Grad Portfolio | Alex Zheng

A from

Alex Zheng &

The Consequential Frameworks

Meaningful Spaces What makes a space meaningful? We can simply erect concrete walls to introduce spaces, yet we know as architects that a space can mean so much more. Human interaction, movement, engagement, and relativity are all a part of what makes a design purposeful. In a time where ideals are being challenged and representation is needed the most, architecture can help amplify the voices of the underrepresented. Buildings can tell stories of the past, and how histories and culture influence the circumstances of design. It symbolizes the present, where fragments of the past collide with the lenses of today, educating the next generation. It promises the future, providing an everlasting statement that serves as a reminder of who we were.

CONTENTS I.

Ginkgo Pharmacy

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Streamline

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Infinity

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Retrospective of the Mundane

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Other works

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John Peponis, spring 2023

II.

Chris Simon, fall 2022

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Julie Kim, spring 2021

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Jude Leblanc, fall 2022

V.

holistic care

Ginkgo Pharmacy Chicago, Illinois | Healthcare | w. Janny Aung, Brendan Oshida, & Megan Tran

Contribution: Schematic design, design development, technical drawings, & architectural representaion.

As a minority, navigating foreign medicine/healthcare can be daunting, especially if the user is a non-English speaker.

As humans, getting the proper care for our bodies should be an intrinsic right, yet many problems pose barriers for groups of people across the U.S. This project sought not to fix the current healthcare issues, but to improve the local communities with what we know as architects. This project was also a joint effort between the architects and industrial designers who took charge of human interactions, the flow of space, and engagement with technology.

The site sits on South Archer Avenue, a prominent street that connects the rest of Chicago to the heart of Chinatown.

Across from the existing building lies a predominantly Asian neighborhood with an average age of 46. Most of the said population speak little to no English.

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The nearest pharmacy in this area is approximately three miles away, making it hard for elders to retrieve their medicine. The project sought to invite users into the space and break the traditional stereotype of what a pharmaceutical space may be. Fifty percent of the building is reserved for healthcare while the other fifty engages with the community whether that’d be an artifact gallery or a teahouse. Spaces were also designed in mind with the ability to give back to the community; with multiple flex spaces throughout the proposal to host events.

“I’ve always seen architecture as a healing art, not just a beautification art.” - James Polshek

GINKGO P H A R MAC Y

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i | Exisiting

ii | Invite

iii | Vantage

iv | Engage

the site lives around the heart of Chicago’s Chinatown

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GINKGO P H A R MAC Y

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7. Artifact gallery 8. Flex space 9. Consultation room 10. Examination room

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11. Teahouse

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1. Information/Check-in kiosks 2. Store 3. Help desk 4. Pick-up lockers

5. Pharmacy 6. Event alley

GINKGO P H A R MAC Y

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18. Stay room 19. Lounge

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12. Catering 13. Flex space 14. Huddle space 15. Storage

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16. Kitchen 17. Game room

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To engage with the existing surrounding, a sunroom was implemented. The CLT construction utilizes a familiar material akin to Eastern architecture, the heavy timber brings warmth and organic patterns to the renovation.

garage door opens up the building to public activities in the alley

GINKGO P H A R MAC Y

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store shelves utilize cable system for ease of organization

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cafe overlooks the triple-height atrium

GINKGO P H A R MAC Y

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user’s journey through the pharmacy on the ground floor

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The proposal hopes to bring some warmth and familiarity to traditional healthcare facilities.

Several methods such as extending the sunroom and pulling back the entry of the building symbolizes an invitation to the community.

GINKGO P H A R MAC Y

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dynamic gathering

Streamline Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Furniture | w. Elizabeth Turac & Linna Xia

Contribution: Schematic design, design development, technical drawings, architectural representaion, & model making Best Model Award, Senior Studio, Georgia Tech.

Best Representation Award, Senior Studio, Georgia Tech.

As architects, our design decisions allow us to formulate a space that can influence both the experience and mood of the users. In this studio, we were tasked with applying the same architectural principles to a public installation. More specifically, a bench. What is the architectural interpretation of public furniture that differs from the works of artists and industrial designers? By using the contexts provided by the site, the proposal narrows down its intentions: to provide for different user groups and to enhance the interactions on the site. The proposal sought to encourage community interactions without affecting the flow of movement.

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Set in the Instructional Center on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology, the proposal hopes to provide additional seating that caters to different user groups. Initial concepts spark the idea of seating along a curvature that naturally stretches or compresses the width of seats.

Additionally, the proposal includes standing desks that offer temporary idling while the user waits for class. The result is two curvilinear benches that face one another. The benches are oriented in a way that won’t disturb the heavy traffic during class changes. The addition of panels provided both privacy and a sense of shelter that encourages individual seating.

“The material, form, structure, association, and the sense of meaning...” - Richard Deacon

STR E A MLINE

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top: overall form in context of site bottom: providing both seating and standing desks

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perforated sheets partially hides the heavy steel framework

STR E A MLINE

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top: overall form bottom: steel framing system

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softness of wood juxtaposing the sharpness of steel

bent tubing to fit with the overall form

STR E A MLINE

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voided panels to allow transparency across

STR E A MLINE

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top: seat to seat connections bottom: seat to steel connections

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seat fitted to the curvature of the human body.

tabs to secure wood parts

STR E A MLINE

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panel connection to tubing

top: overall framework bottom: wood to steel joinery

STR E A MLINE

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flowing transcendence

Infinity 淼 Lithia Spring, Georgia, USA | Wellness Retreat | Individual work

One version of Chinese characters that symbolizes the word “infinity” features three “water” that is arranged in a triangular style. What better way to capture the essence of infinity? The continuous cycle of water as it transitions from one state to another is a part of the experience that this proposal hopes to capture when developed. These states of water gave inspiration to different conceptual forms of the design. The literal sense of transitioning from solid to fluid or the metaphorical sense of rising up like the state of vaporization are all sought after and developed. These ideas were then formed into different programmatic elements that gave rise to the proposal of a wellness retreat. One where an individual can experience the different states of water as they transition from dry to wet, then dry again.

The proposal is set within a ruin off of a hiking trail. When tackling the idea of responding to the built environment, the proposal both respects and interacts with the ruin.

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Inspirations of openings were derived based on the proportions given by the existing ruin, while also stepping back from the ruin. The proposal then breaks off and develops a juxtaposing mass that encompasses the “wet” building with pools and saunas. Lastly, the site is right off of the creek that runs through the trail. The proposal sought to embrace the sound of rushing water instead of concealing it.

As there is peace within the constant bombardment of the roaring white noise. Certain spaces are places near the river in order to add a layer of auditory experience.

My mind running with thoughts. Along the stream of water. As I, became the stream.

INFINIT Y

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early diagrammatic practices on the experience in different programmatic spaces; such as the mimicking of organic forms (middle left) or becoming one with the crashing waves of the river (top right)

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The New Manchester Mills ruins overlook the Sweetwater Creek.

The once factory utilized the rushing water from the creek to power the cotton mill, but was destroyed in the Civil War by the Union forces. What remains is the somber, haunting remnants of the past that presents an unique opportunity to engage with the space.

The rushing waters can be used metaphorically of what was once a source of labor. The rumbling of crashing waves drowns out both external and internal noises. Making the site ideal for a serene getaway from the urban settings.

cold shower prepares the user for entry/exit

INFINIT Y

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daylight in motion luminating the space

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1. Welcome desk 2. Bar 3. Cold shower (56°) 4. Locker room 5. Tepid bath (74°) 6. Hot bath (100°) 7. Warm bath (92°)

INFINIT Y

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top: detail at concrete wall and column join bottom: detail at concrete slab

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INFINIT Y

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top: detail section at pool joint to concrete bottom: typical joint installation

INFINIT Y

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theatrical service

Retrospective of the Mundane Grjotagja, Iceland | Pavillion | w. Maya Takai & Linna Xia

Contribution: Schematic design, design development, technical drawings, architectural representaion, & model making Shortlisted for Buildner Iceland Movie Pavilion competition Thanks to the miracles of modern technological breakthroughs, mankind’s life were improved drastically. The digital age provided speed and efficiency to the numerous works across different fields. Yet, in this fast-paced present, when does one take the time to pause and experience? The beauty of the mundane is often lost in the modern world.

Amidst the bombardment of information, the proposal sought to slow the user down. The tug and pull of key programmatic spaces let the user meander at their own pace through the open floor plan of the pavilion. With the proposal being a movie pavilion celebrating the art of moving pictures, it also transcends beyond simply moving pictures.

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Theatre is derived from the Latin word “theatrum”, which means a place of observation. The simple gesture of observing encompasses the act of viewing. Thus, the proposal defines an alternative theatrical experience, the viewing of the mundane. Service programs are brought to the forefront in the space. These ordinary spaces are then highlighted as a secondary theater with the employees being the main actors. This act alone breathes a new quality of life into a building whereas before, merely showcased projected motion pictures. Additionally, views are emphasized in the proposal. The framing of Krafla provides a direct juxtaposition to the artificial projection of images in the theater. The proposal then provides a third view of the sky to emphasize the connection between the sky, ground, and man-made.

“It is the task of the enlightened not only to ascend to learning and to see the good but to be willing to descend again to those prisoners . . .” - Plato, Allegory of the Cave

R E TROSP ECTIVE OF TH E MUNDA NE

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Exbition hall Cafe, bar Restroom Reception Offices Theater

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Movie pavillion General entrance Office entrance Parking Grjótagjá caves

Site Plan

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conceptual arrangement of programs

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entrance framing the building within the landscape

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lobby space showcasing the transparent programs

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open bar sitting at the center of the proposal

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viewport diagram

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cafe view framing the mountain

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The double-height event space frames the volcanoes in the background. In order to maximize the efficiency of said flex space, partitions were implements so the user can block/create flows of movement according to their needs. top: initial visualization of the banquet hall middle: double height space reflecting the greenhouse bottom: moveable partition walls rearrange both usage and circulation

R E TROSP ECTIVE OF TH E MUNDA NE

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Unbroken Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Museum | Individual work A museum offers one a visual experience as one meanders through the world of art. It teleports you to another place, beyond the material world as one deciphers the provocative meaning behind individual pieces. The gallery sits at the busy intersection of North Avenue in Atlanta. Instead of lifting or trying to conceal the noisy city background, the proposal accepts the bustling streets and welcomes users into the low-rise. The gallery space is encapsulated in thick walls to filter out the noise of the city. However, views were opened up to the city on either side of the gallery space. These views are then blocked by walls, forcing users to navigate around to reorient themselves in the city. A central garden was then added not only as a backdrop to the sculptures within the space but also as a reminder of the natural world. The theater was pulled apart from the program, creating a space of its own while also noting a transitional zone between the two buildings. This zone was transformed into a reflection plaza that can be used for both event and relaxational purposes.

OTH E R WOR KS

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interplay of openings and transparency

OTH E R WOR KS

water mirror plaza enhancing experience

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Eminence @ West Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Apartment | Individual work What defines city living? The sense of being alone and independent while knowing that you belong in a community of like-minded individuals pushing towards the same goal is what the proposal defines as city living. The site sits at the border of metro Atlanta and suburban neighborhoods. The design was formed with the intention of accommodating college students and young professionals that are looking for affordable housing with expansive living spaces. While also accommodating the multi-family neighborhood that borders the site. As an extension to the neighborhood, the building lifts up to provide a transitional ground floor that serves as an entry to the park behind the building. Large vertical panels stretch upwards through the entirety as structural support to the building, mitigating the use of columns. To continue the rhythm of verticality, louvers were added to the balconies and service blocks to enhance the visual appeal of the proposal.

OTH E R WOR KS

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street view revealing courtyard behind the building

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top: vertical louvers repeated with site design bottom: organization of the units in relation to the form

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