MArch portfolio UCL

RICHIE ZHANG

Portfolio for MArch Architecture application, UCL

TALK TO THE SEA

The research of this term has focused on a new music rehabilitation method named Associative Mood and Memory Training (AMMT), which is used to enhance memory processes and improve social and mental outcomes by introducing patients into a mood using music. It involves music to induce a specific mood state that is associated with material stored in long-term memory, specifically autobiographical memories that belong to the self and one’s past experiences. Through dedicated music listening or singing, the patient experiences a shift of mood, or intensification in their current mood, that activates an

Y3 Semester I Primer

associative memory network, creating access to memories of information or events from the past.

The concept of the design project was to use the natural sound of the sea as a medium for AMMT, while re-imagine the Westminster Chapter House in a low-tech way to capture the experience due to its exceptional acoustic qualities. The result is a fully demountable structure which bolts and screws became the construction language of the structure.

Exterior render and concept sketches

STATEMENT OF INTENT: LOW-TECH

Low-tech architecture, in contrast with high-tech architecture in the 80s, often refers to a building requiring little maintenance and user interaction to function, thus supporting the development of a ‘relationship’ between the occupants and their building and between them and the external environment. Low-tech materials like lumber, stone and brick, on the other hand, are often overlooked, even though the use of local and locally produced materials offers the lowest possible carbon footprint. In the past, raw materials were shaped to provide shelter and accommodate the cultural, social, and economic needs of individuals and communities all over the world. This is still true today as architects, engineers, and builders turn once again to local resources and methods, not simply for constructing buildings, but also as a strategy for supporting social engagement, sustainable development, and cultural continuity.

Left: Historic sources of Westminster Hall

Centre: Westminster Hall fragment model, 1:50, foam, plywood

Right: Westminster Hall hammer beam model, 1:20, Oak

Section, 1:50 on A3

1:20 fragment model

Plan, 1:50 on A3

The model is used as an interactive tool to demostrate the atmospheric idea by surrounding user’s head in the centre and introducing music that suggests the location of the sea.

Exploded isometric of the structure

BIRNBECK SYMPHONY

In an era of technological progress, the ease of accessing music has reached unprecedented levels. Yet, the true essence and transformative power of music, particularly when intertwined with architecture, risk being overlooked. Rapidly, we find ourselves losing these purpose-built musical spaces, spaces that allow individuals to fully engage and appreciate the profound impact of music.

Birnbeck Symphony, presents a remedy to the diminishing recognition of music’s significance and offer visitors a chance to rediscover its therapeutic value. Its vision encompasses

Y3 Semester II Design Project

not only captivating acoustic performances but also a harmonious connection with nature itself. Embracing a design primarily centred around low-tech timber structures, which harness the organic elements such as rain and waves to create music. Within this sanctuary, a concert hall and dining hall also provide settings for enchanting performances as well as meaningful social interactions. This project serves as an oasis, a sanctuary from the demands of daily life, inviting individuals to embark upon Birnbeck Island and immerse in a transformative journey of self-discovery through the power of music.

In between the structures

Site model of the Birnbeck Island, 1:200

Rain pavillion

The rain pavilion is a unique structure designed to showcase the beauty and power of rain. Visitors can sit under the thatched roof and experience the soothing sound of raindrops falling on it.

Yoga room

The yoga space on the island is a unique and tranquil environment designed to provide visitors with a sense of calm and relaxation, featuring a tall ceiling and large windows that offer views of the surrounding landscape.

Isometric structural diagram

Partial structural isometric diagram

THE STAIR BELL PAVILLION

The bell pavilion in section Machenical concept

The stair in plan

This timber pavilion uses the power of the sea waves to produce music tie into the concept of low-tech rehabilitation and emphasize the importance of reconnecting with nature for therapeutic purposes. When it’s high tide, the sea pushes up a floating device that is linked with a series of mechanisms and eventually hitting the pantatonically tuned bells. The walls can also be opened up to release the sound of the bells.

The design of the stair pavilion consisted a tall, hollow concrete core structure which aims to capture the sounds produced by musicians on its ground floor, resembling the acoustics inside of a stairwell. Timber claddings on its four sizes provides a functional and efficient means of vertical circulation around the core that allows visitors to listen to the performance through punctures in the concrete on three different levels.

Structural component

DINING HALL

The dining hall with its reimagined hammer beam roof serves multiple purposes in the overall concept of the project. Firstly, it provides a communal space where people can gather to eat and socialize, promoting a sense of community and togetherness. Additionally, the hall’s capacity to host orchestral concerts creates an opportunity for visitors to engage with music on a deeper level.

Roof structure isometric

Detail study, 1:20

SITE PLAN

The design of the structures on the island is intentionally crafted to cater to the diverse needs of individuals seeking to connect and unwind. Each space serves as a reflection of the human desire for rest, rejuvenation, and communal bonding. In essence, the island provides an immersive experience that promotes wellness, social interaction, and cultural enrichment. As a national hub for music rehabilitation and community building, the island offers an opportunity to foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity among individuals from all walks of life. The design approach of this project is not only centred on rehabilitation but also emphasizes the importance of community cohesion in shaping a thriving and holistic society.

Key:

1.Entrance 2. Boat House 3. Energy House 4. Concert Hall 5. Dining Hall 6. Yoga Room 7. The Stair 8. Bell House

9. Accommodation 10. Whispering Gallery Lido 11. Outdoor Theatre 12. Rain Pavilion 13.

SPACES FOR REFLECTION

SPACES FOR NATURE

SPACES FOR GATHERING

MAIN EVENT SPACE

6. Yoga Room

11. Outdoor Theatre

10. Whispering Gallery Lido

4 & 5, Dining hall & concert hall

14. Thatched Market

7. The Stair

9. Accommodation

8. Bells pavilion

13. Weston Chapter House

12. Rain Pavilion

Site plan 1:200 on A0

Weston Chapter House 14. Thatched Market

Dining hall view

Entrance foyer view

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

PENNY’S BOOKSHELF

Penny is a very good friend of mine and has also been my piano teacher some years earlier. She just moved into her new grade II listed Georgian farmhouse near Chichester, and is trying to furnish the house in a way that is sensitive to its history and style. An internationally renouwend harpsichord, she has over one thousand books on musichology, manuscript and sheet music, and she is looking for bookshelves to store them.

After setting up RZArchitecture, she reached out to me and comissioned me for a design of a bookshelf to put in her

Personal Project

harpsichord room next to the fire place, and the breif was to design in the Georgian style and keep in line with the building history and the historical feeling of the room.

My design response is a bookcase that is fully constructed out of wood using traditional crafts. The cornice on the top projects out of the protruding fireplace, with pilasters between the glass doors to provide both visual and structural supports.

POUND CORNER

The owner of Pound Corner is Ros, who was also my host family for 3 years while I was an international student in school. She reached out to me at the end of 2023 to design the ground floor kitchen and conservatory space for the house. It is a house that I know very well, having spending a lot of time there during school holidays when I couldn’t go back home has meant that Pound Corner is almost my second home.

This project is a low-budget project aimed to be done fairly quickly, as more than half of the house is rented as Air-bnb and offered to students. The aim is to improve the size and circulation of the social space in the middle of the house

Personal Project

while free up the congested kitchen, at the same time adding a home office/study space and a snug. The project is still at its very early stage, and a lot of design decisions has yet to be made.

The client Ros is a very hands-on client and has strong opinions and visions. This experience has been invaluble in terms of learning to liase with clients and communicate ideas while respect their vision. My goal is to improve people’s lives as much as possible through architecture, make them love where they are and enjoy where they live.

WORK EXPERIENCE: JOHN SIMPSON ARCHITECTS

I have worked on a competition-winning residential design project in Puteaux district, Paris, and issues numerous elevation drawings for planning permission. I also worked on drawing and dimentioning classical details for the elevations for the four buildings and lobby interior design. I gained a lot of experience in working with overseas consultants and making sure the design abide to the local building regulation.

Detail drawing

Coloured combined elevation

E:

WORK EXPERIENCE: JOHN SIMPSON ARCHITECTS

For the Hunts Grove urban design project, I have been involved to work on the design of two buildings in the town centre. They are mixed use buildings, with shops on the ground floor, flats and maisonnetts on the first and second floor.

Elevations of the Market Building Plans of the Market Building

DETAIL SECTION

Roof detail, 1:10

Floor detail, 1:10

Ground detail, 1:10

ROOF:

Sedum with capping sheet, underlay, rigid insulation, vapour barrier, OBS on soft wood battens, Douglas Fir joists

veneered pine plywood ceiling

UPPER FLOOR:

Oak engineered flooring underfloor heating plate acoustic robber bearing floor system insulation between batten Douglas Fir joists veneered pine plywood ceiling

GLAZING:

Double glazed unit with copper clad window frames motorised roller blind included

GROUND FLOOR:

Oak engineered flooring damp proof course rigid insulation in-situ concrete slab external tanking membrane