Qi Chen portfolio by Qi Chen

Portfolio of Qi Chen, MSAAD GSAPP, Columbia University

Contents Urban Rio Remix

Studio Project, Spring 2013, GSAPP

Dilijan Dialogue

Studio Project, Fall 2012, GSAPP

Soft Division

Studio Project, Summer 2012, GSAPP

Swarm Intelligence

Visual Studies, Fall 2012, GSAPP

Rethinking BIM

Visual Studies, Spring 2013, GSAPP

Techniques of the UltraReal

Visual Studies, Spring 2013, GSAPP

Beyond Prototype

102

Visual Studies, Spring 2013, GSAPP

Massive Loci

116

Studio Project, Spring 2010, HUST

Tower of View Studio Project, Fall 2010, HUST

130

Urban Rio Remix

Academia: Columbia University Year: 2013 Spring Site: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Critics: Keith Kaseman, Raul Smith Individual Work Software Use: Rhino, Grasshopper, Vray for Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD

Three Hypothesis

What if....

A new type of infrastructure makes Avenue Brasil as not only a part of urban transportation, but also an extension of urban activities?

What if....

This infrastructure is applicable in any node along Avenue Brasil, whether it is in city center or remote region?

What if....

This infrastructure deals with all the status of city life,not only the normal ground, but also celebration and emergency?

Energy

Intelligence

Spirit Cultural Atomosphere

Celebration

Spirit

Emergency Energy Cultural Atomosphere Intelligence

C C

Avenida Brasil

Inaugural

Campaign

New Year

Carnival

C: Celebration E: Emergency

outside

inside

outside

inside

Three Scales of Armatures I tried to address my proposal by three scales: S, M, L. What is the smallest space of dealing with celebration and emergency? It could be a series of spots distribute broadly in the city. The medium scale could be a gondola station, framing a wide network bouncing between extreme status. Large scale is a big infrastructure not only responding emergency and celebration, but also charging the medium-ground.

S: Helipad What is the smallest scale of an emergency-celebration space? A helicopter pad could be an interesting answer. What could be happened on a 100feet*100feet square? Medical rescue is always a critical issue in Rio. Because of its complicated topography, instant salvage is very difficult in Rio. Helicopter is extreme efficient under complex situation. Also, during the leisure time, the helipads can be used as a mini soccer field or a barbeque laje.

H H H

H H

Playground

Linear Green

Recycling Water Tank

Infrastructure Energy

Freight

Pedestrian Lane

M: Gondola Station Gondola is the most featured traffic tool in Rio. It is very suitable for Rioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s topography. Gondola station is not only a hub of commuting, but also a system of delivering energy and resource. Based on a category of spatial conditions between gondola and building, different spatial operations are mixed together.

Celebration Arena

!!!!!!

Keep Dancing!

We are ready!

Parade!

Emergency Shelter

Salvage! Evacuating!

L: RioX

Unique in the nature, magnitude, complexity, profundity, and diversity built into its infinite intensities and cultural varieties, Rio de Janeiro is both truly amazing and impossible to suitably describe. It has been widely broadcast that significant transformation to its deep fabric is inevitable especially with the World Cup of Soccer coming to Brazil in 2014, and the Summer Olympic Games to be hosted by Rio in 2016. That, coupled with Brazilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upward trend towards positive economic development and expanded geopolitical influence, Rio has never been better poised to leverage its distinctive potential against its intrinsic urgencies than it is at this moment. Though how Rioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s myriad challenges, constraints, conflicts, forces, ambitions and interests ultimately interweave over time is yet to be determined, the one sure thing is that the complexity in play is uniquely perplexing at almost every level.

The city of Rio itself will be considered a laboratory from and upon which to sample and synthesize specific spatial qualities, providing an array of strategies to be tested and remixed along, within, above and below the massive spine that is Avenida Brasil. RIO REMIX will focus on so-called blind spots along the avenue as a way to initiate urban-spatial synergies at large scales of potential impact. How can this infrastructure provide more than just a means of transport? What are the spatial bonuses and insights which could trigger new forms of exchange between those utilizing this avenue on a daily basis? What are the operational techniques upon which certain spatial samples could be synthesized and remixed towards positive demonstrations of engagement?

Immersing into multiple versions of Rioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vibrant atmosphere, gaining invaluable insight from its rich cultural, spatial, material and social mix, the project focused on the platform which deals with both celebration and emergency. This project explores how the transformation between celebration and emergency forms in architectural level. By designing different scenarios, such as flooding shelter, emergency warehouse, nightclub and carnival stage, I tried to illustrate how Urban Rio Remix operates in a wide range of different situations.

Emergency Warehouse

Night Club

Dilijan Dialogue

Academia: Columbia University Year: 2012 Fall Site: Dilijan, Armenia Critic: Markus Dochantschi In collaboration with Fan Wu Software Use: Rhino, Grasshopper, 3ds Max, Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD Vray for Rhino/Max

Individual

Group

Party

Bilateral

Trilateral

Multilateral

Start with the scales of dialogues....

Armenia, a landlocked country, remains acrimony conflict with its neighborhoods (Azerbaijan and Turkey) these years. It basically relies on Russia in political and economic affairs. Economic shocks and international conflicts are two main obstacles of the country’s progress. Dialogue could be a method to ameliorate this plight and Dilijan could be a place to make “dialogue” happen. In our argument, a dialogue place is a neutral, independent system, which has nothing to do with surrounding factors. It allows people to concentrate on reaching mutual agreement.

Micro Micro Dialogue Dialogue

Prototypes of Dialogue

We selected four scenarios to analyze the content of dialogue. They are, the historic hand-shaking between Palestineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leader Arafat and Israel Leader Rabin, a scene in the movie <tinker, tailor, soldier, spy>, two persons in the gallery and a message are being passed to President Bush. We try to analyze and diagram how these different types of dialogue operate.

Dialogue Dialogue with Mediator with Mediator Dialogue with Mediator

Face-to-face Face-to-face DialogueDialogue OstensibleOstensible Focus Focus

Real FocusReal Focus

Message Message

Face-to-face Dialogue Face-to-face Dialogue

OstensibleOstensible Focus Focus

Ostensible Focus Ostensible Focus

Real FocusReal Focus

Real Focus Real Focus

Message Message

Withdraw Withdraw

Indirect Dialogue Indirect Dialogue Indirect Dialogue

Message Passing Message Passing Ostensible Focus Real Focus Message Passing Face-to-face Dialogue Ostensible Focus Real Focus

Ostensible Focus Ostensible Focus

Real Focus Real Focus

Message Message

Withdraw Withdraw

Message Message

Withdraw Withdraw

Ideology

Urban Context

Corruption

Political System

Independent System

Economy

Public Expression

Culture

A Independent System

Religion

In our argument, dialogue center is a place of holding many formal and informal conversations. It provides the opportunity of communication. It helps to bring resource to Armenia. But one thing should be noticed-Armenia has a very sensitive relationship with its neighboring countries. Simply inviting the neighbors to come to Armenia to make dialogue is not that easy. So our idea is to diminish the vernacular characteristic of this dialogue center. We tried to make it as an independent system. This system should have no relationship with the urban context, including the ideology,economical situation, political system, religion belief,etc. It is just like an alien machine, operating in its own way.

Hotel & Lecture Hall

Dialogue Configuration

Assembly Hall & Central Room

Media Center

Museum & Archive NGO & Office

Program Distribution

The core part in the dialogue center is a huge assembly hall for big conference and another huge room, but just for two leaders. Besides these two conversation space, we decided to design a dialogue configuration which contained different types of dialogue space. We tried to reduce the scenarios we have studied before to architectural space. Since this building is an independent system, other supporting program is necessary. Like museum and archive, they provide the documentation support on conference. NGO and hotel are also essential parts for supporting the dialogue.

The Principle of Organization -- Dialogue Density

We need to find a principle or element as the criterion to organize such a huge building. Finally we decided that â&#x20AC;&#x153;dialogue itself controls the buildingâ&#x20AC;?. We picked the density of dialogue as the key element. In the middle point the building, the density is highest, then reduces gradually.

Assembly Hall Central Room Assembly Hall Central Room AssemblyAssembly Hall & Central Room Hall

Central Room

Dialogue Configuration Dialogue Configuration Dialogue

Configuration Dialogue Configuration

Dialogue Configuration Dialogue Configuration Dialogue

Configuration Dialogue Configuration

Hotel & Lecture Hotel & Lecture

Hotel & Lecture

Dialogue Density

M ch n 00 1,5 055 I 59, 48 M 1,889 Inch

10 3, 0 M 93 7 In ch

Armenia, formerly part of the Soviet Union, is an independent and democratic nation with a rich ancient and historic cultural heritage. Today it is operating as a country within many political and economic constrains; being a Christian state it is surrounded on two sides by predominantly Muslim countries: Turkey and Azerbaijan. Having no political relationship with neighboring Turkey (a large economy in the region) it relies heavily on investment from Armenians abroad. Due to the First World War and massacres of Armenians during the Ottoman Empire only 3.3 million Armenians live in Armenia, leaving some 7 million in Diasporas. Currently ranked as a developing economy, the country also benefit from different international investment and trade agreements.

Dialogue Configuration Media Center NGO & Office

Entrance & Security Museum & Archive Hotel & Lecture

Assembly Hall &

Circulation

Dialogue Configuration Media Center NGO & Office 52

Dialogue Configuration Media Center NGO & Office

Entrance & Security Museum & Archive Hotel & Lecture

& Central Room

Dialogue Configuration Media Center NGO & Office 53

Section A-A

B A

B A B

Floor Plan at Level A-A

Floor Plan at Level B-B

Section B-B

Lecture Hall

Museum & Archive

Platform

Archive

Landscape

Armenia is in the process of strengthening its economic position leading to large developments in its capital city, Yerevan. Meanwhile, the picturesque city of Dilijan is facing its biggest development growth in centuries. Known to Armenians as a resort, the historic city of Delijian is about to develop into Armeniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new financial capital. Armenian Officials are anticipating moving much of the Central Bank to Dilijan in 2013.

A Specific Configuration for Dialogue In the dialogue configuration, we tried to reduce the scenarios we studied before. By transforming previous diagrams to architectural space layouts, we applied different types of conversations to different spaces. There is no clear floor in the configuration. All the rooms locate in different levels. Some rooms are quite open, some are quite private. The configuration is just like a machine, operating in its own way.

Face-to-face Dialogue

Indirect Dialogue

Confrontation

Dialogue with Mediator

Soft Division

Academia: Columbia University Year: 2012 Summer Site: Brooklyn, New York Critics: Johanna Meyer-Grohbr端gge, Sam Chermayeff Individual Work Software Use: Rhino, Vray for Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD

Conventional plans have clear boundary between people and space, and also divide public and private stiffly.

Complete open space provides the flexibility of space, but does not have private space.

Space along curve have a blurred feeling between space, and people can expand and shrink his area flexibility.

The studio attempts to take on such a project for New York as the final objective. The means to that objective include, but are not limited to, the understanding and documentation of previous forms of shared building. We propose in response a flexible architecture and flexible comfort zone. We think about the ways in which we can vary the controllability of architecture. The line between, ours, yours, and theirs can move, blur, or go away entirely. In so doing we can expand spaces and begin to consider our actual needs, which more often than not concern the people around us. The program must be primarily living though we may also include commercial or retail functions, all of which must at least in part serve the living. We suggest a diversity of unit types and potential tenants, one of which must speculatively be the architect his or herself.

Private

Private Shared

Public

Private

Public

Private A Shared Public

Private

Private A Public Private B

Shared Private B

Tacit Agreement Interruption

Unlike the normal straight walls, curve walls provide the sense of gradual change. Public zone and private zone are not defined clearly. People are negotiating public and private along the curve walls.

In the first stage of research, I explored the potential of curve. The matrix below shows how curve makes difference in different scales or with different curvatures. I selected several situations for further study.

Based on the selected situations, I started to test the relationship between curve wall and furnitures. The chart below can be seen as a toolbox for curve placement.

This studio got inspiration from our critics' experience in Moriyama House. We discussed about private and public. Our socio economic position and general desire to be grownups fosters all kinds of assumptions that make living with porous boundaries seem difficult but in Berlin and New York among many other places, we find conditions that differ greatly from what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d known in previous generations. We are more adaptable. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re from a generation that has shared many houses already. New opportunities for virtual connectivity wildly outstrip new opportunities for physical proximity. We need this choice. Architecture can function this way, offering possibilities rather than closures. Now, more than ever, we seek architecture that offers connections and softens divisions. The Internet (where one is in fact alone) is the new public and the square is the new private. It is the perfect moment to suggest that architecture can be both. We propose in response a flexible architecture and flexible comfort zone. We think about the ways in which we can vary the controllability of architecture. The line between, ours, yours, and theirs can move, blur, or go away entirely. In so doing we can expand spaces and begin to consider our actual needs, which more often than not concern the people around us. With the creation of an architectural language that opens up to an outside we can also rethink our relation to the elements, which, like people, need to be mitigated but not pushed away entirely. We must enjoy the friction between us.

private C2

public C private C1

private B2

private A2

public B

public A private A1 private B1

Second Floor Plan 1:100

Second Floor Plan

private B3

private A3

private B2 private A2

public B

private A1 public A

private B1

Third Floor Plan 1:100

Third Floor Plan

Swarm Intelligence

Academia: Columbia University Year: 2012 Fall Visual Studies Course Critic: Roland Snooks In Collaboration with Xinran Ma, Han Zhang and Sepideh Khazaei Software Use: Processing, Rhino, Maya, Adobe Creative Suite

class agent { Vec3D pos; Vec3D accSeek = new Vec3D(); Vec3D vel; float rangeOfVis; float maxVel; float maxForce; int sz; ArrayList trace; int dddd;

Vec3D sep Vec3D Vec3D Vec3D 1));

agent(Vec3D p, Vec3D v, int s) { pos = p.copy(); vel = v.copy(); rangeOfVis = 40; maxVel = 6; maxForce = 6; sz = s; trace = new ArrayList(); } void update() { int d = density(agentPopulation, rangeOfVis); if (frameCount%1==0 && trace.size() < 50) { trace.add(new trail(pos, d*2, d)); } if (d < 2) { agentTemp.add(new agent(pos.add(new Vec3D(random(-2, 20), random(-1, 1), random(-1, 1))), vel, sz)); } Vec3D acc = new Vec3D(); Vec3D tCoh = trailCohesion(trailPopulation, rangeOfVis); Vec3D ali = alignment(agentPopulation, rangeOfVis);

}

= separation(agentPopulation, rangeOfVis); coh = cohesion(agentPopulation, rangeOfVis); seekMesh = seekMeshPt(mesh, 10); up = new Vec3D(2, random(-1, 1), random(-1,

tCoh.scaleSelf(0); ali.scaleSelf(1); sep.scaleSelf(0); coh.scaleSelf(0); seekMesh.scaleSelf(10); up.scaleSelf(0); acc.addSelf(tCoh); acc.addSelf(ali); acc.addSelf(sep); acc.addSelf(coh); acc.addSelf(seekMesh); acc.addSelf(up); vel.addSelf(acc); vel.limit(maxVel); pos.addSelf(vel); torusSpace();

int density(ArrayList pop, float range) { int count = 0; for (int i = 0; i < pop.size(); i++) { agent a = (agent) pop.get(i); float d = pos.distanceTo(a.pos); if (d < range) { count++; } } return count; }t

Rethinking BIM

Academia: Columbia University Year: 2013 Spring Visual Studies Course Critics: Mark Green, John Lee In Collaboration with Han Zhang Software Use: Revit, Rhino, Vray for Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite

What is the place of BIM in architecture? Is it only meant for production, or can architectural design benefit from the real time feedback available from Building Information Models. BIM can, and will change the profession, this generation is responsible for how that will be. Not having to deal with professional demands, students will be able to explore BIM strategies which in the work place are not possible. These virtual buildings are requiring that architects be much more aware of all aspects of design.

Inset

Adaptive Point Normalized Point

Inset

BottomWidth= if(R1<R2, R1/10, R2/10) Inset= if(R1<R2, 0.9*Depth/R1, 0.9*Depth/R2) Vset= if(R1<R2, 2*Depth/R1, 2*Depth/R2) PointOffset= if(R1<R2, -R1/30, -R2/30)

BottomWidth

Vset

Depth

R2 BottomWidth PointOffset

Adaptive Aperture

Top view 1" = 20'-0"

Plan 1" = 20'-0"

Rethinking

BIM

Adaptive Aperture

Component

Rethinking

BIM

Qi Chen & Han Zhang Adaptive Aperture

Scale 1" = 20'-0" Component

Qi Chen & Han Zhang

Scale 1" = 20'-0"

www.rethinkingbim.wordpress.com Spring 2013

3/28/2013 11:24:20 PM

Level A

Plan_1 1" = 10'-0"

Level B

Plan_2 1" = 10'-0"

Rethinking

BIM

www.rethinkingbim.wordpress.com Spring 2013

Adaptive Aperture

plan

Qi Chen & Han Zhang

Scale 1" = 10'-0"

1 94

3/28/2013 9:58:42 PM

Elevation1 1" = 50'-0"

Rethinking

BIM

www.rethinkingbim.wordpress.com

Elevation2 1" = 50'-0"

Adaptive Aperture

Techniques of the UltraReal

Academia: Columbia University Year: 2013 Spring Visual Studies Course Critic: Farzin Lotfi-Jam In Collaboration with Jiayuan Liu, Siyuan Ye Software Use: Rhino, 3ds Max, Vray for Max Adobe Creative Suite

Over the past two decades, advances in hardware and software have liberated the computer generated image from the realm of highly specialized visualization companies into broader public use. Many different fields employ digital modeling and rendering techniques, producing content which communicates, captivates and sometimes convinces their target audiences. These advances in technology and a broader dissemination of technical knowledge have meant that these tools are widely used within the architectural discipline. The difficulty of digitally replicating reality â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the bouncing of light, the softness of shadow, the scattering of rays â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is no longer a technical or epistemological problem. There is an abundant body of literature and tools that allow for efficient representations of the external physical world. So why do so many renderings look the same? Why is representing an external reality more important than an internal reality? Why are commonly-used techniques and accepted norms resulting in a homogenous body of aesthetically similar and conceptually disengaged imagery? It is time to reassess the rendering and all associated techniques and frameworks.

The Cliche of Rendering

100

Imaginary Panorama

101

102

Beyond Prototype

Academia: Columbia University Year: 2013 Spring Visual Studies Course Critic: Jason Ivaliotis In Collaboration with Fan Wu, Xinran Ma, Han Zhang and Li Yang Software Use: Rhino, Grasshopper, RhinoCAM, Vray for Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite Hardware Use: Shop Tools, CNC Milling and Bending Machine

103

2nd Iteration

1st Iteration

Mountain Cut

Folded Paper Study

Process

Mountain

1st Iteration

2nd Iteration

Mountain

Valley Cut

Cut

Mountain Mountain Valley

Valley Cut

1. Fold

Mountain Valley Cut

104

Valley Cut

4th Iteration

Mountain Valley Cut

3rd Mountain Iteration

4th Iteration Mountain

Valley

Cut

Mountain Cut Vally

Mountain Valley Cut

2.Cut

. Cut

3. Inverse

3.Cut

Mountain

4. Cut

4.Glue

5. Glue

Valley Cut

105

Folded Paper Model

106

107

Chipboard Sketch Model

108

109

Tessellation Strategy

110

111

112

113

Scales Potential

114

115

116

Massive Loci

Academia: HUST Year: 2010 Spring Site: Wuhan, China Critics: Mei Jiang Individual Work Software Use: Sketchup, 3ds Max, Vray for Max Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD

117

There is a main road in the west of the site, and a pedestrian commercial r o a d l i e s i n t h e n o r t h o f i t . Tr a f f i c condition is complicated, and a building is required to guide the human flow. There are many high-rise building around the site, so the living area should be high enough to receive sun light.

Urban Fabric

High-rise

Region Program

Mid-rise

MEDIA

RECORDING CINEMA

CINEMA

ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT GYM GYM

COMMERCIAL

118

VIDEO GAMES

Dwelling

Office Building Commercial

Low-rise

RECORDING STUDIO STUDIO

GALLARYART

GALLARY

STUDIO

Organization

Office Area Commercial

Retail

ART MEDIA STUDIO LAB

MEDIA LAB

TABLE TABLE BOOK SHOPSHOP HAIR SALON BOOK HAIR SALON GAMES GAMES HOT POT HOT POT

BRAND BRAND STORE

VIDEO GAMES

STORE

CAFE RESTAURANT

CAFE

RESTAURANT

TEA HOUSE

CAFE

TEA HOUSE

CAFE

City Context

Community Neighborhood

Influence

The site is surrounded by three main roads, and human flow come from every direction.

Traditianal mixing form would prevent people from entering the site.

Elevate the bottom to make people pass through.

Slope the ground to attract people to get into the ground square

Escalators on ground can transport people to commercial part quickly Residents' direct path separates from tourists' unpredictable path.

119

120

Residential Layer

Transition Layer

Vertical Traffic

Roof Layer

Media Layer

Entertainment Layer

Commercial Layer

Ground Layer

121

122

123

Commercial Level Plan (3.00m)

Media Level Plan (11.40m)

1 1

2 3

5 4

124

Axon of Transition Layer

Traffic space linking with commercial part Traffic space linking with living part

Patio

Sports field

Transition layer is not only a construction element which seperate the residential area and commercial area, it provides the community residents with a isolated boundry which blocks the noise and massive population from the commercial part, and its huge roof is a platform for residents to take activities in their own space.

125

126

127

128

129

130

Tower of View

Academia: HUST Year: 2010 Fall Site: Wuhan, China Critics: Xiaohu Liu Individual Work Software Use: Sketchup, 3ds Max, Vray for Max Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD

131

Roof Connecting to Platform

Function Floor

Opened Square

Underground Storage

Normal high buildings are always glass boxes that constriain people in limited space, cutting the relationship with outdoors. People in this kind of building seldom look out and people who are out of the building never know what happen inside. This scene should not happen in this project because of the particular beautiful views around the site. The high-rise should be a important place for people to get together, appreciating the wonderful life. My strategy is to create a huge viewing finder, not only exsits on ground level, but also accomplies with the high-rise. People can experience different perspectives of the lacking view at different altitudes. To encourage more people to appreciate the lake, I proposed two motorways and one bikeways to cross the building.

132

133

134

135

136

137

138

139