Architecture Portfolio of Mengyu Zhao | Harvard GSD

Preface

Thank you for viewing my por�olio.

The por�olio is a collec�on of my previous works that I believe best reflect my interests in architecture, which are at the intersec�on of computa�onal design, formalism, and urbanism.

I see myself more as a “formalist” than a “social ac�vist” – I am always fascinated by the complexity of architecture forms and urban spaces, and how computa�on and other modern technologies could assist in the genera�on of form and space. Nevertheless, I have been trying to interrogate about how these formal aspects of architecture could reconcile with societal, poli�cal and ethical issues related to the built environment.

In my previous works, I have experimented with mul�ple design approaches that focus intensely on space and morphology, while speaking to the underlying social-poli�cal problems with architecture at the same �me. I delve into an inves�ga�on of space’s mul�ple facets – I look at and beyond architecture, thinking about how computa�onal techniques, aesthe�cs and social ideologies could inform design.

Contents

Architecture Projects

Where the Tracks Meet the Canal

Hostel in a 70-year-old Roof

Crossroads Theater

Low Cost, Low Carbon, High Density, High Resilience

Creek Commons: Reimagine Water as Cooperative Thread

Porosity, Sustainability and Well-being: Rethinking the Haussmann Block

Bachelor’s Thesis: the Convergence of Art and Commerce in Contemporary Culture

The Rollberg Block

From Soil to Space Other Works

(Un)fold: Installa�on Design and Construc�on

Visual Representa�on: Aesthe�cs, Representa�on Techniques and Pop Culture

Computa�onal Design

Publica�on: the Escape

Where the Tracks Meet the Canal

Individual Work

From the core design studio ‘Urban Design’ at Tsinghua University

Completed in Fall 2019

Modified in November 2020 for this por�olio

Instructor: Prof. Ge ZHONG

Loca�on: Xizhimen, Beijing

the Notorious Railway Sta

Although the area of Xizhimen is notorious as one of the city’s most chao�c transporta�on hub, I see its poten�al – it is where the old canal of Beijing meets and parallels the giant, expressionless railway sta�on. When I started the project in fall 2019, the sta�on was under construc�on for its re-opening in 2020, and I put forward another re-construc�on plan – to s�mulate interac�ons between the sta�on and the old canal throughout a though�ul arrangement of space and form. By doing this I hope to build connec�ons between the mul�ple func�ons that perceive the area to hold, between the interior and the exterior as well as the man-made and the natural, turning the area into an urban parlor that hosts not only passengers but every person in the city.

Transporta�on Facility as Public Space

I based the project on one important no�on: public facili�es, especially large transporta�on facili�es, have the poten�al of becoming the urban hot spots when they open up and provide public space for everyone – not just passengers. It is quite a formidable task, as conven�onally railway sta�ons in China are just enclosed containers that only allow �cket holders to enter. However, I aim to transform the railway sta�on and its surrounding area into an urban hot spot that cater to everyone.

Sec�on a�er Transforma�on

Star�ng from the Sec�on

By looking at the sec�on I try to get an understanding of the interrela�on between each func�on, and to formulate new connec�ons by introducing new func�ons. aim to connect the railway sta�on on the east bank with the office buildings on the west bank. I also realize the importance of commercial facili�es in urban public spaces, and u�lize them as ‘connectors’ of the district. By implan�ng a considerable number of shops and restaurants I hope to make the railway sta�on and its surrounding area the mul�-func�onal space that serves as a standout urban des�na�on.

Sec�on B-B

Sec�on A-A

West Bank hope to create strong connec�ons between the office buildings of the west bank, making the ground and the second floor of these buildings a commercial area that adds to the liveliness of the area.

East Bank

The landscape of the east bank is largely the extension of the railway sta�on’s fluid, boundaryless form that binds the interior of the sta�on with its exterior.

Railway Sta�on Interior

The railway sta�on’s transporta�on func�on is surrounded by other commercial func�ons. The sta�on is not only a transporta�on hub but a shopping center, a weekend hangout spot, and an essen�al component of the city’s public space.

the Anchors and the Nodes

Within the project I create a sequence of spaces that is marked by two ‘anchors’ as the star�ng/end point and several nodes between them. The sequence begins with a visitor center at the northwest corner of the masterplan and ends with a small man-made harbor at the southeast corner. Various ‘nodes’, as one of the five elements of the city image that Kevin Lynch put forward, are woven into this sequence. The nodes include several plazas that are generated by the fluid volume of the railway sta�on on the east side of the canal, as well as the urban gardens formed between the walkways twining around the office buildings on the west side of the canal.

Hostel in a 70-year-old Roof

Individual Work

From the core design studio ‘Architecture, City, Landscape’, at Tsinghua University

Completed in Winter 2019

Modified in December 2020 for this Por�olio

Instructor: Prof. Yishi LIU

Architectural Measuring & Research Collaborators: Sifeng MO & Jun�an YE

Project Loca�on: Tsinghua University, Beijing

the Old Structure and the New U�lity

Tsinghua University has long faced the problem of a shortage of dormitories during the summer season when visi�ng students here require accommoda�on. In this project I propose a solu�on to the problem - transforming the roof of a 70-year-old building into a hostel. Me and my two research partners measured the building and the structure of the roof. Based on the findings of the research, I transformed the building with great respect to the original structure, trying my best to preserve the roof while crea�ng beau�ful spaces underneath and between it.

Physical Model of Two Jian (间)

Outer Surface

Purlin

Diagonal Brace

The hostel rooms are divided into two sets – the le� set and the right set – by the common area in the middle. Each set has its own stairway, and facing the stairway there is a common area: a laundry room and a fitness room, for the le� and right set respec�vely.

The common area is where the hostel guests interact with each other, and where the new hostel interacts with the rest of the building. It consists of a cafeteria, a bar, a living area and a discussion area. There is also a rope net above the original staircases of the building.

Each set of rooms is connected by a corridor, and the separa�on between the rooms responds to the structure of the roof above: each room occupies one single unit of the roof structure - one ‘jian’ (right) in tradi�onal Chinese architecture.

Crossroads Theater

Individual Work

From the core design studio ‘Public Buildings’ at Tsinghua University. Completed in Spring 2020.

Modified in December 2020 for this por�olio.

Instructor: Prof. Xiangdong LU

Project Loca�on: Haidian District, Beijing

Site Analysis

the Dichotomy

In the classical opera there is one clear dis�nguishment: the dis�nguishment between the public part of the theater – the ‘front of house’, where the foyers and galleries are – and the non-public part of the theater – the ‘back of house’, or the ‘factory’ as Koolhaas puts it, where the dressing rooms, rehearsal rooms and offices are. The auditorium lies between the two, surrounded half by the foyer and half by the factory.

In OMA’s unrealized proposal of Guangzhou Opera House, Koolhaas challenged this separa�on. However, I decide to do the opposite thing – take the separa�on to an extreme. In my design, the public part and the non-public part are explicitly marked by two volumes that are dis�nc�vely different – the former wrapped in a white envelope, and the la�er hidden in a dark, double-layer skin.

Front of House

F3 +11.00m

Foyer for Auditorium 3rd Floor Entrance Lobby Exhibi�on Area

F2 +5.50m Entertainment Area Foyer for Auditorium

F1 ±0.00m

Cafeteria Audience Service Entrance Lobby Gallery

Back of House

F3 +11.00m

Staff Office Rehearsal Room Props Room

F2 +5.50m

Dressing Room Props Room Rehearsal Room

F1 +1.00m

Props Room Dressing Room

The Division

The

white envelope that wraps up the en�re front of house forms a showcase on the south and east facade of the building, and part of it has become the staircase leading to the entrance on the 3rd floor. From The south and east facade of the building visitors could see the crossroads, and people from the crossroads could equally see them. The transparent glazing allows the foyer to be an interface of the city.

The back of house is enclosed in a more humble volume. Between it and the front of house are two auditoriums – a standard auditorium and an experi-mental auditorium.

I hope to make the public part more public while providing more in�macy for the non-publice part through the dis�nc�ve forms of the building, emphasizing the dis�nc�on between the two. However, the auditoriums become where the two parts intersect. The division that I insist throughout the project generates two sets of flows – one for the audience and one for the staff/performers - that intersect at the auditoriums, where the audience finally meet the performers.

the Prototype

The building consists of two auditoriums – a standard auditorium and an experimental auditorium. Their design derives from the prototypes of the classical thrust theater and the ancient Greek theater respec�vely.

There is actually a third auditorium in the building - the staircase on the white envelope of the building – with the city as the stage/performers and people on the staircase as the audience. Its design also comes from the Greek prototype: an outdoor space where people gather and observe the performers - in this case, the city itself. I perceive the public part of the building as another auditorium in which the architecture and the city interact, and such interac�on is realized through the building’s form and the spaces generated by the form.

Rodrigo Bueno is an informal se�lement located on the east coast of Buenos Aires that suffers from environmental threats, social exclusion, and economic discrepancy. It is projected that the en�re southern part of the se�lement will be subject to flooding within 25 years. Though the government has implemented chunks of social housing, more than half of the community is s�ll le� in informal housing with deteriorat ed outlooks, overcrowded popula�ons, and insufficient public spaces and ameni�es. However, an approximately 30% increase in the number of residents in Rodrigo Bueno is expected due to migra�on and climate refugees in the foreseeable future.

Confronted with the above dilemma, we propose a synthe�c regenera�on scheme for Rodrigo Bueno envisioning a more inclusive, resilient, and self-sustaining future for the community. Acknowledging that the southern part is prone to future flooding and the trending need for incoming migrants, we implement an incremental modular housing strategy to build both transi�onal and permanent prefabricated housing units that can easily adapt to the changing needs of residents with environmental-friendly materials.

The project will be developed in 3 phases considering the financial and labor constraints. In phase 1, the shared street, courtyards, floodable park as well as plaza will be developed as priori�es to improve infrastructure and generate more income. In phase 2, incremental housing units will be added. And when the densified housing units are ready, in phase 3, we will move residents in the southern part to their new homes. A�er demoli�on and cleaning up, new programs will be introduced to ac�vate the waterfront.

Low Cost, Low Carbon, High Density, High Resilience: a Modular Approach for Informal

Instructor: Felipe Vera, Soledad Pa�no

Teaching Assistant: Rolando Girodengo

Teammate: Siqi (Joyce) Zhu

Project Loca�on: Buenos Aires, Argen�na From

Se�lement

Upgrade in Buenos Aires

3.4

Commercial Street to Riverfront 1.6

JETTY 3.3

AMPHITHEATER 3.2

RIVERFRONT PLAZA 3.1

the Bega (dry season)

the Belg (short rain season)

the Kiremt (long rain season)

Creek Commons: Reimagine Water as Coopera�ve Thread

Instructor: Prof. Marc Angelil

Teaching Assistant: Olani Ewunnet

Teammate: Yiyang Li

Project Loca�on: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

From the op�on studio “STU 1603: Quo Vadis, Addis?”, Spring 2022, at Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Church Forest

flooding scenario

Flowerfield

Farmland

Restora�on Park

Marshland

Reading the site as a spa�al text, Furi Lebu resembles the tex�le of heterogeneous mosaics, weaved together by one flowing thread - the creeks. We acknowledge the mul�-layered issues with the creeks of Addis Ababa: they are extremely polluted due to uncontrolled urbaniza�on, increasing migra�on, and inadequate sanita�on infrastructure. Government ac�ons remain controversial: Addis Ababa Riverside Project, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, is accused of “demolishing our shelters without any warning’’, causing displacement and disputes.

Sec�on - Node 2

Sec�on -

Node

As our site is dense with various se�lements and industries, the approaches we apply to the creeks are of fundamental importance. With reflec�on on the solu�on to local water problems, we propose to reimagine water as the catalyst that creates the virtuous cycle of creek commons. Our vision to establish a creekside coopera�ve aims to nourish the circular economy with three different scales of industries and social infrastructures located alongside the creek. We combine exis�ng and proposed programs to ac�vate the mul�ple produc�on models co-existent on our site, and to provide public infrastructures and spaces to the residents and workers of creek commons.

By imagining water as coopera�ve threads, we hope to reclaim the contested territory of waterfronts for the local community, both physically and conceptually. The vision of creek commons suggests that there could be autonomy within hegemony as long as we have a space to share collec�ve iden��es.

Sec�on - Node 4

Bachelor’s Thesis - the Convergence of Art and Commerce in Contemporary Culture

Instructor: Prof. Mengzhen HAN

Individual design project

Site Research Collaborator: Xidian Wang, Yingying Zhou

Project Loca

Consumerism in Contemporary Art or

The developments in greatly challenged the shopping, and online/virtue shopping has gained great popularity.

ART AND E-COMMERCE

the Icon of Art

Truss

intheConvergenceofArtandCommerce ContemporaryCulture

THE ROLE OF THE ARTIST

the Entrepreneur the Canonical Space for Displaying Art

SOCIAL MEDIA

becoming more similar to that of entrepreneurs, in examples such as Warhol and Pollock

THE EXPERIENCE OF THE CONSUMER

In the age of the social media, art consumers not only consume art wroks,

the Experience of “Shopping” the Experience of Apprecia

Prada Epicenter, New York, OMA, 2000-2001

the “ the xperience” has become crucial

Spaces for art in consumer culture?

“the white cube” as an Exhibit itself

Prada Marfa, US 90,

Texas, Elmgreen and Dragset, 2005

the Neutral Space for Displa

System 1

SPACE

contemporary art, and aim to design spaces that speak to the radical changes contemporary art.

Site

The proposal studies the

Program Model

Based on the study programs, an idealenvisioned.

Transforma

Based on the model, an old factory building is converted into a two-story complex that realizes the transibeing produced to being

System 1

Approaches

Two systems are introduced to help with such -

White Cube for Live Streaming

White Cube as Art Studio

The three sets of white cubes symbolize the convergence of art and commerce in contemporary culture.

Type 1

Art Studio

Type 2 Live Streaming Studio

Type 3

which art is produced, discussed, experienced and sold.

White Cube

White Cube for Live Streaming

beneath the Cube outside the Cube

Porosity, Sustainability and Well-being: Rethinking the Haussmann Block

Primary Instructor: Prof. Farshid Moussavi

Co-instructor: Yotam Ben Hur, Guillaume Choplain

Individual design project

Project Loca Paris

the

The proposal speaks to several defects of the block of Paris: with the central communal space being a straight extrusion that serves only as

space, the Haussmann block lacks diversity in its outdoor spaces, and it is fresh air to penetrate.

BMW MINI NEUBAUER Montmartre

Open Edge

Haussmann Block

Site the BMW MINI NEUBAUER Montmartre. facing the street, and the other three edges are not accessible to pedestrians.

Inaccessible Edges

Preserva es of the Orginal Structures

Interior of the Infrastructure 1 Interior of the Infrastructure 2 Haussmann Buildings of Paris

Original Beams

courtyards are organized around the vertical circulation cores. Each core is concatenated with de erent other cores by multiple courtyards on

Manifesto

All residents have the right to enjoy fresh air, adequate lights, plants, and amunal spaces.

Therefore, I propose to increase the porosity of the block and the diversity of public outdoor spaces, to counter the impermeable, homogeneous

By carefully placing a series of voids within the building - in contrast to the straight extrusion of a single Haussmann courtyard - the proposal increases the porosity of the block, the diversity of public outdoor space and light permeability.

Section A-A

Section A-A (Original)

Section B-B

Section B-B (Original) Section

Individual & Planetary Well-being

voids, as I believe that a crucial part of both individual and planetary well-being is to have public communal spaces with adequate plants. Walnut wood is used as a sustainable, durable material with a warm feeling for most parts of the new built infrastructures. It counters the cold tone of the remaining concrete materials.

the residents are introduced. On gardens that are accessible to pedestrians are created on the edge of the site that is adjacent to the street.

Voids

(Communal Space for Residents)

Roof Top Gardens

Voids

(Communal Space for Residents)

Pocket Gardens (Facing Rue Lamarck)

10m05

Private Side

Public Side A

Unit Core

Unit Strategy

A/ No two units are the same

A-1/ Some apartments have one side facing the courtyard/edge, one side facing the core

A-2/ Other apartments have two sides facing the core

-Add one core within the unit that gets the sunlight

-Make it a duplex

Each apartment has at least one “open side” and one “private side”

B/ For layout - assigning each apartment unit with an open plan with one circular core in the middle that may be acts as the organizer of the apartment, and all the other funcions are arranged around the core.

the living room or the kitchen

the Rollberg Block

From the studio ‘Connector - Community’, Fall-Winter, 2018-2019, at Technical University of Berlin. Modified exlusively by me in November 2020 for this por�olio. Selected drawings are exclusively done by me.

Instructors: Prof. Lars Steffensen, Gesche Gerber, Mena Theißen, Esther Berkhoff

Collaborator: Noa Karmi

Contribu�on: design 50%, modeling 80%, diagram 60%

Project Loca�on: Rollberg, Neukölln, Berlin

The project is situated on a slope that starts at a height of ±0.00m and ends at a height of +9.00m. We planned the project in accordance with the typology of other blocks in the neighborhood, placing a courtyard in the middle from which people enter the housing complex.

the Modules

Noa and I experimented on the dimensions of the housing modules with Styrofoam blocks. We decided to apply dimensions of 5×12×3.3 meters to the housing module, and dimensions of 6×9×3.3 meters to the transporta�on module. Each floor of a unit is composed of one housing module and 3 or 4 living modules, forming 2 or 3 different types of apartments respec�vely. Altogether 6 different types of apartments are formed through the placing of such modules.

The housing complex divides the site into 3 parts – the Rollberg Park, the inner courtyard and the lane between the block and the adjacent brewery, crea�ng spaces at various heights that stack together and bring about possibili�es of diverse spa�al experience.

We divided the housing complex into small units which we would further adjust and experiment on. We also designed the landscape of the park, the courtyard and the lane between the complex and the brewery.

Rollberg Park & the West Facade of the Communit Center (public, accessible to all)

Courtyard of the Block (semi-private, shared between residents)

Lane between the Brewery and the Block (public, accessible to all)

Entrance to Rollberg Park from Neckar Street

Neckar

East Entrance to Rollberg Park from Rollberg Street West Entrance to Rollberg Park from Rollberg Street

Typology of the Berlin Blocks

We studied the typology of the Berlin blocks to design our Rollberg Block. A typical type of blocks is made up of rows of housing surrounding a courtyard. The ground floor of the housing complex accommodates the public func�ons –shops, restaurants and community services. The housing complex is divided into several units that consist of a variety of apartments, and can be entered from the inner courtyard.

In the Rollberg Block we acknowledged and u�lized this typology. We placed the inner courtyard at the +6.00m level, where residents could enter each of the 6 units of this housing complex. The public func�ons - the community center, the shops and the studios can be entered from either Rollberg Park or the Brewery Lane.

ROLLBERGSTREET

the Hierarchy of Privacy

Knowing that approximately 50% of the Neukölln popula�on come from immigrant backgrounds I wonder how I could help the immigrants - and everybody else - blend into the community while obtaining a sense of privacy and security at the same �me.

My solu�on is to create a hierarchy of privacy, and assign each space of the block with a certain level of privacy: the community center on the ground floor as well as the stores and workshops facing the brewery are open to the public; the mee�ng rooms and storage rooms that can be entered from the semi-public courtyard are for all residents of the block; from the courtyard people get back to their homes - the private place they could keep to themselves. The balconies add a �nt of publicity to this privacy.

ROLLBERG

NECKARSTREET

From Soil to Space is a landscape framework dedicated to allowing the soil to speak to the landscape above to create logical, informed, func�oning space for the people of Antwerp. The A102 is a massive underground highway excava�on project and will be displacing mul�ple square kilometers of undisturbed soils with highly diverse microbial communi�es. U�lizing soil as an impera�ve resource is therefore key for a successful design.

A�er excava�on, soils are placed strategically by type and substrate to create both a ver�cal and horizontal matrix. The ver�cal matrix relates to the underground highway, concerned with facilita�ng microbial bioremedia�on func�ons to sequester pollu�on being emi�ed from the cars. The horizontal matrix is concerned with u�lizing the deposi�on of soil types strategically to op�mize aboveground func�ons.

With From Soil to Space, these func�ons range from improved community garden and allotment space, a very popular exis�ng usage, to wellness parks with microclimate-controlling topographical devices, from noise cancelling berms, to improved water infiltra�on and flood preven�on techniques. This is all accomplished simply by observing the soil types and their quali�es and func�ons, and then placing them accordingly during the deposi�on process. The project sets a precedent for future underground and excava�on projects.

From Soil to Space

Instructor: Prof. Jungyoon Kim

Teaching Assistant: Lara Prebble

Teammate: Emily Menard

Project Loca�on: Merksem, Antwerp, Belgium

From the op�on studio “STU 1412: Below, Above, and Beyond: Future of Antwerp's Mobility and Public Space”, Spring 2023, at Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Sec�on C-C

Sec�on D-D

(un)fold Installa�on Design & Construc�on

From the Construc�on Workshop at Tsinghua University, Summer 2017.

Instructor: Prof. Yong JIANG

Design team: me, Xinran HE, Jianan CHEN, Siyao CUI, Ziyu HUANG, Xiaowen LI, Shuang LIANG

Collaborators: Class A61 of the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University

Contribu�on: I first developed the design of the installa�on as a member of the design team. Upon the comple�on of its design, I built the 1:2 experimental model with the construc�on team, and finally par�cipated in construc�ng the installa�on.

Project Loca�on: Anshan Iron & Steel Group Co. Research Center, Changping District, Beijing

seats

We experimented with a piece of A4 paper

seats

We folded it, then unfolded it.

We folded it in another direc�on, then unfolded it again

We rolled the paper up.

Sec�on A-A Sec�on B-B

Sec�on C-C

II 1:2 Model Phase

To ascertain that the hinges could effec�vely bind the slabs together, and that the installa�on could actually support itself, we built an experimental model at a scale of 1:2 before we started the construc�on of the installa�on. We also tested out the ligh�ng design with the experimental model, and adjusted the dimensions of the triangular openings on each slab according to our test result.

We completed the construc�on of the installa�on in the atrium of Anshan Iron & Steel Group Company’s research center. Although we got our inspira�on from folding a piece of A4 paper, we did not hope to build a sculpture, but an installa�on that would offer immersive spaces for people to stay in. We finally made the installa�on a pavilion, with the edges of the envelope transforming into seats, and lights penetra�ng through the triangular openings of the slabs.

Instructor:

Instructor:

Frost A Cake

The cake is inspired by Ricardo Stairways and geometrical windows are recreated as bas-reliefs on the surfaces of the cake, and the color original work.

images express the feeling of “not belonging”.

Instructor:

Teammate: Sovona Ghatak

Using the technique of gel photography, Sovona and I played with foods and lights to create these photos. I took the experiment further to apply signs on these photos when processing them.

Instructor:

Instructor:

Teammate: Video Link: movements in nature.

Recording Tachi Movements

Instructor:

Teammate:

Video Link: -

obtained from the previous step. Such spheres resemble the sand grains thating with diverse shapes and assigning them with various colors, we aimed to -

Instructor:

Teammate:

Video Link:

two lovers looking at each other through opaque veils. When looking at this piece of work in 2021 under the context of the on-going global health crisis, we see that

a more literal meaning. The pandemic has separated lovers, friends and family members. Social distancing has forced us to put on “face coverings” both literally and person, to talk face to face, and to build real-life connec-

In light of this, the project shows the process of veils gradually draping on the 3D-scanned face models of ourselves. By displaying this we hope to create a meta-stances.

3D Scanning my Head

Instructor:

Teammate: Video Link:

Our inner light, the sun itself; such things are unreachable. Captured in small pixels in the vast screen, however, they become a part of our world.

down the screen. The fusion of physical movement and a virtual screen provides the audience with a unique experience.

1987 marked the year when the old Beijing Amusement Park was first open to public. It was one of the earliest and largest amusement park in China. Its epic Ferris wheel was also one of the highest Ferris wheel at that �me, and it could be easily spo�ed on the city skyline.

the Escape

Self-ini�ated Work

Completed in September 2019. Published in the April issue of Urban Design Journal (ISSN 2096-1235), 2020.

Modified exclusively by me in December 2020.

Instructor: Prof. Wenyi ZHU

Design collaborators & co-writers: Junyu YANG, Tong LIU

Contribu�on: concept 70%, design development 50%, diagram 70%, essay wri�ng 30% Project Loca�on: Dongcheng District, Beijing Selected drawings are exclusively done by me.

Even though it is not longer in use, the Ferris wheel stands quietly among the buildings of Beijing’s ever-changing skyline, witnessing the emergence of the city’s many new ‘icons’.

In the 1990s the amusement park was among the most popular weekend a�rac�ons for Beijing families.

However in 2010, a�er 23 years of serving the public, Beijing Amusement Park was closed permenantly. The famous Ferris wheel has been abandoned since that �me.

Recently in 2019 a decision was made to tranform the old amusement park into a new leisure park. But the Ferris wheel has not become part of the plan. Instead it is scheduled to be demolished.

In our proposal, we hope to renovate the old Ferris wheel and make it part of the new public park. We hope that it would s�ll be there as it has always been, that it would be preserved as a living monument of the city.

Looking at the skyline of Beijing, I always ask myself: Does Beijing need one more icon, a�er having this many iconic buildings sprou�ng into existence in recent years? Coincidently heard about the new plan for the old Beijing Amusement Park in the city center. Ten years a�er its shut down, Beijing has decided to turn the amusement park into a new park with all its former recrea�onal facili�es removed, including the famous Ferris wheel that has stood in the city center for over 30 years.

Like us, many people disagree with the plan, arguing that the Ferris wheel has always had its place in their childhood memories. Thus, we put forward another proposal, in which we turn the Ferris wheel – the real ‘icon’ of the city – into a living monument for the old amusement park.

Internship at MAD Architects

Note: the using of all images in the portfolio has been approved by MAD Architects. Only publicized projects are introduced here.

Baiziwan Social Housing

Porject Architect: Li SHANG

Contribu�on: I joined the project team in its construc�on phase, when the clients asked the team to redesign the public areas on the ground floor and the second floor. I par�cipated in the design of storefronts and shop signs, as well as the interior design and rendering of the common rooms.

Time of Par�cipa�on: April - May, 2020

Project Loca�on: Chaoyang District, Beijing

JInshanling Cinema at the Foot of the Great Wall

Project Architect: Weili JIN

Contribu�on: I joined the project team at the end of its schema�c deisgn phase. I made diagrams and technical drawings from the 3D model, rendered the masterplan for this project, and modified details in the 3D model.

Time of Par�cipa�on: March- April, 2020

Project Loca�on: Jinshanling, Chengde, Heibei Province

Photo - Second Floor

Note: the technical drawings are done by me. The renderings are made by other colleagues.

Jiaxing Civic Center

Contribu�on: I joined the project team in its conceptual design phase, helped with digital modeling, plan and diagram drawing, as well as client mee�ng package preparing.

Team Members: Yin Jianfeng, Alessandro Fisalli, Fu Xiaoyi, Chen-Hsiang Chao, He Yiming, Thoufeeq Ahmed, Chen Hao, He Xiaowen, Zhang Yaohui, Guo Xuan, Edgar Navarrete, Claudia Hertrich, Deng Wei, Zhang Xiaomei, Chen Nianhai, Li Cunhao, Sun Feifei, Punnin Sukkasem, Manchi Yeung, Li Yingzhou

Time of Par�cipa�on: August, 2020

Project Loca�on: South Lake, Jiaxing

Note: all images of the project below are from MAD Architects.

Mengyu Zhao

She/her

MArch II Candidate 2023

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

mengyu_zhao@gsd.harvard.edu