MLA Portfolio 2017

The Narrative Media

Portfolio of Qi Wang Selected Work from 2014-2016

Master of Landscape Architecture Candidate ‘18 qi7@upenn.edu 215.713.8091

“Extensive Armature”, Hybrid collage

TABLE OF CONTENTS

01.FLOWS. FILTERS. EDGES

01

02. TANGIBLE HYDROLOGY

10

03. BIG TOWN

22

04. BACK TO RIVER

36

05. URBAN RECONCILING

42

06. GARDEN OF INFINITY

48

07. PLAYSCAPE

50

08. MUTUAL GROUND

52

LARP 501, PENNDESIGN_09/2015

LARP 502, PENNDESIGN_02/2016

LARP 601, PENNDESIGN_09/2016

TONGJI UNIVERSITY_04/2014

TONGJI UNIVERSITY_10/2014

LARP 512, PENNDESIGN_04/2016

LARP 542, PENNDESIGN_04/2016

LARP 602, PENNDESIGN_01/2017

flows & filtration: organization sketch

01.FLOWS. FILTERS. EDGES SITE RE-INTERVENTION FAIRMOUNT PARK, PHILADELPHIA, PA LARP 501, PENNDESIGN Studio Individual Work Advisor: Rebecca Popowsky Date: 09/2015-12/2015

This project explore the process of turning the conceptual reading and intervening of the site into a series of design languages. It starts with the mapping of linear structures around the site. The concept comes from the reading of relationships between Fairmont Park and its urban context in different scales and also the agenda of creating a system to orient people from the neighborhood to the waterfront.

Mapping, diagramming and armature model making are used to interpret the site and understand the need of intervention in a conceptual way. Different ecological processes, especially the process of erosion, are introduced as part of the design approach.

4 scenarios are studied closely in terms of their spatial form, materiality and plantation, translating the conceptual idea of “flows, filters, edges“ into an integrated design language.

Sculptural landform as the threshold of the park

1

MAPPING: flows and filters

2

3

ALLAY TREES

Alley trees are planted as a tool to intervene the flow of vision of people both walking and driving vehicles or trains.

Alley trees along walking trails are perceived as a guidance to extend the path and help people to move through the site. While those across the directions of traffic infrastructures (Kelly Drive and railways) divide space into different slices to construct a sense of depth with more layers of space.

POLITICAL EDGES

Richard T.T. Forman defined edges in the natural systems into two categories: political (administrative) edges and ecological edges. Political edges (those are highly constructed with human interventions) makes the majority of the site’s prime edges.

Representative forms of those edges are those with hard and impermeable materials.

These political edges are spatially narrow, providing little ecological vitality and no chance for a more dynamic natural process.

SITE PLAN

4

N

1’’:200’

WALLS

As a language to reshape and restructure the space, walls are used as a tool to help achieve a series of ecological and spatial designations.

Walls in the existing lawn zone are working as a series of bumpers for the erosion process and help control the speed of it, while it also divide the plain space into various linear or non-linear spaces.

Walls in the triangle area works as both the boundary of the path, leading people to go through this area and exists as part of the new topography.

ECOLOGICAL EDGES

The strategy of the interventions is to activate the potential for a new ecological process or transformation in the site by breaking existing political edges in someway and intrigue the transformation of political edges turning into ecological ones and try to expose this process to people.

Different design languages toward different layers are used for different scenarios. The placement of rocks in the riverfront, the breaking of existing walls and creation of new landforms are all used for this transformation.

5

6

Transects through different spaces

Ecological Process Study

7

01. The erosion process grows together with implemented structures, creating a landscape combining both natural and artificial aesthetics.

03. Concrete structures create different spaces while the eternity of the material represents a contrast with other dynamic elements.

8

02. Structured path above the Wall creates a chance for people to witness the erosion process in a different way.

04. A series of structures turn the marginal space into different subspaces, also help anchor the soil and pockets of habitats.

9

Detail topographic model of waterfront.

10

02. TANGIBLE HYDROLOGY URBAN PARK & WATERFRONT DESIGN PENNSPORT, PHILADELPHIA, PA LARP 502, PENNDESIGN

*exhibited as the LARP Accreditation Exhibition & Penndesign Open

Studio Individual Work Advisor: Karen M’closkey Date: 02/2016-05/2016

This project starts with the study of the hydrological context and its isolation with surrounding neighborhood both physically and culturally. Hydrological issue includes the lack of closeness to the water of current recreational programs along the waterfront and the possible flooding concerns of the site with both storm water and sea level rise scenario.

Then I tried to integrate the study of the historic grids with the idea of drawing people from neighborhood and get people exposed to water and create different relationships between people and water and different experiences along the river. The idea not only brings people to the waterfront, but also brings the water closer to people by manipulating the topography along the river.

A series of cuts into the land allows tidal water to go into the site. Both storm water and tidal water from the river are utilized to create a range of different habitat pockets, along with different projected programs happening along them. The vegetation along with the topography separates different highly programmed waterfront areas, allows them to perform differently and sets a visual buffer between the open fields along the Columbus and the waterfront area with continuous canopy.

The shaping of the cuts into the land is diversified into different landforms with different scale, pattern and materials, allowing the dynamic process of tidal water, the cyclical tidal change, projected flooding and sea level rise, to initial different scenarios along the water. They also support different programs and ecological functions, like beach and terraced tidal marsh that allows people to walk into.

While it allows people to get close to the water, these cuts also invite people to witness the dynamic change of water, the tidal change, flooding by storms and also the gradual rising of water level in a worldwide context.

Compared with the broad landform of the river, those cuts into the land acts as subtle change of the topography, but they celebrate the dynamic process of water and allows people to get exposed to and perceive that process.

Surface Studies with different Materials 11

12

Mapping the Waterfront

history and materiality

isolation

lack of large scale public space

disconnection

13

The study of the historic transformation of urban grid indicates the industrial history of Pennsport and also the change of relationships between people and the water.

The density and variety of different materials along the waterfront and the vitality of different habitats made by them.

14

SITE PLAN

15

Manipulation of topography creates differentiation of experience.

circulation as a system to orient people to approach water through different perspectives.

TRANSECTS

16

01. introduction of historic grid

02. distortion & orientation

03. connection & organization

04. linking neighborhood & water

05. stormwater collection & cutting of waterfront

06. habittas as a linear structure

17

A’

E’ A E

BEACH LOW TIDE

BEACH HIGH TIDE

D’

D

TERRACE/ TIDAL MARSH LOW TIDE

18

TERRACE/ TIDAL MARSH HIGH TIDE

B B’

C

C’

TIDAL MARSH LOW TIDE

TIDAL MARSH HIGH TIDE

SEASONAL CHANGE

Planting design is used as a tool to emphasize the perception of temporal change besides the dynamics of hydrology.

By introducing various deciduous tree and shrub species, plants represent different landscape in different seasons, together with the amazing change of water level.

19

The park, with its waterfront, provides people public spaces with different scale, allowing people to celebrate the water through different programs and events

20

The park also offers people spaces to enjoy a hydrological ecosystem with intimacy and quietness.

21

Setting of the framework through the unique slate land in between two towns.

22

03. BIG TOWN A REDEVELOPMENT MODEL FOR SLATE BELT TOWNS SLATE BELT, PA LARP 601, PENNDESIGN Studio Individual Work Advisor: Ellen Neisis Date: 09/2016-12/2016

Lehigh Valley is projected to have a 30% growth of population in the next 30 years. Now, the majority of growth happens in rural area, consuming farmland and woodland. With the conservation of farmland, development may skip this region unless desirable homes and settings are created.

Existing towns, disconnected by hundreds of quarry holes and slag piles, lack critical mass, outdoor public spaces, amenity and economy to attract and support a larger population. Because of the nature of suburban sprawl, these towns are bypassed with growth.

Slag lands, in between existing towns, are potential to offer new formats of development compounds that takes advantage of existing infrastructures and its unique topography. By interacting with surrounding landscapes, different landscape systems and programs can be supported for both existing and new residents. The setting of those landscape frameworks would help to create series of densified, communal compounds that promote communication and social capital. Under the framework, new compounds can eventually grow to form a network urban structure.

Paper models to explode organization strategies.

23

CHAMPLIAN

APPALLACHIAN TRAIL

MOHAWK

+

ALBANY

BOSTON

HUDSON

+

PROVIDENCE

HARTFORD KITTATINNY

NEW HAVEN

+

Urban Sprawl

NEWBURG

Metropolitan

+

LEHIGH LEBANON

Great Valley

NEW YORK

ALLENTOWN

Valley & Ridge Urbanized Area

+

+

HARRISBURG

PHILADELPHIA

CUMBERLAND

35 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE WITHIN 100 MILES OF SLATE BELT

BALTIMORE

GROWTH OF POPULATION IN LEHIGH VALLEY SHENANDOAH

WASHINGTON

CURRENT POPULATION 644,000

PROJECTED GROWTH 230,000

1%

35.2% IN NEXT 30 YEARS

Lehigh Valley has 1% consistent growth of population

RICHMOND

PROJECTED POPULATION 874,000

Lehigh Valley is projected to have another 35.2%

of population in next 30 years URBANIZATION EXPANSION INgrowth NORTHEAST REGION

NORFOLK

N N

24

0

40

Mile

80

NEW Urbanized Area

1990 40-60% Urbanized

2020 60-80% Urbanized

2050 80-100% Urbanized Data from Regional Plan Association

REGIONAL RESEARCH

LIMITED HOUSING STOCK & CURRENT DIRECTION OF GROWTH 01. Existing housing stock and formats don’t match the need and interests of diversified groups of people.

11% multi-family 5+ units

9% multi-family 2-4 units

23% single family attached

57% single family detached

“ LEHIGH VALLEY HAS LOST 53% OF ITS FARMLAND IN THE PAST CENTURY.”

02.Majoy growth happens in rural area.

GROWTH IN RURAL AREA

87% 2,000 “LEHIGH VALLEY HAS BEEN LOSING ACRES OF OPEN SPACE PER YEAR TO DEVELOPMENT.”

BANGOR

13% GROWTH IN TOWNS

“THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN A SURVEY FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PLANNING ISSUES IS PRESERVING FARMLAND.”

LEHIGH GAP

03. Loss of farmland and woodland.

EASTON *From: assessment report lv food economy final

DECREASING AGRICULTURE 74%

12%

69%

15%

63%

18%

59%

21%

53%

24%

2010 48%

27% SPRAWLING URBANIZATION

1964

BETHELEHEM ALLENTOWN

Low Density Development Medium Density Development High Density Development Agriculture Projected Urban and Suburban Area Agriculture Major Connection

5 3.5

7

10.5

14 Miles

04. growth may skip over this area with the conservation of farmland.

BANGOR

LEHIGH GAP

EASTON

Current Farmland Conservation

BETHELEHEM ALLENTOWN

48% FARMLAND

Low Density Development Medium Density Development High Density Development

21% PRESERVED

Easement Farmland Projected Preserved Farmland Agricultural Security Area Major Connection

25

BIG TOWN

Regional strategies

DISSOLVED TOWNS

EXISTING TOWNS, DISCONNECTED BY HUNDREDS OF QUARRY HOLES AND SLAG PILES, LACK CRITICAL MASS, OUTDOOR PUBLIC SPACES, AMENITY AND ECONOMY TO ATTRACT AND SUPPORT A LARGER POPULATION. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF SUBURBAN SPRAWL, THESE TOWNS ARE BYPASSED WITH GROWTH.

01. Slate industry along slate belt created 5 major towns.

PORTLAND

PEN ARGYL

+

EAST BANGOR

COPPER’S NORTHAMPTON NEW YORK SNOWDEN BANGOR

+

WIND GAP

512

+

NORTH BANGOR BANGOR UNION OLD BANGOR COLUMBIA BANGOR BANGOR ROYAL BANGOR CENTRAL BANGOR’S ECLIPSE cONSOLIDATED SHIMER’S

WEST BANGOR CROMN OLD DORNEY OLD PENNSYLVANIA UNITED STATES DIAMOND WEST ALBION VALLEY NO.5 BANGOR SUPERIOR

BANGOR

Quarry Vein

+

Ponds

Ponds

Ponds

Urban Area

Major Towns

Major Towns

Slate vines and created towns

Closed quarries disconnect towns

02. Quarries closed, deep holes and gated sites separated towns.

QUARRY BAND AS TOWN-CONNECTORS

RECREATIONALLY/ECOLOGICALLY FUNCTIONAL FORESTS

26

Sprawl bypassing these towns

01.Extend greenland from blue mountain & restore slag surface

02.Create Diversified and densified housing formats to accommodate different groups

03.Connect to existing infrastructures & interacting with surrounding landscape

04.Link thickened towns to AP trail, blue mountain and farm country

INTENSIFIED DEVELOPMENT CULTURAL IDENTIFICATION RECREATION SYSTEM

PRODUCTIVE (AGRICULTURE)

27

SITE DECODING

28

TRAIL TO BLUE MOUNTAIN

SOCIAL PLATEFORM

DWELLING

FORESTRY

EAST BANGOR

BANGOR

NURSERY

DWELLING

AGRICULTURE

FORESTRY TOWN CONNECTION

Landscape framework on slag land as connection between existing towns

Housing formats study POTENTIAL GROUPS

HOUSING PROTOTYPES

COMPOUND TYPOLOGIES FLAT (2-5%)

SLOPE (5-15%)

TERRACE (15-25%)

EXTREME TOPOGRAPHY

Cabin 12-15 * 15-20 ft YOUNG PEOPLE

EXTENDED FAMILIES Cabin / Artist Studio 20 * 30 ft

SMALL FAMILIES

EMPTY NESTERS

1-2 Floor House 20-25 * 40 ft ARTISTS/MAKERS

WEEKEND USERS House / Community Center 30 * 50 ft

FARMERS

VISITORS

New format of town-life that accumulates social capital THOSE SLATE LANDSCAPE IS ALWAYS CHANGING. LOOK, NEW HOUSES ARE BUILT BESIDE THOSE WOODLANDS.

OUR COMMUNITY ARE PRODUCING MORE CROP.

29

MASTER PLAN

01. landscape framework.

02. town connection.

03. phasing strategy.

30

31

Ecological Management STAGE 01 [regrading + stabilization]

STAGE 02 [restoration]

STAGE 03 [diversification + prodictivity]

01. REGRADING SLOPE TO TERRACE & CREATE PLANT-POCKETS

02. APPLYING COMPOST & SEEDLING GRASS SPECIES TO THICKEN SOIL IN PLANT-POCKECTS

03. BURNING GRASSES & PLANT LOCAL TREE SPECIES IN BLUE MOUNTAIN AS CANOPY LAYER AND EDIBLE SHRUB SPECIES

04. WEEDLING & PREVENT REHABITATING OF EXISTED DECIDEOUS SPECIES

CHANGE OVER TIME

GABION WALL

EXISTING CONDITION TODAY

CULLING FOR REGRADING

Pioneer shrubs & deciduous trees on a steep slope

compost

MANIPULATION OF TOPOGRAPHY Creation fo terrace with plant-pockets

gabien wall

6 MONTHS

3 YEARS

Build gabien wall to frame the pocket & introduce compost to accelerate creation of soil

10 YEARS

Burn transitional plants in plant-pockets, plant other local tree species to create canopy and edible species

Plant tree species different from existing pioneer ones & seeding edible shrubs

30 YEARS

Manage the plant-pockects as both community garden and public landscape

Phasing Strategy of programs

PUBLIC CABINS PROGRAM

CAMPING/ EXPLORATION

TEMPORAL SETTLEMENTS——PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS

PUBLIC RECREATION/ COMMUNITY GATHERING

CREATE ACCESSIBILITY PUBLIC SPACES (for both Community and Tourism) REGRADE/ USE SOIL, COMPOSED & FERTILIZER

PLATEFORMS FOR COMPOUNDS/ G&B INFRASTRUCTURE

FARMLAND

RESTORATION/ CHARACTERIZING DIFFERENT PROGRAMS DIVERSIFICATION

2

1

INTRODUCE PIONEER SPECIES HELP STABILIZE GROUND

4

PLANTATION

3

INFRASTRUCTURE

FOREST

SLAG PILE

DWELLING

TRAIL TO BLUE MOUNTAIN

32

ROAD

SOCIAL PLATEFORM

STABILIZTAION COMMUNITY GARDEN

PUBLIC RECREATION

SITE PLAN

SLAG PILE

CAR PART PARKING

ROAD

EXISTING TOWN EAST BANGOR

P

STABILIZATION

DWELLING

FORESTRY

PUBLIC RECREATION TOWN CONNECTION

33

01. the interior space of the compounds are separated but also associated with series of spaces that allow people to appreciate the beauty of quarryscape.

02. the circulation system connects public platforms with both existing towns and new compounds.

03.dramatic topography of the slateland helps to separate more public, recreational spaces and more inward, communal spaces.

04. by manipulating topography, some steep slopes are turned into terraces, allowing cabins to share the great view toward the quarry.

34

Communal spaces in north Bangor quarry compound

From quarry platform to look at cabins with east Bangor town in behind 35

Elevated pedestrian create diverse relationships between people and water.

36

04. BACK TO RIVER URBAN WATERFRONT DESIGN SHANGHAI, CHINA TONGJI UNIVERSITY STUDIO INDIVIDUAL WORK ADVISOR: NANNAN DONG DATE: 10/2013-12/2013

Located in the estuary of Yangtze River, Shanghai was blessed with abundant underground water and a rich river network.

However, with the process or urbanization, rivers and other forms of surface water in Shanghai became mostly canalized.

More and more natural water bodied are replaced with ossified concrete riverbanks. Local waters in Shanghai are now far from people, both visually and culturally.

This project focuses on the construction of a natural environment in a typical five-hector waterfront public space. In this project, the way that surface water and its edges are represented is challenged to be differentiated from the previous engineering canalized way and allows people to appreciate and understand how tight their life are being associated with hydrological system through the creation of various programs.

In part of the waterfront, by filtering human activities and the manipulation of topography, the formation of bioscience within the site can initiate a natural process that tied closely with water. Daily fluctuation and annually occurring torrent will be represented through the designing of spaces.

From canalization to diversification 37

Site decoding

38

Organization Strategy

39

Systems & Scenarios

40

Construction detailed design

SITE PLAN

41

Atlas of Ju River Estuary

42

05. URBAN RECONCILING WATER SYSTEM ANALYSIS & PLANNING SHENZHEN, CHINA TONGJI UNIVERSITY Studio Group Work (Yiwen Yang, Ying Hong) Advisor: Werizhen Chen Date: 9/2014-12/2014

The main agenda for this project is to discuss the potential role that landscape, particularly hydrological landscape system, can engage in the urbanization process by analyzing the ecological circumstance and providing strategic scenarios.

By constructing an evaluation system, we try to figure out an approach toward a rather rational analysis about the condition of current water system then, to provide a prospective strategy for the reconfiguration of water system.

Three potential characters of water system (the guidance of open space, the guidance of ecological restoration and the guidance of waterfront management infrastructure), are cataloged as different critical aspects of water system in urbanization process.

Water, as one of the most basic elements of landscape, is chose to practice the instruction of landscape urbanism. By constructing an evaluation system, we try to figure out an approach toward a rational analysis about the pattern of current water system and provide a prospective strategy for the water system.

Three potential characters of water system (the guidance of open space, the guidance of ecological restoration, the guidance of storm water management), are figured out to influence the process of urbanization. Besides, reliable criteria and rational judgments are tightly involved throughout the procedure of the analysis and planning.

urbanization

RURAL

urbanization

water system as FRAMEWORK

URBAN

43

44

Methodology

Evaluation Criteria

45

Evaluation of potential characters

46

Hydro_based infrastructures as initiates of urbanization

Urbanizing strategy for water system

47

06. GARDEN OF INFINITY GRADING & PLANTING LARP 612, PENNDESIGN Workshop Group Work Advisor: Cora L.Olgyay Date: 04/2016-05/2016

48

49

07. PLAYSCAPE PARAMETRIC MODELLING LARP 542, PENNDESIGN Individual Work Advisor: Keith VanDerSys Date: 04/2016-05/2016

50

01 Existing Surface

02 Sketch Organization

03 Projected Organization

04 General Landform

05 Path Surface

06 Core Programmed Area

07 Playground Landform

08 Watchground Landform

09 Buer Between Street and playground

10 Swale and stormwater pond

11 Landforms along the main path

12 Joined surface

13 !f contour

14 Elevation

15 Slope Analysis

16 Render

51

08. MUTUAL GROUND URBAN FORM COLLAGE LARP 602, PENNDESIGN

“civilization_two urban forms based on the same cultural framwork“

52

“nourish_relience on water for agriculture and urbanization�

53