RE: INVENTION

from CHEN_WANYU_PORTFOLIO_Jan_24_2023

by Wendy Chen

LUSTER

Biotech Laboratory

2022 SPRING 2GBX Design Studio

Instructor: Elena Manferdini

Partner: Jinxin Xu

Software: Rhino, Zbrush, Unreal Engine

2022 SPRING_2GBX Design Studio_Re: invention_Biotech Laboratory

RE: INVENSION biotech focuses on exploring the advanced biotechnology of Anti-aging and decay of human bodies. As a hub of biotechnology, the design redefines the conventional idea of how people approach laboratory spaces by incorporating nature and landscape into the building.

In the future, humanity will overcome most diseases. In return, more people are becoming immobile due to the aging and decay of their bodies. Human society is faced with the question of aging of organs and natural death. The Global Anti-Aging market report and forecast indicate the market's growing size due to consciousness among consumers regarding their physical appearance. Behind this are the advancements in technology and huge investments in research and development activities.

Climate change, health crisis, scarcity or excess of resources, luxury and poverty, technology and inventions, reinforce the idea that humans are part of a relational ecosystem with other beings, biospheres and environments. In our globalized and hyper-connected world, we are increasingly exposed to complex phenomena and an expanded network of representation. To understand them and to deal with them, we need to manage large quantities and qualities of data. This project investigate possible futures stemming from the current ecological and health challenges, and to expand the role of agency in our architectural creative process.

Design Approach: A.I. GAN Training

The initial ideas and concepts of the project came from A.I. GAN training. To align the possible futures that we imagine, jellyfish, prothesis, and tree barks have been chosen to undergo the A.I. GAN training. And the mixture images that have metallic shells with bulbing and glowing volumes were generated. These images of living and nonliving creatures were then used as the inspiration for the building form.

Building Exterior

The mass of the building is generated from A.I. GAN training with images of jellyfish, trees, and prostheses for the inspiration of the organic form of architecture.

The bulbing volumes with metallic and transparent material are generated and replaced several major spaces of the originally rectangular mass of the building. They create specific qualities that varieties of programs require inside the building.

The pipes attached throughout the whole building connect all the spaces in the building. Collecting wastewater from laboratories, they form a water circulation system that purifies water and reuses them. The panels on the surface of bulbing volumes constantly are water purifiers. They change colors according to the status of water purification.

Closeup view: pipes and purifiers

The pipes attached throughout the whole building connect all the spaces in the building. The water purifiers change colors according to the status of water purification.

The design is specially composed of Jellyfish and Trees laboratories, theater, two major parliaments, and several circulations which connect them all. Each circulation gives people the freedom to explore the space inside the building. The bulbing volumes with metallic and transparent material

To let the public be involved, the main entrance of the building is located at the southwest corner of the building, which is more accessible to the public. The other one is a down digging space underneath the building, which leads to the forestry at the east that connects to the building. The forestry is part of the tree lab, which serves as the eco landscape. By breeding varieties of trees and vegetation, people can experience a natural forest

Design Studio_Re: invention_Biotech Laboratory

2022 SPRING_2GBX

9th Floor Plan

Cutting through parliatment spaces, theater, and Jellyfish labs.

11th Floor Plan

Cutting through the lightwell of parliatment and Jellyfish labs.

Axonometric Section B

North-South section of the building. The section shows an entrance connecting the tree lab and the jellyfish labs above it.

Parliament & Biotech

As the heart of the building, the parliaments are used for arranging seminars and summits between scientists and the public. The huge hollow spaces introduce the light into it and other spaces in the building. It is also the intersection of all the public circulation.

The Jellyfish lab locates at the upper levels of the building. Its primary research is to do cell research and genetic research of jellyfish. In addition, there are also studies on the extraction of ingredients from various plants (seaweed, coral, bark) that can be used as health or nutritional supplements. Depending on the research project, the shape of the lab is different. Each laboratory has its breeding tank. Jellyfish with varying cycles of life were cultured in other laboratories and tanks.

Design Studio_Re: invention_Biotech Laboratory

2022 SPRING_2GBX

Parliament lightwell

The huge hollow spaces introduce the light into it and other spaces in the building. It is also the intersection of all the public circulation.

Parliament space

As the heart of the building, the parliaments are used for arranging seminars and summits between scientists and the public.

Tree Lab Forestry

Jellyfish Lab Tanks

Depending on the research project, the shape of the lab is different. Each laboratory has its breeding tank. Jellyfish with varying cycles of life were cultured in other laboratories and tanks.

DOC. RE: INVENTION

2022 FALL Design Development Integrated Design Project

Instructor: Herwig Baumgartner, Zach Burns / Consultant: Matthew Melnyk,

Partner:

This project investigates issues related to the implementation of design: technology, the use of materials, systems integration, and the archetypal analytical strategies of force, order and character. The project includes a review of basic and advanced construction methods, analysis of building codes, the design of Structural and Mechanical systems, Environmental systems, Buildings service systems, the development of building materials and the integration of building components and systems. The intent of this project is to develop a cohesive understanding of how architects communicate complex building systems for the built environment and to demonstrate the ability to document a comprehensive architectural project and Stewardship of the Environment based on the previous design project "RE: INVENTION" .

A series of built case studies will be presented by the instructors along with visiting professionals in the field who are exploring new project delivery methods. These case studies will be shown in-depth with construction photographs, 3D renderings, and technical drawings and details.