Architecture Portfolio
Selected works 2017-2024
Ann Arbor, Michigan
yunshu@umich.edu
YUNSHU HUANG
of Museo del Novecento, Milan, Italy
Graduate Thesis, University of Michigan, Winter
01- GESTURAL ARCHITECTURE
April, 2024
Master Thesis Project
With the advent of mechanization, how architects see movement took on new meaning. Motions like walking, even gestures and expressions were analyzed into distinct frames of movement. And, until the invention of the computer, design involved using our body, namely our hand to describe architecture. That is to say that while the process of designing form in architecture based on geometry, it still was very much informed by haptic knowledge. This thesis attempts to bring back the significance of gesture in architecture paradoxically by digitally analyzing human movement.
I introduce the term ‘Gestural Architecture’ to encapsulate the integration of human movement, emotion, and technological advancement with the architectural design process. Gestural architecture reflects how the digital era has abandoned the physicality present in humanism and attempts to find new ways to connect human emotions and technology. Utilizing digital technology as a means, supplemented by the designer's initial tactile perception, gestural architecture tries to arouse humanity and emotions rooted in design thinking.
Like Italian futurists and Marey's geometric chronophotography, the thesis uses 3D animation software as a medium to record the movement trajectories of different body parts at a specific moment. Through various drawing methods and fabrication processes, it endeavors to construct the overlapping movement trajectories of different parts inside one body at multiple times.
The thesis identifies the staircase as a pivotal subject of study, a public space that connects the inside and outside of architecture, facilitating the movement of individuals carrying various emotions from one part of the architecture to another. As people ascend or descend stairs, they experience a transitional space that is not just about physical relocation but also about the psychological journey between different emotional states, memories, and social contexts.
Drawing about people gesture from stop motion photography
Dancing
Hugging1
Hugging3
Hugging2
3D Printing- Collage with photography
3D Printing- Unit
3D Printing- Whole Model
CNC- Body Parts
Leg1
Leg2 Shoulder Arm1 Arm2
CNC- Different Perspective Assembly
CNC- Different Perspective Assembly
Staircase in Museo del Novecento- Gesterual Paintings
Thesis project: Staircase in Museo del Novecento
Thesis project: Staircase in Museo del Novecento
Thesis project: Staircase in Museo del Novecento
01-NEW TOWER OF BABEL
December, 2022
Academic Studio
New Tower of Babel is a new Iceland embassy in Washington DC. The site is facing the rising sea level and coastal erosion problem.
New Tower of Babel is focusing on design a new architecture and landscape water system not only just for solve the rising sea level problem but also rethink about the relationship between embassy and the site, making the embassy more open to public and connect well to the riverside and highway. The whole water filter system collect the grey water, filtering the water from the high to low landscape area which get the inspirationfrom Iceland glacial river. Finally, the black water will go into the underground floor of architecture, filtered until it can be used to the new embassy.
Potomac River
NEW TOWER OF BABEL
Lack of connection Block pedestrain go into the greenspace
The site is at the end of the axis of DC which connects with the Washington Monument. I consider about the signt with the Potomac River and Washington Monument.
The site now is a parking lot with a lot of inactive green space. The visitors can't have interesting experience when they walk along the waterfront. The Sweden and Iceland Embassy now also don't have a good relationship with the arounded green space.
The end of the axis to see Washington Monument High way
Inactive Greenspace
Watergate building
Ferry Ternimal Potomac River
Sweden and Iceland Embassy
Embassy Row
White House
Site Washington Monument
Captital Building
SITE ANALYSIS
Aerial photo of glacial river in Iceland
river running over volcanic sand forms many separate streams
Aerial photo of glacial river in Iceland
SITE DESIGN STARTEGY
(-1700s:Turf houses)
(1850s: white swan)
(1700s-1800s: Stone House)
(now: the colorful houses) (now: Hallgrimskirkja Church)
Turf Double Wood Wall Stone wall Outside Wood Corrugated Iron Inside Wood Colorful Iron Sheet Inside Wood Basalt Cliffs Waterfalls
Purified water storage tank
Site Water filter system
NEW TOWER OF BABEL
2nd Floor Plan
1. Boat duck
2. Coffee
3. Open exhibition
7. Small exhibition
Study area
Ticket office
4. Purified water restroom
Exhibition reception
Gift Store
1st Floor Plan
1. Seperated solid flood and grey water storage tank
2. Primary purification tank
Secondary purification tank
7. Secure zone
8. Stone cage separated soilds 9. Central purified water tank 4. Disfect tank 5. Equipment room
Office
2. Living room 3. Bedroom
Exterior stair
(Basalt Cliffs)
Basic Stone Unit
NEW TOWER OF BABEL
BABEL
Water pump transform purified water to architecture at night
03-MICE
October, 2024
Research Project
New Tower of Babel is a new Iceland embassy in Washington DC. The site is facing the rising sea level and coastal erosion problem.
New Tower of Babel is focusing on design a new architecture and landscape water system not only just for solve the rising sea level problem but also rethink about the relationship between embassy and the site, making the embassy more open to public and connect well to the riverside and highway. The whole water filter system collect the grey water, filtering the water from the high to low landscape area which get the inspirationfrom Iceland glacial river. Finally, the black water will go into the underground floor of architecture, filtered until it can be used to the new embassy.
02-GESTURAL ARCHITECTURE
December, 2023
Academic Studio, University of Michigan
With the advent of mechanization, how architects see movement took on new meaning. Motions like walking, even gestures and expressions were analyzed into distinct frames of movement. And, until the invention of the computer, design involved using our body, namely our hand to describe architecture. That is to say that while the process of designing form in architecture was based on geometry, it still was very much informed by haptic knowledge. This work attempts to bring back the significance of gesture in architecture paradoxically by digitally analyzing human movement.
Serving Tray
Salt& Pepper Shaker
Draft
Salt& Pepper Shaker
Salt& Pepper Shaker
Salt& Pepper Shaker
Funiture Set: Table, Bench, Serving Tray and Salt& Pepper Shaker
Progress Gesture
03-WEAR THE HOUSE
April, 2023
Studio Project,University of Michigan
Teammates: Zhejian Xiong, Yaqi Zhu, Zhichao Wang
Wear the House is a residential and commercial mixed-use project renovated by a dead shopping mall to create a new community for interdisciplinary artists.
Wear the House uses soft materials to redefine the boundary between public(retail) and private (living) space. Soft materials, such as soft PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), nets, furs, and fabrics, replace the traditional rigid architectural envelope to create a more flexible artist co-living space based on their demands and personalities.
This is a self-contained community. Commercial space, complete infrastructure, and public service facilities help interdisciplinary artists find part-time jobs inside the community to make a living and finish their artistic creations at the same time.
Trump, A Cat Wants To Rule the World
Enjoy Flipping World Artist
Fashion Designer Who Prefer Soft Interfaces
Rebellious But Childish Teenager
04-BOTANICAL APARTMENT
September 2021
Individual work
The botanical apartment is situated on west 14th street, Manhattan, New York, next to the high line.
As the Greenlands in Manhattan have decreased since the 1950s, the devoid of green spaces has become a severe problem. High line, once a bustling rail, was part of the industrial fabric of Manhattan's West Side, which was built in the 1930s and stopped running in the 1980s. Now, it uses as a public park, covering nature planets, but it still has the problem of lacking connection with buildings around it.
The botanical apartment wants to solve problems about the empty green spaces in Manhattan and the lack of connection between the high line and the buildings around it. The sphere insets in the cuboid, as the connection between the apartment and the high line, using its non-directional attribute to achieve the transition of the public to private, chaotic to tranquil, horizontal to vertical-vertical greening and climbing wall.
BUILDING PLANS
Upward view render
The relationship between vertical landscape, glass curtain wall and painted tile in facade.
The connection between hign line and botanical apartment.
High line view render
03-FUTURE ACADEMY
Academic Work Spring 2019
Professor: Zhimou Peng Individual work
Sustainable Architectural design competition for College students in Hunan Province, 1st prize, December, 2020 Teammate: Xinli Luo, Zhuoyu Song
The world is rapidly developing, and correspondingly, the conflict between tradition and modern has escalated.
This project rethink the relationship between study and residence, nature and technology, traditional way and future way of teaching, trying to reconcile these contradictions. After researching tradtional academy and recreating a new layout, future academy created an immersive study way, close to nature and back to original life style. In order to getting away from urban nosie and satisfy every one personalized life demand, this project design different modes which letting people design their own life. By combining the different mode, people can contact with different kinds people, communicating with each other face to face.
Song dynasty (976-1246)
Yuan dynasty (1246-1314)
Ming dynasty (1314-1527)
Qing dynasty (1527-1812)
Basic function zoning formed which had a central of lecture hall.
Axis showed primarily and main architeture were close to river.
Space radioactive distribution and indenpendent Confucian Temple area.
Increase sacrifice archiecture and strengthen main axis.
THE PEACH GARDEN TRAVEL
Landscape axis
When standing at the entrance of the future academy, you can feel the depth and extended level by overlapping doorway and courtyard.
Here is the entrance to the garden. Standing here, you can hear the sound of bamboo when the wind blows through it and the murmur of a distant brook. You can see the bridge, grassland, corridor, and mountain in the distance.
Go straight. You enter a big study center courtyard which helps you focus on yourself. You face nature, leaving away the noise from urban.
After you go through the entrance, you have a board vision. Here, everything is like the traditional Chinese garden- the unflatten ground, the lake, the old tree, all of which make you feel quiet and peaceful.
This story is based on future background, depicting a prospective college student's campus life.
People there are guided by different axis to achieve their life demands. We emphasize the order of space, indicating the level of space and guiding people to immerse in here absolutely.
We call this process "the Peach Garden travel."
Enter the next residential courtyard. In this area, you can feel an apparent active atmosphere. Students relax and be honest with each other.
The 200 years old tree stays permanently. Students talk with each under it as in ancient times. Here, nature is the teacher who teaches students how to think. Now, the Peach Garden travel is just beginning.
The plan of future academy heritage the traditional axis of traditional academy. We use three levels courtyard to divide the basic function zoning- leisure, study and residence. The interior corridor and exterior corridor form the path to go to different courtyard and garden. We designed 3 scales courtyard- functiong zoning, central fucntion courtyard and mode courtyard. Different scale courtyard can form different kinds of social network, so it can help people to make friends with different people freely as the old times rather than just stay alone.
Future Academy stays in the urban, giving people a sense of returning to nature. When you enter the Future Academy, you feel you have entered the Chinese ink painting. The mountain, the tree, the stream, and even the rain are all around you. You can hear chirps from birds, and the wind rustles the leaves. Here, you can communicate with people of different ages, careers even races. Future academy tries to create equal interaction, eliminate barriers, and be tolerant of the differences between other people.
BUILDING SECTION
04-OTHER WORK
Fabrication
Shake Shade | Arch 537 Fabrication
PHOTOGRAPHY
2018, Changsha, China
2019, Beijing, China
2019, Beijing, China
2020, Barcelona, Spain
2020, Barcelona, Spain
2024, Vitican City
2023, North Michigan, Michigan
2022, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2023, San Diego, Carlifornia
PHOTOGRAPHY
2024, Florence, Italy
2023, Savannah, the United States
2024, Rome, Italy
2024, Florence, Italy
2024, Florence, Italy
2024, Milan, Italy
2024, Rome, Italy
2024, Florence, Italy