Project A
The Guanches —Guanches Cultural Research Center
Site Introduction - La Palma island
An island of the Canary Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. Of Santa Cruz, Spain. It covers an area of 728 square kilometers (281 square miles). The central crater of Taburiente (10km [6 mi] in diameter) is a national park. The island's volcanic activity is relatively frequent and, until recently, active. While the volcanoes have brought disaster to the region, they have also created unparalleled scenery and fertile soil, which has made tourism and agriculture the mainstay of the local industry. The southernmost and oldest area of the island contains the remains of the Neolithic guanches civilisation and their sacred site, the Sacred Spring. It is an ancient and mysterious people who have disappeared, but the artefacts left behind are full of mystery and evocative. The building I want to design is a centre for the study and conservation of guanches culture.
Cultural Introdution
Design Concept In guanches' buildings there is a clear functional distinction between each floor and I wanted to make good use of this feature. I have divided the building into four levels, i.e. four functions. 1. Exhibition, which consists mainly of the presentation of the Guanches' artefacts and their culture, apart from the pots and stone tools that were excavated, I wanted to show their architecture, so I will create a building that replicates the Guanches' caves. 2. Conservation. Some artefacts need good storage space and conditions, such as the mummies, which need a cold, lowoxygen storage room. For the conservation of the culture of the Guanches, my idea is that in order to keep a culture alive you need to spread it, so I will set up a classroom with people who will explain the culture of the Guanches to visitors. 3. Restoration, which refers to the restoration of the artefacts and the interpretation of the culture, the excavated artefacts need to be restored, so there will be workshops to replicate and restore the artefacts. Culture will be interpreted by specialised researchers. 4. Public space, I will build some service facilities for visitors, such as a restaurant, a rest area and a gym for researchers, who often sit on chairs and need a lot of exercise.
Lecture room
Exhibition area
Renderings
Physical Model
Postscript To better show that the four floors represent four different functions, I have also set the shades for each floor; exhibition is white, conservation is yellow, restoration is purple and public is blue. The corridors are all white and the sudden change in colour is evident by entering the different rooms. Unfortunately, it is harder to tell from the outside looking in. This is one of the major flaws of the design and it would have been better if different forms or facades had been used to show the function of each floor. The research centre, built on a hill, has a large underground pool, the water of which is often hot due to the volcanic influence. Visitors come up and down to see and learn. The legacy of a civilisation thousands of years ago is still shining brightly today.
Project B
The knot —Caravanserai in Suzhou
Site Introduction This is a piece of land located at the southernmost end of the ancient city of Suzhou, which has a very beautiful geographical scenery with dense woods and rivers on both sides. It has not been seriously developed for a long time and is mostly used as a large farming area. It is surrounded by large wooded areas and small parks with walking paths mostly for the elderly. Unfortunately, it is extremely poorly served by traffic, with the only road that can be accessed blocked all year round. It has a marina on its west side, which allows the waterway to be a breakthrough in solving the traffic problem.
Design Process This place is used as a posthouse, it has both residential and commercial functions, and is capable of accommodating 150 people.Combining my previous exploration of the ancient architecture of Suzhou, I designed the plan below. I named it the "Knot" because one of the reasons is its shape, the interweaving of lines that make up its overall structure, and the other is related to the connotation of the knot, which in China has the meaning of a link, a bond. My intention in designing these buildings is to enhance the relationship between people and people, and between people and nature.
Layout & Transportation
In addition to the central '+' building, there is an 'L' shaped building to the north and south of them, which also follow the concept of the knot and are complementary in shape. The L-shaped building's are used to compensate for the local traffic situation. The L on the north side is a transit centre for supplies, acting as shops and storage, and enables intercirculation with the urban area on land. The southern L is a water-oriented transport hub—wharf, which facilitates the movement of visitors.
Transit centre
Wharf
Renderings
Postscript The architectural design style is ancient Chinese, although it is not the opulent palace style, but rather a unique, simple garden style of Suzhou, which is more similar to the modern simplicity style. Suzhou's ancient architecture, with its white walls and black roofs, is about pattern, and there are a large number of gardens that I have restored to these characteristics. And of course, as the title says, the knots, which are also a major feature, the frame of this building is made precisely to imitate the preparation of Chinese knots. On the other hand, in addition to the traditional elements, there are also innovations, naturally. I have spread the functions of the community from the inside out, that is, transport hub - commercial area - residential area central square - residential area - gardens - transport hub, from the inside out for residence, leisure and transport respectively, which corresponds to the outgoing activities of visitors. The ground is almost green and the original forest has not been destroyed, without causing too much harm to the environment.
Project C
The irrigator —University of Advanced Agricultural Research
Site Introduction The vallbona is a region of Barcelona, Spain, which, because of its location near the river valley, is an important hub for the north-south region of Barcelona. The area is dominated by traditional farming and small industries, and has a population of about 2,000 people. It was once a prosperous area, but now it is facing population exodus and the decline of traditional industries, and the buildings are relatively old and are facing renovation and reconstruction. The site (Point A )will be transformed into a agriculture university, its original area being used for planting small trees, covering an area of 1600 square meters.
Terrain analysis
Route analysis
Environment analysis
Public facilities analysis
Design concept: Phototropism To meet the demand for light, plants will naturally grow towards the sun. Site A is an advanced agricultural school where buildings can stand up like terraces in order to make better use of the light and accommodate the light-facing nature of the plants.
This is a school for advanced agricultural research education, i.e. scientific breeding, biotechnology, transgenics, etc. The main reason for this is that the area is a predominantly agricultural town and the results of agricultural research can be put to practical tests directly. In addition to the classrooms and laboratories, the interior of the building has additional areas for planting at the roof and railings. The planting areas on the south side and on the roof allow ornamental plants and experimental herbs to be grown, while creating a green barrier to shade the south side. The shaded roof on the north side has a moist and warm environment, which is more suitable for growing fungi and mosses.
Elevation BB’
Section BB’
Section AA’
Postscript Walking through the countryside and seeing some normal buildings, I often notice large trees with green grass on the south side of the building; and moss on the back corners. The herbaceous plants grow towards the light and the mossy plants like the dark and humid environment, just like the light and dark sides of the building. If the two types of plants are combined, the building can be 'wrapped up'. It also happens to be an agricultural university, where people can go in and out of the laboratory day and night and observe the crops at any time.
Physical models
Project D
From Solid To Void —Shape Exploration and Small Building Design
A simple and common exercise. Through a collaborative drawing by several people, individual ideas are distilled and then translated into realistic soilds. The result is this soild stacking based on the Chernikhov style. This consists of a gross block with four squares deducted, and those four squares make up the rod. The result is the shape of an unfurled umbrella that lies on the ground. Under the umbrella are semicircles and cubes. This is my understanding of family, which implies the meaning of protection. Umbrellas are like the pillar of the family, protecting the family and children.
Seal up all the soild with wax and remove it when the wax has set. This wax model, which is the exact opposite of the original design, is exactly what I wanted for the concept of the void. The solid square appears as a void, and the void gives space to human life, which is precisely the relationship between man and architecture. A few hiccups occurred while the wax was setting and the square under the umbrella floated up in an attempt to break through its protection. This was also interesting, like a rebellious teenager trying to get away from his parents. I then kept that cube in its path of movement. In the end, all the wax was divided into 6 pieces, which were the basis for the construction of the house.
Through the placement of these six blocks, I observed and distilled some commonalities, such as the regular linear undulation and the openings against the borders. Combining these features, I have designed a building like this. The long strip, covering 150 square metres, is suitable for a lean-to villa. The surface of the building has a clear undulation and is divided into two types, horizontal and vertical, which either combine or intertwine, also suggesting the internal structure of the building. I have not given this building a façade or a complex decoration. The white and simple palette is very appropriate, as it is just an idea, a soild to void concept. Would anyone want to live in it? At least I would like to, as my home town is in the middle of the mountains and it is easy to find a suitable location. The interior is all made for me too, with a ground floor for daily living, a first floor for a second bedroom and studio, and a third floor for the master bedroom, just enough room for the family.
Postscript This is the studio on the first floor, which consists of several platforms of different heights to suit different needs, and is my personal favourite place. In fact, the whole building has undergone 3 abstract reconstructions. The first time was the family, a design concept, the second time was the void, a structural concept, and the third time was the fusion, which I call the concept of life. The interior of the building is ultimately at the service of people, so the process always brings my own needs into it. It may have many flaws for others, but I love it and with small future modifications I should really build it as my home.