Towards the Immeasurable Ren Tian 2006‐2009
“A great building must begin with the immeasurable, must go through measurable means when it is being designed and in the end must be immeasurable.” Louis I Kahn
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Noisenergy N 2010 0
Detail
86 Restricted Urbban Planning Competition, Nice, France
ning Urban plan
“Occationes”” company exhibition, Ba arcelona
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New w Energy
Interior Deesign “Occationes”” company exhibition, Ba arcelona
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Bridge
Explore new S Structure
2009
House Dessign
Friend’s housee in hangzhou
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Theater
Reinvent T Tradition
Museum
83 of Weil der Stadt Master Plan o Competition, Germany
City Deisng g
Yusof Ishak H House Renovation Project Singapore
Renovation
Container Ca afé for F1 Singapore Prrix
Recycle R Reuse
nDao Resort BanShan Ban project, SanY Ya, China
Resort
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Harmony with h Nature
Urban Study Balestier Rd
2008
Office Building The New Hea adquaters for Wexford Coun ntry Council Competition
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Urban n analysis
Leap S Stadium
Mapping Traanslation
Tower
2007
Academic
Modular Consttruction
Café Ma arina Bay
Design n for Site
n the cloud Dancing in
Making form
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Work
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academic NUS fall 2006 Tutor: Juming Tan Individual Project
making ki form f
Dancing in the Cloud Annex to an Old Shed at Mt Emily, Singapore As the first project for fresh architecture students, the brief calls for measurement drawings and model making of a disserted shed, the shed use to be a sculpture workshop at Mt Emily, following by designing a dance studio as an annex to the original shed. The annex patch of cloud is white in color,, elevated above the shed,, jjust like a p hovering on top. The dancers are dancing in the cloud under the blue sky, surrounded by shimmering light, comforting breeze.
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model of the original shed
The design of the intervention is inspired by the shape of cloud, the curvilinear form also contrast to the original rectilinear shed.
Development of form with models l ff h d l
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night
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model photos
concept sketch k h
elevation l
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NUS Spring 2007 Tutor: Colin Seah Individual Project
d i f it design for site
Left in the Middle The design brief calls for designing a boat station within a 6x6x6m cube for Singapore River, while most of the students chose a site along the river bank, I chose a site located at the centre of open water at the end of river, Marina Bay. Being the new downtown planned by the Singapore government, Marina Bay is surrounded by arts, cultural, financial and entertainment districts, districts the traffic and population flow 24 hours nonstop. The boat station functions as a pub, which offers breath taking panoramic view to the surrounding skyline. The double helix circulation allows the panoramic view to slowly unfold as the visitors ascending the spiral staircase and sit around the platforms. The location is at the centre of the hectic busy area yet away from it, the pub is a place of retreat from the hectic urban life.
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b d bird eye view of the marina bay area f h b the arrow indicates the location of intervention
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Inspirations The pavilion design is inspired by the Taihu stone. stone The Taihu stone is used for decoration in traditional Chinese gardens, it is appreciated for its complex and porous yet monotonous form. The Jinhua Structure by Herzog & De Meuron displays similar quality. The double helix structure inspires the intertwining circulation that’s suitable for 360 degree view. The ambiguity between stairs and platform reminds Escher’s drawing.
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Exploration of Form and Circulation
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Taihu Stone
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Double Helix Structure
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Jinhua Structure, Herzog & De Meuron
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House of Stairs, M.C.Escher
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Creating the form from the 6m x 6m x 6m box.
A box is divided into 9 parts 9p on the top surface and 12 parts on the side surfaces
It is then pulled and pushed p p to form spiral platforms around the central core
Creating the inner spiral g p stairs as the secondary circulation.Modify the shapes of the platforms
Further modify the platforms y p to form furniture to suit the functional needs
Bar Area Toilet
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model making: every face of the complex structure has been accurately d l k f f h l h b l cut out and labored to assemble the final model
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Party is on: Magnificent view with cooling breezing and tasty wine, what a wonderful life!
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NUS fall 2007 Design studio 3 Design studio_3 Tutor: Victor Lee Group Project Contribution: original concept, detailing, construction
modular construction
Tower The project brief calls for designing a structure pieces of 2mx2.4m 4 p plywood. y The tower with ten p design adopts a system of interlocking and stacking modules that allows the structure to be conceived as a ‘single element’ and enabling the material plywood to speak of it own tectonics.
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original concept models 11
the outline shows the final shape of the modular unit, however the 12 exact dimensions are lost 12
Fabrication of Modular Elements: Without digital g fabrication tools to cut the p plywood y of such thickness and size,, it was reallyy tedious to cut every single piece out from the plywood board. Moreover the saw blade breaks all the time, luckily there was no spit of blood‌
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Making of the big jig‐saw puzzle, as every piece is manufactured manually individually, quality control is very important. In order to make sure all the joints fit, we arranged all the pieces on the floor before the actual construction.
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Working night and day, the tower finally reached 6 meters
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Interior view
exterior view
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NUS spring 2008 Design studio_4 Tutor: Tsuto Sakamoto individual project
mapping Translation
Leap Stadium The project aims to design a sporting complex beginning with mapping the action of sport. The result generates the structural idea and eventually the form of the architecture. The sports chosen are some track t k and d field fi ld jumping j i events. t The Th leaping l i actions ti d l developed d into a mega truss structure, which spans over 150 meters. Below the arch is a standard 200m track with over 10000 spectators’ seats, as well as various supporting facilities such as gym, toilet, changing room, media centre, canteen, ticket office etc. On top and between g p park for extreme sports, p , such as skateboarding, g, the trusses is a huge parkour, BMX etc. The openings and the skylights connect the different experiences of the sporting complex visually and acoustically. The project is an experiment on developing architecture from a seemingly unrelated and impractical perspective to a reasonably practical and tangible level while trying to maintain the essence off the h intangible. i ibl
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action mapping of hurdle, long jump, pole‐vault and high jump, the outline is been translated into a series of irregular trusses.
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Arrange the trusses in ascending order, connect the trusses and form surfaces. Simplify the forms, optimize the space in between the trusses and modify the surface to be suitable for extreme sports
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exterior perspective 23
roof extreme sports park 24
Indoor track and fireld stadium
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Aerial view of the site of intervention at Arlesheim
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ETH zurich, fall 2008 Design Studio, yr 3 sem 1 Chair Prof. Dr. Josep lluis Mateo Tutor: Krunoslav Ivanisin Individual Project
harmony with nature
Magnifier of Natural Elements This project is conceived as an open staging for temporary exhibitions. Its floor plan is a schematic system of sloped, straight and bended corridors. Seen from the outside they appear as a group of hierarchically organized plain volumes: a donut pavilion sunk into the ground, a stick placed along the creek and a sloped double corridor that connects them. A promenade through the museum reveals a more complex structure. Movement through the exhibition is organized in a loop: from the narrow entrance ramp through the ascending spiral around the internal court, court down the glazed slope to the long and narrow water pavilion and back up the changing section of the slope. This continuous movement is sequenced by two archetypal moments: the silent cylindrical room, located at the center with a tree inside, and the open terrace with a colonnade exposed to the sound and mist of the running water. water In spite of its authoritative geometry the small museum is strongly imbued with the site, and poetically magnifies the natural aspects of the site.
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The initial p plan of the museum is to treat the site as the museum itself,, there are five p pavilions in the site,, each cater to different artistic expression, such as sculpture, video, land art, painting etc. Visitor visiting the museum will enjoy the nature as he walks from one pavilion to the other. However this proposal doesn’t enhance visitor’s experience with nature architecturally, but rather passively by making them leaving the building and entering the surroundings. Thus the five pavilions were reduced to just two, one .
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Initial design proposal of the five pavilions 29
inspiration
site plan 30
Renderings for interim crit
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circulation
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exterior perspective
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interior perspective
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interior perspective
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exterior perspective
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Section detail
Expanded axonometry 39
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NUS, spring 2009 Design Studio, yr 3 sem 2 Tutor: Peter Sim Individual Project
reinvent tradition
Chinese Opera Theater The brief calls for designing a theater for Chinese opera in the city centre of Singapore. In this project I tried to investigate into typology of traditional Chinese Opera House, extract its essence in terms of cultural tradition in watching the opera. Such as courtyard theater and teahouse theater, theater as well as the structural principal of the bracket system.
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Courtyard theater typology: Often located at town centre of old cities as well as in family mansions. Chinese opera is often performed during festivals, people meet up before the stage to watch the performance f and d social. i l
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Tea house theater typology: For tea house guests, the performance contribute to the atmosphere of the tea house, customers could enjoy food and drink while enjoying the show.
Theater plays a very important role in the social life of Chinese people, thus it is always important to contain areas for such activities to happen.
Schematic layout of traditional courtyard Chinese opera stage
Elevated stage act as a threshold to the next courtyard
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structural concept The bracket system of traditional Chinese architecture is a very intricate system that interlocks columns, roof members and beams together as a whole. The interlocking system requires no nails, however it has good earthquake resistance. Moreover, the structure is also a special aesthetic expression in traditional Chinese architecture.
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Apart p from maintaining g the structural p principals p and aesthetic characteristics, the theater design tries to translate and manifest the essence of bracket system into spatial quality.
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Various options were explored in order to merge the two traditional Chinese theater typologies in one, from linear arrangement to stacking one on top of the other.
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final model 47
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elevation 49
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section perspective 51
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1_plaza 2_stage 3 backstage 3_backstage 4_exhibition lobby 5_grand stairs 6_lift 7_café 8_Shop 9_service 10_outside seating area 11_car park k
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plaza perspective 53
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1_studio di 2_rehearsal room 3_balcony seats 4_office 5_meeting room 6_audience seating 7_teahouse seating 8 musician stand 8_musician stand 9_stage 10_backstage 11_2nd floor lobby 12_lift 13_VIP lunge 14_service 15_storage 16_toilet 6 il
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2nd floor lobby interior perspective
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teahouse theater perspective
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NUS, fall 2009 Design Studio, yr 4 sem 1 Tutor: Tan Teck Kiam Individual Project
new energy
Noisenergy This is a research project that deals with environmental issue. The brief is open to investigate any environment related issues, and propose an architectural device that deals with the problem, then apply that device onto a site and realize It into an architecture. The particular issue I chose was urban noise pollution, the device works in theory that turns sound energy Into electricity, with working principles of piezoelectricity and microphone. The device can be applied into any noisy urban situation, and generate electricity. The particular context chosen for this project is Esplanade Bridge Singapore, it has busy traffic and it is also where F1 Prix Singapore happens. happens The canopy structure holds the innumerous number of devices, devices they work together to absorb noise created by the traffic and contribute to the electricity grid of the city. The canopy also allows pedestrian to walk up to be part of this urban celebration. 60
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inspirations
Modular, all the units working together as a system to perform one task.
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concept model
Modular units changes with the undulating form
Effect on facade
Shape of the units shift with the environment, which create a changing lighting effect.
Sound wave‐‐‐diagram vibrate‐‐‐magnet moves in electric coil (energy produces)‐‐‐magnetic field disturbed‐‐‐ferro fluid contract (shape of the device changes) pushing the piezoelectric element‐‐‐piezoelectric element produce energy
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translation of form: from noise wave to undulating roof
structural idea
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fall_2009 tutor: Joseph Lim Collaborator: Sng Poh Liang, Cher Yong Qiang Gilbert Role: concept, modeling
explore new structure
Shape Shifting Bridge In this bridge design project, we have attempted to consider function, aesthetics, mechanics and structural feasibility through the development of sketches and models. Rather than a process of filtration and narrowing down to find a final form, the process began with thinking of the chapel bridge with the poetics of sky lights, reflections of the water, and moving from a dark tunnel into a lit chapel hall. The structural exploration began with strings holdings up volumes, much like a stringed g instrument. We also explored the possibility of a woven structure where the frames of the bridge are held up by tension members woven together at the periphery. In our search to create volumes of space where light was screened, together with the ideas of tensioned and woven structures, we went on to explore how a series of planes with negatively carved‐out spaces within, held up by tension cables, could express the purity of form and space with one single language. However, the system became unnecessarily heavy in structure, and we finally moved on to thinking g about a light g transformable structure that employed similar purity and integrity of the preceding tryouts. We experimented continuously to improve the rotational movement of combined scissor joints and reciprocal frame systems. We also varied the lengths of members and used tensioned strings to provide the possibility of greater structural strength, with visual complexity and formal variety. The final form is closer to a shape‐shifting or deployable bridge, with what we believe could be an original mechanism.
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Development from left to right: Suspended cross with sky light, and a linear form with light at the end of the tunnel to show am ephemeral quality of light and shadow desired in the chapel b id bridge. V l Volume suspended d d by b tensile t il cables bl to t delineate d li t a high hi h volume l central t l space. Dual D l system t off compressive i arch h rooff and d a catenary t b bowed d seating ti platform l tf connected t d by b struts. t t Abstraction of the tri�axial woven structure; spiraling diagram spars connected to a series of circular frames. The overall form is produced by lathing the catenary curve along the axis of the bridge, producing a structure that acts as a an arch on its upper portion, a catenary suspended structure at the bottom and providing resistance to laternal loads on its sides.
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Development of rotational movement: Octo‐axial arrangement of combined scissor joints and reciprocal frame systems. The joint to designed to move tangential to the collar frame. designed to move tangential to the collar frame
Octo‐axial arrangement of combined scissor joints and reciprocal frame systems. The members rotate tangential to the collar frame by bolted connections to provide precision. Such structures are said to express spiritually philosophical principles in how all members are interconnected and inter reliant on each other It also has relation to nature in how it appears like seashells pine cones and DNA interconnected and inter‐reliant on each other. It also has relation to nature in how it appears like seashells, pine cones and DNA. 69
Urban analysis
Balestier Road A Juxtaposition of the Past and Present Individual project
Genius Loci
History of Balestier Road
The historical shophouses set the tone for balestier road. When the new buildings and programs are inserted, more than often carelessly disregarding the original urban texture, thus creating a cliché and bewildered juxtaposition of the past and present.
1837 Joseph Balestier sugar cane plantation 1847 Tua Peck Gong temple built by Chinese immigrants 1900 Bin Chan House built and later on housed Sun Yat 9 sen 1906 Wayang Stage built for puppet shows and Chinese Opera 1909 Tan Tock Seng hospital built at Moulmein road 1920s Balestier Market and many art deco style shophouses built 1942‐1945 Japanese Occupation 1948 Some Single storey shophouses built 1950s HDB housing program, estate development 1960s Shaw brothers’ movie studio 1960s Shaw brothers movie studio, Ruby, Hoover and Ruby Hoover and President theater built, Balestier as entertainment centre. Growing numbers of hawkers and family business 1970s HDB flats built at Balestier area 1986 Balestier Point built 1990 Setting up of many light shops 2000 Shaw Plaza Twin Heights built 2002 Balestier market closed for renovation
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Circulation Links PIE and CTE, Thomson Road and Lavender Street Links PIE and CTE Thomson Road and Lavender Street Buses: 21, 130, 131, 145, 186 Nearest MRT: Novena, but very far if one wants to walk from there.
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Serial Vision
Section A’A in the 1920s S i A’A i h Slow and little traffic at the middle of the road, thus road filled with human activities
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Section A’A Present S i A’A P Busy vehicle traffic, human activities being pushed to the sides.
Balestier Road’s natural curvature offers constrained views off the road. Thus it creates a feeling that some prominent landmarks jump out in a sudden. When walking along the street, one lost his sense of direction.
Founder Bah Kuh Teh Durian Store Temple Wayang Stage
Chinese temple
Shaw Building
Wayang Stage
Old and New Land Marks and Nodes The land Th l d marks k and d nodes d along l B l ti Balestier road d changes with the progress of time. For example, the Chinese temple used to be landmark there is now surrounded by tall buildings and no longer prominent, the once upon busy Balestier market is now closed down.
Chinese temple Burma temple Sun yatsun Villa Balestier Market Chinese temple Chinese temple Tau Sah Piah Store h h Duck Rice
Past Older generation Cinema
Moreover the definition of landmarks and nodes mayy be vary from people to people. For instance, the older generation may consider the temples as landmarks despite the presence of many modern building. Vise versa, the younger generations may consider the Shaw movie theater as a more prominent landmark.
Edge The edges between the old and new buildings show a contrast between typologies, materiality and activities.
Balestier Point The common nodes regardless of the age groups will b those be th f famous f d stores, food t b it the be th duck d k rice i or Bah B h Kuh Teh, they are always filled with people. Sometimes, the nodes and landmarks also overlap.
New Old High Low
Nodes Landmarks Present Younger generation
In section, it is noticed that the new buildings are usually built behind the old ones,or opposite them. There is no way that one sees everything old or everything new. In a way it creates a discrepancy and confusion.
The height of the building is usually proportional to the age of the building. Some of The high buildings directly along the Road side appear to be Alien in the context.
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Old and New interpretations to the Programs
Medical: from private small shophouse chinese Pharmacy clinic to modern huge hospital. y g p
When people think about Balestier Road area, naturally we think about the tasty food, light shops, old entertainment district, hospitals, hotels and temples. I believe these programs make up the essence of the area. However, with the same program, there are different ways of interpreting it, that is reflected on the road itself.
Entertainment: From traditional Wayang stage performance to international cinema complex.
Grocery shops: from the shophouse stores to supermarket such as 7‐11.
Residential Commercial Vacant Institutional Business Industrial
Eateries: different ways of welcoming customers
Place of Worship Hotel
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Residential: From shophouses to government flats, to high end condominiums, the building typology changes with the time. However is living in condominium really more comfortable than live in the low rise old buildings?
The colored parts shows the new intervention that is affecting the streetscape
Observation and proposition
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I think for Balestier road, the biggest threat is the presence of many new tall buildings. They overshadow the shop houses and change the entire skyline, in a way they have totally destroyed the essence of the area. Moreover, the traffic condition at Balestier l road d is quite bad b d right h now, due d to the h narrowness off the road, and high traffic flow between the Thomson Road and Lavender Street. Furthermore the new programs are starting to overwhelm the area, such as the light shops, which makes the Balestier road lost its old world charm. Some old trades such as the bird store and tinsmith may face discontinuation once the old shopkeepers are retired. the society should make an effort in keeping these old businesses as a form of cultural diversity. diversity Maybe some new programs that can strengthen or enhance the essence of the old Balestier road can be added in. Such as arts and cultural spaces and activities. There are empty spaces that can be used for such intervention. However the architect must sensitively design the intervention which can strengthen or bring out the old, rather than to destroy the old.
North East Elevation
Old temple VS New high rise residential building
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work
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May 2008, NUS Project lead by Tsuto Sakamoto Collaborator: Lee Chin Wei Anthony Chung Role: contributing design ideas, building 3D and physical l b d d b ld d h l models , producing presentation drawing
renovation
Yusoff Ishak House Revamp p The project started with the observation and identification of the problems and potentials in the existing Yusof Ishak House and the space around it. Our intent here is to develop the design through these particular issues so that the design responds to the existing building in a realistic way. g y
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Problems and Solutions Peripheral Area 1. Continuity The continuous pedestrian space will link all the different programs and activities. People are guided naturally to the destination. 2. Space for Activities The space will be open to various activities such as dining, chatting, musical performance, bazaar and so forth. Therefore, it will be a vibrant space where students interact and enjoy their activities. 3. Order and Flexibility The space will respond to the future development of commercial activities flexibly, yet will maintain the order – the space should maintain a good relationship with the existing building. Central Spine 1. Skylight and Sidelights in Central Spine The skylight that punctures roof above the angled staircase admit sunlight significantly. The sidelights above b th corridor the id make k it brighter b i ht than th before. b f 2. Heat Prevention The size and number of the skylights and side lights are controlled so that they would not produce additional h t to heat t the th interior i t i space. 75
Study Area 1. Lack of Space (Study Room) In the exam period, the study room is crowded so that many students must queue for the seat for long time. 2. Energy Inefficient The study room, the large volume of the space, is currently air� conditioned intensively. 3. Lack of View The most part of the study room is not facing windows. windows
Lack of Identity As the main administrative building for students and area for student activities, the building lacks a immediate recognizable feature or identity. A huge canopy is created provocatively as a statement from the designer to the school.
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central spine sky well
The project is completed in the following year, however it was carried out by other designers. All design solutions have been carried out differently. For instance, instead of a glass sky well, the roof is now covered with louvers, instead of undulating wooden platform, it is all flattened, and a small tower with a sign of ‘YIH’ is erected to replace the huge and expensive symbolic roof.
before
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proposed
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peripheral area
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identity
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Jan 2007‐Feb 2008 Collaborator: Gao Ludong Role: building design interior decoration Role: building design, interior decoration
house deisgn
Friend’s Chalet In Hangzhou The site is a 50 square meter platform on a hill slop, situated in countryside area Hangzhou. Hangzhou It is a holiday chalet for two family, family thus it contains two separate bedrooms with their own toilet, and a living room connected with kitchen. The difficulties faces at design stage were to have the two family rooms separated, maximize the living room and open kitchen area, as well as work with limited budget. At the construction stage, stage the difficulties being explain the workers of what we want to achieve and making sure that water proving, electricity, water, and the fireplace work. For the interior design, a nostalgia brownish theme was set, some old bench and table was selected for decoration, to give the chalet an atmosphere of retreat from the hectic urban life. life
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Schaetz Architektur The New Headquarters for Wexford Country Council, Conpetition Ireland 2008.2 Role: contributing ideas and model making
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Container Café for F1 Singapore Prix , Singapore 2008.8‐2008.9 Role: contributing ideas and making presentation drawings
Schaetz Architektur Master plan of Weil der Stadt Competition Germany 2009.2‐ 2009.3 Role: contributing ideas and making,presentation drawings
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MAP architects “Occationes” company exhibition, Barcelona Role: contributing idea, making the collage map for the carpet
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MAP architects PGGR office building, The Netherland Role: contributing idea, detail drawings, presentation drawings
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MAP architects Restricted Urban Planning Competition, Nice, France Role: contributing idea, making presentation drawings
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fine art
f h fish pencil sketch 2005
ghost pencil sketch 2004
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poster design computer drawing 2006
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5 senses pen sketch 2007
nowhere man in nowhere land oil painting 2005
sketch for sculpture pen sketch 2004 4
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calligraphy 2004
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photography
Outside Heidi Weber Le Corbusier Museum Zurich 2008
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Jewish museum, Shalechet (Fallen leaves) Berlin 2008 8
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Igualada Cemetary Barcelona 2009
faith Daofu,Tibet 2004
heading home Beijing 2009
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Wuming Tibetan Buddhist School S d Seda, 2004
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EDUCATION
PUBLICATIONS
National University of Singapore (NUS) Bachelor of Architecture with Honor (08.2006 – Present)
SCHOLARSHIP/AWARDS Singapore ministry of education f d scholarship 2000‐2006 NUS exchange award 2008
REN TIAN
Address: Beijing Haidianqu Xibeiwang, Zhonghaifenglian shanzhuang 11‐2‐1002 Beijing 100094
Dean’s list 2008
Tiramisu, hand drawing collection published by Hwachong institute 2005
WORK EXPERIENCE MAParchitects 2009 WOHAdesign 2007
Tel: 0065‐82494337 (singapore)
Schaetz Architektur 2007
Email: rentian2007@gmail.com
China IPPR Engineering Corporation 2007
Iconoclastia, design work in ETH published in Chair Prof. Mateo’s publication
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