Application for UCL MArch Urban Design_Minxin Guo_23191646

MINXIN GUO PORTFOLIO

Application number: 23191646

Applying for UCL MArch Urban Design +86 188-8860-6896

minxinguo20125147@163.com

Hangzhou, China

[Educational Background]

University of Nottingham Ningbo 09/2018-07/2022

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Major: Architecture

[Awards/ Honors]

Head’s Scholarship of University 12/2021

for Academic Excellence in University of Nottingham Ningbo

[Hobbies]

Swimming

Singing

Visiting exhibition

Cycling

Anime

SUnArch. Hangzhou, China 06/2021-08/2021

Architecture office

Full-Time, Architecture design Intern

-Participated in renovating process of some private dwelling in Hangzhou and planning of an urban park in Beijing;

-Participated in book publication of office presentation;

-In charge of drawing production and digital modeling, meanwhile participated in design idea production, site survey and report material preparing;

[Acadamic Experience]

Mandrain

Mother Tongue

English

proficiency on Writen & Spoken

Japanese proficiency on basic vocabulary

UIA-HYP CUP 2020 06/2020-09/202 0

-Leader of UIA-HYP CUP 2020 INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMPETITON IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, responsible for the integration of ideas, modelling, analysis drawing and production of collages;

Professional Softwares (3D/2D):

Sketchup | Rhinoceros 3D

Autodesk AutoCAD | Vectorworks

Visualization:

Adobo Photoshop | Illustrator | InDesign VRay | Lumion | Twinmotion | Enscape

Environmental Tools:

[Professional Experience] [Software Skills] [Languages]

DIalux evo | Climate Consultant

Model Skills:

Handmaking | Laser cutting | 3D pringting

CONTENT

[NEW LIFE FOR THE 'ELDERLY']

Converted residential

summer 2021

Context: Academic

Individual project

Site: Ningbo, China

[EMOTIONAL INCUBATOR]

Public bath

Summer 2022

Context: Academic

Individual project

Site: Ningbo, China 03

[FARMING COLLAGE CITY]

Agriculture lab interacted city

winter 2022

Context: Academic Group research, Individual project

Site: Ningbo, China

[OTHER WORKS]

2019

Context: Academic Team project&Individual project

[NEW LIFE FOR THE 'ELDERLY']

Converted residential summer 2021

Context: Academic

Individual project

Site: Ningbo, China

Lifts and stairs are the main modes of transportation for existing residentials in China. As times change, the demand for lifts from occupants is gradually increasing. The retrofitting of lifts in old neighbourhoods is a livelihood project of great concern to Chinese society, and is of great significance to improving residential use, promoting accessibility, adapting to the needs of an aging society and improving the quality of urban life.

This project will explore options and their implications for the retrofitting of lifts in old neighbourhoods. To minimize the impact of retrofitting by different residential stakeholders, a residential building with communal properties was chosen as the sample building for this project. In addition to the addition of a lift, the original staircase is diffused into a semi-public block. It will complement the problems of the public activity areas of the old block.

Site Background

The site is located within a residential complex supporting the surrounding hospital and its communal properties facilitate a unified renovation. The original dwelling consists of three identical units, one of which will be used as a template for conversion.

Step 1: Oraginal Unit plan& circulation

Step 2: Transport mode replacement

Step 3: Staircase setback and block evolution

Step 4: New Unit plan& circulation

Design Strategy

As the building faces directly into the urban interface, the original traffic pattern requires access to the stairwell from the street. To reduce the impact on the urban interface, the installation of the lift will occupy the original stair space. The staircase has been moved to the south, evolving from a pure traffic space to a semipublic activity space with traffic attributes. Changes in traffic mode have also affected the design of indoor circulation. The north and south sides have been opened up and the living room has been moved to the south side to connect with the new building, while the north side has become a more private area.

The new building is a derivative of the former staircase space. It serves as a semi-public community space with a traffic function. The new part is also equipped with ramps and a lift platform to facilitate walking for the elderly. Influenced by the abundance of activity spaces, the circulation inside is intertwined and there is more interaction between residents than in the original ground floor activity space.

The circulation is simplified and the living room is connected to the new part. The original organization forced residents to leave their homes to the city street and then re-enter the community to reach their ground activity space. While the new circulation separates community life from the urban interface. Residents could access the activity space directly from their homes on the south side.

polycarbonate panel

polycarbonate panel

facade frame aluminium

facade structure wood

edgebanding profile

roof frame/keel

floor frame/keel

metal hinge

concrete foundation

wood beam wood column steel joints

gating panel

[EMOTIONAL INCUBATOR]

Public bath

Summer 2022

Context: Academic

Individual project

Site: Ningbo, China

Insomnia is a condition in which it is not easy to fall asleep naturally. In China, insomnia is more often triggered by psychological factors. People hide their negative emotions in the increasingly involuntary world of work, study, and life. The accumulation of negative emotions exacerbates anxiety and the resulting insomnia becomes a condition that afflicts more and more people.

The project is based on an understanding of Guy Meadows' Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which places the expectation of relieving insomnia on the release of accumulated negative emotions. The design aims to focus on emotional amplification and relief. The design uses the sphere space as a spatial prototype for an emotional incubator, allowing negative emotions to be released and soothed through experiences of a series of morphological derivations and variations.

Space prototype Sphere

A sense of envelopment and security

Space deformation

The specific atmosphere will cause changes in terms of function, spatial dimensions and connection methods.

Research has proven that psychological therapies are superior to medication, and the common ones are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Unlike CBT, ACT encourages instead of suppressing, insomnia sufferers should accept and release negative emotions and find ways to release them. The design is therefore based on the prototype of the sphere, a very enveloping and secure space, to incubate' those hidden negative emotions.

Experience area route &options

Service area

A hall with sunken and recessed spaces to meet the conflicting demands of solitude and socialisation

STEP 3 EXTERNALIZATIN

The design of the top floor is oriented towards the more serious accumulation of negative emotions, which will be intensified and then released through the specific setting of the spatial atmosphere.

STEP 2 BAPTISM & SOOTH

The baptism of the middle layer and the two subsequent streams can wash away physical and mental exhaustion. Both ways of confiding and communicating to relieve repressed negative emotions can prevent and alleviate early symptoms of insomnia and anxiety, which are relatively mild.

STEP 1 ISOLATION

The experience process begins by isolating the client from the external environment. The heterogeneous sphere space erases the influence of social life on the client. The dressing session eliminates the human status gap and promotes better communication between visitors.

The dusky and long space will amplify feelings of loneliness. Dense ropes are "tree holes" where unspeakable emotions can be left behind by notes.

It will externalize hidden emotions and drive people to choose the suitable route.

Confiding is the most direct way to vent negative emotions. There are talkers and listeners.

Chaotic emotions will be soothed under the dome of water waves and light.

This is a quieter baptismal place than others. People reflect on themselves to dispel the confusion in their minds.

Site Surrounding

In addition to the internal spaces, the activity areas around the building are also connected by circular elements. The main entrance connects with a single streamline facing the city, while the secondary entrance connected to the pool faces the river, giving rise to a series of activity areas, including hot springs and a small square. A large amount of lawn has been retained around the site as white space, giving the bath a separate space from the city and distancing visitors from the outside world by physical distance. It also allows the public to have more green space to use freely.

03

[FARMING COLLAGE CITY]

Agriculture lab interacted city

winter 2022

Context: Academic Group research, Individual project Site: Ningbo, China

Agriculture is etymologically inextricably linked to culture. The history of agricultural development is a history of interaction between technology and the humanities. However, in the process of urbanization in China, the development of agriculture has relied more on research institutes and the progress of science and technology. Due to the specially closed nature of research institutes, the results of their experiments often do not receive direct public feedback.

For the development of agriculture, the institute needs more communication and feedback from the outside world. The project will therefore integrate agriculture and research institutes into urban life by designing an open research park with offices, research and play. It will be a research park for all, where plants and the city interact, with the aim of harmonious interaction between people and nature. The design aims to break the confinement of traditional research institutes and the mono-functionality of the urban landscape, while allowing a more accessible study of the coexistence of people and nature.

DESIGN STRATEGY

Site Condition & Green Height

The combination of agriculture back into the city, with Building, Factory and Landscaping, produces a rich experience of the activity. The project divides the site into three main types of people: Operators (who manage the building), Experimenters (who manage the factory) and Citizens (who come to play, mainly in the landscape area). Interaction between different people will provide more feedback.

Operators Experimenters Citizens

Building

Factory Landscape

historical building

car road greenhouse park

Functions & Farming circulation

research institute messing buildings urban farming

results showcase area waterfront plaza park

site outline urban green landscape green detachable building academic bridge system green house

pedestrian axis landscape viewing route

Massing generation & Urban farming strategy

research&experience area residential&office farming land historic conservation areas waterpark landscape farming

Experiment Greenhouse

Planting Greenhouse

Activity Platform Business Greenhouse Experiments&Test

Lectures about Agriculture

Greenhouse Production

Agriculture Bazaar Product Exhibition for External Suppliers Available for Hire

Family Crop Activity

Roof Playground

Family Time&Community Activity

Rest Platform

Lunch Break of Officers

Crop Restaurant

Roof Platform

Roof Farming

Harvest Season Activity

Sunbath

Lawns

Camping

Picnics&Barbecues

Pet Paradise

Warehouse

Grain Storage

Grain Proccessing Workshops&Lectures

Crop Restaurant

Community Activity

Crop Plaza

Grain Concentrating&Drying

Family Crop Activity

Experimenter

Season timeline autumn winter

Day

timeline

Wildfile Greenhouse Aquaponics Farm

Resting

Faermland Wedding

Breeding&Seedling Development Fishing

Aquatic Planting

Boating&Aquatic Farm Lecture

Experiment Farm Bridge System Node

Experiments under natural conditions Bridge System Activity&Traffic

New Products Exhibition Industrial Park Big Event

Landscape

Crops proliferate in the bank areas as a major component of the landscape, and the abundance of activity of the water farm provides a wealth of feedback to the experimenters. After receiving feedback from the landscape, factory and building areas, crops that receive positive feedback are grown in large quantities for sale to the city.

Factory Building

The Factory, with the experimenters as the main leaders, places the initial experimental crops in the greenhouse and outdoor areas to engage with visitors. Through various lectures and workshops, as well as the landscaping of the site and façade, people interact with the agriculture and the experimenters receive feedback.

The combination of building and agriculture is based on advanced planting techniques. The greenery is removed from the soil and reflected in various building elements, creating different experiences and receiving feedback from various people. This feedback will in turn lead to the development and production of new crops.

WORKS]

2019 Context: Academic Team project&Individual project

[BIRD IN CAGE]

autmn 2019

Context: Studio Cube Design Project Individual project

[I'M

IN OR OUT?]

autmn 2019

Context: Studio Cube Design Project Individual project

[UNDER

THE DRAGON WING]

winter 2019

Context: Cardboard Shelter Project Team project

[PAPER STRAW BRIDGE]

winter 2019

Context: Paper Straw Bridge Load-bearing Project Team project