Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio

Robin Yuwono Architecture Undergraduate Portfolio University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Gregory

3rd Year Semester A Final Project

Retrofit Building Design

The brief is focused on the University of Hertfordshire’s Old Science Block building. The university is seeking to renovate the building, whilst maintaining the majority of the existing structure, updating its standards and giving it a fresh face. The university is searching for a more creative approach to learning and room design.

2nd Year Semester B Design Studio

Sustainable Residential Housing Design

The brief is focused on the development of a sustainable housing block on a site within the urban fabric of Hatfield. Students are to come up with a sustainable strategy for the housing whilst taking into consideration the character of Hatfield’s urban area.

2nd Year Semester A Design Studio

Community Museum Extension Design

The brief is focused on the expansion of the Courtyard Arts, a local community museum situated in Hertford. Hertford in itself, played a major role in early paper-making industry in the UK. The extension will be based on paper as a material and its unique properties as the main inspiration.

2nd Year Semester A Design Skills

Interactive Pavilion Design

The brief is focused on the design methodology to create a built form as a representation of our desired interests, influences, and ideas. The built form is to be illustrated and developed using various digital methods including 3D modeling, recorded video and sound material, as well as 2D graphics, and architectural drawings. In addition, students are to come up with marketing materials, to be shared on social media platforms, in efforts to promote the pavilion.

Design Sprint Competition

Sustainable Pavilion Design

Students with a mix of different creative skills are split into teams and supported throughout the week by expert mentors from the University’s School of Creative Arts, Brooklyn College and industry. Working in multi-disciplinary teams, students collaborate on exciting industry set briefs that encourage risk taking, challenge their design thinking and encouraging innovation.

Photography Works

With a keen eye for composition and a passion for capturing moments, my self-taught photography skills are both diverse and dynamic. Experienced in editing images, I possess the ability to transform ordinary scenes into captivating visual narratives

1972 1970’s 1990’s 2000’s

Site Plan (1:2000 @A3)

The diagram represents the most-taken routes that encapsulate the Science Block area, according to the points of interests. Route A - Todd Building, Bus Stop for Shuttle to DeHav Campus, 5-minute Route to Galleria Route B - Route to LRC, Student Accomodation, and upcoming Science Building Route C - Route to Hutton Hub, Forum, classrooms The diagram also showcases how the Science Block cuts of the courtyards and the flow of the quadrangles to the university’s public walkway.

The

Analysis of the Building:

Strength - Located very strategically, at the intersection of 2 of the most popular route in the university area

Weakness - The existing building has blocked off an important part of the original block, which are the courtyards Opportunity - Moving the entrance to shift the movement to the courtyards and upscaling the building into an education centre with study spaces that adapt to the modern needs of students and office workers

Threat - It is located in a really popular area hence efforts to move the entrance must be done properly to avoid traffic and unnecessary congestion

COACTIVE

The coactive concept blends the old and the new seamlessly, creating a harmonious relationship between the existing structure and the new design elements. The old structure serves as a foundation, preserving its character, while the new additions bring a fresh and contemporary feel. This integration allows for a dialogue between the past and the present, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal and significance of the building.

The building will feature a diverse range of spatial areas to accommodate different work styles and preferences. Open-plan collaborative spaces will promote interaction and idea-sharing, while designated quiet zones will provide a peaceful atmosphere for focused individual work. Flexible furniture and modular layouts will allow for easy customization and adaptation according to the users' needs.

To enhance the productivity and well-being of users, green elements will be incorporated throughout the building. Indoor gardens and living walls will promote a connection with nature, providing not only aesthetic appeal but also improved air quality and a sense of tranquility. Rooftop gardens and outdoor seating areas will offer alternative workspaces and opportunities for relaxation, rejuvenation, and informal exchanges among occupants.

The design will also prioritize sustainability, aiming to create a building that is environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. The integration of renewable energy systems, efficient insulation, and smart lighting solutions will reduce the building's carbon footprint while providing a comfortable and conducive working environment.

Coactive, meaning that harmonious interaction between the staffs and students with the environment due to the design of the building itself, emphasizing on the nature surrounding the building.

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

There are many potential changes that could have been brought into the Science Block, but through my 2 different extension I have narrowed down which issues I want to address.

Extension 1: L-shaped Extension

The first extension is an offset of the original building walls to the North and East sides. Due to the restricting structural grid of the Science Block, resulting in the usage of double-height spaces would be very limited. Rather than having to remove structure from the existing, I wanted to add an extra space on the sides of the building where I can create as much open spaces and high-ceiling rooms as I can without any restrictions. Due to the decision of moving the entrance to the South side also, I have decided to take over the whole North side as it no longer needs an entrance and was located in an awkward slope anyways, which made an odd two-way entrance. The glulam intercross truss structure will be present onthis side.

Extension 2: Floating Rooftop Structure

This extension pays homage to our university’s early aerospace technical college days. I wanted to create a ‘flying’ structure in which people would be able to roam under it as if an actual aeroplane. The structure and slanted floor itself is then used as an auditorium and the area beneath is used as an outdoor rooftop garden which serves as a social space. The form will be encapsulated in aluminum cladding panels to further embody the mosquito plane look.

An airy and floating form which represents the mosquito airplane, a key aspect in our university’s history as a technical college.

The restrictions of the existing structural grid of the Science Block, the structure itself is filled with columns and beams.

Including the intercross glulam structure through my own iteration, in which it will add ‘life’ to the long dead Science Block. Works perfect as a structural element but also as a decorative architectural piece.

PERSPECTIVE SECTION

The floor plan layout emphasizes how the traditional buildings are located on the north side for best visual comfort, while the more open-plan and modern study spaces are typically located on the south side. By strategically placing south-facing windows, the design maximizes natural sunlight exposure, reducing the need for artificial lighting and promoting energy efficiency. These considerations play a vital role in creating a healthier and more sustainable indoor environment that enhances the well-being and comfort of occupants while reducing energy consumption and environmental impact. Double glazing panels act as the shield for insulation in the building itself, alongside concrete structural walls. The courtyard and the many greenery element included in the building acts as the lungs of the buildings, providing fresh air and clean ventilation throughout the building.

EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC

The axonometric floor plan illustrates a design concept that prioritizes a variety of study spaces, catering to different learning styles and preferences. The diverse range of study areas offers users the flexibility to select the environment that best suits their needs, fostering productivity and engagement.

Furthermore, the design includes breakout areas and lounges, creating informal study spaces where individuals can relax, unwind, and engage in casual discussions. These areas serve as a refreshing change of scenery, inspiring creativity, and promoting a positive study-life balance.

By incorporating a variety of study spaces, the axonometric floor plan showcases the diverse needs and preferences of users. It caters to different learning styles, providing an environment that encourages productivity, collaboration, and personal growth. The design ensures that study spaces are not one-size-fits-all but are tailored to accommodate the unique requirements of individuals, ultimately enhancing the educational experience and fostering a culture of lifelong learning.

URBAN CONDITIONS ANALYSIS

Urban conditions analysis, color-coding different areas in the ‘Hatfield Strip’. The initial main focus was to focus and compare the different colored-bricks and how most of the residential buildings were made out of bricks, and the institutional buildings are grey-colored. Hence we can make a preliminary scan by looking at the map to point out the public spaces and the private areas by the colors on the map. The analysis was done by doing an actual walk to get the feel and vibe of Hatfield’s street and cityscape, hence creating a design that will reflect the town itself.

The area is relatively tranquil and not too overcrowded, with a lot of green-covered areas where nature flourishes intrinsically. There are around 28 school facilities, which include pre-school, nurseries, primary, and secondary schools. The largest education institution in the area would the University of Hertfordshire, housing a sum of 32,000 students.

Majority of the shops are concentrated on certain areas, such as the town centre, near the Galleria Outlet Mall, and a few other spots. Essential shops and vital facilities are strategically placed near the prominent spots, creating several central areas across Hatfield. Separating the different areas creates residential blocks that are serene and safe which provide students, families, and elderlies a sense of calmness.

Special features of the proposed apartment complex:

1. Two-storey flats with customizable spaces that can be adjustable

2. Personal farms with rainwater management system

3. Vertical farms utilizing Zero Carbon Bricks as vessels

4. Contour farming to further engage with the site’s slope

5. Different community areas to supplement physical and mental wellbeing

Vertical Garden with Zero Carbon Bricks

The usage of Zero Carbon Bricks, bricks that are produced to store CO2, are used as vessels to form gaps that will be utilized as vertical garden media. An in-depth mechanic could be developed in where the plants actually absorb the CO2 from the actual bricks in order to thrive and produce oxygen. Personal Farms with Rainwater Management System

Each flat is assigned a personal farm to take care of and harvest crops from, this cultivates a healthy and productive lifestyle to the residents, pushing the trend of self-sufficient living to the fullest.

The crops are also watered using stored-rainwater with strategic piping system, creating automatic watering system everytime the pipes are full of water.

SPACE DEVELOPMENT

Maximum Utilisation of The Slope

The steep slope of the site is something that may seem like a disadvantage, but it also holds a really great opportunity to try out new and innovative ideas, such as the usage of the terracing and contour farming. Something which will also help a lot in terms of pushing the self-sufficient way of living.

It is proposed that we design customizable and adjustable flats which can be adjusted and accustomed to provide the most satisfactory and suitable space for the residents, using versatile 4x4 square blocks as massing. The cubes are then placed on top of each other to form apartment blocks. The apartment blocks have gaps and hollows in between the floors that will be utilized as green spaces and personal farms. The diagrams illustrate the many varieties of how the 4x4 cube-grid can be systemized and constructed, by taking away some blocks, to match the desired layout and space of each resident.

MASSING

The public and private parts of the apartment are completely seperated to ensure privacy and safety of all residents, especially since the residential complex has farm areas.

Though the proposed apartment complex has a few blocks that are quite tall, having two 5-storey buildings (block A & B). The apartment complex doesn’t block off sunlight exposure and ventilation of the neighboring buildings, gaps and hollows were designed in between the floors to still allow the natural flow of air and sunlight. Community

CONTOUR FARMING

The proposed apartment complex was designed to adjust to the context, in terms of the site's steep slope and the surrounding amenities. The community area (block E) area was strategically placed in that exact location, since that space was near the main road and right beside a public pub, hence making that area quite bustling and noisy.

For the apartment accomodation itself, its located on the more quieter side to ensure privacy and safety for the residents. The apartment blocks also have two different access points, one accesible by cars and one accesible through pedestrian walks from the Salisbury Square, which makes a tactical flow having different access points.

ISOMETRIC ILLUSTRATION

Taking into account that the country barely avoided a recession and the effects of the recent inflation that spiked the prices of goods and services, I proposed developing a self-sufficient domestic housing. Constructing a housing scheme with facilities that seek to meet both the primary and secondary requirements of humans.

As seen through the floor plans of 1 of 3 building, each building consists of a variety of different flat types. Flat type A is designed for a maximum of 2-3 occupants meanwhile flat type B is designed for a number of 4 people.

Each flat is designed carefully to have spacious living areas, with a good combination of indoor and outdoor areas. Although it has been mentioned that the flats are to be adjusted to the occupants’ request, I have prepared the ‘general’ or ‘default’ floor plans for occupants to choose from.

Seen on the left is an isometric illustration that depicts all the special features included in the self-sufficient and adjustable flat design.

Equipped with smart and comfortable living spaces, outdoor balcony for all the flats with their respective personal farms, and multiple room types.

The pipes above the personal farms illustrate the structured watering system that will automatically spray water during certain times. The system utilizes catching rainwater and allowing the release of water automatically, keeping in mind that not all the occupants will have the effort to keep the farms well and alive. Hence even the smallest details have been included in our flat system to ensure that the self-sufficient lifestyle is still able to applied consistently.

The site map depicts the orientation and the smart placement of all the amenities, keeping in mind multiple different factors such as noise, privacy, and security. The green blocks in front of the apartment building indicates a community farm, since the small crop of land on the balcony might not be enough to supply a self-sufficient lifestyle, additional crops of land have been placed with the contour farming system with the help of the site’s slope.

The site is located at the Courtyard Arts Centre, Port Vale. The existing community museum is hidden in between a peaceful and serene residential area. The building itself has a unique U-shape, with the additional extension to be built on the northeast side. The north east side currently resides as a parking space.

There are two main access points, one is from the Port Vale (A) and the other is Beane River View Car Park (B) . The access point from Port Vale is relatively smaller, and a lot of cars pass through this road a lot, so making this area the main entrance would be a bit tricky.

A majority of surrounding buildings are residential houses, hence the neighborhood is relatively peaceful. The near environment includes an elementary school, a few little stores, and a baptist church located on the east side; this should also be taken into account while planning traffic patterns.

The immediate area surrounding the Courtyard Arts homes 6 trees. 4 trees at the Beane River View parking lot space and 2 trees just next to the South East wall. There is a lot of foliage and greenery surrounding the courtyard as well.

The diagram illustrates the differences between the public institutional buildings and private residential buildings around the Courtyard Arts Centre. These will determine the sources of noise and emphasize the activities going on in each area.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Out of the countless concept models I designed, this was the one that had the freshest and most unique concept. The lightweight and airy shape made it a challenging factor to transform into an actual functioning building. I envisioned concrete strips that would resemble the paper strips I had to still keep the light and flowy shape that my paper model had. The first 3D modeling attempt was a bit straightforward and simple, not much thought about the site’s needs and orientation was put into mind.

The overall shape and form that it made was an interesting iteration of my paper model. Hence I decided to develop the shape and make a few adjustments to make it work structurally.

The second model had much more depth and complexity. The first thing was that I had overlap the strips a certain length to connect the gaps in between the strips. The shape also has a slight bend which makes it much more interesting. I fixed the configuration and positioning, matching the needs of the site's environment while still maintaining the shape. The first model had to depend on the existing Courtyard Arts for structural support, which proved to be quite difficult, hence changing the shape a bit in the process.

The overall form is two shapes that essentially mirror each other when seen from the front. The progressively growing paper strips to create e beautiful structure that symbolize Hertfordshire's long history with paper and how paper is ever-evolving through many new innovations.

Physical Paper Model

First attempt at 3D Modelling in Rhino

Second attempt at 3D Modelling in Rhino

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

The following are interior and exterior renders of the design proposal, modelled in Rhino and rendered using Enscape.

Southwest Elevation (1:200 @A3)

Northeast Elevation (1:200 @A3)

With the model as a starting point for the design, I wanted to emphasize the spatial arrangement and how people would move around the extension. The idea was to build a small complex that incorporated a lot of outdoor space, with the site having a naturally serene and peaceful surrounding. This is why I built 2 different bodies of the structure, the larger structure would hold the indoor event room and art gallery room. While the smaller one would hold the cafe and community kitchen, also an act to separate the ventilation system, preventing the spread of unwanted smells.

To make the route between the 2 structures seamless, I positioned the 2 structures to create a small passage-like path between them. so traveling between the two of them wouldn't be too far, have enough protection from sunlight and wind, but provide enough exposure to feel the outside environment.

The main idea was to create the perfect amount of indoor and outdoor ratio, that would provide just enough interaction with the outside environment but provide adequate protection from the harsh sunlight in summer and cold wind in the winter.

Making 2 entrance points to the extension, one to the main lobby, and another entrance serves as a dropping-off point at the smaller road. This also serves as an effort to create a cross-ventilation system between the structures, since there are no windows in my extension, having two doors would allow a good airflow inside the building. Also as a good prevention method from the main lobby getting too crowded, for big-scaled events, an efficient method of dropping off guests without ensuing too much traffic (noise pollution) to the neighboring residential houses.

Also taking into consideration that making the building too long would mean that we'd have to make the structure super tall, since as a curve, there is bound to be low-height area that ultimately goes to waste. Since I’d like to maintain the sort of parasite shape, paper strips that sprout from the existing building and make their way to the ground.

Long Section (1:200 @A3)

Short Section (1:200 @A3)

Site Plan (1:1000 @A3)

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS: PARAMETRIC SPACE FRAME

VENTILATION STUDY

The

The space frame is sturdy due to the triangle's natural strength and stiffness. Geometrically arranged interconnecting struts by the cardboard tubes achieve a lightweight but rigid structure by using the truss pattern. Flexing loads, which are bending moments, are transferred down the length of each truss as tension and compression stresses the structure.

Model making process in Rhino, creating a space frame with truss pattern to match the shape of my extension’s concrete strips. The images on the left show the development of just one, of six strips, structural design.

The strips are then stacked in front of each other, six space frames in total, joined together. The next step is to cover the structure using bent plywood skin and steel bars before finally adding a coat of shotcrete cladding.

Since my structure is basically different strips combined together, layering them with a gap of each strip overlapping is essential to install my glass panels. Hence I developed a ventilation system that could work with my unique structure.

Creating a U-shaped cavity between the concrete layer, allowing air from the outside to flow inside the building. This technology maintains the seamless look that I want to achieve from the glass panels but creates a hidden ventilation system.

The renders of the concrete strips that shows the details of my ventilation strategy. I will be using double glazed glass which helps to filter the sun’s harsh radiation and help with insulation. The curved nature of the concrete strips also reflects the light, hence avoiding harsh direct sunlight into coming in.

As an act to reduce the wasted area

( low height areas ), since my structure is a curved, I invented a special circular vase that would hold architectural plants. The circular vases is hollow inside hence also act as a storage system. The placement of the circular vases are really essential. As seen from the slide before, most of the outside air comes in from the gaps. Putting the plants right in front where the air comes in will provide fresh and better air quality for the visitors.

red arrows represent carbon dioxide flowing from the outisde. The blue arrow represents CO2 that comes through the ventilation system and turns into oxygen with the help of the architectural plants. As the structure itself is designed to orient itself based on the wind direction, hence cathing more wind and aair circulation from the outside.

Through my pavilion, I want everyone to be able to face themselves, for all that there is. We were born and came into this world alone but why do we fear the idea of isolation and seclusion? The idea of solitude itself is an irony, which is being alone without feeling lonely. How to feel whole again with our own company? The experience of having to self-reflect, connect with ourselves on a deeper level, embracing your inner soul. The idea is to have a sharp and glass-like form on top, but leads to a spiral staircase that takes you underneath to a cave, in which different motion graphics will be displayed. In this harsh world where circumstances have forced us to be strong and tough, rediscovering a different side that has been buried underneath all the scars. Embracing yourself, even the weak and soft sides. The pavillion was designed using Rhino, all final renders were made using Enscape.

The pavilion will be split into two different structure, a dome underground where projected digital animations of natural environments will be played along with supported natural sounds. And a flower structure on top that welcomes the entrance. The two parts will be connected using a spiral staircase. The flower petal is made out of wooden strips, and have a special mechanism that allows actual freesia flowers to grow as the exhibition goes on. This symbolizes that finding solitude is a slow process, but if you’re patient enough. At the end of the day, you’ll enjoy the blooming flowers of your peaceful mind and soul. The pattern represents actual lines on the freesia flower to make the flower as distinct as possible.

After being greeted by the colorful and lively freesia garden upstairs, you’ll go down to the dome structure underneath. The walls will be mostly soundproof, calming sounds such as Underwater Whale Song, Babbling Brook, Calming Crackling Campfire, Birds Chirping, and many more sounds that make you feel at peace. The whole structure is basically inspired by the components of a plant. After indulging in the beauty of the outer appereance, the freesia flower petals, it’s time to go down to the roots. This symbolizes going back to where you came from and trying to remember who you really are deep inside. The sound will help you feel more at peace with yourself and relax your mind. At the end, a minute of silence is essential to drown the noise and finally self-reflect. Sometimes, silence is a lot louder than noise. Experiencing the exhibition by yourself, and going through all of those digital animations played on the dome screen will make the person experience multiple emotions at once. In hopes, that they understand how important solitude is. And to never lose your true self in the midst of this hectic world.

CONCEPT BOOKLET & MOTION GRAPHICS

A part of the brief was to create an event booklet to showcase the development of the design, which depicts the story and background of my pavilion design. Additionally, we had to create and manage an Instagram page to promote the pavilion. In the Instagram page, I curated motion graphic reels and illuustrations to express the vibe and feel of my imaginary exhibition.

For the Design Sprint Competition, our team was tasked to create a sustainable pavilion that would last for around 1-2 months for the Lambeth Palace, with the theme of “Disconnection”. In the team, I was responsible for the idea of using paper tubes, 3D modelling in Rhino and the final renders presented were all my work.

Photography Works

These

scenic pictures from my gallery were all taken using an iPhone and were edited and color-corrected using Adobe Photoshop to enhance the vibes and feel of the image.