of the tubular buildings are mostly included in the historical protection of the building, in addition to the building itself, people want to protect the "life pattern" in the tubular building, which matches the old Chinese saying, "distant relatives are inferior to neighbors".

Therefore, in the premise that the building itself can not be renovated and modified to explore the preservation of the living mode of the residents in the tubular building, we have to start withe the compound courtyard in the tubular building. Courtyard is the public activity space of residents. How to maximize the use of courtyard for residents is the problem that this project tends to explore and solve.

Dense Living Space Today, the living space increases year by year. Apart from the stores on the first floor in the West and the public toilets on the north, the rest are for residents.

Absent Green Space The central courtyard was once an English garden at the beginning of its construction. Since then, it has become a hard concrete surface to satisfy the needs of residents (such as drying clothes, parking, etc.). Today, only a small amount of potted plants are left.

Disorganized Parking Space

Dimed Hallway

Public Restroom

Vehicles are parked in disorder in the courtyard. And as the number of bicycles parked in the courtyard increases, the parking space becomes smaller and smaller, and eventually parked crowdedly in the narrow space around the entrance.

Illegal Self-built Room The self-built room in the corridor increases residents' own livinf area, while at the same time makes the corridor more crowded.

High Density

34

MAPPING THE INTERACTIONS

we st

WEST SIDE sec

sid

e

WEST SIDE

tion

ele

va tio

n

ELEVATION

ELEVATION

ELEVATION

ELEVATION

CLASSIFIED BY AGE GROUPS Children

summary of interactions reading

sports

studying drying cloths

garbage

biking

pet

eating

bath

chat

parking

smoking

Youth

Middle Age

Elderly

triggered spaces

35

STRATEGY By increasing and enriching the courtyard space, more communications and interactions can be generated in the courtyard.

#1

MASTER PLAN 1 Ground Floor

#2 Create horizontal circulation

Generate vertical circulation

Generate grid

8

7 1

#3

#4 Interactions distribution

Spaces distributions

2 3

8

4

5

6

#Framework The central courtyard is socially and spatially enriched to satisfy the diverse needs from residents.

36

1. turf 4. outdoor dining space 7. living space

2. clothes airing bar 5. indoor reading space 8. elevator

3.outdoor reading space 6. indoor dining space

MASTER PLAN 2 Underground Floor & Parking Lot

5

8

7

7

6

2

1 7

3 4

2 3 4

8

5

1. public bathhouse 4. bicycle parking lot 7. laundry house

2. resting space 5. vehicle parking lot 8. elevator

3.outdoor theater 6. individual bathroom 37

CIRCULATION

SECOND FLOOR

By increasing the vertical space, the utilization space of the courtyard is greatly increased. Both are parked in underground parking lot, which no longer affects the activities of residents in the also changed from the first floor to the second floor and many functions have been implante time in the courtyard to interact and communicate with each other to continue this unique Chin

connecting stairways

open lawn

GROUND FLOOR

STAIRWAY

lead to the laundry house & individual bathroom connecting stairways

UNDERGROUND FLOOR

connecting stairways

PARKING LOT

38

h motor vehicles and bicycles e courtyard. The courtyard has ed. Residents can spend more nese life pattern.

STAIRWAY

lead to the bathhouse

CLOTHES AIRING BAR WESTERN PASSAGEWAY

EASTERN PASSAGEWAY

LAWN

MIDDLE PASSAGEWAY

BATHHOUSE STAIRWAY

lead to the bathhouse

39

Public Reading Space & Individual Bathroom At 4 p.m. in summer, the Western courtyard of Longchang Apartment was shadowed. At this moment, the outdoor semi-sunken public reading area became a popular place. Children can read extra-curricular books, talk with their peers or play some interesting games here after school.

40

Outdoor Cinema The outdoor cinema provides a place for residents to watch movies, ive broadcasts of exciting sports events and traditional festival parties together.

People sit on the big steps in front of the screen and communicate with each other. Such projections can have a fixed frequency, once a week or once a month, and over time it will become a unique "courtyard culture".

Public Bathhouse The public bathhouse will open during evening, and it is a quiet underground recreational space during the day when there is no water in the pool. The establishment of public bathhouses not only meets the health needs of residents, but also enhances the connection among residents. The seemingly ordinary daily activities have unexpectedly positive effects because of the different locations where they are carried out.

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MODEL WORK Scale 1:100 Material : Resin (3D print)

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43

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05 "MANY CENTERS" CONNECTING Urban Planning & Highway Design Individual Work Location: Providence, RI, U.S. Area: 80 ha Time: Feb.-May. 2021

Many centers is a term from the book root shock written by MTF. In this book she mentioned the many center problem is very common in most of the American city, every neighborhood developed their own community center and these centers are detached from each other, therefore create a disoriented walking experience in these cities.

6/10 connector, as one of the main entrances to the downtown providence, has seriously segregated the urban fabric since it was built in 1935. While at the same time, the adjacent neighborhoods are rich in culture and has developed their own community centers.

This project is seeking opportunities to add 6/10 connector into the ‘many centers system” and create a well connected and vibrant “many centers” network. “ The solution to the “ many centers ” problem lies in improving the connections among them. The passerby must be able to figure out how to move among the jumble of squares. We need images that compel transition, promote flow, and permit movement from one place to another. We need a permeable city, safe not because of its walls, but because of the engagement of its citizens, each and every one a guardian of the public piece/peace.”

- “Root Shock”, Mindy Thompson Fullilove, M.D.

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RI Highway System

Timeline: Development of 6-10 Connector Related historical events and population Movement

6-10 connector

A large number of plants were built in Federal Hill and Olneyvile during the industrial revolution first and second industrial revolution, thus attracted many European immigrants. In 1880s the PW railroad has been built, but the urban fabric is still integrated.

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The 6-10 connector was built in 1935, by the time 1940 the urban fabric started to become fragmented because of the highway.

More entrances/exits and lanes were added to 6-10 connector. Federal hill and Olneyville were completely separated at this time

Nowadays the 6 - 10 connec tor has b ecome more complicated, with staggered lanes of high and low traffic making the highway a true barrier between two communities. There is also more and more no-mans land along the highway, and the two communities are gradually moving away from each other

Culture Hybridity & Physical Segregation Olneyville and Federal Hill are culturally rich, with a rich history of industry and many working class immigrants. Those immigrants started building their community since 1850s and at present day the areas around 6/10 Connector have distinctive foreign charateristics. Meanwhile, the 6/10 connector has seriously segregated the urban fabric since it was built in 1935, a 50ft elevation diverse that created by 6-10 connector became a barrier for two sides to have a communication.

PW Railroad

6-10 Connector

10 ft

60 ft Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5 Olneyville has a large portion of Hispanic and Latino population.Most of these immagrants came here in 19 cnetury and late 20 century to seek for job opportunity at mills. The present Olneyville has a distinctive feature of hispanic culture.

Federal Hill is known as “Little Italy” in providence, Largely settled by ItalianAmerican immigrants in the early 1900s. While the neighborhood has evolved, the influence of the Italian people and culture is ever present.

Diverse Origins: Ancestry Mapping

Section 1 Section

2

Section

3

Section

4

on 5

Secti

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#1 - Create CONNECTIVE and NES

Increasing public amenity allows the communic neighborhoods and hybridization of dive

Emphasize neighborhood amenity allows the for pride, protection of neighborhood privacy a gentrification

Design Principles

#2 - Generate MOVEMEN

A well-connected, easily access pedestrian & bike frie the elimination of neighborhoods’ physical barrie and semi-public areas)

Neighborhood Palette: Many Centers System These little neighborhood centers are connected by existing commercial streets, the river and The two proposed public center on the highway. The vast no man lands adjacent to highway can be utilized as connection knots to form this coherent urban network.

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Restaurant

Church

Convience Store

School

Store

Library

Gallery

Theater

Existing Commercial Focal Point

Proposed Commercial Focal Point

Commercial Connection

Existing Ecological Focal Point

Proposed Ecological Focal Point

Ecological Connection

Existing Urban Green Land

Proposed Cultural Focal Point

STED SPACES

cation of different erse culture

rtification of local and prevention of

stage 1 | extend the existing land use

stage 2 | provide two linear roads on both side of the highway to connect the points. The area between the points is the intentional separation point, which creates the intimate feeling for the pedestrian.

zoning strategy | the upper connection point is a mixture of commercial, ecological and housing, the lower one is mainly focus on the cultural exhibition.

stage 1 | generate a railway highline

stage 2 | create two fully capped connection points (one for commuercial plaza, another for cultural exhibition).

spatial strategy | the 6-10 connector was mostly capped to create a direct connection between the two communities.

s

NT

endly network allows ers (connects public

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Existing Condition

8 1

2 10

13 12

3

Strategic Plan

11 3

5 4

9

The terraced buildings at the commercial area satisfied the entertainment and social needs and also address the terrain issue, the green corridor connect to the widen woonasquakuet river and merge into the urban existing greenway system. The separate part both connect the neighborhood existing small center such as the dog park here. Cultural exhibition area mainly provide spaces for the surrounding cultural institutions to hold special events.

14 15

Legend

7

16 6

18

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17

9

Indoor Program 1. Incubation Studio (Oil paiting, Glass blowing, etc.)

2. Terraced Commercial Complex (restaurant , Bar, Cafe, etc.)

3. Proposed Housing 4. Community Bookstore 5. Community Gym 6. Library & Screening Room 7. Cultural Institution Outdoor Program 8. Rooftop Studio 9. Basketball Field 10. Rooftop Dining 11. Open Lawn 12. Vista Point 13. Reiver Recreation 14. Dog Park 15. Graffiti Exhibition Wall 16. Culture Exhibition Plaza 17. Pocket Park 18. Train Viewing Platform

Movement | Pedestrian Circulation

Area | Connective Spaces

minor road major entrance/exit secondary entrance/exit minor entrance/exit

Movement | Vehicle Circulation

outdoor public amentity indoor public amentity

Area | Nested Spaces

major urban road secondary urban road underground road major entrance/exit underground parking entrance/exit minor entrance/exit parking lot underground parking lot

outdoor neighborhood amentity indoor neighborhood amentity

Comercial Complex

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Urban Fabric | After

Proposed Commercial Building

Urban Fabric | Before

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Proposed Housing

Proposed Culture Institution

Existing Commercial Building

Existing Housing

Existing Culture Institution

Railway Highway

Green Corridor Before

After

Before

After

The green corridor aims to connect the Woonasquakucket River and Federal Hill and form a a green ecological corridor where rainwater can be collected and purified and discharged into rivers or municipal stormwater pipes. While at the same time, this green corridor is also an urban open green space where residents can gather, communicate, relax and sightseeing. The highway (6-10 connector) and PW railroad are fully capped and no longer as a barrier between Federal Hill and Olneyville.

Community Greenway

Community Greenway is the "separation point" between the two connection point (commercial complex and cultural showcase), aims to create intimate experience for residents. The highway is partially capped to intentially separate the two community, therefore protect the community privacy.

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As one of the most vibrant community center, the commercial complex is the extension of the existing commercial corridor, as well as the connection point of the two communities. Aims at providing multiple outdoor and indoor programs for social activities.

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Existing Condition

Commercial Complex & Green Corridor

This area is next to the commercial center of Olneyville where Broadway and Westminster St., the two busy roads meet. As another connection point, this area is mainly for education and cultural exhibition, where can hold some traditional cultural activities such as the Hispanic Heritage Month every Sep and Oct.

Existing Condition

Cultural Showcase

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06 INTERSECTION Art Installation Design Individual Work Location：Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. Area:300 sq. ft Time: Sep.-Dec. 2021

This art installation aims to show the intersection of the past and present of Market Square. As a slave trade market in the past, the Market square symbolized exclusiveness and oppression. While at present it has become the center of RISD campus and represents diversity and tolerance. The installation uses black straight steel to represent the darkness of the past and light curvy to represent freedom of today. While the two parts are inter-waving with each other, The two totally opposite characteristics begin to intersect and together shape the Market Square.

The objective of this studio project is to understand how details and materials develop and change throughout the design preconstruction process. The knowledge of materials in the construction phases of design will finally be applied into an abbreviated technical drawing package

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Model Work Scale 1’‘ = 1’ Material: 1/8‘’ Plywood 1/8'' Black Plexi Glass 1/8'' Threaded Rod 6-32 Hex Nut

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07 RESHAPING LANDFORM Topography Design Individual Work Location：Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. Area:0.15ha Time: Jan. 2020

The project aims at rethinking the existing BEB parking lot in its relationship to S Main St and the Providence River’s edge by using landform and other architectural materials and devices. By reshaping the 11 feet elevation difference, the existing parking lot was transforming into a milti-function space.

The project provides public spaces for students from BEB and ID building to gather, as well as intimate spaces for contemplation / viewing the river. Additionally, a diverse circulation provides various spatial experience and programmatic needs as well as ADA standards.

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Bayard Ewing Building, Providence

Principles

This monumental Greek Revival commercial building, with gable pediment facing the street and attic monitors, was built just as industrial construction shifted from stone to brick.

Right not is used by architecture and landscape architecture department from RISD

ce iden Prov

e Sit BE

g

ldin

ui BB

r Rive

increase pedestrian circulation and create gather area.

Site Photo

The site is the parking lot next to Bayard Ewing Building, often used by student and falcuties.

Parking Lot

create green spaces

Barrier

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The Only Passway

the previous parking lot is transformed into multifunctional spaces with gathering space, green space. The slope can also discharge rainfall.

Site Contour Plan

Site Overlay Diagram

Surface Permeability

Circulation (ADA path and Non-ADA path)

Program

Surface Water Flow Direction

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Detail Section 2-2 1/2”=1’

Detail Section 1-1 1/2”=1’

1 Detail Section 2-2

2

2

Site Section & Detail Section

Site Section 2-2 1/8” = 1’

1

Detail Section 1-1

Site Section 1-1 1/8” = 1’

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Site Model Scale 1/8” = 1’ Material: 1/8‘’ Carboard 1/16‘’ Carboard

Detail Model Scale 1/2” = 1’ Material: 1/16‘’ Carboard Aluminum Mesh Wire Clay Hemp Rope

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Part II

PROFESSIONAL WORK SAMPLES

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01 WUXI OPERA HOUSE PLAZA Location：Wuxi, Zhejiang, China Time: Jul. 2021

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02 HUAZHU HEADQUARTER COURTYARD Location：Shanghai, China Time: Jul. 2021

#1 Stone Zen Garden

#2 Karesansui Garden

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#3 Sculpture Garden

03 MOUNT MOGAN RIVERFRONT PLANNING Location：Deqing, Zhejiang, China Time: Aug. 2021

#1 Pebble Experience Section

#2 Ecological Exploration Section

#3 Waterfront Commercial Section

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04 LIUJIA-BA MUSIC PARK Location：Chengdu, Sichuan, China Time: Mar. 2019

Luxi Zhigu Tianfu greenway project is located in Baisha street and Xinglong Street, directly under the jurisdiction of Chengdu, Tianfu new area, along the Luxi River, starting from the boundary of the directly administered area in the north and Baoshui ditch in the south. This project aims to strengthen the embedding of art, show the new appearance of the times, and introduce a number of public art works reflecting urban culture and values; We should strengthen creative implantation, reflect the new ideas of the city, pay attention to the original design and differentiated creation of artistic landscapes along the line, tap regional characteristics and cultural connotation, and implant popular elements and popular colors; We should strengthen the integration of activities and open a new Bureau of greenways, guide more citizens and tourists into greenways, perceive greenways and enhance brand influence through unique and creative marketing activities.

As one of the knods on the greeway, this music park is the place where people can stop to have a rest and feel the fun of interacting with music. Multi layers and programs allow visitors to feel the rhythm in different ways. I took charge of the concept design, modeling and rendering.

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05 JIANG-JIA PARK PERGOLA DESIGN Location：Chengdu, Sichuan, China Time: Apr. 2019 Xinqiao village gujiawan forest protection project is located in group 6 of Xinqiao village, on the west side of "Fanghua Guicheng" Park, adjacent to Fanghua Xiangcheng Greenway in the East and doctor canal in the West. It is surrounded by green water and has a good natural environment.

Inspired by Antoni Gaudi's sculpture, the pergola project aims to be one of the most intagrammable installations in the park. I took charge of the concept design, modeling and rendering.

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Part III

OTHER WORKS

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01 HERBARIUM SPECIMEN MAKING Location：Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. Time: Sep.-Dec. 2020

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02 SEAWALL DESIGN Location：Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. Time: Sep.-Dec. 2020

Modular Unit Type

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Shoreline control at the interface of land and water is a pressing demand posed by climate change requiring out-of-the-box thinking from landscape architects to provide solutions within constrained timelines and uncertain futures. This pressing need of innovative approaches in solving these problems especially relates to building techniques.

This project started from making three modular units, These stacked modular units both provide shoreline stability and respond to the dynamics of the interface of land and water. It will have to retain water and soil, as well as allow for aquatic habitat and accommodate human use and access at the water’s edge.

Section

Site Plan

Plant List

3D View

Grading Plan

Existing Condition

Construction of the Kayak Ramp

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03 WHITEWOOD BUTT-JOINT MAKING Location：Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. Time: Oct. 2019

Make Joint

First Finish

Fasterens

Second Finish

4 - First Paint

Oiled based wood stain, Danish teak

1 - Cut

8 - Perforated Plate Glue perforated plate to the whitewood

Use lathe to cut one 12'' whitewood piece into two 6'' pieces

11 - Final Sanding Sand with 200, 400, 1000 and 2000 grit sand paper

5 - Waiting for Trying

After 18 hours, the stain almost dried, but surface is still viscous

2 - First Sanding

9 - Drill Hole Drill hole on both sides

Sand to 60 grit

6 - Creating Texture

Use tissue to remove viscous layer

3 - Glue and Oiled

10 - Drive Nail Drive nails into the whitewood

Use woodglue to glue the two pieces and use wonderfill to fill any hole, then oiled

7 - Second Paint

Antique white wood stain

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12 - Finished

04 SURABAYA WETLAND PARK Location：Surabaya, Indonesia Time: May. 2018

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05 DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION Location：N/A Time: 2019 - 2022

The Outcast Tool: Procreate

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Mononoke

Gender Duality: Pregnancy

Tool: Procreate

Tool: Procreate

Sand Drawing: Shamisen Mod Base Animation Project Tool: Dragon Frame, Premier

Density Gradient: Urban Profile of Providence Tool: Photoshop, Procreate

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Xinlei Gu Selected Works | 2019-2022

Rhode Island School of Design Master of Landscape Architecture Email: xgu@risd.edu Tel: (401)-542-1323