Shelly Zhu Portfoli o | 2 0 1 2
“Design cannot save the world, but it can make the world worth saving.�
SHELLY
ZHU
Contact Info: shelly.l.zhu@gmail.com (214)566-9284 The University of Oklahoma: Norman, OK College of Architecture Bachelor of Interior Design Minor in Architecture and Business Honors OU Academic All-Star Nominee Who’s Who among American Universities and Colleges 2012 OU College of Architecture Outstanding Senior Dean’s Honor Roll President’s Honor Roll Patricia L. Edison Memorial Scholarship 3rd Place, 2011 IIDA Houston Student Design Charette 1st Place, 2010 & 2011 IDEC Student Competition, OU Who’s Who in American High School Students AP Scholar Award
Skills Software: Revit, AutoCAD Architecture, 3Ds Max, Sketchup with VRay, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign Hand Rendering: graphite, colored pencil, marker Physical Model Building Bilingual: English and Mandarin Chinese Good sense of humor Work well under pressure Extremely motivated
2 | Shelly Zhu
Design is a process. I have known since I was only fi ve years old that I am going to be a designer. I believe that everyone has an opportunity to discover their path in this world, and once you do, there’s no looking back. I find myself constantly drawing upon the wealth of my observations: in Italy for example, traveling through numerous cities and towns unerstanding cultural patterns, and China, where I have come to have an even deeper appreciation for the arts and my heritage. I see architecture, interior design, and urban design as practical forms of a fine art in this ongoing process of discovery. This discovering not only teaches me more about my path towards good design, but about myself and how my place in society is refl ected in the way that I see, think, and feel about my physical environment.
Contents Urban Renewal PuYang Eye Hospital Shanghai Museum of Music New Orleans Health Center Internship Work: Fossil, Inc.
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>>knitting society together
URBAN RENEWAL Norman, OK Project Brief: Sponsored by the University of Oklahoma School of Art and Art History and the College of Architecture, “Knitting Society Together” is a Presidential Dream Course concentrating on urban design and revitalization. The class, however, was more than a textbook study of the particulars of city planning; both interactive and interdisciplinary, it is an exercise in synergy and innovation with the goal of improving our already eminent city through community fostering design interventions. The class is composed of nine students and three professors, from the respective fields of Architecture, Interior Design, and Graphic Design. Drawing from these different concentrations, we began by exploring different potentials for community development, and researching how other cities successfully utilized to design to achieve these goals. The research reinforced the importance of our class objective: preserving culture, ethnicity, and geographies of communities through rethinking, reusing, and revitalizing urban spaces. Through the generosity of the University and the initiative of our professors, our class has had the distinct pleasure of hosting a series of lectures and forums by acclaimed professionals working in the fields of community-oriented design, art, and architecture. Our guests included wayfinding expert Kelly Kolar of Cincinnati, Landscape Architect Warren T. Byrd (whose recent work includes the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA Memorial), Architect Philip Durham, internationally renowned conceptual artist Mel Chin, Bennet Peji (Graphic Designer and co-founder of the AIGA Center for Cross Cultural Design), and visual artist Kianga Ford. In addition to the trip and lecture series, we spent the first several weeks of class researching our own community, and how community-fostering design might be applied here, in our own backyard so to speak. Each week, we would take turns preparing and presenting over topics like the history of downtown, the demographics of the community, the stakeholders, the importance of branding and wayfinding, the impact of public art, and most importantly, how we might foster a sense of empathy and unity in Norman through the establishment of literal “common ground.” From these factors, we developed the story for our designs to convey. It is both a story about Norman’s past, and most importantly, its future.
4 | Urban Renewal
Aerial View of Norman, OK Univerisity of Oklahoma - Downtown Norman
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The Grove
Court House
The Station
Legacy Trail
Railroad
The Circle
6 | Urban Renewal
The Circle enables the future development of James Garner into an axis that connects the University and downtown Norman. As the most viable option for a north-south connection, James Garner/Jenkins has incredible potential to create a physical and symbolic relationship between city and campus life. We propose this is done with a mixed-use, walkable development. By moving the stretch of James Garner from Apache to Main Street forty feet to the southwest, we create enough room east of the road for two-story buildings, a road with parallel parking on both sides, and wide sidewalks hugging the ground-floor retail. The traffic circle proposed at Apache is located to maximize the connections between Norman’s existing assets. With Legacy Trail to the East and Campus corner to the West, the traffic circle will create a secondary axis and a strong connection for neighborhoods northeast of campus. We propose a simple code: minimum street width, regular tree spacing, a set awning depth and building height. This sustainable model will allow for flexibility in programmed space and offer a unity and intimacy for the potential development. n tow wn Do To
Considerations:
Security
Walkability
Health
Urban Sprawl
Neglection
Transportation
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To Campus
Based on SmartCode for New Urbanism
Existing site conditions >
“The development at The Circle hopes to change to rules of engagement between nature, culture, and pedestrians by modifying existing urban proportions and creating a pedestrian-friendly scale.�
8 | Urban Renewal
Wayfinding & Signage Systems A clean, effective wayfinding system is one of the most important and necessary applications of branding for the intervention. A series of posts that reference existing signal structures near the train crossings were designed. The posts are important for both navigating the district as well as Norman itself, and help to encourage a more cohesive relationship between campus and downtonw, and certainly benefit first-time users, therefore improving the potential for tourism. The signage system also includes pedestrian stations, which will be helpful for people walking from node to node. Both solutions draw from a defined color palatte as well as abstracted references to train signal vernacular, in form or fabrication. The wayfinding system will serve as an open template, so that the edition of future nodes in later development phases can be easily incorporated into the prexisting systems.
Campus Corner Gaylord Memorial Stadium University of Oklahoma
SIGNAL D I S T R I C T
The Circle The Station Arts District The Grove
SIGNAL D I S T R I C T
SIGNAL D I S T R I C T
>>a collaborative research project with Texas A&M Architecture and Southeast University, China
PUYANG EYE HOSPITAL PuYang, China Project Brief: Puyang is in need of an Eye Hospital. The idea consists of a place that encourages good eye health, provides medical services to the community, and helps create an all service hospital with all services, while maintaining the profession appearance of a hospital. Many spaces will be multi-functional with the hopes that the community will feel encouraged to become comfortable within the hospital. The reception/lobby will not only serve as a place to sit and wait, but will house a cafe, waiting areas, a retail shop, and its own information library. The building will contain LASIK procedure equipment that will be accessible to the patients from the community. Also included are patient’s rooms where examination and diagnosis will take place. To provide for a healthier and happier environment, natural lighting will be used throughout the space. All of the areas are geared toward calm and relaxing environment since hospitals are stress inducing. The goal is for all patients to be able to come and be able to do everything in one place. By having exam rooms, LASIK, and a pharmacy all in one place patients will be able to take care of all their needs and not have to go multiple places.
10 | PuYang Eye Hospital
Aerial View of PuYang Eye Hospital Southwest View
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12 | PuYang Eye Hospital
Primary arterial Secondary arterial Existing buildings Phase 1: Eye Hospital- Outpatient Phase 2: Inpatient Facility
Community park & garden
Entrance to underground parking
Biking/Walking Path
Mech. Office
Office
Office Check Out
Auditorium
Library
Waiting Room
Check Out Classroom
Consultation
Office
Office Med Room
Med Room
Med Room
Med Room
Med Room
Cafe Supply Room
Reception
Waiting
14 | PuYang Eye Hospital
>>exploring shape grammar through musical inspiration
SHANGHAI MUSEUM OF MUSIC Shanghai, CN Project Brief: This project was a study exploring the concepts of shape grammar and form in the context of a museum. The task was to select a site anywhere in the world, decide upon what the museum would display and come up with study models that emphasized relationships between three different floors, and how circulation patterns often affect the form of the interior. While traditionally we are faced with designing an interior from a provided core and shell, in this project I was able to design the exterior based on my interior choices. Key issues that were focused on included transition between exterior and interior spaces and how they relate, as well as how to define a persons’ experience from within a building. The solution I came up with was having the building become a part of the exterior circulation patterns. The first floor is esentially two parts that create a walkway through the building. This allows patrons to approach the building from several different locations, thereby encouraging complete interaction between the site and the building itself. Furthermore, exterior spaces compliment this interaction, as seen in a second story rooftop cafe that can be accessed from both within the building as well as directly from outdoors. Lastly, my passion for music was the driving inspiration that helped define various elements of the museum’s volumetric design.
16 | Shanghai Museum of Music
Aerial View of Shanghai Museum of Music Southwest View
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18 | Shanghai Museum of Music
Primary arterial Secondary arterial Existing buildings Proposed site of Shanghai Museum of Music
Shanghai Exposition Museum
Civic Center
“Shanghai is a city of vibrant neighborhoods. As it positions itself for a future of rich opportunities, it is redefining the way community happens. ” Site Feasibility Study
Shanghai Grand Theater
People’s Square Park
Shanghai Science Museum
Location | The museum is located in People’s Square in downtown Shanghai, China. The site is in the middle of the arts district, surrounded by a large opera and performance hall, several museusm, and art galleries in the area, offering other activities for guests who would like to combine the museum experience with other recreational opportunities. People’s square is also located on top of the central subway station where every subway line that runs through Shanghai meets, making it extremely convenient for tourists and even locals who take the subway to reach. Major bus lines also stop at People’s square, and is an easy place to catch a taxi. Setting | People’s Square is not located in what one would consider a “traditional” Chinese setting; the architecture surrounding the site is very modern and unique. Also, within walking distance, one would reach the Outer Bund which outlines the bank of the Huang Pu River and where the landmark building of old, European Shanghai are, making the site chosen ideal for a mix between cultures. Fast Growing | The Shanghai metropolitan area has more than nineteen million people, and is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Popular Tourist Destination | Some 131 million tourists visited China in 2007, with total spending of over $160 billion US dollars. The wide range of attractions include The Bund, Nan Jing Road, Cheng Huang Miao, and PuDong. Shanghai’s PuDong International Airport is currently the busiest Chinese airport in terms of total passengers handled, with 17,518,790 international passengers handled in 2007, and over 1,000 flights a day. Appealing Climate | Shanghai experiences on average 1,878 hours of sunshine per year and an average annual daytime temperature of around 76 F. The average number of rainy days is 112 per year, with the wettest month being June.
20 | Shanghai Museum of Music
musical elements
design translation
_inection _melody _crescendo _whimsical _tempo _stacatto _pitch
_accents, asymmetry _organic lines, movement _height and depth, thick and thin, contrast _organic, playful shapes, gradients, delicate _emphasis _repitition _bold, rich elements
Volumetric Study Models >
>>a holistic approach to promote community health through the built environment
NEW ORLEANS HEALTH CENTER New Orleans, LA Project Brief: The New Orleans Community Health Center was a group project for the 2011 IDEC student competition which required complete site research and analysis, programming all the way through interior finishes and furniture selection. From the completed program, several points emerged that would guide the design process. The first was a progression of spaces from public, open, and noisy to private, closed, and quiet. The second was the emphasis of the health center as part of an entire complex that encourages both healthy living, diet, and excercise in one site. The third was a capitalization on the idea of the health center becoming a tool of “rebuilding” the New Orleans community and becoming a cornerstone of a new medical infrastructure so desperately needed there after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The design is executed by conciously analyzing LEED contributions, particularly those of site selection and FF&E selections. The user is greeted at the front reception desk where he or she can wait over to the side. A multifunctional learning classroom is located at the front of the building with the idea that patrons on the sidewalk can look inside through the storefront windows and see what is going on. Circulation paths through the rest of the space is what drove the rest of the design; locating the nurse’s station in an easy accessible spot was crucial. Of course appropriate clearances that comply with IBC and ADA were incorporated to complete the design of the New Orleans Community Health Center. Software: AutoCad, 3ds Max, Photoshop Awards: 1st place in 2011 IDEC student competition, University Level
22 | New Orleans Health Center
Aerial View of New Orleans, LA Lower Ninth Ward District
Primary arterial Secondary arterial Existing buildings
Biking/Walking Path Proposed Parking Proposed location for health center (adaptive reuse) - Community Health Center - Gym - Health food market - Children’s activity center - Health cafe
Neighboring Tenant
Proposed factors supporting health center location: Local Demand The minority and lower class populations of New Orleans are severely lacking medical attention after the devestation that occurred from Hurricane Katrina. Obesity related illnesses, mental health, and local morale in the community demand action. Social and Science Interplay By bringing a sense of social justice to medicine, the community health center hopes to provide a better life for residents, as well as foster a renewed sense of community growth and pride. Change When given the opportunity to come together as a community for good health and fair care, the goal is for the masses to work together to initiate change in both their personal lives, the lives of their children and loved ones, and for their community as well.
24 | New Orleans Health Center
>>store planning and design intern for a global retailer
FOSSIL, INC. Richardson, TX Description of Responsibilities: As the summer 2011 intern at Fossil, Inc., I worked closely with interior designers, visual artists, architects, and construction managers on both domestic and international projects ranging from 250 square feet to over 5,000 square feet. My responsibilities included the planning of each of the five different Fossil concept stores: Clothing, Accessory, Outlet, Lifestyle, and Watch Station. I drafted 2D layouts, reflected ceiling plans, preliminary design development packages, and completed numerous 3D renderings for storefronts, interiors, and custom fixtures. Part of my responsibilities also included working on custom fixtures for several of Fossil’s licensed brands like Armani, Michael Kors, and DKNY. I was lead designer and part of the company’s research team to develop a concept for a temporary leather goods trade show held annually in Italy. My final design was selected for the trade show, which was held September 2011. As a Chinese-speaking intern, I was especially helpful in developing two stores located in China where I was in correspondence with the director of realestate for Fossil Asia.
26 | Fossil, Inc. Internship
Good design encompasses both technical and creative facets, and seeks to achieve a more holistic solution. I believe what separates the good from the great designers is this embrace of the total process of design. Being creative by nature, yet technical in mind, I have found my undergraduate studies in interior design to be the perfect outlet for me as a free-thinking individual. I have a strong passion for the art and discipline of design, and it is this passion which drives me to continually seek an increased knowledge of the field and the many avenues on which it can lead me— a constant journey. This journey has in every way pointed me to pursue a path in urban planning and development. While I will be coming from a background in interior design, I see that as a unique foundation for my subsequent studies in urban design, since urban architecture is ultimately a reflection of the total process of design. It encompasses architecture and interior design through understanding their relationship as part to whole of the bigger urban fabric, especially in a collective sense, as we as designers struggle to achieve social harmony— always searching for a balance between our pragmatic desires for efficiency and our aesthetic drive for beauty. It is this dwelling in the process of design that will continue to propel me forward in my development, a journey I have greatly enjoyed thus far and will continue, no looking back. Shelly L. Zhu
SHELLY
ZHU Senior Portfolio- 2012