01. from garden to plate the regrown rooftop
02. metamorphic metrofoyer cooperative housing
03. joined in clandestine characteristics of materials
04. expanded and compacted inhabiting the grid
05. atomic approach to minimal housing
06. reimagined revitalization restoration and renewal of traditional dwellings
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qianlong@usc.edu
Located at 801 S Broadway, this adaptive reuse project is a rooftop urban farm that features an organic, feathery form that is both striking and functional. The structure is designed with glulam and steel frame with custom curved double glazing systems. The project brings an urban agriculture space in the heart of DLTA’s Historic Core.
BROADWAY ELEVATION
S HILL STREET ELEVATION
8TH STREET ELEVATION
The primary ambition of the housing cooperative “Oasis” is to equip and support demographic groups viewed as undesirable in a capitalist city like Los Angeles. This coop will serve as a metaphorical Oasis, where residents are provided with a lush habitat of resources and support in the midst of a desert with odds against them. At Oasis, (1) youth will be provided with basic needs and guided towards career development, encouraging a confident transition to adulthood; (2) the elderly, particularly those without family or the financial capacity to hire a caretaker, will live alongside caretakers and support networks; and (3)
trained caretakers and mentors for youth will participate in our coop along with their families. Inspired by the “metrofoyer” concept, supporting lifestyle and autonomy in an intergenerational cooperative housing, the ground floor intends to allocate programming for retail, groceries, cafes, and gathering spaces for financial literacy workshops and counseling meetings, with the upper floors dedicated to harmonious living. Instead of segregating each group into homogeneous housing models, a heterogeneous housing model will encourage intergenerational relationships and diverse interactions.
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
SECOND
The natural slopes of the desert dunes influenced the topography of both the ground floor and the roof. The striated levels, guided by the natural pathways of pedestrian traffic in the floor plans, introduce a metamorphic quality in both elevation and section. The creation of nine distinct pods provides each section with a sense of community and a shared space for kitchens, study areas, congregation, and recreation. The back facade was designed to follow the sweeping organic movement from the ground floor, connecting the striated layers and serving as another means of bringing light and movement into the building.
By studying joinery and exploring the strategies and behaviors in which materials come together, I chose “clandestine” as the adjective describing the characteristics elicited by the joints. Utilizing the sampo-gumi-shikuchi joint as a precedent and design
SAMPO-GUMI-SHIKUCHI JOINT
starting point, the hardware-free joints I created became the driving design force behind every joinery project which included a reading cube, scaled up to a reading room, and then to a collection and public space. Each of the joints I designed serves a specific
function. The first reimagined joint is used for cross intersections or corners, and the second reimagined joint is for linear joint connection points. Observing the model from the outside, it is evident that the joint is discreetly joined in a clandestine manner.
REIMAGINED JOINT 02
REIMAGINED JOINTS, PHYSICAL MODEL
We scaled up to a reading room at the Los Angeles Historical Park in Chinatown, just 20 minutes from USC. I took the approach of creating a reading room accessible for both owners and dogs. A playful structure with three floors allows for elevated views of the park or a secluded area where readers can browse through the collection and let their dogs off-leash. The open scaffolding enables outsiders to peer inside and watch the dogs.
The final project, the heart of the park, continues to utilize joinery, but this time as a supporting scaffolding for the surrounding curtain wall. The purpose of this project is to connect the park’s paths or veins and inspire people to visit the heart of the park to sit down in the theater, listen to a seminar, do some work, browse for books, or even take a bathroom break. Like a box of chocolates, each roof geometry under it has a specific program.
This project is an investigation into transitioning between expanded and compacted living. Completed in collaboration with a partner over Zoom during Covid-19, the working floor plan was developed into a sprawling mat building by utilizing the overarching grid to deviate spaces from random fragments. These fragments culminated into an unknown result, providing a variety of spaces for work, play, and rest. This project also allows for future vertical extensions from the
withstanding mat building. The transition from a universal grid to a contained volume expands upward, creating a difference of articulation in both the plan and section. Together, this project is composed of an experiment in figural composition, where randomness within the grid is contrasted by strictly formulated geometries. These qualities result in spaces of different shapes and heights, influencing unique ways of inhabitation and programming for the project.
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
PHYSICAL MODEL | 15” X 36”
ATOMIC is a proposal for a modular emergency housing utilizing a geometric configuration of prefabricated modular components, allowing for a quick and efficient construction in urgency. By breaking down the Benzene molecule as a symbol and extracting elements to rouse and initiate the cellular sprawling nature for the designed single and family units, an organic and spontaneous arrangement surfaces, creating a nestled and vibrant community.
With the combination of recycled ashcrete walls, wood and aluminum framing system for the prefab triangular skylights, ATOMIC allows for brisk and straight forward assembly. By enabling adjustable roofs with PV panels and adding on the permeable perforated cork board, it opens up user autonomy and freedom to adjust the conditions that will allow for more light, electricity, air, or shade, depending on each individual’s preferences.
WOOD FOR MOVABLE
ALLOWS FOR PASSIVE COOLING THE DAYTIME, AS WELL AS SOURCE OF CONSTANT 3
PREFAB ASHCRETE SUPPORT
SERVES AS SUPPORT FOR ROOF STRUCTURE AND
BUILT-IN BED & STORAGE
PERMEABLE CORK DOOR
ADAPTABILITY WITH TIME OF DAY 4
SERVES AS A PERMEABLE SOURCE OF SHADE SPACE DURING THE DAY, HOLES ALLOW COOLING BUT KEEP LIGHT OUT
SERVES AS MAIN STRUCTURE, GREENER ALTERNATIVE TO CAST CONCRETE WALLS
Hong Kong Tong Lau Historical Shophouses
We embarked on a investigative study abroad journey where global collaboration met cultural preservation. In partnership with the University of Hong Kong, our team delved into the heart of Hong Kong, working on the revitalization of traditional shophouses, known as “tong lau.” We modeled and drew the shophouse on 207 Des Voeux Road W in Sai Ying Pun. The most recent renovation occurred in February 2023, and the building is now a Grade II Historical Building. By blending Hong Kong’s unique urban heritage with innovative ways to breathe new life
into these iconic structures, we achieved modern functionality with historical charm.
We witnessed a unique primary source in person and engaged with local communities to implement architectural innovation as well as cultural preservation through adaptive reuse, mitigating disruption to the built environment of both Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City. Tradition and modernity converged to shape the future of urban living.
original
rendering
rendering
section oblique diagram
Vietnamese KTT
Transitioning to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, our collaboration with the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City (UAH) focused on the renewal of social housing projects, known as “KTTs.” Our USC team worked with Lam, Mẫn, Thai, Đông Huyền (UAH). Our KTT was located at Chung cư 42 Tôn Thất Thiệp in District 1. By engaging with the dynamic and evolving urban landscape of Ho Chi Minh City and engaging with Vietnamese locals, we worked towards implementing staggered micro-dwelling units, contributing to the enhancement of living conditions such as increased cross ventilation, better accessibility, and fostering a sense of community.
21st Century Museum, Kanazawa Massing Diagram: Voids & Additions
21st Century Museum, Kanazawa Entrance Points
The Vibes, Ho Chi Minh City Passive Design & Facade Analysis
https://qianlong.myportfolio.com
THE TREE HUGGER SIDE TABLE furniture design & materials project rhino, cnc router, and 4x8 plywood used
personal recipe collection html & css used
concert hub for local concerts around USC html, css, and js used
THE SERENE CREW NECK SWEATER innovative fabric project promoting sustainability by using clothing scraps jersey knit and french terry fabrics used
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