刘 LIU
Bachelor of Arts
振 ZHEN
Environmental Design
晰 XI
Jiangnan University
PORTFOLIO 2021
2023
Applying for Urban Design of University College London
CONTENTS
I
The Connection Under The Bridge Space under the bridge renovation
ZHENXI LIU Email: Liuzhenxi24@outlook.com Tel: (86) 137-9922-5503
II
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design Jiangnan University
Architecture has the power to enhance, support, and assist our rituals and daily lives. My most favored and enjoyable life experience is making the ordinary become special, rather than making the special become everything.
From Invasion To Fusion Traditional village renovation design
III
Rebirth Of The Nurage Cultural complex architecture
SKILL &HOBBY Computer: Rhino, Grasshopper, GIS, Sketch-Up, Auto CAD, Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, In Design Language: English (IELTS 7), Mandarin (Native) Hobby: Drawing, Photographing
IV
Slum Patches Sustainable urban facility design
CONTEST Finalist, China Human Settlements Environment Design Annual Award (2023.06-2023.07) Project: Nomadic Landscape Settlement Reconstruction Design Assisted by Datascape Third Prize, Guyu Cup National College Student Sustainable Architectural Design Competition (2022.06-2022.08) Project: Variable Modular Bazaar — based on time changes
V
Other Works Partial award-winning experience / Hand model making / Rendering
I The Connection Under The Bridge Type: Space under the bridge renovation Location: Wuxi, Jiangsu province, China Duration: 20223.4 —— 2023.6 Individual academic work (course work from Integrated innovative design )
Introduction: The project is based on the common problem of negative space in the city. The viaduct in the city divides the whole community space, resulting in the loss of continuity of the community fabric on both sides of the viaduct. The space under the bridge in the design site is dark and closed, with a height difference of about 10 meters, which becomes a negative space in the city. The urban texture on both sides of the viaduct is stitched by using the method of folding lines. At the same time, different operation methods are adopted for the space section under the bridge with different heights, so as to adapt to the different functional requirements of urban activities.
Site Analysis
Location Analysis
s
m ble
ro
P ain
Huishan mountain
M
M
32
He
igh
l ne
3.3
Urb
f sp
M
n Tu
To the suburb
to
6M altit u
ace
de
diff
an
un
de
rb
de
str
ian
tra
ffic
is n
ot
con
yer
s
rid
ge
ere
nce 8M 10M
Pe
La
Tra ffic
ven
ars
ien
t ds
a Ro
Site com
ted
na
d
i om
c by
mu
nity sm
all
com
bu
sin
Bu
ess
ildi
mu
Dis
sev
er
urb
the
Center of the city
an
fab
ric
in nta
u
o nm
nity
of
the
sch
city
oo
Alt
itud
Current Situation mountain
new buildings
old buidings of the community bridge
facility
primary school
old people
children
teenagers
ed
ag
e
ho
sip
fe
iffe
dif
ren
ce Th e for com m m an ore unit d is th y h as the m an eld ainl twen exis erl y p y a op ty ye ted nd ula ars the ted chi by ldr en
s
ital
f to en on m i t p elo nta ic. ev gme fabr d the fra an in in a urb s ge ng the an sulti of h c e se , r au city c e cts th La du of nd Via reas for ta n m e r
l
ha
is Hu
vill
ng
Th 20 e M are serv i the relat ce fa iv c r con e is a ely c ilities o n ne l a ct t ck mple earb he of s te, y com pa bu mu ce to t nity .
The viaduct connects the suburbs and the city, but also separates the old city. The site is chosen at the junction of tunnel and viaduct
Crowd Demand
Design of Altitude Difference
4M
8M Sport activtiy
10M Open type
Park Bazaar
Community resident
Volleyball court
Close type
Gym
Medical service
Square
Basketball court
Platform
8M Parking
Semi-open type
4M
3M Park
Parking lot
Lader park
Cafe
Gym
Primary school student Community activity
Descend
LadderingC
Lifting
10M
8M
6M
lose
3.3M
Design of Circulation and View Small retailer
Medical service
Public
Community
Business Visitors community sevice center
Advantages of the site
Center of the community
Bazaar
sports center Underground parking lot
community park
Shade place
Disadvantages of the site Flow Lines
Plane
Connection and View
Platform
Dissever the fabric of the city Pedestrian barrier Lack of view Altitude difference
Organization and Structure
First floor
Structure
Ground floor
community center
sports park underground parking
community park
Elevation
bazzer
Function of Different Spaces
A’
Plan A’
A4
3.3M
A3
A:Community center
A
1:community clinic / 2:cafe / 3: courier station / 4:coummnity Library
A1
A2
B’
B1
B’
B
6M
B2
B3
B:Community park C1
1:stepped platform /2: tea house/ 3:ladder square
C’ C1
C C3 C2
8M
C’
C4
C:Sports park 1:skatepark / 2:basketball court/ 3:gym /4:parking lot
D’ D2
D3
D
D1
10M
D’ D:Bazaar 0
10M 20M
30M
1:public square / 2:platform / 3:market
II From Invasion To Fusion Type: Traditional village renovation design Location: Zhaoxing village, Guizhou province, China Duration: 2022.9 —— 2022.11 Individual academic work(Course work from Innovative design of regional architecture )
Introduction:
This project investigates the sociological revitalization of traditional Dong villages that have been adversely affected by the influx of tourism. The rise of tourism has led to the degradation and dilapidation of these villages, which are integral to the cultural fabric of the minority Dong ethnic group. By analyzing traditional Chinese societal structures, which resemble the pattern of ripples on water, this project seeks to reinterpret these patterns into the spatial design of both urban and rural communities. The goal is to alleviate the friction between tourists and local inhabitants, thereby facilitating the restoration and preservation of traditional Dong villages.
Area Where Dong Nationality Gather
Spatial Organization of Dong Village residential area
center area
5KM CongJiang Cty
agricultural area
waterfront area
zhaoxing village
center area
The spatial composition of the Dong villages can be summarized as follows: the central space represented by the Drum Tower, as the climax of the village space, governs the free-form residential group space, water space and agricultural space. Therefore, the Dong villages are at the center and boundary. In the concept of relative groups, in a cluster-like centripetal manner, a richly layered and distinctive internal space environment is finally formed.
residential area
waterfront area
agricultural area
Residential buildings are oriented freely, and public spaces such as enclosed and semi-enclosed spaces are formed between different buildings.
Dong villages are built along rivers, and various buildings are related to water.
The terraces are built on the mountain, extending the contour lines to form a stepped landscape.
109.38E
village
25.95N
road
Square
river Drum tower
stage
Dong villages are mainly distributed along rivers, with inconvenient transportation and strong isolation between villages. Drum towers, stages and other buildings form public spaces, and villages are built around public spaces.
Cultural Features
Drum tower personal
family
village
Stilted Building
alliance
The family is the core of the Dong village. The traditional culture of the Dong people attaches great importance to the family. Each Dong village is built around the production and living needs of several families.
Drum tower
Village gate
Form 1
Form 2
Form 3
bedroom
bedroom
Ethnic clothing
Shelter birdge Song and dance
stove room stove room living room corridor
Terraces
Stilted Building
04 2M
M6 M
Storage Space drying,barn Living Space bedroom, corridor Public space raising livestock
Chinese Society Organizing Way
A Village Invaded by Tourism
A village of families
Xiaotong Fei 仁
Earthbound China
仁
A
礼
义
“The Pattern of the Chinese is not bundles of well-defined wood, but a series of ripples like those produced when a stone is dropped on the water. Everyone is the center of the circle that his social influence pushes out . What is inferred by the ripples of the circle is related. The most important kinship in our society is the nature of throwing stones in concentric circles.”
智 信
礼
Zhaoxing Village is composed of residents of five families. Each family has its own drum tower and public space as a gathering place, and each family has its own unique creed and totem.
信 crowded streets
Main tourist routes
ecological damage
义
Changes in Interpersonal Relationships
cultivated field
智
forest river drum tower 0
The design transforms the planar centripetal relationship that existed in the site into a three-dimensional centripetal relationship, allowing for the introduction of "new blood"(New industries and participants).
tourist growth lifestyle changes loss of traditional culture spatial form changes
Unbalanced tourism development
Inappropriate locations of village service system
Business
Acommodation
Service facilities
Agricultural area
Residential area
Infrastructure
economic benefit real estate development
300M
Main space for tourists
Population loss
200M
Main space for residents
Lack of development of landscape resources
Tourist invasion route
100M
excessive commercialization
Tourist invasion
There is a clear boundary between commercial space and agricultural space
Traditional village structures have been destroyed by commercialization
The service radius of facilities is difficult to cover villages
Step 1
Master Plan
Set up main road and service facilities
The Dong Village of Zhaoxing after renovation
B
A
Small business
Catering and activity
Traditional tie-dye
Improve transportation and increase service facilities
Step 2 Set up secondary roads to connect various central spaces
Improve accessibility of various public spaces Performance
Step 3 Teahouses and cafes
The concept of design B’
Linear space organization
Concentric circle space organization
Public and commercial space Main living space for tourists Main living space for villagers service facilities
Main road landscape road Secondary road Footpath
Public activity center Original buildings
Field Forest
0
Traditional society organizing way
Route Design
Group organization
Secondary road 3M
Connect and delve into groups
仁
100M
200M
400M
Restore the traditional spatial order of the village to facilitate visitors to experience it in depth.
Step 4
Landscape viewing
礼
Main road 6M
The village's main traffic road
With the central space as the axis, other functional spaces are arranged around it
A’
Set up landscape routes
Mountain view River view
义
Mountain view
信
智 Five family settlements in dong village
A-A’ Terraced fields view
Center space
River view
Terraced fields view
Main living space for tourists Foot path 1.5M Arrive at each building
Main living space for villagers
B-B’ Develop adjacent landscape resources
Function Changes
Commercial Renovation Strategy
仁
义
礼
Near the main road
Enclose public space
Traffic node
信
智
Deep in the village
Near the river
2 floor pan The renovated stilted building can host different business formats
Traditional Organization Way and Featured Industries
A’
Catering and activity
Performance
Small business
Teahouses and cafes
Traditional tie-dye A-A’ section Increase commercial space floor area ratio
Public activity area
Main residential area for tourists
Main residential area of villagers
Adaptive Renovation Strategy for Stilted Buildings Basic unit
A
Public Activity Renovation Strategy
Main activities for tourists Commercial Activity The influx of tourists has brought vitality to the commercial space. The original stilted building had a complex internal structure and was unable to host a large number of commercial activities.
Public Activity The flexibility of the stilt building opens up huge possibilities for public activities for tourists and villagers.
2 floor pan The renovated stilted building can have free second-floor space as a workshop and undertake a variety of interactive activities for tourists.
Accommodation The stilted building meets the residential needs of both tourists and local residents, and the original building needs to be transformed to accommodate diverse residential needs.
Stiltedbuilding is the main architectural form of Dong villages, and most of the village's production and living activities are carried out in the Diaojiaolou space.
A’
A-A’ section The first floor serves as an elevated floor, serving as a resting place for residents and tourists.
A
Residential Renovation Strategy
Accommodation space along the river
The spatial order of traditional stilted buildings Complete family structure
Corridor
Central Room
Stove Room
Public space
family space
personal space
Bedroom
Complete family structure
The theme of living in stilt buildings is still local residents
Incomplete family structure
Tourist invasion and population loss
Micro renovarion
Fully renovarion
There is more free space for tourists to live in
Incomplete family structure
Tourists
Tourists
Villagers
central activity space
Tourists Public
VillagersV
illagers
Fully renovarion
Micro renovarion Utilize unused attic space and transform it into a place for tourists to live
Renovate the first and second floors to form a double-height atrium. As a transition from the external space to the living space of tourists and the living space of villagers.
Fully renovarion Raise the roof and install dormer for better lighting and ventilation
Village landscape resources
stove room living room
bedroom bedroom
public
private
Private public spaces enhance interaction between indoors and outdoors
The Vision of Zhaoxing Village
Expand tourists‘ experience
Walk along the scenic loop and enjoy the natural scenery
Go deep inside the village to experience traditional folk culture
Rich public cultural activity areas
To “fuse” tourists and local residents
From the linear development model starting from roads to the concentric circle development model starting from settlements, the traditional village construction method has been restored.
The Section of Zhaoxing Village Landscape
Public area
Residential area
Main road
Residential area
Landscape
III Rebirth Of The Nurage Type: Cultural complex architecture Location: Sarcapos,Sardinia, Italy Duration: 2022.4 —— 2022.6 Individual academic work (Course work from Public building design )
Introduction: In my view, amidst the wave of modern architecture, traditional architectural forms retain their intrinsic value. This project examines the Nuraghi—an ancient architectural form from Sardinia. It interprets the distinctive individual structures and compelling organizational patterns, integrating them into the design of a contemporary cultural complex. The resulting edifice not only embodies the enigmatic ancient culture of the Nuraghi but also fulfills the functional demands of a modern cultural complex.
Location and Environment
Site Analysis
Two huge water tanks in the site separate the landscape space
Muravera
sea
Villapuzu
archaeological excavation area
river 0
site
10M
20M
archaeological excavation area
30M
Heritage and Architecture
Santa Maria
Holy Well
Nuraghe The typical nuraghe is situated in areas where previous prehistoric Sardinian cultures had been distributed. cave
Nuraghe
A typical Sardinian hypogean Bronze Age structure for the worship of the waters.
Holy Well
carthage architecture
temple of roman culture
archaeological excavation area
Strategy of Buildings Natural environment Architectural Organization
A series of ancient architectural relics and objects from ancient times have recently been excavated locally, mainly from the Nuraghe period.
hills Nuraghe
Economic Activity of Sardinia
river
Cultural Complex
Tertiary sector
archaeological excavation area View
23.5% the secondary sector 67.8% the tertiary sector 8.7% the primary sector
Connection
0
0.5KM
Architectural Form 1KM
1.5KM
Historical heritage building
Architectural Function Economic promotion
Typology of Nuraghe the main type of ancient megalithic edifice found in Sardinia, developed during the Nuragic Age between 1900 and 730 B.C.
Morphological Formation Design of the single building flow
light
flow
light
flow
light
work shop
work shop
view
view
Single exhibition
exhibition
exhibition
restaurant
theater
library
Organization of the buildings exhibition space cultural activity space
Organization
visitor center
Connection of building groups Mountain direction group connection
Mountain direction
sigle connection Heritage Park
Mountain direction
river direction
archaeological excavation area archaeological excavation area
Sequence of sections Holy Well
Master Plan
Main road To the seaside
To the village
C1
C
Vehicle entrance
A2
Main entrance
C2
Archaeological excavation area
C3
Heritage Park D Function of Buildings
E A1
A: Exhibition hall area A1: Main exhibition hall A2: Multifunctional exhibition hall A3: Installation exhibition hall B: Cultural Activity Center B1: Theater B2: Restaurant B3: Library
B2 A3
A
Elevation
E B3
field
C: Visitor Center C1: Service Hall C2: Workshop C3: Lecture Hall D:Tank E:Gap Garden
A4
field
B1
B
Archaeological excavation area
Archaeological excavation area
0
10M
20M
30M
Ground Floor Plan
I
Exhibition Area
II
1: Entrance exhibition hall 2: Main exhibition hall 3: Installation exhibition hall 4: Rest space 5: toilet 6: service space 7: Work space 8: storehouse
III
Cross-section Perspectiv e
Ⅳ viewing floor
cafe
Exhibition area public activity floor
exhibition floor
exhibition floor
exhibition floor
Ⅲ meditation platform exhibition floor
Entrance exhibition gallery Commemorating Nuraji Water Culture Continue to provide water for nearby agriculture
Ground Floor Plan
IV
Ground Floor Plan
Cultural Activity Area 1: Gallery 2: Restaurant 3: toilet 4: Library 5: storehouse 6: stage (for outdoor performance) 7: Gap garden
I
Visitor Center
II
1: Entrance space 2: workshop1 3: tworkshop2 4: Gallery 5: Public meeting center 6: workshop3
Cross-section Perspectiv e
III
viewing floor
Ⅳ
Cultural Activity Area
theater
Gallery
Library
Gallery
Ⅰ
Restaurant
Model (1:1000)
Exhibition Area
Culture Activity Area
Visitor Center Aerial view of the south side
Top view
Aerial view of the east side
Elevation
IV Slum Patches Type: Sustainable urban facility design Location: Old Fadama,Accra, Ghana Duration: 2023.7 —— 2023.8 Group academic work: Zhenxi Liu Yihan Li (Course work from Design workshop) Mainly responsible for site analysis, urban road sorting, architectural form design
Introduction: Within the Old Fadama slum community in Africa, home to the largest e-waste recycling hub in the world, the processing of electronic waste has been a double-edged sword, providing economic gains while also ushering in calamity. The local populace often resorts to burning e-waste to extract recyclable metals, a practice that inflicts severe damage on both their health and the environment of the slum, while also being notably inefficient. To address this, the project proposes a network of urban waste management facilities designed to allow Old Fadama's residents to safely and effectively break down recyclable materials for use in local manufacturing and daily life, thereby generating sustainable economic and environmental benefits. This initiative lays the essential foundation for transforming and rehabilitating Old Fadama from a slum to a healthier community.
Background of E-waste and Old Fadama
The Site of Old Fadama
Ghana’s unfair status
53.6Mt
24.9Mt 12Mt South Industrial Area
GHANA
2.9Mt 2.9Mt
Accra Legend Affluent Region Developing Region Poor Region E-waste circulation
0.7Mt Urban Waste Dump
Africa,as the poorest content among the whole world,generates the least E-waste annually,yet it receives the most illegally designated E-waste from other more affluent regions.
Old Fadama station
E-waste disposal process in old fadama and developed area Local processing
Reusable components
Low-tech electronic product assemble
Recyclable materials
Precious metal Domestic market
Manual burning
Non-recyclable materials
Waste Land fill
Modern processing Precious metal magnetic
Recyclable materials Glass and plastic
Mechanical
Reuse
water
The local waste disposal system needs to be updated to adapt to the modern world. port
The formation of Old Fadama
Ghana’s attempt to gain independence 1945
The formation of Agbogbloshie under both internal and external factors
1966 The constantly domestic turbulence
1979 The illegally on-going transportion of E-waste from developed countries
2021
Old fadama is located in the central area of Accra city and is well connected. E-waste mainly arrives in Accra from ports and railway stations, after which it is imported into old fadama and surrounding areas.
Current Situation of Old Fadama
Theoretical Model Infrastructural Urbanism
adult
The architectural space of the patches is articulated by a continu-ous roof structure supported on a regular grid of thin steel columns. This infrastructural element is adaptable and flexible. Alightweight fabric covering can be added to shelter public spaces oroutdoor service areas, and where buildings are proposed it can beintegrated into the structural system as sunbreak or service space.Taking an optimistic view of the future of the site, this projectanticipates the participation of different architects, agencies, andindividuals in the construction of the site. lt seeks to establish arealistic framework within which these collective contributions canbe organized and coordinated.
children
worker
resident
road building water pollution
array street
service
anticipation
Patches Matrix Mosaic Extent
Pathways Program Flow /Movement/Exchange Service Grids
Event Scaffold Passive Programs Active Program Scores
structure
organization
repetition
Infrastructural Roof Occupied Structure Space/ Frame Roof Typologies
Edges and Boundaries Affiliation Corridors and Connectivity Networks
Detail Design Elements Patch Typologies variation / repetition
functioning
changes
surface
square
intersection
four main patches of old fadama structure
Site Analysis surface
organization
service
anticipation
repetition
mosaic & matrix
networks & connectivity
flow & exchange
Event Scaffold
fabric Typologies
waste dump
The Unslumming of Old Fadama
main road
Related parties and index
public activities
E-waste flow Management
mosaic
effected
Management
enclosing
far from the main road
main road
along the street
Overseas company
Culture
Intermediary
Government
Education
Spontaneous institution
Infrastructure
Initiative
Environment
Apathy
business activities mosaic
Economic mosaic
Advantages of fadama Arterial transportion
Lack of infrastructure
Ordered hierarchy
Polluted environment
residencial activities
distribute
industral activities
array
event activity
regularity of fabric
close to the main road main road
Drawbacks of fadama
Integration
Affordable housing
close to the main road
matrix
close to the main road
complexity of figure
accessibility of area
Low education rate
Infrastructural Urbanism
Legend
Slum
Unslum
Positive Neutral Negetive Strong Moderate
external traffic efficiency
public
residence
business
industry
Planning of Patches Street
Square
To industrial area
To the center of city To industrial area 100M
100M
200M
200M
Intersection
Array
To the center of city To the sqaure
100M
200M
100M
200M
To the slum
To the center of slum To the center of city
To the center of slum To the center of slum Layer 3
Layer 3 To the center of slum
Layer 1,2
Layer 1,2
Layer 3 To the center of slum
Layer 1,2
Layer 3 To the center of city
Layer 1,2
Design of New Function
public building
E-waste disposal workshop
residential buildings
business building
E-waste disposal workshop
E-waste disposal workshop
business buildings
public buildings
business street
business street facotory buildings
E-waste disposal workshop E-waste vocational educagtion E-waste storage workshop
E-waste storage workshop
E-waste transportation
E-waste transportation
E-waste disposal facotory connecting other workshops
connecting other workshops
connecting other workshops
connecting other workshops public space for activtiy
Lines street and Linear space E-waste transportation
Points close to the intersection
E-waste transportation
E-waste transportation
E-waste transportation
Groups Buildings which are extremely close together
E-waste transportation
Enclosure Form enclosed buildings
E-waste transportation
connection
Generate electricity
Burning
E-waste recycle
vocational education
E-waste disposal E-waste transport original function E-waste storage
Square Patch
Street Patch
Location
Location
Transport E-waste
Sorting E-waste
Vocational education (E-Waste disposal)
Transport E-waste
Electronic waste is imported into the slums in the square area, and the square undertakes the functions of distributing goods, storing goods, public services and vocational education.
E-waste disposal
E-waste is transported along the streets and deep into the slums. Residents can more easily participate in the recycling and reuse of e-waste.
Intersection Patch
Transport E-waste
Industry Patch
Location
E-waste disposal
E-waste is transported to the intersection inside the slum, which is the central point of recycling, and residents can use modern machinery to work in the e-waste workshop to improve efficiency.
Manufacture electronic products
Incineration waste
Location
Generate electricity
Waste from the process of processing e-waste will be transported to industrial patches outside the slums for centralized processing and incineration to provide power for other industrial production.
Workers with vocational education are sorting electronic waste
Square Patch
Residents transfer e-waste at a transport platform
E-waste disposal workshops nested in slums
Industry Patch
The factory is prepared to burn waste
Street Patch
Intersection Patch
V Other works-Partial award-winning experience Project:Variable Modular Bazaar — based on time changes Awards:The third prize of the National College Students Sustainable Building Competition Individual work
Typology of Route
Variability
A:convenience B:interest C:commercial
Time: 2022.7 —— 2022.8
Typology of Module Planning
A:form B:function C:connectivity
The modules on the first floor are unchanged and the rotating modules on the second floor are set for space change to adapt to the needs of various seasons
Project:Nomadic Landscape Settlement Reconstruction Design Assisted by Datascape Awards:The finalist of the China Habitat Design Award Group work: member(Mainly responsible for mapping drawing and rendering drawing)
Time: 2023.5 —— 2023.6
V Other works-Hand model making
V Other works-Rendering
Project:optical illusion Time: 2021.3 —— 2021.4 Course work: Design thinking Materials:Wood sticker foam board Introduction: The project is based on the strange visual experience brought about by false visual effects. The project extracts the atrium part of the school library as a spatial element. And attach the wrong visual image on the surface, and then use the circle, line and other elements of the wrong vision to combine with the space, as an installation art.
Project:Train theme restaurant design Time: 2022.9 —— 2022.10 Course work: Space narrative and interior design Introduction: In the process of rendering, the project mainly highlights the direction of light and the creation of the theme atmosphere of the train. During the day, it mainly introduces natural light to illuminate the interior space, and controls the flow of light through the walls. At night, the main use of overhead lights to create a warm and comfortable atmosphere for diners.
Project:Vanishing door Time: 2021.4 —— 2021.5 Course work:Design thinking Materials:Wood Mirror surface Introduction: As a bridge between indoor and outdoor, doors are an important part of architectural design. The project explores the use of glass to make the door "disappear" into the space. From the point of view of materials, the relationship between indoor and outdoor is blurred.
Other renderings
Thanks
Zhenxi Liu