Landscape Architecture Appilcation Portfolio

SHUHAN LIU BLA, Nanjing Forestry University, China Email: shuhan_liu@outlook.com Tel: +86 15705188755 Timeframe: 2012-2015

SHUHAN LIU’S PORTFOLIO FOR THE APPLICATION TO MLA PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

CONTENT

1

2

SEEKING WATERLINE

THE

Urban Design and Urban Renewal Strategy

Urban

Design of riverbank and Chinese small city transformation process study

City Sq subtle history

2

16

E WITNESS Square Design

quare in Nanjing, with confrontation between y and modern

3

4

5

STONE AND RAIN

CLOUD

OTHER WORKS

Village Landscape Design

Installation Work

Darwings and Photography

Sustainable strategies and respect to local life.

A Removable Pavalion

Janpan, The United States, Suzhou

24

30

30

PROJECT 1

SEEKING WATERLINE Description: Through out my whole travel from Nanjing to Chongqing, confronting the uncontroversial fact that a huge difference exists between cities in the first tier of economic developing and those in the second and third tiers motivated me think a lot based on my observation of cities similarities and differences.

Small cities developed positively and negatively, which brought prosperousness but also environmental costs. Deforestation, canalization and pollution consequently produced environmental deterioration and worsened flood hazard. While at the same time, real estate are thriving.

Location: Qijiang, Chongqing Type: Academic/ Solo Work Duration: 2015.09-2015.11 Instructor: Xinwang Sun

2

From the perspective of China' s economic development in near 20 years

From the perspective of Population Township and Urbanization in 7 provinces in Midwest China

Use critical factors to categorize similar small cities in a certain type

[Population Township] Census in 2000

22.36%

Census in 2010

29.20%

[Urbanization]

GDP and GDP growth rate

Economic development in China had brought benefits to all aspects of this country and cost and inequity as well. Leaded by nationwide policies and geometrical difference and historical context as well, huge difference in cities’ developing process exists, especially between mega cities and small cities in China.

Census in 2000

42.98%

Census in 2010

53.51%

Due to population policies in China and a natural trend caused by social and economic transformation, a considerable change in population configuration submerged in recent censuses. Township and urbanization had gradually and are keep its pace to increase.

[ Total population] Cities with similar total population share similar city expansion history, urban size and needs in urban-scape.

[Watershed] Most cities in Midwest China were initially built and developed near rivers. And also rivers are one of indicators to reflect environmental pollutions.

[Economic Locations] Cities near major economic developing center have better economic opportunities and may suffer from more severe problems.

Similar in population, topology and ambiance and recent economic development process and location, small cities had been selected in this project confronts same or similar challenges in such a high speed developing environment.

Problems & Challenges

High speed economic development and capital accumulation directly leaded to considerable trend of townization in China.

Real estate are one of the main reason of enormous nationwide city expansion in China

Cities near river frequently suffered from flood hazard due to municipal and ecological reasons.

Canalization used to be one of an indicator of developed city because of what it would cost.

City valuable spare space were developed buildings for real estate market.

Natural forest near city were cleared due to intention in urban land use.

3

Current Situation of Riverbank

After 10 years

Context

City Analysis

Midwest China

Yangtze River

4

Chongqing

Qijiang District

Yangtze River

Qijiang River

Community

Hills

Transportation

Infrastructure

City Development History Based on general research and interviews to local people, a consideriable change in urban size, population growth, ecological and residential environment was shown and consistency in city center, major institutional area and its regional influence was shown as well. the paradoxy proved that urban resources and valuable space was inevitably consumed during recent 20 years economic developing process.

As diagrams show below, city kept expanding in 20 years and consequently consumed physical and spatial resources, however some challenges like flood hazard remians and new problems was brought. At the same time, residents are more likely to stay its familiar living circle and hotspots remain and even enhanced. This phenomenon that expansion cannot brought new chance to cities but environment consumation shared by similar cities that has been selected in this project.

To them, as they originally built and developed near rivers, now river become a critical factor when confronting issues.

buildings

Aerial Plan in 2015

Aerial Plan in 2002

old hot spot new developing hot spot

5

Existing Layers Analysis

[Transportation]

[Neighborhood Zoning] rural major residential area secondary residential area planning business area existing business area Institutional connecting community existing traffic

[City Center]

Qijiang RIVER

major city center

[Vegetation]

[Riverbank Zoning] zoning cut zoning zoning range valuable zone dam dam zone

natural farmland artificial plantation wild

[Riverbank Accessibility Grade]

*conceptual section of river and dam

unaccessible accessible but unsafe partially accessible fully accessible

Dam damaged the natural river sequence of shallow and pool and erase natural river topology.

major leisure waterfront

desirable destination

6

Proposal and Strategies

[Strategies & Regional Goals]

[Site Actions]

[Site Consequences]

[Regional Consequences]

shallow deposit recovery

artificial river deep pool river shallow habitats recovery

floating plantation

circulation and public square stimulate neighborhood to renew and

increase stability in eco system and material and energy cycle

Biodiversity temporary habitats increased riverbank’s biodiversity and habitats diversity stimulate residential area's development and renovation

plantation fixed Canopy

canopy recovery

restoration of river's ecological functions

connection between river and mountain ecological system

Accessibility multilayer circulation revitalization of city’s most valuable landscape

Public Recreation

leisure waterfront

high square

utilize local unique symbols as design elements.

embed local symbol into regular live as a consistency of history

Flood Management demolish embankment

local historical symbol

local historical symbol

7

Existing Embankment Zoning

Natural riverbank

vegetation coverage rate: 100% accessibility grade: possibly unsafe utilization ratio: 0% related human activity: fishing landscape value: high

By using some critical factors, this project categorize riverbank of cities into 13 kinds of types, and grade each sector to comprehensive understand development and changes of city and its consequences.

Gentle slope embankment

vegetation coverage rate: 20% accessibility grade: partially accessible utilization ratio: 50% related human activity: walking, jogging landscape value: low

Steep slope embankment

vegetation coverage rate: 0% accessibility grade: unaccessible utilization ratio: 0% related human activity: None landscape value: low

Sewage pipeline & footbridge vegetation coverage rate: 20% accessibility grade: fully accessible utilization ratio: 100% related human activity:walking, jogging landscape value: low

Railway track

Dam

Mixed-use park

Traffic lane

vegetation coverage rate:

vegetation coverage rate:

vegetation coverage rate:

vegetation coverage rate:

vegetation coverage rate:

vegetation coverage rate:

accessibility grade:

accessibility grade:

accessibility grade:

accessibility grade:

accessibility grade:

accessibility grade:

90%

possibly unsafe utilization ratio:

0%

related human activity:

None

landscape value:

high

8

0%

possibly unsafe utilization ratio:

100%

related human activity:

fishing

landscape value:

high

50%

desirable destination utilization ratio:

100%

related human activity:

parking, walking, resting, mah-jong landscape value:

high

10%~50%

partially accessible utilization ratio:

50%

related human activity:

walking, biking

landscape value:

low

Leisure waterfront 0%

major leisure space utilization ratio:

100%

related human activity:

resting, play with water, swimming, mahjong landscape value:

high

sidewalk

Two tier roads

Dock

Building waste space

vegetation coverage rate:

vegetation coverage rate:

vegetation coverage rate:

accessibility grade:

accessibility grade:

accessibility grade:

80%

0%

desirable destination

partially accessible

utilization ratio:

70%

related human activity:

walking, jogging landscape value:

high

utilization ratio:

20%

related human activity:

biking

landscape value:

low

0%

N/A

utilization ratio:

100%

related human activity:

ferry, swimming, fishing landscape value:

high

50%

unaccessible utilization ratio:

0%

related human activity:

None

landscape value:

low

Bank Qualities Grade Connect to Proposed Site Actions Three determinant qualities of each bank sectors, including vegetation rate, accessibility grade and utilization ratio were used as critical factors to determine its corresponding site actions and strategies to achieve goals and to lead to regional consequences.

[Site Actions] Qualities of banks

Current Situations

Grading

shallow deposit recovery

artificial river deep pool

floating plantation

temporary habitats

fixed planting

canopy recovery

multilayer circulation

leisure waterfront

high square

demolish embankment

local historical symbol

9

0 25

Site Plan

10

10

Proposed footbridge

Proposed public square

Riverbank leisure park

Steep slope staircase

Steep slope green buffer

Docks

Proposed footbridge

Close-water platform

Sunshine lawn

‘Post-dam’ landscape

Riverbank leisure platform

Underwater topology restoration approaches Multiple tiers circulation Bank ecology recovery strategies

50

100

200m

Existing Layers Analysis [Transportation]

[Platform & Infrastructure]

railway track secondary road

Squares mutiple tier roads close to water platform

main road boat entrances docks

[Cultivation]

[Stimulation to Community]

Community needs renovation

Canopies Ecological Cultivation Buffer

11

Proposed Riverbank Prototypes

Future Development Investment in primary infrastructure construction Urban Development

Flood Management

12

Investment in secondary infrastructure construction

river accessibility increases

Ecology Recovery

Investment in

pe

landsca

n further construction and maintenance

e value

es

increas

return in real estate

return in real estate

return in real estate

Investment in further construction and maintenance

Investment in maintenance

Investment in further maintenance

eases natural riverbank sector incr

s pies increase

sum of cano

13

Perspective: after 10 years

2

1

3

14

5 4

Description:

Legend:

By applying a series of action and strategies in site along the river, this project aim to creat an admirable and relaxing green belt across the whole city to provide reisdents a convinient and easy accessible riverbank where their chilldhood memories was kept in. At the same time concerning the acuter issue city faced, proposal is to restore a natural riverbank eco system with high stablity.

1.Temporary Amphitheater & Square 2. Buffer 3. River Shallow Recovery 4.Cultivation 5. Road

15

PROJECT 2

THE WITNESS Description: Nanjing is one of well-developed major cities in China, where site located in. With a very rich history, Nanjing is one of the most charming city in China combining history and international style. Site is located in the most famous area in Nanjing with a very long history of site itself and well developed CBD next to it. This confrontation between history and modernism becomes a chance to develop idea. Still, after a period of time i had finished this project, I believe that the most amazing place in the process is to find a subtle balance of perception or ‘non-perception’ of history and high buildings.

Location: Nanjing JIANGSU Type: Academic / Solo Work Duration: 2015.03-2015.05 Instructor: Yunfeng Yang Cultural Business District

The ‘Presidential Palace’

Museum of Six Dynasties Times

Museum of ‘Ming’ Dynasty

Nanjing Center Library National Gallery

‘Daxing’ CBD

16

History & Historical Context of Site

Context Site located in one of the most charming city, Nanjing, which combines rich history and well developed modern city in one.

History of Nanjing city could date back to 280 A.D. With a documental recorded developing history, lots of hitorical symbol had already become part of people's lives. Correspondently site which located in a historical region, have witnessed all.

From reasonable speculation and related background research, it is affirmative that site has always been inside of defense wall of city even though dynasties shifts. In some historical period, site's location was one of the most important bureaus of that nation in history.

China

Jiangsu

Nanjing

[City History]

Nanjing’s biggest Cultural Commercial block

‘DaXing’ CBD Nanjing’s biggest Commercial Center

[Historical Context]

[Regional Analysis]

Ancient map of ‘Six Dynasties Period’

Sectional Region Analysis

Ancient map of ‘Tang’ Dynasty

Ancient map of ‘Song’ Dynasty

*Mapped in 1927 Current Location

Huge difference exsits between the age and characteristics of area around sites and the trending had been polarized since the upper planning and real estate investment. Considerable height differences between architectures and buildings of two parties indicate the different user groups and civic functions, and also different density and frequency.

150 m 140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

‘Daxing’ CBD Library

Residential Area

‘Daxing’ CBD

Trafficway

Site

The ‘Presidential Palace’

Trafficway

Estimated total user on weekends

Total Usage and Average Frequency

Trafficway

The ‘Presidential Palace’

Residential Area Estimated total user on national holidays

Trafficway

17

Site Analysis [‘Daxing’ CBD] one of the most impor tant business district in Nanjing, was served as bussiness center and shopping center. activities: shopping, working users:

[Library] The biggest and central library of nanjing,which serve as one of the biggest events center in Nanjing as well. activities: reading, resting, events users:

[Museums & Gallery] S i t e wa s s u r r o u n d e d by 2 museums and a natinal gallery.

Both of them are less than 5 minutes walking distance.

They Mainly ser ved in their perfession area respectively, with less traffic and tour daily activities: exhibitions, events users:

Daily Routines With a complex and various context, site were mainly used by four types of groups of users, including citizens, tourists, residents and businessmen, which decide by types of architecture around site.

Daily routines of different people requires different space and generate different needs of desires, which considerably influence the generation of space.

18

8:00

10:00

12:00

15:00

17:30

19:00

Daily routin of v of users related ambient archite areas.

busi citize touri regio

[Transportation System]

bus station

[Cultural Commercial District] Cultural Commercial District is one of Nanjing's most famous commercial block, which not only serve as tourists spot but also a desirable leisure place for local people in their spare time. activities: dinning, bar

subway entrance

[ Density of Traffic Flow]

[Hotspots of groups of users]

Tourists

Businessmen & Citizens

Residents

Cross Hybridization

[Tourists]

users:

[Citizens]

[The ‘Presidential Palace’] The 'presidential Palace' is an impor tant historical symbol of Nanjing and China,which is close related to an Impor tant histor y of China in early 1900s,and that's why Presidential Palace become one of the most famous resor t of Nanjing. Serving as a hitorical tourists spot, Presidential Palace brings heavy traffic seasonly. activities: tour users:

[Residents]

[ Businessmen]

Spatial Generation

various types d to site and ectures and

Events Private Space

inessmen ens ists onal residents

Events Passing Path Resting

[Connection]

[Overlapped Center Square]

[Proposed Programs]

19

Layers

Site Plan

2.

2.

1.

3.

6.

7.

4.

8.

5.

1.

2.

9.

10.

11.

2.

‘Daxing’ CBD

Legend

20

1. Underground Parking Entrance 2. Entrances 3. Sunken Square 4.Center Pool 5. Ancient Wall Brick Tiling 6. Waterscape Pool 7. Stop Bench 8. Infiltration Herbal Pool 9. Proposed Amphitheater 10. Great Lawn 11. Herbaceous Plants Retention Steps

National Gallery

0 1 3

10

20m

Nan the Presidential Palace

njing Library

Plantation Strategies [Canopies] Square Plantation

[Canopies Strategy & Seasonal Color]

Road Canopies

[Infrastructures & Elements] Retention Herbal Pool Waterscape Ancient Wall Brick Tiling Center Pool Amphitheater Leisure Lawn Bench Infiltration Pool

[Perennial Strategy]

[Perennial Species]

[Landforms] +1.400 -0.600 +1.200 +0.000 -0.600 +1.500 +1.400 +1.000 +1.200

Sustainability

[Proposed Surface] Perception

Road grey water

Tank

Waterscape

Retention pool Roof rainwater flow into site

Overflow

21

Section Perspective of Retention Steps and Great Lawn

Linear Relationship of Sustainability/ Rainwater and Grey water Process The strategies aim to achieve sustainability in a small scale site under certain limitations including limited usable depth of soil.

Steps and gathering pool provide advantages like better micro-climates and enhancement of containing ability.

22

Section Perspective of Center Sunken Square

Section Perspective of Waterscape and Road

23

PROJECT 3

STONE AND RAIN_A NEW LIFE Description: With a rainy weather, the little village in GuangXi have a very effective way to solve the problem of rain and hill flood from its back. While the landslide happens sometimes, while the way of effective drainage system does not work out sometimes. By introducing a new way to help this village defending landslide, this project respect village’s nature and life rhythm, and also respect its unique stone texture due to lack of other materials.

Location: Shanglin GUANGXI Type: Competition/ Solo Work Duration: 2014.04-2014.05 Instructor: Yunfeng Yang

Local texture Drainage systems Steps & Roads Terrace & Yards

‘Rain in the gap of stone’ brings life and system

Perspective of proposed terrace garden

24

Vertical Zoning and Analysis

25

Concept

Prototypes Catalog List

Rainwater Flow Section

26

Map of Concept Future Constructions Future Constructions

Topology Adapting

Rearrange Public Space

Defense & Protection Enhanced stone walls are used as a major material and texture to served as an role of protecting upper role from hill flood and landslide.

By combining with production functions and circulation, protection walls are also may served as poultry house or staircase.

Increase accessibility

Entertainment

Protection

Topology Adapting

Production

Poultry Cultivation

Self sufficient Vegetable

Rainwater Retention

Topology Adapting

Create Clean and Open Space

Spatial Construction Strategies was aim to evaluate residential environment due to a unpleasant current condition of village, which includes convenient circulation and lack of available open space.

Use stones as extension of stone texture to respect the original texture of village, and to form a valuable space for events and festival,and may be used to build more houses in near future.

Production & Ecology Future Constructions

Entertainment

As one of most crucial activities in village, production is the core of residents' daily life and their only financial income. Proposed strategies transform the former "self-sufficient production" into "self-sufficient sustainable production" by combining gardening, poultry cultivation, and rainwater harness into a system to achieve legible recycling and using of materials and energy in agricultural process.

27

Section of Landslide Protection Wall & Livestock

Section of House Square and Terrace Gardens

28

Perspective of proposed outside village terrace garden in busy agricultural season

Perspective of village terrace garden from proposed platform

29

PROJECT 4

CLOUD Description: As we aim to build a pavilion, we use more materials more than woods or bamboo that required, We hope to create something interacting with people who is around within our budget. Also in order to alter people our air quality is deteriorating and we are losing the blue sky, our intention also include a installation with capability to lead people’s eyes.

Location: Nanjing JIANGSU Type: Academic / Group Work Roles in Team: Exclusive Design(including idea proposal, 3D modeling and construction drawing), Participation in Construction Process, Final Exhibition Planing.

Duration: 2014.03-2014.05 Instructor: Yunshan Cheng

30

[Step 1]

Abstract outlines of cloud, use several outline as a loft track of upcomming 3D modeling

[Step 2]

Modeling stimulation outlines into 3D face and make adjustment

[Step 3]

Use software slice 3D face into parelle faces to form our construction model

quickly passing through

having little party

playing around it

observing it

sitting around

leaning against

touching it

doing something wierd

watching sky through it

playing it

passing trough

Possible Behaviors

3.00m 2.00m 1.00m 0.00m

East facade

South facade

West facade

North facade 31

32

Invisibility I have confidence in this project and I do feel proud of it's not because we finally made a thing but I had seen their face when people under it, around it. I don't know what they think about my work, which i usally do, but now i konw as a designer i fail to express myself but make a good work. people won't notice where the wooden structure came from but what was brought to them. Invisibility may be the best compliment towards a designer.

06.13.2014 on final exhibition day.

33

OTHER WORKS

DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHY Description: I had traveled a lot of places with historical and cultural heritage, including Japan, the United States and also a star repersents Chinese culture, Suzhou, One of my favorite cities. It’s hard to understand culture of a city or a place or even clearly present its cultrual influence on people when tourists explore under partial and personal views of angle. As one of tourists, I used camera and pen to describe my personal understand towards city and life.

34

Photoed in Japan, 2014

[Japan / 2014] Ancient Architectures, Spring days with sunshine and breezes

[Japan / 2014] Modern Street in Japan, after several raining days

[The United States / 2015] Guggenheim Museum of Frank Lloyd Wright, A hurried tour due to a wrong schedule

[Suzhou, China / 2015] Waterpen Sketches of 'Zhuozheng' Garden and 'Wangshi' Garden

35

[Acknowledgement] The completion of this portfolio owes to my collage instructors: Prof. Xinwang Sun and Prof. Yunfeng Yang, for their valuable critisim on my work and surpport.

I would like to specially appreciate my mentor: Siyang Jing, whose talent and support urged me to challenge myself and to be myself even in the worstest days.

I also would like to experss my gratitude to my selective studio instructor: Yunshan Cheng, who convinced me to believe in myself and following my calling of duty.

Besides, I want to thank my design studio teammates and my working pals, who supported each others to gothrough every barries and difficulties.They are Wenhui Zhu, Jiacheng Liu, Lingyue Lu, Shuaiqi Xia, Jiaqi Qian ,Qinghui Chen, Shufan Si, Mingyu Wang, Yang Liu and Zhouyang Zhuang.

Lastly, I would like to express my deepest thanks to my parents and friends, for their selfless sacrifice, paitience and understanding.

SHUHAN LIU

BLA, Nanjing Forestry University, China Email: shuhan_liu@outlook.com Tel: +86 15705188755 Mailing Address: Longpan Road No.159, Xuanwu District, Nanjing, Jiangsu