PORTFOLIO XUANZHI CHEN
ABOUT ME Hi, my name is Xuanzhi Chen, and I'm a fourth-year undergraduate architecture student at Northeastern University. I'm enthusiastic about understanding different ways architecture can interact with and satisfy the needs of people and communities. My interests in the architecture realm are broad, including interactions between people and space, urban planning, parametric design, and collaboration of architects with AI. This portfolio includes my work in the past three years.
CONTACT
chen.xuan@northeastern.edu +1 857.399.6641 650 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118
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CONTENT
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THE LITTLE DIG
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OASIS: IN BETWEEN
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VILLAGE IN THE AIR
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CHIINATOWN LIBRARY
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OTHER WORKS
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01. THE LITTLE DIG Individual work
COLLABORATORS Mario Latorre & Yasmin Chefridi
LOCATION Roxbury Crossing Station, Parcel bound by Parker St. Prentiss St, and Tremont St, Boston, MA 02120
DESCRIPTION When highways and railways were built and protested in 1940s Boston, these roads and vacant parcels left over became a barrier, disconnecting the communities. To reinvite Roxbury to Mission Hill, restitch the communities, and remember this history, THE LITTLE DIG redirects the streets and covers the railway to free the barrier. It reframes the intersected land and the urban code, enhancing the connectivity of the surrounding neighborhood and creating a more welcoming and safe community connecting spaces.
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1. Existing condition
2. Redirecting road and covering railway to restiting surroudinded neighborhood
3. Placing new buildings and expanding SW corridor
4. Placing new buildings and expanding SW corridor
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RESTITCHING STRATEGIES REGGIE LEWIS & HIGH SCHOOL GROUPS
ALICE-TAYLOR NEIGHBORHOOD
MISSION HILL NEIGHBORHOOD
1. Splitting the SW corridor and creating entrances to the main street to welcome people.
2. Connecting the neighborhood to the new plaza with sittings and activities and providing a sports center for the community.
3. Aligning the new street to the existing one, incorporating a plaza/amphitheater with preserved buildings to create a community anchor
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ZOMMING IN TO 2 NEIGHBORHOOD 1. Setting grids according to existing fabric and listing possible circulation
2. Arranging programs with dimensions, each indoor program is paired with an outdoor space
3. FInalize grids and leave empty space for each entrance
4. Incorporating colored tiles to further activate the plaza
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02. OASIS: IN BETWEEN LOCATION C. de la Farmacia 12, Centro, Madrid 28004
DESCRIPTION In the background of a dense urban fabric and narrow streets, lack of close connection to public green space, and insufficient sunlight exposure are usually issues. Located in the center of Madrid and across two streets, this project aims to bring light, air, and community connections in between the crowded neighborhoods. It would connect the two streets and provide free circulation between green spaces by connecting with the open space provided by the neighboring architect association COAM. Respecting the existing urban fabric and inspired by the space and breathing of a tree, this project illustrates a modest but amusing image by playing with the void and solid spaces.
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1. Opening path to connect two street and creating courtyard according to exsiting fabric
VOID & SOLID
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2. Adjusting entrance and facade to match height in surrounding
3. Exploreing the location of void and its ratio to solid space
4. Extending void underground and finalizing the overall volumn
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P1 + 0.00m
+ 0.00m
P2
-5.25m + 0.00m
+ 0.00m
-10.20m
-4.30m + 0.00m
- 1.00m
-4.30m
N 12m 0m
P3 + 0.00m
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2m
6m
R
D FLOO
GROUN
Perspective 1
Perspective 2
Green Space
Perspective 3
Circulation
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03. NORTH VILLAGE LOCATION 90 Gainsborough St, Boston, MA 02115
DESCRIPTION North Village is a Multy-family proposal designed specifically for the two parcels around Jarvis Street. The main idea is to create a flexible community that accommodates the requirements of different occupants. Except for flexibility, this proposal also emphasizes mixed-use spaces, private courtyards, and an internal “street” to build a complete community. This proposal includes the two sites in the north and south. To give space for the internal public “street”, all the upper units are double-floored and can be accessed from a single pathway on the third floor. Another reason to have double-floored units is to separate the living room and bedroom for avoiding the noise.
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gem
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latio
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FLOOR PLANS
FLOOR 1
FLOOR 2
FLOOR 3
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FLOOR 4
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04. BOSTON CHINATOWN PAVILION & LIBRARY LOCATION 120 Lincoln St, Boston, MA 02111
DESCRIPTION Located near the main gate of Boston Chinatown, the concept of these two projects is to provide a welcoming public space for the neighborhood and encourage community interaction. The louver roof of Chinatown Pavilion, inspired by the shape of streamline and wave, is made to attract and interact with people through the changing of shadow during daytime. Across the street and also with the welcoming atmosphere, the Chinatown Library creates a community hall that provides extra indoor aggregate space for the neighborhood. Each floor is connected by ramps to smooth the circulation.
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SITE PLAN
1/16” = 1’-0”
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JOH
NF
FIT
ZG
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ALD
SU R
FAC ER D
04A. CHINATOWN PAVILION
Plan(left) & Roof ARCH 2130: Site Xuanzhi Chen 0’ 4’ 8’
16’
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04B. CHINATOWN LIBRARY
From the bottom up, the level of privacy increased from public hall to administration office. Also, from the inside out, surrounding the atrium are the circulation ramp, activity space, and book storage, with a gradually increased degree of quietness and stillness.
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SITE ANALYSIS Sensory & Light Analysis ARCH2130 Xuanzhi Chen
Sun Path & Scentscape
Activity Analysis
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FLOOR 4
FLOOR 3
FLOOR 2
FLOOR 1
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For better integration into the neighborhood, the material is mainly copper cladding which is in similar color and size to the surrounding building. The glazing is covered by thin aluminum plates which could have different effects under winds. This is to give the facade a dynamic idea and implies the spiral circulation for the interior.
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05. OTHER WORKS
Model Photo Xuanzhi Chen ARCH 2240 : Architectonic Systems
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Column (8''x8'', tributary area = 25x30x4 = 3000ft^2)
Girder (depth = 30'', length = 50')
Air Barrier Thermal Break
Decking (depth = 5'')
Insulated Back Pan
Water Drainage Smoke Seal and Fire Safing
Shear Stud
Joist (depth = 15'', length = 25') Beam ( depth = 18'', lenth = 30') Angle Anchor Spandrel Glass Horizontal Mullion Project 3: Structure, Skil, and Experience ARCH 2240: ARchitectonic Systems Xuanzhi Chen December 10, 2021
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XUANZHI CHEN chen.xuan@northeastern.edu +1 857.399.6641