CRITICAL ARCHITECTURAL DISCOURSE Investigative Questions per Project
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HOW CAN URBAN GRID MEET NATURE?
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HOW SHOULD FOREIGN ARCHITECTS DESIGN?
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CAN STRUCTURE SINUATE?
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HOW TO DENSIFY CITY FOR JUST AND HEALTHY LIVING?
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CAN FOLDABLE STRUCTURES SHELTER HIKERS IN HARSH CLIMATE?
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HOW TO RESTORE LAND BY BUILDING?
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PROFESSIONAL WORK
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How Can Urban
Grid Meet Nature? T
he new convention center aims to embody Austin’s distinct sociocultural identity, acting as a major urban landmark embedded in the heart of the city. The site is located on the shores of Lady Bird Lake and thus is powerfully shaped by the intersection of downtown grid planning and the adjacent river system.
University of Texas at Austin 2015 Fall Studio Instructor John Blood
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“Pinch” model
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Site analysis
Site observation sketch
N
0 25 50 100
200 ft
The proposed design enhances the existing dichotomy by dramatically “pinching� the land to reveal the softness of natural landscape and the orderliness of man-made settlement.
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N
4
0 5 10 20
40 ft
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The circulatory access between the building and landscape directs visitor’s view along the transverse axis in order to further highlight the contrasting relationship between man and nature. The retaining walls not only serves as infrastructure, but also provides lighting and orientation for the pedestrians.
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convention center space planning
primary column grid 25’ x 40’
place apertures to conceal grid
lateral bracings
CHS-column to I-beam connection
Structural bay model
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2
How Should Foreign
Architects Design?
The studio was tasked with designing
a magnet research campus associated with University of Alaska, Fairbanks at its research forest. Having grown up in a completely different climate and culture compared to the project site, I invested my efforts to understanding and researching the unfamiliar site. This project extensively mapped to indicate various conditions such as the locations of permafrost (frozen soilunbuildable), flood plains, tree species, terrain and Eco-regions. The aim was to comprehensively design a place of refuge from the harsh climate of Alaska as well as visually connecting its occupants with the vast Tanana River plain. The building acts as the windbreakers that block the prevailing wind from North and Northeast, for the harshest months of December and January.
University of Texas at Austin 2015 Fall Studio Instructor Hope Hasbrouck
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Top Bottom Right
Permafrost at University* Composite map of site* Map of two sites * * The darker, the less buildable.
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Major Roads Highways University of Fairbanks campus and affliated research forest flood plain flood source N 0 1 2 miles
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0
40
80
160 ft
Site concept + massing iterations
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Object: Selecting an appropriate site using the process of elimination
South slope for maximum daylight and heat
Along the ridge for view toward researched target
Along established trail for accessibility
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3
Can Architecture Sinuate? A
short assignment to generate a space comprised of parametrically designed components followed by physical fabrication.
University of Texas, Austin 2015 Fall Studio Instructor Kory Beig
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Fabricated plexi glass model
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4 T
How to Densify City for Just
and Healthy Living?
he studio aimed to propose future developments for the Saltillo T.O.D (Transit-Oriented Development) district, currently at an intersection of inevitable growth and potential to affect future planning of the entire east Austin. The Plaza Saltillo T.O.D. faces pressing problems such as the loss of public space as a consequence of property development, while the adjacent Interstate-35 highway acts as physical and psychological barriers that impede the district.
Our synthesized solutions create a series of connected pocket parks along with developing usable space underneath the highway. Sustainability is a balance of ecology, equality and economic concerns. The master plan addresses the tensions between each of these three by providing housing for the low-income artist community, pocket parks to improve physical health, and by building densely.
University of Texas at Austin 2014 Spring Studio Instructor Dean Almy Partners on master plan Max Baird Kerry Frank McKenzie Edwards
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It is important that architecture activates the street at ground-level, thus retail stores are provided to support an engaging street life. We achieved this by setting residences further from the street and relocating parking underground.
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Residential Retail Parking
Hand-drawn sectional perspective that cuts through a proposed mixed use artists lofts; These affordable artists lofts are subsidized by the retail stores below.
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Elevated residence common area provides shade for the activated back alley.
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5
How Can Foldable Structures
Shelter Hikers in Harsh Climate?
D
ue to extreme arctic climates in Iceland, the hearth has been central to living and has long source of psychological and physical refuge. This shelter is a cluster of eggs; bedrooms and bathrooms gathered around the central egg containing kitchen and living spaces.
Bee Breeder’s Competition Partner Henry Wen
Its form is generated by balancing the need for minimal surface-area to volume ratio suited for an extremely cold climate – a sphere – and optimization of its floor area to volume ratio. The design focuses on minimizing construction speed and addressing transportation constraints, through an expandable motion structure that – through rotational movement of its components – can transform from a compact ball into an elliptical structural enclosure. The interior and exterior panels have been ensured to fit almost any transportation vehicle, as well as the potential for several people to install without requiring heavy construction machinery.
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Calculation Principle Unlike other motion structures forming a closed volume, Dreki Eggs is an ellipsoid rather than a sphere. As a consequence, the frame is asymmetrical in one axis; each of the vertices on a given polyhedron will have different distances from the centrepoint, different angles between each vertice to the centrepoint, and thus irregularly sized components. To ensure the structural frame to be reversibly expandable whilst enclosing an elliptical shape, a physical model was built to test an asymmetrical expandable structure comprised of closed elements. Each angle was categorised and calculated to ensure stable expansion and contraction relative to its neighboring legs.
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Form Generation and Optimization This ellipsoidal form is generated by balancing the need for minimal surface-area to volume ratio suited for an extremely cold climate – a sphere – and optimization of its floor area to volume ratio.
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6
How to Restore
Land by Building? T
he studio is tasked to design and build a structure hosting kayak storage and outdoor education center for a stakeholder called Artist Boat. A non-profit organization, the Artist Boat, uses “The Frame� as a launching point and storage facility to take middle schoolers out on the ocean to educate them about their surrounding ecology. In addition to the project requirements, the design provides the middle schoolers with an elevated viewing platform that invokes their desire to steward the earth through the breathtaking views.
University of Texas at Austin 2017 Spring Studio Instructor Coleman Coker Team (15): Ian Randall Renica Navea Julia Patterson Sadie Martin Mayen Ando Marsden Merkle Haylee Lovelady Samantha Gutteridge Anjulie Palta Ryan Carlisle Clayton Cain Andra Padilla Emily Chaney Chloe Malek
kayak storage and moving diagram
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Collaboration with stakeholders
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Facade prototype
A metal screen comprised of reinforcement bars and corrugated panel wraps around the building and is designed with varying degrees of porosity to direct one’s view as well as steadily restoring the iron content of the damaged prairie. This project is rejuvenates the environment both through educational value and material choice.
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Structural Frame Detail Revit Drawings
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7
Professional
Work
W
ork done at: Matt Fajkus Architecture www.mfarchitecture.com
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Revit interior elevations, floor plans and RCP for a two story residential housing. Work done at Matt Fajkus Architecture
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8 Co-Founders: Henry Wen Jan Hamilton
Entrepreneurship K
ito Studios was inspired by an impromptu trip to China’s lighting manufacturing powerhouse Guzhen, where its products make up 60% of world’s market. We saw potential in harnessing innovative manufacturing technologies to bring customized products to the average customer. Roo Light was inspired by Australia’s distinct wildlife, and it aims to offer a refreshing and personable change to the monotony of trending minimalist products. 3D printing allows us to produce this special form that is partially wireframe to allow LED lighting to diffuse onto any surface.
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EDUCATION
AWARDS & HONORS
The University of Texas at Austin B.Arch
AIA Dallas Women In Architecture Exhibition Finalist
Architectural Association of London
(Twice) Design Excellence Award, Class of 2018
2013-Present Candidate for graduation in 2018
Summer Courses 2014.6 - 2014.7
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School , Austin, TX/ Archbishop M.C. O’Neill High School, CANADA / Sanxin Bilingual Middle School, CHINA 2008 - 2013
2016
2016
UT Student Scholarship Award/ For Excellence in Academic Performance 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Project published in Issue 010 / Project title: “Concurrent Performances” 2014
LANGUAGES
Scholastic Art Competition, Silver Key in Architecture /
Cantonese (Native)
Project title: “Austin Downtown Hostel” 2013
Mandarin (Native)
Hand Drawing Published on Southern Teacher Agency Magazine and Calendar /
English (Native)
CONTACT yeesang.wong@utexas.edu 512-919-6048
Drawing: “ST. STEPHEN’S CHAPEL” 2013
EXPERIENCE Kito Studios / Co-Founder
Decorative and 3D printed lamp designs, marketing, logistics and design Jun. 2017 - present
UT Summer Academy / Teaching Assistant Jun. 2016 - Aug. 2016
MF Architecture / Intern Architect
Jan. 2015 - 2017 Summers Created architectural permit sets, worked on CD drawings, assisted client meetings, documented firm’s critical projects, created renderings for ongoing projects and crafted physical models.
ALT-254, Hong Kong / Intern Architect
Translated at construction meetings between the architect and the contractors, and helped in concept design for a residential project in Indonesia.
Bercy Chen Studio / Intern Architect
Jun. 2014 - Aug. 2014 Illustrated and built models for visualization of architecture project concepts. Worked on large-scale projects including the Taiwan SKCF resort master planning, and residential projects in Austin at nationally award-winning firm.
Global Architectural Brigade, Torti Abajo, Panama
Dec. 2013 Studied financial resources, geography and the economics of the Torti Abajo community in east Panama. Then, in a week, design-built an educational greenhouse space where the locals learned basic agriculture that enhance their trade.
Longwater College, Zhanshan, China / English Teacher
Jun. 2013 - Aug. 2013 Worked with the school principal on transforming the traditional lecture style in teaching to seminar style where the students are encouraged to think critically. Designed and taught a four-week intensive English course
Yeesangwong.com