Portfolio 2023

Portfolio

Qiongsen Jin

Selected Works (2021 - 2023)

believe architecture is a form of communication. It is an "abstract" language that is spoken without concrete rules. The architecture itself communicates through a different form of space-making and interaction with audiences. I am passionate about various forms of design experiments that can go beyond the discipline of architecture. Architecture is no longer a built space but more than that it is the extension of human behaviour. What I am looking for is not only about experiments on paper but also how they are projected in reality. am fascinated by designs that can communicate critical issues and interact with contemporary society.

Education

Spring Semester Program (Exchange)

2023 - Architectural Association School of Architecture London, UK

Master of Architecture Program

2022 - In progress| Hong Kong University, Hong Kong SAR

Bachelor of Arts in Architecture

2018 - 2022 | University of Toronto, Canada

Specialist in Architecture Studies: Design of Architecture, Landscape, and Urbanism Stream

Minor in Visual Studies

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

2016 - 2018 | Mark Twain International School of Bucharest, Romania

Awards

Editor's Choice, Shortlisted - Brewed Cafe Design

2020 | Vienna

Group Work with Zhicheng Wang

Honourable Mention, Top 36 - Mooo3 ISO[Nation]

2020 | No Specific Location

Group Work with Yuxuan Lin and Jiachen Du

Professional Experiences

Research Assistant - Hong Kong University

March 2023 - Present | Hong Kong SAR

Helping with 3d modelling for an archaeological field project that takes place in the South Caucasus

Building and modifying digital 3D models in mesh format under the guidance of archaeologists

Architectural Designer - JET Architecture Inc.

May 2022 September 2022 | Toronto, Canada

S.D | Completed Professional site visits analyzed the site conditions and surrounding limitations.

P.D & S.D | Participated in the design of the Townhouse Project gathering information and preferences of clients, and exploring design concepts to come up with an efficient building design.

C.D | Helping the team with the plan layout and detailed construction of a condo project in Revit.

D.D | Worked on the design of a Garden Centre - responsible for modelling and rendering.

Architectural Intern - AICO (Shanghai) Architecture Design

June 2021 August 2021 | Shanghai, China

S.D | Drawing the concept diagrams and generating site analysis.

+1 416 -821-8356

qiongsen.jin@mail.utoronto.ca jinjonson00@gmail.com

P.D | Participated in design seminar discussions of a shopping mall - responsible for gathering information and precedents.

C.D | Assisted the team with construction drawings of a condo project.

Architectural Intern - Shengxia Design Co.

S.D | Completed professional site visits - measuring the site conditions (noise levels, circulation, and Neighbouring buildings etc.)

P.D | Participated in design seminar discussions of a service room for a park - responsible for modelling and rendering.

C.D | Assisted the team with construction drawings of a residential project.

Certificates

Certificate in sustainability and Built Environment

2022 | University of Toronto, Canada

Certificate in Revit for Architecture Program

2023 | George Brown College, Canada

Software Skills

May 2019 - August 2019 |Wenzhou, China Rhino

Soft Skills

Attention to detail | Time management | Organization (capable of handling multiple projects) | Mentoring/ Team management | Communication | Decision making.

Language

Mandarin(Native), English (Fluent), and Romanian(Fluent)

Interests

Painting, Photography and Video Editing

Table of Contents

Terra Nullius

Course: ARCH7081 Design 11

Instructor: Kaicong Wu

Group Work with Yilun Jiang and Yutong Guo

Year: 2022

How do we envision our visionary living space? In the project, “The Walking City” by Archigram, they represented a technological utopianism where our living space is dynamic. Archigram argues that architecture needs to first give priority to people before it was about anything else, the aim of the design is to let the living space constantly change with its inhabitants rather than staying static. Therefore, I am triggering the question “Do we, human beings always have the priority of allocating resources in this world?”

People always have the tendency of dominating nature, but instead of subjection, I strongly believe a harmonious living space is about coexisting with nature. This belief in coexistence with nature should be carried on from generation to generation. In this project, our group was asked to design the masterplan of Kau Yi Chou artificial island by implementing a generative design process while simultaneously satisfying the requirements of the Hong Kong Government. We assumed that the original KYC island has its own consciousness and the ability to decide its own extension. We conducted a series of physical experiments by using the KYC island as a base to generate a set of masterplans for further evaluation.

The First Set of Experiments

For the first set of experiments, we are experimenting with the slopes of the original KYC island by pouring different types and colours of liquids into the 3D print model of the island.

The Second Set of Experiment

For the second set of experiments, we added the transport stations surrounding the original KYC island so that the two sets of liquids can blend with each other forming a more efficient masterplan in terms of zoning and transportation.

Concept Diagram

After conducting a series of physical experiments, we then evaluated the masterplans in the digital “world” so that we can further detail the masterplan in a more efficient way. First of all, we are aiming for high-efficiency transportation so therefore the entire island is connected by an enormous hyper-loop. We also used different digital simulation tools to help us in improving the path of the loop.

1000 Hectares

Design Goals

Liquids

We also introduced different types of liquids that can fit the zoning condition of their own. For example, the commercial area (Blue) is only mixed up with water so that it is easier to blend with other zones otherwise CBD without any urban activity will be a “ghost town” after working hours.

An Island Without Car

Green Space Easily Accessible

We experimented with the slopes of the original KYC island by pouring different types and colours of liquids into the 3D print model of the island.

Top-Down

We added the transport stations surrounding the original KYC island so that the two sets of liquids can blend with each other forming a more efficient masterplan in terms of zoning and transportation.

Giving Meaning to Colours

We also created a loop between the physical and digital world, by using the feedback from the digital simulations, we are able to do the experiment in a more systematic and rational way.

Introducing Oil as the Separator

We used oil occasionally in between each liquid so that we can control how each liquid blended with the other. Therefore, the sharp and blurred edge and boundary conditions are introduced to the master plan.

Different urban are created through physical and digital experiments so then we evaluated based on the criteria proposed by the Hong Kong government.

Based on the assessment, the resulting first master plan has most of the residential areas (in red) located at the edge of the island. Ideally, however, the business district should be on the edge, as the edge of the island is usually more prestigious than other subdivisions.

Based on the assessment, the result of the second master plan is more dispersed in terms of zonings. Therefore, a complex and dynamic transportation system should be implemented in the master plan. In addition, the proportion of each district of this master plan seems to not satisfy the regulations of the Hong Kong government.

According to the evaluation, the result of this master plan is the most successful in terms of efficiency, with all the zoning integrated, with commercial areas at the edges and residential areas in the middle, with easy access to green spaces and commercial spaces.

Buildings as landscape

Lagoon as a part of Cityscape

After exporting the physical experiment into the digital world, the computer divided the pattern into bright and dark areas. The darkest areas that could not be read by computer have been translated as lagoons with a pedestrian walk surrounding them.

All the building heights are carefully manipulated in a gradient of the slope so that it can create an artificial mountain throughout the buildings.

Multifunctional Bridge A Rooftop Public Space

We are aiming for high-efficiency transportation so therefore the entire island is connected by an enormous hyper-loop. We also used different digital simulation tools to help us in improving the path of the loop.

The bridge is subdivided into three layers: 1) the subway at the bottom, 2) the highway at the middle and 3) the pedestrian walk at the top.

Biotope

Course: ARCH7081 Design 11

Instructor: Kaicong Wu

Year: 2022

The aim of this project is to pick a site from the previous master plan and translate the concept into an architecture. Since our master plan is generated through a natural formula by using the slope of the KYC island and the gravity force, there is a certain number of ineffective sites that sometimes are too narrow or microscopic. I decided to take the challenge and respond to these types of sites, using natural simulation tools that reflect the site condition.

The term biotope is often used to describe the process of preservation, regeneration, and creation of natural environmental settings. People always have the tendency of dominating nature, but instead of subjection, I strongly believe a harmonious living space is about coexisting with nature. This project is an experiment in creating a coexisting meditation space and natural environment.

3D Vector Field

Since the road system of the master plan is generated through vector fields, so I decided to carry on the approach instead of a 2D pattern, making it a 3D volume. The original extrusion will be “distorted” accordingly to the vector field.

Solar Analysis

In order to make a more systematic and logical vector field, I decided to divide the form finding into different phases. For each phase, a solar analysis will be conducted in order to determine the most sun-exposed zone, and it will be translated into the vector point in the field.

Concept Diagram

There are two approaches used in generating the form of the building. The first approach is site-based where the transition of the 2D vector field to the 3D vector field happened. The second approach is environment-based, where a wind simulation is conducted and treating the massing of a soft fabric served as the structure of the exterior nature space.

Ground Floor

The ground floor is the narrowest level in the building, and as the height increases, so does the floor

Master Plan

Level 03

The site is located at the edge of all three zonings: commercial, residential and green space. It is situated nearby one of the stations on the North edge.

area.

On the above levels, the meditation spaces are blended into the building's exterior and interior.

Level 04

Each of the “spheres” represents a meditation space where they are connected with each other that also served as circulation for the natural ecosystem.

Sectional Perspective

Rooftop Terrace

The top is the roof terrace where the most of tall plants are located. It has two meditation spaces on both sides of the building.

The main structure of this building is formed by the exoskeleton columns and the stairs as the assistance of its structure.

A Nature Habitat A Public Courtyard

Nature will grow organically on the exterior structure that is formed throughout the wind simulation of the site.

Underneath the structure, it formed a public courtyard space that serve as a buffer between the street and the building.

Meditation Space

The mediation spaces are in each sphere, where different sizes of openings are implemented as both lighting and circulation for the natural ecosystem.

Organic "Floating" Stair

The stairs are designed organically, maximizing the walking distance so that it is almost like walking in a park.

Refraction House

Course: ARC361

Instructor: Nova Tayona

Year: 2021

The house is located at Kensington Market, where the original building on this site was a twostory garage. Since I am replacing the garage with a residential house, I decided to approach my design by starting with a typology study of the surrounding garage on the site. Based on the research, I realized that the utility of garages in the Kensington market has shifted from private to public (commercial).

However, what has been changed is only their function with no adaptation of form based on their utility. Kensington Market is a place that represents a unique shopping experience, a community worth living in, an artistic haven. Hence, I think the “garage shops” in Kensington Market should reflect the cultural meaning of the site. The house is a mirror of my response to the site, where I want to challenge the existing typology of the garage and introduce the notion of “form follows function.”

Site Analysis: Garage Typology

From the typology analysis, I examined different types of garages and their relationship to their surroundings. I then extracted two case studies of the garage and investigated the design challenge they are currently facing and used them to develop the base rules for my design. In this first case study, I investigated the issue of privacy

Site Analysis: Garage Typology

Since our site is situated on one of the main streets of Kensington Market, the pedestrian can see the indoor space. Hence, in order to create more privacy, I pushed one of the walls inwards to a point. In response to the site and the surrounding buildings, which prevent light from entering the house, pushed the roof upwards to a point to create a skylight.

Concept Diagram

Based on the site analysis and garage typology studies of the surrounding site, various actions are made in order to maximize the sun condition of the house.

A contrast has been created between the deconstructed form of the building with the cubic architecture surrounding it, highlighting and encouraging the uniqueness of the market.

The building site is located between the commercial and residential areas of the Kensington market with the north facade facing toward the main street.

Level 2

Direct Light Versus Diffused Light

Ground Floor

Level 2 has public space facing the main street and private rooms at the back. It includes a playroom, work space, parent’s bedroom, and washroom.

The Ground floor is mainly a public space that includes a entrance, living room, kitchen and garage.

A series of direct lights are used in public spaces and diffused light in private rooms, in order to achieve dynamic lighting conditions but in a controllable way.

Level 4

Level 3

Physical Model 1:10

Level 4 has public space facing the main street and private rooms at the back. It includes a small library, kid’s bedroom, and washroom.

Level 3 has public space facing the main street and private rooms at the back. It includes a playroom, work space, parent’s bedroom, and washroom.

A series of Public terraces extends Bryant park's public space vertically, while the platformfunctions as a canopy above

There are two main skylights in the building, and both of them are facing toward the main circulation of the building.

Chinatown: Void

Year: 2021

Where is the boundary of Toronto’s Chinatown?

With the Toronto urban renewal project that took place from the 1950s to the 1970s, the old Chinatown was demolished and replaced by the new city hall. As the planned development zones had left Chinatown with a limited option for relocation, most early Chinese immigrants decided to rebuild Chinatown on Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street.

This project focuses on architectures and urban planning relationship with borders of Chinatown in terms of political, ethnical, and typological conditions. The border of Toronto’s Chinatown is divided into 1) visible boundary, that is, the architectural and street typology boundary 2) invisible boundary, that is, the political and economic boundary. The visible boundaries of Chinatown are shaped by political and economic forces connected to global interests that form an invisible boundary.

Course: ARC465

Instructor: Annie-Marie Armstrong

Group Work with Yuxuan Lin

A BRIEF HISTORY

18801965

03 REBUILD CHINATOWN

1960s 1900s 1880s

In the dawn of the 19th century, the first wave of Chinese immigrants came to Canada, many participated in constructing the Canadian Pacific Railway. These immigrants autonomously form collaborative communities at the site, trading imported Chinese goods.

Andrew Onderdonk failed to fulfill his promise to provide tickets back to china, labourers who could not afford tickets stranded in Canada. Due to the discrimination in B.C., they fleed to Toronto. The first Toronto Chinatown was built in a bounded zone called “The Ward.” Which is an immigrant slum, FOR the reason that white landlords refused to sell or rent properties.

The Urban Renewal proposal in the 1950s demolished 2/3 of the old Chinatown and replaced it with the new Toronto City Hall. Chinese immigrants move east and west to build two Chinatowns: The primary Chinatown at Spadina-Dundas and East Chinatown at Gerrard.

Public Quesionnaire

Throughout the questionnaire, we can see a boundary condition defined by volunteers who are familiar with Toronto’s Chinatown.

DIVIDE BOUNDARY WITH ROADSIGNS

Border from Public Perspective

SIMPLE LOGIC, IF THERE ARE NO CHINESE RESIDENTS NEARBY, THERE IS NO NEED TO SET UP TRANSLATED ROADSIGNS.

WE MAPPED OUT ALL THE TRANSLATED ROADSIGNS WE FOUND, TOGETHER WITH THE "BREAK POINTS": THE ROADSIGNS WITHOUT TRANSLATIONS. FINALLY, ROADSIGNS ENCIRCLED A CLEAR BOUNDARY THAT WE BELIEVE IS THE RESIDENTIAL AREA OF CHINATOWN RESIDENTS.

TORONTO'S CHINATOWN IS UNDOUBTEDLY A VERY SPECIFIC CASE. IT DOES NOT HAVE A CLEAR BORDER OF TERRITORIES. HOWEVER, IN OUR FIELD SURVEY, WE FOUND SYMBOLIC CHINESE STYLE COLOUM SETS ON SPADINA.

According to the questionnaire, most people use the streets as a reference to delineate the boundaries, especially Spadina Avenue, Dundas and Baldwin Street This is because these streets have most of the Chinese shops and restaurants.

RESPECTIVELY AT THE JUNCTION OF DUNDAS STREET AND QUEEN STREET. WE BELIEVE THAT IS THE MOST APPARENT SIGN OF CHINATOWN TERRITORY.

Border from Translated Road signs

We intended to find the correlation between the results of the questionnaire and the actual situation in Chinatown. We noticed that many road signs in Chinatown have Chinese translations, so we spent some time on site investigation to find all the translated road signs and where these signhs end.

Row-House

Multi-Storey Retail

East Chinatown: Broadview & Gerrard

The old architectural style of Chinatown is defined based on the following three characteristics: 1) the Stair Entrance, 2) the Row-house, where a building is shared with multiple retail stores, and 3) the Multi-storey retail

With the development of Spadina & Dundas Chinatown, many international developers decided to concentrate their business in Chinatown.

The Streetscape and building typologies are more integrated into its residential neighbourhood. It is a perfect combination of residential and commercial areas.

Stair Entrance

However, it can be seen that the borders of Chinatown have become more transparent. Today's Chinatown is no longer regarded as a slum, but a city-scale economic development zone

Multi-Storey Retail

A key factor of Toronto Chinatown's development lies in the transformation from a residential area to a commercial area. We collected historical aerial photo of Dundas street (Spadina Ave. East), and analyzed the change of building typology.

Chinatown: Spadina & Dundas

After the construction of Dundas & Spadina Chinatown, the area quickly became a commercial representative of the city of Toronto. The sidewalk width and building typology have been planned to facilitate commercialization, especially the staircase entrance.

We observed that from 1965 to 1992, Dundas street undertook a large transformation from residential housing to commercial buildings. Standing at the master scale, the area of study has a clear distinction between building types, which made a clear boundary with a commercial and residential area.

Multi-Storey Retail Stair Entrance

Standing at the master scale, the area of study has a clear distinction between building types, which made a clear boundary with a commercial and residential area.

It is interesting that a number of people did not know where the East Chinatown is. the majority of the people only have a rough impression of East Chinatown. The result on the other perspective proved that East Chinatown a blend-in to the local community

STREET VIEW

ISOMETRIC

SURROUNDED BY RESIDENTIAL AREAS HOWEVER, BOTH OF CHINATOWNS ARE COMMERCIAL CENTRALIZED BUT THE EAST CHINATOWN IS ONLY AT A NEIGHBOURHOOD SCALE IN CONTRAST, SPADINA AND DUNDAS CHINATOWNS ARE CONSIDERED AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION AND THEREFORE DEFINITELY HAVE MORE ECONOMIC VALUE IN ORDER TO ATTRACT TOURISTS, THEY ESTABLISHED MANY CHINESE STATUES (FOR EXAMPLE, IN HURON

CHINATOWN: SPADINA & DUNDAS

RESIDENTS LIVING NEARBY THEREFORE, WE TOOK OUT THE STORE SIGNS AND OTHER CHINESE SYMBOLS, AND WE REALIZED THAT EAST CHINATOWN, WHICH HAS NO CULTURAL VALUE, COULD BE EASILY REPLACED WITHOUT CULTURAL OR ECONOMIC VALUE, IT IS VERY POSSIBLE TO EXCLUDE EAST CHINATOWN FROM THE PLANNING, JUST LIKE HOW THE OLD CHINATOWN WAS DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED BY A NEW CITY HALL

THE AREA IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE CITY OF TORONTO AND BECAME AN ESSENTIAL FRAGMENT OF THE ECONOMICAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE CITY AS WE HAVE MENTIONED, THE PLACE IS BEING CONSIDERED AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION SPOT WITH A HIGH CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC VALUES

ISOMETRIC

CHINATOWN: SPADINA & DUNDAS

Between the Lines: Border, Territory and Space 40

DRIVING LANE: 12-15m

STREET WIDTH: 16-18m

WALKWAY: 3.2-3.5m

East Chinatown: Broadview & Gerrard

AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION OF DUNDAS & SPADINA CHINA, THE AREA QUICKLY BECAME A COMMERCIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY TORONTO THE SIDEWALK WIDTH AND BUILDING TYPOLOGY HAVE BEEN PLANNED TO FACILITATE COMMERCIALIZATION, ESPECIALLY THE STAIRCASE ENTRANCE THIS UNIQUE TYPOLOGY CAN ONLY BE SEEN IN DUNDAS & SPADINA CHINATOWN AND PART OF YORKVILLE BECAUSE THE LAND-USE EFFICIENCY REGULATIONS LATER BELIEVE THAT SUCH DESIGN IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO IMPROVING LAND UTILIZATION, SO IT IS NO LONGER CARRIED OUT STREET HAVE CLEAR HIERARCHY IN TERMS OF STREET WIDTH

Located in Riverdale, was also branched off from the old Chinatown. Unlike Dundas & Spadina Chinatown, the East Chinatown is completely surrounded by residential areas. However, both of Chinatowns are commercial centralized but the East Chinatown is only at a neighbourhood scale.

BLURRING BORDER NO SIGNIFICANT HIERARCHY

DRIVING LANE: 15-17m

STREET WIDTH: 18-20m

WALKWAY: 3.2-3.8m

Chinatown: Spadina & Dundas

It is interesting that a number of people did not know where the East Chinatown is. the majority of the people only have a rough impression of East Chinatown. The result on the other perspective proved that East Chinatown a blend-in to the local community.

The Vision

The Rendering Series

Year: 2021

I believe architecture is a form of communication. It is an “abstract” language that is spoken without concrete rules. The architecture itself communicates through a different form of space-making and interaction with audiences. I am passionate about various forms of design experiments that can go beyond the discipline of architecture. Architecture is no longer a built space but more than that it is the extension of human behaviour. What I am looking for is not only about experiments on paper but also how they are projected in reality. I am fascinated by designs that can communicate critical issues and interact with contemporary society.

This rendering series demonstrates my ambition and the way I think architecture rendering should have a narration on telling the story by itself. I think successful architecture is not only about form and function, but more than that, it can be a record of an important moment or a symbol that can lead people to think about the questions beyond architecture

A Self Assembly System Providing Live Stream of the Pacific Garbage Patch Mosaic Sphere

Instead of abandoning worn-out objects into the ocean, we plan on making the action of "dumping" the 1st step of their meaningful existence - Plastic Tetrahedrons, each with a photovoltaic panel and a camera, ready to capture live footage and reply to us with the journey of their own.

Now we have a mosaic interior in the sphere - each pane showing a distinct image. Tetrahedral pieces launched into the ocean act as mosaics in a puzzle, each lost in a different corner of the ocean, struggling to find each other.

The Cloud Pavilion Blurry Vision

The pavilion is an extension of Jungen’s concept - using the quality of the cloud to depict the elusiveness of Jungen’s workThe blurry vision and the foggy characteristic of clouds allude to the core characteristic of Jungen’s work.

The irregular and clean form of cloud made a contrast with the heavy commercial buildings surrounded.Therefore, the role of the pavilion is not only to display the artist’s work but also to invite people to slow down from this fast-paced neighbourhood and enjoy the journey of the exhibition.

Museum of Emotion Positive and Negative

The rolled surfaces growing up from the desert depict the complexity of human emotions and simultaneously blend with their surroundings.

The space that symbolizes positive emotion has more light than the negative space, where light is used as tool to distinguish different spaces.

Danforth

JET Architecture

Supervisor: Jeff Leung

Year: 2022

This project is one of the projects I participated in at JET Architecture Studio, and the main responsibility was to complete a professional site visit to analyze the site conditions and surrounding limitations. The project was about housing in Toronto and required us not only to have residential units but also retail and workspace on the ground floor. I also help gather client information and preferences and explore design concepts to come up with efficient architectural designs. In addition, I also helped the team with floor plans, unit plans and detailed construction drawings in Revit.

I believe architecture is a form of communication. It is an “abstract” language that is spoken without concrete rules. The architecture itself communicates through a different form of space-making and interaction with audiences. I am passionate about various forms of design experiments that can go beyond the discipline of architecture. Architecture is no longer a built space but more than that it is the extension of human behaviour. What I am looking for is not only about experiments on paper but also how they are projected in reality. I am fascinated by designs that can communicate critical issues and interact with contemporary society.

250 Danforth Rd.

F10 - 2B - 2

2B

3

PRIMARY BEDROOM 9' 9" x 10' 7" BEDROOM 2 8' 2" x 9' 0"

All dimensions and specifications are approximate. Certain plans are reverse or mirror image. Balcony square footages are estimated and may vary from that stated. Please see Sales Representative for details. Furniture not included. Refer to key plan for unit location and orientation. E. & O.E.

This unit is located in the north west, where both bedrooms are facing towards the balcony in order to maximize the sun exposure in the unit.

This unit is located in the west, where both bedrooms are facing towards the balcony in order to maximize the sun exposure in the unit.

This unit is located on the west side of the building with a continuous and large living room, and the primary bedroom is facing towards the balcony.