BO ZOU
SELECTED WORKS 2016 - 2018
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FIGURATIVE THEATER Thesis
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S(W)AG
Detroit Housing
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ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS
Architecture Student Research Grant
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ANN ARBOR MIDDLE SCHOOL Institution
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REFUGEE CHILDREN’S CENTER Proposition
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FIGURATIVE THEATER
THESIS Fall 2017, SPRING 2018 INSTRUCTOR: JOHN McMORROUGH 2018 TAUBMAN COLLEGE THESIS PRIZE
Orders seem to always be liken architects. From Vitruvius to Le Corbusier, architects are always on the path of finding the order of buildings through proportion, dimension, scale etc. Currently, the architects begin to look for disorders. The words “random”, “falling”, can be found increasingly frequently in all kinds of projects. Disorders are attracting because they create contingency and Instability.
Figurative Theater is made of several different blocks. Each of them is a distinct figure. These figures break the typical high-rise typology. They go through different levels, span through different size of space. Floor plan and section changes vastly through the whole building. Hence, there is no typical plan or section.
PART I
Thesis Prep FALL 2017
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You are all the world to me -- Royal Wedding (1951)
Royal Wedding is a 1951 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical comedy film starring Fred Astaire and Jane Powell, with music by Burton Lane and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. The film was directed by Stanley Donen. The particular number the project studied was You Are All the World to Me, where Fred Astaire was dancing on different surfaces in
a room. The scene was achieved by physically spinning the room. The number creates the effect of instability and falling. Unlike dancing, architecture appears to be still artifacts. The project is aiming at the issue: how to create instability and falling in a still object(building).
Spinning Room Set
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MacGuffin -- falling furniture
In fiction, a MacGuffin is a plot device in the form of some goal, desired object, or another motivator that the protagonist pursues, often with little or no narrative explanation. The design of the McGuffin is to use “real� objects in combination to form a novel (new) configuration. The MacGuffin of this musical was created
based on the assumption where all the furniture falls on each other when the room starts to spin. They begins to merge into each other. It keeps the instability and sense of falling in a still object. The result comes out to be an integral composition of several segments.
PART II
Thesis Building Spring 2018 THEATER SECTIONS
THEATER LAYOUT
THEATER PROTOTYPES
In order to continue the instability to the theater building, the project studied the sections of theater. Unlike traditional theaters always being hidden inside a black box. These new sections all have views to-
wards outside. They can either looking sideway or vertically. Combining with different theater layout, it creates a handful of theater prototypes.
2D STUDY MODEL
3D STUDY MODEL
To make all the segments fit together, different sections were selected to make compositions. Through a series of 2d and 3d study models, 11 forms which work the best with
each other were selected. Top 5 works as theaters, and bottom 6 are used as service and offices.
Theater Blocks
Service + Office Blocks
MODEL ASSEMBLING PROCESS
SECTIONAL MODEL
EXPLODED AXON
The size of the theaters varies from 120 seats to 600 seats. Two of the theaters have views to the sky; two is looking downwards; two are looking horizontally.
The whole building is connected with 2 main HVAC cores, which are hidden in the 6 service and office blocks.
MILLENNIUM PARK
MICHIGAN LAKE
SITE PLAN
The site is located at Chicago Millennium park. At the corner of Randolph Street and Michigan Ave, the site is visually accessible to Michigan Lake, Chicago urbanscape, and Millennium park. Locating at park only makes the building a public facility. The whole building except theaters are open to the public. Terrace on different levels provide views and unique experience.
OFFICE
600-SEAT THEATER
OFFICE AREA
LOBBY
EAST ENTRY
LOBBY
SERVICE AREA
OPEN PLATFORM 120-SEAT THEATER
SERVICE AREA
OPEN PLATFORM
NORTH ENTRY
From outside the building is read as one integral piece while each of the segments are still perceivable by their form, material, and color.
CIRCULLATION AREA PERSPECTIVE
200-SEAT THEATER PERSPECTIVE
Inside the building, the space varies greatly through figure to figure. They are going through different numbers of floors, spanning different distance of width, facing different orientation, creating different boundaries. The floor plan and section changes dramatically through the whole building. Hence
400-SEAT THEATER PERSPECTIVE
there is no typical plan or section. In the plan, the boundary of different figures sometimes is clearly defined by walls. Sometimes it’s blurred and only divided by floor pattern. Sometimes it disappears, and the space is merged.
S(W)AG
DETROIT HOUSING Fall 2017 INSTRUCTOR: LARS GRAEBNER, CHRISTINA HANSEN PARTERS: AMY KURTYCZ, GARY CHUNG
The form and urban strategy revolve around drawing the energy from Jefferson into our site and around the corner to Jos Campu as well as connecting our north and south sites across the greenway. Coming down Jefferson one can see the two buildings motioning to each other acting as one cohesive development. The smaller building wraps around and points towards
the river emphasizing the mews. The project offers a hardscape/urban plaza on Jefferson that acts as a welcoming plaza for residents and a space to congregate for the public frequenting the retail located on our first floor. There is also a more private softscape/green plaza for residents to gather and relax.
Form Study Diagram
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The site is located at the intersection of E Jefferson Ave and Jos Campau . Jos Campau has been planed as city green finger which leads people to Detroit river. The project is facing the challenge of how to attract peo-
ple to the river as well as activate Jefferson Ave. The small site is 18,200 square feet and the large site is 103,9200 square feet.
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The turning corners of the building are pushed back to open up the plaza to the public. The space also created a front plaza for retail space. The end of the building was bent to create a inner plaza for more pri-
vate use. The end of the small lot building was rotated to point at the large lot which enhance the interactions between the two.
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In the first step, we aimed at creating two courtyards. The one facing E Jefferson Ave is used as public plaza, the other one located at the back is used as resident’s public space. The public plaza offers public space
to E Jefferson Ave attracting pedestrians coming to the site. The courtyard offers residents with a relatively private space for leisure.
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The roof of the building is cut to create roof terrace. The terraces are all facing south to offer better view to the river. The height of building decreases to a smaller scale along Jos Campau so that the street can be more comfortable for people to stay. The corner of the big lot and the base of small lot are cut to create entry
to the retail. The height of building decreases to a smaller scale along Jos Campau so that the street can be more comfortable for people to stay. The corner of the big lot and the base of small lot are cut to create entry to the retail.
Ground Floor Plan
Prefabricate Unit System The project uses hollow structural section(HSS) prefabricated unit. Prefabricated units lowers the price of construction, which OFFERS the city with affordable apartments. The prefab units are also easy to assemble which can reduce the construction time and cost.
Prefabricate Unit Type
Living Room
Bedroom +Kitchen
Bedroom +Bathroom
There are 3 different basic unit types. The 32‘ x 15’ unit is used as living room. And extra 5 feet will be balcony for apartment above. The 27’ x 15’ unit is used as bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. The single exterior corridor in the center connects micro studio units.The building can be read as there 3 segments. Two double corridor at both ends. Single corridor in the center connects both end.
Typical Floor Plan
Micro-unit Studio
E Jefferson Perspective
Green Finger Perspective
Facade Detail
Facade Segment Model
Emphasizing the structure in the facade, some of prefabricated units extrude providing extra living room space for each living unit as well as a balcony for the unit above, which provide a space to spend time outside at varying levels of public and private.
We chose Zinc metal panels to compliment of our monolithic form. By choosing this unifying material and seams that create no particular direction, the building looks like one heavy mass sinking into the landscape perforated by an abundant amount of windows.
A-A Section
B-B Section
Continuing to bring outdoor program into our building, the building provide several public terraces where residents could host events as well as many private terraces that all face the river. The large lift on the corner of the south site defines the corner, re-
sponds to the height of the Kahn building and motions to the north site. It also acts as a passage to angle people through the Jefferson retail and in front of the Jos Campu retail.
E Jefferson Perspective
Architectural Elements Exhibition Fall 2017 Partner: Naree Byun Architecture Student Research Grant
The annual Architecture Student Research Grant (ASRG) is a award for Taubman college architecture student. It provides a unique opportunity for student research projects. The Architecture Student Research Grant in 2017 calls for projects that push the boundaries and possibilities of the discipline of architecture. Successful propositions will discover new
forms and methods of working, making, and representing. Our ASRG group focus on traditional architectural elements such as columns, beams, and staircases as a point of departure to explore alternatives of modernism.
Column
The Temple of Apollo
Neue Nationalgalerie
Rolex Learning Center
7th c. B.C
1968
2010
Default Column
Door
Roman Colosseum 70 AD
Santa Maria Novella
Villa Savoye
1420
1931
New technologies, economic restructures, and cultural evolution have transformed the architectural elements such as a door, window, stair, and column that together shapes the design of buildings. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Modernism emerged as one of the most influential architectural styles in history. In contrast to Classicism, Modernism focused on Minimalism, functionality, and the efficient use
Default Door
of space. The reminiscence of Modernism era is still prevalent today. Architectural elements developed during this era have become standardized and universal to the publics eye. Although the minimalistic characteristics of elements developed from Modernism provide efficiency, the style simplifies the functionality by creating architectural stereotypes.
Stair
Burgos Cathedral 1221
Roman Colosseum 1345
Villa Savoye
Default Staircase
1931
Window
Roman Colosseum 1345
Seagram Building
Toledo Glass Museum
1958
2006
With rapidly changing technology, contemporary architectural practice enters the phase of digital architecture and opens endless possibilities to invent new architectural functions. In order to challenge not only the perception on the functional use of elements, but also the stereotypical looks while maintaining rationality and efficiency, we propose to invent new architectural prototypes. The
Default Window
new architectural prototypes include a collection of experimental and ambiguous architectural elements that reconstructs existing styles, features, and patterns. The research focuses on eliminating the stereotypical function of an element by transforming and generating new purpose for architectural elements through digital modeling technology.
The standard architectural elements are explored to invent new perceptions and functions by using digital technology. Digital technology allows modeling and programing interactive in a virtual space where Architects can test and simulate creative structures. For instance, all the structures can be built in a digital space without restraints associated with materials and gravity. Through series of distortion and mutations, new prototypes establish non-hierarchical relationships that speak new purposes and create new bodily interactions. Ultimately prototypes will no longer be influenced by ceiling, wall, or floor, but will exist as separate entities, pertaining their own character and function. Photograph From Exhibition Room
Virtual Reality environment
Virtual Reality environment
? Does a column have to be straight? Does a column have to be stand alone? ......
Does a column have to be stiff? Does a column have to be strong? ......
OCTOPUS COLUMN
BUTTER COLUMN
TANGLED COLUMN
CURVED COLUMN
POSTNOTE COLUMN
SPIKE COLUMN
DEPRESSED COLUMN
WALKING COLUMN
ONION COLUMN
JENGA COLUMN
PUNCH COLUMN
TOWER COLUMN
BLOCK COLUMN
SHIFTED COLUMN
TWIZZLER COLUMN
SINKING COLUMN
CARPET COLUMN
ARM COLUMN
Photograph of 3D printed column prototypes
? Does the door have to be solid? Does the door have to be framed inside? ......
Does the door have to be flat? Does the door have to be operable? ......
BENDING DOOR
DOOR IN DOOR
FAT DOOR
FOLDING DOOR
HAIR DOOR
SLICED DOOR
TWISTED DOOR
BRANCHING DOOR
CROCODILE DOOR
HIDING DOOR
FAN FRAME DOOR
EXTRUDED DOOR
RUNAWAY DOOR
DIVIDED DOOR
PUZZLE DOOR
PINCHED DOOR
HUGGING DOOR
NOWHERE DOOR
Photograph of 3D printed door prototypes
? Does staircase have to be flat? Does staircase have to be straight? ......
Does staircase have to be going upward? Does staircase have to be solid? ......
BOWING STAIRCASE
DUPLICATED STAIRCASE
WIRED STAIRCASE
PUSHED STAIRCASE
PIXEL STAIRCASE
SLICED DOOR
CURVED STAIRCASE
WAVY STAIRCASE
JUMPING-RAILING STAIRCASE
LIFTED STAIRCASE
FURNITURE STAIRCASE
CONFUSING DOOR
RAMP STAIRCASE
HALF STAIRCASE
PULLED STAIRCASE
CARVED STAIRCASE
SHIFTED STAIRCASE
AEROBIC DOOR
Photograph of 3D printed staircase prototypes
? Does window have to be confined? Does window have to be thin? ......
Does window have to be stiff? Does window have to be completed? ......
BUBBLE WINDOW
BENDING WINDOW
DANCING WINDOW
FALLING WINDOW
PINOCCHIO WINDOW
SPLLITTING WINDOW
SHY WINDOW
PROJECTED WINDOW
ESCAPING WINDOW
IMPLIED WINDOW
FLIPPING WINDOW
SHADOW WINDOW
TANGLED WINDOW
STRETCHING WINDOW
EXTRUDED WINDOW
ROTATED WINDOW
PROTRACTOR WINDOW
DISGUISED WINDOW
Photograph of 3D printed window prototypes
ANN ARBOR MIDDLE SCHOOL Middle School Design Fall 2016, Arch 522
Digital technology has rapidly changed our world. The emergent of new media that Digital technology brings allows the possibility of changing current education mode. The project discusses how architecture can correspond to the digital trend based on a vision where all the education happens on smart boards. With the lightness and flexibility of smart boards, architecture will be able to provide a contradiction between visual and real world. The visual world constituted of the grid smart board system forms a field condition. The fluidity allows classes
and activities happen without a defined boundary. When architecture is reduced to surface and infrastructure. Only bounded spaces are staircase and bathrooms. Whereas the real world focuses on an object condition in consequence of materiality. Object condition is expressed as geometrics and relationships between them. Gymnasium, cafeteria, and auditorium are conceived as Identifiable figures which pulls people back from the visual world to real world.
Infants class, Lavender Hill School, south-west London, c.1925
The typical classroom nowadays is a enclosed room with podium for teacher, tables and seats for students. The enclosure defines the way of teaching to be one to many which reduce the engagements between students and teacher as well as the flexibility.
TYPICAL CLASSROOM
The School of Athens, Raphael (1509–1511)
Looking back to the origin of education, the School of Athens shows that education begins at a rather free and relaxing environment. Education does not have to happen in a confined “classroom“. Instead, a more flexible situation can contribute to interdisciplinary conversation and also allows students to form a comfortable space. The middle school should eliminate the bounded “classroom“ mode and provide enough flexibility to students.
New Classroom Prototypes
Self-study
Group study
Seminar
Lecture
System Prototypes
CORE I
CORE II
Auditorium
The building is fulfilled with filed conditions. Only circulation, structure cores
Swimming Pool
,swimming pool and auditorium are confined into strict shapes.
MASSING AXON
SITE PLAN
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
THIRD FLOOR PLAN
The first floor is serving as a terminal station for school buses as well as the dinning hall. Three stories are connected with the staircase and bathrooms. The column grids system on second floor creates a filed condition where activities are floating within the field. The double height corridor on the edge provides circulation to connect 2 confined spaces: Lecture hall and swimming pool together.
Section
The typology of the site provides an opportunity for students to take a break from digital world. The double height resting area at the end does not include screens system. Also the change of floor material brings students back to the real life.
Sectional Model
The section model shows the ambiguity created by the grids. Only the staircase and lecture hall is read as an confined object condition. Stairs also functions as the structure. Together with the trusses they creates an free floor plan on second floor.
North Elevation
Interior Perspective
Interior Perspective
REFUGEE CHILDREN’s CENTER PROPOSITION SPRING 2017 INSTRUCTOR: CLEMENT BLANCHET, JONO STURT
Each year, more than 10,000 refugees going to France because of all kinds of reasons. These refugees are from different countries. They have different cultures and languages. It has been a challenge that how to settle all of them within Paris city.
In proposition studio we are looking particularly at Paris refugee issue. What can architects do to provide the city with more friendly environment. How can architecture become a opportunity for people from different backgrounds to unite.
Global Refugee Immigration Map
Within all the refugees, the majority of them are under 34 years old and around 20% are under 18 years old. The fact arose an opportunity to design for children not only because children are easier to make friends even with different background, but also because children are the center of a family. They can be the bridge to connect their families. Therefore, the project is proposing to build a Children’s Center which includes playground fro children as well as space for their parents.
Form Diagram
Site Plan
First Floor Plan
Axonmetric
The building sits at the center of street. The entries locates at both side of the street providing full accesses to the public. The first floor is mainly used for children, where they can have multiple activities in the courtyards. The second floor is for parents. The study area for parents offers refugees an opportunity to be employed. The double height children’s center can be also viewed from all different directions which provides the security to children.
Bo Zou Master of Architecture 2018, 1823 McIntyre Street, Ann Arbor, MI Email: zoubo@umich.edu Tel: (734)-548-7398