Academic Works Ningxin Cheng ningxin.cheng@gmail.com +1 617 417 2333 Harvard University Master of Architecture II, 2019’ Distinction, Kevin V. Kieran Prize Rice University Bachelor of Architecture, 2017’ summa cum laude, Henry Adams AIA Medal
Commercial Housing For Urban Transient Population | Architecture Design Research | 2019
Responsive Relationships Across Architectural Scales: Free Closed Plan Daycare Center In Kutupalong Refugee Camp | Architecture + Landscape | 2018
*Harvard GSD Option Studio Distinction
A Hut: Planting Life And Livelihood NASA Research And Exhibition Center | Architecture | 2017 *Vectorworks Richard Diehl Award (Top Prize)
A Building: Open Pocket Extreme Urban Community In East Mumbai | Urban Design + Architecture | 2018 *Harvard GSD Option Studio Distinction
A Neighborhood: Urban Ecology Of Institution Texas Medical Center Hospitals And Playgrounds | Architecture | 2015 *William Ward Watkin Traveling Fellowship (Top Undergrad Project At Rice University)
Macro Micro: Buildings As A Material
Smart Workspace Building System | Design Research | 2018 *Harvard GSD Seminar Project Distinction
Micro Macro: i Belong Professional Works
Institutional | The Juilliard School Rennovation (SHoP) Hospitality | Hangzhou Boutique Hotel (Neri&Hu) Cultural | Academy Museum Of Motion Pictures (Renzo Piano Building Workshop) Residential | Xing Pu South Area Villa (Kengo Kuma and Associates) Installations Installation | Architecture | 2015 *Research, Design, Installation, A collaboration of Atelier Bow-Wow, Jesus Vassallo And Rice School of Architecture Students
“Shotgun”
Public Art | Architecture | 2018 *Radcliffe Institute Public Art Competition Finalist
Co-Net
Free Closed-Plan 01
FREE CLOSED-PLAN Responsive Relationships Across Architectural Scales
2019 | Academic | Thesis Advisor: Mark Lee
The thesis project investigates the responsive relationships across the architectural scales a furniture group, a room, a collection of rooms/a building, and a collection of buildings/a block, and proposes a free closed-plan system that incorporates domestic space. The project emphasizes the spatial experience from the human perspective. How do floating objects and personal artifacts affect the subjective perception of a space and personal territory? How can we construct the warmth of domesticity? In Heinrich Tessnow’s drawings, the objects depict the character of a space and the life in it. In Mies’s fluid open plan, the furniture groups draw the invisible spatial divisions. Informed by the responsive relationships between the floating objects in the room, the room, and the collection of rooms, this project proposes a “stuffed-wall” system. Through integrating enfilades’ infinite possibilities of spatial combination and circulation, the “stuffed-walls” create fluidity in closed plans and the subjective privacy in public space.
Keywords: free plan, domesticity, architectural scales
Free Closed-Plan 02
Furniture Groups implies circulation; movement; orientation.
built-in spatial limitation; preference for activity / non-activity denotes spatial division
Rooms room accessibility impacts the overall spatial organization and perception
the form of the public space influences the connectivity of the rooms
Collections of Rooms stimulate activities, define the identity and ambience
provide both the design context and restrictions, impact building accessibility
Collections of Buildings
implies the placement of the buildings based on the character and the human-scale view from the room
Free Closed-Plan 03
FURNITURE | Closed Composition
A furniture group with closed composition defines its own territory. The furniture group guides circulation and differentiates movement / static zones.
FURNITURE | Open Composition
A furniture group with open composition involves the surrounding space, and claims a territory larger than itself. The guidiance for circulation is weak and activities are free. 6
3
3 3
<d
1
5
d 1 3
4
4 4
4
7
3
8
8
d
5
6
2
7
1. wood seating (fixture) 2. fair-faced concrete floor finish (main public circulation and staying area) 3. large display table (mobile furniture) 4. small high registration table (mobile furniture)
2
5. silver polycarbonate folding doors for the cabinet 6. idle moble furniture 7. plywood storage cabinet (fixture) 8. polyurethane seating cushion
1. wood seating (fixture) 2. fair-faced concrete floor finish (main public circulation and staying area) 3. large display table (mobile furniture) 4. small high registration table (mobile furniture)
5. silver polycarbonate folding doors for the cabinet 6. idle moble furniture 7. plywood storage cabinet (fixture) 8. polyurethane seating cushion
875
5950
1500
6350 2800 1750 880
1350 5530
2350
850
“Stay” Zones and The Primary Orientation
Seating furniture invites stay in the area and indicates the primary height and orientation of people’s view.
“No-Stay” Zones And Clearance Furniture such as closets inherently asks for clearance and implies that people do not stay in the area.
5700
“Stay” Zones and The Primary Orientation
This diagram shows an unrestricted view orientation; the range of the view through the windows reaches gound level.
“No-Stay” Zones And Clearance The door in this composition implies that the area in front of it should be clear of large pieces of furniture
Free Closed-Plan 04
ROOM | Variation 1
ROOM | Variation 2
The outside of the “stuffed-walls” follows an orthogonal grid, while the innerside is a square that deviates from the grid.
The innerside of the “stuffed-wall” follows an orthogonal grid, while the outside of the “stuffed-walls” is a square that deviates from the grid.
17
3
12
11 12
9 10 b.
7
c. 15
9’ 14
10
6
d.
15
e.
6
7
6
4
5
9
8
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c.
a. 6
8
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18
3 b. 11
7 5
6
13
5
10
5 16
e. d.
2
7
1
1
1. glass window 2. translucent reflective polycarbonate panel 3. glass with gradient reflective coating 4. indoor silver poly carbonate panel 5. silver polycarbonate folding doors 6. CLT structural wall 7. plywood storage finish 8. metal stud wall 9. integrated bed (fixture) 10. wood frame open storage wall (fixture)
1 | Public Perception
The inner square is the neutral space where the floating furniture defines the character and the activities in the room.
11. wood mullions 12. white oak wood stairs 13. seating 14. soft-texture carpet 15. silver polycarbonate folding doors a. flexible space : living area / public program b. work/study area c. sleeping area d. barhroom e. storage
1 | Domestic Perception
The personal belongings denote the whole unit as within the personal territory and creates a sense of belonging. The outside scenery renders a feeling of detachment and privacy.
8
1. glass window 2. translucent reflective polycarbonate panel 3. glass with gradient reflective coating 4. indoor silver poly carbonate panel 5. silver polycarbonate folding doors 6. CLT structural wall 7. plywood storage finish 8. metal stud wall 9. integrated bed (fixture) 10. wood frame open storage wall (fixture)
2 | Public Perception
The inner square is the neutral space where the floating furniture defines the character and the activities in the room.
4
2
11. wood mullions 12. white oak wood stairs 13. seating 14. soft-texture carpet 15. silver polycarbonate folding doors a. flexible space : living area / public program b. work/study area c. sleeping area d. barhroom e. storage
2 | Domestic Perception
The personal belongings denote the whole unit as within the personal territory and creates a sense of belonging. The outside scenery renders a feeling of detachment and privacy.
Free Closed-Plan 05
ROOM COLLECTION | Based on Variation 1
The boundary of the room establishes the main grid while the inner square of the flexible space deviates from the grid.
ROOM COLLECTION | Based on Variation 2
The innerside of the “stuffed-wall” follows an orthogonal grid, while the outside of the “stuffed-walls” is a square that deviates from the grid.
2 1
2
2
7
4
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1. entrance 2. private door 3. storage for outdoor space 4. kitchen counter unit (fixture) 5. folding doors 6. storage for the public programs 7. glass with gradient reflective coating
1 | Condition A
This is the spatial organization when the upper-left cornor room is a studio apartment.
a. flexible units - living area / public programs b. work / study area c. sleeping area d. private bathroom e. storage f. public bathroom g. public program (commertial) h. kitchen
1 | Condition B
This is the spatial organiazation when the tenant in the upper-left cornor room leaves and the room opens up to the public.
1. entrance 2. private door 3. storage for outdoor space 4. kitchen counter unit (fixture) 5. folding doors 6. storage for the public programs 7. glass with gradient reflective coating
2 | Condition A
This is the spatial organization when the upper-left cornor room is a studio apartment.
a. flexible units - living area / public programs b. work / study area c. sleeping area d. private bathroom e. storage f. public bathroom g. public program (commertial) h. kitchen
2 | Condition B
This is the spatial organization when the tenant in the upper-left cornor room leaves and the room opens up to the public programs.
Free Closed-Plan 06
COLLECTION OF BUILDINGS | Based on Variation 1
The aggregation principle: to avoid direct gaze towards the domestic space. The resulted building aggregation typology has the characteristic of clear separation of landscape and hardscape.
COLLECTION OF BUILDINGS | Based on Variation 2
The aggregation principle: to avoid direct gaze towards the domestic space. The resulted building aggregation typology has the characteristic of merged landscape and hardscape.
1
B.
B.
2
8
A.
D.
C.
F.
3
6
9 7
5 4
B.
B.
E.
1. free-closed plan building 2. softscape 3. public open space 4. parking 5. fair-faced concrete 6. outdoor dining set (mobile furniture)
1 | Small Aggregation
The underlying restrictions of the building results in aggregation with clear separation of circulation and landscape.
7. food truck 8. pedestrain path A. programmed public open space B. shared garden C. public open space D. parking
1 | Large Aggregation
The separation of circulation zone and landscape zone is more visible in large aggregations.
1. free-closed plan building 2. softscape 3. public open space 4. parking 5. fair-faced concrete 6. outdoor dining set (mobile furniture)
2 | Small Aggregation
The underlysing restrictions of the building results in aggregation with landscape merging with the circulation.
7. food truck 8. pedestrain path A. programmed public open space B. shared garden C. public open space D. parking
2 | Large Aggregation
The integration of circulation zone and landscape zone is also true for larger aggregations.
Free Closed-Plan 07 View from the periscope mimics what you see when standing in the building: all private space is hidden from the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s view.
Curiously looking at the space through the periscope...
The model has a built-in periscope to transform the model into a device to study the space in the perspective as an occupant of the space.
Planting Life and Livelihood 01 The Rhythm of Life 01
the RHYTHM OF LIFE Planting Life and Livelihood
A Center In Kutupalong Refugee Camps A Daycare Daycare Center In Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Bangladesh In Bangladesh
2018 | Academic | Instructor: Anna Heringer 2018 | Academic | Instructor: Anna Heringer
How architecture be aattool to improve life? Thiscan daycare center Kutupalong refugee camp is a therapeutic What can add value to the quality of the refugeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; life and also be useful for their place for the traumatized Rohingya children, and a stimulus to survival?
initiate a self-sustainable living cycle for the community.
This daycare center at Kutupalong refugee camp is a therapeutic place for the traumatized Rohingya children, and a stimulus to initiate a self-sustainable living cycle for the community. Keywords: earth construction, social impact, material scarcity
Planting Life and Livelihood 03
RESEARCH - EARTH CONSTRUCTION AND RELATED CRAFTSMANSHIP
Earth Construction Ningxin Cheng
Rammed Earth Construction Rope Joints and Splicing Victor Wu
Gloria Chang
Rope Joints and Splicing Lina Karaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;in
PRACTICE - TEST CONSTRUCTION AT KUTUPALONG REFUGEE CAMP
Bamboo Primary Structure
Layering Mud Balls
Woven Bamboo Sheet
Smoothening the Surface
Mud Balls
Drying
Preparation for Combining Bamboo and Mud
Finished Construction
Planting Life and Livelihood 03
SITE STRATEGY
public space
daycare center public space
It was during the visit to the refugee camp that I so strongly realized that time is a social and cultural construct – time seems to freeze in the camp, where every day filled with the same, excruciating long wait for returning home. In this context where external trading is not allowed, employment is illegal, and people have no incentive to devote time and resources to construct a life... What can bring them something to look forward to? What can add value to the quality of the refugees’ life but also be useful for their survival? The natural cycles of plants have this power. The daily, weekly and seasonally change of the plants bring joy, the respect of life and ties the community together.
steep slope
strategic planting
(hill top) ~ 0° buidings slope > 25° bamboo farming
25°
25° > slope > 15° vege/fruit 15°
(valley) ~ 0°
jute farming buildings pond
Planting Life and Livelihood 04
NATURE, LIFE AND JOY The natural cycles of plants have the power to stimulate hope and joy in life The daily, weekly and seasonally change of the plants bring joy, the respect of life and ties the community together. The selection of plants has a balanced height, form, colors, and usage. The string screens integrate the plants and the earth and create diverse spatial experiences that make the children feel protected, embraced, and open and free at the same time. The vegetables, jute, and fruit trees provide not only food, but also building materials, materials for crafts, and opportunities for trading.
Planting Life and Livelihood 05
SPATIAL TYPE CATALOG SPATIAL TYPES
EXAMPLES - THE OPEN ROOM
The Big Room
Mud walls; Four-side enclosure; Large communal space; High protection against cyclone.
The screen
The Corner
The tall soft jute plants completes the string screen. They provide a soft enclosure and dynamic shadows.
The corner of the string screen opens at the corner and embrace the plants as well as the daily change of their growth.
The Terrace
Mud walls; Two-side enclosure; Covered space playing space / seed sowing; low protection against cyclone.
EXAMPLES - THE OUTDOOR ROOM
The Open Room
Mud walls + stings; Wall + wrapping string screen; Medium-to-small covered education space; low protection against cyclone.
Division Tall plants
Jute
Okra
Low wall Medium height plants
Edge low - medium height plants:
Tomato
Radish /Purple Carrot
Ceiling
8’
4’ - 8’
Tomato
Okra
2’ - 4’
4’ - 8’
The Outdoor Room
Mud wall + cables; One-side wall enclosure + cable screen; Medium/small open playing & planting area; low protection against cyclone.
The Cave
Embeded in the earth; Three-side enclosure; Medium covered semi-enclosed playing space; high protection against cyclone.
2’ - 4’
1’ - 2’
Vine plants:
+
Edge
low - medium height plants
Spinach/ Cabbage 1’
Radish /Purple Carrot 1’ - 2’
Pea
Cucumber
small leaves
large leaves
Planting Life and Livelihood 06
SELF-SUSTAINABLE EMPOWERMENT STRATEGY
1b
Jute / Bamboo
Vegetable / Fruit
d
fe e
plu sur
ca re
m
ain te na
nc e
1a
s
plu sur s
Other Construction 1a
1b
Construction Material
2
Day-care Center
2 2
3
su
pp
ly
s
plu
3
Crafts
process
sur
ft
cra
Trade
Planting Life and Livelihood 07
PLAN - LOWER LEVEL
7
8 6 8
UP
2
UP
5
8 8
9
1 community gathering space 2 main classrooms 3 market 4 plant nursery 5 toilet 6 small classrooms 7 caved play area 8 theraputic space 9 playground
Planting Life and Livelihood 08
PLAN - UPPER LEVEL 1 2
8
8 UP
4
8 8 3
9
1 community gathering space 2 main classrooms 3 market 4 plant nursery 5 toilet 6 small classrooms 7 caved play area 8 theraputic space 9 playground
OPEN POCKET NASA Innovation Center
2016 | Academic | Location: Houston, US | Instructor: Andrew Colopy * This project won the Vectorworks Richard Diehl Award ($10,000)
The studio Naturally Synthetic explores the status and the potential for plastic in architecture - both plastic as a material and as the architectural plasticity. The building communicates NASA and the public. The program provides an experimental space for living, research/development, and learning to a rotating class of 15 graduate students who will occupy the building for one academic year, collaborating with NASA engineers to advance a collective project. This work is a collaboration with Kalen McNamara. Both of us are equally involved in the design process and the production of presentation materials. Keywords: plastic and plasticity, material experiment
OPEN POCKET 02
Terminal Corner
Open Up the Corner
Exterior Pocket
Interior Pocket A (More exposed to one side)
Interior Pocket B (Hidden from both sides)
OPEN POCKET 03
SIMULTANEITY
The building facilitates instant publication of research. NASA’s typical process involves a strict separation between conducting research, selecting the publication, and presenting an image to the public. This building uses the pocket created by the envelope to collapse those three time phases, so that research and the production of a public image happen simultaneously. The building is a device to of discovery for the knowledge generated within.
LO NG -T ER
FLEX OFFICES
MOING SCHO NT LA HS R
M
S
VISI T
S AR YE
APARTMENTS
YEES MPLO SC E DJ AN SA NA
OPEN OFFICE
AUDITORIUM
GALLERY
GARAGE
CAFE CONF. ROOM HOTEL
TO U
R IS
TS A N
DAYS
D CONFERENCE AT
TE N
DE
ES
USER GROUPS As public users circulate between major programs like the cafe and the auditorium, they get glimpses into pocket spaces where researchers are working. The deepest parts of the pocket are for individual thinking and reflecting, while shallower pocket zones are for production and discussion with other scholars. Within the open plan, the panels of the gallery provide an interface between these three user groups, mixing tourists’ photos from their visits to JSC with graphics from onsite research and NASA photos from space.
STRUCTURE
CONTEXT
SITE
OPEN POCKET 04
PLAN
Level 2
Level 3
Program: Level1: Hourly Hotel Lobby Flexible Workshop Cafe Gallery Restrooms Conference Room Level2: Open Office Open Work Area Private Flex Offices Lounge/Kitchenette Copy/Print Office Storage Restrooms Auditorium
Level 1
Level3: Apartments Communal Living
ELEVATION
OPEN POCKET 05
SECTION
+28’ - 00” LEVEL 3
+15’ - 00” LEVEL 2
0’ - 00” LEVEL 1
+2’ - 00” LEVEL 1
OPEN POCKET 06
THE ENVELOPE RY: OUNDRAATED O HARD B & PERF D
T, LUCEN TRANS ED E-COAT IV T C LE REF PANEL PLASTIC LASS RG A LE C +
FRITTE
Y DOTS BEN-DA
ENVELOPE
E RUCTIV CONST NCE E R E F INTER
RY: OUNDA SOFT B PERFORATED
T, LUCEN TRANS ED E-COAT IV T C LE REF PANEL PLASTIC LASS DG E T IT R +F
The envelope is not a strict perimeter, but a field of varying intensities of enclosure. This analysis of the building enclosure shows how much of your visual field is occupied by the building at any given point on the plan. Some clusters of high enclosure transgress and undermine the perimeter of the building. To intensify continuity across those zones, we designated some parts of the envelope as hard boundaries and some as permeable. This strategy of constructive interference borrowed from Ben-Day dots allows us to unite the two types of facade while producing difference between them. Using an overlay of screens, rather than discrete windows, allows the building to retain a certain scalelessness. The envelope catalyzes a new synthesis between the building and the site, producing a device of discovery for the knowledge generated within.
INVENTION
DISCOVERY
ADDITIVE
TRANSFORMATIVE
HARD BOUNDARY
PERMEABLE BOUNDARY
The hard boundary consists of one outer layer of fritted, perforated, translucent, reflective acrylic panels and an inner layer of clear glass. The overlapped part of the Ben-Day dots are perforated. The shifting the BenDay dots controls the visibility of interior from the outside.
The permeable boundary consists of one layer of perforated translucent reflective acrylic on the outside, and a layer of fritted glass in the inside. The Ben-Day dot effect is achieved when the circles of the two layers coincide.
OPEN POCKET 07
THE ENVELOPE WALL SECTION
DETAIL A
5"
Concrete floor slab
2'-6"
IGU
Powder coated vertical steel member Steel ‘T’ clips Steel clips VHB tape Perforated reflective translucent acrylic panel
DETAIL B
3"
Custom steel bracket
3"
2'-6"
+28’-00” LEVEL 3
9"
Perforated reflective translucent acrylic panel
3"
Steel clips
Powder coated vertical steel member
DETAIL A
+15’-00” LEVEL 2
2'-6"
DETAIL B Concrete floor slab Mullion IGU Steel angle
Perforated reflective translucent acrylic panel
Powder coated vertical Steel member Steel clips VHB tape Perforated reflective translucent Acrylic panels
IGU
Steel clips Perforated reflective translucent acrylic panels 0’-00” LEVEL 1
Powder coated vertical Steel member
3"
11"
HEALTHCARE + REHABILITATION
Urban Ecology of Institutions
R
M
TO JNPT
TRANSIT HUB TRADE CENTER R
M M
Extreme Urbanism in Mumbai
INNOCATION INCUBATORS R
M M
TOURISM + NATURE
2017 | Academic | Instructor: Rahul Mehrotra
R
M M
The proposal aims at answering the following questions: How to design an environment for knowledge in an economically self-sustainable way? How to create a functional/multi-functional open space that is meaningful for both the residents and the larger city? How to engage the beneficiary of the open space to actively guard it?
DEFENSE ROLL-ON ROLL-OFF
R
M
TO ELEPHANTA TO NAVI MUMBAI
SAILING SCHOOL
KNOWLEDGE + NATURE R M M M
Keywords: housing, public space, institutions, COMMERCIAL+ WORKSPACE M
THE PORT
THE COMMERCIAL CENTER
Urban Ecology of Institutions 02
THE PASSION AND APPRECIATION FOR LIFE From the site visit, three things deeply touched me: Respect for knowledge and education. In the slums or on the street, poor or rich, the school kids all dress neatly - their hair meticulously braided and the shirts ironed. The need for functional open space, especially for the children. In Dharavi, the residents voluntarily cleared up an area as a playground. Open space is typically considered as susceptible to squatting, but residents respect public open space in use with a clear function.
The design proposes a university campus as a catalyst to promote knowledge related business and small manufacture industry, from bookstores, food vendors, to innovation incubators and daycare centers. The city of Mumbai is in a shortage of institutional facilities now. The university will be an amenity for the whole city and a destination for the region. Economically, it profits the development on Elphinstone Estate not through adding build-up areas, but, instead, through adding value and attraction of the site. The university community tends to be a diverse population with an open mind. It also entails both working and living components. The students and scholars will add diversity to the resident group on Elphinstone Estate.
Urban Ecology of Institutions 03 academic bdg
piazza
academic building
shopping mall
academic building
waterfront park
science institution
shopping mall
B workspace
science institution
railway station
market
residential
waterfront park
Zoomed-In Area Plan - Ground Level
A
2
4
2
1
amenities
neighborhood
public open space
neighborhood
institution
hospital
market-rate + rental apts
playground
institutional + rental apts
university
3
Section: Institutions Generates Circulation Through the Network of Public Spaces
GROUND LIVELIHOOD The residential block design values ground livelihood. The livelihood on the ground level promotes a sense of safety and intimacy of the community. It activates the voluntary guardians of the public space. The design of the block interlocks with the building typology. In Mumbai, partially because of the tropical climate and need for cross-ventilation, the large-scale local buildings feature path through the ground-level of buildings. The proposed block has paths coming halfway through the block, potentially connect with the covered pathway on the lower levels on buildings. This strategy guarantees the pedestrian character on the ground level. The block assures the permeability through the block by assigning at least one area in the middle as open space.
Urban Ecology of Institutions 04
BLOCK STRATEGY
Existing blocks
xn
~55m
5m
~20m
20m
~200m
~50m
10m < y < 25 m
29 m
Proposed block size 45m - 200m
The corner: AMENITY
50m
Center: GREEN OPEN SPACE 45m - 200m
The lively side: Self-built buildings around the supportng core The neat side: Defined building type with passages Assured passage through the block
BLOCK COMBINATIONS
BUILDING TYPOLOGY
RENNOVATED WAREHOUSE GUARDIAN CAPACITY: 10 x footprint FAR: 1 Height: low-rise
COURTYARD GARDEN GUARDIAN: institution SERVING CAPACITY: local ADJACENT TO: residential
upper POPULATION Above the ground houses the high density. This population supports the activity and livelihood on the ground. It also provides watchers to the public space.
chunks
ACADEMIC BUILDING GUARDIAN CAPACITY: 10 x footprint FAR: 4 Height: mid-rise
CRIKET FIELD GUARDIAN: institution SERVING CAPACITY: urban scale ADJACENT TO: residential, commercial
courtyard
tower
+
STATION + MIXED-USE GUARDIAN CAPACITY: 1 x footprint FAR: 4 - 6 Height: high-rise
PLAZA + TEMPORARY MARKET GUARDIAN: rail-station + mall SERVING CAPACITY: local ADJACENT TO: institutions, commercial
Urban Ecology of Institutions 04 INSTITUTION FAR: 3.5 PROGRAM: academic TENANT MIX: academic users ACCESSIBILITY: neighborhood; academic visitors PUBLIC SPACE: gardens; piazzas; sports fields SERVING RADIUS: urban region
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT FAR: 7.1 PROGRAM: railway station; mall; workspace; hotel TENANT MIX: urban visitors; local residents ACCESSIBILITY: general public PUBLIC SPACE: elevated ground; market SERVING RADIUS: city-wide
fat podium + railway
tower
+ ground LIVELIHOOD On the ground level lies the public spaces and various activities. The covered pathways allows pedestrains meander through the neighborhood. This strategy also increases the ratio of building fronts, which promotes care and responsibility to the public spaces.
URBAN AMENITIES COMMERCIAL MIXEDUSE GUARDIAN CAPACITY: 1 x footprint FAR: 5 - 8 Height: high-rise
PLAZA + RECREATIONS GUARDIAN: mall + hotel SERVING CAPACITY: local ADJACENT TO: institution, metro station
PUBLIC AMENITIES GUARDIAN CAPACITY: 0.75 x footprint FAR: 5 Height: low to mid-rise
COVERED ARCADE GUARDIAN: public amenities SERVING CAPACITY: neighborhood ADJACENT TO: institution, metro station
fat podium
fat top
+ small podium
slab
+ permeable podium
RESIDENTIAL MIXED-USE GUARDIAN CAPACITY: 0.25 x footprint FAR: 5.5 Height: mid-rise
STORE-FRONT DECORATIVE GARDENS GUARDIAN: individuals SERVING CAPACITY: neighborhood ADJACENT TO: institution, residential
FAR: 2.33 PROGRAM: amenities; commercial ACCESSIBILITY: varies depending on the program PUBLIC SPACE: neighborhood playground SERVING RADIUS: neighbourhood
RESIDENTIAL FAR: 4.5 PROGRAM: amenities; residential; comercial TENANT MIX: relocated families; students /scholars neighborhood visitors ACCESSIBILITY: open neighborhood PUBLIC SPACE: storefront; garden SERVING RADIUS: neighbouring blocks
UNIT TYPES
FLEXIBLE
SHORT-TERM
Urban Ecology of Institutions 06
LONG-TERM
7.5 m
12.5 m
10 m
5m
7.5 m
6.75 m
5m
10 m
7.5 m
7.5 m
4m
UP
7.5 m
7.5 m
4m
7.5 m
7.5 m
4m
UP
UP
INSTITUTION HOUSING
MIXED HOUSING
MIXED HOUSING
MARKET-RATE HOUSING
18% circulation/shared space ~ 34 bedrooms or 18 units 2.88 sqm circulation area per person 15.5 sqm build up area per person STUDENT HOUSING
institutional apts + short-term rental
market-rate + short-term rental 23% circulation/shared space ~ 26 bedrooms or 20 units 2.98 sqm circulation area per person 12.5 sqm build up area per person
11% circulation/shared space ~ 26 bedrooms or 16 units 1.6 sqm circulation area per person 15.8 sqm build up area per person
Un
ive rs
ity
ity
rs ive
Un
INSTITUTION HOUSING
20% circulation/shared space ~ 32 bedrooms or 19 units 2.96 sqm circulation area per person 14.5 sqm build up area per person
Ra ilw ay
ity
rs ive
Un
MIXED HOUSING
Un
ive rs
ity
ce
pa
cS
bli
Pu
MIXED HOUSING
Wa te
ity
rfr on
t
rs ive
Un
MARKET-RATE HOUSING
Urban Ecology of Institutions 07
UNIT TYPES
2250
4250
7250
APT/STORE LOFT
LONG-TERM
3000
3000
3000
3000
SHORT-TERM
4250
4250
3250 3200
shared space
+
bedroom A
and / or
bedroom B
and / or
bedroom C
7500
family apt
01 BUILDING AS MATERIAL
BUILDING AS MATERIAL Texas Medical Center Hotel and Playground BUILDINGS AS A MATERIAL Texas Medical Center Hotel and Playground
2015 | Academic | Location: Houston, US | Instructor: Tei Carpenter *This project won the William Ward Watkin Traveling Fellowship ($9,000). 2015 | Academic | Project Location: Houston, US | Instructor: Tei Carpenter
The project reflects a rethinking of the relationship between architecture and The project reflects points a rethinking of the relationship between industrial production. Production to market-optimized spation repetition, but architecture and industrial production. Production points to marketthis project searches for architectural potential in the repeatable typical plans.
optimized spatial repetitions, but this project searches for architecture
potential teh repeatable tyical plans. It begins with an prototype Keywords: open space,intypical plans, industrial production
system, then specicied when placed onto the three insertion points chosen on Texas Medical Center.
i BELONG
Building System With Mobility Of Artifacts
iBelong 01 2018 | Academic | Instructor: Grey Lynn
This project takes a step further from the iBelong Workspace project and details a building service system that incorporates the small-size smart mobility devices. Keywords: artificial intelligentce, smart building, mobility, IoT
iBelong 02
Human - Machine Interactions
Mobility Typology
PFF Gita
Turtlebot
Kiva
Starship
human-robot mingle reinforces the public social distance
r ~ 14” r ~ 14”
r ~ 7”
r ~ 14”
r ~ 16”
turning radius = 0
turning radius = 0
turning radius = 0
turning radius = 0
35 km / h
2.34 km / h
4.8 km / h
6 km / h public social distance
sign: human
indoor
sign: objects + spatial mapping indoor
outdoor
Small-size automous cargo robots
sign: grid
indoor
sign: GPS
indoor outdoor
This part illustrates the spatial-temperal features and clearance requirements for various robots in the current market
personal social distance human robot separation allows personal interaction
iBelong 03
Hypothesis
mini-highway mini-highway focused focusedzone zone mingle zone mingled zone
28â&#x20AC;? increase
in floor thickness every other floor
8'-0"
31'-8"
= +1692% accessibility to personal items = + 233 sqft free space at home = + 3 times proximity in intended collaboration space and 1.5 times comfortable distance in public social zone
8'-0"
8'-0"
28â&#x20AC;?
social socialzone column
= - 8.2% building service volume = + 9.1% occupiable volume = + 5% occupiable floor = + 3.9% avg. experienced floor height
CO-NET STAGE Public Art at Radcliffe Institute
2018 | Competition (finalisted)
CO-NET is a public playground that invites everyone to physically perceive the abstract inter-connection between the individual and the community in a playful way. The concept emphasizes Radcliffeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core values, including the inclusiveness, interdisciplinary collaboration. CO-NET stage will be a lively place for the faculty and students around Radcliffe Yard to hang out or have meals and relax. This project is selected as one of the four finalists of the biannual Public Art Competiton. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s developed to specified materials, manufactural supplies, and construction costs. Team: Ningxin Cheng, Ming Guo, Ao Li. All teammates are involved in developing the concept. Ningxin was in charge of the presentation, material selection, and joint details. Keywords: public art, inclusiveness, playfulness
CO - NET | 2018 RADCILFFE PUBLIC ART COMPETITION | MING GUO + A
PLAN
37’ - 4”
12’ - 0”
5’ - 0”
R=3’-6”
39’ - 3”
R=2’-0”
R=2’-6”
THE NET Materializes the abstract concept of community The root of the Radcliffe institute lies in the concept of community and inclusiveness. What is a community? It’s not a discrete entity but a gathered group of individuals. It’s always dynamic for the character of the community shifts as the individuals interact and collaborate. Our proposal invites people to physically sense and perceive the abstract inter-connection between the individual and the collective in a playful fashion. CO - NET | 2018 RADCILFFE PUBLIC ART COMPETITION | MING GUO + AO LI + NINGXIN CHENG “Net” carries the symbolic meaning of the network and connection. In our proposal, the net is also the key element that passes the impact of the individual on the group of people sharing the same net. When someone joining/leaving the playground, the whole group on the net would sense the change, indicating PLAN that each individual is empowered to make a difference and contribute to the diversity of the community.
THE NET
5’ - 0”
5’ - 6”
R=3’-0”
CO - NET | 2018 RADCILFFE PUBLIC ART COMPETITION | MING GUO + AO LI + NINGXIN CHENG
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
SECTION DIAGRAM
DETAIL
A
B
A
B
C
D
C
D
0
SECTION
100
200
500 mm
Scale: 1’ = 1/8”
Detail
Ningxin Cheng ningxin.cheng@gmail.com +1 617 417 2333 Harvard University Master of Architecture II, 2019â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Distinction, Kevin V. Kieran Prize Rice University Bachelor of Architecture, 2017â&#x20AC;&#x2122; summa cum laude, Henry Adams AIA Medal
Thank you.