Jenny (Linxi) Zhang Architecture Portfolio 2023 Syracuse University School of Architecture 864-605-8357 | lzhan102@syr.edu
Thank you for viewing my portfolio. This portfolio is my previous design which represents my interest in architecture. In my design, I am especially interested in the relationship between spaces, sequence, and formal aesthetic. In my previous project, I experienced urban design, monumental design, and small-scale spacial design. I am particularly interested in the social, environmental, social engagement with community, and political issues related to the existing context.
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Activate Suburbia
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Hidden Therme
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LPC headquarters
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A Place Closer to Dream
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Sweep Scape
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Internships
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Drawings
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Suburban public space
ARCHITECTUREPORTFOLIO
Contents
NYC preservation
Youth athletes center
2023
Quarry thermal bath
LINXI ZHANG
Bike trail & Communit y Center
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Project one - Activate Suburbia
Activate suburbia Partner: Qi Liu Site location: Mattydale, NY Completed Fall 2021 Instructor: Lawrence Davis
“Activate Suburbia” is a renovative exploration of a vernacular block in Mattydale. Considering the existing challenges of the aging population and the high unemployment rate in this community, the purpose of this project is to energize it by attracting young generations and stimulating the local economy. This project increased commercial density and residential density by adding units on the re-zoned block. Aiming to provide higher income and various public services for the residents, it also introduces new programs of basketball-bar, restaurants, and offices to activate the block. The three main public spaces embedded into the volume, flexible for night markets and dances after dark. Right: Northern Axon of the renovative block Software use: Adobe Illutrator, Rhino
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Activate Suburbia | Renovation | Fall 2021
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Project one - Activate Suburbia
Activate Suburbia | Renovation | Fall 2021
Top: Section drawing cutting through the basket-bar and home offices Bottom: Section drawing cutting through residential units Software use: Rhino, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
Top and Bottom: Unfolding elevation of East and West sides demonstrating the continuity of the materiality Software use: Rhino, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
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Project one - Activate Suburbia
Activate Suburbia | Renovation | Fall 2021
Semi-Public Greenhouse
Private Greenhouse
Residential Housing
Semi-Public Greenhouse
Private Greenhouse
Residential Housing
Existing Condition
Right: Evolution of private and public greenhouse Left: Overall plan of the block after renovation
Each existing residential unit will have a shared semi-public greenhouse with their neighbor, but also a private greenhouse for their own use. Within the private greenhouse, residents can grow their own fresh vegetables and fruits, which could potentially help them to get access to the resources of fresh food. Other than the existing unit, there are also three additional residential units attached to the greenhouse, those could be rented out to others for a home office and small restaurant, which is to help them to gain more income. 9
Connected Greenhouse
Project one - Activate Suburbia
Commercial unit type two
Existing housing type two
Combination of each housing unit axon
Top: Each complex o
By effice greenhouse n office and small sto 10
Activate Suburbia | Renovation | Fall 2021
Commercial unit type one
Existing housing type one
Apartment unit
of unit after renovation contain two existing residential units, apartment unit, two types of commercial units, and greenhouse Software use: Rhino, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
ently utilize the existing property, residents are able to have a near their home, own small bussiness by renting out the home ore front. The residential block now become a mix-use block. 11
Project one - Activate Suburbia
The newly built units will reuse some of the existing material from the nearby community, due to sustainability and economical considerations. Plywood, Metal, Vinyl, and Wood are used as the main construction materials. 12
Activate Suburbia | Renovation | Fall 2021
Right: Exploded axon diagram showing how to reuse the old materials. Left: Exploded axon demonstrating the inside of each residential unit. Software use: Rhino, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop,Vray
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Project one - Activate Suburbia
Activate Suburbia | Renovation | Fall 2021
Physical model image Material used: Blue Foam, Foam core, card board, 2-ply card board,Wood stick, sand paper “Activate Suburbia” is a renovative exploration of a vernacular block in Mattydale. Considering the existing challenges of the aging population and the high unemployment rate in this community, the purpose of this project is to energize it by attracting young generations and stimulating the 15
Project Two - Hidden Therme
Hidden Therme Partner: Rui Cao Site location: Grosseto, Maremma Completed Spring 2022 Instructor: Luca Ponsi
The “Hidden Therme” is a project locate in Grosseto, Maremma. The project is to create a thermal bath that completely merges into the site. By carving out various scales of spaces from the mountain to introduce a thermal bath guiding by experience and light. The whole project focuses more on the interior than the exterior, use water in a sustainable way, and celebrates hot spring water. Create a nice balance between the dense and loose, heavy and light, dark and bright, hot and cold. The design is based on the research of orientation, circulation, functions, and sequences (for both water and human being). The project is closely related to the existing site of the quarry. The narrative of our project focuses on curating experiences. The scale changes between rooms and the changes in views will create various lighting and visual qualities. The project gradually reveals the curved valley of the quarry as visitors progress. Right: Physical model of the negative space of the design. Each color represents the room and water temperature of the space. By putting them into the accurate relationship of height, to show the dramatic change of views that visitors can experience. Material use: Plaster, paint,Blue foam, Foamcore
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Hidden Therme | Sustainability | Spring 2022
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Project Two - Hidden Therme
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Underground Above Ground
Left-Top: Circulation diagram Left-Bottom: Plan transformation diagrams
Hidden Therme | Sustainability | Spring 2022
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HUMAN PATH
HUMAN PATH
MAN PATH WATER PATH
Project Two - Hidden Therme
AN PATH WATER PATH
TER PATH
ER PATH
Right: Main level plan Left: Flow of human and water
Humans climb up to the hill along the room temperature changes from cold to hot. Water flows the opposite. The spring water was pumped to the top of the mountain with originally 37 degrees celsiustemperature. Water will cool down by the stone as it is led down by gravity. 20
Hidden Therme | Sustainability | Spring 2022
Calidarium
Tepidarium
Fragidarum
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Project Two - Hidden Therme
Celebrating
Calidarium 22
Tepidarium
Hidden Therme | Sustainability | Spring 2022
g Spring Water
Loggia
Fragidarum
Pathway 23
Project Three - LPC Headquarters
LPC Headquarters Partner: Yuxi Dai Site location: 315-317 Broadway, NYC Completed Fall 2022 Instructor: Rami Abou-Khalil
This project is to design an LPC headquarters on top of an existing landmark. To fully respect the context landmarks. The design has setbacks on all sides. A cantilevered hearing hall is “bitten” into the landmark. Open the corner plaza to invite the city in, as well as to watch the hearings through the jumbotron. The bookshelves also serve as circulations to provide a special experience when staff circulates. The facade pattern and material are highly influenced by the inside program. The LPC exhibition space, which locates in the existing building serves as a museum and a space for hearing introductions.
Right: Render of the design as a whole. Software use: Adobe Photoshop, Vray, Rhino, Adobe Illustrator
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LPC Headquarters | Landmark Preservation | Fall 2022
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Project Three - LPC Headquarters
Left: Formal transformation analysis Right: Axon diagram of circulation and four main programs
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LPC Headquarters | Landmark Preservation | Fall 2022
Partial render of the plaza during daytime and nighttime Software use: Enscape, Rhino
Plan of the 14th level Software use: Rhino, Adobe Illustrator
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Project Three - LPC Headquarters
LPC Headquarters | Landmark Preservation | Fall 2022
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Project Four - A Place Closer to Dream
A Place Closer to Dream Individual work Site location: Syracuse, NY Completed Fall 2020 Instructor: Valerie Herrera
“A Place Closer to Dream” is a project that has a close relationship with the context. It is a youth athletics center. The project derived from the datum line from the context of residential housing and the existing school. The building is in an L shape which creates a courtyard for the architecture and the city. The city and the building merge at the corner. Every corner is treated differently. The swimming pool in the courtyard is used for ice skating in winter, and the yard becomes an active space the whole year long, to provide a rest space for the city.
Right: Overall axon of the design, showing the relationship of the athletic center with the nearby school and other context. Software use: Rhino, Vray, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
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A Place Closer to Dream | Youth Athletic center | Fall 2020
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Project Four - A Place Closer to Dream
Right and Middle: Collages Software use: Rhino, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
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A Place Closer to Dream | Youth Athletic center | Fall 2020
Collages were made to analysis the historical aspect on how the I-81 highway in Syracuse influenced the economical and social evolution. By deeply researching the problem Syracuse has, provide a design concept that could help to improve the city. 33
Project Four - A Place Closer to Dream
Middle: Formal transformation diagram Left: Program diagrams Software used: Rhino, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
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A Place Closer to Dream | Youth Athletic center | Fall 2020
Ground Level Plan Software use: Rhino, Adobe Illustrator
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Project Five - Sweep Scape
Sweep Scape Partner: Greta Ulatowski Site location: Chicago, Illinois Completed Spring 2023 Instructor: Joel Kerner
Sweep Scapes serves as an access point between a public bike path in Chicago (the 606) and a green Boulevard by being a field house and a Garden for the community and its bikers. The design gives the space the building takes up on the site back to the city and further expands it by having a fully bike accessible ramp throughout the building which leads up to the green roof, another green area for Chicago. The first level is fully expose to the outside in order to give the space back to Chicago residents and further, even expand it. Through utilizing ramp circulation, green spaces, and sport court projection, these sweep scapes extend the experience of the 606 and provide further public recreational space in Chicago throughout the year in our project. To provide a green space for the nearby residents and better serve the community. Right: Site Axon Software use: Rhino, Vray, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
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Sweep Scape | Architecture as Access | Spring 2023
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Project Five - Sweep Scape
The floor level that matches the 606 becomes another form of man-made landscape by using topography and drapery to create rooms that are individually insulated and can be climbed and skateboarded on. Court lines project and distort this continuous rubber surface as to encourage people to reinterpret what our known forms of sports are for themselves. This is so people are not limited by the regulation of the court line, but explore Section Perspective based onuse: theirRhino, own interest. Software Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
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East-West perspective section
Sweep Scape | Architecture as Access | Spring 2023
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Project Five - Sweep Scape
Right: Since the main level of the building is open to outside, only the small unit attached on has wall insulation. The HVAC system was put at the bottom level, and the income air and output air are at a distance of more than 10ft.
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Sweep Scape | Architecture as Access | Spring 2023
Right: Structural analysis of partial building. Including primary structure, secondary structure, and the structure for individual units attached on the main level. Detailed drawing of partial building. Including wall detail, fan room detail, and fundation detail.
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Project Five - Sweep Scape
Right: HVAC diagram of the design Left: Zoom in plan of the fan room for HVAC system Software use: Rhino, Adobe Illustrator
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Sweep Scape | Architecture as Access | Spring 2023
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Selldorf Architects Internship Firm: Selldorf Architects Location: NYC Completed Fall 2022 Program: Institution
Physical model made for an institution building in Washington DC. The model was originally taken from Rhino digitally and transformed into a physical model. The main part of the building and site were laser-cutted. The trees are made of paper and wood sticks. There is no other color in this model in order to keep the purity of the relashionship of space.
Internship Physical model
Right: Physical Model with site. Laser cut chipboard. Material: Chipboard, glue,paper,woodstick Software use: Rhino, lasercut
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Internship work | Physical Model Making |Fall 2022
Model making & Render Selected models and renders from my previous individual work. Left: 3D-printng model of section perspectives Cast concrete / negative space model Right: Rendering of a designed project Software used: Rhino, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
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VRH Studio Internship Firm: VRH Studio Location: Syracuse NY Completed Spring 2022 Program: Sculpture for restaurant
Other Models and Drawings
Worked on the assembly of a 19ft x 21ft plaster sculpture for a local restaurant in Syracuse NY. Cut foam using the CNC technique, and glue it together.
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Other Works | Models and Drawings |
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Drawings Individual work Water Drawing & Ink drawing Collages Completed 2019-2021
Drawings-Water color, ink
Material used: Caryon drawing & Paper collage, Watercolor, Ink
In the drawing, the flying bullets represent the pressure that comes towards me. Badminton rackets and shields, thus are a method for me to relax and release the pressure. Self-portrait drawing
Pen drawings during the trip to the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Church in Harvard when I visited the campus. Left: Ink drawing
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Drawings | Sketches on trip | 2019-2021
The collage of my self-portraits was made with pieces of my life: train and plane tickets, exam sheets, images of me playing badminton, drawings, etc. Which is to use those elements from my life to represent my daily life. Right: Collage of self-portrait
Watercolor drawing when I traveled to San Li Tun shopping plaza in Beijing. I used contrasting colors to represent the facades. Right: Watercolor
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Handsketches
Hand Sketches Individual work Hand sketches during field trip Completed Spring 2022 Italy
Hand sketches during field trip when study abroad in Italy, including geometry analysis, facade analysis, volumn analysis.
Material used: Pencil sketches on paper
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Italy | Sketches | Spring 2022
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