PORTFOLIO Nirun Xin Selected Works 2015-2019
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Education Sep. 2012 - Jul. 2017 Xian University of Architecture and Technology Huaqing College Bacherlor of Architecture Xian, China Sep. 2014 - Jul. 2016 Northumbria University Architecture Department Study Exchange Newcastle, United Kingdom Sep. 2017 - Jun. 2018 Into Newcastle University International Graduate Diploma in Architecture Newcastle, United Kingdom Sep. 2018 - Sep. 2019 Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh School of Architecture Master of Architectural Studies Glasgow, United Kingdom
Work Experience Jun. 2015 - Sep. 2015
CONTENTS Curriculum Vitae Baltic Sage Link
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Children’s library in the Merchant City
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Walltown Visitor Center
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Manors Cycle Hub Appendix - Other Works 2014-2015
Jiang Xi Province Architecture Design and Research General Institute Architectural Intern Nanchang, China
Skills Digital AutoCAD / Rhinoceros 3D / Sketch Up / Illustrator / Photoshop / Indesign/ V - Ray / Laser Cutting / 3D Printing / Revit / Microsoft Office Analog Sketching / Physical Model-Making / Hand Drafting / Collage Research 2
Report writing / Technical skills / Critical thinking / Planning and scheduling / Critical analysis
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Baltic Sage Link Location | Gateshead, United Kingdom Date | SEP 2017 - DEC 2017 Property | Academic Individual Work Instructor | Smajo Beso
As people move or travel from one place to another, this is known as a journey. In our lifetime, every day we make journeys, small and long, some more memorable or meaningful than others. We use our bodies to move through space and our senses to navigate. We experience our surroundings and associate what we experience with feelings such as joy, excitement or peacefulness. The site is located on the Gateshead side of River Tyne, between two landmark buildings: the Sage Gateshead Concert Hall and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. It is dominated by a strong topography and levels rise sharply with approximately 14 metres from the river. At present, the site is used as a car parkwith 100 car parking spaces in the lower ground whilst the higher level car park provides around 300 spaces. Visitors have to walk across two car parks and climb different sets of unsheltered stairs between the two buildings. No direct route for disabled or wheelchair users or cyclists exist. As of Jan Gehl in his book 'Cities for People' stated: Good walking opportunities are the prerequisite for city life. This project aims to create an architectural journey between this two landmark buildings with consideration of wheelchair and cyclists access to all levels of the site.
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Key Space Model
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Baltic Art Gallery
The Sage
The Site
Site context
Concept and strategies
In more recent times, Newcastle/ Gateshead has to undergo major changes as heavy industries closed. Despite dramatic unemployment and associated social problems, the region managed to reinvent itself from the1980’s onwards and is today an essential regional hub for education, research/services and ever increasingly tourism. The river, once bustling with ships and polluting activities from factories and warehouses has become much quieter and greener. Buildings which fell out of use, were either torn down or refurbished and replaced with new housing, offices, bars and restaurants. Gateshead has successfully implemented policies that use art and creative industries to help regenerate the area along the river. The BALTIC, the Sage and the Millennium Bridge are all outcomes of these policies. Together with the Newcastle Quayside, they draw thousands of visitors every month.
However, the retaining wall forms long shadow to the lower car park in the whole day. My concept thrived from shadow and light. Therefore, my design ambition is to make people feel warm and bright.
Views from the site overlooking the river and towards Newcastle are spectacular and advantage of the site. However, the two-car parks act as obstacles to pedestrian access. Moreover, the bare concrete retaining wall always forms overshadowing of the lower carpark.
Referring to the UK Building Regulation, the incline rate should between 1:12 to 1:20 while the ideal slope is 1:15. If the bridge is constructed in diagonal of the site, the slope will be too steep with the angle less than 10%. Therefore, the journey between Sage and Baltic is impossible to be rectilinear.
First Impression
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Initial Impression When I first came to the site, I was impressed by the bright sunlight, the clear blue sky, the lake, flying birds, trees in the far distances and the circular figure of the Sage.
Link
Zigzag Journey
Multiple Views
Events
Timber is used as the primary material for the project because the tactile quality of timber is not influenced by temperature and weather. Also, timber appears in a warm colour. It is used for public seatings, shelters and the deck of the walkway. Cherry trees are planted in the site as it has blossomed in spring and fruits in summer. These trees not only form the landscape of the site but also make the site look more colourful. Two shelters illuminated at night as both the Sage and the Baltic open at night. Therefore, people who pass by there pedestrian link will feel warm and safe even at night. Considering the view of the Quayside and Gateshead, the pedestrian bridge is designed as a zigzag shape so that people could appreciate the view of both Quayside and Gateshead in various angles. The site will act as a public space with different activities occurred rather than a deserted place with car parking.
Analysis Diagram
Site Section
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Historical Timeline
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Baltic Tyne River
Sage
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Site Plan
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A-A Section
B-B Section
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Key Space Render
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Children’s library in the Merchant City Location | Glasgow, United Kingdom Date | OCT 2018 - AUG 2019 Property | Academic Individual Work Instructor | Mark Baines
A library is a place for people to celebrating knowledge and exchange ideas. However, with the prevailing of electronic devices, more and more people prefer to acquire information from a computer, iPad, Kindle, etc. rather than paper books. It is time to rethink the function of public libraries in the information age. There are many types of libraries while public libraries always cover people of different ages. However, the children's department in public libraries is too large for pupils while they feel sharing spaces with adults. In this case, a library for children will solve the problem and encourage children cultivating reading habits in their early ages. Merchant City is a region full of vigorous with mixed use of apartments, car parks, bars, restaurants, cultural buildings and commercial buildings. It is an old town used to be the centre of Glasgow. At present, Merchant City still acts as a crucial role with good position and cultural quarter with several tourist attractions situated nearby. The site is a vacant block in Merchant City with four existing buildings situated on each corner. Through observing from the figure-ground map of this area, it is obvious that all the buildings are built densely without any public spaces. A public square as a core area could improve the present situation and bring physical identity with distinguishing function into this territory for urban development.
Interior collage of the house
This project aims to plan an urban block with the focus on children's library connecting to the public square.
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University of Glasgow Library Whiteinch Library
Elder Park Library
Partick Library
Ibrox Library
Hillhead McMillan Round Reading Room Library Wards Library
Woodside Library The Mitchell Library
GSA Library
Pollokshields Library
Govanhill Library
GoMa Library
Gorbals Library
Dennistoun Library Andersonian Library Royston Library & Learning Centre
Glasgow Women's Library
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Libraries in Glasgow
Riddrie Library & Learning Centre
Parkhead Library & Learning Centre 15
Bridgeton Library
Merchant City is a closed and relatively static place. The view to the west is blocked by the Gallery of Modern Art on Ingram Street while
Age
the view to the north along Hutcheson Street is terminated by the former Hutcheson’s Hall which was constructed in early 18th century by David Hamilton and by along Candleriggs Ramshorn
0-3 crawling&standing
3-6 playing&communicating
6-9 group outdoor activities &willing to take risk
9-12 gender cognition enhanced with different behaviour pattern
A number of unit spaces with the diameter of 1M and height of 0.6M allow children to climb freely
Multiple unit spaces with 1.5M diameter and 1.2M height can be used by children under 1M height
Multiple unit spaces with 3M diameter and 1.6M height can be used by children under 1.4M height
The unit space with diameter of 4M length and 4M height can be used as a classroom for 30 children
Children moving lines are usually in semicircle or circle line
Walking between units to meet others is children's basic circulation desires
The small houses provide children with inside and outside experience
Two juxtaposed units facing different directions stimulate children's curiosity and desire to explore
The low position of Windows opening adapts to children's curiosity and height
Each space corresponding to each other, endowing the views with variability and forming certain degree of contrast
Children always focus on smaller Windows
Children have a strong sense of light, space with different light transmission can bring children a rich spatial experience of light and shadow
The centripetal space can encourage and promote the interaction between children, especially the vertically defined centripetal
the enclosed circular study space with glass partitions separate space acoustically with visual permeable
the space of low viewing angle also gives people a sense of security
young children usually prefer to sit on the floor
Theatre in parallel. Instead of infinity grid layout, Merchant City is enclosed by these historical buildings. Followed by Camillo Sitte's statement that the most important identity of a plaza is the enclosing space. The square is enclosed by
Scale
four buildings while the children's library is south facing to the square. How to connect the square with the library is an essential part of this project. A public library in the information age does not act as a building for book storage but a community quarter serving for users. Moreover, except for attracting local citizens, the public library as a meeting place for social interaction
Circulation
has the potential to be developed as an attachment to cultural tourism. As for kids, Reading has a Merchant City
life-long influence on them while stimulating children to love reading is the most essential goal considering space design in this project.
Views
Space
Retail&Department Store Restarants, Hotel&Bar Cultural Buildings Students Tourists
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Building Types in Merchant City
Analysis Diagram of Children's preference on internal space
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Concepts of Square and Building
Market
Meeting space
Exercise and sports
Skateboarding
Cafe
Playground
Playground System in the Library
Green space
Building dimension
Theatre
Analysis Diagram of Public Square
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Axnometric Drawing
Section perspective From Wilson St to Trongate 20
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Ground Floor
First Floor
Second Floor
Third Floor
Fourth Floor
Floor Plan
Section
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South Elevation to the square
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Internal Perspective with Climbing Ropes
Internal Perspective with Roof Light
Internal Perspective from Entrance
Internal Perspective on First Floor
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External Perspective with Public Square
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Walltown Visitor CENTER Location | Northumbland, United Kingdom Date | FEB 2016 - MAY 2016 Property | Academic Individual Work Instructor | David Hunt
Hadrian's Wall is 73 mile (173KM) long with Milecastles and forts. It is an essential landmark as a symbol of human's mark of the past. It shows man's intervention in nature and how nature has accepted this as time passed by. The wall has become a part of the natural landscape. Walltown Crags as one of the English Heritage sites is one of the finest places to see Hadrians Wall with the majority of wall well-preserved. Also, visitors could explore spectacular views of nature including woodland, meadow, lake and wildlife. Thirwall Castle, the ruin of 12th-century castle, is 15 mins walking distance away from Walltown Crags. It was owned by the Thirwall family but abandoned by them since the 17th century. In the 18th century, the castle attracted historians and tourists to sketch and paint due to its link with Hadrian's wall. The site is located between Thirwall Castle and Walltown Crags within the region of Northumberland National Park. The most challenging character of this place is that level dropping and rising dramatically. Although Walltown visitor centre already exists and there are hotels in adjacent. A larger-scale visitor centre as a focal point within this area offering interactive learning service, exhibition facilities and accommodation is essential. This project aims to design a visitor centre with YHA accommodation located within the rich historic and physical context.
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Interior perspective rendering of the library
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Thirlwall Castle is on the bank of the River Tipalt close to the village of Greenhead and approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Hexham. It was a defensible house for the Thirlwall family from 1300 to 1600. But it fell into collapse from the 19th century.
Introduction Hadrian's Wall was built from 122 AD in the reign of the emperor Hadrian for 6 years. It ran from the banks of the River Tyne near the North Sea to the Solway Firth on the Irish Sea and was the northern limit of the Roman Empire. It had a stone base and a stone wall. It was usually built from local materials to the wall, therefore, each part of the wall was built with different types of stone according to its location. There were Milecastles with two turrets in between. There was a fort about every five Roman miles. From north to south, the wall comprised a ditch, wall, military way and vallum, another ditch with adjoining mounds. The A69 and B6318 roads follow the course of the wall from Newcastle upon Tyne to Carlisle, then along the northern coast of Cumbria. In 2003, a National Trail footpath was opened that follows the line of the wall from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway.
Brief
Site Context
The Walltown attracts many visitors for hiking, picnic and other activities. However, compared with Walltown, the Thirlwall castle is less popular with ruin standing on the high ground. The visitor center and YHS Hotel are designed to link the Thirwall Castle with the Walltown car park so that visitors could explore the view between these two places. The visitor center would also be a guid to the Thirlwall Castle to make it more popular.
Idea Development Concept The concept comes from the existing wall, it was built following the ups and down of the ground. Therefore, several units consist of the building stepping down towards the hill gradually to reflect the mountainous landscape features and space, in the end, could get a great view of the site. Meanwhile, the facade of the visitor centre is consist of timber shingles intimating the facade of the Hadrian's Wall.
Historical Timeline
The site is located at a higher level and dropping down gradually towards Thirwall Castle direction (west). This leaves visitors a splendid view of the landscape and Thirwall Castle.
Detail Of Timber Shingles
View To Thirwall Castle 30
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First Floor
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SOUTH ELEVATION
WEST ELEVATION
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3 Entrance
Entrance
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Visitor Centor 1 Reception 2 Retail Space 3 Office 4 Toilet 5 Cafe 6 Lecture Room 7 Exhibition Space 8 Seminar Room 9 Storage Room 10 Library 11 Viewing Platform YHS Hotel 12 Reception 13 Laundry Room+ Linen Store 14 Lounge Area With Bar 15 Accommodation
First Floor
SITE PLAN
Perspective Looking Towards The Main Entrance
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Perspective Looking From The West
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Final Model
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Section Model
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1 ALUMINIUM PARAPETCAP 2 RAIN SHELD 3 PERMANENT SUPPORT 4 200MM INSULATION 5 FIXING BATTEN 6 14MM INNER LINING PAINTED WITH WHITE 7 400MM * 100MM TIMBER SHINGLE 8 200MM * 50MM SOFTWOOD STUDWORK
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Section Perspective
9 STYL FRAME 10 200MM * 400MM TIMER BEAM 11 WATERPROOF MEMBRANE 12 WATERPROOF PROTECTION 13 BITUMNIOUS VAPOUR BARRIER 14 135MM INSULATION 15 TWO LAYERS 12.5MM PLATERBOARD CEILING WITH SKIM COAT PAINTED WHITE 16 135MM * 50MM TREATED SOFTWOOD PURLINS
17 20MM OAK BOARD CLADDING 18 60MM FLOOR VOILD FILLED WITH WEAK MIX CONCRETE SCREED 1970MM FIBRE-REINFORCED CONCRETE SCREED WITH REINFORCING MESH 20 40MM * 60MM SOFTWOOD BATTEN 21 135MM INSULATION 22 WATERPROOF MEMBRANE 23 REINFORCED CONCRETE RAFT FOUNDATION
24 20MM PERPENDICULAR RAINSCREEN CLADDING BOARD 25 TWO LAYERS 12.5MM FIRELINE BOARD 26 TWOLAYERS 9MM PLYWOOD 27 WATERPROOF MEMBRANE 28 135MM INSULATION 29 200MM * 50MM SOFTWOOD STUDWORK 30 STYL FRAME 31 14MM INNER LINING PAINTED WITH WHITE
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Manors Cycle Hub Location | Newcastle, United Kingdom Date | FEB 2018 - MAY 2018 Property | Academic Individual Work Instructor | Smajo Beso
Cycling in the UK is a growing economy; however, in comparison to other EU countries such as Netherland and Denmark, the infrastructure is still showing many deficits. Cycling still is not considered as a major means for the daily commute. Scientific studies prove that physical activity and stress-free commute has a direct and positive impact on life satisfaction. In recent years, there is a growing network of cycling paths and a wider range of bicycle stores in Newcastle. Further development work is required until cycling becomes a familiarity. Other than the Central Station, Manors station is the only other remaining train station within the City infrastructure. The station opened originally in 1909 as part of the Blyth and Tyne railway company, but with the introduction and redevelopment in context with the Metro- System, the station building was demolished and only the East- platform remained. Until the late 1970s, Manors station was the second largest train station within Newcastle and North-Tyneside and the busiest commuter hub. The railway arcades achieved local and national fame when featuring in the iconic crime drama Get Carter with Michael Caine (1971). Both, Manors Metro and Manor train station are near to Northumbria University, the Manors business quarter, the Quayside, the city-centre and student homes in Melbourne street. With its attractiveness for commuters, mainly university staff and students commute from these interchanges it is the ideal location for a bicycle – public transport hub. The site is situated next to the platform of Manors station in a triangular shape. The quality of the site lays in its heritage, the proximity to Newcastle Centre, its prospect and the views to and from the site. However, the weakness of the site is the western boundary where the existing car park blocks the view and forms the shadow while the motorway causes noise. Also, the triangular shape of the site limits the use to the west.
Views from the site to Tynebridge
The design project can be interpreted as a future commuter hub, as a new interpretation of a commuter and cyclistfriendly railway interchange. This building will act as part of the entrance to Manors station. Furthermore, it carries the more general idea of a local redevelopment or even the revival of the once rather important Manors station. This project aims to give cyclists a place for storage, repairmen, relax, communication and rediscovering the joys of cycling.
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Traffic Analysis
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When I standing on the site, I noticed that the semi-circular part of the carpark. The ramp continues in circle form to provide car access to each stories parking place. In responding to this feature, the triangular part of the building is filled with ramps for both pedestrian and cyclists access. Also, with the trees in the courtyard, the buildings emerge like growing naturally from the ground. The commuters and those people who passed by the building frequently would find the change of the four seasons on the tress. The flower blossoms in spring, the fruit grows in summer, the leaves change the colour in autumn and the snow falls on the bare branch in winter. Also, the courtyard brings much light in and the leaves from shadow to the building. The architectural plan follows the outline of the site.
Initial Impression
Traffic Analysis
Introduction The project pays specific attention to several immediate site feature such as the view to the Quayside and Sage, the public transport nearby and cycling route. As the site is part of a railway infrastructure a lightweight structure- timber or steel system is considered. When I visited the site, few people were standing on the platform while most of the trains passed by without stopping. Therefore, I aim to recover this place and try to attract young people who lived nearby come to the site. My theory is to design my building with its context and surroundings in harmony. I generated my concept of the scheme to show the vitality of the space and the site. History Collage
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1.Shaping the building according to the outline of the site
2.Spliting into two parts for function requirements
3.Reducing the height of two boxes as main entrance
4.The courtyard offering light and landscape view to the building Detail of the atrium to show how the ramps work
5.Pedestrain bridge also follows shape of the site Analysis Diagram 44
6.Ramps surrounding the courtyard reflected by car park Final Model 45
The east and south elevation of model shows the rhythm with Manors car park
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The west elevation of model shows the rhythm with Manors car park
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1. 24 hrs Bicycle Intercharge 2. Shower room 3. Office 4. Shop Areas 5. Showroom 6. Cafe 7. Kitchen 8. Toilets 9. Storage 10.Bicycle Hire Store 11.Workshop
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Ground Floor Plan
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First Floor Plan
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Exterior Perspective Of South And East Elevation
Exterior Perspective Of The Entrance
1-1 Section Perspective
Interior perspective of cafe on the 1st floor
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The theatre project in Seaton Delaval Location Date Property Instructor Area
Seaton Delaval, United Kingdom NOV 2014 - DEC 2014 Academic Individual Work Chris Brown 100 m2
Gatehouse in the walled garden Location Date Property Instructor Area
Seaton Delaval, United Kingdom JAN 2015 - APR 2015 Academic Individual Work Leo Moreton 550 m2
Westgate Road - Community Hub Location Date Property Instructor Area
Newcastle, United Kingdom SEP 2015 - DEC 2015 Academic Individual Work Tim Ingleby 2700 m2
The Ha Ha project in Seaton Delaval Location Date Property Instructor
Seaton Delaval, United Kingdom NOV 2014 Group Work Leo Moreton
Appendix - Other Works 2014-2015 52
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