Architectural Portfolio

Joy Chen Selected Works 2018-2023

Academic Projects

Professional Projects

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TWIST THE FOREST

MUSEUM LAVALIERE

ESFERA

ATHANASIA

DREAM MENARGERIE

HP KIDSPACE

STELLAR ISLE

MINGHU ECO PARK

01 TWIST THE FOREST International Marine Culture Center Location:Qingdao, China | Project Type: Individual Work | Time period:2018.03-2018.05

Since people have different demands for the size and nature of space at different times, it is necessary to use multiple space natures at different time periods in a limited space, to analyze the control of the surrounding buildings from the macroscopic city level, to conduct analysis of the activities of the residents surrounding the site on the micro level and to add the marine elements of Qingdao so as to design an international marine culture center which integrates exhibitions, conferences and civic activities.

ANALYSIS OF LOCATION

CHINA

RESEARCH ON CUSTOMER GROUPS

SHANDONG PROVINCE

QINGDAO CITY

LAOSHAN DISTRICT

Indoor spaces designed for dining and leisure, aimed at rest and communication.

A health-focused indoor catering area and a rest space designed to spark creativity.

A serene, secure, and cozy area for outdoor activities.

Young People

Adult

Elderly people

An area designed to facilitate and enhance community engagement and activities.

A vibrant living atmosphere, relaxed vibe, and an area suitable for long walks.

A bustling yet secure park, encompassing both a central park and smaller pocket parks.

CITY PLANNING - CULTURE HUB

Exhibition

CONNECTIVITY | CULTURAL | ACCESSIBILITY

Museum

Theater

There are two axes around the base - the political axis and the cultural axis. The political axis takes the Standing Committee of the Laoshan District People’s Congress as the radioactive point and takes the Century Square and in Laoshan District as well as the surrounding Qingdao City Museum and Qingdao Exhibition Center as the axis, which straightly approach to the Olympic Theme Cultural Plaza.The cultural axis is based on the Qing Dao Theatre, which also straightly approaches to the Olympic Theme Cultural Plaza.

DESIGN CONCEPT

SHAPE GENERATION

CONCEPT SKETCH

Embracing Sea Waves: Merging Inspired Forms in Architectural Design

Site: Coastal Confluence

Cultural Axes Impact On Building Design

Design Adaptation

Form Meets Function

Capturing the Wave-Inspired Roof in Motion

Design Forms from the Flow of Waves

Functional Separation

Enhancing Form with Functional Space

Sketching the Undulating Roofline

PHYSICAL MODEL OF WAVE-INSPIRED DESIGN

Capturing The Wave's Essence

Abstracting Waves Into Design

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

INTERFLOW DESIGNS: THE INDOORS UNFOLDING INTO NATURE

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2

3 2 Entrance

2 Exhibition Hall

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View At The Main Courtyard

Introducing the outside view to interior

Leisure Playgroud For All Age Group

Introducing the outside view to interior

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5 7

8 9

Cafe

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Courtyard

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13 14 Lecture Hall

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18 16

Conference Hall

19 20 22 1. North entrance and exit of the venue 2. Entrance and exit of underground garage 3. North entrance 4. Kitchen 5. Bar counter 6. Logistics entrance 7. Collection warehouse 8. Conference room 9. Office area 10. Fire fighting control 11. Exit 12. Sinking hall 13. Interior hall 14. Foyer 15. Closed exhibition hall 16. Storage room 17. Front desk 18. Large lecture hall 19. Storage room 20. Work preparation 21. Equipment room 22. Rest area

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SIDE VIEW OF PHYSICAL MODEL - MAIN COURTYARD

THE TWO FLOOR OF THE EXHIBITION HALL

CIRCULATION AND FUNCATION 1. Library 2. Cafe 3. Lounge 4. Workshop 5. Large lecture hall 6. Exhibition hall 7. Exhibition hall 8. Office area 9. Conference Hall

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CLOSED EXHIBITION HALL

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Circulation Funcation

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3

VERTICAL SECTION DETAILS

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5 6 7

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SECTION PLAN

1 Cobblestone pavings to road 2 500 mm reinforced concrete slab 3 Stainless-steel flat handrail 4 Lam,safety glass balustrade 5 Coated aluminium cladding 6 Top frame to glazing with lam,safety glass double glazing, free to slide max.80 mm to offset structural movement 7 Glass fin over slotted connection to allow for sliding movement 8 Horizontal facade bracing: 3-layer lam.safety glass fin 9 Acoustic soffit:perforated,coated aluminium panels with insulation 10 Oak floor boarding 11 Hollow-steel supporting structure reinf.with longitudinal I-sections 12 Removable cladding: perforated, coated aluminium panels 13 Convector

PHYSICAL MODEL DETAILS This detailed photo captures the essence of the library's design , highlighting its floor-to-ceiling glazing that unobstructed views, seamlessly merging the interior with the outside world. The roof exhibits a series of folded lines, an abstraction from the ocean waves, adding the structure with a sense of movement and fluidity that echoes its sea wave inspiration.

This photograph of the architectural model focuses on the building's courtyard, designed with a blend of open space and structural elements. The courtyard invites natural light and interaction, while above, the roof's wave-like folded lines add a dynamic, sculptural element to the building.

02 MUSEUM LAVALIERE Contemporary Art Museum Location: New York City | Partner: Lexin Liu | Time period: 2022.02-2022.05

This modern art museum is conceptualized as a dialogue between contemporary design and public accessibility, standing next to the geometric clarity of the existing New Museum.

The design journey began with a 2D image inspired by the keyword 'puzzle cube,' conceived through Midjourney. This image was then imaginatively extrapolated into a 3D form. Employing rotation and twisting techniques, the initial cube form was transformed into a building that is both an architectural statement and a welcoming public space.

EXPLORATION IN MIDJOURNEY & RESEARCH

DE-ASSEMBLING THE PRIMITIVE INTO A NEW POSTURE

We exploring formal and spatial potentials for subdividing the geometric primitive in 2D images. Then we move into modeling this in 3D. I started from designing an “imperfect” geometric primitive, a cube, made from interlocking parts. I focused on a primary operation of assembly with a secondary operation for connection, then explore the range of formal, spatial, and material possibilities that this might enable.

After we finished the design of the cube, the next stept is de assmbling the primitive into a new posture. We started to transform the cube into a building. We chose the site of the new museum because we felt that the shape of our model had a sense of vertical upward extension. So after we put the cube on the site, we copied half of the original cube and put it on top, and then we shifted our model in the same way as the new museum shift. Then we found that the centerpiece of our cube was like a staircase that connected the whole building.

EXPLORATION IN MIDJOURNEY

FROM DIGITAL TO HANDMADE MODEL

MOVEMENT | CIRCULATION Playing these “lego” parts, found two parts can connected to all the other parts, which reminds me of the iconic fire escapes in NYC. I decided to move them to the font and face the street. The grand staircase serving as the central conductor, guiding visitors through the museum's diverse experiences. This pathway leads to a variety of destinations: exhibition halls, theater, conference hall, and cafe.

Along their journey, visitors encounter a series of open-air terraces – urban stages that encourage social interaction and cultural exchange. The design concept of 'Socializing on the Staircase' is a tribute to the iconic fire escapes of New York City – not just practical features but also historic settings for community life and storytelling, as immortalized in countless films.

SOUTHSIDE ELEVATION

Open Platform Social Space Central Stairs

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Exhibition Outdoor Garden Sitting Stairs Freight Elevator Passenger Elevator

6 Theater 7 Bathroom 8 Outdoor Balcony 9 Mutifpurpose Room 10 Cafe/Bar

03 ESFERA Comprehensive Educational Institution Location: Los Angeles, CA | Partner: Fang Shu | Time period:2022.09-2022.12

The journey began with the idea: What if the space of a ‘classroom’ was one grand volume with multiple platforms of varied in dimension, floating in the volume. And a network of bridges, ramps, and stairs connect the platforms so the students and teachers can easily move from place to place, to learn from each other and share friendship.

Use this idea we developed a board game Esfera, where players navigate a 3D marble maze using gravity and divided the maze into zones to encourage learning through play. Our incubator maintains a playful aesthetic, offering an open hub for immersive learning. It uniquely combines primary education with university students, with a playground for children to observe and be inspired by adults.

SHAPE GENERATION - THE AFFINITY HUBS

Squaring The Circle/ Cubing The Sphere

One Volume With Multiple Platforms

Occupy The Center Of A Volume

One Volume With Varies Dimension

Moving In Different Zones

Student Centered Learning

FROM A BOARD GAME TO SCHOOL DESIGN - SIGNALS OF CURIOSITY

Bridges + Ramps + Stairs

COLOR ZONING SECTION

Meditation Hub + Garden + Library

Kindergarden + Student Hub

Classrooms + Studios + Labs

GREENWAY

MEDITATION HUB

MAIN ENTRANCE

CAFE & OUTDOOR GARDEN

PUBLIC WALKWAY

CIRCULATION DIAGRAM - School Day Time

CIRCULATION DIAGRAM - Public Night Market

Colored Conceptual Architectural Model with Functional Zoning

04 ATHANASIA Biotech Research Facility Generative Morphologies Location: Los Angeles | Project Type: Group Work | Time period: 2022.09-2022.12

The detrimental effects of the climate crisis, species extinction, as well as drought and famine in the year 2080. have led to drastic shifts in the biopolitics and technological infrastructures distating human survival and inevitable extinction. Similar to the splicing and parsing of genetic code, the building exists as a physical manifestation of spliced form and rigid skeletal lattice structuress that imprint vertical contours on the exterior of the building.

FORM GENERATION

Soft Form + Ribbed Structure

SITE PLAN

ELEVATION - NORTH SIDE

FIFTH FLOOR PLAN

REINFORCED CONCRETE TRANSFER FLOOR 6' x 3' CONCRETE BEAMS

REINFORCED 18'' CONCRETE FLOOR PLATES AND COLUMNS

REINFORCED CONCRETE 18'' GROTTO VOLUME

STRUCTURAL SYSTEM COMPLETE

FLOOR PLAN

BUILDING CHUNK AXON - TERRACOTTA PANEL

EXPLODED TERRACOTTA PANEL BREAKDOWN 01. 4' X 4' BOX STEEL FRAMING 02. STEEL UPRIGHTS, ALUMINUM EXTRUSION AND EPDM THOUGH HOLE BUSHINGS 03. SLUMPED TERRACOTTA RIBS

2D SECTION DRAWING TERRACOTTA TO EGGCRATE

3D AXON DETAIL TERRACOTTA TO EGGCRATE

2D SECTION DRAWING TERRACOTTA ATTACHMENT DETAIL

3D AXON DETAIL TERRACOTTA ATTACHMENT

BUILDING CHUNK AXON - COPPER PANEL

EXPLODED EGG CRATE PANEL BREAKDOWN 01. ALUMINUM FOIL BACKING 02. BATT INSULATION 03. 1/2" STEEL RIB FRAMING WITH 1/2" STEEL PLATE FRONT 04. STEEL WELD AND ELASTOMERIC FLASHING

2D SECTION DRAWING SHOWING GFRC TO COPPER PANEL DETAIL

3D AXON DETAIL DRAWING

2D SECTION DRAWING SHOWING COPPER PANELSYSTEM

3D AXON DETAIL DRAWING

05 DREAM MENAGERIE Immersive Landscape Interactive Narrative Game Partner: Fang Shu | Time period:2023.06-2023.09

Our project works with ‘Narrative Lego’ in producing an interactive narrative film experience for the audience that does not fixate on one singular storyline but one that lets the audiences’ decisions affect the plot, bringing a unique experience for each person as they explore different parts of the monster. The game world is a diverse and immersive landscape, filled with various locations and destinations that the protagonist can explore. These locations are integral to the player's journey and determine the direction of the story.

GAME SCENE SCREENSHOTS

GAME PLAY STORY TREE

SHORT FILM LINK

Game Scene - Cultural Citadel

Game Scene - Nature Oasis

Section Render-Cultural Citadel As Sophie steps into the Cultural Citadel, she's amazed by its beauty. Inside, among the tall pillars and stunning paintings, she feels connected to her culture and roots, finding comfort and a sense of self in the sanctuary.

Within the monster's belly, the cutaway model reveals the interior of the Cultural Citadel.

Game Scene - Emotions Chamber

Leaving the cold world outside, she's surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colors representing different emotions. It's a captivating space where she reconnects with her feelings, finding emotional freedom and healing.

Section Render-Nature Oasis Nature Oasis is a vibrant tribute to nature. Its walls and floors mirror the shapes of valleys and plants, creating a living environment full of unique forms. It invites exploration and celebrates the beauty of the natural world.

This part is a miniature representation that captures the essence of the organic world

Game Scene - Dreamweaver's Spiral

Section Render-Emotions Chamber

Emotions Chamber mirrors human emotions with curved walls and interactive installations.

Shifting spotlights reflect visitors' emotional resonance.

Section Render-Hobbies Haven

Dreamweaver's Spiral is a refuge for personal passions overshadowed by urban life's demands. A colorful archway marks the entrance, depicting various hobbies in vibrant forms. Stepping through, Sophie finds herself in a world of endless possibilities.

The model features a clever circular design. Each section represents a hollow space, like compartments in the monster's belly. Inside are objects Sophie once cherished but let go of for various reasons.

PROFESSIONAL PROJECT Team Role: Junior Designer - SpActrum Contributed to: interior space design , focusing on form design and material selection.

Utilized AutoCAD, Rhino to create accurate and detailed design renderings and technical drawings.

06 HP KIDSPACE

HPKidSpace, the interior project designed

by SpActrum, went into operation in mid2019. Since the project was proposed as a new concept children’s amusement park, the design team tried to look beyond the stylized environment and rigid boundaries of what adults think would normally be found in the children’s world.

Children's Indoor Amusement Park

Project Type: Team Work Time period:2019.01-2020.05

AXONOMETRIC STRUCTURE DIAGRAM

AXONOMETRIC LAYOUT DIAGRAM

07 STELLAR ISLE PROFESSIONAL PROJECT Team Role: Junior Designer - The SpActrum Contributed to: site analyses, early architectural design, form generation, project showcasing.

Utilized AutoCAD, Rhino to create accurate and detailed design renderings and technical drawings.

FORM GENERATION

STEEL STRUCTURE FRAME

MULTIPLE LAYERS OF WALKING PATHS

AXONOMETRIC SECTION VIEW

AXONOMETRIC TOP SECTION

PROFESSIONAL PROJECT Team Role: Junior Designer - HCCI Contributed to: site analyses, architectural design, form generation, project showcasing.

Utilized AutoCAD, Rhino, SU to create accurate and detailed design renderings and technical drawings.

08 MINGHU ECO PARK

The North side of the site is the MingHu Park, a completely natural high eco-park.

Being this close to the park, this program aims to create a green and sustainable new energy vehicle innovation industrial park, to achieve a coexistence with the nature that originally on site.

Sustainable Industrial Park

Project Type: Team Work Time period:2020.05-2021.01

CONCEPT SKETCH

FORM GENERATION

USER RESEARCH

SITE PLAN

SITE SECTION

OFFICE BUILDING RENDER

PATHWAY SECTION

INFINITY