Xiaoyuan Zhang I Portfolio

WORK SAMPLE architecture + landscape architecture Xiaoyuan Zhang

Harvard Graduate School of Design, MLA ‘19 Iowa State University, B. Arch ‘17

CONTENT

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Wheels Up Harvard GSD I Fall 2018 I Pittsburgh, PA Northshore transit hub

Crystal Armature Axi:Ome I Summer 2015 I Kaliningrad, Russia Renewed castle

Bosque Autรณnomo xiaoyuanzhang@gsd.harvard.edu +1 515.708.0987

Harvard GSD I Spring 2018 I Puerto Rico Forest as catalysts of Puerto Rican autonomy

From Episode to Adaption

Xiaoyuan is currently pursuing a degree in Master of Landscape Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

Harvard GSD I Fall 2017 I Boston, MA Alternative society for sea level rise

After gaining professional experiences through internships with Gensler (Phoenix, AZ), Turenscape (Beijing, China), Perkins Eastman Architects (New York City, NY), and Axi:Ome LLC (St. Louis, MO), Xiaoyuan is interested in utilizing participatory methods to engage communities.

Iowa State I Fall 2016 I San Franciso, CA An alternative typology of preservation

She hopes to make a difference as a designer by creating spaces that overcome barriers and encourage new possibilities of interaction.

Architectural Association I Spring 2016 I Monaco Urban activity platform and landscape loop

The Edge

Linking

Art in Transit Better Philadelphia Competition I Summer 2016 I Philadelphia, PA Multi-dimensional transit center

WHEELS UP

Northshore transit hub

Fall 2018 I Prof. Tilo Herlach, Simon Hartmann, Simon Frommenwiler (HHF Architects) Pittsburgh, PA I Individual project The architecture of Soft Spaces, an architectural type which can blur separation and security perimeters in a smart way in order to link the public space with substantial privatized areas in the urban fabric. A lot of seemingly public spaces like market halls, shopping malls, train stations or sport stadiums have strict limits and constraints of social activities. In fact, those are privately owned public spaces with precise boundaries. The studio focused on studying the architectural potential of Soft Spaces, the spatial interface in between private and public. Is there a way these large-scale infrastructures for sports and other big events could become less of a mostly unused and closed off forbidden city to the adjacent urban fabric and society? What spaces function as tools to create new ways of transition between public and private, in between less controlled and heavily controlled spaces? The studio searched for long living architectural solutions, which have the power and strength to contribute to the site’s identity or even help to create a new identity.

PROJECT STATEMENT Throughout the history, Pittsburgh is an industrial and manufacturing city which known as the “Steel City.” After WWII, the steel industry began to collapse. Only in the last couple of decades the city’s experienced a renaissance. The urban environment has been degrading, suspending potential development of the area. The Northshore riverfront, an area with large scale infrastructure, sports facilities and parking lots, has many leftover spaces and urban in-between zones that seek for development.

The proposed transit hub is in one of the in-between zones that

TYPICAL FLOOR PLANS surrounded by three freeway infrastructures. Four different territory interventions are consolidated in this proposal, connecting crowd flow from underground Metro station, urban traffic, freeway suburban/long-distance traffic and possible future air bus in a three-dimensional spatial system. The transit hub will become part of the network of the Pittsburgh transit system ranks as one key tool for connecting the city as a whole, a moment for people to gather and to memorize, as well as a platform of new technology to perform.

2nd Floor Plan

Transit level 2

4

4th Floor Plan

5

4

3

3 3

SITE PLAN

2

6

4

2 2

1

5

1

1. Passenger’s waiting room 2. Office 3. Meeting room 4. Balcony 5. Car ramp 6. Exhibition and display area

1

1. Passenger’s waiting room 2. Temporary parking 3. Car pick-up / drop-off 4. Car ramp

1. Exhibition space 2. Co-working area / conference room 3. Classroom 4. Reading room 5. Rest area

Ground Floor Plan

6

7

8

9 5 Metro station

1

4

10

Metro line

3

N 0

45

90

180m

11

N

DIAGRAMS Public programs (Future airbus terminal) Transit center Metro station

Building volumes

12

Interior programs

Freeway connection (upper level) Harvard Graduate School of Design

Freeway connection (lower level)

1. Pop-up shops 2. Car pick-up / drop-off 3. Bicycle room 4. Product display room 5. Car ramp to underground 6. Car ramp from upper levels 7. Waiting room 8. Open sitting area 9. Gallery 10. Cafe 11. Open sitting area 12. Ground parking lot

2

1

Option Studio - Wheels Up 1

EXPLODE AXONOMETRIC DRAWING People’s circulation Car’s circulation Stairs, escalator and elevators

Transit level 1 - Car pick-up / drop-off - APP Ride - Waiting room - Express parking

Roof Gallery - Gallery space - Future airbus terminal - Roof garden

Ground level City auditorium

- Car pick-up / drop-off - APP Ride - Waiting room - Shops / restaurants - Product dispaly area

- Exhibition space - Performance stage - Open auditorium

Co-working space - Shared office - Meeting room - Open sittimg

Underground level 1 - Waiting room - Shops / restaurants - Product dispaly area

Transit level 3

Underground level 2

- Car pick-up / drop-off - APP Ride - Waiting room - Express parking

- Long-term parking - Waiting area - Pop-up shops

Underground level 3

Transit level 2

- Long-term parking - Metro station

- Express parking Harvard Graduate School of Design

Option Studio - Wheels Up 2

SECTION AND PHYSICAL MODELS

1.

1

39.00

Roof garden / future air bus terminal

33.00

Exhibition / workshop space

27.00

City auditorium

21.00

Co-working space

16.00

Transit level 3

12.00

Transit level 2

2

3 2.

4

8.00

Transit level 1

3.

0.00

-6.00

2.5

5

10m

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Option Studio - Wheels Up 3

Passenger center

-12.00

Metro Station / Long-term parking

-18.00

Metro Station / Long-term parking

4.

0

Ground level Passenger center

INTERIOR RENDERINGS

Transit level

City auditorium

Co-working space

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Option Studio - Wheels Up 4

CRYSTAL ARMATURE

Renewed Castle

Axi:Ome LLC I Summer 2015 I Kaliningrad, Russia Team: Jaymon Diaz, Joshua Chan, Colleen Qiu, Jaebum Byun, Ran Gu, Tianyi Zhang, Zhaoyu Zhu, Yi Zhou, Xiaoyuan Zhang Contribution: Facade design development, Drawings, Study model, Final model, Photography and post-production

DESIGN PROCESS

Tower & Facade Design Study Model

Courtyard Designs

First Phase

Landscape Design Study Model

Courtyard Designs

Second Phase

Third Phase

Perspective view of model, showing landscape and main entrance

For this design competition, Crystal Armature pays homage to historic structures on site while reinventing their composition as an icon of memory. We embrace the idea of fluid histories that are part of a systemic order and understood in relation to generations of cultural influences shaping the spatial reading of the historic center of Kaliningrad. The reference to historic structures represents an understanding of unfolding typologies rather than a commodification of history; contemporary dialogues of a relativist historicism contrast with principals of erasure predominant in the post war era.

Axi: Ome

Fourth Phase

Top view of model, showing courtyard

PROJECT STATEMENT Kaliningrad City is emblematic of the complex histories between eastern and western Europe. A Russian exclave, the project situates between Poland and Lithuania with a Prussian history that dates back to the Northern Crusades. The city was largely reconstructed following WWII and renamed Kaliningrad, formerly known as KÜnigsberg under German rule. Our site is located in the historic core of Korolevskaya Gora, King’s Mountain, a location chosen for its proximity to two rivers and heightened ground contours giving a visual overview of surrounding territories.

Tower Design Process

North Perspective Crystal Armature

EXPLODE AXONOMETRIC DRAWING

ELEVATIONS AND SECTIONS

Crystal glass facade

North Elevation Special exhibition hall (amber room)

South Elevation

Amphitheater

Fairground and underground parking

Section AA

Theater Axi: Ome

Crystal Armature

Section BB

PLAN

Level 3 floor plan

Ground floor plan

Below ground floor plan

Level 2 floor plan Axi: Ome

Crystal Armature

PHYSICAL MODEL AND RENDERINGS

Perspective view of Model, looking south

Interior view from North East

Perspective view of Model, looking north west

Interior View from North West

Perspective view of Model, looking west

Panorama from Kant Island Axi: Ome

Crystal Armature

BOSQUE AUTÓNOMO

Forest as Catalysts of Puerto Rican Autonomy

Spring 2018 I Prof. Sergio Lopez-Pineiro I Puerto Rico Team: Cally Hickey, Yanni Ma, Chengzhang Zhang, Xiaoyuan Zhang Contributions: Idea, GIS mapping, Diagrams, Plans, Sections, Renderings, Manifesto collage, Physical model

The U.S. colonial empire today remains robust, harmful, and rooted in extraction. There is no better example of this modern imperialism than Puerto Rico, which the U.S. gained control over as part of the Treaty of Paris in 1898, and today remains an unincorporated territory. The relationship between the mainland and its territory has remained extractive and self-enriching, at the deliberate expense of the Puerto Rican people, for an unbroken 120 years. This studio, with its focus on the political agency of ecology and the design and de-design of entire territorial systems, provides an important, critical framework for approaching landscape architecture interventions in Puerto Rico.

With ambiguous sovereignty and rapidly changing economic, political, and environmental realities, Puerto Rico lives a dual reality – one subject to both local and U.S.

policies, regulations, impulses, and sway. Its continued status as an unincorporated U.S. territory has subjected the Puerto Rican people to a series of experiments and exploitative relationships. The results have contributed to a sustained out-migration, which has been compounded by destructive storms like Hurricane Maria. Emigration, to both the island’s coast and to the U.S., has left a series of physical, institutional, social, and economic voids. Within these, a number of emergent phenomenon have installed themselves. Most prominently of these is reforestation, of which Puerto Rico has had the highest rate in the world in the latter half of the 20th century. Our project takes this history and its remnants and reverberations as a starting point for our proposition – that learning from and mobilizing forests can open up spaces of sovereignty for Puerto Rico in ways that can prove fl exible to multiple futures, without being contingent upon a single one.

TIMELINE OF THE FOREST

Deforestation

Reforestation

1800: Natural forest

1920: Agricultural production

1950: Natural disaster + working force outflow

PROJECT STATEMENT

Puerto Rico’s unincorporated territorial status and exploitative cycles have contributed to a sustained out-migration, which has been compounded by destructive storms like Hurricane Maria. Emigration,

to both the island’s coast and to the U.S., has left a series of physical, institutional, social, and economic voids. Within these, a number of emergent phenomenon have installed themselves. Chief among them is reforestation, of which Puerto Rico has had the highest rate in the world during the latter half of the 20th century. Within such a context, we propose that learning from forests can open up spaces of sovereignty for Puerto Rico in ways that prove flexible to multiple futures. More specifically, we utilize the forest as a method of switch to provide autonomy to the people of Puerto Rico.

URBAN ANALYSIS

Scale 1:150,000

2000: Forest regeneration

2020: Reverse vacancy

2035: Mutualist planting

2076: Ecological boom

PLANT SPECIES: DESIGN AGENT

Puerto Rico cannot be understood from a single perspective. Its status as an unincorporated territory has produced an experience subject to both local and U.S. policies, regulations, impulses, and sway - a dual reality. The representation of our project recognizes this dual nature and demonstrates that different sets of definitions produce different realities.

Puerto Rican reforestation changes (1991-2000)

1970: Vacancy

The Forest as Switch proposes interventions that work with the remoteness and accessibility of inland Puerto Rico to switch colonial occupations into methods of autonomy. The Forest as Switch proposes the subversion of abandoned agricultural fields and roads.

This enables the accessibility of local communities to resources while simultaneously increasing its remoteness. We are utilizing the invasive African tulip tree, which was first introduced for its ornamental flowers, as a trojan horse. The Forest as switch “switches” the function of this invasive species to its new role as an ecological agent.

The African Tulip tree is found as an invasive species throughout the island, but it is able to grow in abandoned agricultural lots where other plants cannot. The tulip tree is considered invasive because its dense shade tends to block out sunlight. However, the tulip tree amends the soil so that other species can grow. Besides decorative purposes, African Tulip Tree can provide shade for coffee, which will improve the quality of coffee and maintain the stability of the microecosystem. After one generation, African Tulip Tree is usually replaced by another species, which is called Muskwood. We focused on the shades created by African Tulip Tree, and their symbiosis with coffee.

AFRICAN TULIP TREE Spathodea campanulata Remoteness

Puerto Rican reforestation changes (2001-2011)

Accessibility

Coast reforestation to mitigate sea level rise Scale 1:150,000

Scale 1:150,000

1950: Decoration

2001: Soil regeneration

Spathodea campanulata 2018: Ecosystem build-up

Spathodea 2076: campanulata 2035: Shades Agroforest

Elevation shadow distribution

Plan shadow distribution

Coast reforestation to mitigate sea level rise Scale 1:150,000

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Branching structure and shadow density

African Tulip Tree as economic value

African Tulip Tree as economic value.

Core Studio IV - Bosque Autónomo

African TulipTree Tree as as ecological African Tulip ecologicalvalue value.

EXISTING FOREST

FOREST INTERVENTION

Plans

Detailed plan A Scale 1:250

Existing forest and vacancy

Detailed plan B

New planting pattern proposal

Scale 1:1000

Scale 1:250

Scale 1:1000

Sections

(i) Existing riparian condition: little vegetation.

(i) Existing road section: paved road with little drainage.

(ii) Existing riparian condition: steep slope.

(ii) Existing road section: paved surface increases runoff and erosion.

(iii) Existing riparian condition: soil runoff ends up in river and lake.

(i) Proposed: plant African Tulip Trees

(iii) Proposed: soil stabilization condition.

(iii) Existing road section: bench cut with wall.

(i) Proposed section: unpaved road; African Tulip Tree decreases sedimentation.

Harvard Graduate School of Design

(ii) Proposed: root growth along steep slopes.

(ii) Proposed section: planting starts to interrupt roadways.

Core Studio IV - Bosque Autónomo

(iii) Proposed section: planting starts to interrupt roadways amd pathways.

PLANS, SECTIONS AND RENDERINGS Steep slopes and paved roads increase runoff and erosion, so we proposed dense planting patterns of the African Tulip Tree in the watersheds along the road. Eventually the trees will take over the abandoned road. On the haciendas, we proposed more spaced planting patterns that allow the canopy to grow, where mutualist relationships can occur in their shade, such as shaded-grown coffee. Removal of the abandoned roads manifested remoteness while the agroforestry shows the increase of accessibility for the local residents.

Plan A

Plan B

Detailed section A

Detailed section B

Scale 1:2000

Scale 1:200

The rendering of Accessible shows how the switch intervenes at the scale of the hacienda where the African Tulip tree can create an agroforest and contribute to inland autonomy. The rendering of Remote shows how our intervention near roadsides will eventually take over the road to increase remoteness of inland Puerto Rico to decrease sedimentation. Our proposal will ensure adequate water resources and a functional dam to generate electricity. In the long run, the African Tulip tree will create a condition to allow for settlement in the area to have reliable resources.

Scale 1:2000

Scale 1:200

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Two ways of looking at forest - Accessible

Two ways of looking at forest - Remote

Core Studio IV - Bosque Autรณnomo

FROM EPISODE TO ADAPTATION Alternative society for sea level rise

Fall 2017 I Prof.Craig Douglas I Boston, MA Team: Helena Cohen, Shawna Meng, Xiwei Shen, Xiaoyuan Zhang Contributions: Idea, Diagrams, Plans, Sections, Renderings, Isometric drawings, Manifesto collage, Physical model Since the 17th century, Boston has been addin fill to expand its land mass. Now, with the threat of sea level rise, that same land is facing rapid contraction. This project investigates and challenges the dual notion of expansion and contraction through exploring diverse spatial relationships and employing a new type of urbanism.

URBAN CATALOG Blue + Green Infrastructure Landscape basic elements + Circulation

Surface

Flat

Water

Site

Irregular surface

Wet

Bioswale

Tide

Green space

Green space

Water pocket

People - full

Canopy - grid

Canopy - grid

Dry

Bioswale

Tide

Green space

Green space

Water pocket

People - empty

Low tide

Medium tide

High tide

Canopy

Crop

Stream

Wetland

Pier

Connectioin

Deployment A

Deployment B

Shallow slope

Medium slope

Steep slope

Steep slope

Crop - row

SHrub - grid

Canopy - row

Canopy - grid

Shallow

Deep

Salty

Icy

Small island

Medium island

Large island

Individuals

Perimeter

Perimeter

Vegeation Shrub - row

Sloped

Landscape seasonal change

Summer Shrub

Winter

Shrub

Canopy

Crop

Stream

Wetland

Slab

Linear

Perimeter

Detached

Pier

Sports field - on

Sports field - off

Color

Color

Working + Productive landscape

Linear

eg. Libeskind building, Berlin

High - rise

Mid - rise

Snake

eg. Row house, Boston

Low - rise eg. Row house, Paris

Slab

Cross

Clustered

Slab

eg. Mietskasene, Berlin block

eg. Medieval cities

eg. Lower east side, NYC

High-rise apartment, mixed-use apartment

eg. Haussmann block

eg. Eixample, Barcelona

eg. Soviet mass housing

Residential apartment, cultural program, eg. museum, school

eg. Wohnburg, Hamburg

Harvard Graduate School of Design

eg. Habitat, Motreal

Waterfront, recreation, shopping mall, public program, eg. transit center, common activity space Core Studio III - From Episode to Adaptation

Combination

Combination

CNC MODEL

SECTION PERSPECTIVE OVER THE SITE

Green roof Theater, amphitheater Science center Contemporary commercial

Campus building

Parking lot

Research center

Landscape filtration

Mixed-use residential Mixed-use residential

Ecological lab Harbor park

Museum, gallery

Library

Recreational center

Wetland Sports field

Temporary exhibition

Landscape Filtration Zone Winter

Working / Productive Zone Autumn Harvard Graduate School of Design

Working / Productive Zone Summer

Urban Cultural Center Spring Core Studio III - From Episode to Adaptation

PLAN AND TIDAL CHANGE IN 60 YEARS

Water level 4

Water level 3

Water level 2

Water level 1

0 year

Water level 3

Water level 2

Water level 1

10 year

20 year

30 year

40 year

50 year

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Detail 1 - Working / productive zone

Detail 2 - Connection between islands

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Core Studio III - From Episode to Adaptation

60 year

THE EDGE

An Alternative Typology for Preserva-

Fall 2016 I Prof. Mitchell Squire I San Franciso, CA Team: Marissa Engel, Kendra Koch, Zachary Werba, Xiaoyuan Zhang Contributions: Idea, Diagrams, Plans, Sections, Renderings, Isometric drawings, Manifesto collage, Physical model Sitting on the edge of continent, the cultural icons that San Francisco grew upon, are continuously being decommissioned, deconstructed and in other words, “lost� in the process of making room for the bigger and better of the technological advancements in our modern world. The architecture we proposed address the disconnect of people to their place and to each other, and as a medium to bringing back to light the displaced goldenness of San Francisco’s culture. How can architecture play a role that juxtapose the past and present, and yet allow neither to take dominance over the other? Our ideas thus far lean towards rethinking the current historical preservation typology and spatial experience derived from the Situationist International political agenda.

SITE CONTEXT With this idea in mind, through research of lost places we came upon the site of the Sutro Baths, located within Land’s End Park on the northwestern side of the city. In 1896, Adolph Sutro, the mayor at the time, designed this large trip`le domed glass building as the world’s largest indoor swimming pool for the working class of San Francisco to come and be entertained. However, since the fire of 1966, all that

is left is the concrete foundations surrounding the baths and a few remnants leftover to be worn away as time goes on. The site speaks of a lost culture that once was San Francisco. A time where the recreational Sutro Baths combated corporate greed, economic depression and an industrialized working life. The culture today is pleading for a reinvigoration and renewal of the place.

Golden gate bridge

Timeline 1896

1900

1905

1930

Sutro Bath and Museum opened to public

Ferries & Cliff House train became major transportation to access the site

Electric line was Program built to connect changed based the site with on people’s need inner city

1966

1980

2016

Fire destroyed Sutro Bath

Site remained empty with the ruins

Historical Transportation Change

Fort point

Site location

Sea Level

+120’

Topo

Site

Year 1990

Local attraction Potential connection Public transportation Presidio of San Fransico

Coastline

Year 1930

Public transportation Ferries & Cliff House train

Public transportation Ferries & Cliff House train

Year 2016 Private car

Electric lines

Green space

Historical Programs Change

City landmark

China beach

Legion of honor Lands end park

Swimming pool

Ice rink

Fishing

Museum

Diving pool

Photography

Restaurant Locker room Social event Metro Cliff house

Rapid bus

Historical Photos of Sutro Bath

Sutro Historic District

Ocean beach De Young museum

Golden gate park Academy of Science Iowa State University

The Edge

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT Thus, the architecture we propose address this disconnect of people to their place and to each other; bringing back to light the displaced goldenness of San Francisco’s culture. The goal is not to rebuild the Sutro Baths, but rather the magic that was held inside - the thriving culture and excitement of the various programs within. With our architecture we wish to re-present the past atmosphere that had before, brought thousands to the site at a time.

Event space

Temporary event

The proposed architecture itself is not the walls or floors or structure, but the adaptation of the spaces within to the existing natrual landscape that capture the atmosphere of the site. The built form begins to work with the existing natural fabric that provide open spaces for a reactive/adaptive system for the present culture of the time.

New relationship

Dialogue space

ARCHITECTURAL POTENTIAL The abstract floor plan shows the potential programs within the space that could happen from today to 100 years later.

Movement

Isometric view from southwest

Horizontal Flow and Vertical Flow By studying the theory Situationist International Agenda, we rethink the type architecture that is concerned with the nature of the event itself and resultant opposition. The design process was not one of applying a known solution, but of searching for compatibility between different forms and their functional implications. We believe that the shapes of a building should indicate, perhaps display the usage and way of life of its occupants, and it is therefore to be rich and varied in appearance. Here, architecture

in which space, movement, and events are independent, yet stand in a new relation to one another, so that the conventional components of architecture are broken down and rebuilt along different axes. The vertical flow aims to create dialogue between people with lanscape, people with light, people with people. An ambiguity of being in or outside created between the void of spaces and the site.

Flow of nature

Flow of light

Flow of people Iowa State University

The Edge

Roof Plan

Exploded Axonometric of Building

Roof

Second Floor Ceiling

Elevator

Roof Truss System

Roof merges into the site surface

Interior Programed

Hypostyle Hall Columns

Parking lot on the east of the building

Ruins is untounched on the ground Ceiling

Ramp

Floor Truss System

Pedesrtian path along the south side of the building

South entrance connects with the Cliff House

Amphitheater Insertion

Site/Context

Iowa State University

The Edge

RENDERINGS AND MODELS

Perspective view from roof top

Perspective view from southwest

Iowa State University

Perspective view from the hypostyle hall to ocean

Perspective view looking east

Sectional model

Interior perspective view in hypostyle hall

Sectional model

The Edge

Linking

Urban Activity Platform and Landscape Loop

Spring 2016 I Prof. Naiara Vegara, Marie-Isabel de Monseignat I Larvotto, The Principality of Monaco Individual Project Sitting on an acute topography by the Mediterranea Sea, the country of Monaco has an area of 0.78 sqaure mile and a population of about 37,800, which is the second smallest and the most densely populated country in the world. It is one of the well-known destinations for tourist and rich by its climate, scenery and gambling facilities. The city is dominated by high-rise hotels and apartment blocks that rise into the hills, and utterly bewildering street layout. This densely built city is challenged by the restricted land availability and the relationship it has with the sea.

URBAN ANALYSIS

Circulation and Flow

City Network Today’s rail route Existing old train track Public transportation Major attraction Activate buildings Activate business circle Related activity Public greenspace Bus stops

Larvotto Existing Conditions

10 ft above sea level 20ft 40ft Walking path

Bus station Traffic road

1. Located at the intersection of the casino, conventional center and residential area.

S-N accessibility

W-E accessibility

Pedestrian path

Pedestrian access

2. Lack of connecting system to link and promote potential social and commercial activities within the area.

3. The embankment of the old train track seperate the inner urban area from the water edge.

0

400’

Solid and Void

800’

Attraction, Greenspace and Public Transportation

Bldg and water boundaries Bldg and water openings Public space activate by openings

Girmaldi Forum Casino de Monte-Carlo

Solid - volumes above 50ft Solid - volumes under 50ft Void - public space

Edge and boundaries

Buildings and public spaces

Coventional center Commercial Residential Public green Coastline open space

Building programs

Water and greenery Japanese Garden Fairmont Monte-Carlo

National Museum

Prince’s Palace of Monaco

Japanese garden

Stade Louis II Stadium Access path Green space

Architectural Association School of Architecture

Activate public spaces by water and greenary

Visual access

Visual access to water Linking

Impact circle

Pedestrian access to water

DESIGN STRATEGY

Existing Condition

Therefore, I decided to use the old train track as the key transforming point to improve the existing conditions. By moving the car routes to underground, a walking path is created on the embankment that interprets the cultural landscape and establishes new destinations.

A varied program of activities related to the adjacent neighborhoods are installed along the path. Three new accessing points are created on south, middle and north along the path that make the walking path not only accessible to the residential surroundings, but also extended to the seafront to create a loop that activate the whole area. Set in varying

terrain along 1960 feet, the landscape loop measures with an average of 32 feet in width. At a larger scale, the corridor addresses the urban connectivity. It creates a connective tissue between the water front area on west to the urban context on the east that activate the negative spaces in between the high rise residential buildings and the embankment of old train track. No longer just a landscape loop, the walking path becomes a fully integrated park and social platform.

Residential Old train track/fast speed car route Car route Car route Single lane Single lane

Pedestrian Commercial

Residential

Existing Ramp Japanese garden

40ft

20ft Sea

7. Landscape walkway

8. Tunnel exit

9. Landscape playground

Design Strategy

40ft 4. Gallery 5. North side ramp access 6. Landscape balcony

20ft

10. North entrance/ Viewing deck

a. Move the car routes to underground, create car tunnel - free the space on the train track for landscape pedestrian usage

40ft

20ft b. Link urban context on two ground levels Connect two ground levels on two sides of the old train track - by creating space beneath the surface of the train track

2. Circular amphitheater

3. Tunnel entrance

1. Seaside promenade 40ft

20ft c. Connect seaside area with inner urban context - by creating circular platform for access and public usage

Proposed Section Perspective

URBAN CONTEXT

WATER CONTEXT

URBAN CONTEXT Architectural Association School of Architecture

Linking

DESIGN STRATEGY

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Activity & Circulation Diagram

Responded to the surrounding dynamic topography, the repurposed corridor acts as a level horizontal datum, generating a new kind of experience for local residents, tourists, and kids for community revitalization, sea front usage enhancement, recreation, and wildlife. The loop promotes sustainable

Plants options

living as a shared individual and communal undertaking, at the same time that it generates new living experiences and new kinds of public spaces from its various components along the path.

Basic Elements Ficus

Prunus Bigaradie

Cycas

Chorisia

Seaside

Functional Diagram of Part C

Elevated trails will be proposed along the ocean to open up the Japanese garden and the coastline, connect with the landscape walking path to form a complete pedestrian loop.

Bycicle path Promenade Water

Water deck

Paving

Amphitheater

Amphitheater

Amphitheater are located at the west entrance of the loop, provides space for the view to ocean and spontaneous events.

Fountain View point Stairs

Exhibition Transform the negative space of the embankment to the new gallery space, connect the the higher level of residential/commercial area where people can shop and eat to the lower level water front.

Train track

Restaurant Shop Gallery Exhibition Cafe

Wall

Landscape Corridor Green spaces in the neighborhood create relaxing space in between dense urban environment. Sitting area and viewing pockets are also placed along the path.

Playground

Landscape Art gallery Car tunnel Accessing point Architectural Association School of Architecture

Playground for kids are created on the north side of the walking path. The activity zone maximizes the potential use of negative space in between buildings.

Sitting area Tree

Landscape walkway View pocket

Sitting area Playground Outdoor activity Sitting area

Massing Linking

Landscape corridor

PLAN AND SECTIONS

Amphitheater

South end entrance

Pedestrian deck

Section Sequence

Type f Playground

Section 1 Landscape corridor Type a Pedestrian deck along seaside

Residential building

Pedestrian deck

Gallery

Type e Landscape bridge

Section 2 Playground

Car Tunnel Landscape corridor

North side entrance

Type d Viewing pocket

Section 3

Type c Gallery

Landscape corridor Gallery Car tunnel

Type b Concrete platform

Landscape corridor

Section 4

Landscape corridor Gallery Car tunnel

Landscape corridor

Playground

Proposed Connections

Section 5

Section cut Architectural Association School of Architecture

Linking

RENDERINGS

Seaside activity

Playground on the landscape loop

Sectional collage of landscape loop

Seaside greenary

Architectural Association School of Architecture

Isometric view of the landscape corrider from south

Linking

ART IN TRANSIT Multi-dimensional Transit Center Summer 2016 I The Rail Park, 2017 Better Philladephia Competition I Philadelphia, PA Individual Project Philadelphia’s City Branch is an unused network of 115-year-old depressed rail lines that transported goods and people into and out of Center City Philadelphia. In 1992 the tracks were taken out of service and now lay dormant. The design challenge of the competition is to design interventions that improve access to, transit through, lighting in, and programming for the abandoned viaduct, making it a useful, fun, and safe public space for all.

URBAN ANALYSIS

DESIGN PROPOSAL Diagram of Transit system and spatial relationships Center City, Philedaphia

Key Features

University Campus

Scholar

Art and Cultural Activities

Student

Tourists Attraction

Artist

Heavy Traffic

Tourist

Center City, Philedaphia

High Density Residential area

Retail owners

Commercial Center

Resident

Target Client

Student

Scholar

Resident

Retail owners, employee

Tourist

Employee

Groups

Building skin: Louver system

Programs Sustainability Program

Needs

Artist

Academic exchange

Student conversation

Display platform

Commercial/ Cultural attractors

Retail space

Community interaction

Efficient transportation

Spatial Connective Methods

Art In Transit Program

Customer Service

Needs

Public Art and Cultural Center

Spatial Requirment Cafe

Reading room

Studio

Gallery

Landscape

Outdoor seating

Retail store

Playground

Research space

Transit station

Art works + Exhibition space

Office + Interview space

SEPTA Tower of Reseach Lab and Office SEPTA

SEPTA

Second Level: Landscape Park

Community Platform

Broad street line Market line Petco Regional rail

Urban Scan Major Traffic Road

Infrastructure Ridership of every stop

Major traffic Area boundary Subway outline High speed car route

Cultural institution Academic institution Greenspace Activate area Groups

Boundary

Second Level: Light Rail Line

Site Cultural Attraction

Light Rail Station

Commercial Store University Campus Residential Area Greenspace Subway Line High Speed Car Route

Truss Structure

Bus Station

Ground Level:

Art in Transit - Art Gallery

Bus Line

Underground: Fast Speed Car Route

Potential Subway Line

Better Philladephia Competition

Art in Transit

DESIGN STRATEGY

Basic Dimensions of the Vehicle

Creating places out of movement patterns is the initial idea of the infrastructure development. Center City has the busiest traffic within its dense urban context, therefore the new commute method needs to dealt with existing conditions and limitation. Through research, we found an eco-friendly, light structured system – the Personal Rapid Transit system. It is a public transport mode featuring small automated vehicles that typically carry 3 to 6 passengers operating on a network of specially built guideways. The advanced operational ICT control system allows mobile integration from passengers, which promotes flexible and personalized transit process. Therefore, we decided to insert this new system that works along but independent with the existing infrastructure. The proposed new light rail line runs through the viaduct, four major parks, downtown university campus, SEPTA headquarter and historical district. The viaduct as the main station will be activated by this new connection. We see the proposal for the viaduct design as the prototype for future development on other light rail stops along the track.

4 ft Station platform

Drive motors

3 ft Trac gauge

Diagram of the PRT Line - New transit system as urban connection Light rail line Subway line Bus line

1/2 mile 6 ft

1/4 mile

Control panel

Museum University

Software

Franklin Square

12 ft

Convention Center

City Hall

Washington Square

SEPTA Headquarter

Logan Square

Rittenhouse Square

Better Philladephia Competition

PRT Light Rail LIne Fast Facts Overall Distance : 5.8 mile track Travel Speed: 30 mph - 40 mph Power: Computer controled electric motor University students, faculty, and staff can ride the PRT for free using their school ID card

Art in Transit

BUILDING SECTION Connective point

Artist Researcher

SEPTA Tower

Employee

Customer Tourist

Resident

Connection

Interaction

+ new transit system works with existing systems for more efficient and sustainble way of transportation

Customer Service Program Private office and lab

[[limited access office space]

Researcg Lab

+ new cultural and commercial attraction beyond Center City

Bus

Student

+ dialogue created through art exhibitions and events

Light Rail + platform to display and demostrate art works

Sustainability Program

Art in Transit Program Public platform and landscape

Transit center

[24 hrs accessible public programs]

Community Center

Outdoor Landscape

Office

Open-air Cinema

Customer Service Center

Transit Station

Open-air Seating

Gallery

Gallery

Light Rail Station

Retail

New Bus Station

Interior Spatial Condition

Better Philladephia Competition

Art in Transit

Xiaoyuan Zhang

+1. 515.708.0987 xiaoyuanzhang@gsd.harvard.edu https://xyzhangdesign.com/