Sketch book, James Sheng

Perception, Expression, Creation Jingchao Sheng, Sketchbook of selected drawings, 2013-2020

"Always try new things."

This sketchbook contains a myriad of drawings since my encounter with architecture in 2013: drawings from life and architectural figures, black&white sketches and colored paintings, compositional diagrams and rigorous pieces of work..

Infuenced by gallery art and fellow architects, I deliberately experimented with different materials, foramt, and styles. Thus, works in each chapter is organized chronologically to show the progressive shifts: most early works dipicted the realistic totality, while more later pieces focus on particular ways of perception, expressions and ideas.

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Life sktech of a sculpture in the Loggia dei Lanzi, Firenze. Realistic dipiction vs Abstract recreation

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Chapter 1 - Black & White P2

Chapter 2 - Colors P52

Chapter 3 - Architecture P74

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Chapter 1 - Black & White 1.1 - Early sketches in college These rigorous drawings in late 2013 and early 2014 are the initial trainings when I begin to study architecture in Tsinghua University. Most of them are either copies from photos or still life, often in fulfillment for course work under the guidance of Hongzhi Zhou.

In these drawings, I began to explore different strokes and styles to reproduce an object or a scene in every detail. In late 2014, when we leart watercolor, I stoped using black and white for a while.

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Ordre. Ionic Still life, Art studio in college Pencil on Drawing paper Oct. 2013

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"Fuck Calculus" Still life, Art studio in college Pencil on A4 Nov. 2013

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Delirious 3.

Life, 798 Art district, Beijing Pencil on Drawing paper Oct. 2013

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Dougong in Peiking University Life Pencil on Drawing paper Oct. 2013

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Schloss Neuschwanstein Copy from Photo Pencil on A4 Feb. 2014

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Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore Copy from Photo Fineliner on A4 Dec. 2013

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Hagia Sophia in Istanbul Copy from photo Pencil on A4 Dec. 2013

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The Golden City - Xiangduola (Fictional city in One Piece) Copy from poster Fineliner on A4 Oct. 2013

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Minastirith (Fictional city in the Lord of the Rings) Copy from poster Fineliner on A4 Dec. 2013

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Eyrie, (Fictional castle in "A song of Ice and Fire") Original Pencil on A4 Nov. 2013

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Illidan, (Fictional character in Warcraft) Original Pencil on A4 Oct. 2013

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Gandalf the Grey (Fictional character in the Lord of the Rings) Copy from poster Pencil on paper Dec. 2013

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Hallelujah Mountains (Fictional place in Avatar) Copy from poster Pencil on A4 Jan. 2014

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The Parthenon Copy from photo Pencil on A4 Dec. 2013

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Karnak Temple Complex Copy from Photo Fineliner on A4 Dec. 2013

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St.Peter's Basilica Copy from photo Fineliner on A4 Dec. 2013

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Ulmer MĂźnster Copy from photo Pencil on A4 Dec. 2013

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1.2 - Life sketches on Journey Starting from early 2015, I developed the habit of quick sketchings on journeys.

Early ones took place when I was traveling in my undergradeuate studies in China, although many of them are lost. Later ones are drawn in my journeys to Europe during my studies at the AA, which are greatly influenced by Anna Shapiro, one of our tutors.

The direct experience of the body on the site would often inspire a particular way of emotional perception, which was translated into a way of drawing language.

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"I dont want to draw boring sketches anymore" Life, Summer Palace Pencil on A4 Sep. 2014

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Changzhou Island Life, Hongkong Fineliner on paper Sep. 2016

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Eaves Life, Hangzhou Pencil on paper Jan. 2015

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A rainy day in Gulangyu Island Life, Xiamen Pencil on paper Jan. 2015

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Small town in Fujian Province Reproduction from life photo Pencil on paper Jan. 2015

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3000m high mountain in the South of Beijing Original Fineliner on paper Sep. 2016

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Scene from Hongkong University Life Fineliner on paper Sep. 2016

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Berliner Dom Life, Berlin Fineliner on paper Mar, 2019

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Berlin Hauptbahnhof Life Fineliner on A4 Mar, 2019

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Elbe is a Girl Life, Dresden Fineliner on A4 Apr, 2019

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Prague Castle at Night Life Fineliner on paper Apr, 2019

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A sunny day in Prague Life Fineliner on paper Apr, 2019

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Prayer Reproduction from life photo, Szent Istvรกn Bazilika, Budapest Fineliner on paper Apr, 2019

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William Lindley Water Filters, Warsaw Reproduction from a life photo.

Marker on paper May. 2019

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Violet shadows Life, Halรกszbรกstya, Budapest Fineliner on paper Apr, 2019

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Piazza St Marco Life Fineliner on paper July. 2019

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The Burning Duomo Life, Duomo di Milano Marker and fineliner on paper July. 2019

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Piazza San Pietro Life Fineliner on paper July. 2019

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Shades, Shadows, and reflections Life, Venice Fineliner on paper July. 2019

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Composition of 3D space Life, Palatino, Rome Fineliner on paper July. 2019

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Quick design of a Space station Original Fineliner on paper Nov. 2019

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Sculpture in Palazzo Strozzi Life Pencil on paper July. 2019

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PietĂ , sculpture by Michaelangelo Life, St. Peter's Basilica Pencil on paper July. 2019

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Sculpture at Loggia dei Lanzi Life, Firenze Pencil on paper July. 2019

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Sculpture at Loggia dei Lanzi Life, Firenze Pencil on paper July. 2019

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Sculpture at Tate Modern Life Fineliner on paper Date missing

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Sculpture at RCA Life Fineliner on paper Date missing

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Dusk in Amsterdam Life Fineliner on paper Nov. 2019

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The Uniliver Building Life, Hamburg Fineliner on paper Nov. 2019

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Infinity Space Life, Tate Modern Marker on paper June. 2019

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Phantom visitors at the Museum of Picasso Life, Paris Pencil on paper Jan. 2020

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Chapter 2 - Colors I learnt water color in our second year of college, and then learnt acrylic paintings and markers by myself during my undergrad. After I came to london, I picked up kindergarten oil pastels.

Since colors are much more complicated than black and white, I'm still experimenting how to depict scenes and objects in different ways - a long way from creating original pieces.

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"Lemons are ugly" Still life, Art studio in college Watercolor Nov. 2014

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White horse Still life, Art studio in college Watercolor Nov. 2014

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"White horses are not horses" Still life, Art studio in college Watercolor Dec. 2014

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Scent of sea Life, Laoshan town, Qingdao Watercolor July. 2015

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Sunny day at sea Life, Laoshan town, Qingdao Watercolor July. 2015

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First kiss on the broken boat Life, Qingdao Watercolor July. 2015

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Sunshine on the cathedral Life, Qingdao Watercolor July. 2015

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Road from the mountain Life, Qingdao Watercolor July. 2015

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Blossom Life, Qingdao Watercolor July. 2015

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An old church Life, Qingdao Watercolor July. 2015

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Hongcun Village, Summer Life, Anhui Watercolor July. 2015

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Harrenhal (Fictional castle in A song of Ice and Fire) Copy from CG Acrylic on Canvas 2015

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Dragon fire Copy from CG Acrylic on Canvas 2015

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Apollo Still life Acrylic on Canvas July. 2015

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Dong village Reproduction from life photo Acrylic on Canvas Aug. 2015

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Night in Hongkong Original Acrylic on Canvas July. 2016

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Reconstructed: The Prague Astronomical Clock Original Crayons on paper Apr. 2019

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Redlight district, Amsterdam Reproduction from life photo Oil pastels on paper Nov. 2019

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Metro station in Amsterdam Life Oil pastels on paper Nov. 2019

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Eastern Docklands, Amsterdam Life Oil pastels on paper Nov. 2019

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A sunny morning in Hafencity, Hamburg Life Oil pastels on paper Nov. 2019

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Chapter 3 - Architecture This chapter includes a selection of architectural skethces, diagrams, and final drawings, ranging from black and white to intense colors. Occasionally, the sketching in the process is juxtaposed with the outcome On one hand, you could see the exploration of previous drawings in architectural drawings. On the other, these drawings shows a wide range of endeavors of broad thinking and expressions.

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Madness. Conceptual sketch for design studio - Youth Hostel Original Pencil on Paper May. 2016

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Within Modernism Collage Photoshop Mar. 2016

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Design studio - Tourist center in Xishan Mountains Original Watercolor on A1 Nov. 2014

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Design Studio - School of Architecture Original Sketchup, Vray, and Photoshop Apr. 2015

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Design Studio - School of Architecture, diagrams Original Marker on tracing paper Apr. 2015

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Seinäjoki Town Hall Copy from photo Marker on A1 May. 2016

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These drawings by marker serve the purpose of passing the "6hour fast design" test, as you can see in the next dew pages. The plans, sections, and facades are not included in this sketchbook.

Otaniemi Technical University Copy from photo Marker on A1 May. 2016

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6-hour fast design - club in countryside Original Marker on A1 May. 2016

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6-hour fast design - gallery near a lake Original Marker on A1 June. 2016

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6-hour fast design - art school Original Marker on A1 June. 2016

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6-hour fast design - college building Original Marker on A1 Sep. 2017

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Design studio - Hotel Metropolis, concept sketch Original Fineliner on paper Apr. 2017

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Design studio - Hotel Metropolis Original Sketchup and photoshop May. 2017

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Design studio - Hotel Metropolis Original Sketchup, Vray, and Photoshop May. 2017

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Design studio - Wudaojie Complex Original Sketchup and Photoshop June. 2016

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Design studio - Drifter's commune, midterm Original Sketchup and Photoshop Mar. 2016

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Design studio - Drifter's commune Original Sketchup and Photoshop June. 2016

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Design Studio - Hybrid Urban Matrix, conceptual diagram, network of nodes Original, team work Marker and fineliners on tracing paper Nov. 2016

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Design Studio - Hybrid Urban Matrix, Diagram of reasoning Original, team work Marker and fineliners on tracing paper Nov. 2016

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Design Studio - Hybrid Urban Matrix Original, team work Sketchup and Photoshop Dec. 2016

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The Market City Manifesto Original, done by my teammate Xiao Liang Sketchup and Photoshop Dec. 2016

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The Market City Manifesto, conceptual diagram Original, team work Sketchup and Photoshop Dec. 2016

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Design competetion - Sharing the in-between Original, team work Sketchup, Vray and Photoshop Oct. 2017

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Paradise Found 2074, Initial sketch Original Pencil and finiliner on paper Mar. 2018

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Paradise Found 2074, Midterm Sketch Original Drawingpad Apr. 2018

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Paradise Found 2074 - Symbolistic diagram Original Skethup and Photoshop June. 2018

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Paradise Found 2074 Original Sketchup and Photoshop June. 2018

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Paradise Found 2074 - Tide of Communism Original Photoshop June. 2018

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Paradise Found 2074 - Faith in Data Original Photoshop June. 2018

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Paradise Found 2074 - Plaza of no one's art Original Sketchup and Photoshop June. 2018

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Paradise Found 2074 - The wall of freedom Original Sketchup and Photoshop June. 2018

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Paradise Found 2074 - The Sisyphus factory Original Photoshop June. 2018

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Paradise Found 2074 - Way to authority Original Sketchup and Photoshop June. 2018

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Paradise Found 2074 - Plaza of life Original Sketchup and Photoshop June. 2018

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Paradise Found 2074 - Thestre of self-expression Original Sketchup and Photoshop June. 2018

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Paradise Found 2074 - The Amish Original Photoshop June. 2018

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Paradise Found 2074 - 3 eras Original Fineliner and Photoshop June. 2018

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Site analysis of Google HQ Original, at King's cross Fineliner on tracing paper Sep. 2018

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Office space of Google HQ Reacreated from BIG diagram Fineliner on tracing paper Sep. 2018

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Office plan of Google HQ Reacreated from BIG diagram Fineliner on tracing paper Oct. 2018

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Section of Google HQ Reacreated from BIG diagram Fineliner on tracing paper Oct. 2018

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Redrawing or ViaVerde, Newyork Reacreated from plans and sections Fineliner on tracing paper Nov. 2018

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Rethinking or ViaVerde, Newyork Original Fineliner on tracing paper Nov. 2018

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Case studies of housing projects in Zurich and Basel Recreated from plans, sections, and site visit Fineliner on tracing paper Nov. 2018

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Infill and Intensification, Mokotow, Warsaw Recreated from plans, sections, and site visit Fineliner on tracing paper May. 2019

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Non-existant section of the Barbican Reacreated from plans and sections Fineliner on tracing paper Oct. 2018

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Dynamic Value Matrix - early sketch Original Pencil on tracing paper Apr. 2019

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Dynamic Value Matrix - conceptual diagram Original Marker, fineliner and Photoshop June. 2019

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Dynamic Value Matrix - diagram Original Fineliner on paper Apr. 2019

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Dynamic Value Matrix - draft Original Fineliner and markers June. 2019

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Dynamic Value Matrix Original Fineliner and Photoshop June. 2019

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Dynamic Value Matrix - plan draft Original Pencil on tracing paper May. 2019

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Dynamic Value Matrix - plan Original Fineliner and Photoshop June. 2019

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Housing development in Zedelgem Original, work in S333 Architecture+Urbanism Fineliner and Photoshop Sep. 2019

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Housing development in Zedelgem Original, work in S333 Architecture+Urbanism Fineliner and Photoshop Sep. 2019

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Assembling differences, Achieving scale - plan draft Original Pencil on tracing paper Dec. 2019

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Assembling differences, Achieving scale - plan Original AutoCAD and Photoshop Jan. 2020

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Assembling differences, Achieving scale Original Pencil on A2 Jan. 2020

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Assembling differences, Achieving scale Original Pencil on A2 Jan. 2020

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盛景超 Jingchao Sheng Architectual Association, MArch, Housing & Urbnism Tsinghua University, School of Architecture 1154651003@qq.com +44 75539 58588 Instagram: james.sheng.562 Issuu publisher home: https://issuu.com/jamessheng Wechat: Sheng_JingChao

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