PORTFOLIO
Kexin Zhao
Selected Work 2021-2023
Apply for Master of Landscape Architecture Bartlett, University College London
Email:zhaokexin1107@outlook.com
Tel:+86 1599910995
There is a Chinese saying: Water is the softest and hardest. In my works, water is involved in my design in three different forms: rain, river and flood. Using water as a clue, each project demonstrates my understanding of the relationship between contemporary human society and natural society.
01
Rainwater Collection System Landscape Design
Professional Project
SDC studio | Beijing Jiaotong University
Team Work
Collaborators:
Guo Xinchen, Bian Wenyan, Tao Xuanshu
My duty: In charge of design, diagrams, representations production drawings
Instructor
Chen Yongquan: Associate Professor| Beijing Jiaotong University
E-mail: chengyongquan@bjtu.edu.cn
Li Junjie: Associate Professor | Beijing Jiaotong University
E-mail:lijunjie@bjtu.edu.cn
Location
Zhoushan Village, Henan Province
Date
2023.3-2023.9
Status
Construction finished in 2023.9
The production and life of residents in the village are threatened by water shortage in the dry season and flooding in the wet season. I visited the entire village to understand the way of water extraction and storage. Finally, based on the current situation of water use, we developed a water system model of wet season tank collection, multi-layer purification, and dry season tank storage. This space has also become a gathering place for public space in the village. The in-depth discussions I had with the water management Engineer about water purification methods allowed me to learn about advanced water purification technologies and to integrate technology and function in landscape design.
I'm afraid of water coming through the door whenit rains heavily.
During the drought, we went to the Sophora tree Estuary to fetch water.
My house built an aqui fer to collect rainwater.
On rainy days, water on the road can cause old people to slip.
The water is not as good as before...
The water is sweeter than Nongfu Spring!
If there is a spring, use a spring; if there is no spring, use a well.
Traditional technique
Materials used in existing traditional construction techniques in zhoushan village.
Flood Drought
Material filtration
Test the filtration capacity of natural materials and construction waste.
natural material
Site soil
building waste
Bits of wood Sand
Water absorption capacity
Filtration time
reduced turbidity capacity
Reduced TDS capacity
The ability to adjust PH
Site location
The design site is located in the west of Zhoushan Village, in the west of the dream home cave complex, with an area of about 100 square meters. To the south of the site is a 6m wide road and to the north is farmland.At present, the interior of the site is basically bare land washed by rain, and the east and west sides of the site are full of ornamental plants such as purple plum and poplar trees.
The purple plum and silver birch trees together enclose the main space and form a coherent structure.
1.Pavement rainwater collection
2.Sky rainwater collection
3.Rainwater filtration and display
There are overlaps between the human route and the water route and there are also places to avoid.
Rainfall runoff
In the site, the rain mainly flows from south to north, and there are three main storm drains washed out by the rain in the site. The rain enters from the lowest point of the road, passes through the storm drain, and then reflows out of the field from the north side of the site.
Sky rainwater collection
Construction waste forms a circular pool
Based on the hexagonal waste material, the outline of the oval reservoir is formed
Use cement ash bedding to reduce rainwater
Use red bricks to form an arch bowl.
top layer is sprinkled with small green stones so that people can stay.
waste tiles.
There is a shallow layer of water in the pool in the morning. Animals can come and drink and children can play.
pool dries up at noon. The villagers come here for a meeting.
leaves have fallen in late autumn, and the students come to the pool at night to look at the stars
Rainwater filtration and display
The end of the water system:"water flows downhill"
02
Tonghui River Landscape and Urban design
Course: The Graduation Design of Architecture Profession
Academic course|Beijing Jiaotong University
Individual Work
Instructor
Meng Xiaoying: Professor| Beijing Jiaotong University
E-mail: xymeng@bjtu.edu.cn
Location
Beijing, China Date
2022.2-2023.5
Tonghui River in Beijing is the starting point of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in ancient China, and during the field research and investigation, I was shocked to find that Tonghui River is now in a poor state: poor water quality, no one to visit the banks, etc., and the surrounding residents' evaluation of it is "smelly ditch". In the process of in-depth analysis, I start from two aspects of historical time and space separation to understand the reasons why Tonghui River has lost its importance now.
In the design, I chose a shanty town in the three rooms area of Tonghui River and the surrounding riverfront landscape as the design content, endosing the gradually forgotten culture of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal to this river and making people realize the important historical significance of Tonghui River again.
Spatial Isolation
In the current spatial study of Tonghui River, Tonghui River is vertically cut into four sections by the urban development ring of Beijing. In addition to the spatial isolation of each section, other differences also cause the present situation of uneven landscape quality and complex situation of Tonghui River.
One of the main reasons is the radial development of Beijing's core. Second, the cultural name cards of each section are different, and the functional zoning of the capital city leads to the drowning of the historical and cultural value of the Tonghui River itself. Third, the different identity of the population.
First and second ring
There are many ancient buildings in the first Ring road and the second Ring Road in Beijing, which are mainly for political functions.
Third ring
Beijing Third Ring Road is a major economic center, containing a variety of economic enterprises and companies.
Fouth ring
Beijing's Fourth Ring Road is now developing into a creative media industry, with various creative industrial parks.
Fifth ring
The western end of Beijing's Fifth Ring Road is a high-density residential area, and contains large and small shanty towns, and water pollution is serious. The east end is the beginning of the Tongzhou Canal culture, the main urban area is far away, and the canal historical and cultural sites are preserved.
Historical Development
The rise and fall of Tonghui River and the change of its function are closely related to ancient Chinese history, and the development of the Chinese capital is one of the reasons that determine the importance of Tonghui River. I studied the reasons for the changes and development of Tonghui River in various periods, and found that the importance of Tonghui River development was closely related to the transportation needs of the society and the construction scope of the ruler’s city.
At the same time, the Tonghui River has been the starting river of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal since the Sui Dynasty, maintaining the trade and transportation between the north and the south of China, which has important historical significance.
Jin Dynasty (1115-1234)
The Jin Dynasty began to move the capital into Beijing, and continued to open up water transport centered on it.
Qing Dynasty (1636-1912)
The water transport continuedIn the early, and in the later period, the Tonghui River declined because of the war.
Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)
In the Yuan Dynasty, due to the need of water transport, the state introduced water sources to excavate the Tonghui River.
Peking (1912-1949)
In modern times, due to war and other reasons, the transport function of Tonghui River was completely abandoned.
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
The Ming Dynasty continued to develop the water transport function of Tonghui River, and thus opened up many routes.
Beijing (1949-)
Up to now, the Tonghui River is still in the city of Beijing, mainly used for flood control and flood relief.
