zhongshan_portfolio by zhongshan

Zhongshan Zou zhongshan.zou@outlook.com

The Sympathy of Things, Mapping raw materials of smoking pipe. Render in Cinema 4D c4d standard renderer; ↑ The Sympathy of Things, Remaking a pipe from its raw material. ← ←

Care For The Existing.

Shadow Play.

Erosion Transition Formation.

Right To Drift; Right, To Drift.

CARE FOR THE EXISTING Alba Gu Bràth, Unit7, AASchool, Unit Masters: Amica Dall, Anthony Engi Meacock, Giles Smith, 2019-2020

‘There is hope in honest error, none in the icy perfections of the mere stylist.’ -Charles Rennie Mackintosh Historically, Glasgow and its arm’s length housing associations have consistently preferred to demolish and re-build, rather than undertake the difficult, complex and labour intensive work of serious maintenance and renovation. Inspired by mackintosh, this project is an argument for an approach to regeneration and urban planning which rejects a tabula rasa approach, resists widespread demolition and rebuilding, instead, argues for a renewed investment design work, both technical and spatial. Focusing on careful, detailed and involved treatment of the existing; Looking at ways in improve spatial qualities, technical performance and extend life spans without demolition. In this project, I argue that it would be possible to re-direct money that would normally be spent on demolition to create a maintenance strategy that retains the existing, using a permanent, inhabitable scaffolding system to both provide access for maintenance, increase thermal performance and create a plenitude of new communal spaces. These will both combat loneliness, and isolation, also keep existing communities in place and together.

New Typology 1

As a post-industrial city. One of Glasgow’s major development was during the Industrial Revolution as a result, it became “the second city of Empire” At the same time, housing shortage and poor living condition were also discovered as the major concern for many people who live in Glasgow. Today, the city has much higher (37%) shares of social housing than other cities throughout Britain, and a lot of them are in a high-rise flat. once there were 201 high-rises, more than any city outside of London. On another hand, Glasgow also developed its own throw away culture. The largest demolition happened during 1980s, a so called regeneration program demolished many highrises.‘Knock-em-down and build-em-back-up-again’ become an oversimplified view when dealing with issues raised in the social housing. Such as isolation and safety issue has been constantly complained by residents, which is also part of the reasons triggers the demolishing program.

Annexation

Health Issue

Community Organisation

By studying Glasgow’s social housing timeline, I found that many studies are documented and focused on the continuity and progression. And yet, the regeneration program, which meant to care for the residents, and their living condition, become problematic in many ways: several demolition site were abandoned for many years. Needless to say the difficulty of demolishing a reinforced concrete building. As well as dust, air, noise pollutions. Housing association and city council are claim that the city is experiencing a true Renaissance, But many don’t agree, a lot of projects is happening in Glasgow trying to save the memory and communities are disappearing with those disappeared buildings. It has been often asked, ‘Is Glasgow poised for an endless cycle of demolition and new-builds?’

Government Organisation

Hihg-Rise

Mapping Glasgow’s social housing timeline. Render in Cinema 4D physical renderer; Photoshop; Illustrator. ↑ Dundasvale, Canon EOS 1D IV, TS-E 17mm f/4 L, © Zhongshan Zou. →

CARE FOR THE EXISTING Alba Gu Bràth, Unit7, AASchool, Unit Masters: Amica Dall, Anthony Engi Meacock, Giles Smith, 2019-2020

Youth Community 3

Community Garden

Community Center

Community Service

Mapping high-rise in Glasgow. Render in Cinema 4D physical renderer; Photoshop; Illustrator. ↑ Dundasvale, Sony A7, Caonon TS-E 17mm f/4 L, © Zhongshan Zou. →

CARE FOR THE EXISTING Alba Gu Bràth, Unit7, AASchool, Unit Masters: Amica Dall, Anthony Engi Meacock, Giles Smith, 2019-2020

The whole site is a reinforced concrete structure, build in 1968, and the expected material life span is around 80years, The building has serious structural issues related to the shorted lifespan of the reinforced concrete, and must either receive serious intervention to make the structure safe, or it will have to be demolished. After studying several different ways of protecting reinforced concrete, Realkalization has been chosen as the main treatment, as low maintenance and a lower cost treatment it will provide Global protection. Also longterm protection. However, the main cost of Realkalization is that the treatment needs scaffolding to allow the work to happen. The Realkalization system needs to attach the existing concrete beam, by removing the concrete protecting layer connecting with the rebar. In doing so I propose a permanent, inhabitable scaffolding system to both provide access for maintenance, increase thermal performance and create several new communal spaces.

This approach has led to low-cost, low-quality replacements, and the structure of the scaffolding is domestic fuelwood. The scaffolding system provides spaces that will be left open at the time of intervention, but many adaptations remain possible, enabling a diversity of spaces and uses, including inserting storage, facilities for community activities, play space, and day-time space for elderly residents. Smaller groups have shared space across the building, helping more intimate and complex community networks to emerge. Construction is responsible for nearly 40% of global emissions, so we simply have to find ways to build less and take care of what we already have if we are to continue to keep the planet habitable. I would argue to use this prv oject to transform Dundasvale to Homes for now, homes for the future, homes for everyone.

Build-ip of corrosion products. ↑ Further corrosion: Surface cracks, stains. ← Eventual spalling, corroded bar exposed. →

Realkalization system and the inhabitable scaffolding system detial drawing. Render in Cinema 4D physical renderer; Revit; Photoshop; Illustrator, ↑ A study of Realkalization system. Draw in Illustrator © Zhongshan Zou. →

Hydration reaction of silicates.

A section of a reinforced concrete structure after casting 28days pH: 11.5-13.

A section of carbonation of a reinforced concrete structure pH: 11.5 → pH 8.5-9.5; Humidity(60-80%)

A section of Realkalization structure apply on a reinforced concrete structure

CARE FOR THE EXISTING Alba Gu Bràth, Unit7, AASchool, Unit Masters: Amica Dall, Anthony Engi Meacock, Giles Smith, 2019-2020

During the wood harvesting, those branches don’t meet the market standard will be quickly turning to fuelwood, most of the time becoming domestic firewood. And turning branches into firewood has generally accepted as part of wood recycling, therefore most of the wood recycling study is forcing on wood waste from construction, demolition, pallets and wooden packaging etc. The Wood Recyclers Association, a trade body made up of most of these highvolume wood recyclers, estimates that in 2011 around 2.8mt (or 60%) of all wood waste generated in the UK was recycled, and turning those small timbers into firewood takes a large percentage of the recycling rate. However, I believe that those branches have more potentials than simply turning fuelwood.

Wood joint studies. ↑ Two types of joint. →

CARE FOR THE EXISTING Alba Gu Bràth, Unit7, AASchool, Unit Masters: Amica Dall, Anthony Engi Meacock, Giles Smith, 2019-2020

Wood joint study for scaffolding system, in 1:1 scale.↑ →

CARE FOR THE EXISTING Alba Gu Bràth, Unit7, AASchool, Unit Masters: Amica Dall, Anthony Engi Meacock, Giles Smith, 2019-2020

Existing site plan

Proposed site plan

20 m

A view of the main courtyard. Revit Cloud Render; Photoshop; Lightroom. ↑

CARE FOR THE EXISTING Alba Gu Bràth, Unit7, AASchool, Unit Masters: Amica Dall, Anthony Engi Meacock, Giles Smith, 2019-2020

Existing floor plan 5m

Proposed floor plan 5m

Section BB 5m

Sewing group preparing a event. Revit Cloud Render; Photoshop; Lightroom. ↑

CARE FOR THE EXISTING Alba Gu Bràth, Unit7, AASchool, Unit Masters: Amica Dall, Anthony Engi Meacock, Giles Smith, 2019-2020

Existing floor plan

Proposed floor plan

Local stand-up group DeeCap hosting a event. Revit Cloud Render; Photoshop; Lightroom. ↑

CARE FOR THE EXISTING Alba Gu Bràth, Unit7, AASchool, Unit Masters: Amica Dall, Anthony Engi Meacock, Giles Smith, 2019-2020

A view of the main courtyard, sectional view cut through the community centre, Revit; Illustrator. ↑

SHADOW PLAY The Disease and The Remedy. AASchool, Unit Master: Ana Araujo, 2018-2019

‘Colegio Monarch is centred to break cultural taboos, social stigma and close mindsets around neurobehavioral differences.’ -Colegio Monarch Classrooms with no windows, so as to make of each learning activity an immersive, intense, memorable experience. The relationship with the outside is carefully curated through the design of a series of vaulted roofs, which allow for: A controlled manipulation of the natural light (suitable for the autistic condition); A subtle play with the rain is celebrated through the drawing of animated, dreamy waves in the ceilings, produced through an effect of reflection (like in caves and in the subterranean rooms of colonial Guatemala). The spaces gradually open themselves to internal courtyards, each corresponding to a stage of development in the student’s journey, from apprentice to voyageur. Towards the end of the journey, generous spaces allow for more intense social interaction, now mediated through a series of trompe l’oeil ceramic murals (an allusion to the public spaces of modern Guatemala), created with the aim of constantly reminding students and the wider public of the internal landscape of the autistic (and also of the so-called normal) mind. Being autistic means seeing, hearing and feeling the world in a different way, often more intensely than others. Autistic people often find social situations difficult and may struggle to filter out the sounds, smells, sights and information they experience, which can leave them feeling overwhelmed, particularly in busy public places. The thesis started drawing an imagined school, it is a vision of a future school, like a dream of an autistic kid may experience under sensory overload (next page), I visualised the unpredictable ‘Monster’ of overstimulation from the environment. It is a subjective perspective, through a careful experiment, I moved the viewer’s point outside of the classroom and to a very high level, to look back to the dream and the unpredictable ‘Monster’. By acknowledging and fictionalising the fear kids may experience every day when they go to school, and the way it is miniatured, as if in a fairy tale.

1% of the population has an autism spectrum condition. People are autistic for all of their lives. Everyone who is autistic is different. It is not an illness or disease. It does not go away Autistic people may find things hard like: Some smells sounds or colours; People touching them; Bright lights ; ...

Main Corridor. Render in Cinema 4D physical renderer; Photoshop; Lightroom, ↑↑ From panopticon school to a unpredictable monster, drawing on paper, 840 x 2100mm. ↑ Facade. Render in Cinema 4D physical renderer; Photoshop; Lightroom. →

SHADOW PLAY The Disease and The Remedy. AASchool, Unit Master: Ana Araujo, 2018-2019

Unpredictable monster, trompe l’oeil ceramic murals, drawing on paper, 840 x 2100mm ↑

SHADOW PLAY The Disease and The Remedy. AASchool, Unit Master: Ana Araujo, 2018-2019 AA

The school has a vision of developing each child’s maximum potential, allowing him/her to be independent, productive and happy. Which has been realised as a 4 Level System. It is a highly customized and personalized educational approach due to each student’s need; the teacher doesn’t lead all students through the same lessons. Instead, the teacher guides each student on an individualized journey. The what, when, where and how of learning is tailored to meet each student’s strengths, skills, needs and interests. By transforming the school’s one big courtyard into five, 4 courtyards represent different learning stages of the 4 Level system, one is mixed-used, within 5 different types of classrooms gradually opened themselves into the internal courtyard.

APPRENTICE

Colegio Monarch 4 Level System:

CHALLENGER Voyager

Adult as a facilitator

Challenger

Coordinated by an adult

Apprentice

Guided by an adult

Novice

Adult Dependant

NOVICE

VOYAGER

Existing ground floor plan

Propose ground floor plan

2.5 m

Section BB, Rendering in Cinema 4D, Physical; Photoshop

Section AA, Rendering in Cinema 4D, Physical; Photoshop

SHADOW PLAY The Disease and The Remedy. AASchool, Unit Master: Ana Araujo, 2018-2019

Standard, drawing on paper, photoshop collage. ↑ 25

Arm length cell room, for lighting control; meltdown; escape; recharge. 1:20 ↑

Apprentice classroom, guided by an adult, 1:20 ↑

SHADOW PLAY The Disease and The Remedy. AASchool, Unit Master: Ana Araujo, 2018-2019

Section model of the Lecture Hall entrance, structure study: proposed roof structure with the existing brick wall. 1:20 27

Section model of the Lecture Hall, entrance, structure study: proposed roof structure with the existing brick wall. 1:20

SHADOW PLAY The Disease and The Remedy. AASchool, Unit Master: Ana Araujo, 2018-2019

A view op yoga room looking back to the voyager classroom. Render in Cinema 4D physical renderer; Photoshop; Lightroom. ↑

A view of cooking classroom. Render in Cinema 4D physical renderer; Photoshop; Lightroom. ↑

EROSION TRANSITION FORMATION A new form of

wetland community in the transitional territory in the Yellow River estuary

Beauty and Entropy. AASchool, Unit Masters: Miraj Ahmed, Martin Jameson, 2020-2021

‘I like landscapes that suggest prehistory. As an artist it is sort of interesting to take on the persona of a geological agent where man actually becomes part of that process rather than overcoming it.’ -Robert Smithson

Wetland is one of the most important ecosystems connected the water and land. It not only functions as water purification, flood protection. shoreline stabilisation, groundwater recharge. Throughout history, due to the rich resources, it is also an ideal location for human settlement. How can we as a society live with natural force, and making the entropy visible by allowing it to happen naturally? How can we occupy the river mouth, to exploit the potential without adversely affecting its qualities? People’s attitude towards wetland shift from wasteland to a valuable land only happens last few decades. In china the police makers started to target the wetland degradation in 2000, however many of those tabula rasas approaches displaced the local villagers and developed those wetlands into an appropriate tourist park. The project takes Smithson’s notion of time and entropy as a geological agent, combine the latest approach of polyculture and wetland restoration, introduced a new model for local villagers to coexist with the wetland on the estuary of the yellow river.

Section drawing during the construction stage. ArchiCad, Photoshop, Illustrator. ↑ Five stages process. ArchiCad, Photoshop, Illustrator. → 31

Detection Small plot along the river were discovered, which has a potential to from a wetland.

Deposition Erosion and deposition, a floating structure arrived to test the local erosion and deposition rate.

Construction Timber structure construct on the delta to increase the natural process of wetland formation, and the 5meter structure grid is based on the current study of shellfish, crap and seaweed polyculture.

Occupation Two year occupation with polyculture and conservation activities,

Dissolution Dissolution and disappearance -- after two years occupation a new location found, the plot is left back to natural process of wetland formation.

EROSION TRANSITION FORMATION A new form of Beauty and Entropy. AASchool, Unit Masters: Miraj Ahmed, Martin Jameson, 2020-2021

wetland community in the transitional territory in the Yellow River estuary

Five stages process. ArchiCad, Photoshop, Illustrator. ↑

EROSION TRANSITION FORMATION A new form of

wetland community in the transitional territory in the Yellow River estuary

Beauty and Entropy. AASchool, Unit Masters: Miraj Ahmed, Martin Jameson, 2020-2021

Ground floor plan, above water for polyculture. 2m 35

First floor plan, living area. 2m

COLLABORATION WITH LANDSCAPES, Architectural Film, 3min. Beauty and Entropy. AASchool, Unit Masters: Miraj Ahmed, Martin Jameson, 2020-2021

Smithson’s notion of time and entropy provides a unique insight and the proposition on how architecture should respond to nature. By making entropy visible through his artwork, he introduced a fresh attitude that human-made structures should always take natural processes, and geological changes into account and eventually be part of that process. In 1970 he explained, ‘I like landscapes that suggest prehistory. As an artist, it is sort of interesting to take on the persona of a geological agent where man actually becomes part of that process rather than overcoming it.’ If we ask which entropic force is Smithson dealing with? The result is that natural force: erosion. In fact, many of his works illustrate a dialogue between past industrial artefacts and their current remains overtaken by natural force, from water, weather and gravity, and eventually subsumed by vegetation. Erosion is often taken as frustration, and yet any wetland appears due to the reason of river erosion. maybe we should continue to allow the river to change, to allow the erosion to happen. The delta of the Yellow River is the fastest-changing coast on the Earth’s surface. it washes away a large amount of silt after passing through the Loess Plateau and becomes the most sedimentladen river. Due to this reason the river frequently changes its course around every 10 years, The natural process of wetland formation at the mouth of the yellow river normally takes a long time up to 8 years to develop without human intervention. The border of a wetland is a complex and dynamic zone, most of the wild animals and vegetation were living on those constantly changing boundaries. And from an entropic point of view, all wetland has trends to turn themselves into a more dynamic, more complex, intertwined ecosystem, and small disconnected wetlands are not only better in responding to flood risks and surface water shortage, but also have much higher biodiversity. The function and type of any wetland system are not permanent, it continues changing trough out time, however, all of the development that happened during the last few decades were against the natural wetland changes. As a result: Biodiversity is in decline. Yellow river deltas are now under threat from industrial pollution, excessive construction, and inappropriate touristic development. Human attitudes towards those edge conditions become ambivalent is a modern invention, in fact, indigenous philosophy realized that living in this condition is very delicate, that is to say, not only all those landscapes next to the water they are temporary but also the structure construct on it should adapt to the natural force. The delta of the yellow river is home is of 25000 people, and aquaculture such as crab and carp is their main income. However, during the last 20 years, the inappropriate touristic development not only pushed villagers away but the displacement also takeover their right of living at the river mouth. Any proposal must first accept that this is an area of constant change. How can we occupy the river mouth, to exploit the potential without adversely affecting its qualities? The project seeks to create wetlands that can be temporarily occupied for 4-5 years and then consumed by the river. A floating structure provided a flexible working and living space for different families. Allow them to collectively work on different stages of seafood farming and processing.

Key moments form the film: Collaboration with landscapes. Render in Redshift, After Efects. →

Area View of the delta of the yellow river. Render in Redshift, After Efects. ↑

RIGHT TO DRIFT; RIGHT, TO DRIFT. I would prefer not to. AASchool, Unit Masters: Miraj Ahmed, Martin Jameson, 2020-2021

In London, which are the design measures applicable to the built environment so the office lobby can be potentialized into a more environmentally diversified, inviting and thriving social space. The thesis propose a detailed legal provisions on: Section 106 and section 278 expand and transform those ground squares to a more civic place. The overall strategy could be introduced as the protocol to subvert the current strategy of urban planning.

Legal provisions on Ssction 106 and Section 278. Illustrator. ↑ Continuous urban foyers. Photoshop, Illustrator. →

Right to drift; Right, to drift, Lighting simulations. I would prefer not to. AASchool, Unit Masters: Miraj Ahmed, Martin Jameson, 2020-2021

— Above 750

20000 lux

— 750

750+ Art & crafts groups

Mar 21st 9am-3pm

— 500

100+ Health, wellbeing and spirituality groups

Jun 21st 9am-3pm

— 300

200-300 150-250

— 250

Language and culture exchange groups

200-750 Entrepreneur and business groups

Walk groups

Comedy groups Sep 21st 9am-3pm

200 lux

— 200

150-250 Performance art and acting group

— 150

100 lux 150-250

— 100

Paint and life drawing groups

50-150 Dec 21st 9am-3pm

Cinematography groups

— 0.0 Lighting simulations on testing site. Revit revit insight. ↑ The key area of change, Contextual study of a city block in City of London cluster. Photoshop, Illustrator. ←

100+

Right to drift; Right, to drift, Lighting simulations. I would prefer not to. AASchool, Unit Masters: Miraj Ahmed, Martin Jameson, 2020-2021

March

Mar 21st 9am-3pm

Jun 21st 9am-3pm

Sep 21st 9am-3pm

Dec 21st 9am-3pm

Mar 21st 9am-3pm

Jun 21st 9am-3pm

Sep 21st 9am-3pm

Dec 21st 9am-3pm

Mar 21st 9am-3pm

Jun 21st 9am-3pm

Sep 21st 9am-3pm

Dec 21st 9am-3pm

Mar 21st 9am-3pm

Jun 21st 9am-3pm

Sep 21st 9am-3pm

Dec 21st 9am-3pm

June

September

December

Lighting simulations, a new measurement for different Interest groups Above — 750 Art & crafts groups

— 750

Health, wellbeing and spirituality groups

1Day Direct Solar Mar 21st 8am to 6pm One year activities Type1 (Above 750LUX)

Spring

Mar 21st

9Groups

Walk groups

— 500 Entrepreneur and business groups

1Day Direct Solar Sep 21st 8am to 5pm One year activities Type2 (Around 500-750LUX)

Summer

Jun 21st

9Groups Language and culture exchange groups

— 300 Comedy groups

— 250

1Day Direct Solar June 21st 8am to 8pm One year activities Type3 (Around 150-250LUX)

Autumn

Sep 21st

9Groups

Performance art and acting group

— 200

— 150

Paint and life drawing groups

1Day Direct Solar Dec 21st 9am to 3pm One year activities Type4 (Under 150LUX)

Direct Solar in four key days. Revit revit insight. ↑ Lighting simulations on testing site. Rearrange interests groups into 4 types. Revit revit insight. ←

Winter

Dec 21st

9Groups

Cinematography groups

— 100

— 0.0

Right to drift; Right, to drift, Architectural Film, 9min. Film link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xFEOq7glJc&t=12s I would prefer not to. AASchool, Unit Masters: Miraj Ahmed, Martin Jameson, 2020-2021

After researching the Lying Flat Movement, reading Hannah Arendt’s The Human Condition and Bertrand Russell’s In Praise of Idleness, I started to question the existing office lobby and proposed a new type of civic foyer that would allow people to freely draft around and at the same time host different social events. The thesis is developed into this short speculative film.

Key moments form the film: Right to drift; Right, to drift. Shot in Canon EOS R5, © Zhongshan Zou. Render in Redshift, After Efects. ↑

Film link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xFEOq7glJc&t=12s

Right to drift; Right, to drift, Architectural Film, 9min I would prefer not to. AASchool, Unit Masters: Miraj Ahmed, Martin Jameson, 2020-2021

Proposed civic foyer, Render in Redshift, After Efects. ↑

Zhongshan Zou +44 7365553541 zhongshan.zou@outlook.com www.zhongshanzou.com