apply for the university of Edinburgh, Architectural and Urban Design - MSc

P O R T F O L I O M A A P P L I C A N T F O R UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH C 2

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U N I V E R S I T Y

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

chenjie2096@gmail.com +86 13777806108 Fengqing road 750,Gongshu District,Hangzhou,China

PERSONAL STATEMENT During my undergraduate studies in Zhejiang University, as a landscape student, I have taken some courses which stimulated my turning to architectural and urban design. In one of them, Contemporary Architecture Cognition, I explored one of the most populated communities in Hangzhou with my partners, in which most of residents were migrant workers. We analyzed their daily activities and social behavior through their daily objects and scenes so as to understand the their living condition against the social reality, which made me realize the vast difference between the individual and the whole under the context of urbanization. In Seminars in Urban and Rural Planning and Design, I worked in group to study a village called Jiulian Village in Hangzhou, which was a typical example of the phenomena of village-in-city under the rapid urbanization in China. We analyzed how the self-help construction happened and was affected by the living situation and local policy. During the studies, I came to realize that the make of architecture and even landscape could not be separated from the urban circumstance, which was a giant organism. In order to form a complex understanding of the city and work for a better city environment for human co-existence, I decided to further my study in architectural and urban design at graduate level.

With my academic background in landscape, I have developed a realistic attitude towards the context and always pay attention to the relation between the design and site in the scale of urban. As showed in my portfolio, after studying the unique phenomena of village-in-city under the rapid urbanization in China, I have tried to propose a design responding to the lack of public space in the Jiulian village. Sensitive to the topic of overpopulation in metropolis, I proposed a research-oriented design in Beijing, in which a physical model was generated to relief the shortage of living space in the most populated area. All of these demonstrate my interest in real challenge of urban environment and my ability to design by research and make me feel qualified and suitable for the programme which attaches great importance to developing contemporary urban contexts through analysis, research and experimentation. In turns, in the program, the intense fieldwork and the chase of articulation in the design can help me get more prepared for future career.

I regard architecture as a way of observing and narrating the complex reality through redefining its limits with other forms of knowledge. So I present my interest in trans-disciplinary practise by my final project in my portfolio, in which I studied and analyzed the spatial structure of one ancient painting and used the anti-perspective scenes of the painting to design a cultural pavilion. I believe that I can get benefit from the encouraged trans-disciplinary exchange in this programme so that I can develop varies methods and sharpen my skills to handle different and complex contexts as an architect in future.

Overall, for me, your program not only matches my academic interests, but also represents the cornerstone of my pre-professional growth.

Chen Jie 19/09/1996 310000 Hangzhou Tel：+86 13777806108 E-mail：chenjie2096@gmail.com Jinjiadu Road, Qinqin Apartment2, Cuiweifang1-1-201 ,Hangzhou ,China

EDUCATION / 2014-2018

Landscape gardening | Zhejiang University, China GPA:3.58/4

2011-2014

Hangzhou No.2 High School of Zhejiang Province Science class

EXPERIENCES and ACTIVITIES / 2018 Studio qi, Hangzhou, China- 2 months Assistant designer 2016 Student Landscape Design Contest in Zhejiang Province First prize of group work Concept design Drawing and Layout 2015 ZJU Art Union , Shuizhaoxi Organization of weekly reading conferences and film festivals 2014 Federation of Student Associations of Zhejiang University, the media center Reportage and popularization of university events and students’ activities 2014 The twenty-first San Hao Bei volleyball match First team prize

SKILLS /

Interests / Rhinoceros

Literature

GrassHopper

Photography

Autocad SketchUp

Sports

V-Ray Q-GIS Photoshop

Thank you for considering my application, and I am looking forward for a reply.

Traveling

Illustrator InDesign

Suite Office

Languages / French_DELF B2 English_IELTS 7.5 Chinese_Native

What kind of gaze can we throw at what exists in the site?

The gaze in Jérôme Bosch's “L'escamoteur”.

GAZE· 凝视

CONTENT

01

02

Objecthood

Lost and Choice

Housing Complex

Meditation Centre

DENSITY

CIRCULATION

1-5

6-9

“So I rhyme.

To see myself, to set the darkness echoing.”

---<Personal Helicon> Seamus Heaney Seamus Heaney's poetry was a echo chamber, a place where he listened and watched, gathering the "sound of sense" in a discrete and physical manner, amplifying his own voice by rhymes, working on countless linguistic and symbolic levels.

For me, the architect also rhyme, not by the form of words but by the form of elements of architecture. I regard architecture as a way of observing and narrating the complex reality through redefining its limits with other forms of knowledge, including personal experience and interests. The process of making architecture is translating immeasurable to measurable by manipulating architectural elements and forms based on the context. The obscure mission is to read and find the clues lying in the site, and to make a reflection of the unspeakable reality, a report of some hiding facts, a transformation of time and space, thus making the dark void echoing.

Reflecting how I observed the site and its context in a certain way, this book is a series of my projects each of which can be summarized by a word always discussed in architectural field.

03

04

Garden of Circles

In and Out

Cultural Pavilion

Youth Appartment

RELATIONSHIP

ORIENTATION

10-13

14-18

01 Objecthood Housing Complex

Academic work Competition Individual Work Size：10000m2 Location:Beijing, CHINA Instructeur: Wang Liang Duration：2017.11-2018.1

The shape is the object: at any rate, what secures the wholeness of the object is the singleness of the shape.

——Michael Fried, “Art and Objecthood” Shape can be seen as a fundamental property of objects, while objecthood can also be seen as an important characteristic of architecture.The variety of shape or in other words 'form' in field of architecture holds profound capacity capacity to the activities of commerce, arts, production and lives. On this regard, to support a dense living situation in the same building, the design proposed a fusion of shapes as physical model to hold all that activities that may happen in a metropolis. Besides, the probelm-oriented project started with a mapping study of Beijing in order to find the exact place for this project as a respond to the land shortage issuu.

The gaze at the density.

1

Problem Finding Through Mapping| High Density Living Situation in Beijing The design begins with the study of Beijing. In the beginning, map the situations of density in three dimensions, then focus on the evolution of the architectural scales in Beijing, all of these highlighting the emerging problem of land use scarcity, espesically in the sihuan area. So, I decided to propose a design in sihuan area.

The second part of study focus on the most populated area (sihuan), by observing the urban fabric, the project proposed an hypothesis to combining different infrastructures in the same building on the main road.

To fulfill this proposal, namely generate a architectural model for the density issue in Beijing, the project continue to the theoretical level to find the inspiration. population density

transport density

business density

2

Towards the objecthood

Site and Logic of the Urban Fabric | Grids, Objects and Types

typical grids

FACT The existing urban fabric as a legacy of lifang policy in the city of Beijing.

Market Hotel Business building

Hotel Shopping center Sports center

Opera

Government Bank

Cultural Center

architectural objects as types

OBSERVATION Different infrastructures lie along the main traffic route, while the residential area is around.

Galaxy soho

Traffic roundabout

Sihuan road

Hybrid of grids and types

HYPOTHESIS A building contains different functions and infrastructures as a respond to the urgent use of land.

The shape is the object: at any rate, what secures the wholeness of the object is the singleness of the shape.

——Fried, “Art and Objecthood”

3

Verical Section | Publicity and Flexibility

+30.5

+35.4

residantial area: for multi-person households

residantial area: single-person house unit

business area

+110.2

cultural centre： library, conference, exhibition, cafe

media centre： cinema, theatre, sports, activity

+120.6

shopping centre： shops, restaurants, supermarket

+170.8

+164.3

4

Residential Area

Arrange different housing unit types with identified modular and make each unit have a side facing the sunlight.

5

02 Lost and Choice Meditation Centre

Academic Project 2th year studio Individual Work Size：256m2 Location: Shanghai, CHINA Instructeur: Prof. Yun Zhang Duration：2016.3-2016.4

Phantom Landscape I - No. 1 60 × 120 cm, Giclee print Yang yongliang

Unlike most temples in China that hide in mountains, the Jingan Temple is located in the most prosperous area in Shanghai, standing in the cement forest with business towers. To translate this manifestation of the old against the new, the design was proposed as a mirror to signify the state of resistance of the oldtime architecture in the modern city. The another attempt was to develop a new possibility for religious architecture by referring the traditional architecture.

The gaze at the circulation.

6

Analysis and Transformation | Facade Rhyme and Spatial Disposition of Jingan Temple

7

+ 2.0

+5.6

+7.6

+ 10.8

+12.8

+15.8

+ 17.2

+18.8

+23

8

Circulation | Branch Routes Generate Hybride Walking Systems

According to the structure of this project, the traffic system can be divided into two types, between which there is a third hybrid type. The orientation is chosen and decided by the visitors themselves, while time and space elongate in the process of unceasing choosing.

9

03 Garden of Loops Cultural Pavilion Design

Academic Work Undergraduate thesis Individual Work Size：3000m2 Location: Hangzhou, CHINA Instructeur: Prof. Yun Zhang Duration：2017.12-2018.6

The site is long and narrow, located before the Zhejiang Cultural Museum. The starting point is proposing a landscape design that can be seen as an architectural extension of the museum and provide space for people to embrace cultural life in open air. Motivated by the subtle relationship between landscape paintings and landscape gardens, a metaphorical and narrative approach is adopt to represent the spatial sequence in a landscape painting called “The Eighteen Scholars” in the design. The study on the structure of the painting in the perspective of architecture takes precedence on design itself, and gives cultural origins to this pavilion and make it a space for people to participate in public life.

The gaze at the relationship.

10

Theory | Shared Philosophy of Chinese Landscape Paintings and Gardens

Site and Concept | Landscape Painting as Inspiration, Architectural Perspective

Xixi Wetland West Lake

SITE

Qiantang River

An Old Chinese Garden : A Three-fold Masterpiece of Poetry, Calligraphy and Painting

Xiaofeihong, Zhuozheng Garden, Suzhou.

Both Chinese landscape paintings and gardens are dedicate recomposition of nature, and the combination of obscure reality and fabulous imagination, which also represent the spiritual life of the author. To be more specific, the mutual relationship between the two bases on the geometry and narrative of natural form, they are each others' inspiration.

In the past, landscape paintings can be considered as an old form of design drawings, describing the whole layout and the accurate details of the garden design by using ancient drawing systems.

The vision on paper sometimes has to be artificially narrowed, but somehow it managed to carry the very information of the sophisticated design and even add more possibilities to the reading and constructing of the space.

Inspired by the subtle relationship between Chinese landscape paintings and historical garden design, a contemporary representation is made in the pavilion design. After studying on the cultural backgrounds and the spatial structure of the painting in the perspective of architecture, I came to see a long-size painting called â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Eighteen Scholarsâ&#x20AC;? which describes certain cultural events and activities as a good parallel matching the context of the project.

11

Form Generation| A representation of the Structure and Inner Relationships of the Drawing

Loops of Activities | Embrace the Cultural Life in Open Air

the original painting: "the eighteen bachelors"

entertainment plan of humain relationships

sharing

hiding

communication

plan of imagination

winding figures of space

encounter

relax

observation

figures of movement

typology of activities

As the landscape painting presents, some space is folded by narrowed views or is covered by landscape and clouds, so the reading of the overall space contains lots of possibilities. To present this uncertainty, in this design, curved walls are combined together to form loops of routines for people to explore the sequenced space and join in different activities so as to find his own reading of space.

12

Collage of Views | An Abstract Representation of the flowing movement in the Space

There is no fixed perspective in Chinese landscape paintings, instead, altered perspectives collage different space and moments together. In this way, painters mix all visual information and wait for observers to process the painting with a moving eye. Inspired by David Hockney's "photographic collages", a grid-like composition of views is made to present the graphic relationships between the painting and the design, and the flowing movement in the space.

13

04 IN and OUT Youth Appartment

Academic Work 4th year studio Individual Work Sizeďź&#x161;512m2 Location: Hangzhou, CHINA Instructeur: Yuting Xie Durationďź&#x161;2017.9-2017.11

"Spacing means clearing the land, opening, setting free into a free area, an opening. In so far as space spaces, space gives a free area, with which it affords the possibility of surroundings, of nearness and farness, of directions and boundaries, of distances and magnitudes".

------ Martin Heidegger This project was in the context of Urban Village phenomena in China. The project responded to the existing problems of the site - lack of public space, simplified use of space - by opening the ground floor and combining living space and public space together. The public spaces on each floor are twisted a quarter turn and connected by a huge spiral staircase hanging on the facade, so as to attract local people. In addition, all floors are connected by a double spiral staircase, which forms the core of the building and provides space for indoor social activities for the people who live there.

The gaze at the orientation.

14

Site | Maximum and Unified Use of Space, Lost of Orientation

From Phenomenom to Strategy | the Compatibility of Private and Public Life

The site is located in Jiulianzhuang village, Xihu District, Hangzhou, China. Jiulianzhuang used to be in the countryside, the villagers farmed on the land but with the development of urbanization and the relocation policy, they Shanghai Hangzhou

SITE

lost their cultivated land and a large number of unified houses were built by government for them. The new village is identified with

Hangzhou Bay

the fully use of space, but results in the lost

The village in the past.

Grid and box, effective but monotonous method towards urbanism.

Shared situation: closed space on the ground floor, and a loss of public life.

Site, next to the main street, more chance to activate this community.

Purpose: Create public space on the ground floor

Development: Vertical penetration of the public space.

Spiral stairsďź&#x161;Two types of transportation

Cleavage of space: The extension of private space towards the terrace.

The public and private terraces on the facade.

of orientation, as well as the simplification of space and the loss of public life.

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ain

ro

ad

Unified housing for relocation

Crowded streets with limited public space

Jiulianzhuang lacks urban public functions and, according to the survey, a large number of houses are rented to young people and students. Based on these two points, I proposed an apartment providing housing for young students and public space for the community in order to bring vitality to the community.

Site plan

15

A

B

ground floor A

1st floor

B

2nd floor

3rd floor

4th floor

5th floor

16

SECTION A-A

SECTION B-B

ELEVATION SOUTH

17

18

- Professional Projects Studio Qi Hangzhou 2018

- ATR-STAY : Nine House Youth Hotel Xitang

technical drawings /

- PUJIANG ¡ SUJI Resort Hotel Shanghai

analysis drawings /

- SONGZAN ¡ SHANJUResort Hotel Tibet

organization of text for presentation / design improvement /

/ analysis of form generation

/ conceptual drawings

/ planning strategies

/ conceptual drawings

- NO.8Public toilet Suzhou

landscaping / technical drawings/ analysis drawings / design proposal /

Government Organied Project for City Appearance

2

1

3

5

4

6

1. Manage Room 2. Cleaning Room 3. Tool Room 4. Unisex Toilet 5. Men's Toilet 6. Women's Toilet

/ strategies for privacy

+3.800 +3.200

+2.000

+0.800

+0.000

/ strategies for publicity +3.200

+3.200

+1.650

/ perspectives

+0.000