VERDI TSUI / PORTFOLIO 2023 by Verdi Tsui

VERDI TSUI SELECTED WORKS / 2014-2023

CONTENT

ACADEMIC

EXURBIA: A CITY OUTSIDE THE CITY E X- U R B I A / G H O ST O F T H E C I T Y H K N AT I O N 2 0 4 7 :

BORDER / ARCHITECTURE

S PA C E , S O U N D A N D C E N T R A L : T H E S O U N D ( E ) S C A P E CNDC

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

COLUMBIA CIRCLE SHANGHAI LONGHUA TŌ ART HOUSE E S K Y I U P L AY K I T S S TAT E T H E AT R E HONG KONG MODERN

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

THE WARP COMMUNITY BUILDING WORKSHOP

PERSONAL TIMELINE / 2014 - PRESENT

PORTFOLIO

U N D E R G R A D U AT E ( 2 0 1 4 - 2 0 1 8 )

YEAR-OUT (2018-2021)

DIPLOMA / MARCH (2021-2023)

During undergraduate studies, I learned about the fundamental knowledge about architecture, and developed a basic set of skills on architectural design. Besides archtiecture, I have also started to develop a strong interest towards graphic design and visualization.

The 3-year work experience as a year-out was fruitful. Having worked on a variety of projects, including urban scale masterplanning projects, as well as several local exhibitions, on top of design and visualization, I also learnt a lot about project management, team collaboration, and the consideration for the execution of an actual project.

Bringing forward my experience in the practical ﬁeld during year-out, my work at the AA focus on manifesting architecture as a cultural practice, broadening the scope of architecture to address socio-political issues through cultural production and story-telling.

STRUCTURE ON A TERRAIN

VIOLIN ROOM

BANGKOK MASQUE

SYP BRIDGING

CNDC

Y1 / SEMESTER 2

Y2 / SEMESTER 1

Y2 / SEMESTER 2

Y3 / SEMESTER 1

Y3 / SEMESTER 2

2015

2016

BORDER/ SOUND(E)SCAPE ARCHITECTURE Y4 / SEMESTER 1

2017

Y4 / SEMESTER 2

E S K Y I U P L AY K I T S EXHIBITION / EVENT BOOK DESIGN

2018

2019

M A S T E R P L A N N I N G , S C H E M AT I C D E S I G N , FA C A D E D E S I G N

HK MODERN

S TAT E T H E AT R E

HK MODERN

EXURBIA: A CITY OUTSIDE THE CITY

EX-URBIA : GHOST OF THE CITY

RESEARCH

EXHIBITION

4 TH Y E A R / D I P 6

5 TH Y E A R / D I P 6

2022

2023

2020

2021

TIMELINE

A R C H I T E C T U R A L A S S O C I AT I O N SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG E D U C AT I O N

AA DIPLOMA / MARCH DEGREE

A R B ( PA R T 1 )

BACHELOR OF ARTS (ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES)

R I B A / A R B ( PA R T 2 )

Q U A L I F I C AT I O N S EXAM

AONA

ESKYIU STUDIO

O VA L PA R T N E R S H I P

AONA

SUMMER INTERN

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER

A R C H I T E C T U R A L A S S I S TA N T ( PA R T 1 )

RESEARCHER / DESIGNER

V I S U A L I Z AT I O N / D E S I G N E R ( F R E E L A N C E , R E M O T E )

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE HKU

O VA L PA R T N E R S H I P

T E A C H I N G A S S I S TA N T ( PA R T-T I M E )

A R C H I T E C T U R A L A S S I S TA N T ( PA R T-T I M E )

INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE GRAPHIC DESIGNER (FREELANCE)

KEY INTERESTS

URBAN CONTEXT

URBAN SOUNDS

BORDER

PROGRAMME

COMPOSITION

IDENTITY

VISUAL IDENTITY

S PAT I A L N A R R AT I V E

C I R C U L AT I O N

N O TAT I O N

SOCIO-POLITICS

EXHIBITION DESIGN

U R B A N D E S I G N : N A R R AT I V E , P U B L I C R E A L M , P L A C E - M A K I N G

E X H I B I T I O N D E S I G N / C U R AT I O N

S P AT I A L P O L I T I C S , C I T Y N A R R AT I V E S , U R B A N H I S T O R Y, M E M O R I E S

S PAT I A L D E S I G N

S PAT I A L C O M P O S I T I O N

R E P R E S E N TAT I O N I N F R A S T R U C T U R E

PROJ. MANAGEMENT

FA C A D E D E S I G N : M AT E R I A L / C O N S T R U C T I O N

R E S E A R C H : P O S T- W A R M O D E R N A R C H I T E C T U R E I N H K

S T O R Y-T E L L I N G , M E D I A / F I L M M A K I N G , C I N E M AT I C A R C H T I E C T U R E

ACADEMIC / AA SCHOOL / 2021-22

< EXURBIA: A CITY OUTSIDE THE CITY > ARCHITECTURE / FILMMAKING / CITY / SET

Questioning the perception of reality while creating an alternate narrative for the city, the project proposes the making of an open-ended documentary for Exurbia – a city outside the city. Reading into what happens here and now (in “this city”), and reframing it as what happened there and then (in “that city”), the film unfolds a journey through space and time that is emotive and introspective. Taking the film as a site and the set as a new architecture, the design thinking of this project is to extract episodic moments from the city, to unfold it, navigate it, and act upon it in different ways. The “architectural film” becomes a staged reality that questions the feedback loop between the conception and perception of the city, reflecting upon specific and current issues in relation to broader disciplinary implications. The new form of “fictionalist” architecture exists as a set – it reopens the flattened image as a re-workable space for a new story that cites the past, addresses the present, and provokes the future.

4 T H Y E A R / D I P LO M A 6 / T U TO R : M a r i a Fe d e rc h e n ko

CITY AS A SET / Positioning architecture, not as backdrop, but now as the protagonist of the film, the research focus was to investigate how the set reciprocates the city and acts as a critical narrative device.

1 < Truman Show > 2 < Metropolis > 3 < Playtime >

Precedent study - a theatrical set for Piranesi’s Carceri

Provocation - Metaphorical Theatre / for reading/writing histories

CAGE HOME / The cage home narrates the feeling of imprisonment in a domestic setting, implying the sub-division and shrinkage of personal space as a spatial consequence of social stratification.

2 1 3

Isometric drawing of the Cage Home set

2,3 Scene renderings - Cage Home

Diagram showing the transformation of the building core in relation to circulation behaviour.

Illustrated diagrams showing the spatial concepts for the Dweller and Escapist sets.

EXURBIA - THE FILM /

Drawings - the sets

Scan QR code or click here for the video

ACADEMIC / AA SCHOOL / 2022-23

< E X- U R B I A / G H O ST O F T H E C I T Y > ARCHITECTURE / FILMMAKING / CITY / MEMORY

This project raises questions about place, identity, context and specificity through multiple narratives about the city — blending facts with fiction — projected from the past to the future. Taking the film as an intangible form of architecture that mediates between time and space, it proposes an awareness of architecture as a cultural construct. Under the threat of disappearance, how can the city take refuge? — taking the Hong Kong diaspora as a trigger, my project fictionalizes the future of Hong Kong, and proposes the making of a Memorium -- a museum of postmemory for future generations of the diasporic population, who can only “remember” and “experience” the city by means of stories and images. The strongest frontier is one that cannot be found, and the everlasting city is one that cannot be seen, but only remembered.

5 T H Y E A R / D I P LO M A 6 / T U TO R : M a r i a Fe d e rc h e n ko

the land sector [points 1-5] the sea sector [points 6-31]

The border of Hong Kong comprises of 31 points across land and sea.

kowloon hong kong island Mapping of the history of reclamation along Victoria Harbour.

E N C L AV E / The Enclaves are self-implosive, liberal, yet bounded. When turned inside out, they become voids nested within the city, framed by traces of walls. Outside the walls, remnants of the old city re-emerge in the new enclave – a hyperreal spatial segment – a portal that glimpses into the future memories of the city.

facade [b], back support. lane

signages

midground

background

foreground facade [a]

Technical Studies - drawings of the Tong Lau set

Diagram - Set composition for Memory Lane, Enclave.

camera camera path

Diagram - Set composition for Memorium

MEMORIUM / The Memorium is perceived as a place that operates beyond the archive of artefacts, a theatre of memory. It explores the paradox of museum: the impossibility to house architecture itself, and to capture both built and imaginary aspects. It

acts

dispersive

cultural field

anchor

for

scaleless

architectural fragments – the cityscape, the infrastructure, the room, and the objects.

1 The Memorium 2 The city as a mirage 3 The city as a set of room

EX-URBIA / GHOST OF THE CITY 彼岸之城

The film, as an autobiography of the city, suggests a curated journey through the field, relating spatial settings to mental meanings. It describes two ways of remembering the city – through conception and perception – the city as a mirage, and the city as a set of rooms.

Scan QR code or click here for the video

ACADEMIC / HKU / 2018

< H K N AT I O N 2 0 4 7 :

BORDER / ARCHITECTURE >

BORDER / BOUNDARIES / INFRASTRUCTURE / ARCHITECTURE

This project asks a series of question about the border and architecture. “The boundary is not a spatial fact with sociological consequences, but a sociological fact that forms itself spatially.”

– Georg Simmel (“The

Sociology of Space”, p142) The border has always existed as a line on a map. in particular, it is a line without thickness. bordering is understood as something that happens at the territorial scale. When border is reconceptualized in architectural scale, it becomes something that exhibits spatial characters and generates architectural implications. In the case where the political border between Hong Kong and China dissolves in 2047, how could architecture resist the debordering? How could space itself reforms the border? What is the afterlife of the architecture that was once defined as the border by the politicians?

Y4 SEMESTER 2 / TUTOR: Sony Devabhaktuni

AXONMETRIC / West Kowloon Terminus

PLANS / the border and boundaries.

Border-crossing facilities in the West Kowloon Terminus.

STUDY MODELS / staircases

ACADEMIC / HKU / 2017

< S PA C E , T I M E A N D C E N T R A L : T H E S O U N D ( E ) S C A P E > N A R R A AT I V E / U R B A N S O U N D S / E X P E R I E N T I A L / N O TAT I O N S

Sounds in the project are intangible but very real. The project is wrapped up with the production of a sound-film of Central – a sound-driven narrative complemented with a score of notations and a projected animation on scaled models. Through following the sonic experiences of specific protagonists in Central as ‘listeners’, the soundfilm is a medium to let the audience to experience spaces in Central with their ears. The narrative of the sound-film is not absolutely real, nor is it fictional. It is a synthesized reality based on an extensive observation of the real and a reimagination of what can be real. It is driven by a conceptualization of space as perceptual, transformable and periodic and the idea of sound as soft architecture.

Y 4 S E M E S T E R 1 / T U T O R : E u n i c e S e n g / C O L L A B O R AT O R : O b e d C h e u n g

Early sketches - conceptual development for the project

Presentation setup - animated projection on physical model

THE SCORE / overall notational score for the sound-film

THE SCORE / This series of mapping starts by choosing a route that cuts through public spaces that are open 24/7 and hence regarded as ‘true pubblic spaces’ in central. The mappings are dividided into 3 main layers - the public route, the weekday and the weekend; with 3 layers of reading - emergence/ disappearance,

control

and

place-

making.

Notational diagram - Act 1 from the final score

Moments from the sound-film.

ACADEMIC / HKU / 2017

< CNDC > I N F R A ST R U CT U R E / P R OTOT Y P E / C O M M U N A L S PAC E

This is a project on infrastructural building. the project starts with “infrastructure” as the parameter. it tries to see infrastructure beyond its functionality and explore on its potential in difining a space in different scales. The project is sited in Hongkou, Shanghai. The project is based on the concept of “urban living room”, which comes from the idea that individual activities at household scale can be scaled up and become collective activities in an urban scale.

Y 3 S E M E S T E R 2 / T U T O R : K e n a n L i u / C O L L A B O R AT O R : T i m Y i m C h i C h u n g

LILONG HOUSING / Lilong is a common housing typology in Shanghai. It is a lane and, by extension, a community centred on a lane or several interconnected lanes.

Precedent - typical lilong housing

Diagram and collage - prototype design study

PLAN & ZONING / The plan of the building was developed from the typical zoning of a delivery centre. The delivery centre is typically divided into 5 zones: unloading and loading at the exterior; sorting, storage and packaging at the interior. the building begins as a box, sliced into 3 segments, the segments are

rotated

to give the final form. the degree of rotation and orientation of the building are determined by the surrounding site context.

Concept drawing - communal village

Floor plans and circulation

STRUCTURE & PROGRAMME / The

six

prototypes

were

thought

to be the units of a larger whole - a communal

village

where

activities

happen in the six prototypical spaces generated from electrical devices.

PROGRAMME L01 DELIVERY CENTRE 0 loading/unload 1 sorting/packaging 2 storage L02 COMMUNAL CENTRE 3 washing machine/laundry 4 electric stove/cooking 5 radio/dancing 6 tv/mini theatre 7 air-con/meditation 8 computer/gaming

Study models - structure design options

Exploded isometric diagram - structure and programme distribution

COLUMBIA CIRCLE MASTERPLANNING // PLACEMAKING / CONCEPTUAL DESIGN P R O F E S S I O N A L P R A C T I C E / O V A L PA R T N E R S H I P / 2 0 2 0 SITE:

SHANGHAI, CHINA

Building floor plans - programme distribution

Rendering - bird eye view

Ground floor plan

Building Elevations

Rendering/collages - conceptual stage

Urban section diagrams

SHANGHAI LONGHUA M A ST E R P L A N N I N G / / P L AC E M A K I N G / FAC A D E D E S I G N / V I S U A L M O C K- U P U N I T P R O F E S S I O N A L P R A C T I C E / O V A L PA R T N E R S H I P / 2 0 1 9 - 2 0 SITE:

SHANGHAI, CHINA

Conceptual drawing - watercolour illustration

Site Plan - Master Layout Plan

Exterior Rendering - facade design

Construction Drawings - Visual Mock-up Unit

Project photos - in use

TŌ ART HOUSE A R T I S T C O M M U N E & G A L L E R Y / / S PAT I A L D E S I G N PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE / FREELANCE / 2023 F O TA N , H O N G K O N G

1005

550

- All dimensions are to finish unless otherwise specified. - DO NOT measure drawings - All dimensions must be verified on site - This document contains copyrighted material. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, dissemination or duplication of any of the information contained herein may reuselt in liability under applicable laws. All copyrights reserved by its author

SITE:

+/- 6570 2725

2805

EQ PENDENT TRACK LIGHT (MODEL SPEC.= TBC)

P-2

A-00-01

P-2

REVISED 231003

DISPLAY CABINET 750D X2755L X 2800H DRAWING DETAIL REFER TO A-04-01 & A-04-02

SLIDING DOOR (SPEC.= TBC)

1035

1 : 200

200

730

2500

EXISTING LEVEL DIFFERENT INFORM CLIENT

GLASS DOOR (SPEC.=TBC)

245

13A SINGLE SOCKET; 300H

+/- 485

+/- 3020

13A TWINS SOCKET; ON GROUND

+/- 565

13A SINGLE SOCKET; 300H

+/- 6570

+/- 1050

EMBED CEILING LIGHT (SPEC.=TBC)

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

13/F, Wah Lai Industrial Centre, Kwei Tei Street, Fo Tan

EMBED CEILING LIGHT (SPEC.=TBC)

- All dimensions are to finish unless otherwise specified. - DO NOT measure drawings - All dimensions must be verified on site - This document contains copyrighted material. Any unauthorized use, disclosure, dissemination or duplication of any of the information contained herein may reuselt in liabilityFALSE under CEILING applicable laws. INTERNAL STRUCTURE All copyrights reserved by its author

1 : 25

B-02-05 OFFICE ELEVATION

A3 +/- 880

+/- 815

+/- 880

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

FALSE CEILING INTERNAL STRUCTURE TO BE DETERMINED BY CONTRACTOR

+/- 2760

EXISTING OVERALL PLAN

SOLID ALUMINUM PLATE (NOT GLASS PANEL)

TO BE DETERMINED BY CONTRACTOR

SOLID ALUMINUM PLATE (NOT GLASS PANEL)

EXHAUST FAN

TL-1

13A SINGLE SOCKET; FOR EXHAUST FAN

SOIL CLAY TILE

MIRROR 1050W X 965H

TBC

TL-1

300

SOIL CLAY TILE 900H

FAUCET (SPEC.=TBC)

900H

900

德國寶 German pool GPI-M6|即熱式電熱水器 DOOR SADDLE

INFORM CLIENT

18mm Plywood

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

OFFICE TOILET ELEVATION

CABINET 600D X 1050W X 900H DRAWING DETAIL REFER TO A-04-04

600

1 : 25

B-02-13 +/- 312

Flat A&B, Wah Lai Industrial Centre, Kwei Tei St, Shatin

900

BASIN (SPEC.=TBC)

CABINET 600D X 1050W X 900H DRAWING DETAIL REFER TO A-04-04

13/F, Wah Lai Industrial Centre, Kwei Tei Street, Fo Tan 550

SOIL CLAY TILE FAUCET (SPEC.=TBC)

BASIN (SPEC.=TBC)

Elevations

MIRROR

LED STRIP

2465

LED STRIP

2465

900

TL-2

REVISED 230421

330

Stainless Steel Column

+/- 312

Grey Colour Felt Panel

18mm Plywood

+/- 312

Stainless Steel Hollow Section Structure (thk=tbc) bolted to floor and ceiling with Anchor Bolts

400

Plastering to Smooth + Emulsion Paint

Conc/Brick Partition Wall Brick

Stainless Steel Hollow Section Sub-structure (thk=tbc) welded or bolted to vertical structure

100

Plaster Board

Timber Spacer

A-04 01

Layout plan

DETAIL

1:10

Interior renderings

Wall detail

13/F,

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

1 : 10

- All dimensions are to finish unless otherwise specified. - DO NOT measure drawings - All dimensions must be verified on site - This document contains copyrighted

C o n s t r u c t i o n D ra w i n g s - E l e v a t i o n s ( G a l l e r y )

C o n s t r u c t i o n D ra w i n g s - P l a n s a n d E l e v a t i o n s ( O f f i c e )

E S K Y I U P L AY K I T S

E X H I B I T I O N / / C U R AT I O N / I N S TA L L AT I O N / V I S U A L I D E N T I T Y / E V E N T PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE / ESKYIU / 2018 ARTISTREE, HONG KONG SITE:

CHINESE MUSIC REDISCOVERY / concept sketch 220

Project key visuals

Shui

Mei

Centra

l Taikoo Shek Ip Sheung Cove Plover Kai Tak

te Pots ils

Concre Iron Na

Glass Ch

ime Stone Til

106

The table tennis design uses a net inspired by Flyknit technology combined A2 with an innovative Nike grind base. The new net is designed to enhance

With the Black Box at ArtisTree as the centre, 8 locations are chosen as sites of live-stream performance during the day. Together with the ensemble of 8 different musical instruments, this corresponds to the Eight Tones (八音) – an ancient Chinese music system. The musicians will gather back at the exhibition site in the evening for a live performance.

114

A/B1 A/B2

Triangular runs around the poles Agility web Ladder

Small hurdle jumps/runs Agility web

CHINESE MUSIC REDISCOVERY NOV 24-28

24 NOV / CHINESE MUSIC REDISCOVERY / HKNME

visibility, ideal for a midnight A1 table tennis game. A3 A4

B4 B3

20 NOV / SPORTS CHALLENGE / Table tennis 5

A/B3 A/B4 5

Speakers: Don Taylor, Ashley Hegland, Aric Chen, Catherine Shaw, Marisa Yiu, Eric Schuldenfrei, Colin Grant, William Lane, Leon Jakimič, Mimi Brown, Douglas Young, Bonnie Chan-Woo, Luke Bryne, Julie Pourtis, Paul Zimmerman, PerMagnus Lindborg, Joyce Beetuan Koh, Yuk King Tan, and more.

CEOs, Culture, Community and Creativity – the spirit of experimentation and creativity in play have often become the ingredients to success in work – so how does design intersect with the culture of creativity? Ranging from CEOs to community members, the Dialogue participants are invited to engage in the space of dynamic “turntable” conversation originating from the 3 way football event, discussing topics and issues that will transform mindsets and challenge preconceptions of how design can play a role in the interweaving of work and play.

Free your mind, go run – rhythmic motion of hands and feet tranquilizes the mind, allowing a higher level of clarity and exploration. In this running circuit runners are challenged with running exercises and then they explore the city and urban environment. Travelling over to Quarry Bay Park and then continuing for 5K- and ending with stretching back in ArtisTree. Come challenge footwork, strength, and also relaxing the body and mind as you run free.

112

Back in 2009, ESKYIU curated a 3-sided football match at the HK-SZ Bi-City Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism on the West Kowloon Cultural District. The event had three separate teams representing architecture companies playing against each other. The game involved tactics and strategies of how to perform and interact with other teams to “team-build.” In a similar spirit this 3-sided football game is a testament to new ways of interaction and play. 3-sided football was conceived in the 1960s by the Danish Situationist Asger Jorn. In this game three teams strive on a hexagonal pitch, collaborating rather than merely competing, and agreeing amongst themselves what was allowable and not allowable, rather than being controlled by an outside force. In other words: no rules, no referees. Just pure play.

Return to starting point Shooting football to goal

Hitting ping-pong ball from corner to corner Returning to starting point Shooting basketball at the 3-point line Agility run between poles

3-SIDED FOOTBALL NOV 22

22 NOV / SPORTS CHALLENGE / 3-Sided Football 1 Starting point 2 110Jumping through 3 small hurdles 3 Jumping through the big hurdle 4 5 6 7

C-SUITE DIALOGUE NOV 22

22 NOV / C-SUITE DIALOGUES: When Work is Play

9 18 NOV / 8SPORTS CHALLENGE / Yoga 5 6 1 2

The special yoga sessions are complimented with sonic musical landscapes, where the breath and body align in perfect timing with the teacher’s instructions. Use of well-curated playlists are on offer to create a calm and personal environment. Allowing the union7of mind, body, breath, and beat, demonstrating the physical benefits of yoga. Sensorial and aural landscapes will be introduced to create an ambiance to allow flexibility to improved circulation, mind and body awareness, in the setting of ArtisTree.

RUNNING NOV 19

19 NOV / SPORTS CHALLENGE / Running

TABLE TENNIS NOV 20 B1

104

102

YOGA NOV 18 4

8 9

Project photos - in use Layout plans - daily transformation

oon wl West Ko

Aberde

es Stone Til

m Pipes Aluminu

ic Pots Ceram

Sla Wood

S TAT E T H E AT R E E X H I B I T I O N / / C U R AT I O N / I N S TA L L AT I O N / E X P E R I E N C E PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE / AONA / 2021 SITE:

S TAT E T H E AT R E , H O N G K O N G

Isometric diagrams - spatial layout and design

Project photos - in use

HONG KONG MODERN EXHIBITION // RESEARCH / MODEL-MAKING / VISUAL IDENTITY PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE / AONA / 2020 SITE:

HONG KONG

Exhibition Panel Layout

Prototypes for paper models (above) and postcards (below)

Project photos - in use

Paper model packages

THE WARP PAV I L I O N B U I LT P R O J E C T / O L I V I E R O T T E V A E R E + J O H N L I N + H K U A R C H I T E C T U R E / 2 0 1 5 SITE:

YUNNAN, CHINA

Exploded isometric diagram - structure and construction

Project photos - in construction and in use

COMMUNITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FURNITURE // SUB-DIVIDED UNIT C O L L A B O R AT O R :

Kyna Payos

B U I LT P R O J E C T / C O M M U N I T Y O U T R E A C H / H K U A R C H I T E C T U R E / 2 0 1 7 SITE:

HONG KONG

Site analysis

Design drawings - isometric, plan and section

Fabrication - CNC preparation

Project photos - fabrication and in use

VERDI TSUI

C O N TA C T verdi.tsui@gmail.com +44 7478 089964