About Me Academic Project Undergraduate Thesis Studio Grey Oak Hotel + Convention Center Graduate Intro Design Studio I The 9th Fitness Center Graduate Intermediate Design Studio I 1 : 2 : 4 : 18 - The Aperture Undergraduate Design Studio III Franklin Point House Undergraduate Design Studio II John Boone Exploratorium Museum Undergraduate Design Studio I Writer’s Cabin for Henry Thoreau
Photography
About Me
I am a hardworking and confident person who is always passionate about design and has many interests in fields of music, photography, and art. Receiving integrated education of Chinese, Canadian and American well develops my ability to learn and extends the perspective toward the world. I always give 100% of myself to any task I set or are given. Challenges are everywhere, but I love it; I am eager to learn new skills and latest stuff around me. Easy going and kind personalities attributes me as being a great contribution to any group. My ultimate life goal is to become an architect, creating works truly beneficial for our society.
Yifei Lou | Duy Tran | Brittany Dismond | Liz Hunsicker Undergraduate Thesis Studio Project Group Project Role: Schematic Design + Convention Center + Restaurant Design + Drawings + Model Builder Instructor: Benyamin Schwarz
Grey Oak Hotel + Convention Center
columbia, mo
This hotel and convention center is interconnected with the natural surroundings. The site is covered in lush greenery, which is reflected in the overall design of the buildings. Through this concept, we created an interior that provides a luxurious environment. Visitors experience a feeling of comfort and pride in the University of Missouri and the city of Columbia. The design emphasizes the relationship between the university and the city and creates a landmark that represents Columbia. It is a means of way finding in nearby proximity, and will be thoroughly remembered through its striking features. Students in Hospitality, Physical Therapy, Business, and Culinary Arts will utilize this building as a living lab. They will therefore have an overall enhanced learning experience because of the opportunity these facilities provide. The form of the building is influenced by both the confluence of the Missouri and Mississipi Rivers, the curvature of the site, and the many rock quarries located in Columbia, Missouri. This influence unifies the building with Missouri and the city of Columbia.
Preliminary conceptual ideograms are to define the basic layouts of the buildings based on the landscapes, paths, and views.
Preliminary conceptual design sketches
+ Site Plan
+ Convention Center Preliminary conceptual design sketches
North Elevation
Convention Center Main Entrance
+ Plans
Basement Level
Ground Level
Second Level
Third Level
Fourth Level and Above
+ Interior Visualization | Model
Convention Center Lobby View From Above
Convention Center Lobby View From Entrance
Models for Sun Study
Hotel Main Entrance
+ Hotel Preliminary conceptual design sketches
+ Plans | Axon
Ground Level
Second Level
Third Level
Fourth Level and Above
Single King Room
Single King Suite
Double King Suite
Double King Suite w/o (exposed)
Hotel Lobby View
Hotel Lobby View From Entrance
+ Interior Visualization
Hotel Rooms Furnished Renderings
+ Plaza | Restaurant | Spa
+ Section | Restaurant
Upper Level in Restaurant
Main Dinning Area
+ Section | Spa
Reflection Pool
Spa Reception Area
Yifei Lou Graduate Intro Design Studio Term Final Project (6 Weeks) Instructor: Nico Larco + Allison Bryan
The 9th Fitness Center
portland, or
This Project look specifically at the role of architecture in creating the urban condition. It will look at the surface of a building not as a visual pursuit, but as a surface of interaction between the building realm and the urban realm. This surface will be investigated as a generator of both architecture and urbanism, and not as an aesthetic afterthought. Urbanism and urbanity have often been left to the realm of urban designers and planners, as architects focus exclusively on internal pursiuts and react to a series of guidelines and restrictions. This approach overlooks the potential role of architecture in creating the urban condition. The premise of the studio is that architecture is not simply a backdrop for urbanity, but instead can be an instigator of urbanity.
2D Illustrative Diagrams express the ideas of encounter of spaces
Sustainability Diagram depicts the passive building design strategies
3D Massing Design Diagram
+ Urban Context | Site Information
+ Plans | Sections
Site Analysis Plan
Ground Level Plan
Section AA
Section CC
Second Level
Third Level
Section DD
Fourth Level
Section BB
+ Axons | Renderings
1
2
3
4
1. Front Desk and Lobby View 2. Lobby View from Above 3. Top Floor Climbing Wall 4. City View Cardio Track 5. Axon-Floor | Facade Relationship
5
View From 9th and Couch St.
Yifei Lou Intermediate Graduate Design Studio Term Final Project (4 Weeks) Instructor: Works Progress Architects | Bill Neburka, Ian Roll, Judson Moore
1 : 2 : 4 : 18 | The Aperture
portland, or
1:2:4:16 is an exploration of compounding program density on a typical Portland Tax Lot. Using a base program resident module (n), students developed a series of schematic designs related to increasing quantities of (n2) within a fixed sire area, exploring the condition and potentials of densification. The studio developed programmatic organizational models that progressively respond to sire context, social exchange, and private control. The focus of the studio was on iteratively testing and refining schematic designs in relation to each of the projects defined fundamental controls, performances, and effects. Each phase of the studio will culminate in short individual presentations and a group discussion on the projects as a continuing survey of work.
Massing Design Process Diagram
Massing Design Inspiration
+ Plans | Sections LIFTING UP - Iterative Design Process Diagram
C
Programmatic Plan Diagram
A
A
B
B
C
Ground Level Plan
Section AA
CARVING - 3D Massing Development Program
C
A
A
B
B
C Second Level Plan
Section BB
C
A
A
B
B
Programmatic Plan Diagram
C
Third Level Plan
Facade Scheme Diagram C
A
A
B
B
C
Fourth Level Plan
Section CC
Lobby Living Space
Open Air Atrium Space
Unit Living Space
Yifei Lou Studio IV 8 Weeks Academic Final Project Instructor: Benyamin Schwarz
Franklin Point House
columbia, mo
A residential house designed for Franklin family. The house took a site on rural area of Columbia, MO where the old house of Franklin located. A house around three thousand square foot incorporates with local mined limestone and cedar panel finish to better blend into the surrounds. Exposed wood structure ceiling emphasizes the concept as being natural and creates notable aesthetic feature. An open interior space attributes free circulation inside of the house. An open courtyard directly points to and projects the view of a pond on the site, which emphasizes the concept of “bring outside in� Other design goals involve in this project include: providing accessibility for the residence as they aged in the house, providing enhanced public and private spaces into an open floor plan. The house incorporates the concept of gratification delay where visitors drive up the hills, park and walk along the pathway to enter the house where they are greeted with a grant view of green courtyard and the pond.
Early configuration sketches to determine basic layout of the design and the separation between public and private spaces
+ Design Concept
Original rectangle configuration
Split into half to separate public and private spaces Open floor plan creates free circulation while separated wings of the house enhancing the privacy for residence. In addition, open floor plan solve the aging issue in the house.
Adding a transitional space to connect two spaces
Transitional Private Arraying additional space on top
Public
Bubble diagram of spatial relationship between each room and their connection.
+ Site Analysis | Plan
+ Plan | Section
North Elevation
Living Room
Dining Room and Kitchen
Yifei Lou Studio II 4 Weeks Academic Final Project Instructor: Tilanka Chandrasekera
John Boone Exploratorium Museum columbia, mo
The artist exploratorium museum is designed in memory of a local Missouri artist, John William (Blind) Boone, who overcame poverty, disability, and racism to become nationally composer and musician. The site is the center of the City of Columbia, where has the busiest traffic during day time. John Boone’s old house is located tight crossed the streets. The major goal is to design a contemporary architecture, which serves as a landmark of the city and creates virtual connection to John’s old house. The museum is designed to tell the life story of Blind Boone. It contains the permanent exhibition for display personal items if Blind Boone; the multimedia facilities to create virtual exploration of his unique music. The goal of this project is to understand how interior space influences exterior configuration of architecture, and also to practice 3d MAX modeling and rendering.
Conceptual sketches to create an illustration for interior space and exterior configuration. The design concept of is inspired by the unique musical element of Ragtime, syncopated rhythm. In addition the interior space is designed to emphasize the fluidity of the Ragtime music. The exterior hierarchy configuration brings a visual impacts toward visitors, and emphasize the architectural rhythm of the building.
Configuration sketch
Site relationship to the surroundings
+ Site Analysis John Boone’s Historical House The building creates a visual connection toward John’s old house that sits right cross the 4th Street.
Major Vehicle Traffic
The building locates at the intersection of Providence Road and Broadway, where has the busiest traffic in the City of Columbia. Providence Rd. delivers traffic through North to South, whereas Broadway transits traffic through East to West.
Pedestrian Access
Major pedestrian access on the current site is on Broadway through East to West, and on 4th Street through South to North. The building compromise the existing accesses in the design, which creates an inviting feeling toward pedestrian walking on Broadway through East to West.
On Site View
Three major views are currently on the site: downtown and campus view toward Southeast; John’s old house view toward Northeast; downtown view toward Southwest.
Existing Landscape/Plantation The site is currently occupied by the public parking lot with few vegetation. More vegetation is surrounded with John’s old house. The building is composed with pedestrian plaza, in which will has more plantation in future to create a pedestrian friendly environment.
+ Section | Elevation The interior space is inspired by the fluidity character of Ragtime Music that best articulate the unique performance style of John Boone. The facilities inside of the building are under sequential arrangements. The various ceiling heights evoke a hierarchical spatial feeling, in order for visitors experiencing the highlights and downs though John Boone’s legendary life.
Permanent exhibition
Cafe and visitor terrace
Lobby area and gift shop
Temporary exhibition
East Elevation (downtown and campus view)
South Elevation (S. Providence road view and downtown view)
+ Plans The lower level carries major public circulation toward outside. It contains temporary exhibition areas, allowing convenient transportation for exhibiting items. An auditorium is located between two major entrances of the building, creating easy access for first-time visitors. In addition, a gift shop and public rest areas are also provided in the lower level plan.
Lower Floor Plan
The upper level plan is inspired by the fluidity characteristic of Ragtime Music. The circulation of permanent exhibition area is designed to follow the chronological order of John’s life, which allows visitors understand and experience John’s life stories through his youth to adult. The tunnel connecting exhibition area and the view patio produces a dimmed interior lighting environment, denoting the obstacles and hard time of being a black and disability person. The view patio has a wide open view toward downtown and John’s old house, where signifies the highlighted moment of his life after years’ of hard time.
Upper Floor Plan
Yifei Lou Studio I 3 Weeks Academic Final Project Instructor: Asha Kutty
Writer’s Cabin of Henry Thoreau rural columbia, mo
Henry Thoreau’s writer’s studio in the woods, designed to inspire writer through the presence of the natural environment. Fundamental design practices have done in this project: basic site analysis, hand drafting, interior space planning, and hand modeling.
The fundamental configuration is designed and modeled by the basic kit of parts, in which contains 1”x1” cubes, 1/4”x3” rods, 3”x9” panels and 3”x3” panels. Any other dimensions of parts are transformed by students.
+ Concept | Section
Original rectangle configuration
Section Plan
Switch orientation to get sufficient daylight for all spaces
Divide into three components, to separate spaces; create zigzag layout to fit landscape
Open floor plan creates free interior circulation; vestibule connects two wings
Fill exterior voids by adding pathway connecting main entrance and the vestibule
External path is responding to interior circulation
Final Model
Photography Photography is one of the most important components that well define me as a person. I alway enjoy traveling and capturing things around me. All photos in this portfolio are taken and post edited by myself. Photos are taken by DSLR; edited by Lightroom, Photoshop, VSCOcam.
Crater Lake Summer 2016
+ Landscape
White Mountain New Hampshire
Huguang Guild Hall Chongqing, China
The Oak Tree Columbia, MO
The Oak Tree Columbia, MO
+ Portrait
+ Miscellaneous
Yifei Lou +1 (314)-593-0420 aaronlou0927@gmail.com http://issuu.com/yifeilou