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Hunter
PORTFOLIO
portafoglio
Nicholas Chau
Paesaggio Rivelatore, Planting Architecture,
Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Blend,
Los Angeles, California
Wuhan, China
Landscape Projects Photography,
Story of the Three Cities,Photo Collage
Digital Camera
I
Photography, Film Camera
Other Projects
Not An Artist, Oil Painting
I am Nicholas Chau. A homegrown boy from Hong Kong. I came to the States after I graduate from High school, my decision into Landscape is pure accidental. I was originally trying to be an architect because, as my dad refer to me as, " Jack of all trades, master of none. " It seems that architects needs to be in this nature in order to create a deeply layered design. So I applied to Architecture in Cal Poly Pomona and got rejected. They asked if I would like to go to Landscape Architecture instead, I like ecology more so I said Yes. Looking back, that is probably one of the best decision I have made in my life and I regret nothing. My life is in sync of my design and vice versa. I realized how much Landscape have impact on me. I care a lot about this world and through the power of Landscape Architecture, I can change the world one piece of land at a time and eventually, with the newer generation of passionate Landscape Designers, we can make the world a better place for our future generations.
Landscape is everything. Landscape is, in the common eye, gardening. In the eye of people with the basic level of understanding of landscape, it is the design of exterior space that surrounds architecture. To me, however Landscape is a multilayered complex organism. It changes in time, it consists of art, science, the expression of the designer and the feeling of the user. There is almost nothing that cannot be related to landscape. The most fascinating part about landscape is that the value of landscape cannot be judged by solely one factor.
I want to let the general public knows how much Landscape Architecture can impact the world. A design as small scale as a residential front yard can also involve in a lot of different aspects of the world, this includes good water management design can retain maximum rainwater on site, this not only can lower the water bill for the owner, retaining water on site, can also help recharge the water table and prevent runoff wasted. By lowering the amount of runoff, the amount of pollutant from the street that drains into the sea with the runoff is also lowered.
How much money can be made by creating this landscape? is the first level of judging the value of a landscape, pure economical judgement. There is a clear finite line of judgement, the more value it creates, the better.
In the eyes of the public, this might seem to be a really small impact due to the size of a front yard; however, this is also a problem that we are facing. People think their own actions causes no impact on the world, but they do not understand that if everyone thinks in the same way, we are creating a huge impact on the world.
What can the landscape and in what extent? is the second level of judging the value of a landscape, the benefit that exceeds the common eye, more about the bigger picture of the world, while generally considering profit as a lesser-concerned layer. What is the process behind? the level that only Landscape designers or architects think of, the process is the most important part, that gives most of the value of the landscape. Hence, Landscape is everything.
Who Am I?
What is Landscape to me??
Future Goals?
Focus:
BLEND ...
Designing a CANAL-ORIENTED Urban Design Masterplan for Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Render Style:
Photoshop Collage & Rhino Model
“Boundaries are in a connected loop, at the end they are connected into one. � -My Tomorrow Your Yesterday
INSPIRATION Source:
Our group decided to immerse ourselves into the culture of China through their landscape, Chinese Garden. We initally studied the numerous theory and concepts of how a Chinese Garden is created and the meanings embedded into the design, through further studies we realized that Chinese Garden are originated from Chinese Paintings and our group are fascinated especially by the long scroll paintings. The concept is eerily similar to Urban Design, where from far people get the general atmosphere of the painting or design and from close people get captured into the details. Through our own observation, we identified the five dominant elements are Nature, Community, Intimacy, Revealing and Ecology.
.
U RBA N Further
studies of the philosophy behind the scroll shows that the bedrock concept of Chinese garden or painting is human's relationship to Land and Water; between each other; with flora and fauna. The main point that our group found out is the emphasis on one's relationship to external. This gives us a general direction of thinking. We decided to see how can we apply the three into the systems of Urban Design. Urban as the circulation and human density, nature as the land and water on site, and last but not least, ecology, green space and animal habitat. As all are important, we decided to study the site for further compare between the three.
EC O
GY LO
R TU
E
UNIVERSE
NA
CONCEPT TO SITE
In the existing site, our group identified how flooding is a major issue and causes a lot of troubles to people and worse, damages. However, as problems often creates opportunites. Our group studied how some people even create small boats to travel during flood events and the area of how the flood spreads. We decided to focus on water.
We decided to approach from Nature, especially water to create opportunites to our site, then we focus into the circulation and buildings and green space, and the emergence of ecology will emerge from between.
CHANGES
EXISTING CANALS
Our
group decided to tackle the flooding problem and increase the areas of relationship between land and water. We decided to think of the whole lake as a scrolled up painting and we decided to unscroll it out to allow people to experience the canal thoroughly.
PROPOSED CANALS
CHECK DAM
BARRAGE
CHANGES 11 New Huxi River
Filtration Canals
Experiential Canals
Although our group decided to focus on water and canals. We need to apply the technical layer of how the waters goes and how can we keep the canals moving and prevent the flooding in occuring again. We decided to put in check dams and barrages that both serves as a technical solution while asethetically creates dynamic motions in the canals.
Human Circulation
Car Circulation
CHANGES 111
EXISTING Circulation
PROPOSED Circulation
Human Circulation Vehicular Circulation
The main disconnection between students or users and the site is the circulation. Most circulation is vehicular based and people cannot experience spaces as well as they should be, while they are in a vehicle. Our group decided to lower the amount of vehicular circulation and increase drastically the density of human circulation to provide a walkable campus while maintaining the balance between Vehicle and Pedestrian.
existing node density
higher congestion
The density of students in the existing site mainly focuses around the bridge and the canteens around it. This causes traffic problems both for vehicular and pedestrian, it also creates a large pollution area. Our Group decided that we should disperse people around the new Huxi River edge so people won't be as congested and also more edges can be occupied at the same time.
CHANGES 1V proposed node dispersion
higher capacity
EXISTING Building forms
BUILDING FORMS condense
Methodology of applying the layer of building form onto the site is simple and relates back to our goal of creating an intimate campus for people to enjoy using two simple moves, CONDENSE and BREAK DOWN. These two moves allow our group to create a denser campus fabric and also allow new opportunites to emerge from between buildings.
proposed Building forms
Break down
MASTER PLAN This Master Plan shows the relationship between all the proposed elements, that includes: Canals, Greenspace, Circulation and Building Forms.
GREEN SPACE Diagram on the right shows the public and
private green space, where Green is the Public and Light Orange is Private.
On the right, the diagram shows the different purpose of the green spaces, Light Green as Forest, Green as open space, Brown as courtyards, Red as Experiential Paths and Pink as Lilypond Filtration.
After all the changes we do, we decided to focus on applying districts to the core of our site for giving the users a more experiential walk.
Check this out!
Urban Forest Trail Filtrating Residential Village Campus Core Experiential Path HUSTCC (HUST Convention Center)
Focus:
Creating art installations that triggers people TO THINK in an environment of mundane
Render Style:
Photoshop Collage & Site photos
“Art is supposed to spark conversation and make people think...� -Nick Cannon
Vision statement:
The site is a unique part of a larger ecosystem known as Val di Chio, with layers of history, culture, environmental networks and above all, life, this valley has become home to the residents of Castiglion Fiorentino there are hidden factors within the vicinity that have become ordinary to the community. Only by revealing certain elements of the site these factors can not only flourish but help reveal layers of depth that makes the site unique.
Goals:
The intent of the design is to reconfigure current conditions of the site, that became mundane and have been kept a blank canvas rather than integrating the true essence of the site into the Val di Chio.
Objectives:
1. Re-utilize the unused spaces to ecologically link the natural and cultural heritage to create new systems for recreational and public space uses. 2. Revamp the existing water filtration and conservation systems. 3. Permeate the wildlife to maintain the balance of the existing biodiversity and to retain the community needs.
SITE OUTLINE & TOPOGRAPHY
MORPHOLOGY
HYDROLOGY
TOPOGRAPHY
AGRICULTURAL MESH
OLIVE TERRACES
SCENIC PATHS
AQUEDUCTS AND WELLS (Left) maps from Comune Di Castiglion Fiorentino and team research that shows the different layers of information of the site and its surrounding.
HISTORIC HYDROLOGY
POSSIBLE PATHWAYS & USER HOTSPOT
VEGATATION GROUPS
In the Data Phase, a research into the database of Comune Di Castiglion Fiorentino, city hall of Castiglion Fiorentino was conducted. Maps of different attributes of Castiglion Fiorentino and the surrounding are found.
To tie in the found data from the Comune into our site, my team went into the site and conducted our own studies. This included finding possible pathways and user hotspots, finding the different vegetation groups and also historic hydrology.
LEGEND
Boundary
Wildlife C
Existing Ro
Streetsca
Interventi
y
Channel
MASTER PLAN
oads
ape
ions
This Master Plan shows the different sites that are proposed but this project will only focus on the top-right site.
Are you Free ? YES NO
The focus of this project is to stop people from getting used to mundane. People nowadays are getting too comfortable with their current situation and they think what they do are under their freewill. This piece is to spark people in thinking about what are choices and what are TRUE FREE choices. Are the Animals Free ? YES NO
Through constant repetitve asking of Are you Free? and Are the Animals Free? People are forced to think about what true freedom is, they will then realized that maybe the animals, even though they are inside the gate, enjoy more freedom than we are.
Y6539218
Y1532648 Y3164275 Are the animals free?? Are you?? People are given numbers when they are born, passport to locate where you travel. Are we still consider free being or are we just slaves of the government that we elected ourselves to monitor us. How can we have true freedom if we are bounded to our own restraints, but what are we if we lose all the restraints, either from the surroundings or from our parents. If we strip ourselves from everyone and everything, we earn true freedom, but what difference will we have, from animals?
N
1” = 10’
PLANTING ARCHITECTURE Focus:
Designing planting plan that merges with the existing Architecture, Raphael Soriano’s Schrage House, and create one unified design.
Render Style: Illustrator swatches
“ I don’t divide architecture, landscape and gardening; to me they are one. “ -Luis Barragan
drought tolerant, fire retardent and existing plants.These solutions will accomplish goals of complimenting the architecture, erosion control, low maintenance and water-saving.
CONCEPT STATEMENT The landscape will blend into the neighborhood through the implementation of a mix of drought tolerant, fire retardent and existing plants.These solutions will accomplish goals of complimenting the architecture, erosion control, low maintenance and water-saving.
GROUND COVER FOR EROSION CONTROL & EXPANDING VIEW TO GRIFFITH PARK
SHADE TOLERANT DECIDUOUS GROUNDCOVER TO CREATE A MORE INFORMAL AND LUSH SCENARY TO COMPLIMENT RAILROAD
VINE TO SOFTEN EDGE
FRUIT TREES TO ATTRACT VISITORS & POLLINATORS ON SITE
COLD COLOR PLANTS TO CONTRAST THE ARCHITECTURE COLOR WHILE CREATING AN ILLUSION OF A FURTHER DISTANCE TO ARCHITECTURE FROM WALKWAY.
TREES TO PROVIDE SHADE WHILE FRAMING ENTRANCE, WITH SHRUBS TO COVER BOTTOM OF TREE.
HERBS FOR SMELL & COOKING
SUCCULENTS ON ROCKS NEXT TO WATERFALL
GROUND COVER FOR CAPTURING WATER WHITE & PINK FLOWER (PREFER ROSE) FOR DAY & NIGHT
AQUATIC PLANTS
GROUND COVER FOR EROSION CONTROL TREES WITH SIMILAR ATTRIBUTE TO TOYON & ZUMAC (SUCH AS NEARBY PLANTS)
BA PL RRI AN ER T FIL TO S AN TE IM R AL S
FRAGRANT FLOWERS & PLANTS THAT FOLLOW THE SLOPE (REGRADE PLANTERS)
BIOSWALES TO CONTAIN WATER DURING RAIN SEASON TO PREVENT WATER LOSS (REGRADING REQUIRED )
TALL PLANTS TO FILTER VIEW
G.C
SCALE:
1/20" = 1'-0"
CONCEPT DIAGRAM CONCEPT DIAGRAM
N
NICHOLAS CHAU GLENN MATSUI LA341L CONCEPT BUBBLE DIAGRAM
1” = 20’ 1” = 20’
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DIAGRAM
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT SECTIONS
1” = 10’
PLAN VIEW & L
SECTIONS SECTION A SCALE: 1”=10’
LANTANA ‘GOLD RUSH’
LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA ‘HIDCOTE’
LANTANA MONTEVIDENSIS ‘ALBA
SECTION B SCALE: 1”=10’
EPILOBIUM CANUM ‘CATALINA’
ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM
SECTION A SCALE: 1”=10’
LANTANA ‘GOLD RUSH’
LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA ‘HIDCOTE’
LANTANA MONTEVIDENSIS ‘ALBA
SECTION B SCALE: 1”=10’
CHAMAEMELUM NOBILE
MALOSMA LAURINA
SLAB BENCH
CALYSTEGIA MACROSTEGIA
GRIFFITH PARK
SECTION E SCALE: 1”=10’ SECTION F SCALE: 1”=10’
FRENCH DRAIN
CHAMAEMELUM NOBILE
MALOSMA LAURINA
VITIS ‘ROGER’S RED’
AEONIUM ‘CYCLOPS’
ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM
SLAB BENCH
MUHLENBERGIA CAPILLARIS
CROWEA ‘FESTIVAL’
CROWEA ‘FESTIVAL’
ERIOGONUM FASCICULAT DICHONDRA REPENS FOLIOLOSUM
CALYSTEGIA MACROSTEGIA
N
LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA ‘HIDCOTE’
SECTION F SCALE: 1”=10’
SECTION C SCALE: 1”=10’
LEGEND
ECTION F CALE: 1”=10’
GRIFFITH PARK
SECTION E SCALE: 1”=10’
SECTION B SCALE: 1”=10’
FRENCH DRAIN
SECTION D SCALE: 1”=10’
ROSE GARDEN
CHAMAEMELUM NOBILE
SCHRAGE PROJECT | 2648 N COMMONWEALTH AVE, LOS ANGELES
CHAMAEMELUM NOBILE
ROSE GARDEN
SLAB BENCH
GRIFFITH PARK
CHAMAEMELUM NOBILE
CALIFORNIA NATIVE FLOWER FOR NATURALITIC FEELING
BACCHARIS PILULARIS
SCHRAGE PROJECT | SECTION 2648 GN COMMONWEALTH AVE, LOS ANGELES SCALE: 1”=10’
FRENCH DRAIN
CEANOTHUS LEUCODERMIS
BERBERIS NEVINII BACCHARIS
MUHLENBERGIA CAPILLARIS ANTIRRHINUM MULTIFLORUM
ANTIRRHINUM MULTIFLORUM
BACCHARIS PILULARIS
LONICERA JAPONICA
ERIOGONUM FASCICULAT FOLIOLOSUM
LONICERA JAPONICA
C.D. (Excerpt) Focus:
Designing a construction document for the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center, Las Vegas
Render Style: AutoCAD
634 63 5
1'
636
12'
Wooden Bench
J L-06
5'
637
16'-11"
D
Overhead Shade L-04
638
Wooden Deck 3'
B L-02
2'-10"
5'-5"
1'-7"
23'-6"
25'-2"
638.24 FS
64
1
64 3
64 2
5'
4.5%
N
639
644
640
4.7%
E L-05 2x10 Sandwich Beam 4x10 Beam
1'-6"
5'-5"
6x6 Post
2' 2x8 Redwood joist @ 24"O.C.
6x6 Post
Deck Framing Plan A Scale: 1/4" = 1'
F L-05
G L-05 26'
17'-2"
I L-06
Handrail
12' 5'
2x6 Redwood Decking
23'-6"
16'-11"
Shade structure
Decking Plan
B Scale: 1/4" = 1'
H L-05
E L-05
4x10 Beam
14'
11' 2x8 Redwood joist @ 24" O.C.
4"
2" 2'
2" Ø Bamboo Stalk
6x6 Post
18'
Overhead Framing Plan C Scale: 1/4" = 1'
Overhead Lattice Plan D Scale: 1/4" = 1'
1 " Galvanized Bolt/Nut/Washer 2
2 x 10 Sandwich Beam 6 x 6 Post
1 2 " Galvanized Bolt/Nut/Washer
2" Ă˜ Bamboo stalk
Galvanized Anchor
2x8 Joist
Concrete Pier
1"
4x10 Beam
#4 Rebar
4x 6 Brace Connection
E
Sandwich post & Footing
6x6 Post
Scale: 1/2" = 1'
2x6 Continuous Rail Cap
2x6 Continuous Rail Cap
2x4 Top Rail
2x4 Top Rail
4x4 Post
4x4 Post
2x2 Baluster @ 6" O.C.E.W. Galvanized Screws
2x6 Decking
2x6 Decking
Galvanized Screws
6x6 Post
F
Baluster
Scale: 1/2" = 1'
6x6 Post
Handrail on Deck G Scale: 1/2" = 1'
H
Y-Brace
Scale: 1/2" = 1' 2x6 Redwood Decking
4x10 Beam
6x6 Post
I
Boardwalk Decking
Scale: 1/2" = 1'
6x1 Plank Decking Nailed to a 2x4 Frame with 1 21" Wood Nails
2x4 Wood Frame
4x4 Post 1" Wood Nail
1'
5'
OTHER WORKS
STORY OF THE
This Photo collage is done in Italy, with three cities shown, on the left is the town of Castiglion Fiorentino, a town where most of our activites resides, the people belowof the building is the group picture of everyone in the center that we lived in. This is to show that even though nowadays people always look at how beautiful the landscape and architecture is in Tuscany, Italy; they often overlook that those scenes are created by people who lived, are living and will live there. It also represents how people often forgot that there is no pristine landscape on earth but landscape that can be breathtaking can still be man-made. In Italy, I also went to Dolomites and Venice, so the people represents that we travel around towards the two places. The strongest connection I had with nature is in Dolomites, the high-rising mountains, densely carpeted forest. It overthrown the concept of forest has to be away from human or there is a transition between town and the wilderness. In Dolomites, the towns are built into the landscape, it almost seems like human gave in to nature and colonize the only flatlands nature allows. The end result, is human became a part of nature and nature a part of human. The mountain water from Dolomites actually flows down into Venice and that connects the two places together. Venice, the city of canals, is a city rich in history of both canals and art. When I visited Venice, I am lucky enough to visit La Biennale di Venezia. The exhibition has changed my life and my perspective in art and landscape architecture. The longer I stayed, I realized how magical Venice is, Love happens, Art happens, Canal happens.
As I was piecing together the portfolio, I realized how there is a similar thinking in this collage and the Chinese Philosophy that I did one quarter after this collage. They both relates to Landscape, Human and Flora and Fauna.
E THREE CITIES
DIGITAL
PHOTOGRAPHY
WHY a person who don't even paint regularly would put this painting you ask? This painting is really important to me as it is through the process of creating this painting makes me realized that Landscape designers are Artists and not just solely Landscape designers. I used to think that Landscape designs collaborates with art and hence art is just one portion of landscape, however I realized that landscape design is just another way for people to express their thinking and feelings of a certain place and that is similar to art. What is the definition of art? Albert Einstein once said "All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.' In this thinking, Landscape is almost indistinguishable to art, science and philosophy. They are ideaologically the same, but they're in some way entirely different fields on the common knowledge of the public. This is why I decided to put this painting, THIS
IS MY SELFREVELATION.
Nicholas Chau (b.1996) Not An Artist, 2017 oil painting