Others Structural Design and Analysis, Virtual Reality, Laser Cutting, Physical Model Making
X-Village
Transcend to the Ground
Cohabitation
The Horizontal Park
Operation "NINGEN"
#Residential
@Los Angeles, CA
P.6 - P.7
#Public Square @Kharkiv, Ukraine
#Collective Housing @Detroit, MI
#Ferry Office @Easdale, Scotland
#Farming System @Antarctica
Other Works
P.14 - P.19
P.20 - P.23
P.24 - P.29
X-Village LA
Transcend to the Ground
Kharkiv Freedom Square Revival
2024 Fall
Professional
Smartbuild Design LLC
Public Square
@Kharkiv, Ukraine
Role:
Design Concept
Digital Modeling
2D Drawings
#Rhino #Enscape
#Photoshop #Illustrator
A Square for the People
Without proper zoning, the vast expanse of Freedom Square fails to foster a safe, welcoming, and engaging public space for daily activities. To address this issue, we propose transforming the entire square into an elevated, pedestrian-only green space. This design incorporates underground parking to separate vehicle circulation from pedestrian areas, preserving the square’s beautiful urban landscape. We also introduce new urban furniture with integrated lighting features to support a variety of public activities, enhancing the identity and vibrancy of this renewed space.
2. Feature Landscaping & Performing Stage
4. Sunken Courtyard & Underground Entry
3. Urban Furniture & Permeable Pavement
1. Existing Plaza
5. Regional Administrative Building
Green Area
Site Layout
Connection & Continuity
The Regional Administration Building features a rigid spatial layout, and its current entrance is uninviting to citizens. To cultivate greater public engagement, a new underground passage has been introduced, enhancing the connection between Freedom Square and the building. At the entrance of this passage is "Vse Dlya Peremogy," a private organization dedicated to facilitating discussions about ongoing conflicts, which serves as the new entry point to the Regional Administration Building. Additionally, new public programs have been incorporated into the building, transforming the structure into a more accessible and inclusive space for the people.
Transparency & Openness
Transparency, openness, and the value of democracy are central to this project. With these principles in mind, two key strategies were implemented in the adaptive reuse of the Regional Administration Building. First, the main council chamber was relocated to the exterior courtyard on the first floor, integrated with the new landscape design to create a distinctive and accessible space. This transformation invites public participation and engagement with the activities held in the chamber. Second, part of the existing roof structure was replaced with glass panels and operable skylights. This not only brings abundant daylight into the top floor but also provides natural ventilation, effectively addressing summer heat.
Urban Furniture (Street Lights)
Pavilion
Sunken Garden (Underground Entry)
Skating Rink
Circular Ramp (Vse Dlya Peremogy Lobby)
Urban Furniture (Street Lights) Pavilion
Performing Stage
Feature Landscaping (Seating Area)
Existing Plaza
Underground Parking Lot
Permeable Paving (Rainwater Collection)
Sunken Garden (Underground Entry to Regional Administration Building)
Underground Passage (Public Gallery)
Photovoltaic (PV) Panels
Operable Sliding Skylights
Glass Panels
Standing Seam Metal Roof
Enhanced Lateral Bracing
Existing Wood Trusses
Opened Ceiling
Regional Administration Building - 6F
Regional Administration Building - Courtyard & Council Chamber
Cohabitation
Plaza of the Nest
Builders
2023 Winter Academic University of Michigan Collectives
Group Project with Yi Xia, Yinghe Yi
Instructors: Craig Borum
Claudia Wigger
Collective Housing
@Detroit, MI
Role: Design Concept
2D Drawings
Physical Model
#Rhino #Photoshop
#Illustrator #Model Making
An Inviting Community
The project is a collective housing project designed for the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. The housing complex features various unit types catering to the needs of different groups, including families, elders, and single residents. Beyond accommodating humans, the project also serves as a habitat for native and migrating birds throughout the year. With the aim of promoting engagement between humans and fostering a connection between humans and nature, the housing project incorporates adaptable spaces, green zones, and collaborative public programs.
The Community Plaza
Housing - Families
Housing - Elders
Diverse Residents
The massing strategy for this project prioritizes accessibility from both the riverside and the surrounding neighborhood. By tilting the building’s mass at diagonal angles, we ensured openness and connectivity on both sides of the site. The building footprint was kept minimal, creating a larger, continuous zone dedicated solely to gathering and public use. We want to design a neighborhood that accommodates not only humans but also provides habitats for native and migratory birds year-round. To achieve this, several tower structures are strategically scattered throughout the site, specifically designed as bird habitats. These towers incorporate modular boxes that serve as birdhouses, offering resting spaces for the visitors. While some towers are integrated into human circulation routes, others remain exclusively accessible to birds.
Flexible Units
The design of the housing units draws inspiration from our precedent studies including the Yokohama Residence and the Neppert Garden. We applied the idea of adaptable spaces in which people can decide whether to share their spaces with others or not. Our mechanics include sliding doors and rotating doors that can divide spaces in a flexible way for the residents to operate by themselves. Our facade system has two layers, including the inner HPL panel facade, and the outer wooden stripe facade that provide sufficient shading for the interior spaces. Our buildings mainly utilized the system of wood framing structure since we believe it suits the best with our design strategies and low rise buildings.
Concrete
The Horizontal Park Easdale Ferry Office
2024 Winter
Professional
Smartbuild Design
LLC
Role:
Design Concept
Digital Modeling
2D Drawings
Renderings
Ferry Office
@Easdale, Scotland
#Rhino #Lumion
#Photoshop #Illustrator
Blending in with Nature
A primary goal of the project is to achieve visual harmony with the coastal landscape, blending organically with the shoreline to minimize environmental impact. Therefore, the design draws inspiration from the traditional forms of the existing worker’s cottages and incorporates locally sourced stone materials. Additionally, the concept of a sunken plaza has been introduced as the public entrance to the new extension. This feature not only creates a seamless transition that invites the public but also ensures the building height remains consistent with the original ferry office.
Toilets & Shower
Laundry Machine
Information Desk
(Honesty Box & Defibrillator) 7. Sunken Plaza
Slipway
Playpark
Wheelbarrow Park
Community Hall
Gradient Transition
The fritted pattern on the glass facade of the extension takes inspiration from the stacking of slate stones, featuring a transparent gradient specifically designed to meet the varying privacy needs of each program. Additionally, the ground level of the interior spaces lowers gradually to ensure sufficient ceiling height throughout. In summary, the new ferry office embodies a sustainable architectural approach, harmonizing functionality and aesthetics to enhance both the island’s identity and the visitor experience.
Design Massing & Spatial Transition
Operation "NINGEN"
Bless from the Terra Incognita
2023 Fall
Academic
University of Michigan
Proposition
Instructor: Perry Kulper
Farming System
@Antarctica
#Rhino #V-Ray
#Photoshop #Illustrator
#Sketchfab #Midjourney
Research Stations in Antarctica
In response to the challenging environmental conditions in Antarctica, research stations from various countries have independently conducted experiments in indoor farming, implementing technologies such as hydroponics and aeroponics. These agricultural experiments serve as analogies to the possibilities of space agriculture. However, these stations have generated waste that, over time, begins to pollute the pristine land in the region, becoming a major environmental concern.
Operation 'NINGEN' is a resource-providing system designed to address the scarcity of accessible food crops for research stations situated in Antarctica, while exploring possible solutions to tackle pollution caused by human activity. Simultaneously, it investigates the potential to extend its resource provision on a global scale, representing the ultimate protocol for humanity's protection.
Chrono-Hybrids
To address these challenges, two types of motherships, the Pioneer and the Caregiver, have been created. Each is assigned a specific task, with the Pioneer engaging in agriculture production and the Caregiver focusing on trash recycling. Additionally, a curated list of navigating characters, known as 'chrono-hybrids,' has been developed as well. Residing in the motherships, these chrono-hybrids perform various daily tasks to support their respective motherships. Together, they form an imaginative ecosystem that interacts symbiotically with humans, facilitating the exchange of resources among them.
Agriculture & Trash Recycling
The motherships and the chrono-hybrids establish a circulation for various types of resources. The Pioneer produces agricultural crops, including tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuces, using indoor farming technology. These food resources are subsequently supplied to the research stations. Conversely, the Caregiver removes trash from the research stations in exchange. The recyclable plastics are then extracted from the waste, transformed into construction materials, and await delivery to the wider world.
A Research Facility
The operation also aims to capitalize on this opportunity by establishing a collective intelligence hub—a think tank that invites researchers worldwide to exchange valuable information on technology in indoor farming, self-supporting energy, and trash cleaning. Meanwhile, considerations for food preservation and resource management during apocalyptic situations are also taken into account. These objectives lead to the implementation of essential programs on the motherships, including the laboratory, the energy rooms, and the seed bank.
The Seed Bank
Tower Design Project
Academic / University of Michigan / Structure / 2022 Winter
Group Project with Yi Xia, Mitch Hodiono, Yutong Zhao
Instructor: Peter von Buelow
Role: Physical Model, Structural Calculations
#Model Making #Dr. Frame
Academic / University of Michigan / Construction / 2021 Fall
Instructor: Claudia Wigger
#Rhino #Illustrator
Holy Rosary Church Complex (Case Study)
US Embassy in Iraq (1955) (Case Study)
Academic / University of Michigan / Institution / 2022 Fall Instructor: Julia McMorrough #Rhino #Photoshop #Illustrator
Go Light! Academic / University of Michigan / Fabrication / 2023 Winter
