Yifan Wu
Works from 2020-2022
Suzhou High School of Jiangsu Province
Cornell University B.Arch Early Decision Undergraduate Application
1
Island Design
Space exploration and operation (Cornell Summer Session)
Independent work
Sketches, Rhino software
Suzhou, 2021
2
Translation of the skull transformation of facial section to Stonehenge
Independent work
Sketches, Hand-made model
Shanghai, 2020
3
Geometric Complex
Architectural translation practice
Independent work
Sketches, Hand-made model
Suzhou, 2021
4
Allienation of the Garden
Architectural translation practice
Independent work
Sketches, Hand-made model
Shanghai, 2020
5
Chinese Calligraphy
Space exploration
Independent work
Sketches, Rhino software
Shanghai, 2021
6
Wood Pavilion
Physical construction project
Group work
Field building, Rhino Software
Zhenjiang, 2021
7 Photographhy
Exploration of pattern
Independent work
Camera, mobile phone
2019~2021
8
DESIGN SHANGHAI
XINTIANDI DESIGN FESTIVAL
Group work
Manmade marble, Rhino Software
Shanghai, 2021
Island Design
Space exploration and operation (Cornell Summer Session)
Independent work
Sketches, Rhino software
Suzhou, 2021
My initial photography and collage conveyed a sense of dynamism. With the sensibility of visual composition, I further translated the photo collage into drawings by deconstructing the images based on elements of points, lines, and planes and reassembling them into a new composition loaded with three-dimensional implications. I elaborated and conditioned my spatial logic into the following models to further bolster his sophisticated design of an island. The design of the island is telling a story, The story of the explorer seeking help on an isolated island.
Sixteen photos from the window reveal a contrast between light and dark, while the linear strcuture indicates a state of continuity.
Hybrid drawing extracted from the elements in the photos.
A surface created by cutting and redistributing the hybrid drawing.
A wall is designed according to the elements and pattern in the surface.
A terrain is designed according to the linear and planar distribution.
Scale: 1 : 350
The side view and front view of the island are shown. The island is designed by combining the wall and terrain construscted before. Both the wall and terrain are divided into three sections just like the surface drawing. The combinition of the wall and terrain not only reveals the contradiction between color and texture but also the relation between solid and void.
Translation of the Skull
transformation of facial section to Stonehenge
Independent work
Sketches, Hand-made model
Shanghai, 2020
In my sketches, I often work with plaster casts of various human faces. I also gradually developed an interest in them. How do changes in people’s own facial features relate to nature? I studied the transverse sections of faces and found the differences and similarities between these sections and made a connection with the stones in nature in their collages. I think of these facets as stones, different but related. Their combination still makes them a harmonious whole.
Phase2:
Repeat the previous process to form a random pattern.
Phase1:
Use the different sections of the head to make this collage.
Phase3:
Transfer the pattern to a stone-forest picture with details.
My plaster sketching for research
The distinctive cross-sections of the head
The two cross-sections of my established work
My depiction of the scene represented in the model, which is the view of a stone forest.
B B B B A A A A
Geometric Complex
Architectural translation practice
Independent work
Sketches, Hand-made model
Suzhou, 2021
In this project, I choose one of the artworks by Auguste Herbin, a post-modernism artist. By digging into the abstract pattern and contrasting colors, I successfully construct a city based on the order in the painting. Both the geometric shape, solid and void relation contributes to my final design of the complex.
Partial analysis
The final design and composition of the complex based on the translation of the model
Works cited from Auguste Herbin
Allienation of the Garden
Architectural translation practice
Independent work
Sketches, Hand-made model
Suzhou, 2020
Zhuozheng Garden, located in Suzhou, is a representative work of classical gardens in China. As a native of Suzhou, Zhuozheng Garden provides me with an opportunity to experience directly the space composition and formation of Chinese classical gardens. In my architectural translation practice of this garden, I firstly turned the original ichnography of the garden into two various patterns, one is linear and the other is based on figure-ground relation, which reminds me of early modern artworks and gives me the new conception of Chinese gardens. It inspires me to refactor a whole new space by applying the original relationship between different elements in a specific area of Zhuozheng Garden. Respectively, sorts of transformation are acted on them. This forms two brand-new spatial compositions which are disparate from the orginal garden.
Scale: 1 : 700
The original 1st floor plan
The original view of Zhuozheng Garden from the Pavilion in the Lotus breezes.
The Linear drawing
The Figure-ground drawing
Zoom into a central place
Linear drawing and linear form
This is a linear transformation of the selected area. Shaded areas represent blocks. I build up a spatial structure based on the linear form.
Graph 1 is a translation of the selected area. I feld the graph in vertical direction which forms graph 2. Then the graph was feld horizontally and becomes graph 3.
Figure-ground drawing and solid form
Chinese Calligraphy
Space exploration
Independent work
Sketches, Rhino software
Shanghai, 2021
Chinses calligraphy has a history of more than 2,000 years. In this project I tend to explore the space formation of calligraphy. I choose the word WU for research, not only because it is my last name, but also the apellation of Suzhou, which is the city I live in. I build up the model based on the strength and thickness of each stroke of the word, forming an interesting space modeling.
pressing stretching shrinking
The transition of the word WU in Chinese calligraphy lifting
Wood Pavilion
Physical construction project
Group work
Field building, Rhino Software
Zhenjiang, 2021
The Construction Process
site research site mapping on-site cleaning land leveling horizontal calibration datum line scoop out basement holes making preembedded piece Different sections of wood pavilion by changing the way of space division
10th Oct ~ 17th Oct 18th Oct 19th Oct 19th Oct 20th Oct 21st Oct assemble
joints assemble
structure
The 3D Model
steel
main steel
Photography
Exploration of patterns
Independent work
Camera, mobile phone
2019~2021
I intended to record the patterns of different architectures’ structures and facades. The different textures of these architectures show diverse light and shadow changes, a strong contradiction between light and dark. Moreover, the symmetry of certain patterns reveals a sense of order while the irregular patterns highlight the vitality of architecture.
DESIGN SHANGHAI (XINTIANDI DESIGN FESTIVAL)
Group work
Manmade marble, Rhino Software Shanghai, 2021
The final result
The construction process
