TOM NIU PORTFOLIO
CONTENT LINEAR MUTATION
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ON TOPOGRAPHY
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SHED OF SHEDS
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STEEL FABRIC
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LIBRARY LITE: EXOSKELETAL
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E G O / A LT E R E G O
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SITES
SYSTEMS
E X P E R I M E N TAT I O N
LINEAR MUTATION AUD 413 Housing Studio Instructor: Roger Sherman Fall 2017
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AUD 413
SITE MODEL 1/16"= 1' Bending and twisting the bar to challenge the monolithicity of the bar
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HOUSING
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AUD 413
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This housing proposal for the LA 2028 Olympics is located within the hear t of Frogtown on t h e w e s t e r n b a n k o f t h e L A R i v e r. W h i l e investigating housing typologies in the context o f Lo s A n g e l e s , I a m c h a l l e n g i n g o n e o f t h e city’s own precedents - Michael Maltzan’s One Santa Fe - in how the monotonous monolithic bar is used to aggregate housing unity in an absolute rectilinear form. The linear bar is formally and organizationally transformed create interstitial spaces at
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the scale of the site as well as the typical cluster(segment) to produce a wide range of community spaces. The intent is break the monotonous rhythm of the bar while maintain the visual identity and unit of a collective singular building(s), through the bending the bar at the master plan scale, sliding and shifting the unit segments at the cluster scale, and the wrapping of the building in a continuous, yet dynamic roof/façade that responds to unit density and pattern of public and private spaces.
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HOUSING
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AUD 413
SEGMENT MODEL 3/16"= 1' Bending and twisting the bar to challenge the monolithicity of the bar
The linear side-by-side accumulation of units is manipulated to oscillate in plan and section perpendicular to the long axis. Resulting unit-scale interstitial pockets produce smaller semi-private/public spaces that are engrained into the linear building.
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HOUSING
Single Storey Direct Access
To w n h o m e Roof Access + Ground Access
2-Storey Ground Access
Bar Envelope
2- Storey Roof + Ground Access
2-Storey Overhang Roof Access
3-Storey Ground+Roof Access
4-Storey G r o u n d + Le v e l 2 A c c e s s
4-Storey G r o u n d + Le v e l 4 A c c e s s
The roof's torsion fur ther challenges the flatness of a bar by creating cross sectional variations throughout the building. Its torsion and twists responds to change in unit density along the length of the building - the roof becomes more sloped with increase in unity density per bay. Reflecting the sloped geometry of LA
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Bar Aggregation
LINEAR OSCILLATION U n i t O s c i l l a t e i n Le a r A g g r e g a t i o n
R O O F S LO P E G E O M E T R Y Change in Unit Density
E N V E LO P E A P E RT U R E - S U B T R A C T I O N S e m i - P u b l i c O p e n Te r r a c e
E N V E LO P E A P E RT U R E - A D D I T I O N E n c l o s e d Vo l u m e s
River bank, the building's faceted geometry integrates its architecture with the site. Large urban scale aper tures on the envelope give visual readings of the small-scale interstitial pockets (extruded dormers - quiet spaces with enclosures, punctured voids - open air terraces) throughout the building.
AUD 413
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HOUSING
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ON TOPOGRAPHY A U D 4 1 3 A d v a n c e d To p i c s S t u d i o I n s t r u c t o r : Wo n n e I c k x Fall 2018
GROUP PROJECT In Collaboration with: Kristen Fong Project Duties: Design, Or thographic Drawings, Models
AUD 401
SITE MODEL 1:250
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TOPOGRAPHY
A single volume / geometry embedded into the hill/topography/landscape. The building’s edge sits on the threshold of becomi n g d i s e n g a g e d f r o m t h e g r o u n d s u r f a c e c o m p l e t e l y , c a n t i l e v e r i n g a b o v e H i l l S t . Tr a n s i t d r o p - o f f a r e a b e l o w . T h e h a r d s c a p e t e r r a c e m e e t s t h e d o u b l e h e i g h t s p a c e e x t e n d s t h e b u i l d i n g ’ s m a i n f l o o r o u t o n t o t h e h i l l , p r o d u c i n g a n i n d o o r- o u t d o o r g a t h e r space for students and public.
face ace uc-
Detail A
+ 15.00m + 11.00m + 7.00m
opography, the interior e’s ground plane.
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AUD 401
A single volume / geometry embedded into the hill/ topography/landscape
Artificial landscape as “earth” and roof to embedded mass
Internal Circulation
Porous Horizontal Panelized Facade
The single loop embeds into the hill/topography/ landscape; various moments of intersection and spatial experience.
Hybrid structure of moment frames, truss, and retaining walls
External Circulations
Connections
and
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The dance school as a fictional expansion for the Colburn Dance Academy sits on the dramatic slopes of Bunker Hill in Downtown Lo s A n g e l e s b e s i d e A n g e l ’ s F l i g h t R a i l w a y . A single building is embedded into the hillside,
slicing horizontal datum into the topography. Various moments of intersection of the single loop with the ear th organize programs and circulation with different spatial experience in and out of the ground.
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the intensive artih the landscape is
TOPOGRAPHY
The concrete hardscape extends into the cross-section of the loop, delineating an exclusive space for the private residence with direct access to the hill / hardscape terraces.
+ 15.00m + 11.00m
+ 7.00m
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AUD 401
LEVEL +1
It embeds into the ground with filleted ver tices pointing at 4th St, and Olive St, intersection a n d a t A n g e l ’ s F l i g h t Tr a m w a y H i l l S t . e n t r a n c e . The enclosed loop maximizes the massing’s
aper ture of engagement with the ground plane, establishing ever changing spatial conditions and qualities along the length and center of the building.
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TOPOGRAPHY
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T h e t h e a t e r s l i e j u s t b e l o w t h e s u r f a c e o f t h e c e n t r a l l a n d s c a p e . Ta k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f t h e s t e p p i n g t o p o g r a p h y , t h e i n t e r i o r ceiling mimic the underside f the concrete terraces above, a reversal reading of the role of the site’s ground plane.
+ 4.00 m 0.00 m - 4.00 m
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AUD 401
LEVEL +2
Pu b l i c a n d p r i v a t e p ro g r a m s o f t h e d a n c e s c h o o l line the two levels of the loop. Below the cantilevering por tion of the inser ted loop, the retaining wall pushes the “ear th� back from Hill St. for the placement of transpor tation center close to 3rd St. Metro station entrance. Cascading stair of the curving loop and sloping terrain connects Hill st,
t w o l e v e l s w i t h i n , a n d t h e h a rd s c a p e a b o v e . Pu b lic rental dance studios and the performance halls reveal themselves to the public as a mysterious segments and center that are hidden underground. The students and faculties occupy the threshold of transitions from below to above the topographic surface.
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TOPOGRAPHY
The completely artificial hardscape establishes a holistic reading of the loop with the complex terrain it is embedded in. The concrete stepping establishes a hybrid material connection between the dance school and the dramatic topography it sits on. It is an ar tificial replacement for the earth ripped out in the heavy excavation procedure (as would happen in any hillside construction). The concrete stepping follow the geographical contours of the site, while abstracting it as a buildable artificial datum the building is integrated with.
DETAIL A
+ 15.00m + 11.00m + 7.00m
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AUD 401
Arriving at the top of California Plaza / Angel’s flight upper terminus, one sees the loop extending from the intensive ar tificial manifestation of the existing topographic contour lines. Moments of the building’s interaction with the landscape is captured in a single view..
C o m i n g f r o m Tr a n s i t C e n t e r a n d d r o p o f f , t h e c a s c a d i n g H i l l S t . e n t r a n c e b r i n g s t h e p u b l i c a u d i e n c e i n t o t h e d a n c e s c h o o l a n d t h e a r t i f i c i a l l a n d s c a p e / r o o f in a sweeping gesture following the topography.
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TOPOGRAPHY
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AUD 401
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SCAFFOLD SHED OF SHEDS AUD 411 Introductory Studio Instructor: Andrew Kovacs Fall 2016
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AUD 411
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SHED OF SHEDS
A SYSTEM OF FRAME AND INFILL The scaffolding forms a shed of using elements and parts of found sheds. The scaffolding frame serve as a datum for shed elements to engage and complicate creating functions and programs. A catalogue of different shed components is arranged and placed into the scaffolding following their functions. Vital elements, such as kitchen par ts, lavatories, are fixed onto the scaffold. Items such as timber planks, walls, and floor panels are used to mark out circulation spaces. They loosely fit into the scaffold, and serve as connections between fixed elements. Fur thermore, shed components that have more planar qualities, corrugated steel panels and green house glass, are used to enclose the shed. Finally, smaller items such as furniture pieces loosely float within the frame, to create a sense of distributed uniformity The massing of this food shed is derived from inver ting a typical shed into a cour tyard space. Shed components are recombined and attached to the edge of inner cour tyard, where the scaffolding and filling elements are uniformly trimmed by the interior void. The second level around the cour tyard provides an oppor tunity for the shed components to complicate a n d c o n d e n s e t o w a rd s t h e c e n t e r, and less so towards the exterior
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AUD 411
East Elevation
Shed components and combination logics
Conform / Fixed No. 1 - 6
Enclosure
No. 15 - 23
Lo o s e F i t
Float
No. 7 - 14
No. 24 - 32
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SHED OF SHEDS
Plan
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AUD 411
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SHED OF SHEDS
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STEEL FABRIC AUD 415 Comprehensive Studio Instructor: Narineh Mirzaeian Winter 2018
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AUD 415
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STEEL FABRIC
A singular roof/canopy defines a building’s exterior presence and how it organizes its interior layouts through localized expressions of roof geometry, assembly, and implicit programmatic zoning. The roof ’s relationship with interior masses varies from engaged at the
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p e r i m e t e r, t o d i s e n g a g e d a n d f l o a t e d t o w a rd s the center like a canopy. The liberated roof has folds and openings that organizes masses and their adjacencies to articulate various spatial and sectional qualities
AUD 415
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STEEL FABRIC
T h e e x i s t i n g D e l i c i o u s Pi z z a a t 5 4 1 9 W . A d a m s Blvd. is an organizational anchoring point for the project. Private/Semi-private programs, such as music/archive and work-live units are
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pushed to the edge of the site. The resulting adjacent spaces in between is used for public use, such as the event space, and interior dining cour tyard.
AUD 415
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STEEL FABRIC
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The primary structure is system of rigid steel connections, with concrete column jackets and cross bracings to provide lateral stability. Light steel 4� tubes rests on cross grain on the steel beams, welded to supports.
The envelope consists of hard panels of sandwiching corrugated metal sheets and insulations. The front and back facades are timber screens resting on steel tube secondary structural.
AUD 415
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W12 x 30 Rigid Connect ion Concrete Column Jacket, D = 24” Bolted Beams Tension Cable Cross Bracing, D = 29mm Lightweight Tubular Steel Profile, D = 4” Metal Connectors securing steel pipes onto beams; welded
onto top fla nge 8. Metal Wall Studs 9. Timber Ceiling Joists 10. Hard Panel – corrugated metal t = ¾”, insulation t = 1” , 4’ x 1’ fastened to lightweight steel pipes 11. Hard Panel – 4’ x 2’ 12. Hard Panel – 4’ x 2.5’
13. Metal Flashing S profile, connecting gaps between hard panels on wall exterior and roof 14. Metal Flashing, connecting hard panels on roof ridges 15. U-Shape Metal Gutter 16. U-Shape Metal Gutter + Flashing for Hard Panel 17. Skylight 12’ x 6’ Fixed Double Glazing 18. Acoustic Insulation Cavity
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STEEL FABRIC
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AUD 415
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LIBRARY LITE: EXOSKELETAL A U D 4 0 1 Te c h C o r e S t u d i o Instructor: Steven Christensen Spring 2017
GROUP PROJECT In Collaboration with: Daniel Greteman, Echo Zhang Project Duties: Precedent Research, Structural Systems Research, Model Making
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TECH CORE
V A S C O N C E LO S L I B R A R Y 2-BAY SECTION MODEL 1/4"= 1'
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VASCONCELOS
V A S C O N C E LO S 2 -BAY MODULE AT 1/4" = 1'
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTRY This is an intensive study and redesign of the Vasconcelos Library’s structural, envelope, and façade systems. Through rigorous research and model making as the main production medium, we are producing a new exoskeleton and envelope proposal Alber to Kalach’s public library in Mexico City We are investigating the unique shell to content of Vasconcelos Library’s exoskeleton system Through intensive model making, we explore the systemic jumps in scale of structural components and the resulting inefficiencies to load bearing and seismic capacity of a library that uses hanging book stacks as design parti. We are proposing a cable masts and spaceframe hybrid exoskeleton system to reduce the monolithic visual and physical weight of the original library. The design respond to the seismic context and the exponential effect of acceleration of mass due to the hanging of more than 2 million books from an exoskeletal frame. Eccentrically loaded frame, large jump in scale of components results in exoskeleton frame that is both structurally and visually monolithically heavy.
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Heavy bookstacks are eccentrically loaded onto the exoskeletal frame of the shell via a variety of rigid and flexible connections.
TECH CORE V A S C O N C E LO S L I B R A R Y 2-BAY SECTION MODEL 1/4"= 1'
COMPONENT MODELS AT 4" = 1' G u s s e t P l a t e ( Le f t ) ; Te n s i o n R o d s ( R i g h t )
COMPONENT MODELS AT 4" = 1' Tw o - W a y C o n n e c t i o n ( Le f t ) ; Kinetic Column Base (Right)
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VASCONCELOS
NEW EXOSKELETON PROPOSAL
V A S C O N C E LO S 2 -BAY MODULE AT 1/4" = 1'
A combination diagrid frame and cable system would allow for distribution and efficiency, while not resulting in a unclear monolith. The ver tical masts carry the load to the ground, and brace once for every bay to create an effective h a l v i n g o f t h e l e n g t h . Te n s i o n e d c a b l e s a t t h e
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roof take on reduce the load capacity of the frame. They also reduce the loading and depth requirements of the cantilevered floor slabs that previously relied on suspension from the roof and the deep piers.
TECH CORE
NEW PROPOSAL 2-BAY SECTION MODEL 1/4"= 1' Half of section model is exposed to display the space frame and cable mast exoskeletal structural system
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VASCONCELOS
The glazing enclosure is attached to a metal subframe that adds rigidity and required redund a n c y t o t h e m a s t s . Lo u v r e s w h i c h p r e v i o u s l y required thick heavy metal to make long spans are reduced to lightweight rigid triangle panels that occupy the interstitial space. The tensioning cables at the roof remove the
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need for a metal substructure, as they can form the framing for a membrane enclosure. The louvre panels may vary to create a pattern to dissolve the monolithic elevation. Controlling the density of the louvres and the addition of light textile mesh, based on the solar orientation introduces oppor tunities to remove material and weight.
TECH CORE
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VASCONCELOS
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EGO/ALTER-EGO AUD 414 Fire Station Studio Instructor: Karel Klein Spring 2018
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AUD 414
CHUNK/MOMENT MODEL 1/2"= 1' Cor ten steel “scar tissue” producing moments of infrastructure, architectural/furniture elements, and structure.
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FIRE STATION
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AUD 414
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FIRE STATION
1.Squash/Ball Court 2.Living Commons 3.Therapy 4.Sauna 5.Equipment Maintenance 6.Equipment Storage 7.Maintenance Bay Heavy Machinery 8.Fitness 9.Shower Rooms 1 0 . Ve h i c l e Wa s h i n g E q u i p m e n t 11.Open Bay Storage 12.Mechanical 13.Dispatch Conference 14.Supervisor Office 15.SCBA Storage 16.Dispatch
1 7 . Le a r n i n g C o m m o n s 1 8 . P u b l i c To u r C e n t e r 19.Laundry 20.EMT Office 21.HAZMAT Office 22.Outdoor Recreation Area 23.Dormitory 24.Watch Desk 25.Communal Dinning 26.Reading/Study Commons 27.Crane Operation 28.Fire Chief Office + Conference Room 29.Admin Offices 3 0 . Tr a i n i n g O b s t a c l e C o u r s e – H o s e / C a n n o n Tr a i n i n g
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AUD 414
Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) redraws a content image in the style image of choosing. The new blend of images created provided clues to systems and tectonics that are otherwise difficult to see and conceive by the human mind.
CNN imaging in this project is a tool used to help generate and materialize forms of “scarring” and “scar tissues” resulting from collisions of grid and vaults. The scar tissues are abstracted geometries from one of the double/triple CNN passes.
The firestation dwells on the ego and alter ego personality of the firefighter - the superhero v s . t h e d o m e s t i c h o u s e w i f e . T h e e g o / a l t e r- e g o duality as an opportunity to set up a collision of two systems that result in scarring and scar tissues. In setting up the collision, a two level orthogonal grid overlaid with vaulted tunnel cuts that follow the path of fire truck movements through the site. The grid per tains grid per tains to programs that are predominantly the domestic side of fire station; the cuts through the two storey grid extends and projects the presence of the
apparatus bays. The residual/in-between space from the cuts are used to organize programs that are inherently AND routinely both fire fighting and domestic. The Convolutional Neural Network imaging technique is used as a collaboration tool in finding a potential third condition/system from the collision of the vaults and the grid - finding the tectonics of “scarring” and “scar tissue” and the corrosion of material mass.
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FIRE STATION
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The thickened scar tissues are folded cor ten steel sheets that become critical formal moments that hosts infrastructure and equipment storage. The corten steel scar tissues also become partially structural, such as shelving
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for brick walls and point columns. They become almost entirely the spanning structure between the long bays, separating the transverse layers of brick walls.
AUD 414
DISSOLVING GRID Granular parapet roof Concrete roof; Aluminum Edge
COLLISION OF TWO SYSTEMS Fire fighting - Truck Paths Domestic Living - Grid
GRID Brick wall concrete slab assembly
INTERIOR VOLUME Vault Apparatus Paths
SCARRING TISSUE- THE INBETWEEN Interface of the grid and vaulted interior volume. A “3rd” condition articulating structure,
THICKENED INTERFACE / EDGES Custom corten steel members
SYSTEMIC SYNTHESIS Corten “scar” tissue bonds transverse brick layers
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FIRE STATION
1. STORAGE Oxygen / Fuel Storage Tanks
2. STORAGE Fire fighting Equipment
3. ARCHITECTURAL/FURNITURE Balcony
1. STORAGE Gear Component Storage
6. STORAGE SCBA Cannisters
7. ARCHITECTURAL/FURNITURE Living Commons
9. STRUCTURE Brick Shelving
10. STRUCTURE Point Column
11. INFRASTRUCTURE Building Mechanical
The scar tissues produces a systemic third resulting from cutting through a 3-dimensional grid. A catalogue of typical moments and meaning of the scarring corten members highlights various scales of infrastructure,
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storage, architectural/furniture, and structure. They produce conditions to host routine functions of the firestation, such as heavy machinery maintenance and fire fighting training course.
AUD 414
4. ARCHITECTURAL/FURNITURE Common Dining Area
13. INFRASTRUCTURE Heavy Equipment Maintenance
8. ARCHITECTURAL/FURNITURE Fitness Space
14. ARCHITECTURAL Fire Fighting Training Obstacle Course
12. INFRASTRUCTURE Liquid / Gas Delivery Pipes
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FIRE STATION
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FACADE PROJECTION MODEL 3/16"= 1'
CHUNK/MOMENT MODEL 1/2"= 1' ( Le f t : Ta n k S t o r a g e , R i g h t : V e n t i l a t i o n + F u e l Pi p e s )
T H A N K YO U