SEARCH FOR NORMALITY IN DISTORTION

GUIDED DISTRACTION

INSTRUCTOR: REZA NIK

COMPLETION: DECEMBER 2020

TYPE: ACADEMIC

TEAM: MELANIE CHU, JAYHON DAI

RESPONSIBLE: CONCEPT, SURVEY, PHYSICAL MODEL, FINAL DRAWING,POEM

This recent project explores the discourse of adaptability and distortion in response to the current pandemic and the new definition of “normal” life. The emergence of COVID changed people’s life significantly. It subconsciously leads to a change in our physical behaviors, collective behavior, public policy, architecture, and urban landscape. Subsequently, these infrastructural and political changes will have an impact back onto people’s behavior and slowly become a new norm and way of living.

In this project, I work with two group mates to formulate the concept together, and each of us finding our own response to the topic through different mediums, word, sound, video,2D, and 3D. At the final stage, we combine as a group to envision the new “normal” after the urban deconstruction.

This is an ordinary day, but it is not normal. Everything seems to continue, but everything stop. When did our smile is covered by the mask? When did the cold wall erected to separate us apart?

The radio report made me feel flustered, Are we doing too much to make the earth suffered? The city was turned into big cages, We have been trapped to reflect on what we behaved.

Will the life stop in this chaos?

And we can only find light in this darkness. How many countermarch backs fight for our safety, Staggered solo in silence with uncertainty.

When spring returns, Let's meet up to talk about your unfinished story. When the clouds dispel, Let’s ramble on street that we used to walk together. When you return, Let’s hug… a big big one.

Material: The plasticity of the balloon and rubber helps to express the idea of distortion that progressed from twisting, compressing, and squeezing. We are socially isolated and lived in our own bubble; an invisible barrier is formed and controlled by those in power. Lastly, space collapsed and deformed, and we are finding a new way of living an abnormal life.

Distorted City: The city is growing wildly in an abnormal direction; The definition and the boundary between spaces are blurred. I used an abstract language to translate the absurdly quality through different juxtapositions of programs. The office is combined with the home. The church is placed inside a classroom, etc. This work is presented along with an audio piece; the audience is invited to have an immersive experience of the new spaces. Despite distortion is exaggerated, the internal chaos and mixed program are real.

Naval Deployment In Strait Of Hormuz

SUSTAIN IN MILLITARY ORBITS

INSTRUCTOR: MILES GERTLER

COMPLETION: JUNE 2021

TYPE: ACADEMIC

TEAM: NANCY WU, HARRY GONG

This project explore a dynamic urbanism growth driven by the political powers.

The Strait of Hormuz is a geopolitical point of international tension. Close to one-fifth of the world’s crude oil is supplied by Gulf countries that rely on unimpeded travel through the Strait of Hormuz (which is only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point), making the strait “The jugular of global economy”.

The site is act like a theatre, where the global powers are the directors, mobilizing the smaller actors and setting forth a series of vigorous events.The nature of the urbanism around the Strait of Hormuz is a very geopolitical one, and the infrastructures built around the region correspond with one another and are interconnected to form a tight functioning system.

Furthermore, the urbanism bears some uncertainty. Because allied countries agree to provide military assistance to, their civilian airports and sea ports can become sites of US military preparation when asked for.Elements such as conflict of religion, arbitrary bombing, oil pollution, nuclear sanctions, etc, inform the decisions made in this area everyday and is reflected in the disciplined urbanism that takes shape. The urbanism extends beyond being a physical site-- it instead encapsulates the marine, the aerial, the intangible telecommunication networks, that collectively serve naval deployment and maritime security in the Persian Gulf.

PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

SERPENTINE REVIVIFIED PLAN

INSTRUCTOR: SONJA VANGJELI

COMPLETION: DECEMBER 2019

TYPE: ACADEMIC

Kensington Garden

Kensington garden is a royal park in London. As the “Green Lung” in London’s urban landscape, we can imagine a city without the aristocrat, but not without this park.

This project investigates different landscape strategies throughout history and proposes a visionary solution with sophisticated consideration of indigenous culture, history, and society.

Before Kensington garden is established, It was originally part of Hyde Park, used as the hunting ground of Henry VIII. In 1689, the Kensington garden was separated from Hyde Park and became the royal family’s private residence, while Hyde park remains public. Many landscape techniques had been used to separate the Kensington garden(private) and Hyde Park(public). The diagram below shows the two most important strategies throughout history.

Forest

The location is undeveloped until the conquer of Roman. Wild animals were the only inhabitants of those vast wildernesses.

It was originally used as the hunting ground of the Henry VIII. It was enclosed as a private hunting ground until James permitted limited access to gentlefolk.

Queen Anne worked along with gardener Henry Wise took 30 acres from Hyde Park, to create an English-style garden and added the Orangery next to the palace.

The major change of the garden. Queen Caroline took another 300 acres form Hyde Park to produce a new centerpiece round pond.

The ha-ha was filled in 1837 and West Carriage Drive became the new boundary and connector of Kensington Garden and Hyde Park.

King separated the park from Hyde park, renamed it Kensington Palace as his main home in London.

Bridgeman created the Serpentine in 1726 by damming the eastern outflow of River Westbourne from Hyde Park. The Serpentine is now known as “The Long Water“

The ha-ha landscape dig-in boundary between Hyde Park and Kensington Garden was authorised by Queen Caroline in 1730.

Kensington Garden sits on the heart of London. It is now a multifuntional open space which provide a green oasis for the bustling urban citizens.

Kensington Garden

Pedestrian Volumn

high low

Hyde Park

Princess Memorial Garden

Nowadays, the Kensington garden is a dynamic and vibrant public park that provides relief for the bustling London citizens. My study explores how water is used as a landscape tool to shape the garden design.

There three main body of waters in Kensington garden, and each water had a distinct function:

Diana Memorial Garden: is built for ornamental and as a botanical garden, so the pedestrian pathway is deliberated design, and the movement of the visitor is limited.

Round Pond

Round pound: serves as the center of the garden. It is an attraction that gathering people from all around the garden.

The Serpentine: separate the pedestrian flow of Hyde Park and Kensington garden. It plays the role of a soft boundary for the division.

Princess Memorial Garden

Order

Vegetation Adjustment

Lower the bushes and plant to ensure transparent view on two sides of the river bank

Round Pond

The Serpentine

Cluster Seperation

Lack of Safety Rail

Lack of guardrail on the boardwalk. Hard or soft boundary is needed to prevent from accident.

Artificial Wetland Separate Circulation

Create wetland to enhance the biological diversity of the park and create a habitat for local fauna and flora

West carriage drive is the only crossing within the center of the Hyde Park and Kensington Park. Both cars and pedestrian share one passage.

Current Condition

Forces Of Change

Major URBANISATION

There was 8% increase in proportion of UK population living in urban areas between 1970 and 2018.

POLLUTION

Diffuse air and water pollution continues to have a severe impact on the UK’s sensitive habitats and freshwaters. New pollutant threats continue to emerge.

LOSS OF LOCAL SPECIES

LANDSCAPE INFRASTRUCTURE

Build exterior seating and installation art for gathering and increase vitality to open space

The UK’s biodiversity is declining 15% of species are threatened with extinction from Great Britain 133 of 8431assessed have already become extinct from Great Britain

SINCE 1970 ..

More species have seen their population decrease than increase :

41% 33% 26% have decreased little change have increased

Minor LACK OF GURDRAIL

OPEN PARK

Blur the hard edge and boundary and disperse the pedestrian flow from oxford street into the park.

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

Separate the traffic and pedestrian circulation and provide an unique perspective to enjoy the wetland.

ARTIFICAL ECOLOGICAL FIELD

Soften the edge of the river bank, and create an suitable habitat for local species.

LONG WALKING DISTANCE

Lack of safety infrastructure on the boardwalk. There have been accidents in the area before. Most of the routes in the park are car prohibited. It takes approximately 25 mins to walk through the Serpentine and 1h20mins to take a round of the park.

With the aim to alleviate three ongoing issues facing by London, urbanization, pollution, and loss of local species and tackle some of the potential hazards happened in the serpentine, the design proposal is to build a wetland along the serpentine and build a wooden pedestrian bridge across Kensington garden and Hyde Park.

The proposal aims to naturalize the edge with local plants and recreate a suitable habitat for the indigenous animals, at the same time forming a soft boundary for safety. The pedestrian bridge is designed to shorten the walking distance and separate the traffic circulation from pedestrians, but more importantly, it provides accessibility for the public to experience the bio-dynamic of the wetland from different viewpoints.

Plan A: The proposed edges of the garden. The wetland become a soft boundary while create an ecology area for the local species.

Planting Strategy : Planting local species at the appropriate zone in order to create a suitable habitat for the local animal.

A-Auquatic Bed Habitat : The place close to the water is used for aquatic bed habitant, where the plant is mostly underwater and won’t block the view.

B-Wetland Habitat: The project takes advantage of the descending slope to create a wetland. Each area will plant the appropriate species that list above.

Toronto In 2046

FUTURE CITY

INSTRUCTOR: JESSE LECAVALIER

COMPLETION: MARCH 2019

TYPE: ACADEMIC

This photomontage serves as a speculative tool to communicate the future appearance of King street, Toronto. From my imagination, the continuous urbanization and technology development will transform the king street into a bustling fusion of commercial and entertainment district.

The Refresh Market

CALLOWHILL NIGHT MARKET

COMPLETION: JANUARY 2022

TYPE: SCHENK-WOODMAN COMPETITION

The Refresh Market is designed to revivify the vitality and regional identity of the site. The vibrant lighting ensures its safety at night and makes the area an exciting place for night out. In addtion, the neon light wrap around the region as a ribbon, highlighting the area as a recreational center, and most importantly bring the pedestrian flow to the nearby business.