Jingxi Zhang
BBusSc, MArch
Portfolio Architecture Design \
Jingxi Zhang M.Arch B.Bus.Sc (marketing) This volume displays my investigation of architecture, through the manipulation of models and drawings at various scales. It consists of a variety projects that represents me as a scholar. This is only the beginning of my exploration of architecture.
Projects Pier 7 Media Library San Francisco, CA, USA Mediateque Rodriegues, Zhang
Corner Sync Houghton, MI, USA Mixed-use housing Owen, Phillips, Zhang Kasernenareal Zurich ZĂźrich, Switzerland Urban integration and re-programming Zhang Peruvian Khipu Exploration of program through traditional art Zhang
Parametric Interlock Parametric programming Ayad, Mistry, Zhang Triplet Creative photography Zhang Three-legged Side Table Furniture Zhang Objet TrouvĂŠ Andermatt, Switzerland Urban development Flury, Zhang
Pier 7 Media Library San Francisco, USA
The site is located on the busy and famous Embarcadero in the San Francisco Bay. The intention was to design a new public space on the triangular open site, directly North East of financial district of San Francisco and along a quiet commercial and residential inner-city suburb. The simple beginning to the design scheme with clear concepts developed into a comprehensive design, focusing not only on design, human comfort, circulation, connection, but also practicality in the real world.
Above | 1/8” Section model Top Right | 1/16” Site model Right | Schematic design models
Floor plans
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Elevations Approach from the Embarcadero
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Interior of mediateque
Corner Sync Houghton, MI
Houghton is a small and quiet university town in the northern peninsula of Michigan State. The site is adjacent to the main street that runs through the linear town. Located at 42 degree north of the equator, this region receives very heavy snowfall and short winter days. The extreme and harsh climate was the main consideration of this design project. The uncustomary order of the building was the result of three main influencing guidlines: Each unit is to receive maximum Southern exposure; views out to the northern canal for each residential unit, and a range of privacy considerations from other tenants were essential. A number of forms, material choices and passive energy strategies were explored in order to maximize the human comfort and push towards a net-zero design.
South facing elevation
Hand models
North facing elevation
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Kasernenareal Z端rich, Switzerland
Kasernenareal has accommodated many programatic changes in the last century. Built originally for the sole purpose of the military before World War I, it was re-occupied by the Canton Police department after the military was no longer needed. In 2019, this large land in the heart of Z端rich will be repurposed again when the Police department relocates. There has been decades of debate on how to appropriately re-program these large open land, as the high land value as it is centrally located. This was a semester long thesis topic. The stretch of land and its surrounding neighbourhood was studied as a multi-layered urban neighbourhoodand its potentials explored. Layers of maps are created, then inter-layered to identify points of observation. Simple images and collages of the open spaces were proposed.
Use of buildings in the neighbourhood
Opening up closed corridors to increase flow
Green activity in the neighbourhood
Transportation hubs and road types
Elevation changes to the landscape, creating more seating space and opportunities for activities.
Corridor from Kasernenareal buildings connecting to the park
Peruvian Khipu The Khipu is an ancient Peruvian data-recording device, made from camalid wool. They are twisted tightly until the strands start to twist around itself to form a thicker strand. Each strand has different colours, and they represent a meanings or event. Colours are often interwoven to form new meanings. All Pendent cords are tied to the Main cord. The Pendent chord are knotted at each position for the units, 10s, 100s and so on. Some pendants have subsidiary cords, which tell extra information about the parent pendant cord.
Single knot for non-single digit numbers
With the use of colours, the knots and attachments, complex stories can be woven. The narrative of this Khipu explores the infamous South American king: El Dorado and the short history of his kingdom over ten lunar cycles (marked by the ten top chords).
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Single knots
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Singles
Long knots
Knot group: 2 348
Knot group: 11 253
Knot group: 12 345
Pendant cord
Long knot for single digits
Parametric Interlock Three modules interlock to support each other. The primary geometric configuration was explored in depth through non-structural materials. Once a clear system of joinery was established, the model was scaled up to a building which brought forth new questions of structure and space. The goal was not to keep just the form of the model, rather its internal structural logic. The building therefore is maintained as a composition of three stacked modules which balance each other. To determine the structural forces acting on each of the three modules, the small foam model was studied extensively. This involved the application of artificial point forces at the most vulnerable locations (predominantly the cantilevers) and then documenting the tectonic force transfer to the ground. Once each force load was mapped on each of the three arms, they were considered separately and designed as individual elements. The resulting building is a sequence of overlapping volumes; each offset from the previous one, creating a heterogeneous spatial play. The building can be visualized as a single structure or as an aggregation of multiple units creating an interior city.
Modules – each module consists Of 3 sides
Modules - each consists of three arms
Interlocking unit
Introducing the 4th member
Interlocking unit
Introducing the 4th member
Identical unit – Unit identical to Yellow is formed on adding 4th member
Forms same unit
Identical unit - two identical units are additions
Forms the same unit
Expansion of interlocking units into bigger structures
Tryptic These three images focus on the subject of a winter tree at alternating distances. They are personal explorations of the qualities of nature, which often go unnoticed. The black and white quality and the way that the images are displayed contribute to the investigation. The stripping of its colours exposes the raw textures and shadows, so that the viewer can focus on the most important. The tryptic cut of each image highlights the level of detail that exist in the nature at alternating distance to the object. At different zooms of a single tree, very different textures are evident. Each image is associated with a name, inspired by the nature of the image.
Snap is the sound of a branch breaking off a tree. This piece of the branch lies in the snow, decaying. Its deterioration is evident in the peeling of its skin as it interacts with the surrounding nature.
Nook displays the girth of the tree. The extrusions are the defects. However, these nooks and crooks make the subject perfect.
Maze is an interlace of branches. The web of interconnecting branches reflects the complexity and of nature.
Three-legged Side table The most important qualities of this seemingly traditional three-legged table are the grains and shape. The table top has a rounded edge with an routered indent. It was sanded very finely and finished off with poly-oil mix and crystal clear paste wax to pull the grains through the butternut wood. The spindle was shaped to dramatise the wax and wanes, as well as to show off the strength of the material. To bring an alternative element to the traditional three-legged table, the legs were raspered and sanded roughly to show texture and then it was finished with two layers of milk paint.
Alteration to an Alpine Resort Andermatt, Switzerland
A new tourist development in the Alpine town of Andermatt is currently under construction. Only a portion of the golf course and a plinth currently exists. The golf course and plinth is treated as Objet TrouvĂŠ (found objects). It provided opportunities for re-interpretation. A series of manipulations transform the Objet TrouvĂŠ into light-filled and connected spaces for the living and working of a new community. The investigation began with understanding the massiveness of the concrete structures and the extent of the site. Previously programmed to be a service and parking lot, the plinth occupies almost the same area as the town of Andermatt, which made it a perfect vehicle for the proposed program.
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Andermatt | Intervention
The presentation of this project was as important as the plans themselves. There were three parts to the installation. A light box with the maps and plans displayed the layers of changes to the Objet TrouvĂŠ. The models were a vehicle to understand the interesting internal spaces and their potentials. The atmospheric visualizations set the mood for the interior and exterior around the plinth. Since bringing light into the interior spaces were our primary focus of manipulation, all the plans and photos were printed on tracing paper and placed in front of a light source.
ndermatt, Plan and Section 1:500, ndermatt, Plan and Section 1:500,
matt, Plan and Section 1:500,
Plinth | Proposed floor plan and program Appropriated Plan
Furniture
Circulation
Creative photography
Jingxi Zhang E-mail | jingxime@gmail.com Telephone | +1 515 441 4576 Website | www.jingxi-z.com