Lai Ji Hao Architecture Portfolio (BA + Professional)

Lai Ji Hao Portfolio

Professional Experience - DC Architects (2023 - 2024)

Work Experience - IZUMI Concepts (2021 - 2022)

BA - University of Kent (2016 - 2020)

Part 1 RIBA Architecture Graduate with a proven track record of excelling in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments. Demonstrated strong project management skills across industrial, residential, and commercial builds. Successfully led high-volume technical tender plans and maintained effective communication with executive stakeholders to ensure timely project progression. An aspiring Architect motivated to elevate my skills and knowledge to a higher level of proficiency, particularly in shaping urban lifestyles through innovative green building and eco-driven verdant designs; of which I hold in regard as the new form of architecture to revolutionise urban landscapes.

Skills

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

Adobe After Effects

Adobe Media Encoder

AutoCAD

SketchUp

V-RAY

About Contents Experience

8th May, 2023 - 31st July, 2024

DC Architects

Part 1 Assistant Architect

• Consolidate design development and address technical issues and requirements with clients and consultants

• Liaise with local authorities and building planning bodies on viability of proposed design in accordance with local by-laws

• Draft, amend, compile and publish authorised tender and detailed drawings for submission to local authorities and client tender

• Oversee construction and liaise with crew and contractors during construction

• Handle, prepare and liaise in site meetings and presentations with clients

21th March, 2021 - 28th October, 2022

IZUMI Concepts Sdn. Bhd

Graduate Architectural Draftsman

• Freelance work for Izumi Concepts F&B businesses in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)

• Conceptual drawings and interior design, 3d modelling and photo-realistic visualisations, authored official CAD drawings

• Liaison between client and KLIA management, tendering companies, engineering team and marketing team and other admin works

• Authored CAD drawings for formal tendering

• Handled day-to-day site visits and construction supervision

9th July - 24th August, 2018

Tetawowe Atelier

Architectural Intern

• I was employed at an Architecture firm as part of my journey in collecting experience and the nuances of how the industry works.

• Mainly, I helped the lead design Architect in preparing 3D models of the design project from start to finish.

• Under the lead Architect instructions and supervision, I prepared and drafted CAD drawings. My other responsibilities included furniture design, furniture setup, and website design.

• I also participated in a number of site studies. From this, I learnt how to supervise a built project and also collate relevant information on an existing building for a new project.

• Additionally, I aided in the setting up of an exhibition hosted by the firm.

Theatre Royal, Intervention Architecture

University of Kent, Intervention Architecture Module

Margate, Kent, England

Tutor : Fiona Raley

Solo Project 2020

Sarah Thorne Extension

Margate, Thanet

This module was designed to develop the ability to read and understand old and outdated existing floor plans and sections. The challenge here being to navigate through a meandering journey of recorded changes spanning many decades. The objective of this module being to learn how buildings and their functions evolve and adapt over time in an ever-changing urban context, then introduce an "intervention" wing of which the function is up to the designer.

The design brief required an extension to the existing Theatre Royal, of which may host a combination of functions and activities that commends the original architecture. The intervention should take up no more than 50 square metres, and although this figure was negligible, students were encouraged to keep the volumetric intervention to a small and effective scale. The intervention should introduce a relevant, new strategic function that serves to enhance and sustain the life of the historic building.

Turner Contemporary

Margate Harbour Arm

THEATRICS VS REALITY 01.

Concept of a Versatile Mask

The concept of the design lies behind an idea of a mask, and by exploring to what extent this device may be interpreted. It is fascinating how the application of a mask, whether physical or metaphorical, may change a person's character accordingly and in doing so, essentially build a barrier between that and the true self within. At times, it also allows one to act truly and without inhibitions.

“The Eyes are the

Windows to your Soul”

- An old proverb by Shakespeare, Poet, Playwright

MASKS REVEAL & CONCEAL

Theatrical performers and modern actors alike don the metaphorical mask skilfully everyday as a profession, however this does not accurately reflect real life; as real life is often dull and mundane. In contrast, performers usually behave in hyperbole and expressions are conveyed in a rather colourful way.

If the eyes are the windows, the body must be the building. And the mask, the facade. Therefore, it will be the latter where the design shall express the most versatility.

02. CITYWIDE REJUVENATION

Margate is a sea-side resort town located at the South-Eastern end of Great Britain. Well known for its history of seabathing culture, the picturesque coastal town has long been a favored spot for tourism, enticing people from all over the world to its gorgeous white cliffs, beige sandy beaches and clear blue skies. Today however, Margate tilts on the balance between a bright commercial future and a dull pit plunging further into decay. In the attempt to prevent the latter, a series of new schemes have been put forward in the mission to breathe new life into the area.

Masks elevate the appearance and significance of a building, by creating an appealing and abstract aesthetic, the design is able to achieve longevity. The matrix of masks is a metaphor representing the diversity of characters any one professional thespian or actor may adopt. The mask facade signify the intervention’s desire to ‘hide’ an old weathered part of the building and give way to a more pronounced and aesthetic new ‘face’ of the architecture.

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Remove existing redundant space ( old changing rooms )

Install

Intervention green

Pedestrianise

Introduce intervention & means of access & egress Install

Intervention

Complete Intervention Form follows local vernacular

Intervention

Spaces highlighted in red represent spaces that are scheduled to be demolished to make room for intervention and plan updates. The street adjacent to the intervention is pedestrianised as regards to preset ecological directives. This reduces vehicular traffic in the immediate vicinity and promotes healthy and prosperous human circulation. The last diagram refers to the circulation users are expected to occupy in the proposed intervention. The curtain wall is constructed utilising a matrix of masks fixed onto a series of fastenings which serves as the basis of which climber plants will cling on to.

1st Floor Interior Dance / Art / Events

The First Floor of the newly built intervention could host a variety of functions, as flexibility and versatility is the theme here, it is built with that in mind. During showtime, the space could be used as an additional art gallery, showcase area, or even simply more space for tables and chairs during intermission in between acts. During other times, it could be used as a tutoring area, renting out this space to nearby dance, art and/or music schools. The space could be booked for private events, or even utilised as an impromptu art gallery for students in local schools so as to promote the preservation of fine arts culture in the historically artistic city of Margate.

A student showcases while two trainers oversee a children's dance group lesson

Section A

Floor Plans

Porposed new ground floor plan including intervention area. Due to existing sloping terrain, the lavatory area is shown in the drawing as being under ground level, represented using hatches as shown.

Front Elevation Render Masks Facade / Dynamic Green Wall

Modular Mask Matrix showcases an unlimited variety of facade patterns using organic and horticultural means

Climber Plants are planted at ground level to scale the curtain wall facade during the summer solstice as a natural solar shade and cooling strategy. By process of trial and elimination, the design may utilise an immense variety and combination of plants, making this facade both an organic, fluctuous and self-sustainable design model. The plants will be carefully chosen from the RHS lists of deciduous climber plants. This is so that the leaf screen is able to wilt during the winter solstice so as to allow maximum natural daylight entry. The bare facade will consequently show itself, then re-clothe itself seasonally, conveying a mask-on mask-off narrative. The plants must be deciduous in order to achieve this.

Elevations

As shown on the right, the proposal aims to achieve an illusion of a mask with the new intervention, adorned by the building as if it itself was a person wearing a mask to perform; to hide and to express. The intervention conceals an old decayed side wall of the past and expresses a new

Ground Floor Interior Cafe / Socials

Ground Floor Restaurant & Bar serves as the theatre’s steady revenue generator to ensure constant cash-flow

The Ground floor of the newly proposed intervention serves a primary function of social interaction and income for the theare. This area serves as the main space for recreation with plenty chairs, tables and dedicated group spaces with sofas and larger tables. There is also a bar for showtime periods but also serves lunch and food during non-show times. From inside, the shade given by the Green Wall of the facade will provide much cooling during summer times and still provide ample natural light into the space.

colourful face, capable of rendering a variety of artistic biodiversity through the lens of an environmentally friendly strategy; using verdant means. The northpoint for each orientation of elevation can be found next to the drawing. The N displays North for reference.

St Stephen's Park, Sanctuary Architecture

University of Kent, Architecture & Landscape Module

Canterbury, Kent, England

Tutor : Tanya Kalinina

Solo Project 2019

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INCREASE SITE ECOLOGICAL 01.

Views From Site Site Usage & Occupancy Site Sun-Path Prevalent Wind-Path

The site offers much amenities on top of its large expansive greenery, which includes the nearby St Stephen’s Church and other smaller landmarks such as bars and/or pubs. Other advantages of developing this land include its various green scenery of which is aesthetically calming to view upon.

Site usage & occupancy refers to the rate and area of which users interact with the space. The majority of the site occupancy is located on two opposing corners of the site, the reason being largely the sports amenity provided for public use. These equipments include a basketball hoop and a football net, which results in the usage of the site to mostly being sports based.

As the Sun is known for rising from the East and setting in the West, the recorded analysis of the sun path for the given site shows that the entirety of the park is bathed in sunlight throughout the day, except for the areas shaded by the natural vegetation occuring within the site. These shades provide a microclimate, providing a cool temperature for its users.

The prevalent wind path recorded at the site shows that its strongest point comes bearing from the South-Western direction of the site. This intricate detail must be taken into consideration during conceptual design phase so as to enable maximum natural ventilation to take place in and around the site.

DIVERSITY

Local Endangered Flora Reintroduced

The concept of a sanctuary essentially means a space of security, safety and wellbeing prosperity. This should be extended towards the environmental aspect of the design. Architecture should improve its surroundings, including its flora & fauna from an ecological standpoint. The design will reintroduce local floral species that are in decline in the area in an effort to boost local ecology diversity. This will also help local bee population increase and grow in safety.

A Green Break Away From The City

The site chosen for this project was a residential park not far from our very own University of Kent in the City of Canterbury. An architecturally historic city home to a Gothic marvel, the Canterbury Cathedral.

Highlighted in blue, the drawing below illustrates the location of the City Centre and the City walls in relation to the Univerity towards the North, and the site, shown below in Figure A; located right in between two highly focused points of human occupancy in the historic town.

Cafe / Restaurant

As a revenue stream generator, the cafe / restaurant serves as a steady income strategy for the sanctuary whilst providing a modern and ambient venue for customers and bypassers

Natural Ventilation

Fenestrations in the roof allow for the installation of skylights that can be mechanically adjusted to control ventilation throughout the space and maintain temperatures.

Solar Energy

Maintaining the Architecture's identity as a Sanctuary, solar panels are installed in order to save electrical costs and allow the building to be partly self sufficient.

Private Counseling

Private Counseling Spaces on the first floor to allow more privacy during counseling for those who should need it.

Natural Sunlight

Expansive use of glazing on the facade ensures maximum natural light entry into the space. This will save electricity costs needed for interior lights

Elevation / Partial Section

The drawing above illustrates the Front Elevation of the building, with a portion of a section drawn into it to depict the relationship between the interior and exterior. Imagine a section plane that extrudes inwards, goes across the building, then extrudes outwards again. Each portion of the building corresponds to a

unique function and form across the design. The Counseling Space adopts the shape of the treeline using gable shaped steel beams to create a stunning viewing angle at a high elevation. The cafe / restaurant space is finessed with nonstructural timber framed pergola to create a rustic, cozy vibe.

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01. Open Counseling Area (Mezzanine)

02. Private Counseling Spaces Area

03. Lavatories

04. Counselors’ Office

05. Independence Seminar Classes

06. Cafe Rooftop Garden

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This diagram shows the floor by floor axonometric of the design. Displayed on the lower lefthand corner is the landscaping strategy proposed for the brief. It is a publicly shared planting site for anyone to plant, to promote a horticultural awareness in the community.

Outdoor Landscaping Strategy

Horticulture / Leisure / Recreation

Independence seminars refer to classes that may deliver a range of independence related seminars. There are also private counseling spaces, reserved for individuals who require additional private counseling. A key objective was to stitch activities together to create a seamless experience for users to learn, explore, confide, and relax in within an expanded and interrelated realm. As for the building’s construction, structural beams and columns are utilised so as to create a lightweight structure. The exterior is sheathed using a cladding system of white colored clay bricks. All materials are locally sourced, and the building is selfsufficient in terms of energy.

A couple poses for a picture whilst taking a relaxing stroll across the verdant environment

Horticultural Therapy

The Gardening Therapy Wing and its neighbouring Hydroponic Gardening Atrium is located on the ground floor. As illustrated in the diagram above, users, botanists, and other enthusiasts may gather and contribute to a green and growing community. Shinrin-Yoku is a Japanese term that refers to the common practice of immersing oneself to an organic and green environment. This serves to reduce the mental stress a person feels.

The Sunny Sanctum

Serving as part of the main revenue generator for the centre is the cafe / restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a most serene and ambient setting. Adorned by the expansive garden situated in front of it, clients are greeted with a gorgeous verdant backdrop as they dine in peace.

Structural Axonometric

The crystal gable is designed to allow ample natural sunlight into the space, especially during the later hours of the day when the colors of the evening sky burn into the interior of the space. This section of the building will house the horticultural activities provided by the sanctuary as part of the wellbeing program, which aims to utilise botany for therapeutic means.

Private Counseling Space (PCS)

The "PCS" is constructed using a 3 x 3m lightweight steel frame, encased using soundproofed panels and timber cladding. Two sides of the cubical space is windowed to convey a sense of openness to its users whilst covering the remaining sides to maintain privacy.

// A SAFE SPACE FROM THE

CafeFront Green Leisure Space

Meet / Gather / Fraternise

The diagram on the right shows the short sectional perspective of the building. As displayed, the architecture employs a cross ventilation strategy facilitated through the use of strategic tree placement around the building’s landscape. A good placement that takes into account the direction of the prevailing wind may serve to influence and redirect large volumes of incoming air into the interior. The large pressure created by this tunneling effect pushes the air across the superstructure, with a large emphasis on the stack ventilation that takes place through and up into the mezzanine.

As air from the prevailing winds enter into the space, terrestrial and solar heat combined with thermal gains emanating from infrastructure operations causes the cold air to heat and rise up and out through the mechanical louvres in the glazing and back into the external environment, ensuring a constant airflow.

Several group of friends and couples meet for a relaxing day among greenery during a bright summer day

THE BUSTLING OF THE CITY

02.

Cafe Rooftop Timber Pergola

Crowned with a non-structural timber pergola, a semi-outdoor space is created for users to enjoy a cup of coffee whilst relishing in the outdoor breeze. From here, users are able to view far into the cityscape of the humble town with breathtaking views.

Sunwic Residence, Masterplanning

University of Kent, Collective Dwelling Module

Sandwich, Kent, England

Tutor : Felicity Atekpe

Solo Project 2019

Sandwich History

Unlike today’s River Stour, the river flowed into the midpoint of the channel at stourmouth. the calm inland waters made it a perfect shipping lane, carrying roman legions to londinium (Roman London) and Colchester.

3) Sandwich is a historic town and civil parish in the dover district of Kent, SE England. It lies on the River Stour and was one of the five cinque ports. The town still retains many of its original medieval buildings, including several listed public houses and gates in the old town walls, churches, and almshouses.

Sandwich have had a turbulent journey of fluctuous prosperity and hardship. The town, although care-free, is absent of exciting activities to entice youth or tourists, yet retains a humble and calming atmosphere.

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5) The port of Sandwich is historically important and well known for the imports of wine, fine textiles and fur from England’s few French territories into the country during the 13th CE. The port was also responsible for the imports and trades of various commodities from Western Europe, including a variety of sugar, fruit, cotton, silk, coral beads, salpetre, grain, fish etc.

During the 16th Century, the town’s population grew as Dutch Protestants fled to England after their persecution during the Spanish conquests of the Low Countries. Their influence on the town’s architecture can be seen in the Dutch gables on some of the buildings. Most prominently on the cupola on the tower of St Peter, which the Protestants helped rebuild after the earthquake of 1661.

Local Vernacular Study

15th Century Sandwich experienced much aesthetic and unique design styles in relation to the architectural landscape of Medieval Britain. In particular, the herringbone bricknogging, of which not only yields significant structural prowess and suitability for closespaced studs enclosures, but also serves to characterise the aesthetic quality of traditional English architecture.

Many buildings utilised Dutch bricks rather than the widely used and larger English bricks. The materials were sometimes imported, as early as the 15th Century, displaying Sandwich’s history of international commerce.

Sandwich Medical

Located in the heart of Sunwic Residence lies the home of dedicated medical practitioners who work tirelessly for the benefit and health of the cozy town’s residences.

Limiting Vehicular Traffic & Pollution Emission Rates

Originally, the site was of an empty carpark compound. To be developed as a housing project, the site must first be repopulated with shrubs, trees and various vegetation to encourage more shade and cooler environment so as to appeal to users.

The design begins with basic masses in wide spaces which travels along the edges of the site perimeter so as to adopt contextual shapes and maximise spatial utilisation.

Large Variant Ground Floor Unwind / Feed / Rest

As shown above, the first design 'Bighaus' features an open plan and generous space for dining in combination with the living space where the act of relaxation occurs. From the entrance, the user is guided through the simple yet cozy plan of the house, with careful placement of the relevant spaces in conjunction with the corridor. Through the living space, opens a full height glazed sliding door into the backyard. Further, the staircase leads into the First Floor where rest takes place.

Large Variant Ground Floor Interior showcasing the relationship between each domestic hospitable space / Kitchen / Dining / Living

The

it hosts an en-suite bath and a sectioned walk-in closet with a

The

measure at approximately just under 10 meter square each. Although these

do not come with private lavatories, each room has its own respective balcony with a large fenestration allowing plenty of natural light and provide a generous view for the user.

SERENITY / SOLITUDE 02.

Work Experience

Dc Architects, Johor Bahru, Malaysia (May 2023 - July 2024)

IZUMI Concepts, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (March 2021 - October 2022)

Data Centre (DC Architects) Sedenak Technology Park

Design and authored CAD drawings from Design Conceptual Stage to Construction Stage of Data Centre located at Sedenak Technology Park. As part of my Part 1 Work Experience at DC Architects at Johor Bahru, Malaysia, I prepared tender drawings of floor plans and typical details for authority submission and tender. I was the leading drafter and technical assistant of this project, under the express supervision of a Lead Architect and an AR Managing Director.

Visualisation of Front Entrance and Foyer of Data Centre at Sedenak Technology Park (Formerly KIDEX)

(DC Architects)

Horizon Hills

Golf & Country Club

High-End housing development of Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club at Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru District, Johor, Malaysia. Prepared Tender drawings and contributed to design development through multiple design stages.

Visualisation of Link Bungalow and Semi-Detached Units of Housing Development Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club

AVIAN (IZUMI Concepts) KLIA Departure Hall

Grab & Go Convenience Bakery kiosk at Departure Hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Freelance work consisting of conceptual design and development, floor plan drawings and specifications and technical details. 3D Visualisation and Project proposal. Site visits and overseeing construction.

Visualisation of Grab and Go Kiosk at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Hall