Emerging Groenewoud
2023
Tilburg, Netherlands
The post-war neighborhood stands as a significant urban typology, it requires vast attention for social improvement but is also a canvas for inspiring transformation. This transformative endeavor aenvisions a universal yet uniquely tailored solution for the post-war neighborhood.
Team: Xiaojie Huang, Yue Shen, Xijie Ma
The post-war neighborhood stands as a significant urban typology, it requires vast attention for social improvement, but is also a canvas for inspiring transformation. With its potential for achieving housing assignment and sustainable development, it deserves the attention of architects and urbanists to shoulder the responsibility of nurturing its built environment after a span of 50 years.
In this endeavor, a crucial starting point stands above all: a mindful commitment to building upon the existing space, rather than resorting to the indiscriminate demolition of structures. The preservation of the neighborhood’s historical fabric becomes paramount, weaving a narrative of resilience and honoring the enduring spirit of its inhabitants. By embracing transformation over demolition, the transformation breathe new life into old edifices, infusing them with contemporary purpose while preserving a tangible link to the past.
“Building
in the green”
Densify and diversify
Emphasizing the values of social cohesion and fostering a vibrant, healthy community, this approach considers the residents’ well-being and needs. Rather than merely displacing individuals and families, the focus shifts to adding inhabitants, forging a sense of belonging and a shared destiny among the diverse tapestry that will call this revitalized neighborhood home.
Integral to this vision is the celebration of green spaces as an identity-defining characteristic. The preservation of existing trees and green areas becomes a priority, recognizing not only their ecological significance but also their positive impact on the physical and mental health of the community.
In essence, this transformative endeavor envisions a universal yet uniquely tailored solution for the post-war neighborhood.
By repositioning and eliminating hard barriers like parking, the project aims to establish connections with the surrounding green, creating an ecological network through parks and green streets.
The project integrates
Berglandweg serves as the main car road, fietsstraats allow shared use of cars for destination traffic. A concentrated parking hub is positioned to promote a car-free green heart.
In the new construction, wooden structures are employed, incorporating solar energy and water recycling systems into daily life. This living style seamlessly merges with the existing natural environment, giving rise to a fresh ecological cycle. The program accommodates diverse target groups, fostering positive interactions: offering additional educational opportunities and playfields to attract new families; makers’ space and urban farming create job prospects to retain young residents; and centralized senior residences are integrated with other age groups, while also generating more caregiving job opportunities. The plan strives to establish a harmonious life-cycle between the natural environment and human living conditions.
Renewed
Station Area Development
International Competition Shared-Wining Prize
Creating an urban environment that offers opportunities for economic vitality as well as a place for everyone to thrive in the growing Kerava. Winning prize waiting for potential follow-up consultancy.
Kevara, Finland
Team: Xiaojie Huang, Yue Shen, Ziyi He, You Wu
Beijing Micropolis
Guangyintang Collective Rental Housing Project
2020-2021
Beijing, China. From concept design to construction drawing design, under construction Team: MLA+ B.V. + CADG, Xiaojie Huang as a designer
This is an affordable rental micro-studio (22m2 or 32m2) project with a large complex with different communal amenities, sports parks, cultural venues, and shops.
Co-living community spaces
Co-living community spaces
Micro-living for everyone
Micro-living for everyone
Female Studio: 21.51m2
Additional + : By the brief, it was asked to dedicated one building with studios for female tenants only. We wanted to provide a different layout and an additional quality for female studios. Bigger and more compact layout allowed us to add an extra walk-in closet that can be also used as a study room and extra storage space.
Micro-living for everyone
Micro-living for everyone
We consider different tenants and their specific needs and create a mixture of vibrant residential atmospheres within the complex of 4,000 units. Efficient and flexible general floorplan layouts allow to provide various types of units for different lifestyles.
Standard Studio: 20.18m2
Additional + : A challenge for designing a 22m2 was how to design a small unit that is comfortable as a normal-size apartment with different zones. A + is gained by adding sliding doors between sleeping area and living room. Depending on scenario it allows bedroom to stay more private or opening it for the feeling of a bigger space.
Xiaojie Huang, Yue Shen
DESIGN IDEAS
Given the uncertain future of privately owned cars, we chose ground parking to meet the building’s requirements, saving 5 million RMB in construction costs and allowing greater flexibility for future development.
The site’s low building density allows for future expansion, supported by modular and extendible structures, while a shared logistics elevator will facilitate the second phase of development.
The Experimental space serves as a platform for industry-academia collaboration, facilitating communication between enterprises and students, and function as exhibition spaces to showcase new technologies and ideas.
Steel structures are more adaptable for future changes, offering a lighter foundation load that allows for easier installation and reduced transportation needs. They enable rapid construction in various climates and can increase usable space by 10%15% compared to traditional buildings.
Sufficient space for ground parking, Future volume
Regulation: Low building density
Workdeck B and library wall
Workdeck A
The second floor serves as the main reception point for the building, and it has shared functional space such as auditorium, exhibition space, and interactive workshop. It reflects the sharing cultural core of the NDU.
Workdeck B
Set up a shared open book wall on Workdeck B to increase its usage. At the same time, it can also partially reduce the noise from the workdeck.
While ensuring independent high-quality office space, we integrate exhibition space, experimental platforms, and conference spaces to the building.
SDC Project Vision
SDC provided a vision brief specific to Buraydah within the overarching 12 cities aspirations.
A modern downtown with a wide array of leisure and recreation components, redefining Buraydah’s lifestyle, while serving as the agribusiness and innovation epicenter of the entire region.
A mix use modern downtown with a wide array of leisure and recreation components, redefining Buraydah’s lifestyle.
Community living with quality offering that is beyond & improvement to the existing residential stock standard
Upscale Retail & F&B experience
Modern entertainment facilities
Upscale hospitality offering for corporate, families and events (wedding, festival, etc…)
A Journey Through Buraydah
At the confluence of trade routes and the Al Rumah Valley, source of life and abundance, Buraydah was historically a mercantile and productive heart for the region.
Living to the rhythm of harvests and seasons, the agricultural community held and continues to host countless festivities and events. Today, strategically located North of Riyadh, the city is poised to harvest its next era of development, and celebrate its auspicious growth.
Based on its rich agricultural heritage and royal history, we propose a few steps to develop a thoughtful master plan.
A phased masterplan with room for growth and future development
Curated pedestrian-oriented venues for trade, entertainment, education and sports.
Site Sections
North and south gateways that form new landmarks for Buraydah
Connected and tech-enabled productive landscape
Meeting spaces and culturally vibrant
Site Sections
Urban spaces development
Clear masterplan layout for major functions
Section A-A
Humanized King Salman Road which weaves two plots into on downtown heart
The SDC downtown area is distributed across three plots totaling 50 hectares, divided by a wide vehicular artery, the King Salman Road. This road is both a challenge and an opportunity: one to tie both banks together and plant the seed for the downtown expansion.
The design scheme concentrates commercial assets into a mixed-use core area, wrapped by a soft mobility and micro-transit loop which links both plots. A High-Street Loop, a more local and neighborhood commercial spine, lines the entire commercial core and mediates with the residential neighborhoods on the East. The SDC assets are concentrated on the southern plot while the northern plot is preserved. It is expected to develop in the future across King Salman Road with new market products unfolding on the design framework defined through the SDC project.
Avenues
High Street Loop
(20m ROW)
HIGH STREET LOOP
High Street Loop
A rich diversity of activities are experienced along the High Street.
The High Street Loop links all three SDC plots together and is the active commercial ring of the downtown, wrapping around the commercial core and linking all four thematic nodes of the site.
The High Street Loop links all three SDC plots together and is the active commercial ring of the downtown, wrapping around the commercial core and linking all four thematic nodes of the site.
The street is envisioned to have 1+1 lanes with street parking on both sides. Arcades with boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and local services (supermarket, barber, etc) line the shopping street. Working together with the sites’ retail strategy, it runs in parallel to the Buraydah Walk. While not being covered as the Walk, the human-scale width, massing, trees, and arcades creates a shaded and comfrtable pedestria space.
The High Street Loop links all three SDC plots together and is the active commercial ring of the downtown, wrapping around the commercial core and linking all four thematic nodes of the site.
The street is envisioned to have 1+1 lanes with street parking on both sides. Arcades with boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and local services (supermarket, barber, etc) line the shopping street. Working together with the sites’ retail strategy, it runs in parallel to the Buraydah Walk. While not being covered as the Walk, the human-scale width, massing, trees, and arcades creates a shaded and comfrtable pedestria space.
with the TIS
The street is envisioned to have 1+1 lanes with street parking on both sides. Arcades with boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and local services (supermarket, barber, etc) line the shopping street. Working together with the sites’ retail strategy, it runs in parallel to the Buraydah Walk.
CMP
While not being covered as the Walk, the human-scale width, massing, trees, and arcades create a shaded and comfortable pedestrian space.
MARKETPLACE
The market is framed by a landmark hotel, a mixed-use development with shops and restaurants on the ground floor, a Souk, and the King Salman road above which spans across an iconic roof canopy, the Frame. This large open-air roof shelters vendors and kiosks in the urban plaza while forming a distinctive gateway and landmark for the downtown. Here, celebrations, festivals, and weekly markets take place, welcoming residents and visitors.
EMERGING GROENEWOUD
Tilburg, Netherlands (2023)
Europan 17 - Special mention
Emphasizing the values of social cohesion and fostering a vibrant, healthy community; this transformative endeavor envisions a universal yet uniquely tailored solution for the postwar neighborhood.
Main designer. Involved in design and analytical diagrams and architectural visualization.
#Urban design #Public space #Architecture #Re-development
WUYI NATIONAL PARK DESIGN COMPETITION
Fujian, China (2023)
Competition - Special mention
The overall spatial design of Autou Village is based on the valley’s topography, closely integrating with the existing village structure. To explore a new type of industial-tourism development.
Project lead, involved in design and analytical diagrams and architectural visualization.
#Urban design #Public space #Architecture #Re-development
RENEWED STATION AREA DEVELOPMENT
Espoo, Finland (2023)
Competition
The new northern downtown area of Leppävaara forms a new functionally high-level overall plan that increases the recognizability, accessibility and attractiveness of the area.
Main designer. Involved in design and analytical diagrams and architectural visualization.
#Urban design #Public space #Architecture #Re-development
RENEWED STATION AREA DEVELOPMENT
Kerava, Finland (2022)
Competition - winning Prize, waiting for follow-up
The goal of creating a connection point between the east and west of the railway line in threefold: The connection of movement, green, program and activity.
Creating an urban environment that offers opportunities for economic vitality as well as a place for everyone to thrive in the growing Kerava.
#Urban design #Public space #Architecture #Re-development
WALL GARDEN - RESORT COMPLEX DESIGN
Kaiping, China (2021-2022)
Competition - 1st Prize, waiting for follow-up
Next to the World Heritage Site of Kaiping Watchtowers, the design includes a group of buildings integrating accommodation, and leisurement which is merging into the unique context of the village.
Main designer. Involved in design and analytical diagrams and architectural visualization.
#Architecture #Public Building #Resort complex
NANJING CITY LIVINGROOM
Nanjing, China (2022)
Competition
The main idea is to perform a light renovation to re-organize the programs for the two floors while also improving its public identity.
The main structure remains and a special viewing corridor is arranged as the main bone of the living room. Re-activating the surrounded public space is the other focus point in this design.
#Architecture #Public Building #Tourist service point
IAP+ HEADQUARTER DESIGN FOR NDU
Tianjin, China (2019)
Competition - Final 30
A building for design union to tackle the low ground coverage condition with flexible and extendable design in the future, and providing and new office model for the future design industry.
Main designer. Involved in design and analytical diagrams and architectural visualization.
#Architecture #Office #Experimental space
NEXT TO THE CIRCLES - BOOKSTORE DESIGN
Chengdu, China (2018)
Competition - Honorable Mention
It is a unique bookstore in the middle of the city park. An exploration for the inward bookstore and the outward tea house, to connect the surrounding landscape with local cultural context.
Main designer. Involved in design and analytical diagrams and architectural visualization.
#Architecture #Public building #Tea house
BA'NAN URBAN PLAN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Chongqing, China (2022)
Competition
An urban plan for the future development of the Health industry and Smart industry. A nice mixture balance between the natural ecosystem and innovation ecosystem.
Designer, involved in architectural design and public space design.
#Urban design #Public building #Market #Development plan
BURAYDAH DOWNTWON URBAN DESIGN
Buraydah, Saudi Arabia (2022)
443,956m2 - Commission
A future development plan for Buraydah Downtown to celebrate its growth, its rich agricultural heritage, and royal history, all sources of national pride. Merging the market environment into the modern residential/ office buildings, making it the city of Festivals.
#Urban design #Public building #Market #Development plan
DONGTAI HEALTH CITY
Dongtai, China (2021)
4,000,000m2 - Competition First Prize
The design forms a comprehensive node of 400 hectares within the masterplan, housing health anchors and healthy residential communities. The environments, lifestyles, economies and communities will be re-shaped by the Health-related design. Involved in design, and communicate with external CGI company.
#Urban design #Public building #Healthy Life Style
GUANYINTANG COLLEXTIVE RENTAL HOUSING
Beijing, China (2020 - 2021)
GFA 173,000m2 - Commission, Construction Phase
This is an affordable rental micro-studio (22m2 or 32m2) project with a large complex with different communal amenities, sports parks, cultural venues, and shops.
As a designer, I am Involved in design from the conceptual design phase, and communicate with LDI and client.
#Architecture #Residential
QIANHAI MORE - UNIT 8 & 10 CONSULTATION
Shenzhen, China (07/2019 - 10/2019)
Plot area 800,000m2 - Competition Third Place
It is a new urban development model for a future creative hub. With a green corridor as the main bone, the plots are connecting the innovation industry with cultural landmarks.
As a designer, I was involved in key node architecture design, and communicate with LDI and external CGI company.
#Urban design #Public building #Cultural building
TRANSFORMATION PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
Maastricht, Netherlands (2019)
22,000m2 - Competition Finalist
The strategy is to design a temporary intervention within the existing building. With the signature 'guest - host' principle, the design aims to leave as many existing elements intact as possible while adding a new type of flexible furniture to reflect the efficiency of renovation.
Involved in design, and visualization.
#Architecture #Office #Renovation
SEASIDE COMMERCIAL AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Qingdao, China (2018)
Plot area
100,000m2 - Commission
It is a tourist zone master plan near the landscape attraction in Qingdao. The waterfront offers space for a large fish market, near the fishing port, there are shops, restaurants, hotels, and business premises.
Designer, involved in planning, architectural design and renderings. Communication with LDI and client.
#Urban design #Commercial architecture #Waterfront
SSCIP COMMUNITY HUB
Chengdu, China (02/2017 - )
GFA 21,000m2 - Competition First Place, under construction
As one of the key nodes for the SSCIP. With a hybrid program of sports field, church, market, elder care, and communal activities space, this community center tries to give the urban space back to the public.
Designer, involved in planning, architectural design and visualization.
#Architecture #Community center #Sports
SSCIP SENIOR CARE CENTER
Chengdu, China (12/2016 - )
7,000m2 - Competition First Place, under construction
The design concept derives from the advanced Dutch senior care method and the spatial distribution is based on the traditional Chinese courtyard house typology.
Designer. Involved in design from conceptual design phase to prelimary design phase, and communication with LDI.
#Architecture #Senior care
