Design for People_By Nubes Chen by nubeschen

DESIGN FOR PEOPLE NUBES

CHEN

ABOUT THE PORTFOLIO

Cities are designed for people and shaped by people. With community as a central element of the design approach, the selected projects demonstrate the possibilities of community-based planning, design, and conservation and showcase urban design as a solution to urban problems.

The portfolio is a combination of academic, work, and social advocacy projects. The projects explore urban solutions from different perspectives, from conceptual design to actual practices. The portfolio also shows how local government, developers, and the community should work together to achieve economic and social sustainability.

PROGRAMS USED

Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)

ArcGIS (Pro, Online, StoryMaps, Experience Builder)

SketchUp

Microsoft Excel (Data Modeling) AutoCAD Rhino

WHOM DO WE PLAN FOR?

PROJECT: PICO RIVERA SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE

PROJECT: LA CHINATOWN BROADWAY PLACEKEEPING PROJECT

HOW TO WORK TOGETHER

PROJECT: ELYRIA CANYON PARK COMMUNITY CO-DESIGN PROJECT

WHAT IS THE PERSONALITY

PROJECT: THE EDGY QUARTER IN LA LITTLE TOKYO

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

PROJECT 1: YUZI PARK (GUILIN, CHINA)

PROJECT 2: CULTURAL GOLDEN TRIANGLE DISTRICT (BEIJING, CHINA)

WHOM DO WE PLAN FOR?

PROJECT: PICO RIVERA SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, LOS ANGELES

Each urban project changes the social fabric and economic dynamics of the existing community. Understanding the expectations and concerns of community members from the past, present, and future is essentially important to managing the changes of the community.

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

Impacted by flooding issues, the City of Pico Rivera has to relocate the historic Sports Arena and a new Sports and Entertainment District is planned at an existing industrial center which will completely repurpose the area. The main challenge is to get the support of industrial players and build a new community.

The project delivers a collaborative planning proposal that intends to smoothly transition the current economy, revive the community memories, and connect Pico Rivera to a broader community.

THE KEY PRINCIPLES ARE:

• Adopt a locally sensitive plan

• Encourage collaboration with multiple stakeholders

PROJECT TYPE: School Capstone Individual Project - 2024

(Client: City of Pico Rivera)

WHO IS THE

GOAL 1: Amplify the cultural impact of Pico Rivera Sports Arena and build a regional cultural and entertainment hub through unique cultural expression.

1.REGIONAL

Data Source: U.S. Census Data 2022

2.PICO RIVERA

WHAT DO HISTORIC PHOTOS TELL US ABOUT PICO RIVERA’S CULTURE?

Data Source: 453 historic photos that the community posted on Facebook

GOAL 2: Strengthen community identity and diversify public life through community-led programming.

GOAL 3: Transition industrial businesses to creativity-driven economy with collaborative planning and locally sensitive phasing plan.

COMMUNITY?

3. PROJECT SITE

COLLABORATIVE PLANNING

Phase I Phase II

Phase III

Pico Rivera lovers

Pico Rivera community

Public education: “how much do you know about flooding”

Survey: Love Notes to Pico Rivera!

Visioning: “How do you want to use the space?”

Industrial players

Scope

Strategy

Roof-sharing Program

Parking Lots Activation Program

Programming: Bimonthly event calendar

Mixed-use Industrial Incubation Program

GROUND-TO-ROOF INTERVENTION

SPACE ACTIVATION

ROOF-TO-GROUND DEVELOPMENT

Small Medium Large

PLACEMAKING

Small Medium Large

THE CALL OF RIPPLES

• Cultural identity: the urban design concept is a combination of the cultural symbols like Mariachi plaza and Pico Rivera Memorial Sports Arena, and ripples of river which Pico Rivera has a unique bond with.

• Economic sustainability: the project will keep 65% of the job on site and ensure smooth economic transition by adapting current businesses

LEGEND Green Space

Key Project Recreational Space

Potential Partners

PROGRAMMING Jan - Feb Mar - Apr May - Jun

Plant The Seeds Seasonal Garden Mural Art Installment Artistic Love to Pico Rivera Let’s Get Moving Biking Skating Dancing

Harvest Fest Farmers Market PROGRAMMING CALENDAR Jul - Aug Sept - Oct Nov - Dec

City of Stars Camping Movie Fiesta Our Recipes, Our Stories Open Kitchen Open-mic

WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE

PROJECT: LA CHINATOWN BROADWAY PLACEKEEPING PROJECT, LOS ANGELES

Every place has its community, and every community has their language. While planning policies define the norms of urban design, communities have different definitions of “clean” and “chaotic”, “safe” and “dangerous”, “historic” and “modern”. Every project requires a unique design dictionary.

PROJECT PROFILE:

Los Angeles’s Chinatown is a home for various ethnic communities, many of whom face the challenges of economic downturn and gentrification. The fragmentation of the communities make collective efforts harder.

With a year-long engagement with the community, the project delivered a design advocacy proposal aimed to advocate a culturally sensitive development of the historic commercial corridor to augment the character of LA Chinatown, encourage community interaction, and enhance the economic and social sustainability.

THE KEY PRINCIPLES ARE:

• Celebrate the shared culture and build solidarity

• Alleviate the tension between preservation and development

PROJECT TYPE: Design Advocacy Project - 2023

(Partner: Chinatown Community for Equitable Development )

NOT JUST CHINESE1

NOT JUST STOREFRONTS2

SETTLE DOWN HERE... AT BROADWAY

Mai Tu is a 34-year-long local jeweler in Chinatown.

In 1960s, Mai and her family escape from China to Vietnam

In 1978, Mai and her family got on a refuge boat to escape the political persecution.

THE PEOPLE AND A STORY OF

1870 1930 1960 1980 1990 2000

Food Shop Services East Asian 13% Southeast Asian 20% Chinese 60% Vendor 70% Stores 30%

THEY

Data Source: 1.Census Bureau 2020; 2&3.Chinatown Community for Equitable Development; 3&4. Community groundtruthing

AND BROADWAY

HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY PERCEIVE THE SPACE?3

The boat capsized but Mai got rescued and shipped to Norway and her parents to Malaysia.

“I like them. I usually go there for...”

HOW ACTIVE ARE THESE SPACES OVER A DAY?4

In 1983, they reunioned in LA Chinatown and Mai started her own jewelry business in 1990

In 2020, Mai got evicted to Dynasty Center. Since then Mai becomes an community activist and contually fights against gentrification in Chinatown

RESILIENCE

GO “STREET-STROLLING”

ALLEY MAKING DEVELOPMENT

Alley is an important part of Asian culture. Traditionally, shopping in Asia always happens on streets and alleys. Even to today, Chinese people still call shopping as “street-strolling”

Preserving and creating more alleys is the key to an experience-based development that offers a unique and authentic Chinatown vibe. There are a lot of potential alleys along Broadway.

Therefore, the plan focuses on the “street-strolling” experience and suggests connecting the main street and cross streets with indoor and outdoor alleys. Preservation and new development should be based on the street and alley net work to support a well-connected street life.

ALLEY MAKING STRATEGY

MAIN STREET CROSS STREETS

STREETS

MAIN STREET

CROSS STREETS

ALLEYS

PLANNING TOOL: CULTURAL DISTRICT

BEFORE AFTER

FROM DAILY TO CEREMONIAL

STREET ACTIVATION

ALLEY-MAKING DEVELOPMENT-SMALL

BEFORE AFTER PLANNING TOOL: CULTURAL DISTRICT

ALLEY-MAKING DEVELOPMENT-MEDIUM

SOCIAL TOOL: BUSINESS COOPERATIVE

BEFORE AFTER

ALLEY-MAKING DEVELOPMENT-LARGE

SOCIAL TOOL: COMMUNITY LAND TRUST

BEFORE AFTER

HOW TO WORK TOGETHER

PROJECT: ELYRIA CANYON PARK COMMUNITY CO-DESIGN PROJECT, LOS ANGELES

The community always has the most knowledge of the site and often time knows the best what is needed in a project. Therefore, the best way of design is working with the experts.

PROJECT PROFILE:

Elyria Canyon is a hidden park surrounded by neighborhoods of various income levels and ethnic backgrounds. Community Nature Connection (CNC), a local organization operates the park and strives to increase public access to the park by working with the underserved communities.

In the project, the design team worked with the community to identify the main focus of the operation of the park, design the park, and develop CNC volunteers’ capacity of collaborative design and community engagement. A final design manual was delivered to CNC for fundraising and implementation.

THE KEY PRINCIPLES ARE:

• Mutual learning between project team and the community

• Creative engagement and collaborative design methods

PROJECT TYPE: School Project for Community-based Planning, Design, and Conservation-2023 (Partner: Community Nature Connection)

C A 2 E lys a n P a k Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, Microsoft, NO BUS ACCESS P E ys ia n P a rk Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, Microsoft, Facebook, Inc. and its affiliates, Esri Community Maps contributors, Map layer by Esri CYPRESSMTWASHINGTON PARK WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SITE? NO BUS SERVICES IN ONE MILE UNFRIENDLY ENTRY POINTS SEASONAL BIOSWALE SOCIAL SEGREGATION COGNITIVE MAP ASSOCIATION WITH THE PARK DESIGNERS THE COMMUNITY V.S. LET’S DESIGN Safe Cool Favorite Least favorite Hot Dangerous Entrance Parking Blocked entrance Closed entrance P WORKSHOP 1 PRIORITIES Know About Design Gathering Space Native Garden Installment Map Your Senses What Do You Want

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR THE SITE?

WOOD AMPHITHEATER

STONE AMPHITHEATER

SEMI-ENCLOSED GARDEN NATURAL GARDEN

FEATURE

WOOD FEATURE WATER

DESIGN

2 PRIORITIES Accessible Natural Playful Welcome to Design Buffet Sorry, Budget Cut How to Maintain

DESIGNERS THE COMMUNITY V.S.

TOGETHER WORKSHOP

SITE DESIGN

PARK DESIGN

THE RED BARN

LEGEND DESIGN LIBRARY

Main

Minor

Parking

Low-difficulty trail

Medium-difficulty trail

High-difficulty trail

E E P

entrances Main entrances

entrance

Minor

Recycling

Signage Signage

Recycling Restroom Restroom Mini fountain Water feature Sitting Sitting Recreational Swing

PLANTING LIST

THE RED BARN

WHAT IS THE PERSONALITY

PROJECT: THE EDGY QUARTER IN LITTLE TOKYO, LOS ANGELES

Places have their own personalities and attract their own audience. Sometimes the best way to revitalize a place is to discover and augment its character. Even features commonly assumed undesirable have their value, attractiveness, and power.

PROJECT PROFILE:

The project is located at the edge of the historic Little Tokyo, neighboring Old Chinatown, Art District, and Boyle Heights. While the site has long born a negative tag of darkness, it has also offered a shelter for people who dance in the dark.

Darkness and light, they always coexist. The project is intended to create a secret celebration venue for people who see the shadow in the light and who chase light in the darkness.

THE KEY PRINCIPLES ARE:

• Maintain the duality of day and night, “good” and “evil”

• Encourage the fusion of immigration roots and progressive culture

PROJECT TYPE: School Project for Design Skills for Urban Planning - 2024

20’ 20’ 54’ 30’ 84’ 60’ 68’

SITE PLAN SECTION

THE EDGY QUARTER FOR THE NIGHT-BLOOMING FLOWERS

90’ 160’ 60’ 30’ 15’

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

PROJECT 1: YUZI PARK, GUILIN, CHINA

PROJECT 2: CULTURAL GOLDEN TRIANGLE DISTRICT, BEIJING, CHINA

How can the project contribute to employment? How profitable the project is? How can the project be implemented and operated in the long run? Ultimately, we need to think about it practically.

PROJECT 1 PROFILE:

Yuzi Park is an undeveloped natural resort. After years’ of investment into local art with little return, the client needed to capitalize the natural and art resources and resume the tourism of Guilin city.

The project aims to propose a plan that makes the site marketable and a new cultural landmark of Guilin. The final report was approved by the City.

PROJECT TYPE: Work Project - 2022 (Client: Yuzi Park, Guilin City)

PROJECT 2 PROFILE:

Golden Triangle District is the cultural center of Beijing. The substantially high density of historic resources and outdated amenities make the area lag behind in economic vibrancy. The project aims to transform the cultural advantage of the area into economic value. The strategy is to deeply work with multiple stakeholders and create economic opportunities by innovating planning tools and operation models while maintaining the historic essence. The final report was approved by the client and several proposed projects were implemented.

PROJECT TYPE: Work Project - 2018 (Client: Beijing City)

YUZI PARK

Guilin

Liuzhou

Nanning

Foshan

Dongguan

Changsha

Chengdu

Guangzhou Shenzhen

Zhongshan Beijing Shanghai

Tianjin

Chongqing

Wuhan

Nanjing

Suzhou

Hangzhou Ningbo

Market Size 3M 4M 2M 1M Market Accessibility High Low

Provincial Market Top-tier Market New Top-tier Market 11% 29% 34% 26%

One-day Trip ~25% Market Sizing &

~45% ~10% ~20% Short Stay of 2 to 3 days Long Stay of 3-5 days Holiday Residence 11% 36% 21% 32% 6% 36% 32% 26% Tickets Revenues Revenues Estimation: Hotel & Residence Revenues Estimation: Customer Estimation: 2025: 300M RMB/Year 2030: 1B RMB/Year 2035: 1.4B RMB/Year Accomodation Revenues Commercial Revenues Recreational Revenues 2035 2030 2025 Phase 485596 435956 145635 A. Hotel Customers 676453 563711 73476 B. Holiday Residents 1,162,049 999,667 219111 Overnight Customers 837,951 500333 380111 One- day Trip Customers 2035 2030 2025 Accommodation Projects Revenues Sales Price Revenues Sales Price Revenues Sales Price Units Project 35773650 19710 3630 30714750 18615 3300 26,280,000 17520 3000 30 Hot Spring Hotel 107320950 147825 1452 91060200 137970 1320 76,869,000 128115 1200 270 Holiday Hotel 13875840 17520 1584 11037600 15330 1440 30 Bugua House 19272000 29200 1320 15330000 25550 1200 50 Campsite 412,386,110 485596 339,616,331 435956 103,149,000 145635 900 Total

Segmentation:

The Land-Campsite

The Forest-Treehouse

The Starry Night-Theater

The Universe-VR Art Show

SPRING VILLAGE STAR VILLAGE SUNLIGHT VILLAGE Hotel Accommodation Health Preservation Recreational Holiday Residence Art Creation FOREST VILLAGE MAIN ENTRANCE STONE VILLAGE THE ARTSY PLAZA MOONLIGHT TOWN SIDE ENTRANCE 2000ft 4000ft 6000ft 14.

15.

Park

10.

11.

12.

13.

16.

17.

18.

11 6 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 18 17 Function Planning: Key Projects:

Family

three

The

Couple Backpacker Nuclear family

Rock Resort Zen Retreat Art Studio Convention Center Moonhill Art Center Moonshadow Lake Moon Life Center

Plan

Hot Spring Village Art Cave

Daydream Fairyland Hidden Tribe Diet Therapy Center Senior Center Native Garden

Tour Design by Tourist Type:

generations

elderly

GOLDEN TRIANGLE DISTRICT

FOUR INITIATIVES

Memory Museum

Collect historic stories and community memories of the area, create public art and community exhibitions, and post stories online.

Economic Revitalization

Develop theater, art trade, and publishing industries. Support the commercialization of art and complete the ecosystem.

Historic Community

Activate community life and enhance “Hutong” experience by creating unique cultural space and supporting traditional artists.

Cultural Consumption

Promote cultural consumption through infusing cultural scenes, co-branding with historic landmarks, and membership program.

Cultural innovation center

Central Axis of Beijing

Cultural Core

Creative Activities The Forbidden City Historic Community Cultural Tour Public Affairs Art Center Theater District Cultural Consumption International Communication Center Cultural Business Incubation Cultural consumption center 5 5 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 500ft 1000ft 1500ft

EXEMPLARY PROJECTS

Working with the city, the project designed several public-private collaboration model, selected suitable partners, and pushed forward the implementation of several exemplary projects.

Concerts in Historic Buildings - “The Echo of History”

Zhizhu Temple is selected as the site for concerts of traditional and fusion music. The concert has now become a iconic cultural experience in Beijing and is held regularly.

Theater Incubation Center- “The Theater Factory”

Nanyang-Gongxiangji is a mixed-use theater incubation center that include a historic theater, studio space, hotel and cultural retails. Renovated and managed by a progressive developer, the project is a now an incubator for innovative plays that inherit and expand the traditional genre.

Community Cultural Center- “The Flow of Hutong Life”

Mei Hou Si Shi is a community center owned by the city and managed by a culture operator. The project innovated a public-private partnership in public space management. The center connects traditional artists and the community and has developed many self-organized art clubs.