Eric Liyu Portfolio 2025

Eric Liyu’s Portfolio.

Master of Architecture Graduate

Selected works leading to 2025

Contents

1 Master Thesis Project Post Postal

7 Commercial Design KFC Development

11 Residential Design Garage conversion

About me

Hi there!

I am a Master of Architecture graduate dedicated to advancing my career in design and developing a broader knowledge of the technical built environment. Beyond the finished product, I am deeply interested in the design process - understanding how form and function emerge through both thoughtful decision-making and the ability to understand the technical side of construction. My approach is rooted in analyzing the surrounding context to create designs that are both responsive and client-focused. I’ve got skills in technical details, software, design, and public relations, and I intend to apply these skills while learning and developing them to help better myself and add value to any place I work. My primary interest lies in adaptive reuse architecture, where I embrace the challenge of transforming existing structures to serve new purposes while preserving their architectural integrity.

Relevant skills

15 Furniture Design Stool Design

- Archicad - Sketchup - Twinmotion - Adobe Photoshop - Adobe Illustrator - Adobe InDesign - Adobe Lightroom - AutoCAD - Model Making - Revit

Work experience - Researching / Essay writing - Photography - Matterport Scanner - Microsoft Word - Microsoft PowerPoint - Microsoft Excel - Google Docs - Google Slides

August 2023 – March 2024 Architectural Graduate Mortlock McElroy Architects April 2023 – August 2023 3D Scanner Contract ARCLAB July 2021 – December 2022 Architectural Intern JDA Studio Ltd (formerly John D’Anvers Architects)

Master Thesis Project Post Postal

Enhancing the surrounding community through adaptive reuse

1

Skills Applied

- ArchiCAD - Sketchup - Twinmotion - Model Making - Adobe Photoshop - Adobe Illustrator

- Adobe Illustrator - Adobe Indesign - Sketches - Word / Mendelay - Power Point - Indesign

2

Master Thesis Project: Post Postal

My thesis aims to conserve two existing buildings that have served the local community of Birkenhead. What made the challenge unique was that while one building was abandoned, the other was still used as a telephone exchange. Furthermore, as a context-based project, the new implementation should respond to the needs of the Birkenhead community.

3

Enhancing the surrounding community through adaptive reuse

The proposal is to convert the structure into a community space, where it can be hired for specific events for the unique communities of Birkenhead. At its base core, it will remain a co-working space, with a cafe/eatery in front of the post office. The critical point of this project is to produce a ‘third space’ for Birkenhead and to unify the various communities in the suburb. The interventions consist of gutting the interior but retaining the external structure, so in the event of a programme change, the structure can remain intact without any drastic changes.

Above: Front perspective of both structures at night.

Master Thesis Project: Post Postal

In addition to the community space, additional apartments have also been constructed on top of the chosen site.

While the apartment ‘pods’ position provides luxury-level views of the Auckland CBD, its primary goal is to provide housing for the growing population of Birkenhead. These pods are modular by design, as they are built offshore and can be implemented in other locations that face similar housing issues. Furthermore, they can also be removed from its premises without altering the original forms of the existing buildings.

Enhancing the surrounding community through adaptive reuse

Above: Rear persective of the telephone exchange.

4

Master Thesis Project: Post Postal

Enhancing the surrounding community through adaptive reuse 30

25

30

28

21

14

22

22

23

15

1

4

28

27

13

27

23

8

12 30

8

8 3 3

2

2

17

11

19

Second Floor

4 9

10 3

30

9

3

1

30

5

7

30

16 6

21

24

6 26 8

26

29 29

29

26

24

25

18 30

Third Floor

8

5

Basement

8

Ground Floor

N

Proposed Floorplan

Master Thesis Project: Post Postal

LEGEND: 1. Service Access 2. Changing Room 3. Toilet 4. Storage 5. Gym (leased) 6. Co-Working* 7. Kitchenette 8. Lift Shaft 9. Unisex Toilet 10. Kitchen - Diner 11. Cafe/Eatery 12. Outdoor Eatery 13. Open Courtyard 14. Storage Platform 15. Private Threshold*

16. Adaptable space* 17. Temporary storage 18. Vault - museum* 19. Alley - main thresh.

20. Service Room 21. Living Room 22. Kitchen - housing 23. Dining room 24.Master Bedroom 25. Bedroom 26. Ensuite 27. Water Closet 28. Laundry 29. Walk-in closet 30. Decking

Enhancing the surrounding community through adaptive reuse

Above: Cross section of the post office.

Right: Apartment pods development.

Note: Areas that are marked with * are adaptable spaces.

6

Commercial Design Mortlock McElroy Architects KFC Deisgn

Producing a commercial fast food space for a global brand

7

Skills Applied

- ArchiCAD - Photoshop

- Building consent documentation - Detail Deisgn

8

Commercial Design: Mortlock McElroy Architects KFC Design

Producing a commercial fast food space for a global brand

Birkenhead KFC

Mortlock McElroy LTD are the architects behind KFC stores around New Zealand. To improve efficiency, most current designs within the country are derived from a specific project, dubbed ‘Standard Store’. This base design is then altered to fit the particular site chosen for a new KFC. The projects that I have been involved with includes but are not limited to Birkenhead, East Tamaki, Kaiapoi and Massey Road KFC’s, which are all derived from the Standard Store. My involvement around these projects can range within the building consent documentation, from detail drawing, to site layouts for the speaker station or garden. All details were drawn using AutoCAD.

EXIT

EXIT

P

P

EXIT

L

L

L

L

R

P

P

EXIT EXIT EXIT

R EXIT

R

Reflected Ceiling Plan 9

Interior Bracing Detail

Interior Wall Bracing Detail

Commercial Design: Mortlock McElroy Architects KFC Design

Equipment Plan

Sliding Door Detail - Section

Producing a commercial fast food space for a global brand

Section Drawing

Sliding Door Detail - Plan

Main Counter - Section

Main Counter - Plan 10

Residential Design JDA Studio Garage Conversion

Converting an existing garage into a multipurpose living space

11

Skills Applied

- ArchiCAD - Twinmotion - Photoshop - Detail drawing

- Design development - Client communication - Product sourcing - Building consent documentation

12

Residential Design: JDA Studio Garage Conversion

Converting an existing garage into a multipurpose living space

EXISTING WALLS & ASSOC JOINERY PROPOSED TIMBER NON LOADBEARING WALLS & ASSOC JOINERY

B-B

C-C

PROPOSED FLOOR PLAN LEGEND:

1

VB WC SH ST

VANITY BASIN (PLUMBED FIXTURE) TOILET (PLUMBED FIXTURE) SHOWER (PLUMBED FIXTURE) STORAGE / SHELVING

CT

COOK TOP / OVEN (HARDWIRED)

F HWC

FRIDGE HOT WATER CYLINDER (ensure safety tray & eq bracing to cylinder to G12/AS1)

WD

WARDROBE STORAGE SPACE

W&D

WASHER & DRYER (PLUMBED FIXTURE)

TUB LDY

LAUNDRY TUB (PLUMBED FIXTURE) LAUNDRY AREA (WET AREAS TO E3/AS1)

PTY SK

PANTRY SINK (PLUMBED FIXTURE)

PROPOSED CONC BLK WALL

6,690

6,310 190

1,010

-EJ02

EJ01

WC

GARAGE

90 cos

SL

910

D 2,440

W CP

SILL 0 100 0 0 100 100 100 0 0 850 1200 0 0

EXPOSURE:

9 08

EJ06

EJ05

EJ07

6 08

WC

FL 15.080 810

BED 3 HALL

Make Good 810

VB

Ex. J

allow new fixtures

01 -

Boundary

1

EJ10

SL

2

3

4

FL 15.080 Ex. slab

5

New Concrete Steps

WALL MATERIAL: LOWER - REINFORCED CONC BLOCK WITH TEXTURED PAINT FINSH (RESITEX / X200) (REFER EXISTING PLANS)

DINING

4

Ex. J

ENTRY

ex. timber tgv

EJ11

Stairs

Ex. J

DINING

1 :5 0

hir

1,621 3,181 cos

Ex. J

F.F.L. 15.080

up

EXISTING HOUSE

ex. timber tgv

FL. Upper 17.880

Fireplace Conc block wall

Ex. J

CH 2400

Entry EJ02

GFL Garage 14.140

LIVING FL 15.080

EJ13*

EJ09

12a Roxy Design June 2021 - E edit

GFL Lower 14.680

FL 14.680

up

ex. timber tgv

step

GM

DP

FL

LIVING

Ex. J

GFL Upper 15.080

ROOF MATERIAL: METAL ROOF - TRUE OAK CORRUGATED (ZINCALUME) COLORSTEEL ROOFING ON PURLINS (REFER KEYNOTES & SPEC)

3

Propos ed Ground Floor

300

Decorative Vert Timber Batten screen over conc block as spec & detailed

2

UP

hr

UP

FL 14.25

Plan

Metal profiled colorsteel roofing behind as spec & detailed

Exist RTW

'C' MED

Louvre Pergola - not part of consent

1

B 6,140

TOW +3700 COS Match exist fascia

Make Good

ex. timber tgv

SHR

New Door covered entry

1750 cos

A

Ex. J

New Opening

Make Good

EJ04

Door

90

CD

BATH

KEY NOTE NOMINATING SIZE / TYPE (REFER KEY NOTE LEGEND)

MED

Glazing area 4.9m2 (> 10% of Floor Area)

EJ12

BTHRM

SECTION / ELEVATION LEGEND

GENERAL NOTES :

Decorative Vert Timber battens as spec / detailed

1 08

1,790

FL 14.14

LAUNDRY

LT 190

B

ALL JOINERY SIZES TO BE CONFIRMED ON SITE PRIOR TO ORDERING & MANF.

WIND ZONE:

FW

27.71m2

New Opening

BED 2

Make Good refer Struc Eng conc block spec

Tile

Louvre Pergola - not part of consent

Ex. J

Close in Exist openings

B-B

HEIGHT 2200 2100 2200 2200 2100 2100 2100 2100 2200 2150 1800 2200 2700

New Non L/B Non Bracing Timber stud partiton walls (shown dark) as spec.

SL

EJ03

DN

SA

MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM

Tile

Concealed sectional door (5.4m w)

Sizes are in (mm) u.n.o DOOR CODES: sw - Swing Door as shown st - Stacker Door as shown scs - Solid core ecteral grage timber door - allow leaf / stile/ rail grade & thickness to accomodate decorative timber battens fixed across leaf sl - Sidelight full height to match door height & width as noted ol - Overlight width to match door width & height as noted gs - Garage Sectional Door

KEY NOTE

860

HWS

10 08 WIDTH 810 600 5400 810 600 600 600 1400 1100 1000 1000 810 1400

CB

C-C

TYPE DOOR (sw) WINDOW DOOR (gs) DOOR (sw, scs) WINDOW WINDOW WINDOW DOOR (sw) WINDOW WINDOW WINDOW DOOR (sw) DOOR (sw, ol-300)

SL

tb

ID EJ01 EJ02 EJ03 EJ04 EJ05 EJ06 EJ07 EJ08 EJ09 EJ10 EJ11 EJ12 EJ13

Steps

MB

Tile

90

EXTERNAL JOINERY SCHEDULE

New Opening

860

N

A-A

CD

Tile

FLOOR LEVELS : FL - STRUCTURAL LEVEL AS NOTED (EG TOP OF CONC. SLAB) RL - REDUCED LEVEL AS NOTED ALL DRAWINGS TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL SPECIFICATION & ANY REFER ALSO RELEVANT CONSULTANTS & MANUFACTURERs SPECIFICATIONS. ALL PLUMBING AND DRAINAGE TO AS 3500.

EXTENT OF UNDERFLOOR / DUCTED HEATING TBC WITH CONTRACTOR & PRINCIPAL PRIOR TO INSTALLATION, ALL APPLIANCES & FIXTURES TO BE CONFIRMED WTH CLIENT PRIOR TO PURCHASE / INSTALLATION

Door

BATHRM / ENS

New Conc New Opening Slab - Refer Slab & Foundation plan & details

5800

EXISTING SKY LIGHT - REPLACE WITH NEW IGU UNIT

6180

SL

GENERAL NOTES :

VB

SL

ex.CP

Exist Ext Block Walls

SK

HTR

2,700

190

New Ext Conc Block Walls (shown dark / hatched)

37.43m2

SMOKE ALARM TO F7/AS1

190

910

190 cos

cos

A-A

EXTRACTOR FAN TO EXTERIOR

4,240

fall 1:80 SHR

Door

DP

A

EF

90

Boundary Existing Retaining wall

SA

1,600

EJ13

PROPOSED POST AS SCHEDULED

EJ08

P_

frosted

PROPOSED BEAM LINTEL AS SCHEDULED

EJ09

L/B_

3

2

DP 01 -

SK

Ex. J

Elevat ion

KITCHEN

Propos ed S out h W es t

timber tgv

Ex. J 2

1

UPPER - TRUE OAK CORRUGATED (ZINCALUME) COLORSTEEL CLADDING OVER CONC BLOCK & TIMBER FRAMING AS SCHEDULED

3

Pty

Existing Roof

EXISTING HOUSE

FRAMING : ALL TIMBER FRAMING TO BE TREATED MIN H 1.2 TREATED, SG TO MIN SG8 - NON ENGINEERED SIZING / SPACING FROM NZS 3604:2011

6,690

Ex. J

6,310

DP

F

Existing Roof

FIXINGS : ALL EXPOSED EXTERNAL FIXINGS TO BE 316 GRADE S/S

TOW +3700 COS Match exist fascia

INSULATION : ALL EXTERNAL WALLS & ROOF FORMING THE THERMAL ENVELOPE TO BE INSULATED AS PER H1 REQUIREMENTS REFER ALSO SPECIFICATION

Concealed Garador sectional Garage Door

Decorative Vert Timber Batten screen over conc block as spec & detailed

Parapet wall behind

EJ03

Metal profiled colorsteel roofing behind as spec & detailed

EJ04

FL Upper 17.880

EJ05

EJ10 EJ06

EJ11

EJ07 GFL Upper 15.080 GFL Lower 14.680

FL

2 -

NEW DP

DP

Elevat ion Propos ed S out h Eas t

Floorplan and elevations 13

Residential Design: JDA Studio Garage Conversion

Converting an existing garage into a multipurpose living space

Main driveway elevation

3

Existing Roof 2 09

EXISTING HOUSE

150

mm

A

3.

S ect ion

Lining

Trimmer/Header

Perimeter trimout frame

New Conc Blk wall

Demo ext Slab - New Conc Slab as scheduled

S ect ion A -A

Existing Footing TBC

Flashing Support Batten

New Footing as scheduled

30-60 mm

Metal cap flashing to match roofing at 5o fall - DPC between conc & metal

p/c alum flashing chase & seal to block

BASIS OF DESIGN: VELUX Fixed Skylight (FS)

12mm ply

30-60 mm

Abodo RSC adjustable clip screen rail 12m epdm packer / washer @ fixing points

EDW-flashing gutter Mounting bracket

Underlayment

To suit opening

Tight joint between finish groove and finish material

Roof Structure

SECTION B-B

Abodo metal end cap

Solid Packer dpc between packer & conc

2 -

Det ail Garage door head

3 -

Det ail Parapet t op end s ect ion

Conc block with Resene X200 weathertight finish system

100 x 200 x 6 galv angle head

8mm mushroom bolt 3mm mohair seal packing to suit

Apron flashing to match roofing - chase & seal to conc

Abodo Vulcan Timber Decorative Screening

Turn up roof ends & underlay

garador door frame - use reinforcing rails @ screen fixing lines

Lining

Insulation

Conc block with Resene X200 weathertight finish system

Fall

70

Abodo Vulcan Timber Decorative Screening

1.

Flashing support

Finish material

8 08

New Footing

S2 02

1 :5 0

Fall

ELEVATION

Lining

Perimeter trimout frame

FL 14.14

New Conc Slab

3.

VELUX Skylight installed in new metal roofing.

1. The sheets are fitted 100 mm from the bottom frame 2. The flashing is mounted 3. Fit the metal sheets

Underlayment

Insulation

GARAGE

N

1.

SECTION A-A

BATHRM / ENS

A

2.

Roof Batten

TOW +3700 cos

Decorative Vert Timber Batten screen over conc block as spec & detailed

B B

Roof Structure

Parapet wall

Existing Conc Blk wall

Tile Flooring

G.L.

mm

EDW Bottom Flashing

3 09

Roof framing as scheduled

New profiled metal Roofing at 4º Pitch

EDW Head Flashing

1 :5 BASIS OF DESIGN: VELUX Fixed Skylight (FS)

100

New Skylight

New timber framed wall

13 08

Underlayment 60-

1 09

Parapet wall beyond

MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM

01 Det ail

6,690

Existing Conc Blk wall

Existing Footing TBC

S ky light s ect ions

1

6,310

The clients want to provide extra living quarters for temporary living. The space had to offer the necessary amenities to be self-sufficient from the main house while retaining a double garage space. The room could also be rearranged for other uses if it is not used as a living space. Based on the client’s wishes, the extension is wrapped with vertical timber battens, which would mask the garage opening and hide the windows. Furthermore, the cladding would extend to the front door, accentuating the entry.

1 -

2

METALCRAFT KAHU™ ROOFING

garador guide & track garador concealed door

200

Self supporting underlay as spec Framing as scheduled

14

Furniture Design Stool Design

Designing and constructing a stool made from wood

15

Skills Applied

- Design development - Wood crafting

- Workshop

16

Furniture Design: Stool Design

Designing and constructing a stool made from wood

Design Process is an elective hosted by David Chaplin that teaches the fundamentals of design development. In the class, we were tasked with designing a wooden stool, which we had to construct ourselves. Documenting our stages of construction, we had to follow the design process guidelines established by Christopher Alexander in his book ‘Nature of Order.’

17

Dubbed ‘Model 03’ as the third piece of furniture I’ve designed, I was heavily inspired by Alvar Aalto’s stool 60. Much like his design, I emphasised lightness, simplistic forms, and ease of construction. Utilising only three legs rather than four added to the simplistic nature of the design, as that was the bare minimum of how many legs were needed to support a person. Furthermore, removing a fourth reduces weight and makes it much easier to carry. While the original concept required the legs to be made from a single bent piece, the design is revised to consist of four pieces interlocked with a dowel threaded through. The ‘V’ shaped legs also emphasized strength within the footings and a focus on the centre of the stool.

Furniture Design: Stool Design

Designing and constructing a stool made from wood

While we were fortunate to utilise all the tools in the workshop, the materials had to be sourced ourselves. This challenge emphasised cost efficiency, requiring my design to be as simple as possible. Luckily, I found spare materials within the workshop to produce my stool.

To produce my design, I had to utilise the university workshop. A number of tools were utilised to cut tits individual pieces, which were later sanded to be handled for general use.

18

Thanks for checking out my portfolio For more information, please do not hesitate to reach me

Email: eric.liyu.el@gmail.com Ph: (+64) 21 054 5593