Yuankun Yu ARCH Portfolio

YUANKUN YU ARCH PORTFOLIO

CONTENTS THE INTERNSHIP JAN~AUG 2013 The 7-month internship experience in Perkins Eastman Shanghai office helped me to understand how architecture works in the real world and how to work with different people as a team.

THE ELEMENTALHAUS(IN PROGRESS) This is a fifth year individual thesis project aiming to create a model for sustainable intergenerational living. With a focus on gardens, I utilized fengshui concepts and Asian culture into my design.

THE LINK

A Team of five with 2 fifth-year and 3 third-year architecture students explored an alternative pedestrian walkway to link the major landmarks in the downtown area of Kansas City.

THE LIBRARY This is a second year individual project which was designed without the aid of a computer. I modeled it later in the computer to generate better graphics conveying the design ideas.

THE MATRYOSHKA This is a third year individual project which was done in Revit Architecture.

With the new experience of designing in the computer, structure and functions were emphasized in this project.

the internship SHANGHAI, CHINA

During my 7-month internship, I spent most of my time working on the RDFZ-Avenue school in Beijing from the end of the SD phase to the end of the DD phase. Foreign design firms can only work until the DD phase and local design institute(LDI) will take over the CD phase. I was involved in multiple tasks including faculty housing design, layout of restrooms and locker rooms, staircase design, graphic design of final documents, liaison of rendering firm and material firm, translation of meeting minutes, design briefs and other documents.

RDFZ-AVENUE SCHOOL AERIAL VIEW COPYRIGHT OF PE

LEGIBLE DIAGRAMS

GRAPHIC DESIGN BOOK FOR CLIENTS WITH COLORED LEGEND

BOOK FOR LDI WITH DETAILED SPECIFICS

the internship BEIJING, CHINA

RDFZ-Avenue School in Beijing was the most important design project executed in Shanghai. Our design principal Ron Vitale was in charge of this project while Meiling Honson was the project architect who lead a team of 4 group members to work on a daily basis. I devoted lots of time to design and modeled the faculty housing building on the left side of the rendering below. Also, I researched all the regulations and codes for staircases from International Building Codes and drew the DD drawings based on the rules.

RDFZ-AVENUE SCHOOL NORTHWEST VIEW COPYRIGHT OF PE

EAST ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION

STAIRCASE MODELING AND MATERIAL CHOICES

STAIRCASE DD DRAWINGS IN PLANS & SECTIONS

the internship XI’AN, CHINA

For this urban planning project in Xi’an, I worked with design team studio 8 in NYC and I was the liaison for the communication between American designers and the local rendering firm. Although my main tasks were supervising the local rendering firm to produce accurate renderings, I also got to know the process and concepts in urban planning. Finally, Tommy(AP) and I put all the work together into a presentation file for our principal to deliver to Chinese clients.

RABBIT WARREN SOUTH ENTRANCE VIEW COPYRIGHT OF PE

DELIVERING COMMENTS AND IDEAS TO RENDERERS

AERIAL VIEW COPYRIGHT OF PE

BIRD EYE VIEW 1 COPY RIGHT OF PE

BIRD EYE VIEW 2 COPYRIGHT OF PE

the internship SHANGHAI, CHINA

My experience was very broad ranging from smaller projects like office renovation to large scale urban planning. Also, I got to communicate with many people playing different roles in the architecture industry such as clients, principals, material manufacturers, rendering workers and others. My daily work was not restricted to CAD drawings, it involved translation, concept design, model making, liaison and conference meetings. As an intern, I was assigned to design the back office storage area into a material library for employees one day. Also I was sent to Chengdu with Nick Leahy as a translator for the conference meeting with clients. I enjoyed my internship in PE and have a better understanding of professional world.

OFFICE LIBRARY DESIGN

BEFORE

AFTER

TRANSLATION OF PRESENTATIONS, MEETING MINUTES AND DESIGN DOCUMENTS

MODEL AND DESIGN FOR ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

CONFERENCE LUNCH CLASS

OFFICE MEAL

Bird Eye View of Rabbit Warren Copyright of PE

elementalhaus PIONEER SQ, SEATTLE

The goal for this project is to create a model for future intergenerational housing in the U.S. Through an entire semester of research, eleven of our studio members focused on different aspects of intergenerational living. Based on the design principles developed through the research process, each of us aimed to design an apartment building for target users with self-developed programs.

SITE ANALYSIS Located in the historic district of Seattle, most buildings around the site have brick facades. Keeping the tradition of context is important to consider.

Two buildings near the site are the major concerns of design. Both of them might block sunlight and views especially the east building, which is only 15 feet away.

The trees from Occidental park are almost 4-story-high, which provide natural view from the site. They make use of existing park and pedestrian walkways in design.

Target Users:

Traditional Chinese Housing Type1:

Traditional Chinese Housing Type2:

My main focus is on the Asian population of baby boomers, young couples with children since the international district is next to our site. Also people who love Asian culture are invited to live there.

Courtyard house is the typical Chinese housing for thousands of years. With open space in the center, it provides better interaction between family members and also it is more efficient use of land.

Earth House used to be the fortress for the large family protected by tall walls from intruders. With a round courtyard in the middle, the social center building is located in the center of an open courtyard for important activities of the family members.

INSPIRATIONS

elementalhaus PIONEER SQ, SEATTLE

This year long project is still in design process. Here are part of the process drawings and diagrams to convey my intentions. Based on my cultural background as Chinese, I tried to apply my understanding of fengshui as my design guidelines for the placement of each space.

Also the intergenerational living unit is required to be flexible with the change of family members.

DESIGN CONCEPTS

Courtyard house

Pulling Out

Filling in the gap

Adjusting space

FENGSHUI PRINCIPLES

Metal: Terrace Farming Garden

Water: Calming Zen Garden

Fire: Open Exercise Garden

Wood: Playground Garden

FLEXIBLE UNIT LAYOUT

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN

THE LINK KANSAS CITY, MO

A five-person team developed a master plan to re-energize the 670 corridor through downtown Kansas City by connecting the major nodes: the Sprint Center, Kauffman Center, KC Convention Center ballroom and KC Star Building. A phased extension connects other landmarks throughout downtown offering continuous pedestrian access through a homogeneous structure.

STRUCTURE

grid

rendered

TRANSVERSE SECTION SPANNING

grid

coffering

DECKING

grid

decking supports

THE LINK The link conveys a strong sense of movement in its overall plan and landscaping methodology. One can sense a transformation of a decrepit highway overpass into a well designed elevated experience.

LONGITUDINAL SECTION

COFFERING SYSTEM

DIAGRID

STREET DIETS

IT IS THEN TRANSFORMED INTO THE TRUSS SYSTEM. THE GREEN WAS USED TO DICTATE THE SOLID AND VOID OF THE STRUCTURE.

GRADE CHANGES WERE ADDED TO CONFORM TO THE LANDSCAPE AND A SENSE OF MOTION.

INFLUENCED BY THE GOLDEN SECTION, THE DIAGRID IS FORMED OFF A SIMPLE, MODULAR UNIT.

GATEWAYS

WALKABILITY

5-minute walking radius

THE LIBRARY HIGHLAND DALLAS,TX Located on the corner site, this building works as the community gathering center for the neighborhood. I designed a large set of stairs with water feature to create a public gathering space for the patrons and visitors. With the cafe on the top of of the stairs, it will be an ideal place for a lunch break or meeting with friends.

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

CIRCULATION

CORNER SITE

SECTION

OUTDOOR VS INDOOR

Building

Outdoor

Path

Indoor

OVERLAY SPACES

THE LIBRARY The Initial idea is based on a letter Y and further developed into this library building form. With the requirement of adult and kid reading areas, I placed the kids story room towards the street to attract more potential visitors while the adult reading area is away from the street for privacy.

NORTH VIEW THIRD FLOOR PLAN

SOUTH VIEW SECOND FLOOR PLAN Places like Dallas require shading for summer time, that is why I oriented the building at an angle to maximize natural light into spaces and provide shading for better reading experience inside the library. Outdoor reading space with shading is also an attribute for users.

MATRYOSHKA SOHO DISTRICT, NYC The goal of this project is to design a museum for one artist I am interested, in this case, Yayoi Kusama. Her artworks vary from closed room display to colorful sculpture pieces open to the natural light. I used a Russian doll as the concept to reveal the different stages of Kusama’s work.

CONCEPT MAP/SITE

CIRCULATION vertical circulation horizontal circulation

PARTI & USE service & open space served & semi-open horizontal circulation

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

served & close space

STRUCTURE shear walls glazing

MATRYOSHKA SOHO DISTRICT, NYC I tried to make the building facade into a scultpure itself and provide shading for pedestrians with its projection. The arrangement of space offers visitors a journey to understand different periods of her artworks.

More surprising works are kept further inside of this building for protection from sunlight and also experience of exploring the inner world of Yayoi Kusama.

EXPLODED STRUCTURE

LIGHT STUDY MODEL

Artworks with closed and dramatic settings are like the inner most part of the Russian doll. Visitors need to walk and explore further into this building to find out the true beauty of her work.

THIRD FLOOR PLAN SOUTHEAST VIEW OF MODEL W/ SITE

Artworks with semi-closed and spacious settings are like the middle part of the Russian doll. Visitors start to understand the meanings of her work, but still, more interesting art pieces are ready to be revealed.

SECOND FLOOR PLAN SOUTHWEST VIEW OF MODEL W/O SITE

CAFE VIEW

Artworks with open and outdoor settings are like the outermost part of the Russian doll.

Visitors are attracted by the exotic quality of her artworks and try to find out more about the reasons behind the scenes.

model&diagrams I enjoy building physical models in both the design process as well as the final product. Different scales of model also aid different stages of design. Small massing models are useful for schematic design to explore different forms while detailed models with facades or sectional models to explore the relationship with contexts and the functions of space within the building. Diagrams are the best media to express design ideas. I prefer to include diagrams to illustrate my concepts in an easy and memorable way.

CASE STUDY MODELING-BARNES HOUSE

DESIGN PROCESS WITH MODELING AND DIAGRAMMING

CIRCULATION

STRUCTURE

ENEVELOPE

photo&sketches Freehand sketches are crucial skills for architects. I always like to sketch ideas out before they fade away and it is much easier to draw ideas than actually model them in the computer. Architecture has been around much longer than computers and all the brilliant ancestors used hand drawings to create magnificent buildings.Traveling is one of my favorite leisure activities so I take photos of beautiful architecture and scenes. I also enjoy the diversity of different cultures I experience when traveling and getting to know more people and information.

DENVER ART MUSEUM

EASTERN VENICE WUZHEN

TEL:785-317-6541

EMAIL:CHINAYU@KSU.EDU