Portoflio for UCL - Xinxin Yan

PORTFOLIO SELETED WORKS 2019 -

2023

Xinxin Yan

PROLOGUE

CONTENTS

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THE SACRED BUILDING IN THE SHANTYTOWN A Religious Building In An Urban Village

In the exploration of architecture, the profound interplay between architectural structures and their contextual surroundings, societal underpinnings, and cultural facets introduces a tapestry of complexity and contradictions. My dedicated commitment is centered on the meticulous process of distilling essential elements from this intricate web, aiming to articulate a clear and coherent logic that serves as the foundation for delving into innovative and exemplary architectural concepts.

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THE TOWER IN THE FIELD A Hign-rise University in the Farming Land

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THE MAGIC CUBES IN THE WET MARKET Reimaginations of the wet market from different scales

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THE SQUEEZED-OUT GALLERY IN THE CITY A Community exhibition Building in An Ancient town

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01 THE SACRED BUILDING IN THE SHANTYTOWN A Religious Building In An Urban Village

Site: Shangshe, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Individual work, Summer 2022, Academic Studio Instructor: Zhangzheng Yang

In Western history, religious wars have been unfortunately common. In contrast, China's religious landscape is notably unique. Various religions in China do not exhibit clear conflicts; on the contrary, there are instances of mutual influence and interconnectedness during their propagation and development. This design focuses on the distinctive religious landscape in China, attempting to portray the unique phenomena of religions in the architecture.

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The image of their merging uses a wise elder to represent them from different angles, distinguished mainly by their headwear while symbolizing unity.

"儒" Confucianism

"道" Taoism

"释" Buddhism

The religious landscape in China China's religious landscape is diverse and interconnected, showing that Chinese beliefs are inclusive and varied.

People in China worship different gods, and these beliefs are shared between folk religions and the major religions like Buddhism and Taoism. Religious activities also connect different faiths. Events like temple fairs and rituals, often related to folk religions, are also attended by followers of the major religions. Additionally, these religions have adapted to Chinese culture, incorporating local elements and promoting diversity and coexistence.

Dongbie

Xinjiang Hebei

Lanzhou

Sichuan

Wuhan

Chongqing

Hunan Liuzhou Guilin

In ancient China, only Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism were considered legitimate religions. To gain legitimacy, folk beliefs started to merge with these three major religions.

Zhanjiang

The mythological stories and deities passed down in Chinese folk beliefs often intersect with Taoism and Buddhism.

Buddha

Yuqing Chinese folk religions feature three main types of deities: gods, spirits, and ancestors. They typically represent heroic figures or natural symbols.

Allah

Qianxixian Tianjin

Changzhou

Fujian

Fujian Shangshe, Guangzhou

Christians Catholicism believe in emphasize the the Holy Virgin Mary Trinity

Shangqing Taiqing

Bodhisattva Arhat

site Trade activities: activities: Temple fairs.

Rituals, Prayers and Ceremonies, Cultivation and Inner Reflection...

Non-economic activities: activities Deities' birthdays, commemorations, etc.

Emergency public ceremonies: ceremonies Droughts, sudden outbreaks of diseases, etc.

Traditional festivals: festivals New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, etc.

Meditation, Worship, Study of Buddhist Teachings, Buddhist Festivals...

Salat, Ramadan, Hajj, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha,Zakat...

In the process of spreading, Islam and Christianity, particularly Catholicism, adaptations were made to be better accepted by the local people. They absorbed people's good wishes and showed some tolerance toward traditional Chinese festivals.

Guangzhou, a major economic city in China, welcomes a diverse group of migrants from different regions. They settle in urban areas, each bringing their unique language, beliefs, culture, and way of life. In these urban communities, people follow various religions, reflecting the city's religious diversity and the residents' different faith backgrounds.

Household Religion: Religion worship of ancestors, funerals, and various rituals conducted within families

Good will and wishs: wishs deities associated with wealth and good fortune, like the God of Wealth.

Agricultural Religion: Religion rituals and practices related to farming and agricultural cycles.

Craft or Trade Religion: Religion patron deities or spirits associated with various professions such as construction, medicine

The chosen site, a complex urban village, is a unique product of China. The architectural texture here is intricately complex, with a diverse population and a multitude of faiths among residents. This environment aligns well with the theme, making it a fitting location.

The design successfully integrates different styles of religious architectural spaces while responding to the intricate fabric of the urban village.The The site is located on the border of Shang She, an urban village in Guangzhou. The T low-rise and densely buildings of Shang She are nestled amidst the towering skyscrapers of the city, creating a contrast. Moreover, the architecture in Upper She Village exhibits a grid-like texture. The site's position at the crossroads of the city's urban planning and the intricate grid of the urban village adds to its complexity.

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Religious Space Units To comprehensively meet the residents' religious needs, the design is derived from an analysis of both human behavior and religious aspects.

Behavioral patterns in religious ceremonies are extracted and visualized, while typological analysis is conducted on traditional buildings for each religion. These two analyses are integrated to advance the design process.

For Christianity in China, religious activities primarily involve prayer and baptism. As shown in the diagram, the pink section represents the focal point of religious ceremonies, the gray areas indicate where people gather.

Given the diverse nature of folk religious activities, which serve as a cohesive force among various religions in China, spaces for folk religions are designed as individual interconnected spaces. These spaces are organized into a series of narrative environments, linking different religious buildings.

Common architectural elements in Christian buildings, such as arches and the cross plan, are integrated into the design.

Buddhism often involves activities such as worship in all directions and prayer, as depicted in the diagram.

Buddhist architecture is frequently arranged symmetrically, creating enclosed courtyards.

In Islam, fasting during Ramadan and engaging in prayer activities are classic practices. During Iftar, people sit in rows for a communal meal, and during prayers, they also align in rows facing a specific direction.

Islamic architecture commonly features domes, colonnades, minarets, and arches, which are also reflected in architectural design.

The activity patterns during Taoist rituals are illustrated in the diagram, where the pink represents the positions of deities, and the gray indicates places where people pause for prayer.

Taoist architecture is often closely integrated with the natural landscape, featuring courtyards and gardens. The design process involves analyzing behavioral diagrams and progressively shaping the space in conjunction with the site presentation.

Folk religions, closely associated w i t h Ta o i s m , a r e t h e m o s t interconnected with other religions. Drawing inspiration from the activity scenes of folk religions, spaces for folk religions are designed as a series of outdoor landscape structures. These spaces extend into the gardens of Taoist architecture and connect with other religious spaces.

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The religious corridor near the urban village serves both as a facility for grassroots religious activities and as a transitional space situated on the border of the urban village.

The tower located at the intersection point of various religious axes in the middle of the site is designed to be a public space for different religions. It can host specific religious ceremonies at designated times and also serves as a sacred place for everyday prayers.

Each religious space forms an axial relationship with the tower, creating a contrast between the sacred religious space and the lively celebration venue within the tower.

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The interconnection of various religious spaces is facilitated through a central tower at the heart of the site.

This tower serves as a symbolic and physical focal point, creating axis relationships with different religious spaces dispersed throughout the site. The spatial experience is carefully designed to evoke a sense of the tower's presence within the interiors of religious buildings, creating a dynamic interplay between the vibrant ambiance associated with the tower and the inherent sacredness of the outdoor religious spaces.

Notably, from a sectional perspective, a series of dynamically evolving spaces along the axis serve as transitional zones. These transitional spaces seamlessly connect the tower with each distinct religious area, forming a narrative of spatial progression and enhancing the overall coherence of the religious complex.

This intentional design approach aims to offer a nuanced and holistic experience, where the tower acts as a unifying element while respecting the unique characteristics and atmospheres of each religious space.

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02 THE TOWER IN THE FIELD A Hign-rise University in the Farming Land

Site: Zhengzhou,Henan, China Team work, Summer 2023, Academic Studio Member: Yan Xinxin / Wu Zhengke Design 50%, Expression 50% Instructor: Cao Xinyu

'Land resources are scarce, and the university town never considers itself too large.' The Chinese government has strongly criticized the occupation of farmland by the Longzihu University Town in Zhengzhou, Henan. However, due to intense competition in the national college entrance examination, the establishment of new universities has become a strong demand among many students and parents. The fact has proven that Longzihu University Town, after enrollment, has not resulted in severe waste because of the large number of students.

However, this event is not just a conflict between education and agriculture in terms of land use; it is rooted in Henan's role as a major grain-producing province. The government hopes Henan will prioritize its function as a "granary," leading to a preference for allocating land for agriculture over education. This resource allocation goes against the local people's demands, sparking heated discussions.This design strives to minimize land occupation for the establishment of a university. It carries a certain ironic significance, aiming to achieve a commemorative effect.

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Henan Longzihu University Town illegally occupied agricultural land In 2003, the construction of Zhengzhou Longzihu University Town began.

However, from 2004 onwards, the Chinese government started limiting land use. In 2005 and 2006, new policies created challenges for the development of the town. Despite the lack of official approval, some individuals secretly proceeded with construction.

An official from the Ministry of Land and Resources mentioned they didn't seek approval because they believed it wouldn't be granted.

In February 2005, the director of the Enforcement and Supervision Bureau of the Ministry of Land and Resources investigated the case. Six universities were already being built in Longzihu U n i v e r s i t y To w n , s o t h e M i n i s t r y approved land procedures for them with the condition that the land use scale wouldn't expand. However, more land occupation issues emerged, involving seven additional schools, including vocational technical colleges, which continued to occupy land for campus construction, causing more controversies.

This case violated land use planning and involved a significant amount of unlawful land occupation. Despite this, some people appreciated those involved for sacrificing their careers to support local education.

' L a n d re s o u rc e s a re s c a rc e , a n d t h e university town never considers itself too large.'

In 2006, Longzihu University Town made its first appearance on CCTV when it was exposed for illegal land use issues. In 2011, CCTV News harshly criticized Zhengzhou Longzihu University Town for occupying too much land, considering it a wasteful use of arable land.

Experts claimed that for Longzihu University Town to grow to 230,000 people, it would take 53 years, which they considered a waste of land. However, as of 2022, Longzihu University Town has already established 15 universities with a population of over 230,000 students and faculty.

Percentage of arable land area in each province of China as a proportion of total land area

The acceptance rate for the top-tier universities (Tier 1) in each province of China

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  

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Land Use Conflict Between Education and Agriculture

Typology of Universities and High-rise Buildings Low-rise University Buildings Low-rise university buildings are currently the most common architectural style in China, with organizational structures often seen as depicted in the diagram.

Henan Province, with a population nearing one billion, consistently ranks among the top three in the country.

Despite its massive population, it only has one Double First Class university, making the competition in the national college entrance examination highly intense.

Additionally, Henan is recognized as the "Granary of China," emphasizing its role as an agricultural powerhouse.

This creates a conflict in land use between education and agriculture. While students in Henan aspire to have high-quality universities within the province, the government, focusing on Henan's role as a major grain producer, aims to prioritize its function as a "granary." This has resulted in incidents like the illegal occupation of farmland in Henan Longzihu University Town, leading to severe government criticism.

In summary, the conflicting needs of the people and the government's overarching development plan have created a complex issue in land use. This design aims to minimize land occupation for the establishment of a university, serving as a product that navigates the complex contradiction and attempts to meet both the national plan and the people's needs, carrying a certain ironic significance and achieving a commemorative effect.

Mid-rise University Buildings Mid-rise university buildings are less common in China. The typical organizational approach involves linking various parts of the buildings through public spaces or shared functionalities.

HIgh-rise Buildings High-rise buildings often exhibit a grid-like layout in their floor plans. The common positioning for the core structure is either at the four corners or in the center.

From Horizontal to Vertical Campus In the design process, a typological analysis was conducted on the existing university, and, incorporating the organizational patterns of high-rise buildings, transformed the conventional university into a vertical campus.

Field Texture The texture of the fields is diverse, often forming quadrilateral grid patterns with varying scale ratios, and some are intersected by elevated bridges.

Subsequently, integrating the agricultural environment, a symbiotic relationship between architecture and the surroundings was established.

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Functional Organization Life Service

Activity Educating

Staff Equipment

The functional spaces on the campus can be distinctly categorized into two types: organized and repetitive units such as dormitories and classrooms, and flexible and diverse spaces such as exhibition areas. Within the same functional category, there often exists a combination of both types of spaces. Therefore, the arrangement of functions is carried out through the classification of both functional types and spatial types, combined with the architectural structure.

According to the core structure, the building functions are divided into two parts based on spatial types: organized units at the four corners and a preserved ground floor serving as an entrance transitional space, while the central section is designated as flexible space.

Vertically, the building is divided based on functional types, transitioning from learning functions to student living at the top. Some functions have been flexibly integrated for convenience.

Building and Environment The texture of cultivated land exhibits a regular quadrilateral grid, and the architectural forms take on a cross shape to harmonize with the land texture. To facilitate transportation around the university, The two-dimensional circulation is extended into three dimensions, entering the interior of the building.

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LEVEL +588,00 Administration, Stuff office MEP Refuge

+576,00

Sports facilities

MEP Refuge

In the context of conventional campus planning, the substantial influx of individuals results in the pervasiveoccupancy of horizontal space by diverse edifices such as dormitories, academic structures, and functionalbuildings. Within the constrained horizontal parameters of this particular design, the exclusive avenue fordeveloment manifests vertically, The university campus orchestrates a meticulous dissection and subsequentreintegration of adaptable spatial configurations and standardized spatial constructs within their respectivedomains, thereby upholding the fundamental operational integrity of the campus.

LEVEL +504,00

Catering, Life services

LEVEL +432,00 MEP Refuge Exhibition

MEP Refuge

LEVEL +360,00

Theater, Lecture hall, Rehearsal room

MEP Refuge

88F

67F

43F

37F

28F

1F

LEVEL +288,00

Studio

MEP Refuge

LEVEL +216,00

Studio, Lab LEVEL +144,00 MEP Refuge

Lab LEVEL +72,00 Library,lecture hall, study room, Academic Exchange Center Entrance lobby Parking

LEVEL 0,00 LEVEL -24,00

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The entrance space of the campus adjacent to agricultural land forms an interactive relationship between two distinct spaces. Roads delineate gaps between cultivated areas, establishing a layered road network to simultaneously meet the diverse activity needs of agricultural and school life while minimizing the impact on the initial cultivated land.

The design of the building facade not only echoes the texture of farmland, becoming an extension of the farmland in the vertical direction but also corresponds to the internal functions. The evenly distributed strip sunshades contrast with the repetitive unit spaces inside, and the robust core is also expressed on the facade. The rest of the internal facade design is more transparent, echoing the display of its flexible interior spaces.

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03 THE MAGIC CUBES IN THE WET MARKET Reimaginations of the wet market from different scales

Site: Shanghai, China Individual work, Summer 2023, AA summer school Instructor: Freja Bao

In this project, I embark on a reimagining of the vegetable market, where the external layout and goods arrangement adopt a typical square configuration, projecting an image of simplicity and order. Contrary to this facade, the activities within reveal a dynamic and cyclic nature. Drawing inspiration from both the square layout and cyclical activities, the design undergoes a transformation across various scales. On a small scale, a hands-on, rotatable model captures the essence of the market, providing an abstract representation. At the medium scale, this model evolves into a functional installation, responsive to the daily activities of vendors through rotation. On a larger scale, the rotating apparatus integrates seamlessly into the architecture, creating a versatile and adaptive vegetable market. This holistic approach aims to not only honor the market's traditional form but also infuse it with interactive elements, transforming it into a vibrant, ever-changing space that caters to the diverse needs of both vendors and consumers.

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Cycles of the Wet Market The market operates with three hidden cycles: the food cycle; the cycle of customer behavior; and the daily cycle of vendors' activities.

Raw materials grow, are processed, and brought to the market for purchase. After consumption, they transform into fertilizers, nurturing new raw materials. Once mature, these nourished materials return to the market in a different form. This process involves a daily routine for vendors and a daily repetition of life for consumers, all centered around the market and food.

Reimagination of the Wet Market

—— The Small Sacle

Decomposition

Eaten

Fertilizer Cooked

Food

Germination

Composting Freight

Wet Market Eating

Cooking

Consumer Chopping

Vendor Selling

Shopping

Hawking

Distribution

Cubes of the Wet Market

This is a handmade model that takes the form of a cube. Its exterior appears plain, much like an ordinary vegetable market. However, the model can be opened and flipped, revealing vibrant colors and small items inside. Playing with this handmade model is akin to stepping into a vegetable market, encountering a plethora of colorful fruits and vegetables, and inhaling various scents. Ultimately, the model undergoes a series of changes, returning to its initial square state, mirroring the cyclical nature behind the scenes of a vegetable market.

The planning and design of the vegetable market exhibit a clear grid pattern, whether at a large scale or down to the finest details. The urban layout surrounding the market and the market's own architecture prominently align with rectangular grids. Zooming into the interior of the market, the arrangement of stalls and spatial layout also follows distinct square shapes. Even the placement of food items, down to the finer details, displays evident sequences of square patterns.

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The overlapping activities of vendors

—— The Mid-scale

When the reimagining of the vegetable market expands to the human scale, the focus shifts to the varied activities of vendors. Vendor activities encompass a range of tasks, including stocking, selling, cleaning, resting, and entertainment, with these changes occurring in daily or semi-daily cycles. In response to the dynamic nature of their activities, a mid-scale reimagining emerges. This involves a customizable device designed to adapt to the evolving activities of the vendors, catering to their needs in both work and daily life.

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Integrating the intallations into the architecture

—— The Large Scale

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04 THE SQUEEZED-OUT GALLERY IN THE CITY A Community exhibition Building in An Ancient town

Site: Zhengzhou,Henan, China Individual work, Fall 2021, 3rd Grade Studio Instructor: Zhihong Liu

In response to the ever-changing urban landscape, this project is a testament to preserving the ancient city's boundaries. Nestled within the historic surroundings, our building is uniquely shaped by the compression of adjacent structures, symbolizing our commitment to heritage. Internally, lush landscapes serve as a compelling force against external pressures, creating a haven for residents. This innovative design houses a Community Exhibition Center, not only functioning as a cultural hub but also as a guardian, empowering residents to safeguard the city's borders amidst the relentless pace of urban development. Our project is a harmonious blend of history, culture, and community resilience.

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Original site plan The design unfolds with an extensive survey and mapping of the original site.

A pivotal decision in preserving the site's authenticity involves retaining the original courtyard, transforming it into a focal point of the architectural interior.

The architectural form is then sculpted with precision, a result of intentional compression by surrounding structures. This deliberate shaping ensures the building seamlessly embeds itself into the site, symbolically guarding the boundaries of the city.

The original buildings

Extract the courtyard from the existing building and preserve it.

The external form is shaped by surrounding structures. The entire building is embedded within the site.

Arrange exhibition spaces around the courtyard.

Organize the visite circulation around the courtyard.

Integrate additional activity spaces within the courtyard.

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1F PLAN

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In this design, a harmonious fusion of wood structures and glass curtain walls enriches the architectural landscape, imparting a nuanced sense of depth to the courtyard. The marriage of wooden elements with the transparency of glass creates a visually compelling and textured environment. The strategic placement of glass curtain walls allows seamless integration of the interior with the surrounding courtyard, promoting a dynamic interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces.

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Xinxin Yan