Portfolio for The Bartlett UCL _ Kieran Lu

ORT KIERAN QIREN LU

FOR APPLICATION TO THE BARTLETT. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

Mailing Address: FlatC, 142 Perth Rd. Dundee, UK Email: qirenlu@gmail.com Cell Phone: +44 (0)7410206124 +86 13237104210

lid

So

FOL Void

三十幅共一毂，当其无，有车之用。埏植以为器，当其无有器之用。凿户牖 以为室，当其无，有室之用。故有之以为利，无之以为用。 ——《道德经 十一章》 Put thirty spokes together and call it a wheel; But it is on the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the wheel depends. Turn clay to make a vessel; But it is on the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the vessel depends.

Pierce doors and windows to make a house; And it is on these spaces where there is nothing that the usefulness of the house depends.

Therefore, just as we take advantage of what is, we should recognize the usefulness of what is not. (Morality - Chapter 11, Laozi, BC 500） What is Architecture? My philosophy on Architecture is informed by the theory of the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Zi. He considered the house as a combination of “Yin” and “Yang”, or in other words, “Solid and Void”. The solid objects, such as the materials, structure and appearance represent the culture, but more importantly they provide an objective basis for the existence of void space. In terms of form, void space is the root of people’s use of architecture, but the two are dialectical and indispensable. Therefore, I believe the essence of architecture is to study the relationship between Solid and Void, of a union, intersection and overlapping, and create a symbiotic relationship between the two.

CONTENTS

UNDER THE SAME ROOF

00

SLEEVE

07

LAYERS

13

SPONGE CITY AND MULTI-GENERATION RESIDENCE THEME RECONSTRUCTION

BEIJING HUTONG RECONSTRUCTION COMPETITION

COMMERCIAL COMPLEX AND TOWER BUILDING

HUG

21

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY CENTRE

NEW KOWLOON WALLED CITY

29

PRINT FAST PILE HIGH

33

AA SHANGHAI VISITING SCHOOL PROJECT

TONGJI UNIVERSITY DIGITAL FUTURE WORKSHOP PROJECT

* Collaborative drawings are annotated with collaborators. All the other drawings without extra annotation are done independently.

[UNDER THE SAME ROOF] Sponge City and Multi-Generation Residence Theme Reconstruction Studio Work Collaborator: Zhihui Li Instructor: Prof. Dr. Cameron Wilson Site Location: Wuhan 2017.4

Inner flooding is a serious problem of Wuhan city, with a super high density of 26,000ppl/km². The project is exploring the methods of reconstruction of old buildings with multi- water managements and researching the problem of multi-generation family living under Chinese population background.

4

Site Analysis Flooded area

Site Flowing area

Computer Simulation of Flooding Situation

The site is located in the city of Wuhan, China, where the climate is rainy. Moreover, the Low-lying terrain and dilapidated drainage facilities increase the situation of water-logging. And the site is in a special location, which is on the boundary of flooded area and flowing area. So, both absorbing and slowing measure should be taken.

Water Management

[ 四水归堂 ] “Water To The Mid Yard” is a traditional style of architecture in ancient China. From the aspect of Feng shui, water means life as well as money, so it will collect the water into the church, bringing good luck to the people living in.

*Collaborator: Zhihui Li 1

Water Management

2

Family Planning Policy

Elders & Children ‘s Activities

Because of the family planning policy, the only-child parents have to bear more economic pressure, going out for work. Moreover, elder-education is a deep culture in ancient Chinese culture, which shows their status in a big family. Both reasons lead to generation-skipping education.

School Accessibility

According to the research, the elder & children prefer to stay in the public area in the community, doing some activities, but most adults go pass without staying. So, the major users of public spaces should be the elder & children.

Requirement & Needs

According to the investigation, there are 4 primary schools near the site, including one of the top schools. Because of the school district policy, most families prefer to live here with their children.

Environmental Condition

From the investigation, the public spaces in the site are in low quality, which are messy, unorganized, dark, wet and facilities broken. Therefore, few people prefer to stay in these areas, which lead lack of communication between the neighbours in this community.

From the research, it can be found that the requirements of children are obviously simpler than elders need.

3

Details & Functions of Frame

3-meter frames are the main traffic road of the site when flooding comes.

People can walk or see the view on this frames. Moreover, the area under the 3-meters frames is the main road of the ground floor.

2-meter frames are the main activity area of the public space that most of the activities happen here. It provides the space that meets the elders’ requirement of square dancing, taking rest, chatting, playing chess and watching chess etc.

The concept of the frames comes from the scaffold, which is easy to be installed and removed.

These kinds of frames connect by simple nodes so that it is flexible to be combined in different types in special situations. For example, it can be changed to a stand when there is a show in this theatre and dancing space.

A low-lying area gives a sense of safety and serenity, like a 2-meters frame surrounded by 3-meters frames. Therefore, these kinds of areas are designed for taking rest or playing chess as well as chatting, which are peaceful activities.

1-meter frames are in a close scale, which the parents or grandparents can stand on 1-meters frame to keep their children safe playing in the sand pool. Moreover, the 1-meters frames are also the main entrances to the whole frame-system. it helps people to get on the frames.

All the facilities are connected with the frame by special plugs.

Therefore, it can be moved to a different mode flexibly depending on users’ need.

4

3-meter frames and 2-meters frames can combine to a stage system, providing elders with a chance to show their vitality through square dancing, singing or other outdoor activities.

Public Area

The analysis before shows that the main issues are the low-quality public space and water flooding, and the major users are elders and children. So, we designed a kind of frames & nodes, with the concept of scaffold, which is flexible to be moved and changed the combination to different mode, meeting the citizens’ basic requirements and solving the flooding problems.

There are higher entrance and exit on the south of the site, the altitude of the landscape is 2 meters higher than average. Therefore, when the days flooding comes people in the community can use this entrance through the walkway on the frames.

The water platform that people can touch and play with the water safely when flooding comes, reducing the annoying that flooding takes.

The low-lying frames provide a quiet and safe environment for elders, who like to play chess with their partners. It partly prevents the player from being disturbed.

Open area provides enough space for elders’ square dancing as a platform. It can also be changed to stands when there is a show in special time.

Sand pool surrounded by 1-meter frames with close scale provides an interesting and safe area for children to have fun, under the care of their parents & grandparents.

5

Transformation Comparison & Structure

Explored Axonometric Drawing

Move

Move out the ground floor and first floor to the top of buildings with steel structure to reduce the damage caused by flooding.

4F PLAN

Before the transformation From the plan before interior transformation, there are three units in each floor. The area of Unit B is the least, and the area of Unit A&B are almost the same, but it wasted a lot of space as traffic area. Moreover, the triangle staircase is dark and boring so that nobody wants to stay here communicating with their neighbours.

SECTION UNIT A

SECTION UNIT C&D

4F PLAN *Collaborator: Zhihui Li

After the transformation After the transformation, we enlarge the total area of each floor by adding some platforms and cube outside. And Unit C before is separated into two units -- C&D, with loft, meeting the requirement of “3-generation living�. As for the staircase, glass cubes with tables and chairs are inserted every three floors as communicating space. And the lift is added for the elders.

*Collaborator: Zhihui Li The RC frame structure, as well as the floors of the building, are kept in the reconstruction. But a new facade with micro sun visors is installed to save energy. *Collaborator: Zhihui Li

6

[SLEEVE] Beijing Hutong Reconstruction Individual Competition Work Site Location: Beijing 2016.06

Architectures with Mortise and Tenon structure have already stood for thousands of years in China, withstanding countless disasters. The project is exploring how the traditional craft can be reinterpreted with parametric form, optimization and manufacture. it’s not only a try of adapting new technologies to traditional buildings, but it could be more like a reborn of the old crafts. 7

Site Location The project is located in Qingta Hutong, Beijing, near Baita Temple. The project retains the original function, combining with cafe and outdoor gallery in order to provide entertaining space for residents and citizens.

The project consists of a single-storey cafe and outdoor stairs, which help to create various space experience. For its extremely limited space, we decide to apply a huge mirror wall to extend the vision boundary. This project is to reinterpret old things with an advanced method, showing the importance of communication between different generations.

Site Plan

Ground Floor Plan

Conceptual Mass

Section A-A Context of Hutong and traditional quadrangle dwelling

Based on Fengshui, East house is cancelled

Twist forms as the sleeve in Peking opera

Concept - Insert New Life

8

Rendering

Framework Optimization

9

Joints Creating From Traditional Mortise and Tenon *Traditional Mortise and Tenon joints work under the gravity. But with the roof flipping upside down, traditional joints are out of work. So, developing new joints becomes a key of the project.

10

Construction And Structure

11

Manufacture And Making

Process of model making - Testing for novel wood joints, Scale: 1:1

Components of Joint1, Scale: 1:1 12

Hand-made model of Joint1, Scale: 1:1

[LAYERS] Commercial Complex And Tower Building Individual Studio Work Collaborator: Keyu Su Instructor: Prof. Meng Zhu 2018.06

Collaborated with Keyu, the project is one of the researching experiments for my master’s thesis - “Folding of public space”, which is exploring vertical urban planning in the skyscraper. The project is inserting service and public space between two private office towers as a vertical community. Moreover, parametric technologies are used in analysing and optimizing the structure and facade.

13

Site Analysis

*Collaborator: Keyu Su 14

Concept Sketch - Vertical Silent & Lively Zones

Exploded Axonometric Drawing - Spaces And Functions

Spaces And Functions

15

Traffic and Activities

*Collaborator: Keyu Su 16

Vertical Traffic

Plans And Section

17

Structure

18

Construction

Facade Rendering 19

Renderings

20

[HUG] Sustainable Community Centre Individual Studio Work Instructor: Prof. Dr. Neil Verow Site Location: Dundee 2017.11

The project is exploring the issues of the relationship between individual and society in different age groups. It’s aiming to create a new flat communication mode in place of traditional “parents teaching”, through an all age sharing multi-functional hall in the centre surrounded by specific areas occupied by different age groups as a hug.

Concept & Routes

LOW SOLAR ANGLE IN WINTER

Mass & Sunlight Experiment

Edges Definition

22

Sharpe corner of the road & plaza for new building

Enlarge the turn radius & plaza for new building

New road for smooth NorthSouth circulation

External playground for existing residential buildings on west of site

Education For Human

Gene

Gene

Function & Space

Gene

Gene

Gene

Gene

Education

The reason why humans are humans, it is because we have the knowledge, and pass it down to our offspring. Learning, education and communication make humans adapt to changes in the environment more quickly than other kinds of animals.

Traditional Information Exchange UNITUNIT

UNITUNIT

UNITUNIT

Flat Information Exchange

UNITUNIT

UNITUNIT

COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION

FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY EDUCATION EDUCATION

COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION

Reason For Exploring New Information Exchange Mode The project is exploring a more efficient information exchange mode that change single-way teaching and learning to a two-way communication. The people of different age communicate equally, blurring the boundaries among generations and family units. Elders are experienced, but they feel lonely and need the audiences to share with, which complement to children who need gaining life experience.

So, to some extent, this flat information exchange mode can jump out of the traditional passing loop of knowledge and strengthen its sustainability.

23

Concept And Strategies

24

Central Public Space - Micro Society

Ground Floor Plan 1:1000

Possibilities Of Central Multifunctional Public Space

First Floor Plan 1:1000

Rendering 25

Axon & Street View 26

Private Space - Elderly Social Housing

<16M

Room Type A Area: 129 ㎡ Ppl: 3

M <16

<1

6M

<16M

M <16

Fire Stair Case Public Balcony Private Balcony

Second Floor Plan

Room Plan 1:150

Room Type C Area: 141 ㎡ Ppl: 5-6

Room Type B Area: 116 ㎡ Ppl: 4

Room Type D Area: 155 ㎡ (include 40 ㎡ graden) Ppl: 4

Comparing two types of pipelines and ventilation layout, after calculating, it’s obvious that type 2 use less of the pipelines and has a smaller heat loss area. So, type 2 should be selected.

Renderings

Pipes Layout Comparison 27

South Facade The south facade was inspired by traditional Chinese windows -- Zhizhai Windows (removable windows). There are the same components controlled by the control wheel, forming a wave curve by axle system to control the internal-external environment.

Each component is associated with two of the nearest control wheels. The degree of influence decreases with distance as trigonometric function formula to ensure there is the same collective effect on each component.

Facade Component Test Model

28

Construction Model 1:20

[NEW KOWLOON CITY] AA Shanghai Visiting School Workshop + Individual Design Instructor: Prof. Gilles Retsin Site Location: Hongkong 2017.07

The project is exploring the possibility of adaptable architectures with computational autonomous design in the future. The computer program will calculate the force of each analysis point and communicate with surrounding points, 29 selecting one of the three basic elements for transformation processing, linking as the architectural form.

Highest Density Area In The World

Site Analysis

Kowloon walled city was the most crowded area in the world, containing 50,000 residents within 2.6-hectare borders.

Kowloon walled city is a Chinese military fort originally, then it became an enclave after the New Territories were leased to Britain

by China in 1898. The city grew spontaneously, and the population increased dramatically later, containing 50,000 residents within 2.6-hectare borders by 1990, becoming the most crowded area in the world.

The spontaneous growth of Kowloon walled city

Forming Process

Force

Force

Element0

Element2

Element1

if Stress-level > 6

Direction

Load Geometry

Kowloon walled city was not a slum in my opinion. Although the environment was seemingly dirty, chaos and dark compared with outside, the residents would never lose the hope. They produced and worked hard, struggling for a better life. It was harmonious and manageable under the poor condition. Moreover, people considered it a rudiment of the vertical city with well-equipped infrastructures like water supply, public toilet and medical treatment etc. in this community.

30

Support

Stresslines Stress levels

Pointscloud

New connections

Pick element A

B

if 0 < Stress-level < 3 Creat indoor space

C

Skeleton

Forming

Output

E

if Stress-level = 0

Loop to next point

Creat outdoor space

D AďŹ&#x20AC;ect the radius

AďŹ&#x20AC;ect the condition

Force analysis with grasshopper

Build the skeleton with processing

Forming with grasshopper

Principle Strategies

A

A

B

A

B

A

B

C

A

B

C

D

B

C

D

E

C

D

E

When the stress level is high, it means the structure load a high force. If the C than 6, fix D the central Epoint and the points that within 10 units level is higher distance in the current element. As for points beyond 10 units distance, move and connect them with the closest point in other elements to form a more stable structure.

Pick elements according to the types of vectors. If the vectors C pick element0 B D as a column.

E If they are in the vertical quadrant, are in the horizontal quadrant, pick the element1 as a slab.

element2

A

B

C

If all the stresses of elements points around are in the same direction, it E is simple and regular. The current element can be means theDforce condition changed into element2, which performs as indoor space and partitions.

A Removed

D

E

The size of different solids depends on the stress level in difB and ferent parts, which make the structureAmore reasonable save materials.

C

D

If all the stresses of elements points around are in 0 level, which means it will not affect E the whole structure when it is changed, the current element can be A removed to create an outdoor opening space.

B

31

Spaces And Functions Element0

Element1

Element2

Although the Kowloon Walled City was chaos and dirty seemingly, increasing number of people considered it the rudiment of the vertical city, which could improve itself spontaneously. To evolve this rudiment, the project is trying to normalize the basic elements of the structure into few forms and create a relationship between these elements and force conditions, making it structurally reasonable and developing continuable.

Moreover, the project also considers the functions of this rudiment, providing completive daily life, working chance, and full infrastructure for people as Kowloon City.

Renderings PLAN 1 [Roof garden] Roof garden provides outdoor area

[Office] Two parts of office with regular structure

PLAN 2

[Vertical traffic] Traffic, water pipes, vent pipes, equipments, etc.

[Industry] Producing area with strong and regular structure

[Institution] Institution offices serving for the whole building

[Commerce] Commercial area with fancy and complex form

[Residence] SECTION

32

Residential area for the citizens in building

[PRINT FAST PILE HIGH] Clay Printing - Tongji University Digital Future Workshop Workshop Teammates : Chengliang Li, Walaiporn Nakapan Instructor: Patrik Schumacher, Shajay Bhooshan 2018.07

There are many similar characteristics between clay and concrete. The project is studying the materialsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; characteristics, new architectural structure and style, exploring the possibility of future architectures with advanced fabrication technology.

33

Principle and Operation Boolean

Process

Types

Clay preparation

Collapsing The form is defined by the distance between pixels and basis objects, which are points and curves given by users.

The boolean operation can be used in basis objects forming different kinds of pixel fields.

Forming Process

Printing

Printed Components

34

Fabricating Process

35

Time-lapse Video of Parametric Construction Workshop ( Organizer, 2016 ), Please Click : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq_d38hDInM Personal Website for more works ( Product Design, Renderings, Photography etc. ) Please Click : https://lqr9500.wixsite.com/kieranlu