MArch (Hons) - RIBA Part II
James A.D. Wright-Zhang CV & Work Samples 2020
James A.D. Wright-Zhang Education 2018 - 2020
University of Bath (Part II) - MArch (Hons) Architecture (RIBA Part 2) - Thesis Design (1st) : La Paz Land Use Campus - Preserve Andean Biomes with Technology & Education - Research: Digital Delight vs. Cyborg Chaos - Architectural & Tech Perspectives on AR in Public Spaces
2013-17
University of Bath (Part I) - BSc (Hons) General Architectural Studies (RIBA Part 1) - Thesis Design: The Quantum Cave - Architectural Relationship between Nature, Human & Sentient AI
2011-13
Oldham Hulme Grammar Sixth Form College - A-Levels: Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Product Design, Photography - EPQ: “Feng Shui in Pre-1975 British Architecture” - OU : Writing Fiction qualification from the Open University
Accomplishments 2020
- Invited to exhibit 6th Year work in a webinar for Masters’ Students at UMSA, La Paz, Bolivia
2017
- Certified as a Passive House Designer with the PHI
2015
- Third Place in RIBA’s Imagine Bath Competition, including publication in the Architects’ Journal - First Place in University of Bath’s Vertical Studio Competition
2013
- Black Belt 2nd Dan with World Ju-Jitsu Federation - Qualified as First Aid Community Instructor - H.B. Shaw Award for Academic Achievement
2011
- Duke of Edinburgh, Silver Award
Languages ENGLISH: Native Proficiency MANDARIN CHINESE: Lower Intermediate Proficiency
Professional Experience Oct 18 - Jan 19
- Architectural Assistant - Stiff + Trevillion Architects, London Stiff + Trevillion is an award winning medium-sized practice in London, UK, where I undertook my first placement following commencement of my Part 2. Assisted with a range of commercial projects across all work stages, and was fortunate to receive the opportunity to coordinate some of the work with the project team on site for Premier Place to expand my construction stage experience, along with other projects.
Sep 17 - July 18
- Architectural Designer - Axis Architects & Planners; Singapore Axis Architects Planners Pte Ltd is a multi-disciplinary practice in Singapore, established alongside its sister company Axis ID. At the firm, I was responsible for design and coordination tasks in conceptual, development, technical and construction stages while meeting different teams and clients. Projects varied significantly in scale, from individual luxury units to large mixed-use developments with masterplanning, although the in-house specialty of residential developments was frequented. Worked on designs for projects in Singapore, Malaysia and most notably a 1,600+ apartment mixed-use development in Vietnam.
Feb - July 2016
- Architectural Assistant - Designscape Architects, Bath Designscape Architects Ltd is a small award winning design practice in Bath, UK, where I continued to develop my understanding of professional practice during my third year placement. One project which stood out from the experience was the conversion of a retail and factory building in Frome into restaurant and residential units. The constriction work was happing simultaneously with the design, so meetings with the clients and design team were frequent. I also assisted establishing a VR workflow for the company.
Mar - Jun 2015
- Architectural Trainee - Llewelyn-Davies Hong Kong Llewelyn-Davies Hong Kong is a large multi-disciplinary practice in Hong Kong, where I secured employment for my second year placement. Work undertaken was largely conceptual and development work for hospitality or commercial projects. Worked closely with employees of mixed disciplines throughout the placement. Notable projects included the 7-11 Jervois Street Hotel, Vietnam Airlines Offices, and Preferred Proponent Analysis for Ocean Park Hong Kong.
Oct 2013
- Work Experience - OMI Architects, Manchester OMI Architects is a small practice in Manchester, where I first experienced an architectural office environment. I became familiar with software, basic modelling, project briefs and design decisions.
Software AutoCAD
Photoshop
Vectorworks
InDesign
Revit
Illustrator
Sketchup
VRay
Rhino
Lumion
Grasshopper
Vegas Studio
3D Max
- Academi
MArch (Hons)
ic Work -
), BSc (Hons)
6th Year Thesis Project (1st Classification)
the EYES, the MIND, the LAND La Paz Land Use Campus - La Paz, Bolivia - 18 Weeks - GIA: 6,100m2 Tutors: Alan Keane, Alex Wright La Paz, the world’s highest capital at nearly 4,000m, sits nestled between the deteriorating Amazon Rainforest, retreating Andean glaciers, and increasingly hostile Altiplano. The La Paz Land Use Campus aims to bring together research, charitable and government action, university and public education to help bridge the gap between indigenous grass-roots schemes and high-level technological and
strategic development, helping monitor and regulate natural resources in the region for future generations. Designed to BREEAM Outstanding and PHI standards, this initiative architecturally integrates the program with local context, manifesting as the “Educational Landscape” below, and “Watchtower” above. The project was widely detailed and illustrated in a 200 page report.
Software Used: AutoCAD, Rhino, Sketchup, VRay, Photoshop, InDesign
Upper Roof Plan Solar & Biodiversity Intensive Roof
6F Plan NGO Staff Spaces & Roof Garden
5F Plan Offices, Workshops & Staff Common Areas
4F Plan Main Entrance & Computing Spaces
3F Plan 100 Seat Lecture, Teaching & Quiet Study
2F Plan 200 Seat Lecture, Teaching & Central Atrium
1F Plan Classrooms & Cafe
GF Plan Canteen & Services
Basement Plan 3,000,000 Litre Water Storage
Aperture
Circulation
Negative Space
Connected Facade
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Watchtower & the Education Landscape The building language is defined by two key parts: Watchtower above for the private functions, and the Education Landscape for students and the public. Lower levels of the building connect strongly back to the sloping streetscape, helping improve connectivity for all users, and allows building into the slope to stabilize the surrounding hillside. Upper floors contain the private functions which were separated for ease of security during multi-functional use. As the building is less constrained by the slope here, the floors become tightly organised and provide optimised spaces for staff comfort alongside multiple-height breakout spaces.
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1 - 2F Plan; includes 200 seat lecture theatre, seminar rooms, group study spaces and central atrium. 2 - 4F Plan, street level entrance for the NW of the site, and includes reception, bike storage, cafe spaces, along with secure server spaces in the private section. 3 - 5F Plan, private level includes shared spaces for all staff, along with education offices, meeting rooms, research offices, computing offices, workshop and droneport.
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Education Landscape 1 - Looking down the education landscape at 3F street level, with visual connection to the secure server space. 2 - The campus seen at night, seen from the park to the building’s SE. 3 - Central atrium beneath hole-deck slab, connected in all directions and facing towards the city centre.
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PV Panels & green roofs buffer intense solar radiation to prevent excess gains MVHR extracted from common areas through atria
MVHR Exhausted through acoustically baffled vents in hole-deck
Continuous air-tight thermal envelope
Power runs to energy efficient LEDs focussed on working plane
Steeply-angled sunlight diffused by screed
Thermal Gains from occupancy
Offices below receive reduced atrium light but increased window light and vice-versa
Building management system controlled night-purge Socket power brought down to user through partition walls Temperature regulated by Hole Deck Thermal Mass
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The Watchtower 1 - Accessible roofscape for staff recreation looking towards La Paz and Mt. Illimani. 2 - Staff office spaces provide ample breakout and visual connection opportunities. 3 - Secure breakout spaces provided in multi-story atria.
The Watchtower houses all private functions for the staff, while maintaining an optimal environment for function and user comfort. A simple circulation route was created through the building, linking with the many breakout spaces, around which the private and shared office spaces are organised. This layout maximises usable area, and provides efficient routes for the MVHR airflow, while allowing light to be brought into the centre of the space.
4 - Clear view through the secure drone-port. 5 - Environmental section through the watchtower, demonstrating how Passive House Principles were implemented to manage the intense climate and user comfort.
Additional spaces for staff recreation are found throughout the building’s lengths, including in the 3 atria which provide spaces of varying height over the Educational Landscape. The lower roof is accessible to staff, and combines the stunning views with local vegetation while harvesting rainwater.
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An Environmental Tectonic 1 - Sustainably sourced local Red Sandstone is used in large tiles on the Watchtower, and natural form on the Educational Landscape reflecting the language at Tiwanaku temple. 2 - Hole Deck Slab for routing services, seismic stability, and increasing exposed thermal mass is constructed with 50% GGBS replacement concrete, and red pigment to match sandstone. Screed uses crushed reclaimed brick. 3 - Detailed Elevation at 4F entrance. 4 - Detailed Section Cut at 4F entrance, highlighting continuous air-tight and thick thermal envelope required to meet Passive House requirements. 3
PVs & Endangered Plants
20mm Aluminium C-Channels powder-coated with RAL 7015 finish mounted to cladding support battens Meeting 20mm Red Sandstone Tiles with honed finish
Triple Glazed fixed windows, with thermally broken powder-coated aluminium RAL 7015 frame, inner edge flush to outer face of reveal cladding
Meeting
Triple Glazed Curtain Wall with Glass Fin Structural Backing along Silicon Jointing, connected using thermally-broken head frame to concrete soffit mounted steel structure with movement joints for earthquake resistance Entrance Slim Triple Glazed Entrance door system with level threshold; powdercoated Aluminium Box Frame door surround with integrated sensors, motors and LED spot-lighting in soffit
100 Seat Lecture Theatre
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1m
2m
3m
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6th Year Team Sustainable Masterplan Lewis Liu; Lucy Liu; Siyu Wang; Helen Wright-Zhang; James Wright-Zhang
La Paz con Pachamama Survive, Stabilize, Thrive - La Paz, Bolivia - 10 Weeks Tutors: Alex Wright The masterplan proposal envisages a future for La Paz, addressing existential water issues, severe topographical issues and minimised urban cultural expression, to produce a city that can Survive, Stabilise and Thrive. Strategies integrate cross-continental trade, down to critical decentralisation and human-scale interventions. Key moves form into three comprehensive tool-kits: the Water Network, Super-blocks and La Arteria to provide a complete solution. Water becomes a cycle based on indigenous sustainability and reverence for Pachamama
(Mother Earth) making the city entirely self-sufficient from rainfall. Super-blocks and Arteries facilitate re-orientation of key spaces to the human-scale, providing fast transport routes to link these together. Once integrated, a selfsufficient network of water, energy, waste and transport manifests while minimising local displacement and providing for citizens at a community level. Urban interventions reinvigorate community life. Water beacons become centres of local nodes and polycentres, while a community framework runs along La Arteria, inspiring locals to build a street-scape to suit them.
Software Used: AutoCAD, Rhino, Sketchup, VRay, Photoshop, InDesign 1
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1: La Paz’s Hierarchy of Needs 2: Physical model of locale 3: Toolkits integrate together to repair each cycle 4: Plan of locale with proposal
(Model is Collaborative Work)
Offices, Hospital, Police station
Water Network
WATER
Superblocks
TOPOGRAPHY
Waste Management Centre
Survive
Stabilise
Commercial Units
Battery Units
Water Storage and Purification Unit
Super Block
Polycentre Unit
La Arteria
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4 (Images on page are Team Members’ Works)
CULTURE Thrive
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1: Physically modelled cross-section of La Arteria, showing multiple street and underground functions. 2: Affordable modular framework can be adapted by locals to suit their requirements. 3: Section of La Portada’s polycentre with the increased variety and density of functions required for the area’s success.
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(All work on page is own-work)
5th Year Individual Project
Emancipation Fortress vs. The Urban Matrix - Bristol, UK - 17 Weeks - GFA: 4,324m2 Tutors: Mike Tonkin, Toby Lewis The brief stipulated that alongside the dis-used A-Bond Warehouse, design a community centre with affordable livework units. The design unit, in-keeping with the focus of the year consisted primarily of separate abstract design exercises and critically assessing the brief throughout, followed by a consolidation process using results from these exercises to generate the building.
It was determined that the fringe location of the site would require increased programme for success. As a result, coworking was added, and this was placed in A-Bond along with the community centre to form a new civic hub. The design eliminates flood risks, while providing a flexible framework, able to adapt to the local population’s continually changing needs.
Software Used: AutoCAD, Rhino, Sketchup, VRay, Photoshop, InDesign
Original roof with south-facing PV
Increased Access Circulation through lightweight steel walkways
Boxes all separately conditioned and easily cycled. Pedestrianisation
Structure retains facade and becomes framework
Warehouse facade is Retained
Rubble produces mounds to defend against flooding
Urban Matrix Abstraction
Flood-Resistant
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Community Activation 1 - The daily schedule demonstrates the provision opportunities and amenities required to permit diverse groups to inhabit the site. 2 - Plan view inside the community centre, highlighting how the Fortress and Urban Matrix co-exist. 3 - Sectional perspective through the warehouse reveals the community hall at the base, and varied work and shared functions in the upper levels.
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Standardised Complexity 1 - Physical model contrasting the pre-fabricated units with the warehouse and streetscape. 2 - The complex arrangement of units allows an exciting and dynamic space for light and movement to emerge inside the warehouse. 3 - Raised flood-proof streetscape shown during one of the increasingly likely floods in the future.
Modular units provide affordable and easily serviceable spaces that inhabit the site. The language of the facade mirrors the overall Urban Matrix, using cladding made of recycled aggregate from demolition of the warehouse’s internal structure. Units are configurable for any function, from commercial and community to residential, and all can be individually conditioned for efficiency. As an increased sustainable move, the units are heavily insulated and air-tight to Passive House standards.
4th Year Thesis Project
The Quantum Cave Numinous and the Sublime - Dorset, UK - 18 Weeks - GFA: 2,422m2 Tutors: Robert Grover, Martin Gledhill The self-written brief was based on a pre-historic site, to design a building to house the world’s first Sentient Artificial Intelligence. Provide spaces for staff, and members of the public. The central focus must be a space designed to develop a relationship between human and machine through direct verbal and physical communication. Software Used: AutoCAD, Sketchup, VRay, Photoshop, InDesign
The solution is the “tripartite”, highlighting the relationship between Human, Nature and Machine to develop a hierarchy for the building. The Everyday block sits below the hill, while the Hall of Communication stretches over the centre. A journey is established, developing a numinous relationship with nature, before developing a sublime one the Sentient AI.
Tripartite
Facade Openings - Dark to Light
Facade Connections - Motherboard
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Hall of Communication The Hall of Communication is the focal point of the building, and is designed along a specific journey. By following along the barrow, it facilitates a sudden revelation of a vast natural vista, prompting a sense of the “Numinous�. This notion is crucial to reduce the impact of meeting the AI. When the users enter the cave, they encounter a much more human-scaled machine, prompting a sense of sublime resolution. If this feeling is strong enough, it would be enough to deal with initial anxiety about communication and light the spark, fulfilling the building’s purpose. The private space above the cave allows for maintenance in a safe and climatically controlled space, while the cave is unconditioned to supply a more visceral experience.
1 - Detailed cut of the Hall of Communication, where the private space above is insulated internally for machine maintenance and security, while the cave below is unconditioned for a strong experience. 2 - Building Section along the man-made hill-fort barrow. 3 - Numinous connection to nature, especially with the panoramic sea view, outside the building. 4 - Sublime connection to sentient AI inside the Hall of Communication.
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- Professio
London, Bath, Sin
onal Work -
ngapore, Hong Kong
Stiff + T
Architectural Assistant; Oc
Rendering completed by team member. Premier Place London, UK 22,236 m2 Construction Drawings, Coordination and Assisting Site Inspections The Premier Place project was the refitting and alteration of a 1990’s office building into a modern high-quality Cat A fit-out. I joined Stiff + Trevillion while the project was in the construction phase, and was fortunate to extend my construction stage experience by taking part in meetings, site visits and coordinating on smaller aspects of the building with the Structure and M&E Engineers to resolve ongoing issues. The latter especially proved highly valuable in helping increase my knowledge of the UK industry. The drawings for elements I was involved with were all through Vectorworks.
Trevillion
ct‘18 - Jan ‘19; London, UK
Impression completed by team member.
Rendering completed by team member.
Linear Park Bristol, UK 4,500 m2 (Approx) Feasibility Study, Design Proposals, 3D Modelling, CAD Drawings Linear Park is an existing office space in Bristol, close to Temple Meads Station. Current issues for the building included an easyto-miss facade and entrance and underwhelming reception area. Following construction of an accurate model of the building, I assisted with the design. Where the building extended higher, we decided to explore contrasting cladding with signage, while the reception was brought up to date using modern materials and lighting solutions. The building was modelled in Sketchup, with additional work in Photoshop and Vectorworks.
Axis Archite
Architectural Designer; Sep
TOWER- 01
0
TOWER- 02
Rendering completed by team member. District 9 Mixed Use Project Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 132,145 m2
UNIT PLANS
Design Proposals, 3D & Revit Modelling, Masterplanning, CAD Drawings, Client Coordination, Data Analysis
07 March , 2018
With over 1,600 residential units, and 20,000 sq. m retail provision, this mixed use project is the largest project I have worked on to date. Due to the client’s requirements of a “Singapore Themed Development”, the design aims to include ample green spaces and a sky terrace. I have been involved since the beginning of the in-house design process and in all stages so far from initial design concepts to layout options, masterplanning and data production along with coordinating to ensure the design meets local regulations. I was also involved with initial Revit modelling during the practice’s early adoption phase. The project is currently under construction. Software used includes AutoCAD, Sketchup, Revit, and Photoshop
ects Planners
p ‘17 - July ‘18; Singapore
Rendering completed by team member. Puchong Civic Centre and Apartments
5 Private Landed Properties (2 Shown)
Puchong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Singapore
Design Proposals, CAD Drawings, 3D Modelling
Detailing, Plans, Elevations, 3D Modelling & Team Meetings
As part of a larger masterplan for a new portion of the city designed by Axis Architects Planners, the Civic centre contains sports courts, an Olympic sized swimming pool, community functions and a residential tower with 400 units. I worked in AutoCAD, Photoshop and Sketchup to conceptualise designs and produce drawings. I also worked on the RioCity portion of the masterplan (bottom left) in later stages, I assisted with facade design, and oversaw the design team for production of Elevation drawings for tender.
For an undisclosed developer client, project includes 5 landed properties (locally termed “bungalows”) on adjacent sites. I was introduced to the project at a later stage and was involved largely in assisting to refine and draft elements of architectural expression, along with producing detailed drawings for the facade and assisting in material selection. I attended several meetings with the full design team to help coordinate for the overall submission, and attended some site inspections. Software used was AutoCAD and Sketchup.
Designscape Architects
m/h
B
P.202
Architectural Assistant; Feb-July 2016; Bath, UK
services
store/office
open kitchen staff/store
sliding glazing
wc
counter
balustrade
seating P.402.1
restaurant seating P.201
wc
A
wc
restaurant seating
4 3
2
1
1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6
7 6
acc. w.c.
+18.25
0
service riser
+18.25
refuse
restaurant seating +18.25
refuse
seating
balustrade
5
counter
recyclables
Revised glazing
+18.38
glass
refuse
elecs
food
com. bins
1 2
6x bicycles
1 1
recyclables
1 0
9
8
acc. entrance refuse
P.403.1
refuse
+17.98
P.401.2 +17.63
P.401.1
+17.87
Existing entrance indicated
+17.99 +18.09 +18.32
+18.38 rwp's
P1
24.03.16 Revised glazing and revised entrance design
Rev: Date: Notes:
Revised entrance
Responsibility is not accepted for errors made by others scaling from this drawing.
All dimensions and conditions are to be checked on site prior to preparing drawings or commencing any work.
Description:
DESIGNSCAPE
Status:
A R C H I T E C T S
Status
Bath Brewery Tollbridge Road Bath BA1 7DE T: 01225 858500 E: enquires@dscape.co.uk www.dscape.co.uk
Project:
8 STONY STREET
All construction information should be taken from figured dimensions only. Dimensions are in millimetres unless otherwise stated.
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5M
FROME Title:
Ground Floor Plan Drawn by:
Scale @ A3: 1:100
Any variations or supplementary drawings are to be approved by The Architect.
Reference:
353.P.100
Revision:
P1
jaw/cm
Date drawn: 24/3/16 Scale @ A3:1:100
Rendering completed by team member. 8 Stony Street
The Beacon
Frome, United Kingdom
Bath, United Kingdom
Proposed Designs, 3D BIM Modelling, CAD Drawings, Visual Renders, Planning Applications, Virtual Reality Tour
Full Conceptual Design, CAD Drawings, Visual Renders, Virtual Reality Tours
Renovation of an old building into a restaurant and six apartments. The challenge lay in marrying the existing 1960s building with its Edwardian counterpart. I worked on making plans compliant with tight building regulations, alongside privacy shutters and design for the staircase and entrance. I worked in Vectorworks (+BIM), Sketchup to show the design.
On a hilltop site in Bath, this project called for a building to make the most of the aspect while retaining some of the existing building. The designs make the most of the available aspect, while offering privacy on all levels from the street behind. I worked in VR, Sketchup and Vectorworks alongside Hand Sketches and InDesign.
Llewelyn-Davies Hong Kong Architectural Trainee; Mar-Jun 2015; Hong Kong, China
Vietnam Airlines HQ Complex
7-11 Jervois Street Hotel
Hanoi, Vietnam
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
54,272 m2
3,244 m2
Multiple Facade Designs, Visual Renders, CAD Drawings
Multiple Facade Designs, Visual Renders, CAD Drawings
Vietnam Airlines, alongside their proposed HQ building, wanted to design training, office, hotel, sport and shopping facilities as a master-plan. This called for an elevation that carried a language across all the buildings. In addition, I worked on core design for the building. Software used includes Sketchup, VRay and AutoCAD.
The boutique hotel plans, on a very narrow site, required elevations to accompany them. The challenge lay in simplicity - any complexity was multiplied due to the narrow frame. I also worked on the plan of the restaurants beneath. Software used includes Sketchup, VRay and AutoCAD.