Zhifei's portfolio

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

EXPERIENCE

SKILLS

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

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

Study and Internship in Rome Program, Italy

CONTACT INFORMATION Address: 17610 Brookhurst Dr., Lake Oswego, OR 97034 Phone: (612)-868-4118 Email: chenx545@umn.edu

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 multifunctional cabin for the gardeners to relax and store the plant tools

Photoshops Sketchup Rhino grasshopper Revit Illustrator Indesign AutoCAD Lumion Office Mac OS Windows

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

LANGUAGE Fluent in English Native Chinese

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 between light and shadows of

When I drawing these I put more stress on showing the contrast between different materials by using pencil. These projects allowed us to think of and construct space relative to how light and materials interacted with structure surfaces

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

I choose this knot since it has both simple lines at the side and also complicate part at the center of the knot which give the knots a sense of space or arrangement using wire.

EXPORT

Volumetric Model

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

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

DF2 PROJ02C FLATTENED SLICING ZHIFEI CHEN TA: WINDY

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DF2 PROJ02C UNFOLD EXPORT ZHIFEI CHEN TA: WINDY

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Rendering

Chicken Point Cabin (Construction plan) The project is designed by architect Olson Kundig. In order to understand the design of architecture, I made this plan and section view which shows the interior structure and layout of the building.

Rebirth of Tiber River redesign at porta portese community

The Tiber river is one of the longest river in Italy. It flows from the north Italy through Rome and into Tyrrhenian Sea. 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 capital city as the increase of population, urban modernization and environmental pollution, and that due to the development of modern Rome, 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.

Plan view level 2

The Project is located at Rome, Italy

The Porta portese site is situated at south west part of Rome city. Along the west bank of Tiber river.

Plan view level 1

This area is mainly to creat more indoor recreation spaces for residential neighbourhoods that are nearby. The space remains open and free circulated. People can use them to gather and lounge. Courtyards can be well lite and easily accessed to. Along the edge of the building, curtain walls and sitting furnitures offer people to have a moment with Tiber River and the city beyond.

Being ajacent to the recreation area, this section of the structure is meant to open to commercial development. This particular site used to have flea market every sunday. We want to take the adavantage of having that regular activity and bring it close to the river. Temporary settings of shops and food court would truly enhance the atomsphere of the building. We believe that an intimate relationship between people and the river is created by doing, playing and enjoying along it.

This part of the building is not only functioning as a gathering space like the rest, but also a gallery that preserves and exhibits historical buildings structurally. In the largest courtyard, a preserved historical warehouse is “wraped” around by the roof that people can walk on. It intentionally creates a “unexpected” expeirence that allows people tour a piece of history at a higher level. There is space that can be set up for temporary exihibitions or any form of art. Taking the advantage of being close to the river, we think that it is essential for such structure to be socially and culturally important at the same time.

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 COLOUMNS All the strcuture coloumns 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 orgranic 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 cloesd.

Existing Circulation Proposed Site Circulation

Commercial Area Gallery Recreation Area Green Space (on roof)

Commercial Area Gallery Recreation Area

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Parking Lot Historical Structure Residential

HAWTHORNE EAST COMMUNITY GARDEN Designed and built an urban garden

Hawthorne east community is located at north west of downtown Minneapolis, beside Minssissippi river.

The proposal is to design a community garden for thr Hawthorne East community for the neighborhood to plant their own food and vegetations. Residents can also gather around around the well-designed and constructed shelter.

The structure consistes 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 exteriror walls and floor. All the materials that we used were bought from the nearby Home Depot.

Roof

Roof structure and coloumns

plywood siding

substrate

Rendering

Conceptual Frame Inspiration from ink drop pattern

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 bristal board, museum board, diagraming 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

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

1st Level The first level creat a passage way which provide basic movement

2nd Level The second level creat a secondary movement which provide a direction for people in the space

Frame The Frame is for seperating each spaces and also provid spaces

Hierarchy

Symmetry and Balance Parti

Movement

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.

Slip Casting Chair for model Rhino/grasshopper model

CNC/CAM toolpath

Model

Other works

Thank you

Phone: (612)-868-4118 Email: chenx545@umn.edu