01A DANDELION’S REBIRTH

Project time: May. 2022

Site: Shanghai, China

This project explored the concept of in-between, surrounding environment and our relationship with the nature, questioning the boundary between inside and outside.

During project, the concept of 'in-between' was conceptualised as a connecting relationship, intersecting through transformation and folding intangible qualities inside. It derives not from the experience of a single party, but from the interdependence of two forces in one transition point. Especially in an urban context, how do we defne the boundary between nature and the built urban environment and how can city dwellers be immersed in an enriching experience of nature when its presence steadily diminishes in the face of the ever-intensifying concrete inundation?

This project has stimulated my concept design observation within my surrounding spatial living in Shanghai, Using public installation to create a journey in publicness, exploring the potential and limitations of the existing urban environment and establish new engaging experiences. Bringing nature back into human living space

Background

The context of my project demonstrates the current situation of urban living environment, on the objective level: the expansion of the city, reduction of natural resources and the increasing number of complex showing a separation between urban and nature environment; and on the subjective level followed as urban development is people spend less time outdoors, over-work, traffic and other reasons which would hinder their access to travel outside the city. Based on the above, wanted to make a design project that would bring people closer to nature by letting the sense of nature into the city.

Site Location Target Audience

The project analyzes the demographics of the area and the installation's audience. The primary audience for the installation is the site's interior office workforce, who would spend the majority of their day in site. Additionally, tourists and inhabitants were taken into account. These three groups generally spend a great deal of time engaging in virtual social interactions, spend less time outside, and desire for natural experiences. The problems are intended to be altered by the installation, which aims to satisfy the audience's longing for nature.

DANDELION - NATURE'S REPRESENTATIVE

As a natural product, the dandelion grows in the spring and its seeds are re-rooted in the soil when the wind blows them off the stalks; by the next spring, more dandelion blossoms will have appeared. The dandelion's growth symbolizes the vitality of plants in nature. At the same time, the qualities in nature, specifcally wind, assists in its reproduction. It is an plant which the visible and invisible characteristics of nature intersect in together.

“Be a dandelion in a world of roses

Inspire wishes in kisses of stolen breath

Complete your phase in celestial dreams

Of the Sun moon and stars While setting your roots deep In the warm earth amidst blades of humble grass." -teaganell

The Bond Historical Timeline

As the financial center of China, The timeline of Shanghai's development reveals the current developing trend in China's frst-tier cities.

Site Surroundings

SITE ANALYSIS CONNECTIVITY & ACCESSIBILITY

Based on the analysis, the site is accessible to the public on account of its proximity to major roads. The well-developed transportation routes in the CBD facilitate accessibility of the site and provide opportunities for people to interact with the installation. Additionally, the choice of the site as an intervention in the naturalness of the city can contribute to resolving the current separation between work and residential areas, also serve as a model for other similar workplaces in the neighborhood

STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS & MATERIAL EXPERIMENT

The leaves and branches of a tree are its most vital parts. This section explores the possibility of transforming natural elements into architectural components by extracting their qualities.

In designing the installation, drew inspiration for its structural form from the leafy and branching portions of the tree, owing to my interest in trees and the external natural environment from previous investigations. This is intended to respond to the natural environment with organic forms that allow the installation to blend with the atmosphere of the site. Through their leaves, trees exhale oxygen, while the shadows they cast, and their sense of enclosure provide humans with a sense of protection. In this experiment, a roof was tentatively constructed by arranging leaves in various ways. The effect of the shadows is compared to an adjacent blank ‘feld.’ As the direction of light shifts, the shadows of the site take on an organic form and a ‚natural‘ dynamic quality.

The quality of light The quality of water

Currently, the Bund is a residential and commercial area characterized by a high density of buildings and a fast-paced lifestyle. Transformation of the surroundings and a vertical grid structure are the key features that only emphasize building interconnection at the expense of human interaction, which is contrary to the needs of 25,600 residents per square kilometre.

Natural Conditions

1.1.1 The fabric hanging from the top of the installation manage the movement of the wind, enhancing the experience, and the quality of the live environment is revealed as the wind blows the fabric.

Based on the analysis, the site is accessible to the public on account of its proximity to major roads. The well-developed transportation routes in the CBD facilitate accessibility of the site and provide opportunities for people to interact with the installation. Additionally, the choice of the site as an intervention in the naturalness of the city can contribute to resolving the current separation between work and residential areas, also serve as a model for other similar workplaces in the neighborhood

1.1.2 The fabric is closely arranged on both sides of the device to form a cylinder, inviting the wind to enter and interact with the device.

1.2.1 Cut the canopy of the installation with holes to allow direct access to natural light.

1.3.1 Relying on the slope of the site, slope the device close to the lake. The bottom of the device connected to the water surface, providing way for people to get in close contact with the water.

2.1 Transform the top portion of the installation into mirrored material that reflects the surrounding environment. This provides the viewer with multiple perspectives of observation. The surrounding environment is folded into the installation.

3.1.1 Wayfnding and navigation by repeating the arrangement of the installation to unit.

3.2.1 Lowering the height of the installation, the change in height allows new view of the site.

4.1.1 Surface variation of the carving on the installation. Mimic the texture of the surrounding plant.

4.2.1 The translucent panels that surround the installation invite human body to become part of the work.

1.1.3 Increase the area occupied by the fabric. The translucent fabric covers the installation, leaving an entrance to allow the viewer to enter and inspire an immersive experience.

1.2.1a Light is projected onto the ground, with subtle refective shadows appearing in the original view.

1.3.1 Designed from the perspective of water evaporation. The installation is covered with a transparent cover to create an encounter with water through the accumulation of water vapor while protecting the audience from unpredictable bad weather.

2.2 Another mirrored intervention into the structure of the installation. The large area applied across the entire installation provides the viewer with a sense of disorientation.

3.1.2 Pause interval zoom in on the surroundings with changing surface.

3.2.2 Changing the angle of the installation. allows for shift in perspective and focus.

4.1.2 Preventing the effects of weather and wind on the moment

4.2.2 The translucent panels frame specific moments, as a form of extraction, amplifying the surroundings through masking.

3.1.3 Remove the roof to reduce the environmental impact.

1.2.2 Another way of cutting the canopy. By controlling the amount of light entering, noticing the difference between light and shadow and the overlap between the two surfaces. Inspired by the cross-shaped glass window on the main wall of the church in Tadao Ando‘s work The Church of Light.

1.3.3 Create a guardrail surrounded the installation, inspired by the form of water splashing, the installation itself has certain clarity, and the feeling of swaying is amplified by the establishment of the guardrail.

2.3 A countine approch of project 2.1.1 in refective way. The mirrors placed in different positions allow the viewer to capture multiple perspectives and change the landscape with the movement of the body.

3.2.3 The unit is lowered to change the surface, continues to extend into the original land surface of the site that implies pathway.

4.2.3 Exaggerated changes in perspective, framed at the top to capture the sky.

The experiment includes: amplifying the intangible quality of the site, reconfguring the view point, guiding the movement and frame as extraction.

Floor Plan

Installations of intervention stored in Soho bund as an example of urban public space in Shanghai. Three installations in the same site as a complete series purposely connects people and the nature to engage encounters, invite the audience come across with the installation in site, discovering the natural atmosphere while experiencing the installation and the invisible wind qualities its responses.

Morphological Changes From The Dandelions Feature

Taking inspiration from dandelions by analogy. The dynamics of dandelion, a natural product, is expressed in architectural language. It is a medium to coordinate natural ecology and social ecology by giving the building space the characteristics of plants. People can fnd their own unique thinking and feeling about nature in this bio-inspired installation.

INSTALLATION NO.1

The first installation, an observational stage representing the dandelion, is situated at the site's main entrance. The imposing structure is meant to serve as a landmark for the place, indicating to visitors the journey they are going to take.

From Idea To Implementation