Darkness Private
Dimly-lit Bath house
Wood Fire
400 000 BC
Rushlight 3 000 BC
Direct sunlight Garden
Fully Exposed Office Artificial light Residential Darkness Stargazing
Hollow Wick 1780
Tallow Candle 100 AD
Electric light 1800s
Imagine waking up by yourself in a pitch dark room, will you be scared, panicked, or enjoy yourself?
Inspired by a client who would love to stay in darkness, “Time Travel” offered you a journey to the past, way before the invention of modern artificial light. In this journey, you can keep yourself away from all electrical devices, to evoke other sensory and enjoy your time alone, and also, to encourage you to rejoining the society by visiting the community garden.
The narrative from the clients, along with further research, highlighted the importance of, not lighting, but shadow in built environment. When light is not always available, how can we make the best use of shadow and darkness in a bulding?
When we try to expand the meaning of darkness, its meaning cover many ranges. Darkness can be the opposite of lighting, but it can also be the opposite of modern, advanced technology. Through the lead of architecture, visitor can be brought back to the Dark Agethe primitive time of human being when phone, electricity and technology was an unknown concept.
Community garden-core structure
Individual unit can be customised based on users’ choice of material
Office/Residential unit based on users’ choice of material and location
Analyse
This projects focus on researching the connection between word and form and exploring the interesting evolution from word, meaning to form. The word I analysed was ‘analysis paralysis’. Analysis paralysis refers to the inability to make a decision as a result of overthinking. The drawing showed a human sitting still and thinking about his problem. It’s always good to consider different opportunities before making a decision but when put to its extreme, overthinking can cause analysis paralysis. In this case, the individual is surrounded by too much data and cannot stop wrangling over the
pros and cons of each option, hence unable to pick one. When analysis paralysis happens, which can be seen from the figure, the human appeared to be solid and stable from the inside but was in fact, separated to the outside world by many school of thoughts.
The projects explored a workflow from physical model making to 3D scan it and visualise it digitally. The render in the following page was the result of wellconsidered photo composition, lighting to create an exciting image.
TAPER
to maximize light of the truck tunnel and protect the existing trees
to let natural light in and create a gathering node between winery and research centre
Category: Design Intervention Skill Set: Physical model making, Architectural Theory Research, Drafting.
Enzymes are vital proteins as they accelerate chemical reactions. In wine making, commercial enzymes are broadly used for different purposes such as to maximise juice yield, improve aroma compounds, flavour enhancement, colour extraction in red wines, and contribute in the removal of dissolved unwanted substances. The iconic Wine at Waite Event Space (Waite Campus, University of Adelaide) is inspired by enzymes in terms of its function. Likewise, the event space aims at:
Maximise the connection and collaboration between wine education and wine making by connecting the existing winery WT78 with the Wine Innovation centre WT76
Provide appropriate space to enhance teaching and focused research activities
Preserve the complexity of vegetation on site. Encourage public engagement by extending the exhibition space.
Category: Modular House Design
The design of the units aims at minimizing the life cycle energy of the camping accomodation for mining wokers located in Woomera, South Australia, given the site has extremely hot weather with little annual rainfall.
Final design modifications attempts to achieve a reasonable payback cost time so that the construction of this prefabricated modular house will be an appropriate and worthwhile investment. The concept ‘Dusk and Dawn’ took its inspiration from working shifts of workers on site. While some people work mainly during the day, others shift only starts when the sun set. As a result, one unit faces North with shading to maximize sunlight. Another unit faces south with the PV panel on the roof to maximize the solar power.
5 principles of passive house design were applied during the design process.
Category: Construction Drawings
Skill Set: AutoCAD, Structural Analysis, EnergyEfficient Design
1. HIGHLY INSULATED ENVELOPE
Minimize Exchange with the outdoor environment and stabilize the indoor temperature.
2. THERMAL BRIDGE FREE
Strategy: continuous layer of insulation, minimize corner, bumps-out because they create geometric thermal bridges.
3. OPTIMIZED ORIENTATION
Overhang at the north and south facing, low solar heat gain coefficient windows for west and east facades
4. AIRTIGHT ENVELOPE
Ensure that doors, windows, exterior electrical outlets, hose bibs, sill plates are properly sealed to stop heat loss and reduce moisture buildup or loss in cold weather.
5. MECHANICAL AND NATURAL VENTILATION
High window to avoid dusk and let hot air escape through stack ventilation.
0
SOUTH EAST SITE PLAN
1:200
FAST TRACK
Fast tracks directly connects people to the existing grid of the site (see Site Plan)
OPEN COURTYARD
Courtyard that can be used for outdoor BBQ. Courtyard surface is porous and allows stormwater to infiltrate
BIOSWALE SLOW TRACK
Rain water is retained onsite as long as possible to prevent soil erosion and help create engaging landscape view
EXISTING WALKWAY
PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL AND HOT WATER PANEL
Solar Panels on site are fixed and used.
FLOOR SHEATHING WIRECHASE METAL STRAP FLOOR JOIST
WINDOW PANEL ALSO ACTS AS SHADING DEVICE RAINFALL TOWARDS THE BIO SWALE COLORED SIDE SEALS IN POLYURETHANE FOAM
120
TIMBER CLADDING 1.5MM
STEEL/ALUMINUM FRAME
POSSIBILITY TO STOP IN ANY POSITION
Lotf Detail
Double glazing 13mm Argon for better insulation
Ensuite Unit
1. Linoleum Wall and Floor Finishing
2. Shower Area
3. Combined handwash + toilet (the water from handwashing is reused for flushing.
4. Shelf
5. Storage Unit behind the mirror
FASCIA
WOOD BLOCKING
CELLULOSE INSULATION BETWEEN RAFTERS
BLACK BLIND RAFTER
CHIPBOARD FINISHING
WINDOW HEAD
CLERESTORY
DOUBLE GLAZING FL3+A6+FL3MM
SWISSPACER
WARM EDGE SPACER
HEAT TREATED TIMBER CLADDING
WOODEN BATTEN
400
OSB BOARD OSB BOARD
Light Lantern Detail (1:20)
PUR POLYURETHANE INSULATION
Double glazing 13mm Argon filled for better insulation
CLADDING
WOODEN BATTEN
TIMBER STUD
SPLINE JOINTS
ReWALL STRUCTURAL PANEL MADE FROM RECYCLED BOX
PUR INSULATION
VAPOR BARRIER
FOLDABLE OUTDOOR TABLE
Wall Corner Detail (1:20)
Double glazing 13mm Argon for better insulation
LINOLEUM FLOORING
196
WOOD BEAM
GIANT SCREW HELICAL FOUNDATION
Foundation Detail (1:20)
VERTICAL TIMBER CLADDING
DECORATIVE STONE OVER AGGREGATE TRENCH
DROUGHT
TOLERANT NATIVE PLANTS AND WILDFLOWERS
TOPSOIL
GRAVEL INFILTRATION
Wooden Beam on Giant Screw Helical Foundation and bioswale detail
The 2nd concept was inspired by the shape of Mother Suot’s oar. Mother Suot is a historical character who used her old sailing boat to assist soldiers during the Vietnam war.
Category: Bridge Design Competition
The main theme of the competition was to design a bridge connecting two banks of the river ‘Nhat Le’ (which means Sun’s tear in Vietnamese). As ar result, the concept of the bridge was inspired by the image of a teardrop on the water surface, creating multiple concentric echoing circles. The site analysis pointed out that there were two other existing bridges connecting Nhat Le river. Hence, the main objective of the bridge was proposed to encourage people to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the
Skill Set: Architectural Concept development, Architecture 3D Modelling, Diagram illustration
river. The circular pathway slows down the speed of vehicle passing the bridge, which was perfectly suitable for this purpose.
During the concept development process, thanks to the use of Rhino and Grasshopper, I was able to test many different shapes and cable design of the bridge, which finally led to 2 main proposals. The design file was later transfered to my colleages to render using Lumion.
The unit is fully shaded in the summer,
...while fully exposed to sunlight in the winter.
Category: Design for Energy Efficiency
Orientation: North
The small structure in a backyard of an existing house in Adelaide, South Australia is to be used as an AirBnb (see Site Plan). As Adelaide is a very competitive area for AirBnb with an averag occupancy rate up to 66% (Lodgify 2019), we aim at creating a unique staying experience in this AirBnb design. When staying in this AirBnb, the occupants can stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city and feel the natural thermal comfort and feel really connected with the nature thanks to the greenery coverage (see site plan), huge window for better view. Meanwhile, we also aim at saving for the AirBnb owner through different strategies
47%
Skill Set: Design Builder Simulation, Grasshopper Ladybug Analysis
to make this unit totally offgrid. The owner will only have to make one worthwhile investment and the building can support itself in terms of water, electricity and energy.
The shading device is carefully design to fully shade the building in the summer and allow full sun into the building in the winter. To the west and east facade of the building, two inground raingarden is constructed utilizing the recycled building waste from the reverse brick veneer construction as the garden boundary. All of the vegetation in the garden are native to Adelaide Plains to minimize the need of water for gardening.
In this project, I was responsible for designing and reducing the life-cycle carbon of the airbnb unit.
Travel Sketch in Hanoi, Vietnam (2021) Ink on Paper
Children Book Illustration
The illustrated book tells stories about Ha, a young girl curious about how the world operates and her journey and conversation with 20 succesful women working in different fields in Vietnam and all over the world.
