UCL Urban Design MArch

2018-2024

ARCHITECTURE

PORT F OL I O

WANG Chen UCL | Urban Design MArch

PROLOGUE

Having experienced school life both in village and city, I witnessed the gaps between urban and rural areas in modern China. The quick economic development of the country in recent years highly changed urban people’s life styles, communication ways, and requirements to urban space. The emotional and spatial needs of some special groups of people got more concerns in society. As an architecture major student, I am dedicated to making explorations to solve social problems through space design.

Architecture is a unique way for me to observe and understand the world. It enables me to conduct in-depth analysis of social phenomena and, through interdisciplinary thinking, equips me with the ability to intervene in social issues from a more comprehensive perspective.

Among these four projects, I aimed to focus on the collective issues that are relevant to the current era, explore the hidden emotions and spatial demands of each group, and provide them with soothing and healing through systematic strategies and architectural space operations.

CONTENTS 01

FRONTLINE FACTORY

02

THE NOISE TRANSFORMER

03

BEER MUSEUM FOR SOCIAL LIFE

04

REVIVAL OF METABOLISM

The Research Of The New Urban Renovation

From Chaos to Focus

The Old Buildings Reconstruction Of Qingdao Beer Industry Park

Research Of Flexible Urban Renovation Based On Urban Farming

FRONTLINE FACTORY THE RESEARCH OF THE NEW URBAN RENOVATION Individual work Site Location: Sheffield, UK GFA: 2,000 sqm Project Period: 2023-2024

Sheffield Is The Traditional World Steel Capital. With The Evolution Of The Times, Sheffield's Heavy Industry Has Moved Out Of The City, And The Economic Transformation Has Been Basically Completed. However, What Is Lacking In The Transformation Is That A Large Number Of Suburban Industrial Parks And Single Factories Have Been Abandoned, Accompanied By A Large Amount Of Vacant Land And Rich Natural Resources In The Suburbs. What I Want To Think About Is, Under This Condition, Is It Possible To Reactivate The Suburbs?

Based On The Current Situation Of The Building Land, I Analyzed And Came To Several Conclusions: 1. There Are Many Usable Resources In The Remaining Buildings In The Area, But The Buildings Themselves Are Very Dilapidated; 2. The Functions Of The Building Renewal Need To Be Closer To Unmanned Operation; 3. The Building Should Make Full Use Of Automation Technology And Ai Control Technology; 4. The Building Itself Can Be Self-Built Using A Variety Of Sustainable Materials.

My Design Strategy Is Based On The Existing Factory Building Space, And Tries To Divide It Into Two Layers (Three Partitions), Namely The Handicraft And Industrial Product Processing Area On The First Floor, The Meal Preparation And Coffee Area, And The Urban Agricultural Area On The Second Floor. These Areas Are Composed Of Flexible Spatial Components, Which Can Switch Forms And Quantities At Any Time And Freely Combine To Form Flexible Assembly Lines And Experience Spaces. The Food For Coffee And Light Meals Comes From The Planting Space On The Second Floor, The Energy Required For Industrial Processing And Production Comes From The Solar Panels On The Roof And The Wind Power Device Next To The Building, And The Urban Agricultural Layer Has A Robot-Assisted And Automated Planting System. The Wood And Industrial Raw Materials Produced By Planting Can Be Used For The Growth Construction Of The Building.

Background Research: The Legacy Of The Post-Industrial Era Old Industrial Factory

Downtown Industrial Museum

Workers production Suburban Mall Suburban Forest

The Successful Economic Transformation of Sheffield and the Dilemma of Secondary Use of Suburban Industrial Buildings Sheffield Was Once The World's Steel Capital, With A Large Number Of Steel Factories Located In The City Center And Suburbs. However, With The Economic Transformation, The City Center Buildings Were Renovated And The Suburban Industrial Buildings Were Abandoned. These Houses Cannot Be Used At This Stage Because Of Their Low Economic And Locational Values.

Contradictions: Unused Open Areas And Abundant Material Resources

Industrial Area

Residential Area

River Don

IS IT POSSIBLE TO LINK AND ACTIVATE?

Sheffield Care Trust

Internaltional Stones UK

Farmland

River Don

Residential Buildings Small Townhouses

Global Warming Food Reduction

Lost City Short of Food Support

Ballast Phoenix Sheffield WRD Ltd Rinus Roofing

Industrial City Greenhouse Gas Comsumption

Site Analysis

WOODLAND

GREENLAND

FACTORY BUILDINGS

SITE FACTORY BUILDINGS

FACTORY BUILDINGS

WOODLAND

Large-Scale Spatial Research

Pantheon - 126 AD (Structural Span 43.3m)

Hagia Sophia - 537 AD (Structural Span 31m)

Crystal Palace - 1851 (Structural Span 38m) - Assembly Line Production Method

Holy Mary of the Flower - 1436 (Structural Span 42m)

St. Pancras Station - 1868 (Structural Span 74m) - Centralized Large Space

BMW iFactory - 2020s (Structural Span 105m) - Flexible Production

Design Strategy : a Automated Urban Agriculture Factory

The Previous Status

Activating the Front Square by SelfPlanting Activities

The Land Value Increased and the Funds Will be Gained

The Timber, Mushroom Brick Will be Transported from the FSC Forest

The Beginning of the Enterance and Exit Renovation

The Beginning of the Wall Renovation

Renovating the Roof to Transparent to Get More Sunlight

Renovating the Chimney From an Emission Source to a View Platform

Inserting The Ground Floor Functional Spaces

Inserting The First Floor Functional Spaces

All the Renovation of the Food Factory Completed

The Food Factory Gets into Running

NATURAL MATERIALS Characteristics

Sustainable Production

Flexibility

High Flexibility

Life

Long Service Life

TIMBER

Flexible Construction + Flexible Modules

STRAW

Sustainable Material + Flexible Material

MAN-MADE MATERIALS

Low Carbon Materials

Polluting Production

High Carbon Emissions

Low Flexibility Low Maintenance Cost

RAMMED EARTH Sustainable Material + Flexible Material

BAMBOO

High Toughness + High Strength

Long Service Life

IRON

High Toughness + High Strength

High Maintenance Cost

GLASS

High Transparency + Flexible Modules

BRICK

High Recyclability + Flexible Modules

CONCRETE High Toughness + High Strength

URBAN AGRICULTURE BARNS PROTOTYPE - AXONOMETRIC DIAGRAM -

URBAN AGRICULTURE FACTORY RENOVATION PROTOTYPE - AXONOMETRIC DIAGRAM -

Sheffield Month Average Rainfall

Deep Air Ballon

CO2

Electric Energy

CCR Carbon Capture and and Recycling Technology

CO2

O2

Solar Panels

Water Requirement Per Growing Season (mm/Per m2)

Breathing Process

900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

200mm/ 175mm/ Modular 175mm/ 162.5mm/ Modular Modular Modular

Wheat

Rice

Corn Soybean

CROPS WATER REQUIREMENT DURING GROWING SEASON - SUSTAINABLE METHODS OF FACTORY REFRESHING -

BARNS

GROUND FLOOR PLAN - SUSTAINABLE METHODS OF FACTORY REFRESHING -

River Don, Nr. Rotherham Can Produce 1 Million kWh Per Year (250 Annual Household Solar Energy A Food Factory (1000 m2) Needs Average 0.36 Million kWh Per Year (Peak Produce)

Rainwater

Air Flow

FACTORY RENOVATION _ LOW CONSUMPTION BUILDING - SUSTAINABLE METHODS OF FACTORY REFRESHING -

SECOND FLOOR PLAN - SUSTAINABLE METHODS OF FACTORY REFRESHING -

VIEW OUTSIDE THE FACTORY - VIEW UNDER THE HILL -

FACTORY URBAN ARGRICULTURE AREA - VIEW FROM THE ARGRICULTURE HALL -

FACTORY ENTERTAINMENT AREA AND PRODUCTION AREA - VIEW FROM THE ENTERANCE HALL -

THE NOISE TRANSFORMER FROM CHAOS TO FOCUS Individual work Site Location: Qingdao,CN GFA: 1,800 sqm Project Period: 2022-2023

During the period of staying at home for studying due to the pandemic, I experienced symptoms such as difficulty concentrating on tasks or work, and being prone to anxiety, depression or irritability. To maintain the smooth progress of tasks in daily life, I began to understand the predicament of the ADHD group.

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder. The symptoms of adult ADHD include inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. This condition can cause great troubles in life and work, affecting work efficiency, social skills and self-management, etc.

In recent years, the popularity of color noise mainly resulted from discussions and sharing among the ADHD group on social media. There were over 86 million clicks and views on TikTok. So I envisioned using the areas surrounded by complex noises that are difficult to utilize in cities to build containers that can collect, exhibit, process and listen to the "noise", providing places for the ADHD group to help them concentrate and communicate and help each other. At the same time, creating scenarios also involves placing gray spaces in buildings for people and animals to stay, making the environment a source of noise generation, and participating in the generation process of noise music. This way, it can trigger more social attention to special groups in daily life and contribute more social responsibilities to special groups.

Background Research

Minimalist Meditation

Black Noise

Ultra-low

Blue Noise

High

Violet Noise

High

Grey Noise

Full

Pink Noise

Mid-low

Brown Noise

Mid-low

White Noise

Full

Research Digital Signal Processing Audio Correction Listening Test Sensor Calibration Hearing Protection Acoustic Equipment Calibration Deep Sleep Assistance Treatment for Tinnitus ADHA Focuses on Assistance.

Relax Enhance Concentration

Media

Sleep Aid

"Brown noise has become popular mainly because of the discussions and sharing among the ADHD community on social media."

Scientist

"I find silence too distracting. Brown noise has completely transformed my way of learning."

Student

"Brown noise can enhance the brain's arousal level and enable the diverse neural networks in the brain to function better."

"Basically, any repetitive background noise can make me enter a state of concentrated attention."

Office worker

What kind of environment is needed for ADHD to focus?

Stable Environment

Moderate Communication

Choices Available

Site Analysis

A

B

C

D

E

F

Energy (dB)

Frequency 20 100 500 2k 8k 20k (Hz) 20 100 500 2k 8k 20k Time

20

Daily

100 500 2k

8k

20k

20

100 500 2k

8k

20k

20

100 500 2k

8k

20k

20

100 500 2k

8k

20 100 500 2k 8k 20k

Specific Time

Daily

Daily

Specific

Daily

0m 20

200m

Port

Site m 100

D Park

ay

20k

20 100 500 2k 8k 20k

A

ilw

8k

20 100 500 2k 8k 20k

Freight Railway Station

-s pe E ed Ra

100 500 2k

20 100 500 2k 8k 20k

B

H ig h

20

20k

20 100 500 2k 8k 20k

C

Urban

n ba Ur

F ssway re

Ex

p

Design Strategies

sea

Wind Collector

Noise Processing Space

Set the orientation of the collector according to the prevailing wind direction.

Viewing Space

The space that comes into contact with each of the collectors, facilitating the full creative process for sound designers.

The sea breeze will not merely be an auditory sensation.

Bird Sound Collector

Listening Space

Create spaces with holes to attract birds and other creatures to stay there.

gather

play noisy music

through

A space for ADHD individuals to concentrate and focus.

Coffee Space

Integrate spaces that can generate white noise into the building, while providing communication spaces for ADHD patients.

collect

collect

Resonance Space

The resonance of the high-speed rail track creates the landscape of ripples in the water pool.

Human Voice Collector

Attract people to go through or stay here to participate in the generation process of the audio of noise music.

Rain Sound Collector

Provide noise that is limited by weather conditions.

Generation of Sound Collectors Classify and process according to different types, frequencies and available types of noise, and adopt different spatial strategies to cope with the complex noise environment.

Exploded Axon

Fourth Floor

1 2 Third Floor

3

Second Floor

4 5 6

First Floor 7 8 9 Ground Floor 10

1 Wind Collector

2 Viewing Space

3 Noise Processing Space

4 Resonance Space

5 Coffee Space

6 Rain Sound Collector

7 Listening Space

8 Spatial Staircase

9 Bird Sound Collector

10 Human Voice Collector

Floor Plan

Ground Floor Plan 1 2 3 4 5 6

Bird Listening Space Pool Elevated Open Space Anteroom Lift Storage Room

4

0.000

5

6

0.000

3

1

0.450

2

4 3.000

First Floor Plan 1 2 3 4 5 6

6

Resonance Space Listening Space Lobby Mechanical Room Toilet Lift

2 3 1

Section Drawing

5

Rendering Axonometric Drawing

The Interior of the Bird Sound Collector

Entrance Space

Stilt Space

The Exterior Facade of Bird Sound Collector

Floor Plan

3

Second Floor Plan 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

6.000

Coffee Resonance Space Mechanical Room Rain Sound Space Platform Toilet Lift

3

3

1

6

7 4

5

3

2

4

Third Floor Plan

6

9.000

1 2 3 4 5 6

Resonance Space Sound Design Studio Wind Pipe Mechanical Room Toilet Lift

Fourth Floor Plan 1

2

3

1

15.000

Viewing Platform

1

17.250

Section Drawing

5

Rendering

Social Space

Corridor Space

Listening Space

BEER MUSEUM FOR SOCIAL LIFE An Exploration about Architectural Memories Team work Site Location: Qingdao,CN GFA: 20,000 sqm Project Period: 2020-2021

There Are Some Memory Remained In The Old Spaces Of Old Buildings Even Though These Buildings May Not Be Utilized .Not Only The Spaces Or Structures But Also The Materials Can Awake People's Memory Of These Buildings .The Memories Which Are Remained In These Factors Represent A Kind Of Culture And Emotion Of This District And They May Be The Most Important Factors Of The Old Spaces Because These Factors Can Activate Them And Then They May Not Be Only Lifeless Stones .

Jiluo Road

Riv er City

oad ou R

Dik

SATELLITE MAP OF QINGDAO BEER INDUSTRY PARK

Small Commercial Street

Winery Worker Families

Small Beer Market

City River

QINGDAO BEER INDUSTRY

Shallow and Deep

Beer & Cafe & Disco

Residential Area

Beer Culture Restaurants

Daily Necessities Market

Beer Workshops

Face International Beer and Entertainment

Hotels

CULTURE RELATIONSHIP OF QINGDAO BEER INDUSTRY PARK Qingdao Beer Industry Park Is Located On The Former Site Of Qingdao Beer Company. Qingdao Beer Is An Important Beer Brand In Shandong Province Of China. It Was Industrially Impacted In The 1990s And Gradually Shut Down Production. The Old Site Now Mainly Retains The Production Of Fine Beer And The Promotion Of Beer Culture. The Industrial Park Is A Transformational Strategy Under The Government Policy To Preserve And Transform The Qingdao Beer Culture. The Existing Functions Around The Industrial Park Are Mostly The Cultural And Commercial Industries Under The Leadership Of Beer Culture. The Former Site Of The Brewery Carries The Memories Of The Old Brewery Workers And The Surrounding Residents. The Project Took Place Under The Leadership Of The Government And Qingdao Beer Company, A Design Competition For Industrial Renewal And Cultural Preservation.

1. Original Figure & Ground

2. Align to the Same Axis

3. Pubic Spaces & Planting Area

Figure-Ground Relationship

4. Make some connections

Original Factories Original Brewery

Public

Yard

Width

Openness

Big Areas

Cylinder

Multi

Large

Steps

Renovation Design Thinking Diagram

Abstract Essential Factors of Spaces

As one Industrial Heritage

As one Cultural Center

Time

Abstract Essential Factors of Spaces

As High Yield Factories & Storehouse

As one High Yield Brewery

2024 1970

Central Plaza : People can spend their time resting or enjoy themselves drinking coffee here.

Moat : The moat accommodated 40 years people's memory of the area.

Face International : Including some functions such as restaurants, bowling, KTV, pubs, etc.

Office Building : Many old officers worked in this building since many years ago.

Shallow and Deep : This building was a chamber since many year s ago like face international.

Inhabitant Area : This is the only inhabitant area around here.

Factories Renovation Diagram

Face International

N Planting Area

9 3

10 11

4 5 6 1

9

8

12 12

13 17

12

17

17

5 6

14

14

15

16

5 2 7 14

Original Office Building

14

14

Original Office Building

Ground Plan 1:650 1. Reading Area 2. Enterance Hall 3. Office 4. Storage 5. Resting Area 6. Office 7. Reading Area 8. Courtyard 9. Art Gallery 10. Exhibition Hall 11. Storage Room 12. Mediation Room 13. Storage Room 14. Exhibition Hall 15. Cafe 16. Library 17. Office

2Nd Floor Plan 1:1200

3Rd Floor Plan 1:1200

4Th Floor Plan 1:1200

5Th Floor Plan 1:1200

6Th Floor Plan 1:1200

7Th Floor Plan 1:1200

Plans of The Buildings

Office & Brewery Renovation

45°

Section 1-

This building was one old brewery building in this district with seven floors. There are even no cut-through spaces among the seven floors so that the whole interesting and active spaces are created to make the old brewery building more suitable for users in it. What's more, the inspiration of those "z" shaped spaces one amazing thing which can make sunlight a real factor in utilization

Section 2-

These three old factory buildings were used to store temporarily some raw metarials, equipments or some finished products and then from which places, these cargos extremely good chance to create some interesting spaces. So I designed some louvers to bring sunlight in and make the spaces some change in the vertical level. The shap into two parts in vertical level to make the height of each floor more suitable for people's activity. Secondly, I made some cut-through spaces in eac

45°

-1 1:600

e spaces won't get any change and activity. The design aims to create more changeable and activities for the old brewery building and then, more and more cut-through spaces comes from the master Beaza's design which can bring the sunlight into the bottom of the building through those cut-through floors. That's n. And this factor can make the people more familiar with the spaces.

45°

-2 1:600

can be transported otherwhere. And at the same time, the old factory spaces are a kind of longspan and high altitude space so that this basic condition gives me one pe of the louvers is really delicate and simple so that it can attract a lot of people to come in and make them want to take some activities in it. Firstly, I divided the spaces ch of the factories to motivate the original serious spaces. Finally, I inserted some functions into these buildings such as offices, cafe, bars and so on.

ACTIVITY CENTER IN NEW FACTORY SPACE

ACTIVITY CENTER IN NEW FACTORY SPACE

CENTRAL LIBRARY IN NEW FACTORY SPACE

PERSPECTIVE OF THE LIBRARY & SILO SPACE

REVIVAL OF METABOLISM RESEARCH OF FLEXIBLE URBAN RENOVATION BASED ON URBAN FARMING Individual work Site Location: Qingdao, CN GFA: 250,000 sqm Project Period: 2023-2024

China's urban development has entered an important period of comprehensive urban renewal. Urban construction has shifted from large-scale incremental construction to a combination of quality improvement of existing buildings and incremental structural adjustment. Historical urban areas need functional optimization, while also facing the pressure of maintaining their functions. The current situation of heritage protection and utilization.

Design breaks the old urban renewal model that solely relies on government funds, and proposes that government, citizens, enterprises, public welfare organizations, artists, etc. should jointly participate in the urban renewal of the region, and create funds through internal circulation for spontaneous urban renewal.

Based on the regional characteristics of aging and the urban characteristics of Qingdao's "red tiles and green trees", different types of planting units are introduced at different spatial levels of the area, and five public buildings and urban farms are constructed through site memory to form an economic self-circulation within the region. The additional funds generated are used for the optimization of individual residences and public spaces in different stages and in a progressive manner. At the same time, through regional labeling, additional land value is continuously generated. Attracting investment and forming a virtuous cycle.

Theory Study

What is the relationship between the Metabolists and today's urban regeneration In the 1960s, Japanese architects, faced with the challenge of repairing the damage caused by the war, began to create a vision of Japan's future cities from the ruins. The metabolism believed that just as life grows and changes over and over again in cycles, architecture and cities should be designed organically through metabolism, just like living things. Nowadays, after the high urbanisation of the region, how can we spend less and get more as resources decrease and demands increase? Not necessarily less costly, but more efficient use of materials and labour. Ultimately, can we do more than one thing or produce more than one effect with architecture and urban design from the experience and practice of the metabolism?

Site Analysis

Design Strategies

stage 1

stage 2

stage 3

Axonometric Drawing

Urban Renovation Of Farming Spaces W

ha

rf

Seaside Market 1

Public rental housing farm

Outputs from rooftops, collective open spaces reduce the cost of living in the community

Community Canteens

Second-hand Grocery Shops

Public Bath 2

Family farm

Existing residential renewal area

Artist-in-Residence Area

Creating art products around urban farm

Theatre 3

Super Plant Factory 6

Living Market 4

Accumulator 5

Farm Coffee

Community Canteens

Urban Farming Office

W ha

Inspired by residents' spontaneous use of bubble wrap as containers for private home gardening... a community is built where the use of urban farms can lead to an internal economic cycle.

Additional funds generated were used to improve basic living spaces and public spaces for residents Public Benefit Organisations Helpdesk

rf

Vertical Farm 7

1. Characterization The planting plan along the main axis brings a natural permeable spatial experience to the old city streets.

2. Three-dimensionalization The three-dimensional walking system adds spatial layers to the main axis streets.

3.Multidimensionality The planting modules at different levels enable people to enjoy a rich visual experience from the street perspective.

Urban Renovation Of Public Spaces

Business district

Public rental housing area

Gastronomy/Grocery Leisure/social networking

Bringing in young and middle-aged residents to ease the ageing of the region

Buddhist Hall 1

Library

Youth Activity Space

4

2

Children's Home 3

Beer house 5

Artist-in-Residence Area

Creating art products around urban farm

Creative industry area

Producing crop products from urban farms and the cultural and creative products derived from them

Rehabilitation Centre 7

6 Farm Showcase

Financial Office Area

Providing employment opportunities for newly arrived residents

Financial Office Area

Providing employment opportunities for newly arrived residents

8 Community Centre

9 Fitness and Sport Center

Stereo Garage 10 Existing residential renewal area

Focusing on improving the quality of life of existing households by utilising the benefits generated by the circular economy

Facilities area

Clean energy systems to complement agricultural production on urban farms

1. Old Town Space The courtyards located in the old town retain unique architectural style and safeguard the memory of the site.

2. New Town Space The public activity spaces in New Town have always been integrated with the planting plan.

3. Living Space Attach importance to the needs of the residents and alleviate the conflicts arising between tourists and residents.

Scene Map