Portfolio for University College London Design for Manufacture MArch - Xu Huaiye

GRACEFUL LIFE OF BUILDINGS

PORTFOLIO OF HUAIYE XU Selected Works 2019 - 2023

Architecture. Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University ID Number: 24089531 For the Application to Design for Manufacture MArch University College London

PROLOGUE

CONTENTS

Architecture is a profound journey of life, transcending mere form and function, much like a mythical tree carrying the depth and richness of existence.

01. FROM GREY TO GREEN

In my perspective, architecture surpasses simple form and utility; it is an intricate odyssey of life. I liken architecture to a mysterious tree, one that connects the past, present, and future—a tree of life. It symbolizes not only a material structure but also an organic response to culture, history, and emotion.

Renovation of abandoned cooling tower

02. URBAN RENEWAL Revitalizing fishing village vibrancy

Each architectural project, akin to a branch of the mythical tree, records the depth of time and bears the significant chapters of life's journey. In this portfolio, my pursuit extends beyond the perfect amalgamation of form and function to a profound exploration of history and emotion. I strive to create spaces that resonate with individuals, elevating architecture beyond material existence and into a spiritual experience where culture intersects with life.

03. THE WAY OF HAJJ Pilgrimage cultural expedition to Kashgar

This is the aspiration of each project — a quest for the vitality of architecture, aiming to craft spaces that linger in memory. Each undertaking responds to diverse environments, maintaining a balance between honoring tradition and embracing an open-minded approach to meet future challenges. This portfolio echoes my voice, offering a unique experience of architectural vitality, with the hope of immersing you in the life of these structures. It transcends mere architectural design, evolving into a reflection and expression of the journey of life.

04. ROCK ART MOUNTAIN HOTEL Infusing the culture of stone dwellings

FROM GREY TO GREEN:

SITE AND AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS

RENOVATION OF ABANDONED COOLING TOWER

Brussels

Loction: Brussels, Belgium Duration: July to September 2023 Individual Competition Work The project addresses industrial pollution by transforming an abandoned cooling tower into a modern air quality monitoring tower. This initiative aims to create an iconic landmark, raising awareness about local air quality issues. Advanced sensors and data analysis systems will be utilized for transparency, allowing residents and visitors to easily comprehend environmental conditions. The monitoring tower will also house an interactive exhibition space, serving as an educational hub to impart knowledge about air pollution and environmental conservation. These measures are aimed at achieving a healthier, more sustainable future.

Belgium

air pollution in Belgium

sources of air pollutant emission

emissions of air pollutants

emission industry segmentation

Bare land Green space Buildings Industrial area

CONCEPT To address industrial pollution, a solution involves diverting polluted gases through abandoned cooling towers to an air monitoring center. The data from the center, along with information from databases, early warning systems, and quality monitoring laboratories, can be utilized for prevention and treatment measures.

RENOVATION STRATEGY SHAPE

INTERIOR SPACE

FUNCTION

Hyperboloid

Funnel-shaped structure

Cooling the heat source

Add framing system

Access through the core tube

Monitoring air quality

OLD & NEW CONSTRUCTION

Planting Area

Framing System

Corridor

Monitoring Area

Monitor Runway

Circuit

Cooling Tower

Office Area

EXHIBITION AREA PLAN

OFFICE AREA PLAN

+ 4.000

+ 10.000

RECEPTION AND EXHIBITION AREA Upon entering the cooling tower, visitors and office personnel can see the reception area as well as an exhibition area showcasing local surroundings

1. Exhibition Area 2. Reception Area 3. Conference Room 4. Office Space 5. Lecture Hall 6. Monitoring Hall 7. Planting Room

MONITORING AREA PLAN

PLANTING AREA PLAN

+ 34.000

+ 50.000

MONITORING LABORATORY AREA The cooling tower has two separate laboratories for scientists to conduct experiments inside,The corridor at the bottom provides leisure space for the internal office staff

SECTIONAL PESPECTIVE

Planting Area (+50.000)

Corridor

MONITORING AREA

Monitor Monitoring Area (+34.000)

Researchers can observe local environmental data in real time in the monitoring hall and communicate on the stairs

Tower Crane Runway

Science Lab

Office Area (+10.000)

Exhibition Area (+4.000)

PLANTING AREA The planting area at the top of the monitoring tower can be viewed by tourists and improve local air quality

Urban Renewal

REVITALIZING FISHING VILLAGE VIBRANCY Loction: GuangDong, China Duration: October to December 2023 Individual Academic Work

Yinkeng Village is an old historical village established in the Northern Song Dynasty. As the village is near the South China Sea,The villagers mainly live on fishing.With the continuous development of urbanization, Most of the young people in the village went to the city to work, and most of the people who stayed in the village were the elderly and children.The village has stagnated and lost its vitality. Due to the lack of reasonable planning for the village, the villagers spontaneously set up their own houses in the village, which made the layout of the village more disordered.In 2018, the ZhuHai municipal government opened the Yinkeng village demolition work, set up by the local villagers in the 1980s since the building need to be removed, however local historical building is carrying too much local memory needs to be preserved, so I hope to retain the original on the basis of historical architecture design a system with local characteristics to stimulate the local energy.

PROBLEMS AND SITUATION

THE PAIN OF THE OLD YINGKENG VILLAGE 01 The building of the Yingkeng village are about to be demolished because of the need for urban renewal.

During this period ,developers want to seize the opportunity to make money ,govern-ment officals want to develop the village.

02 People believe that money can solve these problems.

But there exists another question, the culture and life style of thre Yingkeng village will also disappear.

NEW YINGKENG VILLAGE 03 The government's conceptual plan does not take into account the feelings of local residents.and is only intended to get the villagers to move to other places There is a huge gap between the new village and the old Yingkeng village.

fishing net

04 Old Yingkeng village has profound culture values and we want our own culture.

THEORETICAL FOUNDATION Frei Otto first conducted the famous wool experiment in 1988, in which dry and loose staggered wool was immersed in water and slowly raised to obtain wet wool .If the straight line between two points is bent and overlapped properly ,a new place combination form will be generated . If it is taken as the unit system of the city, a more experiential urban cell composed of the shortest path will be obtained.'' In the project, the wool experiment also used to plan the site public space.

SITE ANALYSIS Yingkeng Village 1. The South China Sea 2. Urban residential area 3. Farmlands 4. Yinxi Banyan tree Plazza 5. River 6. Dock

FRAME ANALYSIS

Originally crowded buildings

1980s BC Architecture Historical Architecture

Frame + Pipes

Disassemble some buildings into frames

Frame + Two pipes connected

Frame + Three pipes connected

The new systematic village

Frame + Four pipes connected

DATA ANALYSIS

FLOOR PLAN ANALYSIS

Node dispersion: 0.1 Branch concentration: 340

Node dispersion: 0.2 Branch concentration: 340

Node dispersion: 0.3 Branch concentration: 340

Node dispersion: 0.4 Branch concentration: 340

Node dispersion: 0.5 Branch concentration: 340

Node dispersion: 0.6 Branch concentration: 340

Node dispersion: 0.1 Branch concentration: 360

Node dispersion: 0.2 Branch concentration: 360

Node dispersion: 0.3 Branch concentration: 360

Node dispersion: 0.4 Branch concentration: 360

Node dispersion: 0.5 Branch concentration: 360

Node dispersion: 0.6 Branch concentration: 360

Node dispersion: 0.1 Branch concentration: 380

Node dispersion: 0.2 Branch concentration: 380

Node dispersion: 0.3 Branch concentration: 380

Node dispersion: 0.4 Branch concentration: 380

STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

Node dispersion: 0.5 Branch concentration: 380

Node dispersion: 0.6 Branch concentration: 380

Node dispersion: 0.1 Branch concentration: 400

Node dispersion: 0.2 Branch concentration: 400

Select the important nodes in the village.

Through these nodes, a 12m *12m grid is established.

Due to the flow of people and other factors to give different weights to nodes.

Connect the two sets of points to each other.

Node dispersion: 0.3 Branch concentration: 400

Node dispersion: 0.4 Branch concentration: 400

Node dispersion: 0.5 Branch concentration: 400

Node dispersion: 0.6 Branch concentration: 400

The optimal solution is selected according to the data analysis.

Put the new system into the existing buildings in the village.

Demolish self-built houses that overlap with the system.

Form a new system according to the planned path.

a a

b

b

c c

SITE ANALYSIS The lost place of the path to the Holy Land

MAIN ROAD Roads lead people to reach the holy land

main location residential area main road

THE WAY OF HAJJ SILK ROAD MUSEUM

Loction: Kashgar, China Duration: June to September 2022 Individual Academic Work The design concept of this building is Silk Road Museum that embodies innovation and cultural heritage. It not only focuses on showcasing the history and culture of the Silk Road, but also cleverly combines architectural elements such as domes, arches, and columns through the application of spatial typology. These elements form four distinct spatial experiences symbolizing the stages of 'purification,' 'interaction,' 'exploration,' and 'sublimation,' aiming to reveal the diverse cultures and profound history along the Silk Road. In the design process, we fully considered local folk cultural elements in order to integrate the architecture with local culture. In each space, we incorporate local customs, traditional arts, and handics into the design through careful decoration, exhibited artifacts, and multimedia presentations. Both visually and experientially, it creates a captivating and immersive cultural journey for visitors.

Trade

SITE BACKGROUND

Adventure

Cultural Exchange

Pilgrimage

Activities

Prototype

Building Component

Taj Mahal

Dome

Anfiteatro Flavio

Arch

Parthenon

Column

Minaret

Helix

Meditation room

Spiritualization

Gallery

Stage

Interaction

Leisure

Square

Exploration

Exhibition hall

Prayer room

Sublimation

Spiral gallery

Language

Scene

Unit Layout

Concept Plan

Process

In the first part, a continuous curved surface in the space is used to give people space to explore, reminding people of the arduous journey of the Silk Road. The atrium provides a space for meditation, with light guiding through the glass on the upper level.

In the third part, people visit different exhibition halls to enjoy exhibits about the Silk Road. The columns lining the periphery suggest the suffering of the Silk Road.

In the second part, through the use of changes in the form of the arch to form exhibition spaces of different sizes, people can understand the history and culture of Kashgar by watching the show.

In the forth part, when people walk on the spiral staircase in the middle, the reflection of the mirror makes people feel as if they are in the Silk Road, and finally walk to the top of the circular platform, and the spirit is further sublimated.

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

Exhibition Hall

Square

Gallery Meditation Room

0

5

10M

ROCK ART MOUNTAIN HOTEL

MEGALITHIC DWELLING ANALYSIS

INFUSING THE CULTURE OF STONE DWELLINGS

Public Buildings

Loction: Monsanto, Portugal Duration: April to June 2022 Individual Academic Work

Residence

Based on the megalithic dwellings and local stone art in the Portuguese village of Monsanto, the aim was to create a unique mountain homestay.

The site is located on a hillside, and we will fully respect and utilize the existing stone and topographical features to ensure that the building and the environment coexist in harmony. The exterior of the building will blend sheet walls and megalithic structures to create a unique look, and the interior Spaces will create a variety of different experiences. These Spaces will cater to the various needs of guests, offering opportunities to relax, socialize, create art and enjoy the natural views. Work with local stone artists to integrate their work into the building while providing workshops and exhibition spaces.The design concept of the Stone Art Mountain Homestay at Monsanto Village is to bring together nature, culture and art to create a unique travel destination that offers guests an unforgettable experience while respecting and preserving the local traditions and environment.

Base Section

SITE BACKGROUND Ancient human statues

The elderly people

Tourists Explorers

TRADITIONAL MEGALITHIC HOUSE

Steel

The vermilion tiles

Local granite

Megalith

Timber

MEGALITHIC ASSEMBLAGE

The Building Divider

The Building Wall

The Building Ground

The Building Roof

The Building Platform

CONCEPT

AXONOMETRIC DRAWING

TYPOLOGY RESEARCH 1

2

3

4

5

FORM GENERATION

The site is located on a hillside strewn with megaliths

Platform for positioning based on megaliths

The platform is divided into hotel lobby and guest room area

The entrance is formed through the combination of megaliths and sheet wall

The combination of megaliths and sheet wall forms the guest room area

Skylights and curtain walls give the experiencer a good view

ENTRANCE LOBBY FLOOR PLAN

RECEPTION AND STONE GALLERY GUEST ROOM FLOOR PLAN

1. Reception Area 2. Stone Gallery 3. Waiting Area 4.Bar Counter 5. Swimming Pool 6. Guest Room 7. Changing Room

ENTRANCE AND WAITING AREA

A-A Section

B-B Section Waiting Area

Hotel Lobby

Guest Room

Outdoor Swimming Pool

OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL

ELEVATION OF MOUNTAIN HOMESTAY

INDOOR GUEST ROOM

LOBBY AREA

EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC

Reception And Stone Gallery

Entrance And Waiting Area

Outdoor Swimming Pool

Guest Room

GUEST ROOM AREA

DETAILED SECTION

Concrete masonry unit wall 80mm insulation

Brick veneer Spray-applied closed -cell high density foam Drained and vented cavity

WALL STRUCTURE DETAIL

Lintel Lining board 60mm sand 80mm insulation

250mm thick concrete raft foundations

FOUNDATION STRUCTURE DETAIL

Steel frame

WINDOW STRUCTURE DETAIL