Landscape Architecture Portfolio Sifei Liu
E: sifei@iastate.edu / sifei000@gmail.com T: 515-708-7238
RESUME
Sifei Liu E: sifei@iastate.edu T: 515-708-7238 Add: 170D University Village, Ames, IA
Education
Internships
Iowa State University (ISU) (2009 Fall – 2014 Spring) Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (out of a 5-year program) (Accredited Landscape Architecture Program by ASLA) ASPECT Studios, Sydney, Australia 2013 Summer ( 1-month ) A unique internship experience combined with professional practicing and travelling. Assisted with background research, graphic presentation, CAD drafting, booklet layout, site visiting. Projects involved: 71 Macquarie Street, Terry Street Planting Plan Development. ASPECT Studios, Shanghai, China 2013 Spring ( 4-month ) Semester Away program required by the university. Assisted in background research, schematic design, detail development, graphic presentation, CAD drafting, digital modeling, documentation, booklet layout, site visiting, clients meeting and presentation. Projects involved: Yinchuan State Guest House, Greenland Dalian, Chongqing CBD, Guangzhou Yanjiang Road Project, Vanke Kunshan Water District, and Chengdu International Garden. Turenscape Design Institute, Beijing, China 2012 Summer ( 2-month ) Worked closely with a team formed with architects, planners and landscape architects. Assisted with site analysis, schematic design, graphic presentation, CAD drafting, digital modeling, and booklet layout. Projects involved: Hohhot Agricultural Leisure Sightseeing Park, Sichuan Jinghua Business District. Genus Landscape Architects, Des Moines, IA, USA 2011 Summer ( 3-month ) Iowa Living Roadway Community Visioning Program. Joined a one-week digital drawing training. Assisted with mapping, questionnaire survey, site visiting, goal setting meeting, charrette, schematic design, graphic presentation, final report meeting. Projects involved: Monroe community, Madrid community.
Experience
Tutor, ISU Student Success Center
2009 Spring-2014 Spring
International Student Ambassador, ISU
2009 Fall-2014 Spring
Design Collaborative Peer Mentor, ISU College of Design
2011 Spring-2013 Fall
News Illustrator, Iowa State Daily Student Fund Raiser, Iowa State Foundation
2012 Fall 2012 Spring
Honors & Awards
Skills
Arthur R. and Clare M. Merkle Endowment for Excellence in Urban Design International Student Ambassador Scholarship
2009 to 2014
International Incentive Scholarship
2011 and 2012
President Incentive for International Student
2010 and 2011
InDesign Photoshop Illustrator AutoCAD ArcGIS Sketchup Rhino 3D BonZai 3D Cinma4D
Layout Drafting Assessment/Research 3D Modeling 3D Rendering
Drawing Modeling Photography
Hand Graphic/Modeling Recording Basic
Reference
2013
Efficient
Advanced
Chris Razzell, ASPECT Studios, Director, AILA. E: chrisr@aspect.net.au T: +61-3-9417-6844
Carl Rogers, Iowa State University, Associate Professor, ASLA. E: rogerso@iastate.edu T: 515-238-5143
Jennifer Grafton, Iowa State University, LEED AP. E: jgrafton@iastate.edu T: 515-294-5676
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CONTENT
Competition
Academic
Professional
Outside the “BOX”
01
“ The Connected City ”
02
Mapleton Community Redevelopment
03
Americana Patio
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Type Year Location Collaboration
Type Year Location Collaboration
Type Year Location Collaboration
Design Competition 2013 Fall Dallas, Texas, USA Individual Work
Academic project 2013 Fall Mapleton, Iowa, USA Mapleton Community, 09’LA
Academic Project 2014 Spring Des Moines, Iowa, USA Individual Work
Professional Practices Type Year Location Collaboration
Internship 2013 Spring, Summer Shanghai, China & Sydney, Australia ASPECT Studios (Shanghai & Sydney offices)
“How I See the World” Type Year Location Collaboration
Model / Drawing / Photograph 2009 - 2014 Varies Individual Work
United States China
Japan
Cambodia
Australia
Project Study
Internship Travel Born
I have a belief that a good designer should always be on their way to explore the world---that’s how we touch beauty, that’s how we understand the miracle of cultural diversity, and that’s how we know the way to be a real designer. Design is a lifestyle that I am studying, living with, and walking with my dream of being a designer.
“The Connected City� Type Year Location Collaboration
Design Comeptition 2013 Dallas, Texas, USA Individual Work
Dallas is urging for a bond between its downtown area and the Trinity River. The aim of this competition was to solve the existing problems and providing strong linkages. Standing from the point of an observer, the CBD and Trinity River is already connected physically, as you can always find a way to the river if you really want to. However, the disconnection is majorly from the hesitation or doubt---Is it worth going through all those uncomfortable spaces (overhanging freeways, massive parking spaces, dark tunnels, etc.) just for the purpose of getting to the river? The Trinity River Project answered some of the questions by creating a naturally recreational destination and this design answered the rest.
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SITE ANALYSIS INFRASTRUCTURE BUFFER
IMPERVIOUS AREA
GREEN / OPEN SPACE
PROPERTY VALUE
EXISTING
TRAIL / TUNNEL
Freeway Rail Road
Bike Path Pedestrian Tunnel
Transportation infrastructures become the physical barrier of this disconnected city
Pull the pedestrian out of the tunnel. Building a Greenway system to connect the city and nature while providing human scale experience.
Push the busy infrastructure underground. Cleaning up the traffic barrier and redevelop an underground fast transportation system.
Green Space Trinity River Restoration
Large impervious area with disordered parking space
Low - High
Great natural restoration resource, but disconnected with downtown green spaces
Growing population leads to housing pressure, and downtown is an expensive leasing problem due to land value
Stitch a piece of nature back into the city as the commons backyard. Create a bond between downtown and the river front restoration.
Build a new, vibrant, full service community along the river front. Ease the housing burden while guiding people from downtown to the river with a new lifestyle.
POTENTIAL
Disconnected biking/ pedestrian connection between downtown and river
Building Foot Print Surface Parking Parking Structure
STRATEGIES
Pull
Grow a new layer in the city, which acts like a sponge to reduce storm water runoff while increasing the living environment. Underground Parking encouraged.
Push
+
Grow
+
Build
Stitch
+
+
=
PROGRAMMING
CBD Roof Garden Mixed - Residential Dallas Central Green Trinity River Corridor Major Traffic
Underground Traffic Entry / Exit
A smooth linkage starts in the city with green roofs, pocket parks, large commons “backyard� towards the riverfront natural restoration
A new vibrant community would stimulate the economy, which links the river front to the city with a strong invisible economical bond.
From working, shopping to living and nature observation, you can find the strong connection between the city and the river by enjoying different activities.
Activity Link
Greenspace Link
+
Economic Link
+
VISUALIZATION
Work Living Wall
Greenway
Greenroofs
Open Space
Underground Transportation
Trinity River
Relax Live
Breath Urban Forest
Community Redevelop Type Academic Project Year 2013 Location Mapleton, Iowa, USA Collaboration 09’LA & Mapleton Community (Graphics used here are individually produced)
Mapleton is a small town located in eastern Iowa. The peaceful community suffered a lot after 2011’s tornado. Our studio aimed to provide design ideas to redevelop the community as a vibrant living space once again. The whole class was divided into 3 large groups: Neighborhood, Lighting, and Trail design to work on different problems. I was in the neighborhood group and focused on open space design with another team member, Xinan Liu. Community members worked together with us by providing site tours and valuable suggestions. Our design aims to develop a complete open space system by proposing multilevel open space for the west neighborhood.
02
SITE ANALYSIS Our area of focus is the west neighborhood, which was destroyed in 2011’s extreme tornado. By introducing 3 pocket parks and 1 major common greenspace, 86% of the neighborhood would experience enjoyable access towards a muti-scale of open spaces which provide different programmed activities.
MULTI-LEVEL OPENSPACE
Private Back Yard
The major common green, West Park, is located by the end of Monora St, which is also a lower location to collect the storm water. By discussing with the Trail Group, 2 pocket parks are located along the proposed trail to fulfill the needs of rest. Another small pocket park is developed to meet other needs according to community member requirements. REGIONAL CONTEXT
Pocket Park/Corridor
FOCUS AREA
3
4
Commons Green 1
2
SMALL OPEN SPACE NODES 1
POCKET PARK - Sports Field + Amphitheatre
2
POCKET PARK - Trail Rest Zone + Senior Rest Zone
3
POCKET PARK - Trail Rest Zone + Senior Rest Zone
- Small sports field at day - Community amphitheatre at night - Group gathering open space
- Trail stop - Senior Resting - Small communal space
- Trail stop - Senior Resting - Small communal space - Working together with the other trail stop as a small trail park system
WEST PARK
4
A’
A
West Park is the major common space which provides a variety of opportunities for community members in different age groups.
A
The central mound provides an interacting elevation change to this flat area. Picnic, kids play, and general seating areas are created to enrich activity opportunities. Bike racks and drinking fountains give the bikers a cooling moment.
A’
STORM WATER LANDSCAPE Storm water collection and detention is another consideration for the West Park design. West Park is located by the end of Monona St, which is also the lowest spot of the whole focused area. A small wetland is designed to collect storm water and also to provide a aesthetic natural view to the West Park. The bioswale along the pedestrian path works together with this detention area as a water management system. All plants are carefully selected to help with the water purification and also create an enjoyable view.
Americana Piato Type Year Location Collaboration
Academic Project 2014 Des Moines, Iowa, USA Individual
The Americana Restaurant & Lounge is located along the Locust Street in the heart of the Western Gateway Park of Des Moines, Iowa, adjacent to a vibrant public destination--- the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden. The scope is to design a outdoor dining room and living room for the restaurant, providing a seamless transition from the interior to exterior dining space. The restaurant is featured with a historical red brick facade, which is also the design language I continued into the outdoor dining space. The area of focus is 42’x75’ and will provide seating for 50 guests. This project has been completed in LA482, which is introduction to construction details and documentation.
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G
PLANTING PLAN
Professional Practices Type Year Location Collaboration
Internship 2013 Varies ASPECT Studios ( Shanghai &Sydney )
Selected internship works with ASPECT Studios during the 4thyear “Semester Away” program. Practiced both in Shanghai and Sydney. Each graphic is labelled with detail task and credits. The copy right for this section belongs to ASPECT Studios.
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71 MACQUARIE STREET, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Internship with ASPECT Studios, Sydney My Task: Site Visiting, CAD Drafting, Photoshop Rendering
Paving
Canopy
Seating
Cafe
VANKE JIANGYAN ROAD, GUANGZHOU, CHINA
Internship with ASPECT Studios, Shanghai (Architecture drafted by Vivi Dan) My Task: Section Representation with Photoshop This plan was drafted by ASPECT Studios, Shanghai C
A
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C’ B
C
B
A
B’
A’
B’
C’
NATIONAL STATE GUEST HOUSE, YINCHUAN, CHINA Internship with ASPECT Studios, Shanghai My Task: Site Visiting, CAD Drafting, Photoshop Rendering, Diagram producing with Illustrator
This image was created in cooperation with ASPECT Studio, Shanghai My task: CAD Drafting, Photoshop Rendering
This Image is a photograph from a paper sculpture I designed.
How I see
“ How I See the World � Type Year Location Collaboration
the world...
Personal Works 2009 - 2014 Varies Individual
Design is not a tool but a lifestyle, and I use drawing, modeling and photography to help me find the lyric of design. I am a designer, and I am also a recorder.
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Thank You
E: sifei@iastate.edu / sifei000@gmail.com T: 515-708-7238