MArch Application Portfolio-Shijia Huang

PORTFOLIO Shijia Huang 2016 — 2021

Application for MArch Architectural Design The Bartlett School of Architecture

Applicantion Number: 22186834

For me, architecture is more than just buildings. Architectural design is a creative and critical tool that connects social practices with building materials to imagine future relationships. The portfolio contains my academic and professional works as well as personal thinking and self-motivated works. It represents my understanding about architecture.

Contents

01 Radical Art: The Weaving Theatre London, UK | Individual Work | 2018

02 Living the Dream: Meditation Centre London, UK | Individual Work | 2017

03 Into the Coral Shanghai China| Professional Practice + Self-Motivated Work | 2020

04 Refresh Together Shanghai China| Professional Practice | 2021

05 Retro Avant-Garde Shanghai China| Self-Motivated Work | 2021

06 Mimilato Gelato Coffee Shop Shanghai China| Collaboration with 建筑大王claudeverett | 2021

07 The Ice Shelter Beijing China| Individual Work | 2016

08 SUNAC Hefei Mixed Use Development Beijing China| Professional Work | 2019

Plural marriage

Be burried (alive) with the dead

Taoist School A unique presence concept in China which describes how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are actual complementary, interconnected and interdependent in natural world.

-Yin and Yang (feminine and masculine)

Confucian School -Male superiority to female -A woman without talent is virtuous -Three Obediences and Four Virtues

Foot-binding (Existing for a long time in China. Greatly ruined Chinese women mentally and physically) -The smaller the better -Bones deformity build up muscles, which is beneficial to give birth -A woman is property of man

Gender Race and Repression through History

Conceptual model of the chosen cultural practice History | Identity | Trauma | Violence | Stand up | Protection

01 Radical Art: The Weaving Theatre UAL 3rd Year Project Location: Coldharhour Lane, Brixton, London Tutor: Ursula Dimitriou & Dejan Mrdja

The Weaving Theatre is an atypical theatre which includes local shops and a performance space. Taking gender issue as a starting point, the whole project was developed with the focuses of trauma, informal therapy, movement etc. The theatre is designed for the performers as well as those who need curing or relaxing, where they can feel safe and cherished. The building includes spaces for different people and can satisfy different user requirements, from public to private, from quiet and intimate to open and sharing spaces.

The weaving theatre was designed based on a process of healing programmatically and spatially. Weaving is a hair salon service in Brixton for men or women, which at the same time represents the process of “weaving” their lives and improving their quality of life.

Manifesto: Challenge dichotomy between male and female, audience and performers, on stage and off stage. becoming vocal about new experience in gender and being healed through performance therapy.

History of Brixton Riot

1981 Brixton Riot

1985 Brixton Riot

1995 Brixton Riot

2011 Brixton Riot

2017 Brixton Performative Site Research

An Incident Fire Brixton! ——Brixton Skateboard Park (2017) Our site research team acted as an initiator of provocation, getting involved with the local residents.

We made an installation and brought it on site to see how people react to it.

The flag was burned by the local people at the end of the day.

The scene was chaotic. The flag was burn to ashes. Some people even threw fireworks into crowd.

Fire Brixton video links: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/676598347 Brixton collage video links: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/676598564

Different Feelings Three different feelings after the incident in skateboard park

Hu was excited, kicking and playing with the burning flag.

Christina got angry when someone throwing fireworks into the crowd. They thought it is very dangerous.

Gender Spaces on Site

Different spaces for men and women (Hair salon & Barber shop )

I found this incident scary. They were shocked for the whole thing happened in a such short period. They did not feel safe and afraid of getting hurt.

Site Analysis

SITE Market Commercial Skateboard Park Public Open Area Health/Sport Centre Pedestrian Route Brixton Tube Station Residential Area

Interview and findings on site

Michael Johns (Security guard in Brixton) “Living in a place like Brixton, You have to make good, positive things to yourself.”

“Be strong as a lion. Be positive.”

Owner of a wig shop There are high immigrant population in Brixton, lots of local people has certain hair texture.

People need to go to barber shop and hair salons to make their hair looks better. They can also weave their own hair with the straight hair. The cheapest way is to come here and buy a wig.

Daniel (The local manager) Back then Barber shops and Salon were separated. It was like a community meeting place. The barber shop was not just about getting you hair done, but it was a place to talk about other life topics with your neighbourhood.

Programme References

Do we need to stay strong all the time?

When doing drag, people can be whoever they cannot be in daily life Paris is Burning A 1990 American documentary film. It chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the African-American, Latino, gay, and transgender communities involved in it.

Local Business

A “SAFE” Place

Informal Therapy

Shops

A place for local vulnerable people where provides an opportunity to heal them

Performance

Indoor Markets Bars

The process of making hair is a possible informal therapy

Conversation Scriptwriting

People may tell their own story and turn into a performance

The Brixton Gay Community Centre The community centre was squatted by people who were determined to come out into the clear light of day with a public statement of gay identity.

A women’s theatre company The women in prison tell their stories in front of a camera, the video clips were put together and turn into a short film.

Programmatic Strategy and Circulation Shops Related to Workshops Textile Shop

The Core: Theatre Script Writing Workshop

Performance Space

Costume Making Studio Bar

Recording Room

Makeup Studio

Hair Salon

Performance Space Hair Salon

Wig Shop

Shaping the process spatially according to the site

A process of healing within architecture

Within the process, people can choose the space wherever they feel comfortable

Conceptual Models and Analysis Private Entrance

Video recording room

Private circulation Leading to private shops A space for thinking back.

Meditation Uncover the scar

Public circulation From main entrance to shops and performance space

Main performance space

Shops with three different levels of privacy: private, semi-private, public

Bar at the main entrance

Iteration 1 A place for escaping from the world for a while.

Main circulation Shops View connection Circulation from private entrance

The private circulation leading to the upper floor, where is more quiet and intimate.

Make the shops on the first floor and the performance space connect to each other and become a whole space

The platform where people may access when entering the building from the private entrance

Shops on the first floor correspond to the shops on the ground floor

Iteration 2

Spatial Reference

In the book ‘‘Environmental Theatre’’, Richard Schechner put out a new theory of performance study. He shaped the space to conform each play and its theme. He used various ways to provide a wider range of space for the actors and the greater flexibility of interaction between the audience and performers.

Section Perspective and activities

Street Elevation

Rushcroft Rd

Mayfield House

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Rushcroft Rd

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London Hotel

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Coldharbour Ln.

1. Bar 2. Hair salon 3. Nail salon 4. Wig shop 5. Textile shop 6. Performance space 7. Storage 8. Toilet 9. Recording room 10. Office

Market Row

Ground Floor Plan

Ground floor indoor market

The main performance space where people can make their hair and nails while watch the performance at the same time. There are no boundary between audiences and performers.

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Coldharbour Ln.

1. Gallery 2. Hair zone 3. Textile zone 4. Toilet 5. Nail zone 6. Performance space 7. Storage 8. Fitting room

First Floor Plan

Coldharbour Ln.

1. Rehearsal room/ Dancing room 2. Wig making workshop 3. Costume making workshop 4. Toilet 5. Storage

Forth Floor Plan

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The bar at the entrance

Entrance of the building, the Brixton market is on the right hand side, and the stairs on the left leading to the Weaving Theatre

Hair salon on the ground floor

Second floor stand, where also can be a walk way

A stage on the roof. A lookout tower where you can scape from the world for a while

A gallery where place the records of the performance in the weaving theatre

02 Living the Dream: Meditation Centre UAL 2nd Year Project Location: Piccadilly, London Tutor: Andrew Friend

Reveal | Expose | Test | Speculate | Craft For the first part of the year, our studio started with getting acquainted with the location and the activities going on in this area, and then consolidating this information into a fragment. The arcades around Piccadilly drew my attention when I first visited the area. I was attracted by the perspective of the arcades and felt a sense of being swallow by the space. Why? What is governing this?

Who’s controlling this? What is behind these well-decorated arcade. Space?

Lure? Desire?...

The site is located in Jermyn Street, where is in the centre of London, near Piccadilly Circus. It is a church garden at the moment where I surprisingly find it extremely quiet and peaceful. Therefore, an idea of creating a meditation space took shape. The whole project consists of three parts, a public garden, a restaurant and a main underground meditation space. It keeps the original function as a garden where people can chat, eat or enjoy the nature elements.

The meditation centre is a place where people can spend some time on their own for a while and acquiring the inner peace.

Area Analysis

Views on Piccadilly Road

Views in Arcade

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SITE Piccadilly Circus Arcade Pedestrian Route

Population Density The site is located near Piccadilly Centre, where has a high population density.

Experiential analysis of the area When standing in front of the arcade, I have a strong feeling of being devoured, due to the spacial quality and the perspective of arcade.

Main service on site Exclusive shops Restaurant Observation of arcade

Urban green spaces There are limited green spaces near Piccadilly circus.

The site, which is a public garden, is a very precious green area.

Installation of arcade People may imagine what is behind the luxury goods in the glass cylinder

I was standing in front of a well-decorated arcade cylinder, the reflection of myself and the path was shown on the surface of the glass. I can’t help and thinking of what is behind these fancy luxury goods, why people always want more of these? what is governing us...

There must be different answers for different people. From my point of view, living in a materialistic society, I need to find the inner peace of myself in order to prevent getting lost.

Site Analysis

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Pedestrian Route

Market Entrance Weekend Market Church Bell Tower

Cafe Nero

Church Back Door Cafe Back Door Site Pedestrian Route

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Sight direction

St.

The site is an overlooked area

Decibels measurement

Circulation

Vegetation on site

Sound map

Programmatic Strategy

Uptight and formal work

Fast-paced Life

Garden

Desire

Busy city centre

Meditation Space

Keep the original function of the garden

Bar&Restaurant

Taking full advantage of the quiet environment and create a place for people to enjoy or even a place where allow people to escape from the world for a while.

Communal space for people to stay

Observation of people’s behaviour on site

Social events

A bunch of people chatting

A couple takes a walk

Parent-child playground

Have a quick breakfast or lunch

Reading

Go for a walk alone

Sketch Trees originally exist on site will them keep as they are. The buildings will be designed accordingly. After all, architecture should respect the nature.

Sketch Models

Iteration 1, using newspapers to test spatial relationship.

Development, be more specific about spaces above ground and underground.

The underground meditation space.

Initially there is only one meditation room and I changed it to several small meditation rooms later for more choices for people and less distractions.

Long Section

Reception

Jermyn St.

Ground Floor Plan

Kitchen Restaurant

Jermyn St. First Floor Plan

Basement Plan

Long Section

A perspective of the ground floor common space and the restaurant

Entrance of the meditation centre. The path leads to different meditation rooms.

A view from the restaurant

Meditation space

The ramp extended the function of the garden, which also leads to the restaurant on the first floor

The coral reef is like a vibrant natural city, it got texture, it got colour, it got movement.

—— Dr. Ruth Gate (Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology)

03 Into the Coral Atelier Forest + Self-Motivated Design Location: Shanghai China

The installation attempts to use space and interaction patterns to reflect the mutual influence and dependence of living creatures. As residents of coral reefs, fish cruise through the installation in the form of lights. Children who participating in interaction are physical reflections of the fish: participants can freely explore the special playground creating by different forms of coral on the site. Also, tapping the coral will trigger changes of light and sound.

We hope that the physical experience of interacting with coral installations can trigger participants to pay attention to the living conditions of coral reefs, to feel the close connection between humans and the ocean as well as marine life, and reflect on the impact of human activities on the ecological environment.

The second half of the design is based on my own interests after the research I did about coral. It propose a possibility of symbiotic relationship between human, algae and corals.

Background Current Situation of Coral Reef

Coral reefs occur in more than 100 countries and territories and whilst they cover only 0.2% of the seafloor.

Between 2014 and 2017 around 75% of the world’s tropical coral reefs experienced heat-stress severe enough to trigger bleaching.

For 30% of the world’s reefs, that heat-stress was enough to kill coral.

Bleached coral on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef near Port Douglas on Feb. 20, 2017 (reference: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/great-barrier-reef-hit-third-major-bleachingevent-five-years-n1166676)

Research Relationship Between Coral Reef and Human Foundation Species Human

Human

Benefits Coastal protection Preservation of biodiversity Fishing industry support Tourism support Medical research

Harm Ocean Acidification Warmer Temperature

Composition

Coral Reef

Composition

Coral Reef

Coral Polyps Photosynthesis + Algae

Expel Algae Coral Polyps + Toxic Algae

Coral Bleaching

Starving

Stress

Coral Morphology Coral Simulated Morphology Model

Hard Coral

Soft Coral

In Site Example

Barrel

Mound

Node

Vase

Rod

Flower

Globe

Rope

Node

Tube

Fan

Bushy

Coral morphology sketch for human activities

Coral Died

Coral Structure Coral polyp structure

Day time

Night time

Tentacle zooxanthellae Stomach Skeleton

Coral polyps are under protected mode during day time. Algae inside polyps receive sunlight and provide energy for polyps

During night time, coral polyps using tentacles to sense the environment and catch prey in sea water.

Interaction between coral and human

Behaviour Input sensor Output feedback

Get into the cabin-type inflatable, weight changes in space Gravity sensor Lighting effects with breathing gradient effect, sound effects

Swing, push and pull the inflatable, causing the structure to shake Vibration sensor Gyroscope When an inflatable is triggered, the light will change from low to high, the surrounding lights in inflatables will spread accordingly.

Pad on the inflatables

Sitting on lower corals

Vibration sensor

Stretch sensor

Light changes

Lights in the inflatables start to flicker spreading from a single point

Stay for a period of time in the gap between the two inflatables Laser sensor Ultrasonic sensor Light colour changes on the spot

Concept: Marine City Large scale and human smaller A city which is alive and sensible Its’ growth and expression relate to human interaction

Narrative

When night fell, the land turned into a fantasy ocean, and a colourful coral reef appeared on the square. As children approach to it, they suddenly transformed into marine creature, swirl through the coral reefs. The corals also become excited because of their arrival...

Simulate the color of coral by using gradient colors

Fabrics

Material Test

PVC sheet

PVC with mesh cloth

Oxford fabric

PVC sheet and inflatables

Materials under lighting effect

单片机分布

Sensors

LED灯带

LED灯带 LED灯带

LED灯带

LED灯带

LED灯带

LED灯带

LED灯带

LED灯带

LED灯带 LED灯带

LED灯带

LED灯带

LED灯带 LED灯带

LED灯带

380v AC

LED灯带

LED灯带

LED灯带

LED灯带 LED灯带

LED灯带

LED灯带

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Vibration sensors Gravity sensors

Plan of sensors

Testing and Making

On site Construction

Lighting test To mimic the colourful ocean world, we designed serious of lighting effect, and run several tests to see the material and lighting performance.

Photo of the Scene

Further Development (Self Motivated Project) Inspiration of the coral The corals and algae have a mutualistic relationship. The coral provides the algae with a protected environment and compounds they need for photosynthesis. In return, the algae produce oxygen and help the coral to remove wastes.

reference: https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/zooxanthellae-and-coral-bleaching https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_corals/media/supp_coral02a.html

Coral polyp

Algae

Human

Algae

Coral Reef Restoration Materials

Biorock materials are the only marine construction material that grow, get stronger with age, and are self-repairing. It not only grew hard limestone rock for structural purposes, it greatly increased growth of corals and all marine organisms.

Coral Reef Restoration Process

Reference: https://www.globalcoral.org/to-rebuild-coral-reefs-quickly-just-add-electricity/

Base on the inspiration from coral and the materials using for coral reef restoration, I came up with the idea of designing a device, where people can live in and contribute to the growth of coral reef at the same time.

Pipe that connects beyond the ocean Buffer area, where elevator can take people to the living space under the sea Outer structure, where provide a foundation for coral growth Second tier structure to hold the container for algae storage, also can be the foundation for coral growth Modular design, channel to connect different living space Waterproof and breathable bag to store the algae

Axonometric

Rendering with Unreal Engine

Algae Elevator

Main living space for human Algae storage cell

Secondary living space for human

Main floor plan

Cross section

04

Refresh Together! dongqi Architects × Miller Harris Location: Shanghai China

Among humans’ five senses, smell is a special one. Believing that the common memory created by sense of smell will not fade as time goes by, we designed this pavilion.

Composed of several sets of inclined cylinders, the pavilion is light and dreamy.

As aroma itself is invisible, the pavilion is supported by a carefully designed tensegrity structure system. It is detached, suspended, and almost hidden at the height of the human nose, completely becoming a surreal aroma-carrying space. Each set of aroma-carrying unit is made up of two steel cylinders that act as a tensegrity structure. From different directions may come two strangers.

As they run into each other right here, they may activate the aroma reminiscent of nature by chance. From the intersection onwards, strangers will continue to walk in different directions. Smell connects them, in more than one dimension.

Creating / Recalling Smell Memory In the era of epidemics, wearing masks has become a daily life for people, and the nose has become a sensitive part. Under this circumstance, we want to design a installation for everyone to refresh together, so that people can leave refreshing memories in random encounters.

Generative Logic

Force Simulation

The installation is located at a bustling crossroad, people can easily enter from different direction.

The structure is stable without applying horizontal external force

When external force is applied in the horizontal direction, the structure is unstable

The steel cable restricts the movement in the horizontal direction, so that the entire structure remains stable horizontally and vertically

Simulate the force situation through grasshopper (kangaroo)

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Retro Avant-Garde Self-Motivated Project

This project stems from my thinking on human and nature in my life.

I choose to express the relationship between human and nature by learning from Salvador Dali, who was one of the great pioneer artists of last century.

Storyboard For some reason, there is always a feeling of me wanting to escape. It has probably been going on for a while, but I don’t know exactly when it started.

At this moment, the endless noises outside the window gave me the urge to escape from the city.

As James Hillman in his book: “The world has become toxic.” Buildings are sick, institutions are sick, schools, streets are sick. We live in a world full of toxins!

I was in a taxi one day, feeling suffocated by something, taking a deep breath, and really tasting the exhaust in my mouth.

Humans invade the land, invade nature, and at the same time, are invaded by these invisible and intangible toxins made by ourselves. Physical damage will gradually affect the mental and psychological health of human beings.

I don’t know why human beings always go to great lengths to change nature.

Just then, I got a message from my friend Nana, who lives in inner Mongolia.

In the video Nana send me. I saw two people from weather bureau is firing rain-proof cannonballs into the sky.

As an architectural designer, I realize design has always been “Human centred design”.

However, nature and human beings should be unified.

Salvador Dali, The Persistence of Memory, 1931, Oil on canvas, 24.1 x 33 cm. Museum of Modern Art, New York. Given anonymously.

Mixing surprising and incoherent fragments of reality, Dali painted with detailed accuracy a confusion in which objects merge and exchange places.

By imitating Dali, I want to express the relationship between human and nature with surrealism.

Development Sketches Using the blood vessels inside human heart to form the heart shape and connecting the heart to the root of tree.

Iterations

Different iterations of the heart shape when doing 3d printing with clay

Interaction

Normally, the whole device stay still, the its’ eye stay close. However, when people come close and put a living plant into its body, its’ eye will open up and the heart will start beating.

06

Mimilato Gelato Coffee Shop Freelance Project

I was collaborated with 建筑大王 claudeverett as a site architect in this project.

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mimilato drawing set © 2021, claudeverett

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mimilato drawing set © 2021, claudeverett

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mimilato drawing set © 2021, claudeverett

mimilato drawing set © 2021, claudeverett

mimilato drawing set © 2021, cl

mimilato drawing set © 2021, claudeverett

Structural Silicone Sealant

Valsassina, Italy https://claudeverett.or

Valsassina, Italy https://claudeverett.org

© ALL RIGHTS RESE

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Limestone(same with exterior wall)

Structural Silicone Sealant

Plywood(45°)

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Current Door Head Oak Countertop

Plywood Window sill 30x25wood 12mm Structural Silicone Sealant

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Water Proof Tape

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30x50 50x50

Oak Countertop

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50x50

30x50 Wooden Block 50mm Low Density Cork Board

50x50

Mimilato x Coucou

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Ruomi Plywood

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Mimilato

12mm Plywood

上海市长乐路1251号

EQ

Structural Silicone Sealant Tyvek Flashspun HDPE Fibers

Patchwork

30x50

±1.1m(From Indoor Finish)

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Structural Silicone Sealant

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Oak Countertop

Plywood Slope

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上海市长乐路

Window Sill

Ruomi

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施工图

±1.1m(From Street)

Shutter Door Track

Shutter Door Box

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5mm Edge Trim

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竖向木方全部50x50，窗框连至角钢

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内部框架调整

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Playwood

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High Density Cork Board 墙体平面放大

Exterior Skirting Extend into Interior

Brass Edge Trim 1:10@A3 Exterior Skirting Extend into Interior

30x50 Wooden Block

外墙

±0m (Indoor Finish)

1:2

A3

A3.1

Tyvek Flashspun HDPE Fibers + Water Proof Tape

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GroundT Leveling 20/7/21 4

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07

The Ice Shelter 2nd Year Project (Beijing)

The aim of the project is to create a shelter using cardboard in high efficiency.

The Roman architect Vitruvius in his treatise on architecture, De Architectura, asserted that there were three principles of good architecture: Durability, Utility, Beauty. Taking this into consideration my design utilises the triangle as a basic form and combines this with the techniques of the art of origami. The design sought to create a sense of enclosure and safety and whilst also expressing the structure in a poetic and elegant form.

Development

Initial sketch with origami

Planar stereoization

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Small cuts for lighting

Connection between the cardboards

Simplified, turn into one surface

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Split into smaller triangles to increase supporting force within the plane.

Small cuts for lighting at the top

Retail Plans

Selected Professional Work

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SUNAC Hefei Mixed Use Development Concept Design| Preliminary Design| Detail Design Location: Jinxiu Avenue, Hefei, China

In this project, I was participated in the retail and arena design process.

Arena Facade Design - Exploded view

Perspectives Show the entrance and the relationship between arena and retail part

Elevations

Detail Drawings

Elevation Drawings

Thank You