Portfolio | HAN CHEN Selected Works, 2011-2015
CONTENTS FROM MONOTONY TO DIVERSITY
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High density community design
[2015 Master's degree dissertation project]
REVIVING TRADITIONAL VILLAGE
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Cultural tourism planning
[2013 Bachelor's degree project]
SPACE IN BETWEEN
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Landscape design in historical districts
[2013 student exchange programme project]
PRECISE DIVERGENCE
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Exploring diverse urban potential [2012 course project]
REGENERATION
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Factory refurbishment - Information centre design [2011 competition project]
BETWEEN LANDSCAPE Community centre design [2011 course project]
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FROM MONOTONY TO DIVERSITY High density community design Master of Architecture dissertation project Year: 2014-15 Location: Wuhan, China Tutor: Paula Cadima
Due to the growing urban population as well as the rising land price, high density community becomes a prevailing form of development in major Chinese cities. Mototonous community consists of identical tower blocks can be seen everywhere. High density has been frequently considered equal to low quality, especially when designed with little environmental care. The incentive of this project is trying to prove that the intention for densification and the concept of sustainability are not mutually exclusive, that an environmentally desirable space for urban living could be achieved under current trend of high density development in China with a different approach.
The site is located in the city centre of Wuhan. It is surrounded by a promary school, a nursery school, and other apartments. The original proposal consists of three 26-storey tower blocks. The gross built area is 40269m2, and the site area is 7744.05m2, which indicates a plot ratio as high as 5.2. No communal areas are provided in this development. The open space on the ground level is limited as well. The main target of the new proposal is to provide a better living environment and more amenity spaces for the residents, in the meantime, achieving similar density as the original development.
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Solar access hours on 20th Jan
Density: Plot ratio(FAR)=5 Two extremes
hrs 10+
CONCENTRATED DISTRUBUTION 26 stories
HOMOGENEOUS DISTRUBUTION 10 stories
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
STEP 1
OPEN UP
STEP 2
WIND AND SUN
STEP 3
CUT AND MOVE
STEP 4
FINAL MASSINg
The massing process starts from two extreme scenarios of density, and concluded that the courtyard form is superior to the tower form in terms of environmental performance and neighborhood quality. Then, the courtard was opened up, twisted, cut and replaced to achieve the best environmental performance. Consequently, all the apartments have a good level of solar access (a minimum 4 hours of direct solar gain during winter). The air flow on the ground level is improved by adding pilotis. Due to the changing direction of prevailing wind, the site is well-ventilated in summer and protected in winter.
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MASTER PLAN
0
10
Landscape and access route
30
50m
Pilotis and amenity space
Circulation area
Apartments
Roof garden and shading
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Since there is a contradictory requirement of compactness and permeability for different seasonal variations, adjustable buffer spaces that can open and close is introduced. In cold periods, those spaces can be fully closed to avoid heat loss, while in hot periods, fully open to enhance natural ventilation. Furthermore, the residents themselves can choose to have a room or a garden according to individual demands. Therefore, the location of the garden is flexible as well according to occupants' needs.
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The open spaces can be used as private entrance gardens for the apartment next to it. There is an adjustable envelope consists of wicker screen which provide shading and ventilation, and acrylic sheet for wind protection. Both kinds of materials are easy to obtain with a low cost in the local market. In cold periods, the garden can be fully closed to function as a solar collector, transferring heat into the room next to it; in hot periods, using the wicker screen to shade and ventilate to dissipate excessive heat; and in mild periods, couple with the outside to obtain comfortable condition. The gardens can also provide daylight and ventilation for the internal corridor.
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Entrance garden in hot periods
Entrance garden in cold periods
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In order to take care of the children, Chinese families usually experience a change in population several times during the occupation of an apartment. To deal with these variations, a special scheme is proposed, which is a set of units that can be combined or separate based on different demands. The family can first purchase the set of units and the elderly couples could move into the smaller unit to help looking after young child; after the elderly move out, the small unit can be rented out to young couples or single professionals to earn back the investment. Eventually, the elderly parents can move in again if needed to be taken care of. The apartment design follows this philosophy by offering a flexible unit. The same apartment can be occupied by a young family with the elderly, a family of three and a single tenant, or an expanded family of four people. The partition and layout of lower storey can change according to different demands.
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Ground floor open space
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Roof garden
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REVIVING TRADITIONAL VILLAGE Cultural tourism planning Graduate design project Year: 2013 Location: Chongqing, China Tutor: Li Xiaofeng
This project is an overall planning and architectural design of a district located in a village of Chongqing, aiming to attract tourists who wish to experience authentic "Tujia" culture. By studying the vernacular architecture of the area, which is referred to as "Diaojiaolou" (stilted building), a village that can best express the traditional culture, accommodate local residents as well as providing tourism opportunities is proposed.
MASTER PLAN 0 5
15
25m
13
BASIC MODULE OF A RESIDENTIAL UNIT
WIDTH
DEPTH 一丈五 ~ 一丈三
一丈四 ~ 一丈二
三尺六
2.5尺或2.8 尺或3.0 尺或3.5 尺
人间
三开间
堂屋
600
600 一尺八
一丈四 ~ 一丈二
ROOF TILT
人间
1200
1200
6分水 5分5水 5分水
d h θ θ
一丈三 ~ 一丈一
一丈四 ~ 一丈二
一丈五 ~ 一丈三 一丈四 ~ 一丈二 一丈三 ~ 一丈一
骑
tanθ=h/d
柱 五开间
次间
人间
堂屋
人间
次间
roof tile 屋面瓦
四柱三骑
rafter 椽子
五柱三骑
purline 檩条
structure 排扇 三柱四骑
四柱五骑
五柱四骑
floor 楼板 beam 枋 四柱六骑
三柱六骑
四柱七骑
TYPOLOgIES OF STRUCTURE
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五柱五骑
floor beam 地圈枋
五柱六骑
BREAKDOWN OF THE STRUCTURE
SHOP TYPE 1
SHOP TYPE 2
HOSTEL TYPE 1
HOSTEL TYPE 2
SHOP TYPE 3
HOSTEL TYPE 3
SHOP TYPE 4
HOSTEL TYPE 4
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Apart from the overall traditional atmosphere, several buildings with modern appearance are inserted. Exhibition hall which displays the history of the "Tujia" culture is placed among a series of shops and houses. Traditional elements such as tilted roof are extracted and transformed into a modern architectural language. EXHIBITION HALL - PERSPECTIVE
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"Tusi" castle is traditionally used as an accommodation for the head of the tribe, as well as for various ceremories to take place. Now, a new castle is proposed, remaining the public activities part of the function, and transforming into an entertainment centre for the villagers. The location of the castle offers the best view toward the entire village. "TUSI" CASTLE - PERSPECTIVE
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SPACE IN BETWEEN Landscape design in historical districts Year: 2012 Location: Nagoya, Japan Tutor: NISHIZAWA Yasuhiko
This design project aims explore solutions for urban planning in historical districts. The content of design includes preservation and renewal of an old wooden building “Nakamura Park� built in 1910 located in the west side of Nagoya. The former building was connected with a new exhibition hall and fur thur extends its footage along the park through a continuous corridor.
"Engawa" is a kind of traditional Japanese space which is neither inside nor outside. The in-between space is a transition which closely connect indoor and outdoor spaces. The "C"-shaped space is also typical in this historic building on site. It is characterized by transparency, ambiguity and continuity.
The concept of this renovation design is to extend the "Engawa" to the entire site by creating additional space outside buildings, and connecting various functional spaces with corridors. The direction of inside and outside changes constantly with the different location of walls.
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Existing
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4 MASTER PLAN 0 4
Step 5
20
12
20m
SOUTH ELEVATION
SECTION
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Roof: concrete slab
Concrete beam
Building envelope: striped stone
Floor: concrete slab with a small garden in the middle
Concrete beam
DETAIL OF CORRIDOR
Ground floor walls: Striped stone and light partition
Concrete columns R=350
Ground floor foundation
EAST ELEVATION
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PRECISE DIVERGENCE Exploring diverse urban potential Year: 2012 Location: Wuhan, China Tutor: Max Gerthel 24
This is a residential area located alongside the Yangzi River, Wuhan. The complexity and diversity of the way blocks scatter around is beyond imagination. The project under this urban context aims to first observe, investigate and understand the actual living situation of inhabitants, afterwards, detect problems and propose a new plan for solution. During the two-months session, we managed to make direct contact with the residents, and found out their genuine feelings about the current community situation.
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FORM 1: RECREATIONAL BOX FOR THE ELDERLY There is a small space up the stairs where the elderly residents love to get together, playing mahjong, having lunch, and chatting with each other. This structure provides a more comfortable and weatheradaptable place for them to rest, and further adds new functions such as lighting and planting.
FORM2: ADDITIONAL UPPER FLOOR SPACE There is a semi-private courtyard at the edge of the community, but it is frequently interrupted by the passers-by. The solution is to build additional upper-floor space to divide passengers and residents, creating a more private space for their recreational activities.
FORM 3: FUN BOX FOR CHILDREN Looking around the community, there are seldom facilities for children to play with. Therefore, a fun box is designed for children, suitable for their playing needs, and it could be located in any open spaces. 28
FORM 2 PERSPECTIVE
FORM 3 PERSPECTIVE
FORM 1 PERSPECTIVE 29
REGENERATION Factory refurbishment - Information centre design Year: 2011 Location: Chongqing, China Collaborator: Zhang Liming, Zhang Linqi
This is a refurbishment project of a former factory inside Chongqing University. It is renovated into an information centre, including library, computer room and so forth. The design combines the productive atmosphere of the factory with the new library, re-defining a reading space with an interactive approach. Also, sustainable strategies are suggested to better adapt to the local climate.
LIBRARY SILENT STABLE SEQUENCE
INTEGRATE BUSY ACTIVE PRODUCTIVE FACTORY
The main design concept is to integrate the atmosphere of the factory with the library, providing a productive space for aquiring information.
Site Area.............................5278m2 Total Construction Area.....4500m2 green Ratio........................30% Plot Ratio............................0.85 MASTER PLAN
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The original space was a simple rectangular void. By adding volumns inside the space, furthur recessing, extracting, and connecting them together, a clear relation between old and new is established. The new additions set back for the original structure to a great extent that the former material and atmosphere of the factory was well maintained. In order to break the original sequence, several elements that are more flexible are introduced inside the main building, in the meanwhile separating the stable and dynamic spaces.
Void
Solid
Recess
Extract
Connect
Add
Order
Variation
Skin
Structure
Imitate
Contrast
Multi-layer
Order
Variation
On the facade level, the additional building reversely recreates the original facade, furthur connecting with a pool. This creates an interesting contrast between solid and transparent elements, along with the reflection in the water.
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A-A
⑩ ⑨ ②
③
⑧
①
③
④
⑤
⑤
⑤
⑥
⑦ A-A
gROUNg FLOOR PLAN 5
10
20
1 2 3 4 5
Lobby Open Reading Area Toilet Cashier Room Auditing Room
6 7 8 9 10
Duty Room and Storage Computer Room Catalogue Room Electrical Control Room Fire Protection Control Room
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WANDERINg SPACE The main part of the library is divided into several districts according to different needs: reading desks in row, open space, private reading room, and a wandering route. The carefully designed route enables people to gradually enter from public space to private space, moreover, provides possibilities of new discovery and inspiration through wandering experience.
A-A SECTION
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double-facade equipped on sliding rails
overlap exactly to ensure enough daylight
adjust by sliding to reduce daylight
Winter Strategies Building envelope is closed in winter, thus providing warm interior space. Sunlight is reflected into the building through water surface and roof glazing to ensure enough heat gain.
water tank containing roof structure
absolute shading and ventilation
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summer strategies: shading and ventilation
partly shading and ventilation
winter strategies: reflection and insulation
shading and reflection
Summer Strategies Building envelope is open in summer to guarantee cross ventilation. Sunshades and rooftop water pool help cooling down the interior room.
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水 水 山 山 之间
BETWEEN LANDSCAPE
壬辰年初秋
BETWEEN LANDSCAPE Community centre - Poetic habitation Year: 2012 Location: Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province Tutor: Lu Shan
This community centre is a special design of reproducing images in ancient Chinese poems and drawings. By using the concept of "Shanshui"(mountain and water, generally refers to landscape), the community centre creates traditional atmosphere in a modern architectural language.
山
mountain
水
"FENgSHUI" MODE
water
"Fengshui" has been the major ideology of traditional Chinese site-planning. It requires houses to face flowing water in the front and have mountains at the back. The community center simulates this part by extracting the natural elements and displays in the form of modern architectural, namely "Shan" (mountain), "Shui" (water) and "Jian" (house).
间
house
MASTER PLANNINg The site is right next to Yangzi River, and the sight view of west side is quite good. Based on this consideration, sight-seeing corridors are put on the west side, while other functions are arranged on the east.
WEST ELEVATION 39
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
Prevailing Wind: Southeast wind in summer
Basic Massing: Blocking wind draft from passing through
gardens: Promoting vertical ventilation
Pilotis: Promoting horizontal ventilation
Section openings: maximizing air flow rate
SOUTH ELEVATION 40
green Roof
Photovoltaics Panel
Roof Truss
Steel Structure
Concrete roof paver
Concrete Structure
Building envelope
300mm Stainless Board 300
glazing
500
garden and ground Cover
Swimming Pool 60
600
40
A1-1 Coping
300
20 1200
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The community centre is designed with a continuous route which leads to various functional spaces. There is a ramp connecting all different levels, especially designed for people with less mobility. Small courtyards are devided by corridors and partitions, creating interesting spatial experience. The images of mountain, water, house, corridors are put together, recalling a poetic habitation that the local people used to have.
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Name: HAN CHEN Tel: (+86)18717177845 Email: han.chen0129@gmail.com Address: 2-3-1004, Yuyuan, HUST, Wuhan, China