Zhifei's Portfolio 2010-2014

Portfolio

Zhifei Chen

University of Minnesota College of Design BDA Program Past project from 2012 to 2014 Outside works from 2009 to 2014

ZHIFEI CHEN EDUCATION Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture College of Design, University of Minnesota.

Study and Internship in Rome Program, Italy

CONTACT INFORMATION Address: 1849 S Washington ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55454 Phone: (612)-868-4118 Email: chenx545@umn.edu

EXPERIENCE

SKILLS

Graphic Design Internship China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute Chengdu, China.

Participate client meetings and gather requirements for a major shopping center project Design conceptual architecture using SketchUp Conduct plan view design using AutoCAD

Strong freehand Sketch Painting

May – June, 2013 Volunteer in redesign the Hawthorne Community Garden in Minneapolis, United States Redesign the rain garden park using wood material Create raised beds for the Hmong community gardeners to planning fruit and vegetable Construct a multi-functional cabin for the gardeners to relax and store the plant tools

OTHER EXPERIENCES/ COMPETITION 2014 Art Urbain International Competition French government agency SĂŠminaire Robert Auzelle 2014 UIA-HYP cup 2014 International student competition in architecture of design

Photoshop Sketchup Rhino Grasshopper Revit V-ray Illustrator Indesign AutoCAD Lumion Office Mac OS Windows

LANGUAGE Fluent in English Native Chinese

Value Drawing Sketches

Design Fundamental two

Museum Potage seapot

Rebirth of Tiber Riber

Howthorne East community garden

Conceptual Frame

Digital Ceramics

Watercolor Sketches

Value Drawing Sketches As part of architecture designing, we were using different technique of sketching method, contour drawing, value drawing and perspective drawings which focusing on different view of architecture. Here are some of my value drawings which focusing on the relationship betwee light and shadows of the architecture..

Design Fundamental Two In terms of investigating, analyzing the spacial relationship of architecture structure, we beginning with knots, piano wire, paper board and digital rendering to understanding the complex relationships between different size of spaces

(K)not Architecture Using the knot to illustrate path arrangement of model and forming basic spacial relationships.

Volumetric Model

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DF2 PROJ02C UNFOLD EXPORT ZHIFEI CHEN TA: WINDY

DF2 PROJ 2B VOLUMETRIC MODEL EXPORT ZHIFEI CHEN TA: WINDY

DF2 PROJ 2B VOLUMETRIC MODEL EXPORT ZHIFEI CHEN TA: WINDY

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Space Rendering Adding material and natural texture with people into spaces imitate real environment

MUSEUM OF PORTAGE SEAPORT The program is located in Rome, Italy, beside the Tiber river. Since the previous master plan and construction, some of the historical site and building were destroyed or no longer be known by the citizens. The new master plan will first focusing on these building, provide more public area around these buildings and let people more easily to get close to them. The goal of the museum is to revive the impact of Porta Portese district and make it become a new landmark in modern Rome.

Site: Rome, Italy

Porta Portese is the name of a gate which connect the inside and outside of ancient Rome city.

At present, A popular market is held every Sunday in the area of Porta Portese.

Address: Via di Porta Portese, Rome

ROOF/FLOOR

RAMP PARTI FACAD

STRUCTURE/SUPPORT

PLAZA

CIRCULATION

REBIRTH OF TIBER RIVER Redesign at porta portese community

The Tiber river is one of the longest river in Italy. The ancient Rome was born at the east of the Tiber and rapidly became the most powerful place due to the nourishment of the Tiber river. As one of the city which has a such long history, Rome is now facing a huge challenge as the fast development of modern Rome economy and technology which lead the Tiber river gradually lost its past importance. People began to fade the Tiber and became to be distant to it especially after the flood wall was constructed along the Tiber in the city area.

The project is to create a multiple complex which contains commercial, historical, social, and also public elements along the Tiber river in Trastevere district.

Plan view level 2

Plan view level 1

GREEN ROOF

We propose to make a walkable green roof in order to increase the amount of green space along the river. Also, on the both end of roof, the roof is joined the earth to create ramps that enhance the connections between the structure and natural landscape

STRUCTURAL COLUMNS All the structure columns are getting to as little as they can be to create a free and floating indoor space. They are 1 feet in diameter cylinder columns.

CURTAIN WALL We decide to use curtain wall as space divider because we want to give the transparency to the whole structure.

It is to promote the connections between the surrounding buildings and the Tiber River.

GROUND FLOOR We want the organic form to create a contrast with a more linear progression of the city. Using round-shape courtyards is to create a free circulation. The whole structure has no space that can be locked or closed.

P site

M

HAWTHORNE EAST COMMUNITY GARDEN Designed and built an urban garden

Hawthorne east community is located at north west of downtown Minneapolis, beside Mississippi river. The proposal is to design a community garden for the Hawthorne East community for the neighborhood to plant their own food and vegetations. Residents can also gather around the well-designed and constructed shelter.

Roof

Roof structure and columns

Plywood siding

Base

The structure consists of materials that were selected on the basis of cost. In order to minimize the cost, we use a large quantity of plywood for the exterior walls and floor. All the materials that we used were bought from the nearby Home Depot.

CONCEPTUAL FRAME This project establishes the methodological framework through the paper folding and cutting in order to investigate the interaction between human and space. The process of this project involves the manipulation of paper including bristol board, museum board, diagramming the relationship between models and the external factor such as light, passage way or the global movement of your model.

From the investigation of the external elements and the geometrical shape of the model itself in order to find a conceptual frame of buildings in the future

Using six parallel planes as study model to create new spaces and understand the dynamics when they interact with each other and the architectural quality they possess.

The pattern made by water drop spread in radial direction, the edge of the pattern change when reach other drops and the movement will emerge

Hierarchy

Movement

Symmetry and Balance

Parti

DIGITAL CERAMICS This project we investigating the intersection between modern digital tools and fabrication processes and age-old materials of casting ceramics. Focusing on Rhino and Grasshopper to generate digital model system for different purpose. The idea of my model system is directing view, which by changing the size and direction of my model in order to change the eye view. There are three type of tiles in my system and basically I repeat to using these three patterns of tiles and forming the final model system.

WATER COLOR + SKETCH

Thank You

Address: 1849 S Washington ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55454 Phone: (612)-868-4118 Email: chenx545@umn.edu