PORTFOLIO Janice Chen 2012 - 2014 Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, UW
JANICE CHEN 821 NE 64th St. Seattle, WA 98115 (425) 233-9671 janiceychen@gmail.com
BORN
March 28, 1990 in Seattle, WA
LANGUAGES
English (Fluent), Chinese Mandarin (Native), Japanese (Basic)
SOFTWARE
Adobe Suite, AutoCAD, Arc GIS, Sketch Up, Rhinoceros 3D, V-ray
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, 2014 Architecture Minor University of Washington, Seattle WA
WORK EXPERIENCE
Seattle Parks and Recreation | Department of Planning and Development Landscape Architecture Intern/ Student Engineer (June - December 2013) - Assist landscape architects with parks design and preparation for construction documents and specifications - Create planting plan for City’s Park Renovation Project - Studied playground safety and generate written report on ADA Standard documentations - Update and organize City’s Standard Details database - Participate in public meetings and assist language translation (Fluent in both English and Mandarin Chinese)
Washington ASLA | UW Chapter Officer (2012 - 2013) - Attend weekly meeting and support interdepartmental events
UW Christian Students Association | Freelance Graphic Design (2012 - Current) - Create event posters/flyers and manage graphic works for club’s website
Seattle Art Museum | Volunteer (September - December 2010) - Help staff members setting up gallery and art works during events and exhibitions - Assist and guide visitors for questions and answers
Microsoft Corporation | Computer Science Intern (June - September 2009) - Work closely with Expression Media Team for reserach on social networks and websites - Generate and understand basic program codes (Java)
QUALIFICATIONS
Computer Program Efficiency - Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), AutoCAD, Google SketchUp, ArcMap/GIS, SPSS, Rhinoceros, V-Ray, Microsoft Office/Excel/Powerpoint, Programming Language (Java, html)
Basic-level Plant Knowledge - Plant identification of Pacific Northwest native plants, forms and planting design
Strong Research and Organizing Skills - Able to conduct data analyze in SPSS/ArcGIS - Compile research analysis in clear graphics with organized and informative manner
HONOR AWARDS
Seoul Urban Design | International Ideas Competition (2013) - Presentation at Seoul City Hall as 3rd Place Award Winning Project
Donald K. Sakuma Memorial Scholarship Recipient (2013) European Biennial of Landscape Architecture | International Exhibition (2012) - Submitted Project Entry as UW Landscape Architecture Representative
ASLA Washington Chapter Student Awards | Honor & Merit (2011 - 2013) - “Magnuson Park: Where Art and Science Merge” (LARCH 301) - “Urban Ecological Design on Harbor Island Along the Duwamish River” (LARCH 302) - “Dwelling Place” (LARCH 303) - “Kubota Marsh Garden” (LARCH 403)
DYNAMIC URBANISM 2013 | International Ideas Competition Group Project
URBAN TREE 2012 | Studio Group Project
KUBOTA FUSION 2012 | Studio Individual Project
KINTSUGI GARDEN 2014 | BLA Capstone Group Project
MADISON VALLEY 2013 | Construction Documents Studio Group Project
DYNAMIC URBANISM Project Type: 3rd Place Award Winning Project in 2013 Seoul Urban Design International Ideas Competition Location: Seoul, Korea Project Duration: 2 Weeks (First Round), 3 Weeks (Final Round) Team Members: Janice Chen, Shu-Kuei Hsu, Youngsuk Jun Individual Contribution: Concepts Development, Physical Model, AutoCAD, Diagrams, Photoshop Renderings, Final Presentation in Seoul City Hall.
The vision of new Jemulpo is to regenerate and revitalize the public realm and serve as the catalyst for reconnecting the broken urban fabric. The new Jemulpo conceives the express line into three distinct program zones that correlate with the current land use composition within the adjacent blocks: Eco-Community [Zone 1], Commercial Hub [Zone 2], and Civic Commons [Zone 3]. These zones will serve as the area's new civic platform for various activities and events supported by integrated sustainable infrastructure and practice. The new Jemulpo consists of varying and undulating paths and waves that frame a mix uses including: designated bicycle highway, playground, community gardens, farmers market, urban forest, local shops, urban plaza, water play, performance area, and light rail stations.
Design Concept | Idea Formation
The new form seamlessly mimics the naturally undulating nearby mountain range and provides the users with different choices of paths and dynamic experience of the site by generating varied cadence and rhythm throughout the walk of the path. The spaces created in between undulating forms have immense potential for many different activities and leisure. Current Status | Linear Barrier The long and extensive expressway, Jemulpogil, is a linear barrier that disconnects and splits the surrounding urban fabric from north to south. To reduce the above ground heavy traffic, the expressway has been relocated into the underground, yet the linear footprints remain. Action 1 | Push Across To amend broken urban fabric, the isolated north and south areas push across the lines to seek for urban integration and connection. Action 2 | Pull Up To resemble natural landscape, the urban fabric is being pulled up to allow dynamic flow of natural cadence and rhythm. Action 3 | Place Making To activate redefined urban fabric, programs and facilities are being placed in according surrounding zoning composition of the adjacent blocks.
Community Sports Court
Com Farmers Market Stalls
Fruit Groves
Singang Elementary School High/Low Rise Apartments
Playground
Gangseo Food Alley
Urban Farm
Lodging Facilities
Hwagok Distrubution Complex
Shops | Restaurants
Commercial Department Store
Zoning | Programs & Activities Eco-Community
Eco-Community This zone is designated for the surrounding communities. This zone poses opportunities for the neighborhoods to truly engage in community activities with practice of sustainability. This is a place for community recreations and promoting of human health and wellness.
Commercial Hub
Commercial Hub This zone offers a lively public realm for local businesses, small vendors and farmers market. Custom undulating structures accommodate cafes, shops and restaurants and serve as sculptural elements. This is a place for vibrant and dynamic experience of city life.
Civic Commons
Civic Commons This zone accommodates and supports all civic events and activities with large amphitheater, open lawn, light rail station, and ice-skating ring. This is a place for gathering and celebration of the city identity.
Mokdong Business Facilities
mmercial Plaza
Mokdong Clothing Outlets
Light Rail Station
Amphitheater Sation
Skating Arena Bicycle Highway
Bike Rental Hongik Hospital
Mokdong Apartments
Green Roof
Play Fountain Mokdong Public Facilities
Mokdong Sports Complex
Smart Application Use of an interactive smartphone and computer based application to encourage the younger g e n e ra t i o n t o i n te ra c t with each other, their community, and the site's varied amenities.
URBAN TREE RESEARCH CENTER Project Type: Studio Group Project Location: Harbor Island, Seattle WA Project Duration: 4 Weeks Team Members: Janice Chen, Erik Murillo, Andrea Williamson Individual Contribution: Conceptual Schematic Design, Physical Model, Diagrams, Sketch-up Model, Photoshop Renderings.
This project focuses on restoration, remediation, and reclamation of Harbor Island in Seattle WA. Our focused site encompasses the linear park on Terminal 18, property of Lehigh Cement, and the open space underneath West Seattle bridge. Our design approach and values are integrated based on site analysis and research. Important factors of the site is to repurpose the use of the silos, to utilize its proximity to downtown Seattle, and to provide a platform that establishes an educational entity and fosters active community engagement. We use the analogy of ‘Urban Tree’ to envision this facility. First, it would ‘ground its root’ with ecological systems by practicing LID (Low Impact Development), establishing phytoremediation experiments, and providing propagation labs. Then the tree would grow and mature with strong educational foundation by promoting study programs, establishing research center, and providing classrooms for students in the related fields. Eventually the tree would flourished with commerce development becoming a leading facility for the cleanup of the entire Duwamish River
Design Concept | Creating Form Our values were integrated based on site analysis and research. Important factors of the site where to figure out how to use the silos, utilize its proximity to downtown Seattle, and provide a platform to establish an educational entity that fosters active community engagement for the cleanup of the entire Duwamish River watershed.
Context Map | Vincinity of Related Education Programs in WA Opportunities for Students from Horticulture + Landscape Architecture Programs in Washington State to use the research facilities in Harbor Island.
Synthesis | Establishing Values Our process took three ideas in different directions to expand our thinking and establish our own values throughout the design process.
Site Plan & Sections | Phyto-Groves, Research Center, Bio-swale Demostration Plots
KUBOTA FUSION Project Type: Cultural Studio Individual Project Location: Kubota Garden, Seattle WA Project Duration: 4 Weeks Individual Contribution: Japanese/American Cultural Research Studies, Graphical Reserach Representation, Schematic Design, Wetland Studies, Physical Model, Calligraphy Ink Drawings, Diagrams, Photoshop Renderings.
This project focuses on cultural landscape at Kubota Garden, Seattle WA. Members of the Kubota Garden Foundation approached UW Department of Landscape Architecture with a request for design ideas for the Garden. The design ideas from each students were later compiled and printed in books for the Foundation for future improvements and fundings to the Garden. The goal of this project is to combined the requests from the Foundation, while respecting the concerns of the Parks Department and the intentions of the Murase Master Plan. Most importantly, the design would follow the ‘spirit of Mr. Fujitaro Kubota’ for his fusion of American and Japanese cultures. The design approach here is to reveal the pre-existing swamp condition on the site with a marsh pond that would provide unique views and expe-
Regional & Site Analysis The new form seamlessly mimics the naturally undulating nearby mountain range and provides the users with different choices of
Annual Days of Sunshine Report Bus Route 106
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Site Section | Plants Dynamic of the Marsh Garden Tall Deciduous/Evergreen
Small/Medium Deciduous Mix Woodland
Shrub & Grass
Existing Path Viewing Shelter Existing Hedge
Marsh Pond
Rock Arrangement
Existing Path
Stepping Stones
Zig-zag Bridge
Red Maples Viewing Shelter
Marsh Pond
Pine Corridor
ADA Path Link Pond
Site Plan | Re-envision the Center Part of Kubota Garden
Design Elements Fusion of Site History, Japanese Culture in a Pacific Northwest Setting
Pre-Existing Swamp The current site of the Kubota Garden was once a wooded swamp. The land was naturally damp and marshy. Recreating a marsh garden will reveal the pre-existing condition in Kubota Garden and also inflitrate the stormwater runoff from the parking lot and the future visitor center.
Traditional Japanese The recreated marsh garden will repurpose the traditional Japanese iris pond into a native marsh land with all the fundamental elements seen in the Japanese Garden, such as zigzag bridge, stone arrangement, and shelter.
Kubota Fusion The most unique charateristic of Kubota Garden is it’s fusion of both American and Japanese culture. The marsh garden design uses multi-layered native and Japanese planting palettes to honor the “Spirit of Fujitaro Kubota.”
KINTSUGI GARDEN Project Type: BLA Class 2014 Capstone Project | Design/Build Location: International District, Seattle WA Client: Japanese Cultural & Community Center of WA (JCCCW) Project Duration: 10 Weeks (Design) & 10 Weeks (Construction) Team Members: Chou-Hau Chang, Janice Chen, Cami Culbertson, Ann Dinthongsai, Lindsey Gadbois, Eunice Lo, Caitlin Lockhart, Jun Wang, Alyse Wright, Biruk Yoseph Individual Contribution: Japanese/American Cultural Reserach Studies, Conceptual Schematic Design, Design Development of Basket Shelter, Construction Documents, AutoCAD, Physical Model, Photoshop Renderings, Website Manager, Class Layout/Graphics, T-shirt Design.
Every year Professor Daniel Winterbottom leads a design/ build studio during Winter and Spring quarter for BLA students to work collaboratively with professor, peers, and real client to design and build a full scale garden as graduation capstone. This year the the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of WA (JCCCW) have requested an outdoor garden that will reflect and memorialize the history and culture of Japanese Americans. Our goal is to reinterpret Japanese garden with an infusion of Japanese symbolism and modern minimalism with highlight of Pacific Northwest's natural style. The site itself is wedged between the JCCCW buildings (#1&2) and the museum gift shop (#3). There is a 16' grade change from north to south with high sun exposure and excessive water run off. This becomes a great challenge for the design to utilize maximum plaza space for community events and gatherings. The Japanese art form of Kintsugi drove the concept for spatial design of the gathering space. It is the practice of mending broken pottery and then painting the crack with gold to highlight its beauty of imperfection. We believe such metaphor symbolizes the transcending beauty of Japanese Americans' broken past.
Design the Garden | Mending With Gold The metaphor of kintsugi (mending with gold) symbolize the healing and transcending quality of the garden for the Japanese American community. The broken crack represents the piece was once damaged, but have come together and transform as a stronge new entity. Hillside Plants Epimedium Japanese Forest Grass Japanese Sweet Flag
Sword Fern Mt Vernon Laurel Kousa Dogwood
Seattle
Connecting to King St.
Puyallup
Heart Mtn.
Tule Lake
Minidoka Retaining Wall Existing Slope & Cherry Trees
Kintsugi Brass Inlay | Journey to Minidoka
Viewing Pav
Memorial Basalt Columns | Reverence the Past
Central Gathering Plants Japanese Maple Flowering Cherry Liriope
Specimen Pine Japanese Iris Japanese Forest Grass
Hinoki Cypress Hosta Deciduous Azalea
Existing Stairs & Building #3
Rain Garden Plants River Birch Carex Grayi Tassel Fern
Connecting to Alley Way & Building
#1 & 2
Memorial Rocks
Seat Wall
Stairs & Handrails
Brass Inlay Wood Stage
Entry Gate
Rain Garden Bluestone Pavers
vilion Memorial Rock New Fence
Existing Side Fence
4’
8’
12’
16’
Final Design | Plan View & Plant Selection
Structural Feature | Woven Basket The structural feature in the garden is inspired by Japanese basket weaving to represent the delicate craftsmanship of Japanese art. The side screening of the shelter also draws reference to Japanese Shoji screens with a "frame of view" of the garden's landscape.
Final Construction Details | Viewing Pavilion
Concept Sketches| Bamboo Baskets
Initial Schematic Model | Tea House Viewing Screens
Staggered Wood Panels
Tatami Deck Stepping Stone Bench
Final Design Model | Viewing Pavilion Wood Weaving
Viewing Screens
Seat Bench
Wood Decking Stage
Moon-shaped Steel Frame
Build the Garden | Merging of Ideas, Hands, Tools and Materials After 10 weeks of community involvements and design preparation in winter, we started another 10 weeks of construction process at the beginning of Spring Quarter. Students were assigned different task each day following the construction schedule that were given. We were able to see and involve every aspects of the design process from ideas, design, to building, and eventually, see how a design will evolve over the years in future.
Top Left: Bofore, Looking Down Top Right: After, Looking down Bottom Left: Construction, Planting Bottom Right: Construction, Site Preparation
Design Build 2014 Website | www.designbuild2014.wordpress.com
MADISON VALLEY Project Type: Construction Documents Studio Group Project Location: Madison Valley, Seattle WA Project Duration: 10 Weeks Team Members: Janice Chen, Cami Culbertson, Lindsey Gadbois Individual Contribution: Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, AutoCAD, Grading & Drainage Plan, Layout & Material Plan, Sections & Details, Hand/Digital Rendering.
This project provides opportunities for students to create a full-scale construction documents including base plan, material plan, grading and drainage plan, planting plan, and details. We generate a basic schematic design in two weeks to re-envision the Madision Valley Storm Water Park. For rest of the quarter, we further developed the design into construction documents with weekly redlines from professors. Such practice allows us to understand and learn how to create a professional document sets when working in office setting Brief Design Descriptions: Madison Valley Storm Water Park will accommodate more than 1 million gallons of water during storm events in order to prevent flooding in the area. This park functions as a