THRESHOLD ZHANG SHUYU +86 13330498148 zshuyu99@126.com Self-introduction video link：https://youtu.be/9-Ov4Bm_Jr4
The psycological and symbolic effects of imaginary line of border were more powerful than its physical appearance. Rem Koolhaas
01 COLLIDING DISTRICTS China and Myanmar share a border close to my hometown, so the national border line is my earliest memory of the boundary. Two places were divided by a line, but people on both sides could exchange goods and ideas by using transportation. The boundary keeps being built and broken, and the cycle goes on and on, presenting a dynamic process. Boundaries, therefore, could be thought of as active regions of connecting and separating rather than lines of delineation. In one of my studio work, a four-floor collective housing in Tokyo, I tried to clarify a series of spatial boundaries between privacy and publicity existing in people’s dwellings. The necessary in-between realm is thus as much of the individual as it is of the community. Then I started to explore the boundary of cities in China through the competition of residence design in a countryside area. Instead of transforming rural areas into dense urbanized cores, I focused on establishing a coexistence space that satisfies both the demand of urban life and traditional characteristics of villages. The edge of the city is no longer a hard separation, but a soft, permeable transitional space that can penetrate each other. Boundary could connect the past and present ideologically as well. In my studio work of replanning an abandoned area near the historical city center of Turin,Italy, I found out that the preserved fortification nowadays is actually composed of several fragments in different periods. The boundary was the result of superposed history, an invisible surface which witnesses the constant development of the city. Building an inclusive and open urban, social, and cultural boundary truly requires the academic rigor of MSc, which emphasizes a trans-disciplinary attitude connecting architecture and other disciplines. During the two-year program, I could acquire the theory and research-based design approaches that help me ground and justify radical ideas in the theoretical framework and the physical reality to build my own architectural logic. From the creative concept design to the rigorous construction of architecture comprehensively, BK City's strong educational resources across disciplines could allow me to seek more opportunities to improve the built environment.
from motivation letter
Musealization of the ruins of Kells Priory in Ireland
02 SHIFTING PUBLIC EDGE Theater center in Paris
03 SENSORY INTERFACE
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Urban planning of abondaoned royal garden in Turin
04 IN-BETWEEN REALM * Mix-used residential building in Tokyo
* Collaborative work
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01 COLLIDING DISTRICTS
YAC Art Cathedral Competition 2022 Individual work Musealization of ruins of Kells Priory Site: Kells Priory, Ireland Area: 3 ha Situating at Ireland's rural landscape area, the Kells priory consists of an immense waning meadow surrounded by tall walls with mighty bastions. To the north, overlooking the river, are the vestiges of a church with the unmistakable features of the Irish Gothic. The monastery has been destroyed and rebuilt three times, due to changes in the contemporary religious regime, and it can be said that the building is a tale about religion and war Reflect on the future of Kells Abbey, beyond its role as a national monument for visitors and tourism. This ruin should become a place where memories of the past can be exchanged and contemporary culture perpetuated. A place that can be transformed into a place of tradition and innovation, a space of contrast between the ancient and the modern. With respect for the past, the new is integrated into the old, changing the future of the cultural heritage I was inspired by the broken pointed arches and roofless vaults of the ruins, which evoke the long history of the monastery and sublime spaces. Combined with the rational logic, the arch element was repeated and deformed according to the old church order, forming a new building complex to communicate and continue the history experience
Element Broken walls scatter in the ruin record life of past
Space Reserved transept evokes the memory of medieval age
Old Gothihc Art
New Comtemporary Art
Reclaim ancient cathedaral with comtemporary architecture The ruins of Kells priory are in fact the product of artists, creative talents and visionaries called to God’s cause to use the best of human technology to celebrate the mystery. The ancient sacred architectures could be reused as places where contemporary cultural innovation can be hosted again, to evoke the historical experience
1 Wall
2 Semi-wall
The arch is used for circulation and facade construction
The semi-wall is transparent and used in open space
3 Dome The cycloid dome produces soft sky light for exhibition
COMMUNICATION
1 Wall
1193 Kells priory was founded by Geoffrey Fitzrober
B
2 Semi-wall
1239
C
Kells priory was burned by Sir William
A 1300 The 7 houses were built for fortification
1352 The priory was secondly destoried by Edward
1893
A
3
Kells Priory became a National Monument
A: Typical Latin cross plan
B: Centric crossing tower
C: Open north transept
The circulation of the old priory is organized along the traditional Latin cross plan. One side for religious use, another side for daily life
T he cho i r f o r p r ay i n g w i th small arch windows is at the intersection of two orthogonal axis. It is the highest tower and accessible to four directions
The last bay of transept remains decorated arch windows and continuous arch corridor that connects outdoor courtyard and indoor church
3 Dome
The arches are used for framing the space Inspired by the ruins of Kells priory, three forms of arches are selected and combined to generate open, semi-open, and enclosed spaces in a continuous motion
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Old ruins New construction 0.5 c
c d a b1 a
b1
b2
b2
b3
b3
Proportional
New Courtyard
a
b
a
A B a a
b
b
A
New Roof
B
Consistent
c1
c2
a
5
c+d
0.5 c
c3
b
New Portico
Gradient
New corridor
Assemble
c4
a
b
a
Site plan 1:1500
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The new circulation follows the order of old cross plan Kings River
Exhibition hall
Watchtower
Manager room
Old chapel
Old corridor
B
Exhibition hall
Cafe
Exhibition
Ruins
Bridge Old portal
Exhibition corridor New watchtower
New arch corridor
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Old courtyard
New courtyard 7 A
A
Fragments of ruin
Workshop
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9
6
12
4 10
Lounge Office 3
11
5 2
3
2
1
B
1 Outdoor ruin 2 Arch corridor 3 Ruin 4 Exhibition entrance 5 Pool 6 Exhibition 7 Old nave 8 Old chapel 9 Watchtower 10 Exhibition exit 11 Cafe 12 Manager room
Ground Floor Plan 1:400
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8
Cafe and Office
Exhibition hall
Watchtower
Exhibition hall
Section A-A (east-west axis) Solid comtemporary exhibition space within the old ruins The axisis contains comtmporary exhibition space which accommedate "top and bottom" exhibition unit respectively. The two naves are connected by crossing tower, enda at the newly built cafe and offce building
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Outdoor arch corridor
Arch corridor under vault
Old chapel under glass roof
Section B-B (north-south axis) Transparent corridor connects the old and new The corridor aligns with the old church vertial axis. Three sizes of arched range from large to small are organized in the open, semi-open, closed space respectively
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The arches are arranged rhythmically on the continous wall
"Up-down" exhibition hall with new and old The old courtyard is enclosed by new walls and arched corridors
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To maximize the value of ruins, the new contemporary exhibition box is floating on the old church fragments: The ground floor is totally opened and used as an outdoor exhibition area protected by arched partitions; the upper floor is divided by arch modular walls and used as a contemporary museum
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1
1 Roof 2 layers of bitumen roofing felt 24mm groove boards 100mm ventilation cavity 100*100 rafters 20mm bitumen-impregnated softboard 220mm cellulose insulation 120*220 mm pulins 24mm open boarding 2*10mm plaserboard810
4
2 Exterior wall 25mm painted mineral render 365mm perforated clay masonry 15mm gypsum board lime-coat render 3 Floor Marble floor covering 10mm hot-rolled asphalt 45mm cement screed 20mm impact sound insulation 200mm reinforced concrete floor slab
2
4 Window Metal window with double glazing
5 Reserved structure 5
2
3
3
The use of lightweight clay masonry guarantees the structure safety of old ruins
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02 SHIFTING PUBLIC EDGE
Individual work 2022 Theater center design Site: Paris,France Area: 3400m 2 "A movie theater needs only a projection booth, an auditorium and a screen; but behind Radio Clty's screen stili exists another realm" --Radio City Music Hall, Delirious New York,Rem Koolhaas La Défense and Arc de Triomphe is located on the main axis of the city as a new development area of Paris. The area is crowded with high-rise buildings and countless office buildings. A theater center is needed without delay As a public building, the flow and function of a traditional theater is not so open. People enter the performance hall from the front hall, the flow is relatively single, and there is no opportunity to communicate with others The project accommodates a wide variety of performing arts spaces, from a hall suitable for symphonic music to a fully open festival venue that caters to all types of musical events. Meanwhile the public spaces surrounding the theater from top to bottom vertically offer citizens a stage for daily life
The void space is changing according to the adding and subtracting of solid cube
5 Gallery-Terrace
5
4 Theater-Theater
4 Theater combined with daily life
Vertically organized theater circulation
3
Main concept: Theater could be accessible for everyone
3 Square-Sqaure
2 Chamber
2 Rehersal-Theater
Stage
1 Audience
Fronthouse
Stage
Backstage
1 Entrance-Gallery
The shifting public edges along the main circulation Singular circulation within traditional theater space In a traditional theater black box, the three main parts of the theater: font house, chamber, backstage, exist independently without any interaction
BELOW HOUSE
Theater: a social condensor for citizen
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CHAMBER
ABOVE HOUSE
The organization of public area is based on the scale of each theater
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3
8
Site Plan 1:2000
1
Square
Office
2
9
4
7
5
Terrace
6
Square
Gallery
Gallery
Cafe
Above House Public space Interconnected
Chamber Performing soace Closed
Below House Backstage Articulated
1 Main entrance 2 Reception 3 Cafe 4 Reading stair 5 City hall 6 Gallery 7 Meeting room 8 Office room 9 Fire stairwell 10 Toilet 11 Staff Entrance
Redefine the circulation of theater combined with public space Three theaters are independently and interconnected simultaneously: the house below is responsible for the actors, the chamber is for watching and performing, and the above house consists of public space which are linked together in the whole building
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Ground Floor Plan 1:300
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Theater variation Put various sizes and form theaters into cubes at different levels
Void creation Make the void as a big city stage that consists of theater and daily life
Visitor circulation Create the loop for public visit, enabling the publicity of the building
Flow diversion Arrange the main entrance in the west facade, and stuff entrance in the north facade
Daily life insertion Integrate daily life activities which encircling the theater black boxes vertically
Outdoor connection Connect the building with the surrounding to make views of Seine River
The atrium is the stage for the city and citizen
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Standard Floor Plan 1:300 Juxtaposition of two theaters: The atrium connects Grand theater and nightclub
Proscenium-arch Stage in spherical playhouse
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Vertically planned theater space
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Section
Diagram
Plan
Lower part
Theater as actor of daily life
Entrance hall space
Middle part
Theater and daily life are connected by void space
Rehersal room& Open area
Upper part
Theater as daily life
Sky terrace & Roof garden Daily Life VS Theater
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Average Day at the theater 27
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03 SENSORY INTERFACE
Politecnico di Torino 2022 Spring Design studio -Architectural and urban design in Aurora,Turin Individual work Instructor: Carlo Deregibus carlo.deregibus@polito.it
Site:Turin,Italy Area: 8.5ha
The aurora area is about one the most intriguing areas in Torino, the Royal Gardens. There, an historical wall divides two sides of the city:a physical,social,economic and perceptive separation enhanced by the architectural and functional between the upper and lower gardens The project renovated the abandoned public park under the royal garden through defining functional and nonfunctional requirements for various types of users whose preferences rarely were consistent with each other, and to define the cultural values of the area. The historical architectural elements are extracted and transcripted into present language, to create an imaginary past and collective memory of locals Between the real present and real history, People are placed in a fictional past, a historical memory processed through architectural elements.By understanding the difference between the imaginary past and the real past, people can locate where the world is today
To make a space full of traces of the past in a completely new way
Settlement
Abandonded park at historical city center The Aurora area is located at the historical center of Turin, closed by ruins of ancient fortification and one main road of the city. The origin of the fortification wall dates back to the Roman empire period, undergoing three times of enlargement and several times of redesign for defending. The overlapping fortifications provide evidence of technology of the military in different periods. Then in the 19th century, affected by "European phenomenon" that means the island-like urbanism reached the end, the wall was gradually demolished
Reminiscence
1st century B.C.
Middle Ages
Early Modern Ages
19th Century to our age
The Romans founded Au g u s t a Ta u r i n o r u m about 25 B.C. The city was enclosed within a power ful defensive square, and four gates were built on the four sides and connected two streets. The forum was located at the intersection of two axes
The French dominated the city in the 16th century and planned Turin as the capital city of the Savoy dynasty. In order to adapt the appearance of gunpowder, the triangular shaped fortress and thicker walls were designed for stronger fortification. A pentagonal citadel was planned at the west-north corner of the city
In this pe riod the city has undergone three-times e nl arge me nt. Piazza Re al e , Palazzo Reale, and Via Nuova were added along with the first enlargement of the walls.And the building arcaded Via Po, connecting Piazza Castello with the bridge on the Po through the regular street grid in the second enlargement
The fortification was demolished, only some segments were preserved near the Royal Palace. The old city area changed from a princely privilege to a space of public service and pleasure. Turin was once planned for the capital city of Italy, further districts were developed for salubrity and convenience
Roman wall
Wall segregation: Abandonded park&Royal garden Nowadays, the preserved wall has become a tourist point for visitors and the boundary of the royal palace and royal garden. In this sense, the six meter height wall separates the area into two parts: The upper garden which was designed by André Le Nôtre. He proposed two axes in two directions in the garden. The lower garden came out after the corso Regina margherita was built as the outring of Turin. The prototype of the lower garden was given by the moat, and it was used to be the expansion of the royal garden, the royal zoo. However, it was almost abandoned until in 1867 reprogrammed in a centrosymmetric style
SITE
Monument
2nd Enlargement
Community 3rd Enlargement
The wall witness the history of Turin
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Typology
The axis
Axis as intersection
Axis as visual corridor
Axis as building
The Forum
Forum wtih old and new
Forum with various floors
Forum in human scale
The Tower
Tower as mirrored history
Tower as vertical connection
Tower in plan organization
The Order
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Reinterpretation
Order for facade expression
Order for enclosed space
Public park
Market
University
Factory
Walk the dog in the morning
Procurement of living materials
Activities in campus
Work from day to night
Visit the historical building
Experience the moment of past
Enjoy the sunlight
Hang out with friends
Royal palace
Sabauda museum
Royal garden
Shopping center
Order as viewfounder
The heritage is activated by transcripted them within new spaces
Two kinds of target people along the wall:Tourist and local
Four types of elements range from urban scale to architectural scale are extracted from the context of the wall, and transcripted into different forms to reproduce the history with social requirement
The wall divides two sides of the city: a physical,social,economic and perceptive separation enhanced by the architectural and functional difference
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Node
Formation
Site as public park(1914-2022)
Site as royal zoo(1861-1886)
Site as moat(17th century)
Overlapping memories coexist on the site
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The spaces on three nodes imply the historical spatial logic combining reality The method is to help to create a completely new approach to designing with ancient ruins, but also to create new way of forming spatiality
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Define corridors a:respecting of history Three Axis connect history and present. They start from the historical monument, and end at the present functional building
b:continued urban texture
The grid continues the urban texture of two sides to break the separation
Divide symbolic area The site is divided into three parts following the developing sequence of upper garden
Generate new identity Three new cores were sited such that they would not obstruct views from within the historical building
Ground Floor Plan 1:3000
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New spatial organization surrounding the monument
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Node 1: Enclosed space at the end of wall The linear stair and amphitheater connect the upper Royal Garden, Bastion verde, and Theater Rai
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Node 2: See and be seen
Node 3: Watch tower
Three historical axes converge at the node. The triangular pavilion provides a view with an arched frame to the old wall far away
The tower provides the highest view point of the surrounding area. The horizontal building accommodates neighborhood life
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04 IN-BETWEEN REALM
Politecnico di Torino 2021 Fall Design studio -Building Construction Studio Corperated with Xing tongxin, Lin juan, Wu kexin Role in team: reasoning, modeling,design and drawing Instructor: Walter Nicolino walter.nicolino@polito.it
Site: Tokyo, Japan
Area: 320m2
The bubble economy in Japan triggered a rise in housing prices and the spread of single culture, and the new generation in Japan gradually moved from the one-family buildings that were everywhere to compact apartments in the city. But the small apartment does not allow two generations to live together, and the relationship between parents and children becomes distant The site is located on the outskirts of Tokyo, the edge of the city center and the countryside, implying a constant turnover of housing.There is a need for closer communication between the new generation and the older generation, I tried to address the issue focusing on the combined ways of each units The three-floor mix-used building provides four units for two families, connecting with the big terrace in different heights above the ground. The particular layout balances the demand of both privacy and publicity. And on the ground floor, the office and public space offer a "free-space" in the society. All neighbors could share the cafe behind the office, chatting with friends
Apartment buildings with shared space combine the best of both housing types
Social changes have led to changes in Japan's housing structure In the past fifty years, large changes have happened among Japanese families. The land price in Japan increased rapidly because of the economic bubble;Elderly people passing away and young people moving to cities increased vacancy rates. The housing market is gradually leaning towards apartments instead of single family houses unit a
A: Single family house
B: Multiple-unit building
High quality public space
Flexible staking units
During the 20th century, most Japanese lived in one single house with their family members. They owned a large shared outdoor courtyard in the form of closed or semi closed. And roominess which provided more area for double height, attic,storage space
close
unit a
unit a
stagger
unit a
unit a
lock
unit b
unit a
rotate
unit a
unit a
parallel
unit b
Compared to the single family house, apartment blocks accommodate more inhabitants per unit and decrease the construction cost. The simple layout also satisfies all kinds of users like students, couples, singles. They can choose personalized housing according to their requirement
People tend to move from one-family buildings to apartment buildings
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MAXIMUM VOLUME
The resulting volume meets the requirement of setback (2m north and 3m from east)
UPPER APARTMENT
Two apartmetns are arranged in th rest of space
Ground Floor Plan 1:300
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1 Cafe 2 Office Entrance 3 Reception 4 Office area 6 Toilet 7 Manager room 8 Engawa 9 Apartment entrance
GROUND FLOOR OFFICE
An architecture studio and retail are arranged on the ground floor
SHARED TERRACE
The terrace connects two single apartments for the young and the old in a family
STREET-FACING FACADE
OPENNING & SHADING SYSTEM
The outdoor stairs are tapered to continue the notion of connection
The renovated "Engawa" are created according to the function
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Open sky terrace
Private living room
Transitional shared balcony
Unit 1a Floor: 1th -2th Area: 60m2 User: Mika 26yrs Description: The living room equips with flexible furniture and the small movie room provides a relatively private space for user
Transition of spaces is realized by shared balcony
Public
Unit 1a Floor: 1th Area: 80m2 User: Kato 71yrs Description: Good lighting and ventilation with semitransparent glass for activities of elderly people from day to night
Mika
Yuri
Mikuto and Juro Private
Niki
Kato
The public and private hierarchy provides life with diversification
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Unit 2a
Floor: 3th Area: 55m2 User: Yuri 60years Description: Linear plan with mezznine which accomodates Chashitsu (Japanese tea room) for friends
Interpenetration of living space and public space
Unit 2b
Floor: 2th-3th Area: 124m2 Us e r : Mi k u t o a n d Juro Young couple Description: The lower floor is planned for working and public use. The study room is divided into two parts for two people which is independent. The upper floor is used as bedroom and leads to terrace
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Flexible unit layout promotes communication between two generation
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Window: Aluminum sash Wired glass 6.8mm Clear glass 5mm Perforated Aluminum louver
Sliding door: Aluminum sash Vertical standing seam Polycarbonate panel 3mm
Roof: Wood beam 120*150mm Rigid insulation foam 30mm Structural plywood 12mm Rigid insulation foam 30mm Cement excelsior board 12mm Adjusting bolt stainless steel M12 @910mm Alaska cedar 27mm @110mm
Exterior Wall: White metal panel 3mm Aluminum supporting profile Vertical ventilation furring strips Vapor-permeable membrance Structural plywood 12mm Glass wool insulation 120mm Structural plywood 12mm Cement borad 15mm
Floor: Janpanese oak flooring 15mm Underfloor heating 12mm Structural plywood 12mm Rigid insulation foam 30mm Structural plywood 12mm
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