selected works an architectural portfolio by Mathilda Wee
2023/2024
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Education Masters of Science in Architecture Typology Technische Universität Berlin
Oct 2022 - Ongoing
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Architecture Taylor’s University, Malaysia Graduated with Second Upper Class Honours
Jan 2017 - Dec 2020
Work Experience Mathilda Wee Si Ying I’m an aspriring architect currently located in Berlin, Germany for my Masters program. I’m currently interested in topics of urban regeneration, architecture typology and adaptations of vernacular architecture. However, I carry a glass-half-full mentality and would like to immerse myself in a diverse range of topics to supplement my architecture education. Aside from architecture, I also enjoy being involved in event organizations and recently enjoy working with fabric.
Languages Spoken English Mandarin Chinese Malay German
fluent intermediate intermediate beginner
Architectural Intern Jan 2020 - March 2020 Jim Hong Architect , Kuala Lumpur - Helped in producing architecture drawings and assisted in small designs - Helped the office in setting up their online portfolio Feb 2021 - March 2022 Freelance Architecture Visualizer International Clients - Offered collage architectural rendering services online in team of three, serving an international clientele, and always successfully meeting tight deadlines
Workshops & Co-Curriculars
Software Skills Revit Sketchup Rhino AutoCAD Photoshop
Assistant ArchitectJune 2021 - Sep 2022 cum-Publications Assistant ZLG Design, Kuala Lumpur - Managed multiple commercial architectural projects including being project leader for a high-end serviced apartment located in Kuala Lumpur - Proposed & assisted in architectural design proposals, including leading the team in the face of deadlines - Assisted Mr. Huat Lim in organising and producing his publications; reponsibilities include organising essays, managing communications between publishers and editors, and book layout design - Assisted Mr. Huat in his research publication in collaboration with UCSI University
Illustrator Indesign Lumion MS Office
Contact Details mathildawee.archi@gmail.com (+49) 176 8465 1342 Reference: Huat Lim (ex-employer) (+60)12-234 9310 huatlim@zlgdesign.com
AA Visiting School - Urban Phoenix Aug 2023 Architectural Association London // Berlin, Germany - Participated in a 12 days full-time workshop on the topic of adaptive reuse on an urban scale, bestowing unique social values to dormant urban megastructures as part of sustainable regeneration Venice Architecture Biennale 2023 - German Pavilion June 2023 TU Berlin // Venice, Italy - Participated in a 10-Day on-site workshop to create interventions for the agriculture cooperative VERAS on the island of Vignole. This was part of a 12-week design studio in collaboration with the German Pavilion “Open for Maintenance” to reuse materials as part of our creative designs. President of Architecture Student Society Jan 2019 - Mar 2021 Taylor’s University // Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Lead a committee of students in hosting various events for the school. This included forums, workshops, exhibitions, and even a 3-day architecture festival. - Lead a group of up to 40 students to participate in he national architecture workshops, as well as competitions 3
Typologies of a Dumping Ground A glossary of typologies for the anthropocene
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The Propogation Station Built intervention for an agricultural initiative
page 12
Chow Kit City Stage Performing arts centre for people on the move
page 18
Reviving the ICC Berlin Sustainable nightlife through feminine empowerment
page 24
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Part of Design Studio at TU Berlin “Typologies of the Anthropocene”
Typologies of a Dumping Ground A glossary of typologies for the anthropocene
Site
: Agbogbloshie, Ghana
Project Type
: Speculative Design
Team
: Mathilda Wee Deniz Bozdag Defne Narsap
The design task aims at a speculative creation of a typological language of the anthropocene. We investigated the contemporary phenomenon of electronic waste dumping grounds, and developed a prototypical, typological vocabulary based on said narrative. The task put heavy emphasis on research and topics of knowledge production. The end result is a glossary of possibilities, typologies derived from other typologies. Agbogbloshie, Ghana is the World’s largest e-waste dump. Due to political and economical reasons too lengthy to elaborate, the site has fallen prey to endless deliveries of e-waste from first-world countries. 1
This project explores the role architecture can play on a severely contaminated site. With careful strategy planning through mapping and phasing, we developed a speculative strategy of possible strategies which may be adopted on not just ths site, but other dumping sites with a similar fate. The idea is to strike a balance between top-down intiatives as well as bottom-up strategies, and to explore the potentials and contradictions of implementing a “wall”. The result is an examplary recycling facility combined with a multi-phase rehabilitation plan. While creating a controlled compound, the form of the facility is designed to be an interactive border between the waste processing and the public. The built form portrays an active, positive facade towards the main road and slums across the river, reclaiming the polluted riverside for the community. The end results are currently in compilation to be sorted into a publication, hence the homogenised graphic styles.
(right) Sample assembly of components on the site of Agbogbloshie, Ghana. Drawing created in collaboration with Defne.
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phase 00 existing site
Reclaiming the Dump phase 00 existing site01 phase
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de-centralized facilities waste collection and transportation
CHEMICAL SOIL REGENERATION
RIVERSID E
containment barrier GE RE
interactive border TIO RA
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soil regeneration strategies DETOXIFICATION BY PLANTS
phase 01 de-centralized phase 02facilities
waste collection and transportation elimination of informal shacks containment recycling facility in operation
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On top of establishing a self-sustainable recycling ecosystem, LANDCAPPING the larger goal of this project is to reclaim the dumping ground and to make it habitable and resourceful again. This is done with the implementation of several wall and landscaping strategies to contain the contamination, remediate the soil, repurpose the land, and to regenerate the social fabric in the process.
Wall Strategies
WALL AS A SOIL BARRIER
ARCHITECTURE AS AN INTERACTIVE BORDER
5 Soil Regeneration Strategies
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native Existing site 4 phytoremediation plants Phase 1: decentralized facilities / collection & transportation 5 Phase 2: containment / elimination of informal shacks tophyction a extr
tophyzation ti vola
Phase 3: soil regeneration and interface expansion Exploring notions of walls as an interface
Exemplary Recycling Facility Derivation Strategy: Hybridisation + Overlay
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Dismantling of computers Dismantling of household appliances Dismantling of mobile devices Dismantling of circuit boards Dismantling of picture tubes Shredder Observation corridor
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E-WASTE RECYCLING MACHINERY
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CASE STUDY: OMA‘S TAIPEI PERFORMING ART CENTRE
Documentation of a component and its deriving typological inspirations and case studies. This documentation is from a larger template of over 10 components.
CASE STUDY: ZHEJIANG FACTORY, CHINA
CASE STUDY: HUGO HARING
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processing
collection
de-central
dismantling & processing
collective
food & social
marketplace
landscape
regeneration by plants
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landcapping
Prototypical components were created and organised to attempt at an organization. the goal was to create a glossary of components once could piece together and modify based on different sites of a similar phenomenon. Drawings were created in collaboration with Deniz and Defne.
lized facilities
training
interactive border
contamination border
workshop
living unit
plaza
riverside
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Part of Design Studio at TU Berlin and in collaboration with German Pavilion at the Venice Biennale - “Verso Vignole”
Propogation Station Built intervention for an agricultural initiative
Site
: Vignole, Italy
Project Type
: 1:1 Built Intervention
Client
: VERAS (Venice)
Design Team
: Mathilda Wee Sophie Lorenz-Meyer (Construction) Linda Kühnel Anja Große-Berkenbusch Dhruv Kohli In collaboration with the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale’s German Pavilion - “Open for Maintenance”, this design studio challenges us to design on 3 different scales, ranging from intervention, small structure, to landscape masterplan. Feasibilities also range from minimal budget, to a 50-year plan. The work chosen for this portfolio focuses on the 1:1 intervention, which has been built on the island of Vignole, Venice as part of the German Pavilion’s “Maintenance 1:1” initiative. This studio supports the local (Venice) initiative of VERAS n its endeavour to turn the island of Vignole 1
in the Venetian Lagoon into an agricultural and environmental park. We prepared a design feasible for 5-day construction, and an accompanying vision for its expansion. We propose a modular triangular structure which will one day run 200 metres long, but for now, spans 6 metres. This module will house a myriad of purposes, grow alongside the initiative, and architecturally create a centrepiece on a wild land. For the purpose of our workshop, we chose to focus on the immediate need for gardening support facilities, and designed a propogation station. Its highlight - a pretty (albeit not the most functional) shed to replace their current Dixi toilet tool sheds. The design started with a sketch of mine of a triangular chicken coop, which was then further developed with a larger team to produce construction methodology and details. The design was then re-adapted upon arriving to the Pavilion and working with materials on site. The intervention is currently being used by the inhabitants of the island.
(right) 3D documentation of the built intervention, with added speculation of potential development of surroundings. Drawing created by author.
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The biggest focus was on creating a modular component, which can be easily duplicated for the expansion of the intervention. It is demontrated in wood and steel.
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An instruction manual was set-up and handed to the VERAS initiative detaling how they may replicate this idea in the future. (Drawings by Linda Kühnel)
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Different manifestations of the component is demonstrated to exhibit its versatility, all based around the needs of the client.
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1:2 scale mock-up to test out construction methods Prefabricating components at the German Pavilion Foundations created out of things we found on site
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Process of laying out prefabricated components Close-up image of two materials meeting Completed shed component
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Image of intervention constructed on-site after toiling through the scorching sun and heavy rain. The end product was not completed to the scheme of a propogation station, but as a team we were very proud of how we adapted our creation to maerials available on site. 17
Final Bachelor’s Design Project at Taylor’s University, Malaysia
Chow Kit City Stage Performing arts centre for people on the move
Site
: Chow Kit, Malaysia
Project Type
: Urban Room
Designer
: Mathilda Wee
The Project emphasizes on Sensing the City: Designing an Urban Room, for people on the move. The Urban Room/City Room should demonstrate architectural interventions, which are drawn from the needs of the people, place, and is timely and relevant. The design should be activity driven with an emphasis on social impacts, yet complies with buildability, safety, and local building requirements. A strict site boundary was defined, and a long list of design parameters were to be followed to comply with the local Architect’s Board. Once known as bustling district full of excitement and colour, the site of Chow Kit district no longer lives up to its name as Kuala Lumpur’s entertainment hub. Instead, it has become a wholesale district where people places are becoming places for lifeless goods. 1
(right) Collection of small sketches through the semester by Author.
The site is located on the plot where the Federal Cinema (one of KL’s oldest standalone cinemas) still stands. It was a pioneer of film-screenings, where people sought escape in its elaborate, make believe motion picture. Chow Kit City Stage aims to bring back vibrancy, to be a break in the mundane social fabric. It is a place where people can escape from their monotonous routines and to recuperate how they see fit. Spaces for informal conversations are the focus of this project, which is key to engaging the community through vibrant spaces and programs; all while uplifting the neglected. This project aimes to prove that memory of place is not related purely to function but can be preserved through evoking emotion - in this case, the feeling of escape. Tha chaotic forms framing communal spaces, the unfamiliar sparking a conversation.
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Section through the performing spaces, highighting the potential of the amphitheatre to shield quiet spaces
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Longitudinal section showing the inter-relationship of spaces.
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Recreation sketch of intial scheme Sketch of current scheme Exploded diagram showing forms and its functions
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Exterior render of the performing arts centre. Rendered with 3Ds Maxx Vray and post processed with Photoshop.
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Exterior render of the foyer. Rendered with 3Ds Maxx Vray and post processed with Photoshop. 23
Design proposal created during the AA Visiting School workshop “Urban Pheonix Berlin”
Reviving the ICC Berlin Sustainable nightlife through feminine empowerment
Site
: ICC Berlin
Project Type
: Speculative proposal
Team
: Mathilda Wee Magdeline Holm Karolina Pavlikova
The theme “Urban Phoenix“ by the Architectural Association’s Visiting School was on urban rejuvenation. Participants were asked to bestow unique social values into dormant urban megastructures as part of sustainable regeneration, while considering financial and resource situations to prove the proposal’s feasibility. This was a 12-day intense workshop, where our results were in the form of speculative proposals. The first step was to choose a community. Nightlife is an integral part of Berlin’s legacy, but unfortunately not everyone has been able to participate equally. Our proposal to revive the ICC aims to create a safe space where FLINTAs (Female, Lesbian/Bi, Intersex, Nonbinary, Trans, Asexual) may express 1
themselves freely, firstly through a nightclub promote education and research on advancing inclusive and sustainable nightlife culture. The existing island typology and building technology makes it the ideal shell for potentially the largest nightclub in the world without major transformations. This fills a major gap in the market, and carries an immense potential for bottom-up funding. A new typology of the nightclub emerges, one with safety routes, drug safety testing, and overnight beds. With the creation of a strong audience and restoring its identity of place as a place of gathering, the next phase is creating inclusive places and opening up the rest of the building. How does one create safer spaces for women? We envision a flurry of transformations to reappropriate the building. Finally, establishing more than safety in the building and its larger environment by creating democratic and healthy public spaces. The end result of this brief workshop is merely the start of a larger design challenge.
(right) Abstract representation of the ICC Berlin being revived as a FLINTA only nightclub. Original representation created by author was in the form of an animation.
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Phases of urban rejuvenation, starting with creating an identity of place, then creating inclusive spaces, and finally integrating into the larger community. Drawing created by author.
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Collage detailing phase 1 - a 5 year plan to create the ideal FLINTA nightclub, not only empowering an identity but also the key to economic feasibility. Drawing created by author.
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Midjourney visualisation of the adapted auditoriums Visualisation of the foyer spaces, threshold spaces adapted to house formal and informal activities
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Collage detailing the end goal of a democratic space, safe yet non-exclusive - achieving community sustainability. Drawing created by author. 27