KIM NGUYEN
PORTFOLIO 2016
Kim Nguyen E: kimnguyen@live.com.au M: 0403 714 698 A University of Melbourne Graduate (Bachelor of Environments) and a current Masters student at RMIT University (Master of Energy Efficient and Sustainable Building) with multi-disciplinary academic experience and particular interest in sustainability. Proven to work well collaboratively on projects and highly motivated to produce high quality work with complex concepts.
2013 | PAPER NATURE The brief calls for the design of a portable paper lantern that can be carried by one person. The lantern should interface with the hand and the arms only. Students were asked to explore forms through de-coding the ‘recipes’ behind natural patterns and re-generating them in Rhinoceros5. From this digital model, a cutting template can be unfolded and then a self-supporting, physical model can be created.
The design drew inspiration from the natural formation of hexagons on a turtle’s shell, as well as from the complex curved nature of the shell as a whole. The basis of the design pattern was a series of hexagons mapped onto a surface, with the mapped out curves then extruded. All curved surfaces were then triangulated to produce a feasible and unfoldable design.
In accordance with the brief, working lights were installed within the corners of the elements near the holding base, and a switch installed near the hand’s resting position. The result is a gentle diffusion of light, gradually emerging from the opening of the shell, and captured within the complex folds of the form. The elaborate shadows cast from the lantern highlight the repetition of the composing elements as well as the organic, overall form.
“This project explore tiling as a surface organization from 2-dimension plane to 3-dimensional geometry. Kim observed the tiling pattern of a turtle shell which allows her to developed a 3-d tiling system. This is then aggregated to form a volumetric design which uses the weight of the paper and perforation technique to design the lighting effect. The results is a subtly tessellated volume that encapsulated the diffuse effects.�
http://ve.crida.net/2014/works/265/
2015 | APOLLO MELBOURNE
Apollo Melbourne was the design for a multi-level motel located on the corner of Spencer Street and Batman Street in the Melbourne CBD. As well as being a motel, the building had to serve as the headquarters for our proposed future Architecture firm and as the headquarters for the Australian Yoga Association. Inspiration for the design was drawn from the seven pointed symbol of the Nine Muses of Greek Mythology - each muse represents a different element of the liebral arts and altogether were considered deities that gave artists creative inspiration. The floor plan for each level began as a square which was laid on top of the seven pointed star, with the appropriate muses for the floor’s usage used as drawing points. The building is named after the leader of the Nine Muses - Apollo.
The building features seven floors, with an accessible rooftop and underground carpark. Two floors are dedicated to private rooms and the 3rd floor restaurant and bar space overlooks the architectural office on the second floor connected by a large shared volume. The design embraces the cantilever and overhanging spaces, and the overall form has a gentle twist.
2015 | SEEDSCAPE
“ Implementing the idea of self-commissioned architecture, propose an architectural intervention that will express, support, amplify or question continuous relationships between technical, cultural and natural systems. Can the project create new possibilities for life that improve on what was possible before the intervention? How can this project contribute to and adapt in a dynamic world? ” (StudioAIR Handbook, 2015) The focus of the project “Seedscape” was in response to the critical degredation of the quality of River Red Gums which grew along the banks of Merri Creek in East Brunswick, Melbourne. One of the primary concerns as documented in Merri Creek Environs Strategy (2009-2014) is the high level of contaminants in the creek as a result of factory runoff, urbanisation and illegal dumping, thus contaminating a large number of the Red Gum seeds which fall to the ground for germination. The project aims to protect Red Gum seeds through the process of timed collection and release. The form of the Seedscape is composed of a series of cells which can hang beneath branches, the top side is exposed and the underside closed to allow capture of seeds and foliage. The construction utilises an MDF frame with polypropylene facade lining, all connected via cable ties - using a minimal amount of materials and fixing elements allows for an easy build which can be controlled with a labelling system applied to the digital model and then etched onto the physical model. Rhinoceros5 was utilised in the 3D modelling of the cells, with the grasshopper plug-in used to decorate the facade and produce fabrication elements. The overall form was also a result of parameters set into Grasshopper which overlayed the canopy of the tree with the voronoi series. The final result was a multi-celled, organic structure which could be extended beneath other tree canopies with minimal disruption to the current state of the local environment.
KIM NGUYEN 2013-2016 WORKS