Portfolio mengjie zhu

Zhu Mengjie Portfolio

01 Jurong NEXT a new CBD with HSR Station 02 Brooklyn Bridge Park Velodrome Multilayered Bicycle Facility in New York 03 Upperground on 59th Transit Oriented Residential Complex 04 Tessellation From the Works of Naum Gabo 05 Deployable Structure Structure Experiments 06 Florida Landscape Ecology & Art Center in Paynes Prairie 07 Desert Craftsmen’s Hub in Oasis

ECO LIVING

ART&TECH

EDU COM

MMONS

CIVIC BELT

INNOVATION PEAK

JURONG NEXT: CBD Planning with High-speed Rail Station

Studio | Marilyn Taylor & Robert Yaro | Cowork with Studio Members Architecture, Landscape and City Planning Students | Spring 2017 Site:

Jurong East, Singapore

Project: Planning of a new CBD with Highspeed Rail Station Singapore was embracing a high economic growth in the last 30 years but recently the city state feels the necessity to change as industrial upgrading is the emphasis of global economic development. Furthermore, in Southeast Asia, more and more countries are having increasing High-speed Rail (HSR) System under construction, which means the exploring in a mega regional industrial integration would be the new growth point.

Under these considerations, Singapore and Malaysia governments agreed on the project of building a HSR connecting Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in 2013. Instead of pop the HSR station in the middle of the CBD of Marina Bay, Singapore government set aside an area in West Singapore to build a second CBD alongside with the upcoming HSR station.

The new location enjoys a convenient access to Universities like National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, it is close to Tengah, a newly developed new town for residential. No mention the large amount of industrial land use in West Singapore.

Jurong NEXT represents a combination of Nature, Entrepreneur, eXchange and Transit, in which we can see the focus on envision a CBD contributes to aspects including ecological, innovation, multipurpose land use and future transportation system.

The site originally is a golf course.

01 Integrating urban functions in 5 sections.

02 Identifying iconic moments for civic use.

03 Creating a pedestrian friendly urban grid for a car-lite future.

04 Optimizing public transit with DRT (Demand responsive transport) system.

05 Connecting the site with Green Stem and storm water storage system.

06 Decreasing density to create a better living environment.

07 Mixing up and fragmenting the land use for a more creative potential for the future CBD.

Study Model: Compromising Density and Living Experience Singapore government has an ambitious quantum requirement of 5 million squaremeters including 2 million for office space and roughly 1.8 million for housing on the 1.2 million squaremeter site. This requirement push the average FAR to be relatively high and some area are cramming to the hight limit of 160 meters. Our proposal reduced 10% to 20% of the quantum and largely increase the living experience in the area.

Innovation Peak The Innovation Peak area is a high density urban district designed to attract creative business ventures and multi-scale corporations. Its strategic location immediately to the east of the new HSR station and adjacent to the current International Business Park of Singapore, will allow it to create a focal point for the Jurong NEXT CBD. In additional to conventional office space, the Peak will include dynamic mix of incubator and exhibition spaces, in a district laid out with attractive pedestrian precincts and public spaces.

Commercial 8%

Green Space Hotel 3% 5% Residen al 34%

Civic 2% MICE 8%

INNOV PEAK

O ce 40%

Civic Belt The historic Jurong Town Hall, a Singapore national monument, will be a visual and physical focal point for the district’s Civic Belt. A continuous pedestrian corridor will be defined by the retail and coworking commercial spaces in mid-rise buildings. This will allow for an uninterrupted visual connection from all areas to Jurong Town Hall and the high-speed rail station.

Green Space 9%

Hotel 5%

Residential 11%

Commercial 10%

O ce 20%

CIVIC BELT

Civic & Cultural 25% MICE 10%

Edu Commons Located between the Existing Science Center and Town Hall, the EDU Commons area will anchor Jurong NEXT’s research, prototyping and incubator institutions. The neighborhood is centered around a Tech Grove which is an interactive space for the institutions hold events and showcase ideas.This collaborative environment is designed to attract satellite campuses of both domestic and international research institutions.

Green Space Hotel 4% 5% Commercial 6% MICE 5%

Residen al 30%

EDU COMMONS Innova onCo-Work 25% O ce/Ins tu 25%

Art & Tech The AT(Art&Tech) Neighborhood in the CBD is a novel response for a more and more closely-related innovative design approach in every field of future development. The neighborhood provides flexible and adaptable work spaces that are centered around a Maker’s Square for a good mix of complementary technical businesses and artisan organizations of varying sizes. With the most flexible land use mix within the Jurong NEXT CBD, the AT Neighborhood is planned to adapt to changing economic and market conditions where the design of the lower density architecture emerge into different kinds of uses over time.

Green Space Hotel 3% 2% Commercial 8% Civic 2% MICE 5%

AT (ART&TECH) Innova onCo-Work 25% O ce/Ins tu 25%

Brooklyn Bridge Park Velodrome Multilayered Bicycle Facility Studio | Ben Krone | Coworker: Haiyin Tang | Spring 2016 Site:

Brooklyn Bridge Park 334 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY

Project:

Indoor Multi-function Biking Complex.

The Brooklyn Bridge Park is located on the east bank of the East River and is an important part of the view from Lower Manhattan.

After investigating the site, we found out that an indoor sports complex would be most appropriate for the site. Although the site has a number of sports courts such as soccer fields and basketball courts, all of them are built on floating piers which have no enclosure. While the Park is largely utilized in summer, in colder months, the windy condition of the river bank is preventing people from actually using the Brooklyn Bridge Park for recreational purposes.

This approach would allow the complex to be multi-function center which elevates the recreational, multipurpose and energetic aspect of the existing Brooklyn Bridge Park. And also revive both the professional and recreational bicycle culture.

The project is designed to look at different types of cycling activities, concluded into three large catalogs: Leisure Riding, Performance Biking and Speed Racing. All three functions are playing an important role in revitalizing the bicycle culture.

The complex is seeking a solution to combine all of the activities with their nature and presenting the charm of cycling activities in a novel way.

Based on the understanding of spatial relationship, we are looking for a ‘stage’ to bring in new spectator perspective.

Cycling Activity in Sense of Spectator Popularity.

Spectator Experience: A Representation of Stage Considering the bike tracks to be relatively horizontal, the organization of stacking different levels together is a better solution for the site. For here, we use the three large catalogs of bicycle activities and layer them in order of the spectator popularity.

Analog Model Indicating the Organization of Three-layered Cycling Activities.

LEISURE Leisure tracks, also spectators’ area, are layered on top to draw people from the ground.

RACING Racing tracks intertwining between top and bottom levels, have a lean angle of 45° when turning.

PERFORMANCE an be viewed from higher levels and are the most dynamic for performance.

Another issue to consider is the difference between the three kinds of tracks. One vital factor is the speed which determined the angle of the track: like the turning part of the velodrome, which has an almost 45 degree of lean angle. And also the incline angles would have a maximum 15 degree limitation for leisure bike riding in order to control the speed.

Charts Showing the Possible Lean Angle and Radius Range

=

Geometry: Defined by Program Features From the analog model, the consideration of having three function layers is clearly demonstrated. Using a standard velodrome as a starting point, three function layers are developed in order to fulfill the spectators’ hierarchy. At the same time, circulation and enclosure are also there to be considered.

Physical Model: Feasibility of Free Form The building of the physical model is vital concerning the feasibility of the project. Since the main part of the project ‘floats’ above the ground, a sectional structure goes perpendicular to the long side and the mass actually rests on the outer platform that connects to the velodrome tracks. The waffle grid on top also carries the load and acts as sun shades to decrease direct sunlight.

Structure Language: Solid vs Light Since the project is closely related to cycling activities and a large percentage of the occupiable space is used as bike lanes, the geometry of the biking paths would share a similar feature limited by its lean angle and turning angle. And thus formed a core mass compared to the other relatively structured part of the project.

Entering through the ‘Stage’ The building is entered through the middle of the velodrome tracks. The massing has a platform detached to the tracks and lifted to above for spectators’ area. This open lane would also attract people to go into the project and interact with the new biking experience and activities.

Program Axonometric The combination of programs response directly to the degree of spectator to performer in a vertical order. The stacking of program also creates opportunity for systems to cooperate such as enclosed vs. outdoor, bike lanes vs. pedestrian and opaque vs transparent.

The Upperground on 59th: Transportation Based Living Complex Upenn Studio | Brian Phillips | Spring 2016 Site: 5900 Market Street Philadelphia, PA Project:

Mixed-use Residential

The project is a mixed-use residential complex located on 59th and Market Street which is now an undervalued medium density residential area. The project aims at activating the region by the existing subway station and connects the urban fringe to the Philadelphia center city.

The Market Frankford Line is the most efficient incity transport in Philadelphia. Realizing the traffic convenience of the site, a comparison between stations and their surrounding along the MFL is made to provoke more ideas about the site development. Programmatic planning, neighborhood condition and relationship to the subway station are considered in that sense.

There are two trails concerning the analysis: First is to increase program diversity which will amplify the value of the convenient location.

Second is to lift up the public ground level which will correspond to a more adaptable vertical organization.

If completed, the project will serve all people around the site, including preliminary residence, residence on Upperground 59th and parkride drivers. The new “Ground� will initiate different space conditions for either commercial, co-working or leisure use.

View from 60th Street Station to the Center City, Philadelphia.

Transit-oriented Development: Strategy Analysis

Programmatic Land Use Percentage vs. Housing Price This chart indicates how the diversity of program increase the value of the land.

Sectional Relationships This diagram shows how the subway stations work as traffic hubs and affect the development around them.

Massing Development According to the analysis, the project is to lift up the residential part and leave the space for ground and subway level with a variety of public programs including commercial, cultural and amusement purposes.

Public vs Private Massing From the section, the private residential massing sits on the top, while the lower part, with a similar volume, is engaging the subway and creating a multi-programmed public space. A transparent core allows sunlight into the lower public part and an underground parking lot.

Revitalize the Community First of all, the project is a unified community for its own residents and commuters. For original residents in the area, the public commercial part can bring in opportunities. (eg. public welfare programs like library and park). Furthermore, the project, now a parking lot, can serve as a park&ride spot for commuters. In this proposal, the parking demand can be more than covered.

Section Perspective The public level divides its space by elevation changes. Vertically, to ensure the sense of openness, vertical blocks like walls and columns are eliminated to the minimum, though the core naturally divides this level into two halves.

Program Axon showing the main program division.

Unit Organization The project holds higher density residential units within three levels, every unit is a loft entered either from the first level or the third level, and the second level is used as bedroom space. The reason why splitting the level is to emphasis privacy in a relatively smaller unit.

5F Residential: Looking Out to the Center City The project is holding higher density residential units with view to the Philadelphia skyline from certain units, the atrium adjacent to the subway is also creating an engaging feeling to the city.

2F Public Level: Extended Living Space The new ‘ground‘ level is aligned with the subway, in which all public programs happen.

The front is having programs such as gym, coffee, and deli shop; while the back there is the library which can be seen as a shared reading room. This level compensates the smaller loft units of their extension function of living.

3F Residential: Threshold from Public to Private Center lobby provided access to the lower public level.

Physical model below shows the spatial relationship under the glazing cover.

Atrium: Public Activity Space Physical model shows the threshold condition of the atrium and the volume created to fit in different public programs.

Back Lounge: Community Library The back lounge is designed for a community library which can be seen as a shared reading room for residents.

PART I: FORM DEVELOPMENT STEP I: DECONSTRUCTION

STEP II: RECONSTRUCTION

The inspiration derived again from Naum Gabo’s sculpture. From a big part of his works, the emphasis on a symmetrical skeleton can be seen clearly and the novel use of transparent material such as Perspex and nylon strings create the space and volume from where a beauty of geometry can be sensed.

The deconstruction of the original sculpture ‘Suspended‘ started from the geometrical aspect, despite the complex appearance and affect, the generative structure are pretty simple, the two Perspex piece perpendicularly notching on each other on their gravity center and using nylon strings connecting the outer curve to perform a series of rolled surface indicating the motion of the topic.

The reconstruction is based on the previous decons the change of the referencing curves would generat tests, a skeleton consists of two sets of referencing rule of Gabo’s sculpture which is two pieces perpen references. Furthermore, the multiple referencing the motion of these two sets of rolled surfaces overl materials of Acrylic and cotton strings efficiently bro

Original sculpture by Gabo:

Reversion of the construction:

ARTIST: Naum Gabo (1890 -1977) TITLE: Linear Construction No.2 YEAR: 1957/c. 1971 MEDIUM: Perspex, nylon monolament, phosphor-bronze cradle, on aluminum and Perspex base DIMENSIONS: 53 x 61.9 x 55.9 COLLECTION: Family Collection

Sculpture Analysis:

Analysis of the new geometry:

Reversion of the deconstruction:

Testing physical model of the new geometry:

180° 90°

MEDIUM: Acrylic, Cotton thread DIMENSIONS: 17.5 x 17.5 x 4.6

STEP III: AGGREGATION

struction. It included a series of experiments on how te a different motion and expression. Among several curves had been chosen. The skeleton followed the ndicularly notching and uses the outer curves as the are creating the space in-between the volume, and lap and create a richer experience of space. Similar ought out the effects for a test model.

Since the Tessellation project aims to build a human-scale pavilion, there is the necessity to aggregate and expend the initial piece. The aggregation tested their methods through several ways and finally determined to use a symmetrical structure due to the firmness of the structure and the duration of the material. Seeing the generated piece as a module, a sets of aggregation are testing for their feasibility.

Finally the aggregation of 5 module pieces turns out to the best option for in five piece, the module itself can stand along stably by touching only one point of the skeleton on the ground and conduct the gravity through the dome structure. A proposal of adding another level is then raised to increase the occupy-able height of the pavilion.

Aggregation trials (plans & elevations):

180° 90°

Triangle: 3 supporting points/module

Square: 2 supporting points/module

Pantagon: 3 supporting points/module

Final aggregation strategy:

Double the level to increase enclosed volumn.

Pavilion: Tessellation | Fall 2014

01

PART III: CONSTRUCTION STEP I: ANALYZE NAUM GABO’S SCULPTURE This project was initially inspired by Naum Gabo’s imaginative sculptures, which had in themselves an unusual sense of space and volume compared to other sculptors’ works. Within this whole studio as a group, students each assigned one piece of Gabo’s representational work and ‘the Suspended’ is the piece that activating my work. In this analytical step, the emphasis are put on Gabo’s unique geometrical construction feature as well as the emotion carried by each individual sculpture. For the geometrical, a large part

STEP I: ANALYZE NAUM GABO’S SCULPTURE

STEP I: ANALYZE NAUM GABO’S SCULPTURE

This project was initially inspired by Naum Gabo’s imaginative sculptures, which had in themselves an unusual sense of space and volume compared to other sculptors’ works. Within this whole studio as a group, students each assigned one piece of Gabo’s representational work and ‘the Suspended’ is the piece that activating my work. In this analytical step, the emphasis are put on Gabo’s unique geometrical construction feature as well as the emotion carried by each individual sculpture. For the geometrical, a large part

This project was initially inspired by Naum Gabo’s imaginative sculptures, which had in themselves an unusual sense of space and volume compared to other sculptors’ works. Within this whole studio as a group, students each assigned one piece of Gabo’s representational work and ‘the Suspended’ is the piece that activating my work. In this analytical step, the emphasis are put on Gabo’s unique geometrical construction feature as well as the emotion carried by each individual sculpture. For the geometrical, a large part

Pavilion: Tessellation | Fall 2014

02

MODEL OF THE PAVILLION The design of the pavilion creates curve and movement in space. It flows within the space.

The frames and lines of the pavilion generate the effect of inside out, which create an intriguing spacial sequence and experience. Potentially, parts of the pavilion become functional and interact with people and public.

SPATIAL MOMENTS When dealing with the spacial illusions created by the symmetrical structure, one question has been raised about the extreme orderly organization. Why would the pavilion be such symmetrical? The question could be answered from the initiation of the form. Since this is a short period project researching tessellation, the pavilion doesn’t really corresponding to a site condition, and when geometry creating itself without interference, the tension of nature has a preference of creating symmetrical structure like the tension of water surface will keep water drop a dome shape until affected by other factors. Dome shape is due to the basic structural efficiency, waiting for its reasons for reforming.

Pavilion: Tessellation | Fall 2014

03

Deployable Structure Instructor: Mohamad Al Khayer This section includes several deployable structural attempts.

Structure in my understanding is the decisive factor of an architectural form. While a deployable structure would definitely increase the challenge of structure being geometrically variable and create more options for a single structure to be utilized in different situations.

Furthermore, the movable character of structure is blurring the definition between architectural ‘skin’ and ‘bones‘. The structure itself would work as the surface and vice versa. In this sense, the scale change would be another trigger of deployable structure used in architectural context.

The model on the right page is a deployable snub cube (group work with Yihui Gan and Fengyan Li), in which we can clearly see its creating of space with the people scale in it. The following models are the same in a way to understanding their potential in an architectural scale.

Snub Cube Deployable Structure | Mohamad Al Khayer | Coworker: Yihui Gan, Fengyan Li | Spring 2016

Deployable Structure | Mohamad Al Khayer | Coworker: Yihui Gan, Fengyan Li | Spring 2016

Deployable Tower For this model, we are merging the two common deployable structural type together, one is a scalable ring and the other is a cylindered surface. The connection allows still one degree of transformation freedom (means if rigid, the whole structure would transform with one component). The combination shows the potential of a more controlled surface shape of those cylinder.

Experiment in Structure | Mohamad Al Khayer | Coworker: Fengyan Li, Lu Liu | Fall 2016

Folding Pavilion Folding plate is developed from the geometry of the folding papers (origami) where one pattern can create a skin that would have its form variability through installation. In this model, we decided to embrace a typical deployable scissor ring as control of the shape.

By pressing the ring, the plates will deploy from a plane surface into an architectural structure.

Florida Landscape Core Studio | Spring 2013 Site:

Paynes Prairie, Gainesville, FL

Project:

Ecology & Art Center in Paynes Prairie

The Paynes Prairie Ecology and Art Center is a project locates in the State Preservation Park of Paynes Prairie. It is a project that focused on specific space for a number of public programs including educational space, gallery and studio space and even some residential area. For the purpose of all kinds of visitors, the requires specifically a lecture hall of 3000 ft², a library of 2500 ft² and smaller spaces like classrooms, seminar rooms, administration office and some living space for the artists. These detailed demands force me to think practically in the way of designing the project.

Paynes Prairie, according to the research, was a lake of which the water table continues to drop in the last 50 years. The edge of the forest clearly demonstrates the previous hydrological line and the landscape formed by the retreating water. Besides, the Preservation area is also the home of hundreds of wild life, including a wide variety of birds. The Prairie is now a natural habitat for aquatic birds and is continuously attracting bird watchers around the area.

The forest to Prairie condition also inspires a lot of spatial understanding which can be used in architecture, for example, the density of the canopy, the landscape created by different plants and the change of the land elevation. These are all conditions that would be considered during the making of building.

Left: Site plan.

Above: Diagrams demonstrating the landscape.

Below: Spatial analysis of specific conditions.

Two possible attitudes can be brought to hear on the design of the landscape. On the one hand, the culture of humanity (our human-ness) including our technology, reason, beliefs, history, social order, etc. can be seen as inherently un-natural. In this attitude, we view ourselves in opposition to nature.

When this position is taken, nature must be dominated; subjected to the will of human ingenuity and creativity, imposed on the system from outside.

However, another (opposing) view places humanity, including all of our cultural constructs, firmly within the realm of nature and natural systems. In this attitude, all human rules, orders, constructs, and systems, are part of nature, however messy and (seemingly) disordered it appears to be. This position requires a deep understanding of the natural, in order to glean from those natural orders a set of tools with which to modify and bend the landscape to serve a specific human purpose.

Desert Core Studio | Fall 2012 Site:

Crescent Spring, Dunhuang City, China

Project:

Craftsmen’s Hub in Oasis

The Desert project started with researching an existing desert, pick one particular spot as the site of our project and doing analytical model and drawings.I chose Taklamakan Desert which is located in the southwest portion of Xinjiang Province in Northwest China. It has a paradigmatic cold desert climate which means the lowest temperature can even reach -20 degree Celsius.

Above: Mod

The conformation of the desert is largely because of the extreme inland position which bring about an average annual precipitation of less than 100 millimeter (lowest 4-5 millimeter). While 85% of the desert is made up of shifting sand dunes, it is hard to find a fixed site in a changeable environment. So I started to look at the permanent lake in the desert which will help determine and define the geographic character of a certain site.

Left: Environment of the Oasis Crescent Spring. del showing how human trace anchoring down the sand moutain.

Below: Patterns of the anchoring movement.

The reason why I chose kite-maker and motorcycle-maker as the project users is because the environment of the desert fit both kite flying and motorcycling which will take the advantage of using both the indoor and outdoor space. And the special shapes of the roofs derived from the landscape model show a harmonious relationship with the land by iterating the surrounding environment.

Furthermore, the indelible sharpness is contracting dramatically to the ever changing sand mountain around the Crescent Spring, it is an symbol of the power of the Nature. The weakest factor, water, could not only survive but also anchor the changing of the landscape in the world second largest desert.