IMAGINATION + LOGIC Yixin Miao
Selected works 2016-2019
Cover Image: ArcGIS Mapping of Queens, NYC Teammate: Jinshu Li
01 SEEDS
04-33 Urban
Imagine Urban Water Commons + Facilitate Organic Growth Ahmedabad, India | 2019
02 MANHATTAN SHELF
34-51 Urban
Imagine Future Place of Worship + Incremental Growth to be Visible Jacques Rougerie Foundation International Competition | 2017
03 THE NEW COLLECTIVE
52-65 Urban
Imagine Suburban Heritage Revival + Connect Tourist and Local Shigushan, China | 2017
04 ARRESTED GENTRIFICATION
66-69 Urban
Imagine Land Subdivision + Empowering the Local Banglatown, Detroit | 2018
05 THE CITY MÖBIUS
70-77 Urban
Imagine Urban Village Renewal + Flip and Join the Neighborhoods Hankou, China | 2016
06 CULTIVATING WILDERNESS
78-89 Landscape
Imagine Land Subdivision + Empowering the Local Banglatown, Detroit | 2018
07 CAPTURE NATURE
90-95 Landscape
Imagine a Selfie Park + Interactive Experience with Nature Wuchang, China | 2016
08 SPACE CHAPEL
96-103 Architecture
Imagine Future Place of Worship + Incremental Growth to be Visible Jacques Rougerie Foundation International Competition | 2017
09 OTHER WORKS
104-115 Multi
Representation | Sketches; Watercolor Undergrad Work | Luotian Master Planning Writing Sample | Meditation on "Refocus"
CONTENT
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01 SEEDS
SEEDING CIVIC LIFE IN AHMEDABAD, INDIA Taubman College Urban Design Studio Winter, 2019 Instructor: María Arquero de Alarcón Teammates: Early stage in VSF Studio - Mandar Gandevikar; Sachet Kiran; Later in Taubman College - Shourya Jain KEY WORDS: Organic growth; Multi-scale; Multi-function; Water infrastructure
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Water plays an important role in the history of city, Ahmedabad. Today modernized water infrastructure has changed the way people use and perceive water. The SEEDS project offers a variety of multi-scaled design interventions to invite in organic growth. Just like seeds need water to grow, the project aims to bring in and reveal the element of water to activate public space, hence encourage and start a new Urban Water Commons by providing water infrastructure. Inspired by the multi-functional nature of India urban space, SEEDS is also an experiment on how urban infrastructure condense, transform, and materialize concepts without controlled or predetermined meaning, seeding multiple use and attitude in a long time span.
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OBSERVATION Impression | Inspiration
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PROJECT COMPONENTS Gate | Wall | Plaza
Tiny old gates in Old City Wall connecting village settlement to the riverfront road.
Hidden Gate
Old
Wa ll
DETACH
Riverfront Wall
Reclaimed land by riverfront project used for parking and to host sunday market.
Sunday Market Plaza | Parking Plaza Green Landscapes at CEPT university built by using excavated soil during construction of buildings.
Sculpted Plaza
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City
CONNECT
Institutional Plaza
Three types of existing elements serve as markers in the public spaces on the site. The “Gates,” both the historical Khanjha Gate, heritage of the Old City, and new gates made of metal, like in The Bhadra Plaza, to spark curiosity and sense of discovery while crossing the threshold of the site. The “Plaza,” with a variety of sizes, configurations and uses, is the main space for gathering and celebration. Last the “Wall,” rather than a boundary serves as infrastructure and provides solid support to public activities. As familiar types for the urban dwellers, the project instigate their radical reappropriation to host disparate activities and create new collectivities giving form to the urban water commons.
RECREATE
Bhadra Plaza M S Gates New Steel Gates designed by Doshi. Gates Demarcate the boundaries of Bhadra Plaza.
ATT
DEMARACATE
H
Stark Contrast of Old City wall remains and the new plaza created by riverfront project
Redesigned Bhadra Plaza brings back vit defining spaces for informal activities..
Bhadra Fort Gate
Remains Of Old City Wall
Hidden Ancient Temple under debris resting against old city wall.
Riverfront Wall
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ATTACHED Bhadra Fort Renovated Wall
Bhadr
TRANSFORM
GATHERING
Old city Squate
Reconstructed Bhadra Fort Wall occupied by street vendors.
Bhadra Plaza
brings back vitality to the city by al activities..
DISCOVERY
ACCESS
Manek Chowk
Bhadra Fort Gate
Thickness of old city walls that were once accessible and habitable for security and war purposes.
Bh
ad
Bhadra Fort Gate become a symbol of discovery and reveals the beautiful hidden fort behind.
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ra For t
Wa ll
Kings Tomb Darwaaza
REVEAL
Shop Gates
Hidden entrances located in the middle of the old city become symbols of important historical monuments that merge within city’s fabric.
RELEASE
ra Plaza
Jami Mosque is a friday mosque that holds a huge central plaza located at the heart of old city.
Teen Darwaaza
Jaami Mosque Wall
Jami Mosque Plaza
Mosque Gate occupied by street vendors.
Mosque Entrance Gate
Manek Chowk that keeps transforming throughout the day in terms of its activities an informalities it holds
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CONCEPT Element + Water
The concept is to reveal the element of water to re-appropriate the three existing elements: gate, wall and plaza as SEEDS. To provide water infrastructure as active gathering space, we propose a variety of seeds of different scale, material and program. Gate as water purification station, Wall as aquaduct to transport water, and Plaza as water conservation. According to the context and need of the specific site, seeds can be adaptive in different physical form s and uses. Planted with a carefully designed sequence, these interventions will trigger incremental growth of different activities and shape active public space with intimate relationship with water. The larger strategy is to encourage and start a new Urban Water Commons by providing water infrastructure.
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SEEDS STRUCTURE
nsVariations
Incremental growth Incremental Incremental growth growth
Sustainable Emerging Embryonic Develop Sustainable Sustainable Emerging Emerging Embryonic Embryo Devel
tal
oil
ter
Governmen 2019 Committee Members: Governm 2019 Committee 2019 Committee Members:Members:
Ahmedabad MuniM Ahmedabad
CityCity Water Resour Water Res
ight
Sabarmati Riverfr Sabarmati Riv
rn
Constant Members Constant Constant MembersMembers Temporary Members Temporary Temporary MembersMembers
nd
The diagram on the right encapsulates different agencies that would participate in SEED and demarcates the number of representatives that each entity will hold in the association. Overall, It aims to distribute the decision-making power in the hands of multiple local agencies
ovate
struct
aim
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Types of interaction withwith water of Incremental growth Types of interaction Types of interaction water Types withTypes water of Incremental Types of growth Increm Present Present
Present
Attach andand growgrow Attach Atta
UsedUsed
Used
Appreciate andand Enterta Appreciate App Ent
Celebrated Celebrated
Celebrated
Gather andand Celebrate Gather Celebra Gath
pment onic (SEED) (SEED) onic Development Development (SEED) Chairs:
Chairs: Mandar Chairs:
Mandar Mandar Vote
Sachet
Sachet Sachet
Vote Vote Equity
Equity Equity
SEWA
SEWA SEWA
Gujarat Bazaar Association Gujarat Gujarat Bazaar Bazaar Association Association
Saath
Saath Saath
ront Sabarmati Development Riverfront Corporation Development LimitedCorporation Street Vendors’ Association Street Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited Limited Street Vendors’ Vendors’ Association Association
Sarwa
Sarwa Sarwa
CommercialCommercial Commercial
ntGovernment Government
icipal Ahmedabad Corporation Municipal Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Corporation
rce City Water CityManagement Water Resource Resource Management Management
APMC
APMC APMC
(The Agricultural Produce (The Market Agricultural Committee) Produce Market Committee) (The Agricultural Produce Market Committee)
(Self Employed Women (Self Association) Employed Women Association) (Self Employed Women Association)
EnvironmentEnvironment Environment
PreservationPreservation Preservation
Water Purification Water Treatment Purification Association Treatment of Gujarat Association Water Purification Treatment Association of of Gujarat Gujarat
UNESCO
IWWA(Indian WaterIWWA(Indian Works Association) Water IWWA(Indian Water Works Works Association) Association)
City Heritage Center City City Heritage Heritage Center Center
Religious Religious Religious
Neighborhood Neighborhood Neighborhood
Shree Jagannath Mandir Shree Jagannath Committee Mandir Shree Trust Jagannath Mandir Trust Trust Committee Committee
Ramdevpir community Ramdevpir Ramdevpir community community
Jamia Kanzul UloomJamia Jamia Kanzul Kanzul Uloom Uloom
Khanja communityKhanja Khanja community community
UNESCO UNESCO
CRUTA Foundation CRUTA CRUTA Foundation Foundation
(Conservation and research (Conservation of Urban and research of Urban (Conservation and research of Urban Traditional Architecture)Traditional Architecture) Traditional Architecture)
Scrutinize Scrutinize Scrutinize
mental mental growth growth
ach ach and and grow grow
preciate ain and preciate and Entertain Entertain
Critics:
Critics: Media Critics:
Media Media
Citizens
Citizens Citizens
her her and and Celebrate Celebrate
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TAXONOMY Gate | Wall | Plaza Flexibility Scale Use
Collection Aquaduct
Time
Flexibility Scale Use
Reflection Plaza
The intervention registers different scales of space and time, addresses context and coreographs different regimes of human occupation. According to the change of different factors, people’s interaction with the intervention changes, thus enabling the inclusion of different ages, genders, religions and ethnic groups and the celebration of difference.
Flexibility Scale Use
Slum Settlements Aquaduct
Time
Flexibility Scale Use
Turning Aquaduct
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Time
Time
Flexibility
Flexibility
Religious Gate
Metal Gate
Time
Landscape Aquaduct
Time
Time
Natural Plaza
Time
Flexibility
Waterfall Plaza
Flexibility Scale Use
Stepwell Plaza
Time
Time
Flexibility
Flexibility
Flexibility
Scale Use
Scale Use Time
Flexibility Scale Use
Scale Use
Time
Time
Flexibility
Flexibility
Distribution Aquaduct
Ancient Gate
Scale Use
Scale Use
Infrastructural Aquaduct
Scale Use
Time
Flexibility Scale Use
Nature Gate
Flexibility
Scale Use
Scale Use
Terraced Plaza
Time
Scale Use
Territory Plaza
Time
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DESIGN MATRIX Shade | Water | Structure 6:00
Shade
morning market
Water
To offer flexibility of use and invite disparate users, this tool illustrates the different use of the elements and different temporal aspectsshade/ shadow, micro-atmospheres created by spraying of water and structures with wifi, electricity, and other utilities. The goal is to map different possibilities and anticipate the mechanisms to administer temporality and flexibility and enabling their adaptive nature.
dry
Structure
Music
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12:00
18:00
noon shade
evening leisure time
spray
Wifi Spot
wet
Hooks
21:00
light corridor
mild
Projector
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SITE ANALYSIS Jamalpur | Ahmedabad
This site is a microcosm representative of the complex realities faced by the City of Ahmedabad: from ethnic and religious segregation, the urban water and housing crises, to the threads of displacement of the poor and the socio-political unrest inherent to urban growth and modernization. At the same time, Jamalpur is a palimpsest of the complex layers of history legible in one of the oldest areas in Ahmedabad: the remains of the old city wall and its ancient gates and the presence of important markets ( the municipal flower and vegetable market and the relocated Sunday market) and the religious temple of Hindu and Khan Jahan. While the proximity to the Sabarmati river is felt on the site through a gentle slope, the Riverfront Project has broken the visual connection towards the river and disrupted the natural drainage of water.
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SEEDING TIMELINE Gate | Wall | Plaza
The timeline of the project is incremental in nature: the seeds’ planting are scheduled in a long time span which allows observation and adaptation in the process. The general strategy is to “plant” the water infrastructure in the existing Jamalpur Gate first, to purify the water. The Plaza comes second, to activate the new interventions generated by the riverfront project and build space for water conservation. Last, the aqueduct opportunistically appropriates the existing walls and branches to bring water to the undeserved spaces of the neighborhoods to enable water circulation.
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AGENCY DIAGRAM
Public space in Ahmedabad is the result of the continuous negotiation among different groups, from the government to the business owners, vendors, citizens and domesticated animals. Devising novel models of open space governance and shaping the institutions that would take part in seeding the process is a critical component of the design. The aim is to establish Sustainable Emerging Embryonic Development Structure (SEED) that will unify and bring together different agencies, developers, funding and representation of communities to allow equitable growth and development.
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DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION
The drawing highlights larger connections between the three elements and define the spatial order. It speculates on the future use of the newly built form for diverse activities and uses. By planting SEEDS, the project raises larger questions on the agency of designers to enable the incremental co-production of urban space, ensure inclusive participatory frameworks and address people’s right to the city.
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CELEBRATION SCENARIOS Ever-transforming Landscapes
Scenarios aim to highlight transforming use of space by different communities during everyday conditions and the extreme time of festivities. As a way to sparking imagination, the images showcase the Ramadan, the Kite Festival and the use of the sculpted unclaimed land by non-humans, urban dwellers.
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SHIFTING CITYSCAPES Ground Level Perspectives
The views reflect different occupation regimes and the presence of women, children, street vendors and other uncommon publics with the new water commons.
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Seeding space for religious significance
Seeding micro-atmospheres
Seeding space for women
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APPENDIX Early-stage Sketches
ELEMENTS OF THE CITY
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STRATEGY
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02 MANHATTAN SHELF
GREEN NEW DEAL, NEW YORK Taubman College Urban Design Studio Fall, 2019 Instructor: El Hadi Jazairy Teammates: Ruokun Zhang, Yufan Hao KEY WORDS: Flexible; Resilient; Habitable; Heterogeneous; Infrastructure
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Manhattan Shelf proposes a new elevated public transportation system as the Green New Deal in response to the sea level rise in the future and chooses Lower Manhattan as the experimental site to test how the polluted, grided, private and static Manhattan can be transformed to green, heterogeneous and a little messy space with more shared urban environment. Instead of being concrete and mono-functioned, this new flexible modular infrastructure is an urban shelf constructed by timber, not only supporting public transportation and logistics, but also providing space for animal habitat and community interaction.
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MAPPING WATER AND LAND POLLUTION
Started with mapping air, land and water pollution of NYC, Lower Manhattan is identified with the most severe P.M 2.5, sewage outfalls and landfill.
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MAPPING AIR POLLUTION
As the most expensive and iconic area of New York, Manhattan Shelf started from the idea of proposing a new public transportation system that allows only clean energy tramway and use the infrastructure to address pollution issues at the same time.
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AIR
Truck Route Air Pollution
Vacuumed up Fine Particles
Mixed up with Clay —> Turn into Brick —> City Construction
WATER
Runoff + Sanitary Sewage
Player Replace
Green Travel on Up-layer with Sub-layer Sewage Treatment
LAND
Trash Landdll
NOW
Aerobic System Installed and Operation Elevated Road + Urban Farming and Gardening
PROGESS
Cell Mining
FUTURE
STRATEGIES
For air pollution, restrict the transportation of the lower manhattan area to only pedestrian and public transportation, implement direct air capture and the existing carbon sequestration technology to transform pollution into diamonds. Change the subway system as sewage after it’s growing possibility of being flooded. Deal with landfill by inserting treatment facility on the cracked road surface after severe flooding.
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CONCEPTUAL SECTION PERSPECTIVE
This section perspectives shows the conceptual idea of a three-layered transportation system that consists of a tramway on top, pedestrian way underneath and floating gardens and farms on the water. Creating a conceptual moment of catastrophe as a huge rock hitting a building during a future hurricane and address the idea of living with the catastrophe and unsure situations in the future of climate change.
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TRADITIONAL INFRASTRACTURE AS THE OLD DEAL
Traditional infrastructures are the most vulnerable in the era of climate change. For instance, the subway system is the first to be flooded in the sea level rise. The carbon emission of the infrastructure is another key issue needs to be addressed, not only because of the construction process, but also the urban sprawl that was triggered by the highway.
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Timber + Scaffolding TIMBER + SCAFFOLDING long crossings crossings when Trestles Trestles are are used used for for long when lengthy lengthy clear clear spans spans are are unnecessary, unnecessary, impractical, impractical, or or not not economical. economical. Superstructure Superstructure support support for for trestle trestle bridges bridges isis provided provided by by bents bents constructed constructed of of timber timber piles piles or or sawn sawn lumber lumber frames. frames. Material & structure The The spacing spacing between between bents bents isis controlled controlled by by the the span span capability capability of of the the superstructure. superstructure. The The most most common common trestle trestle configuration configuration isis aa series series of of simply simply supported supported sawn sawn lumber lumber beams beams spanning spanning 20 20 to to 30 30 feet feet..
Coal Coal trestle trestle inin Osego, Osego, New New York York , , 1935 1935
FLEXIBLE HABITABLE ECO INFRASTRUCTURE
To achieve the idea of a flexible, habitable eco infrastructure, we imagine the Manhattan Shelf as a scaffolding structure built by timber. Like trestle bridges that was already being built in the 1930s to achieve long crossings and for temporary use in coal mines, we propose two structural typologies as basic elements: 20-30 feet wide for tramways on top and 10 feet for only pedestrian.
Material Material && structure structure
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Scaffolding typology
Material & structure STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
To achieve the idea of the Shelf being multifunctioned and habitable, a small element of 5 feet by 5 feet is proposed for multiple uses, including tree pools, water collection and purification, bird nests and pipelines. This is a very intimate scale that can encourage the participation of the neighborhood and allow the shelf to grow by attaching to the main structure.
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Small container elements
multifuctioned as shelf CONTAINER TYPOLOGIES
This diagram shows the structural idea of small elements being able to attach and grow onto the larger structure. The shelf may have only one layer at the beginning of facing the challenge of sea level rise and extreme weather, but growing up to more layers as the sea level keeps going up.
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pollution control elements
Multifuctioned as shelf POLLUTION CONTROL ELEMENTS
This diagram explains how will the three elements addressing air/water/land pollution work. In addition to these , we propose a monitoring system that uses drones and robots roaming around Lower Manhattan to detect and report pollution and emergencies.
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Manual of Assemblage
able to adopt and grow MANUAL OF ASSEMBLAGE
This diagram shows the structural idea of small elements being able to attach and grow onto the larger structure. The shelf may have only one layer at the beginning of facing the challenge of sea level rise and extreme weather, but growing up to more layers as the sea level keeps going up.
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TRINITY STREET SECTION 47
TRINITY STREET SECTION ZOOM-IN
This section elevation along the Trinity Street shows how the new transportation system will be used. Several situations are addressed on the section, including the case of fire and pipe leak causing the monitor drones detect and report, the shelf as emergency hospital and shelter, as well as the stations as the main vertical connection that unites the three layers together by elevators.
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Emergency Scenario Emergency Scenario
Emerging neighborhood relationship Emerging neighborhood relationship
Emerging Vocation Emerging Vocation
Emerging Parade Emerging Parade “游”行 Emerging Parade “游”行 “游”行
EMERGENCY = EMERGENCE
In the discussion after the project final, we are asked to think out of the project itself and think about what is the key idea that contributes to imagining a Green New Deal. Instead of simply fixing the problems after a catastrophe, the emergency can be read creatively as "emerging opportunities" that pushes the urban environment to be challenged and evolved.
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Model Photos 51
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KEY WORDS: Suburban heritage; Co-development of tourism and local life condition
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04 ARRESTED GENTRIFICATION DESIGN BANGLATOWN
Taubman College Urban Design Studio Fall, 2018 Instructor: McLain Clutter Teammate: Jinshu Li KEY WORDS: Land subdivision; Empowering the local community
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The concept is to capture the fleeting moment and arrest gentrification so that it can benefit the neighborhood without the consequence of large-scale developers conquering the whole place, changing the characteristic of the neighborhood totally and causing displacement. Thus, three toolkits of strategies are proposed: land subdivision to preclude large-scale development; anchor trigger to instigate economic growth but in a physical form that acts as barrier to prevent further development; and suggestions for locals to earn more money and thus avoid displacement. *All represented in GIFs at: https://miaoyxportfolio.wixsite.com/mysite/06
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KEY WORDS: Urban Village renewal; Flip and join; Skywalk; Building renovation
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06 CULTIVATING WILDERNESS A NEW TRAIL FOR CLEVELAND
Taubman College, Emerging Urbanism Seminar Final Proposal Fall, 2019 Instructor: María Arquero de Alarcón Teammate: Sarah Peterson KEY WORDS: Biodiversity; Resilience; Self-spreading; Self-healing; Corridor
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The modern American landscape is the result of dichotomous thinking that relegates land to nature or civilization, with little in between. The result is a landscape mosaic largely dominated by human activities, leaving the wilderness that remains as disconnected patches. This projects seeks to build upon that invitation, employing the towpath as a spine of ecological regeneration in support of biodiversity and resilience. Abandoned railways and urban voids are deconstructed, unpaving the way from Lake Erie to the Cuyahoga Valley.
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A CORRIDOR REVIVED The historic towpath becomes an invitation for wildlife habitat to reemerge amid a rich and heterogeneous urban landscape. The footprint is selected to foster movement of wildlife while preserving and embracing Cleveland’s industrial heritage. While the narrow corridor is protected from human impact, larger habitat patches provide opportunity for humans to observe and enter dynamic ecosystems.
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LEGEND NATURAL HABITAT protected corridor habitat patch enhanced urban and industrial ARTIFICIAL HABITAT overpassing bridges vertical wall adapted building adapted bridge
0
200ft
1000 ft
2000 ft
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1
Thread _ Seed
An abandoned railway serves as inaugural spine, seeded with windborne pioneers to inoculate surrounding landscape. Bridges and walls support native climbing vegetation for a greater initiatory impact.
2
Patch_Establish
Underutilized and vacant land is readily converted to habitat as soil is laid bare and abandoned structures become foundations for constructed habitat. Thread becomes dominated by shrubs and is colonized by reptiles and small mammals.
3 Spread_Connect The corridor weaves through urban and industrial landscapes, designed to mitigate pollution and environmental impact, connecting landscapes in varying stages of succession. Over time, the land remediates and matures, granting predators and wide-range species safe home and passage.
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CULTIVATING WILDLIFE THROUGH TIME
thread_seed
patch_colonize
spread_connect
Consolidate ownership Analyze and Inventory species soil & pollution hydrology & topography wind & solar structures uses
Activate Ecologies protect beneficial species remove invasive species amend soil & topography vegetate [seed + plant] construct artificial habitat
Remediate Brownfields remove paving bioremediate adaptive reuse
Human Exposure citizen science organize workforce education & interpretation construct trails & viewpoints
Adaptive Management corridor management as a dynamic, iterative process of design, implementation, and assessment that evolves as it grows
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CONCEPTUAL SECTIONS I Flood Barrier
Cuyahoga River
Former Ohio & Erie Canal
CURRENT CONDITION This photo collage shows the river edge condition near the E 9th and S Broadway Street. Here the railway runs directly next to the river with only a linear mount covered already with native vegetation.
Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal flower)
Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed)
Eutrochium purpureum (Sweet Joe-Pye-weed)
Cornus amomum Betula alleghaniensis (Silky Dogwood) (Swamp birch)
Salix discolor (pussy willow)
Create areas on top of the flood barrier for plants
Riverside Grassland
Soft-edged Cuyahoga Riverside
Natural Flood Barrier
Flower Canal
Human restricted
Upper layer greenery
THREAD: PHASE 1
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In the first phase, clean up the invasive plants of the area, propose Ohio native species that are mainly grass, shrub and fern. Flowering plants are introduced around the riverside as well as along the railway.
Spring peeper
Eastern comma
Meadow vole
American goldfinch
Asimina Triloba (Pawpaw Tree)
Riverside Grassland
Soft-edged Cuyahoga Riverside
Natural Flood Barrier
Flower Canal
Human restricted
Upper layer greenery
THREAD: PHASE 2 This section shows the growth after the first phase. The proposed vegetation attracts animals such as frogs and birds. The flowering plants attracts butterflies. The flood barrier is still restricted from humans. Thus these species will be the first settlers of the area.
River otter
Blanding’s Turtle
Northern Flicker
Carpinus caroliniana (American hornbeam)
Riverside Grassland
Soft-edged Cuyahoga Riverside
Natural Flood Barrier
Flower Canal
View spot and public Upper layer greenery space for human
THREAD: PHASE 3 In the final phase, human is invited to the upper level of the landscape. The relationship between city and ecosystem is redefined, visibly joining human and natural systems.
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CONCEPTUAL SECTIONS II
Cuyahoga River
Detroit-Superior Bridge
Cuyahoga Viaduct Metro Parking
US District Court Cleveland
West St
CURRENT CONDITION This photo collage shows the current condition of the Canal Basin looking north-east. The basin is in between the two bridges and now mainly ground floor parking.
Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie dropseed)
Riverside Lookout
Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass)
Greenery under the bridge
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly weed)
Liatris spicata Quercus macrocarpa Liriodendron tulipifera (Dense blazing star) (Bur oak) (Tulip tree)
Topography Change for water gathering to form pond to invite in species
Human restricted under bridge area
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Connects to thread
PATCH: PHASE 1
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In the first phase, remove the concrete surface of the parking lots and create topography change to allow water to accumulate, connect the area across the under bridge area, introduce in the local species and connect to the thread.
Vaccinium pallidum (Blue Ridge blueberry)
Riverside Lookout
Calycanthus floridus (Carolina-allspice)
Greenery under the bridge
Red Squirrel
Northern Least Shrew
Topography Change for water gathering to form pond to invite in species
Eastern Cottontail
Little Brown Bat
Human restricted under bridge area
Connects to thread
PATCH: PHASE 2 This section shows the second phase of the area, while the trees and grass grow in the process, animals such as squirrels and rabbits start to come in.
Bald Eagle
Riverside Lookout
Eastern Bluebird
Greenery under the bridge
Peregrine Falcon
Topography Change for water gathering to form pond to invite in species
Human restricted under bridge area
Connects to thread
PATCH: PHASE 3 In the final stage, Humans are invited to use the area. One under bridge area is intended for gatherings and more interaction while the other is restricted from human and remained as only natural habitat.
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KEY WORDS: Selfie culture; Interactive experience with nature
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Intimate Mirror Garden
Quiet Silhouette
Wall Myth
Intimate Waterfront
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KEY WORDS: Visible; Incremental growth; Agravity
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Michigan Urban Design Papers 1.0 | Queens
Michigan Urban Design Papers 1.0 | Queens
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09 OTHER WORKS Representation | Sketches; Watercolor Undergrad Work| Luotian Master Planning Writing Sample|Meditation on "Refocus"
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LUOTIAN MASTER PLANNING Undergrad Work
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Writing Sample
RE - FOCUS RE - FOCUS Again
To see clearly /pay particular attention to
Again
To see clearly /pay particular attention to
Definition Refocus (v) 1. To focus again 2. To change the emphasis or direction of. 1 Definition Refocus (v)
Jimmy refocused on Maths.
1. again 3. To focus put more effort into particular activities, in the belief of being more successful.2 2. To change the emphasis or direction of. 1
Architectural Definition
Jimmy refocused on Maths. 4. The progress of changing attention from intuitive to intentional through a purposeful step3. To put more effort into particular activities, in the belief of being more successful.2 back towards a critical reflect on the past and clearer future. Amsterdam Orphanage refocused on the human interaction.
Architectural Definition
4. The progress of changing attention from intuitive to intentional through a purposeful step1. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Accessed April 7th, 2019. https://www.merriam-webster.com/
back towards a critical reflect on the past and clearer future.
2. Cambridge English Dictionary. Accessed April 7th, 2019. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Amsterdam Orphanage refocused on the human interaction.
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1. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Accessed April 7th, 2019. https://www.merriam-webster.com/ 2. Cambridge English Dictionary. Accessed April 7th, 2019. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Attested Forms “Future architects need to REFOCUS around buildings’ humanity. ” - DBR, “Future Design: Heart of the matter”. A debate on disciplinary focus.
“On one side of this argument are those who believe that architects must refocus their attention on the internal demands of the discipline. On the other are those who argue that architects must, instead, reacquaint themselves with what many still believe to be the discipline’s core mission of advancing social progress and promoting the public good, and at the same time the scope of their traditional disciplinary remit” - Owen Hopkins, “Architecture and freedom”, (2018).
A discussion on architecture autonomy.
“Whenever I design a solution, or review the design of a solution, I frequently stop and ask myself if the resulting product is beginning to resemble “The Homer.” If the answer is yes, I sharply refocus on the essential functionality and technology required to deliver the software system.” - Joseph Hofstader, “We Don’t Need No Architects!”, the Architecture Journal, No. 15, p 2-6. A description on design process.
Architecture Example
Through the repetition of elements, creating a floor plan which is not standardized but connected to the central space, Aldo Van Eyck REFOCUS on priorities, including that the idea of place and occasion meant more to human beings.
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RE - FOCUS
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Refocus >>> From the Blur Observation is an important aspect of the design
neglected. However, it is precisely the uncertainty
process. When first looking at a site or project,
of this short, unfocused period that nurtures the
intuition automatically leads us to focus on one
creative and progressive possibilities inherent in
specific spot. But after taking a step back and
the phase of refocusing. It is this adaptation and
seeing everything in a blur, we then “refocus” and
adjustment process, full of curiosity, doubt and
see something else, something totally unexpected;
imagination, that makes the retrospective result
or we see a specific aspect, not as a result of
progressive.
intuition, but through intentional choice. During a recent studio trip to Ahmedabad, India, Despite the rich possibility and relevance of
Balkrishna Doshi discussed the design of his own
After taking a step back and have everything in a blur and then “refocus”, possibilities are we see something else totally unexpected or one aspect out of intentional choice. . the word “refocus” in architectural discourse,
house in a way that illustrates the importance
the term is not widely and productively used
and constant presence of the blur as a stage in the
in the academic realm. In nearly all cases the
design process. Doshi explained how the complex
word is used by opposing sides in a debate about
nature of architecture makes the target of focus
the core questions of architecture, whether
inevitably grow, from one to many, as the project
they relate to “space” and “experimentation” or
develops overtime. There will be phases when
“society” and “humanity”. Both sides call for a
refocusing cannot serve as a stage of introspection
return of focus to the supposed original role of
and at other times the target of refocusing may not
architecture, arguing that “Future architects need
be the original one. In Doshi’s case, he started from the idea of being able to see the moon in the living
to REFOCUS around buildings’ humanity,”1 or
room and dining room; soon the organization of
conversely, that “. . . architects must REFOCUS
space, light and time entered the design process.
architectural experiments on space as a category
One may have many targets of focus at once and
for exploration and experimentation.”2
one will inevitably deal with other inspirations that come along, but Doshi stressed that the most
In these instances, the word “refocus” is used in a
important guideline involves refocusing back to
more retrospective way, to adjust the disciplinary
the original idea and never losing it.
focus back to the past instead of looking towards more progressive discoveries that might come
In the book Thinking Architecturally: An
about through the process of active refocusing.
Introduction to the Creation of Form and Place 3
When the prefix “re-” is understood as “back”
by Paul Righini, “refocus” is used to describe one
instead of “again,” the important phase of “blur” is
7
RE - FOCUS
111
Diagram of Aldo Van Eyck about the human elements in the architecture design of Amsterdam Orphanage. Image source: https://www.archdaily.com/151566/ad-classics-amsterdam-orphanage-aldo-van-eyck
of the “evolutionary shifts” in modern architecture
the validity of accepted architectural concerns
as “architects have tried to deal with this search for
and argued for a major REFOCUS on priorities,
essence (concept of the building) and the ways in
including that the idea of place and occasion
which this might be expressed.”4 This echoes with
meant more to human beings (and their welfare)
The comparison between the different aspect taken out of “focus” and “refocus” can bring a series of critique towards deeper reasoning of the first subconscious focus, and reveal the cliche or long lasting belief that can be challenged. the nature of refocusing in the individual design
than did space and time.”5 The diagram about
process as a continuous and gradual meditation,
the concept shown above reflects on the physical
shifting the target of focus in search of a better and
design as a repetition of square yards, creating a
clearer idea and its representation.
floor plan which is not standardized but connected to the central space. This space is equally shared
112
The design of Weeshuis, a home for homeless
and freely joined together in order to create a
children by the Dutch architect Aldo Van Eyck
sense of chambers that stand together like family
is an example of this debate as “he questioned
members holding hands. The design is also an
8
The adjustment of focus indicates a intentional choice. Image source: https://apracticeforeverydaylife.com/news/page/2
example of how a building itself can aspire to
to be the discipline’s core mission of advancing
“refocus” its users, more specifically in this case,
social progress and promoting the public good,
from being alone to being part of a larger family
and at the same time the scope of their traditional
joined together.
disciplinary remit.”7 While reacquainting suggests a broadening of possible ideas and interactions,
Refocus also indicates the attention and effort
refocusing inevitably involves a kind of narrowing
given to something new or different, revealing
of considerations and possibilities with the aim of
the cliché or the long-lasting belief that should be
increasing productivity or moving closer to a goal.
challenged.
Since the broadening of interactions, either with
Owen Hopkins, for example, questioned
other disciplines or with a client, is necessary and
architectural autonomy in his article Architecture
inevitable, re-focusing is vital in the design process
and Freedom 6 suggesting that architects are
to reclaim agency and define the sphere of our own
now so often carried away by other disciplines
practice.
within the building construction industry. “On one side of this argument are those who believe
To be more productive, it might be helpful to first
that architects must refocus their attention on the
identify the initial moves which can be theorized
internal demands of the discipline. On the other
and thus trigger a potential process of refocusing.
are those who argue that architects must, instead,
For instance, the “step back” might be an initial
reacquaint themselves with what many still believe
move prior to the blur. Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s
9
RE - FOCUS
113
The adjustment of the camera lenses is the source of metaphor for the process of refocus. Image source: https://rotary2201.org/participa-en-el-concurso-fotografico-rotario-2019/
panoramic approach to the design of Berlin could
should and would happen varies according to
be considered one example of how stepping
the tendency of introspective blur, which is only
back to include a larger picture of the urban
effective when it is self-activated. A step back
context might trigger a productive refocus on an
doesn’t necessarily take the designer out of the
interactive communication between nature and
familiar and a constructed theory of refocusing
architecture.
might act as a measured step that limits the possibilities which appeared in the blur. Coming
Ultimately, it is important to admit that the
out of the blur, “refocus” cannot be detached from
theorization of “refocusing” as an important
the unstable, unclear and undefined stage. In this
process in architectural design may, in itself,
sense, “refocusing,” by its very nature, can never be
be problematic. The stage where refocusing
adequately theorized.
1.
DBR, “Future Design: Heart of the matter”, Accessed April 5, 2019. https://designbuild.nridigital.com/design_build_review_issue_44_ june_2018/heart_of_the_matter_future_architects_need_to_refocus_around_buildings_humanity
2.
Daniel A. Barber, “A House in the Sun: Modern Architecture and Solar Energy in the Cold War”, Oxford University Press, (2016)
3.
Paul Righini, “Thinking Architecturally: An Introduction to the Creation of Form and Place”, Juta and Company Ltd (2000): 126. Accessed April 5, 2019. https://books.google.com/ books?id=UK9UYW9L9J0C&pg=PA126&dq=refocus+architecture&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjFhJaBn_ngAhWB5IMKHUbkB_ UQ6AEIQDAE#v=onepage&q=refocus%20architecture&f=false
114
4.
Ibid.
5.
Daniel A. Barber, “A House in the Sun: Modern Architecture and Solar Energy in the Cold War”, Oxford University Press, (2016)
6.
Owen Hopkins, “Architecture and freedom”, Accessed April 5, 2019. http://www.owenhopkins.co.uk/architecture-and-freedom/
7.
Ibid
10
REMOTE
REACTIVATE
REIMAGINE
REMIX
REFOCUS
REPLACE REMOVE
11
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