MINGJIE ZHANG Architecture Portfolio 2017 - 2019 Selected Works
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Mingjie Zhang 2019 Portfolio
About Email: jack1998cs@gmail.com Phone: 0425 558835 Website: jack1998cs.wixsite.com/home
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Carlton Community Healthcare Centre
Hi!
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The Library and The City
Good to see you! You can call me Jack. Recently graduated from the Bachelor of Design in Univsersity of Melbourne, I would like to show you some of the work done in the past and how they reflect my vision of architecture.
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Living House & Neighbourhood
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Digital Design + Fabrication
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Visualisation
Address: 15 Macartney Avenue, Kew, Melbourne 3101
From conceptual development to drafting documentation, from sketches to 3D fabrication, I have been shown to many wonderful things in the architecture world, and they are truly valuable experiences. However, I am constantly aware that I am only seeing tip of the iceburg, and hopefully work and study in the future will remedy my shortcomings. Moving on, I am excited to be immersed in the eccentric and charming world of architecture, which is so specific and so diverse at the same time. I am also prepared to take a deeper dive into things I have not imagined before, and become better by the day.
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Mingjie Zhang 2019 Portfolio
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CARLTON COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE CENTRE
ARCH30002 DESIGN STUDIO: EPSILON SEM 2, 2019, INDIVIDUAL TUTOR: MATTHIEU BEGOGHINA matthieu.begoghina@unimelb.edu.au
Carlton community health centre is a unique project which focuses its scope on the wholistic experience of its users, in this case, primarily children aged 0-12 and their parents. Creating moments was a key focus during the design process, which aims to provide an intimate and home-like experience for children. The blocky form borrows from toys such as Jenga to instill a sense of playfulness, as well as contributing to the functional aspect of the facility. Ease of wayfinding and street interface were prioritised in the early stages of design; many fun and interactive spatial designs were experimented later to reflect the playfulness both in and out. Two prominent tubular chambers are designed to have multiple layers of platforms interconnected through safety nets so children could explore the verticality of the space. Bright colours, soft materials and staggered spaces are all opportunities for children to freely roam the facility and be distracted from the ‘scary’ doctors.
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Mingjie Zhang 2019 Portfolio
COMMUNAL
LYTTON ST.
1.Visibility
LYTTON ST.
2.Accessibility
CONSULTATION
LYGON ST.
LYGON ST.
LYGON ST.
ENTRANCE
LYTTON ST.
3.Functional division
KEY STRATEGIES (TOP)
MOMENTS (BOTTOM)
Main entrance located at Lygon Street with high volume of traffic and is highly visible from the two tram stops; also takes advantage of pedestrian traffic from Lytton St. Development of street interface as funnels, which provides physical and visual guidance for users to enter. Communal and consultation gravitated around a centre courtyard. This spatial arrangement considers the ease of wayfinding when navigating the community health centre.
Creating dedicated or transitional space for children/parents to rest and play. Such spaces are generally highly porous and grants a view to the outside, therefore creating more connectivity to the exterior.Below displays some key moments within the building, such as circular windows looking into the courtyard which doubles as a bench, as well as a tubular room filled with obstacles for children to explore.
SITE PLAN: 1:500@A1
INSIDE WALKWAY OUTSIDE COVER
BOX STACKING (JENGA)
INSIDE WALKWAY OUTSIDE COVER
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These block-based toys were experimented with to create a simple box stacking system, where an outdoor covered area is created alongside and indoor first floor walkway. This is a response to the utilisation of street interface and internal spatial organisation.
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Mingjie Zhang 2019 Portfolio
OUTDOOR BALCONY
DENTAL CLINIC FIRST FLOOR
Dental/orthodontical purpose, can be general purpose consultation. Connected via adjacent walls so that space seems less confined.
COMMUNAL KITCHEN
LY T
TO N
ST R
EE
MAIN ENTRANCE
T
A single, large and open room suited for bakery and light cooking for parents and children.
ET
TRE S N
O LYG
GROUND FLOOR
CAR PARK ENTRANCE
ARTS & CRAFTS
BASEMENT
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A low ceiling, triple level space with adventurous contraptions such as ladders, hidden cavities and castle walls.
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Mingjie Zhang 2019 Portfolio
GROUND FLOOR PLAN: 1:100@A1
GROUND FLOOR PLAN: 1:100@A1
A recessed central courtyard brings tree canopy to the eye level and creates more opportunity for people to explore the space thoroughly. The triangular shaped courtyard combined with glazing curtain walls means a clear sightline to nearly all parts of the facility, making wayfinding much easier. This public/private space is also well vegetated and creates many instances of resting space, suitable for children and adults alike.
GROUND FLOOR PLAN: 1:100@A1
The ground floor plan displays an intuitive spatial configuration for navigation. Amphitheatre, pharmacy and consultation rooms are found on this floor as they are some of the most visited functions.
LONG SECTION: 1:100@A1 10
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THE LIBRARY AND THE CITY
ARCH30001 DESIGN STUDIO: DELTA SEM 1, 2019, INDIVIDUAL TUTOR: STEVEN CHU steven.chu@unimelb.edu.au
The library and the city are on some level, always intwined. The library is always the crown jewel of knowledge in a city, and a city of knowledge could always be found within a library. This poetic duo informs and motivates the design for this project. A series of preliminary mappings are compiled as to analyse and imagine what a library means in the urban setting; this exercise forms the basis of approaching the complex entity that is the library. Project - InMotion is designed with movement in mind. Figuratively, movement embodies a journey - for people to discover their sense of belonging, to find the knowledge they seek, to encounter surprises and to chase their dreams. No bookshelves are at the same place they were an hour ago, no one is stationary. This way, the inside of the library becomes a miniaturised city, and movement vehicles people to meet with knowledge.
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Look up The skylight holds much significance during the conception of this project. Situated in the centre of CBD, there is virtually no spacing from neighbouring buildings and lighting the interior became quite important. The floor plates splitting from the centre creates a huge chasm in the building, allowing light from above to reach effortlessly to every level of the library - it is also shaped like a trough to allow an even greater amount of natural light to reach in. When you get lost in the city of knowledge, remember to look up.
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Mingjie Zhang 2019 Portfolio
The floor plate is split into two along the centre, and staggered in height. They are in turn connected by a series of ramp - a strange kind of spiral that keeps users moving.
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The library’s interface welcomes users from any forms of commute. The front entrance is sheltered from weather and offers an opportunity for users to rest before entering.
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LIVING HOUSE & NEIGHBOURHOOD
ARCH20002 DESIGN STUDIO: GAMMA SEM 2, 2018, INDIVIDUAL TUTOR: REBECCA NAUGHTIN rebecca.naughtin@unimelb.edu.au
Located in the heart of Carlton, the living house challenge is an ambitious one - to transform a heritage Victorian house into a modern, spatious abode sufficient for a family of five, all within a narrow strip with only 5m in width. This design proposal seeks to overcome the many problems of the existing house, while bringing together a versatile living environment that is capable of adapting to a 30-year time frame. The current establishment offers a narrow, linear layout with poorly lit interiors, and this proposal drastically changes these aspects through a unified living space as well as taking advantage of natural light sources. The living neighbourhood is the second part of the project: this living complex is capable of holding up to 18 individuals, each to their own rooms and ensuites. A sizeable communal kitchen and dining area is located in the very centre of the establishment, and could be easily accessed from all floors. Despite the seemingly broken-up layout of individual rooms, the entire site is connected via shared walkways and stairs, therefore encouraging its residents to interact with one another, instead of keeping to themselves.
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Mingjie Zhang 2019 Portfolio
Living House The original concept for the back facade of the house sought to offer a distinctly contrasting experience to the heritage front. Hence, works of Le Corbusier are referenced for their brutalist nature - concrete blocks with sharp corners and concise cutaways, strip glazing and structural piloti, etc. A vertical slit is added to the plain surface as a subtle motif. While it is not the major source of interior illumination, rays of light reaching inside through ‘cracks’ and splashing onto surfaces is a magical sight to behold.
LONG SECTION 1:100@A2
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Mingjie Zhang 2019 Portfolio
Living Neighbourhood The living neighbourhood is the second part of the project: this living complex is capable of holding up to 18 individuals, each to their own rooms and ensuites. A sizeable communal kitchen and dining area is located in the very centre of the establishment, and could be easily accessed from all floors. Despite the seemingly broken-up layout of individual rooms, the entire site is connected via shared walkways and stairs, therefore encouraging its residents to interact with one another, instead of keeping to themselves.
MAIN SECTION: 1:100@A1
CENTRAL STAIRWELL/COURTYARD, Ground Floor
SITE MOVEMENT DIAGRAM The heart of the community - the communal dining area is easily accesible from all entry points and floors. Students who usually keep to themselves could use this space as a meeting place, an opportunity to get to know the other residents.
COMMUNAL DINING/KITCHEN AREA, First Floor 22
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DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION
ARCH10001 FOUNDATION OF DESIGN: REPRESENTATION SEM 1, 2017, INDIVIDUAL TUTOR: JUNHAN FOONG junhan.foong@unimelb.edu.au
ARCH20004 DIGITAL DESIGN SEM 1, 2019, INDIVIDUAL TUTOR: JOEL COLLINS joelc1@unimelb.edu.au
Digital design through parametric means creates infinitely varied designs and even more challenges when fabricating the prototypes. The interweaving of surface and structure is strangely reminiscent to buildings on a grander scale, It is key to explore the patterns present and translate them into a system; a system that sets to define permeability, threshold, scale, etc. The ‘nautilus pavilion’introduces a much greater degree of freedom when exploring form and its relationship to the users. This double dome structure seeks to be highly permeable not only in terms of light, but also acoustics, thus transcending beyond the set boundary of the pavilion to even more visitors.
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Design to fabrication to presentation
Surface & structure
The fabrication stage consists of both manual and automated process: 3D geometric structures are unravelled into 2D strips, which are then laser-cut onto white cardboards. Sometimes, patterns are manually carved onto them to create a more porous and interesting surface. Photographing the model was a testament to lighting and composition, especially in B&W.
Exploring the relationship between structure and surface. The waffle structure was produced through parametric manipulation (grasshopper), making sure that horizontal and vertical strips match well together and bond through notches.The triangulated surface is then folded up and attached to the waffle, creating a self-supported structure that could be interpreted as the preliminary stage of designing a pavilion.
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Nautilus Pavilion The Nautilus Pavilion is situated in the centre of Queen Victoria Gardens, where visitors are welcomed to use and experience a parametrically formed pavilion which experiments permeability,lighting and materiality. It is also meant to house musical performance for up to 30 This project also encourages the interaction with a VR environment to fully grasp the experience within and outside the pavilion. The Nautilus Pavilion is as the name implies, a structure heavily inspired by the sea creature, nautilus. From its opened dome structure to the arrayed twisted fins, permeability in both visual and acoustic sense is explored, and visitors are encouraged to explore the structure wherever their position is. Light emanating from the spines of fins offer a unique sight during night time, as complex shadows and lighting interweave to give life to the pavilion. KEY Circulation Pathways
MODEL, 3d printing + lasercutting
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VISUALISATION
ARCH20004 DESIGN VISUALISATION SEM 2, 2019, INDIVIDUAL TUTOR: MICHAEL MACK michael.mack@unimelb.edu.au
Visualisation is a collective effort of software proficiency, cinematography/photography expertise and narrative creativity. It was a fascinating journey to learn and develop such a wide spectrum of skills within the semester. Three separate stages of visualsation was conducted, from a close-up still life, to a full room setting, and eventually, a 90 second short film with intricate sound design and narrative. The central motif which runs through all stages is the realisation of ‘imperfection’, which is key in developing photorealistic digital renders. Edges are often smoothed or even chipped, speckles of dust hover over the floor, objects lie around senseless and need to convey the presence of life without explicitly showing life.
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Digital still life
Z-DEPTH
MATERIAL OVERRIDE
SHADOW
REFLECTION
REFRACTION
SPECULAR
LIGHTING
GLOBAL ILLUMINATION
Being the first stage of visualisation, a series of common household objects are used to create a close-up still life scene that encapsulates keys skills such as modelling, lighting and compositions. Liquid simulation was also invovled to create a highly volatile scene that has frozen in a moment, furthering the contrast between still and movement.
Looped Dream pt.1 (Poster on right) Being the third and last stage , this short film is the culmination of nearly every aspect of modelling and software skills, cinematography tricks, and post production prowess.
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Looped Dream pt.2 Looped Dream is a short film further exploring the world in the perspective of a child. When compared to traditional ArchViz animated shorts, my movie is very character driven, also introducing a variety of film making techniques to create a well balanced short movie displaying both technical and narrative prowess.. The interior scene is acting as a vehicle for the narrative to pan out, as well as an opportunity to explore a wide range of film making techniques..
Scene 1: Opening
Scene 3: Bunnies
Scene 6: Transformers
The opening establishes a low-poly town with animated vehicles, with the camera dollying out and eventually tilting into bird’s view. It is then revealed that the town is actually part of a model board, lying inside a living room. The puddle on the side of the street serves as a foreshadowing for the setting of the movie and what’s about to happen later.
The third scene utilises split screen to portray various angles. The left main scene involves an “arc” movement of the camera, lasting a whole 8 seconds; the right scene pans on the reflective bunny and has a stronger depth of field.
The two iconic figures in the Autobot lineup are used in the beginning of this scene as a leadup to the droplet scene. A slow arc panning combined with dollying out and change of depth of field, the equally colourful watergun is revealed, which shoots out a stream of water droplets.
Scene 1
Scene 3
Scene 2
Scene 2: BB8 & Darth Vader This scene opens with a series of quick jump cuts focusing on BB8 joyfully bobbing his head to the music’s beat. The viewer is then greeted with a comedic interaction between the two characters where Darth Vader draws out his lightsaber and BB8 tilts his head back in horror. After Effect was vital in simulating a realistic lightsaber in post production.
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Scene 6
Scene 7
Scene 7: Waterdroplet Immediately after the watergun shoots, a warp transition is used to lead to a closeup shot of the droplet. The camera then speedily spins around, centering around the droplet; the whole room is refracted through the droplet upside down. At the end of this scene, a dolly zoom is simulated where the background warps out revealing the entire room scene.
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Mingjie Zhang 2019 Portfolio
Mingjie Zhang 2019.