Yingqi Huang Portfolio for UCL MArch Urban Design Application

CURRICULUM VITATE

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Since childhood, my father always shared the history and stories of public space, towers, characteristic corners, streets, etc. in my hometown, which could be an inpouring of meaningful memories and in-depth understanding. I believe that it is important to reserve the charisma of the city itself and increase the residents’ living standards. When travelling to many places afterwards, I was willing to observe a variety of space and human activities, which provided some inspirations in the architectural design. As a highly motivated bachelor graduate, I am very excited to apply the master programme of MArch Urban Design to challenge my architectural thinking and develop my design fascinations.

Through my academic experience, I position my architectural interests in everyday life. In detail, I have grasped the comprehensive understanding of architecture including design aesthetics, green building technology, historical theory and even social meaning and economic politics through colorful lectures, abundant workshop assignments and practices. What’s more, since I have a strong interest in how to deal with problems like climate change and extremes, growing and diverse human needs with more resilient, flexible, economic and site-specific buildings assisted by computer, I made efforts to master grasshopper and data analysis software in self-study to assist my design Due to my strong self-learning ability and outstanding academic performance, my GPA has maintained the first place in my major every year and I obtained the school-level scholarships for many times. After finishing my four-year study at Wuhan University, I currently enter University of Dundee to study international perspectives and cutting-edge research directions with excellent scholars and international students. So I deem that my deserving international education experience and outstanding academic achievement proved my sufficient qualification for pursuing my master degree in your world-class university

Benefiting from intensive curriculum setting, research experience and meaningful extracurricular activities, my understanding of this discipline has developed in a rational way. It was worth mentioning that I attended the joint workshop to conduct field research and measurement, and assist in paper writing and so on, which obtained unanimous praise from tutors from University of Dundee. Moreover, I took part in distinctive researches on architecture environmental psychology and green building technology. This taught me how to think more carefully about design strategy, and how to make architecture rooted in the context. More importantly, the practical experience of real projects in internship at one designing institute and design firm respectively helped me improve my comprehensive ability, and also made me understand the responsibilities and conditions in real workplace.

In my design practice, I would like to use abundant information from profound site analysis, previous research data, model experiments and so on to support the landing project with a strong logic and divergent thinking. As exemplified by projects presented in my portfolio, the tower design in an important intersection, I analyzed the road network and collect data about human activities, traffic and pedestrian flow respectively, and various architecture including skyscrapers and old buildings. Thus, I worked so hard in the arrangement of the roads and lanes, and balanced the city skyline and the building form. Based on different visual experience provided by building facades, layouts of the functional space should be considered seriously and roundly through multiple modification. In the design, the challenge was to balance the traditional and modern styles by adopting the gradual change of space scales and the artful use and layout of wooden and concrete space. From the intimate public space close to the ground up to the clouds, a series of functions are connected well. So office workers in a vertical city can get rid of the monotonous environment, while other residents and visitors can also have a new popular building. In this process, the efficiency and commercial value of the office building can both work smoothly.

Convinced of your reputation in architecture academia, I believe that your distinguished programme of March Urban Design will provide me a broad platform to grasp diversified project directions like the robots, interaction, etc., and cutting-edge research prospects of interdisciplinary fields. I believe that it is meaningful for design practitioners to optimize the human life and strengthen the connection with the nature through installations. More importantly, there is the tendency to do practical architecture and explore the possibilities, especially the application of computer-aided technology, which is the direction I want to learn in your university. After graduation, I aim to work at one leading firm or large-scale designing institution to engage in design practice from a higher perspective and even promote the urban development of my hometown as a unique cultural ancient city.

PROLOGUE

Something essential to man’s creativity, even in science, may disappear when the defiantly metaphoric language of poetry gives way completely to the denatured language of the computer.

——Lewis Mumford, The Myth of the Machine

In the era when machines replace humans on a large scale, the emotions and characteristics of humans and cities seem to be quietly erased. But machines are indeed more efficient or intelligent than humans in certain fields, and it is also practical which Kevin Lynch described as a character of cities.

Architects should perhaps poetically translate and use machines, and build a machine that follows the design methodology, thus create a more human environment instead.

CONTENTS

01 BORDER WALL RESURGENCE

New urban complex on the US-Mexico border individual work ， 2019.6 -2019.11

Machine Assists Space Layout

02 LIGHTEN THE PATH

The Role of Integration of Architecture in Shaping Contemporary Wuhan Mixed Urban and Office Space individual work ， 2020.9-2021.1

Machine Evaluation Aids Building Generation

03 EMOTIONAL CONDENSER

New Healthcare Phalanstery Facility individual work ， 2022.9-2022.11

Machine Creates Mental Health Repair Factory

04 INFINITE VILLAGE

Village with Coconut Circular Economy that is Easy to Rebuild individual work ， 2021.3-2021.9

Machine Generates Road Network and Community

New urban complex on the US-Mexico border

Machine Assisted Space Layout Wool Experiment Divide Preliminary Spatial Texture

Never in the long history of mankind has the world been more connected. There is also a growing desire to foster development through national border linkages. Today, there is a series of problems on the U.S.-Mexico border, including the distance to school, drug trafficking and so on. Facts have proved that the border wall that strongly blocked the two countries in the past cannot fundamentally solve the problem.

This project transforms the border wall into a new communication and connection model through the wool experiment based on the collation and extraction of site data and potential points. In terms of the law of the degree of human acquaintance, arrange the complementary functional spaces of the two countries into the wool path. While promoting the development of the two countries, create a story from separation to friendship.

Data shows that there are gaps in education, security, and medical consumption ,relations in commerce and tourism, and massive migration and mobility between the two countries.These are all potential points that can be connected.

WORKING WORKING

SCHOOL SCHOOL

RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE

WORKING

WORKING

RESIDENCE

HEALTH CARE

HEALTH CARE HEALTH CARE COMMERCE COMMERCE COMMERCE

Mexico residence School Working USA residence

Generation groupA

Commerce Health care

After selecting important activity points, the macro scale movement of the people around Tijuana-San Diego border was analyzed, and these points were connected in a straight line in the order shown on the flowchart, in order to calculate the wool path in the next step.

Generation group B

Generation group C

Generation group DGeneration group E

In order to explore the junction and interface of the streamline of people crossing this border, the different networks are superimposed, the wool experiment is calculated together. By adjusting the strength, control points parameter, and controlling the calculating process, multiple results are obtained.

The selected result has a moderate degree of adhesion, which enables the placement of activities with different degrees of acquaintance.And within the site, there is a relatively coherent axis connecting the bonding points of the paths in series.

PATH EXPLORATION WITH WOOL EXPERIMENT

1.determinethewalllocation according to the wooly path

2. 3D path planning based on acquaintance of two coutries' people 3. Placement of functional space along those paths

Render of Lecture & Meeting Area

PROMISING FUTURE BORDER

The entire building is intertwined in a controlled manner according to the degree of acquaintance, forming a three-dimensional undulating space. While creating a fast border crossing for people in need, it also allows American and Mexican residents to meet and know each other in a gentle structure.

Sometimes we are separated by invisible walls due to lack of contact and prejudice. But we took that step, and slowly moved closer ...

So, will we meet at the border ？

02 LIGHTEN THE PATH

The Role of Integration of Architecture in Shaping

Contemporary Wuhan Mixed Urban and Office Space

Machine Evaluation Aided Building Generation Site Analysis, Routes and Clusters Design Related to Space Syntax

It can be seen from the analysis when the radius becomes larger, the degree of integration gradually increases. indicating that from the perspective of the road network structure of the area, the Sanyang area is more suitable as a regional or urban center, while the attractiveness of the surrounding areas needs to be improved. 400m

CONNECTIVITY ANALYSIS

Most of the area in this area is suitable for walking (400m radius), and Sanyang Road has a high connectivity for bicycles and motor vehicles (2000-4800m radius) , Yanjiang Avenue and Jiefang Avenue followed. Within the scope of large-scale transportation, Jiefang Avenue and Huangpu Avenue play a more important role.

PROPOSED AXISIS AND CLUSTERS

To increse the attractiveness of the site and the surroundings, a green axis connecting metro station and the Wuhan river beach park is introduced. Another axis will link traditional lifen and the north museum, which will attract the residences there. Based on the road network, the podium part will be divided into different clusters. North clusters are more quiet than south ones, east cluster will promote communication with the neaby office.

racks and wires -- hanging out clothes racks and electric wires create a free and wild feeling

interaction and gap -- interesting interaction between buildings, beautiful scene in the gap

depth -- express building depth in a flat and visual way

proportion -- proportional relationships between the windows

rhythm -- behind the grid there is a thythmic change and undulation

rhythm -- behind the grid there is a thythmic change and undulation

rhythm -- behind the grid there is a thythmic change and undulation

holes or openings -- holes not always openings

From the side of the Yangtze River, the city skyline in this area has an overall upward trend from south to north. The site will be located between the two tallest buildings, so I hope to respond to this upward trend in height.

Air conditioner -- the positions of the air conditioner outdoor units

alley -- narrow alley, shadows of the buildings create a special feeling the facade -- veneer wall and functional wall pavement pattern -- grids with different sizes

Thoes abstracted elements are transformed into a physical model to explore in 3 dimension, and will be selectively integrated in my design.

A traditional block -- Changnian, Sanyang Lifen

C Modern high-rise residential complex

comprehensive block

B traditional block -- Guangxing, Siyi Lifen

CoreGeneration1

Does not meet the needs of fire escape, and the structure is not reasonable enough

CoreGeneration2

The void space is completely separated from the northeast corner with the best view

CoreGeneration3

I shape typical subgroup F2 I shape typical subgroup F1

Echo the two axes, but the core is scattered and not integrated with toilets, which is inconvenient for workers.

CoreGeneration4

L shape typical subgroup F1

square typical subgroup F1

square typical subgroup F2

L shape typical subgroup F2

I shape typical subgroup F3

L shape typical subgroup F3

The connection between northeast corner and void space is not strong enough.

CoreGeneration5

Cores need to rotate on the upper floors which will Increase the difficulty of construction

CoreGeneration6

The concentrated elevator area connect the northeast corner with void space which can also enjoy the river view, and the integration is logical.

The plan shows the axes and lanes, also the different clusters with various activities and atmosphere integrated in the podium system.

Different building facades can be used according to different internal functions, and the atrium in the center can become their previous connection to create interaction.

lighten the path then lighten the city

New Healthcare Phalanstery Facility

Machine Creates Mental Health Repair Factory

Machine Creates Productive Communal Space to Help People Reintegrate into Society

This Project renovate an old building in Scotland by introducing a series of selfcirculating machines which help to create a series of fun communal spaces. while improving the overall environment of the building by introducing natural elements, create communal spaces that can promote the recovery of people suffering from mental illness. Here, plants grow, interesting interactions take place, and people's health improves.

Axonometric Drawing and Self-Suficient System Analysis

flower arrangement and vegetable processing people celebrate

celebrate the leaving the atrium and machines

INFINITE VILLAGE

Village with Coconut Circular Economy that is Easy to Rebuild

Machine Generates Road Network and Community Street network synthesis and WASP applicated in urban planning

Typhoons and tsunamis frequently destroy Siargao's tranquility, and poverty has caused its population to decline. People desperately need physical and financial security.

The project uses machines to assist road network and cluster organization, which can tap the huge potential of the coconut circular economy in the site. At the same time, in order to protect the ecology and better allow people to participate in the revitalization, use WASP to assist in the formation of mixed communities with different styles.

STEP1

Simplify the appropriate contour line as the site and calculation boundary of the new road network.

STEP2

According to the range of block size (studied similar islands), the angle between the roads and other parameters to obtain sufficient evaluated results.

According to the direction of the intersection of the existing roads and boundary, terrain and site environment, by performing multiple simulations in grasshopper, select the most suitable number, location and direction of the selected segments

The selected aggregation has good connectivity, responds to circumferential and blocks are more regular. Further arrange and modify it manually to clarify the axis and main divisions.

Some stable refuges and storage made of concrete will become the reliance when the disaster strikes, and will also become the development point for rebuilding. Factories and workshops cooperate with each other to produce building materials, warehouses guarantee people's livelihood

Concrete warehouse inside the fashion workshop, providing warm clothing and bedding for the people in need

The structure of the fashion factory is divided into solid and rebuildable parts, while the frame itself as a fashion display or drying rack for clothes.

People backed by solid resources and have the strength to build their homes. The public spaces and collective housing established first allow people to unite, encourage each other to work together, obtain the necessities of life, and slowly attract more residents to join.

The central circular warehouse and the rainwater collection and filtration device also become solid structures. people can store products or wash things there.

Chapter 3

The town has been basically rebuilt, and people's life and economy have recovered and developed, but the green space has not been reduced, and more people can be accommodated. The shape of the town is still flexible and changeable. Maybe the storm will come again, but rebuilding your home won't be such a nightmare.

These bazaars have flexible facades, which are conducive to ventilation and regulating indoor and outdoor relations.

coconut timber

Home Rebuilding Begins

Home Rebuilding in Progress Rebuilding is Mostly Done, But Not the End

Street Network Analysis and Generating