Kaiwen Chen's Portfolio

PORTFOLIO

K A I W E N C H E N

Collection of Works 2021-2024

Previous qualification: MA (Honors) Architecture

Previous institution: the University of Edinburgh

Year completed: 2024

UNCOVER THE TOWER, Dundee, Scotland

Academic Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA)

Individual Work May 2024

Flat For Ever, Paris, France

Academic Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Individual Work May 2022

PORTA, Edinburgh, Scotland

Academic Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Individual Work December 2022

MIRA 130, Pisa, Italy

Personal Project in Prix W Competition

Individual Work April 2023

Gayfield School of Architecture, Edinburgh, Scotland

Technical Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA)

Group Work of Four December 2021

The ARK Community, Miami, United States

Entry in Arch Out Loud Competition

Group Work of Four October 2022

Other Works

Entry in Young Architects Competition

Academic Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA)

Architecture Dissertation at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA)

Technical Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA)

Practice Experience in Guanghua Cambridge

Practice Experience in Yugo

Subject Name: Architectural Design: Tectonic

Year level: Year 4

Tutor’s Name: Fiona McLachlan

Professional email: F.McLachlan@ed.ac.uk

Individual work

This project involves integrating a new structure and program into a Category B-listed building that has been redundant and sealed for hundreds of years. I have developed a stance on retaining the existing fabric while creating two significant new-

openings at the front and back of the elevation. This move creates dynamic interactions between the new and old elements while uncovering the function it used to serve, the structure it stands with, and the memory it contains.

This is a perspective section with conventional CAD drawing on the left and the inverted version of it overlaying onto the photograph of 1:50 fragmental model on the right.

MOVEMENTWITHINSTUDIO5

Usingmovement toformstructure istheleadingconceptofthisretrofitprojectinDundee,Scotland:

This project is designed like a sandwich: The community dance hall is positioned on the first floor due to fire escape consideration; the aerial dance studio is placed on the top floor to reuse the existing trusses; the multi-purpose studio and other services are placed in the middle.

This project is designed like a sandwich: The community dance hall is positioned on the first floor due to fire escape consideration; the aerial dance studio is placed on the top floor to reuse the existing trusses; the multi-purpose studio and other services are placed in the middle.

4 5

3 4 5

2

1st nd

2 G 1st nd

FLAT FOR EVER, Paris, France

Subject Name: Architectural Design: Any Place

Year Level Completed: Year 2

Individual Work

S I T E

ESALA chose a site in a dense residence area: Rue Femand Raynaud, 75020, Paris. The site is located in the central area of Paris. I considered the residents living opposite the site, who used to enjoy the scenery of Paris. A solid residential block would strongly block their view.

S O L U T I O N

To mitigate the impact within the neighbourhood, one series of layering process with plans, sections and physical models on next page shows how eyesight of residents living opposite could cut through a massing block to achieve a proposal with high permeability.

Tutor’s Name: David Byrne Professional email: dbyrne2@exseed.ed.ac.uk

A portrait of my client Annie drawn by charcoal with a study of her living habit. Annie and her husband enjoy having meal and afternoon tea at the corner of their kitchen.

A perspective plan of Annie's previous home drawn with charcoal. This study is essential as my client might be strongly accustomed to the former arrangement.

The client is a pianist. A minor stroke left her partly paralysed. However, by no means was her enthusiasm for piano paralysed. There is a resonance of musical elements throughout the proposal; many parts of the building could be used as performance space, making the apartment a musical instrument.

The wall element appears following the massing, with the envelope of the building enclosed by pillars.

typical floor plan is finished with details on circulations: staircase, elevators, and ramps for wheel chair users

04 03 02 01 08 07 06 05 09 11 12

THE APARTMENT OPPOSITE

Apart from plans, this model shows the residence opposite the site, which heavily influenced the proposal in three-dimensional ways.

To mitigate the impact of the view, the massing is based on the Site Area times Site Height (taken from adjacent buildings) minus Eyesight beams from thresholds of neighbouring residences.

The Eyesight Cut not only takes place on plans but also on sections, because not every level is generous for leaving spaces for residents opposite to have a freat view of Paris.

Mitigation strategies have taken place throughout this project to minimise the influence on the residents living opposite the site.

SYMMETRICAL VIEW

Cutting the mass creates great spaces. For instance, the grid-like facade is the result of intensive cuttings.

By imitating the elevation from the neighbourhood, it provides a symmetrical scene when pedestrians pass the street between. The permeability of the facade could be adjusted by dragging curtains.

MODEL AFTER ITERATIONS

This model presents the final proposal after multiple iterations, showing how the main body of the project fits into the earth.

The building is built on a slope: by keeping the floor of the concert hall on the same level as the entrance, maximise the accessibility of our client, a wheelchair user to her piano performance.

SITE

Based on the plan below, one physical model of 50 carved section pages layering together is produced on the right. This model is an attempt to use two-dimensional elements to generate three-dimensional space. To achieve that, 50 parallel lines are drawn onto the printed version of the plan above. The intersections of the lines and the wall elements are stabbed onto 50 cardboard; they are then carved according to the floor height and layered together to become a volume.

Two photographs shown on the right are the same model with different directions and sources of lighting: The figure above illustrates the model with artificial lighting from above. The figure below uses the sun as the light source, illuminating the volume of the apartment with the first rays of the morning sun from the threshold.

An architectural CT

Axonometric diagram

A line drawn over the plan starts to generate a section from the intersections on a tracing paper.

LIVING ROOM OF THE DAY

Here is a view of one of the living rooms within the apartment, which is adjacent to the concrete service core and faces southeast.

As the client is a wheel chair user, this project is an apartment designed for all wheelchair users. To maximise the accessibility for every resident, stairs are replaced with ramps. The leading concept is to have a sloped level change on each floor connected with ramps to achieve a continuous sloped way for wheelchair users towards the rooftop. (Parisian love chilling on the roof)

At the same time, the height difference of floor plates maximises the connectivity between floors. This maximises the accessibility of wheelchair users to communicate between floor levels without body movement.

PERSPECTIVE SECTION WITH TECHNICAL DETAIL

This perspective cut shows two levels of the apartment within Flat for Ever in greater detail, with the material assembly carefully illustrated: Cross-laminated timber is used in most building fabrics, mainly within living rooms and bedrooms, as the wood texture generates a softer atmosphere. Concrete is used for bathroom and kitchen flooring, as well as the service core and the elevator shafts, based on their water-proofing performance.All the service areas are arranged and condensed into rectangular zones, with the ceiling storing pipes and the flooring allowing vertical perforation.

PORTA, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Subject

andy.summers@ed.ac.uk

SMART CONTRACTS

Illustration showing how people use Porta as a media for social networking

CHANGE THE WAY YOU TALK

Good news, now you can do more with your phone:

1. you can use the app to check the status of the person next to you and whether he/she wants to chat. (provided that they are Porta users and agreed to show their status, please see screenshots on the right)

2. you can now decide on some parts of your city by spending tokens. You can re-colour some facades of your city or adjust the height of some modules that are part of the Porta project.

VIDEO TUTORIAL AVAILABLE

Users have an opportunity to engage in fun and simple tasks aimed to help circulate the society through the Porta app, like language exchange and mentoring of all kinds, which would help them earn Portokens and spend them on activities and urban adjustments. Please scan the QR code on the right to watch the video tutorial I produced for the PORTA application.

SELF SUFFICIENT SYSTEM

Above is a diagram illustrating how Porta App work. The main audience of the app is locals and arrivals within a city, with a target age range of 18-50. PORTA App encourages the two groups to socialise and exchange knowledge in a self-sufficient ecosystem.

PROCEDURE

Below are screenshots from the Porta app, working as a step-by-step course for beginers to be familiar with the interface.

Settings Porta needs to know your location first

Porta Homepage Six functions in total, click PorTALK

Portalk: Choose your status For instance, select I am Happy to talk now

Portalk: Map A Map showing Porta users nearby

Portalk: Instructions Tips need to know before tapping others

Portalk: Select your status You can decide if you want to talk or not

Portalk:

Illustration showing the occasion using PORTA and the Interface of the app

ARRANGEMENT THE SQUARE

This arrangement maximises the circulation underneath, which could be an extension of the artist market from the Tron Kirk or alternative markets. The extended rooftop area has the potential for outdoor activities, from seminars to sports.

This arrangement creates an appropriate space for lectures, movies, concerts, etc. Besides, the structure formed six semi-enclosed spaces for seminars of smaller scales underneath, separated by five vertical ventilation ducts.

ARRANGEMENT THE PYRAMID

ARRANGEMENT THE THEATRE2 3 1

This arrangement provides a 360-degree panoramic view around the junction of the Royal MIie and the South Bridge. It followed a similar structure with the stairs to the existing Hunter Square, which pedestrians could sit and rest on.

RHINO ITERATION IN STEP III

RHINO ITERATION IN STEP III

RHINO ITERATION IN STEP III

Preliminary Sketch: The Tron Kirk at the center of Edinburgh is picked. The urban pattern is being studied, resulted in a semicircle.

PERSPECTIVE SECTION

The perspective section on the right illustrated the space created by Porta: the upper part is for viewing the city with a higher altitude, and the lower part is sheltered for sitting and holding events.

The sloped edges are carefully designed with continuous drainage groove to prevent pedestrians from falling off.

ENTRANCE TO THE VAULTS

A rendered view of the entrance to the vaults underneath the South Bridge. The entrance is one of the five separation elements, while the other four serve as ventilation shafts of the basement.

HOW THIS STRUCTURE WORKS

The liftable structure of the individual parts is illustrated: the upper part is adjusted by the five columns (the separation elements also serve as ventilation shafts), and the underground device supports the lower part.

The cross-section reveals that one of the columns is a staircase that leads to the vaults below the South Bridge.

SECTION SHOWING VARIATION

The section on the left cutting through the Tron Kirk church shows how the project fits into the ground and connects to the church's back door.

POTENTIAL ARRANGEMENTS

This section illustrated the exact position of each building element in the three example arrangements on page 9: Square, Theater and Pyramid, from which more potential arrangements could be imagined.

Axonometric Diagram illustrate the section line. The perspective section is showing in black and the variation section is showing in white.

PorTaste:

The site behind Tron Kirk is on a downward slope. Adding an uphill ramp starting from the Royal Mile offers two options to pedestrians: they can either walk to the top or lower down.

Porta Homepage

PorTable:

PorTable:

PorTask:

MIRA 130, Pisa, Italy

M A S S I N G

This proposal is for affordable housing, which means a limited budget. Container is relatively inexpensive as construction material:1,300 euros per used.

Regarding availability of reused cotainers, Pisa is a coastal city, and according th the iste plan, the site is 68 meters away from one railway track. In addition, Container construction could be completed within a short period of time as the on-site concrete foundation is not required.

The site is associated with an 80 m x 44 m canopy, while adjustment is not allowed on the existing structure. Massing process is completed with a shape of ’M‘ to maximise the view from each thresholds.

Axonometric diagram illustrates assembly logic

Final Render From Northwest Perspective

MIRA 130, PISA, ITALY

3. Dwelling: Spatial Coordination

MODULE:

The module is based on 40’ ISO containers, which show 2.44 meters in width, 12.19 meters in length and 2.59 meters in height.

CIRCULATION:

A central corridor evenly divided each container into two households to reach three internal and four external staircases.

PUBLIC SECTOR:

Public spaces are incorporated to enhance residents' quality of life and promote social interaction to create a sense of community. Semi-outdoor parks and plazas are reserved in the triangular area formed by the ‘M’ shape. The common areas are plans at the junctions of each housing block. The function includes communal lounges, studies, laundries and bike parking, achieved by five containers lying in series.

4. Engineering: Technical Design

The installation of plumbing and electrical systems were integrated into the structure under permits and codes.

I developed a scheme with two types of modulus, with all vertical pipes in the serving unit to serve utilities. One living unit and one service unit combine into one household of two beds.

This plan illustrates all the households on the typical floor, the common areas (Laundries and study rooms), the circulation (three elevators and ten staircases), and the ten pillars supporting the existing canopy.

x 14

Studio with double bed x 26 Study x 4 FIRST FLOOR

Studio with one bed x 14 Studio with double bed x 26

x 2

x 1

GROUND FLOOR

Studio with one bed x 14

Studio with double bed x 18 Laundry x 1

Reception x 1

x 1

BRIEFING

The Module is based on reused 40' ISO containers, which show 2.44m in width, 12.19 m in length and 2.59 m in height.

The containers are cut through from the middle part, forming a continous corridor when they are adjacent to each other.

ENGENEERING

The installation of vertical plumbing and electrical wire were integrated into service modules.

One living unit and one service unit combine into a household of two beds.

LIVING

The living zones are condensed with bedroom, study area, and a wardrobe. The door facing the entrance leads to a balcony, which could be indoor when window is closed.

SERVING

All the kitchen are planned on the balcony of the household. This allowed the air to circulate to its maximum extent. The position of the sink is designated for seeing outside while dish-washing.

Final rendered view of the living area

Final

Axonometric diagram illustrates the assembly logic

Gayfield School of Architecture, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Subject Name: Architectural Design: In Place

Year level completed: Year 2

Tutor’s Name: David Byrne

Professional email: dbyrne2@exseed.ed.ac.uk

Group Work with Yuchen Peng (Diagrams), Chang Yang (Survey & Sections), Shuyan Zhang (Elevations & CAD Plans) I was responsible for Model Making, Perspective Drawings, Rendering and Technical Drawings in this project.

This project is an extended teaching block for ESALA's architecture department, located north of Calton Hill, between Union Street and Gayfield Square, where the Gayfield Police Station and 23 Union Street currently stand. (coloured in black in Fig. 1) Taking advantage of the four-meter height difference between the two parallel streets and bringing in the public flow is the heart of this proposal. (Fig. 2)

MASSING MODEL 1

This proposal took the Aarhus School of Architecture by ADEPT and Vargo Nielsen Palle as a precedent to achieve a stepped building exterior, which brings light to more parts of the interior spaces.

MASSING MODEL 2

This proposal retained the central parking area of the Gayfield police station. The semi-outdoor square could be converted into an ample gathering space for various activities, exhibitions or resting purposes.

3

This proposal generated a pathway in the middle, which facilitates the students' passage. Meanwhile, the path increases connectivity between the parallel roads for the neighbourhood.

Three massing models are made to test out with diffrent shapes that may well fit into the landscape. Plaster casting is used as it best duplicates the robustness and bulkness of an industrial architecture. All of them had contribution to our later proposal which consists stepped exteior, large gathering area and a central route.

Fig. 1 Site location diagram made by Yuchen Peng

Fig. 2 Distribution diagram by Yuchen Peng

MASSING MODEL

Horizontal Section with axonometric context

Concrete is the primary material, combined with rigid insulation and waterproof membrane. Trowel mortar, slate and lying spraying are used as the external finish. In addition, the rainwater is collected by the drainage slope.

ANGELED WALL

The 25-degree angled walls formed the shape of a sawtooth, referring to the industrial ideology of design. Each angled wall plays important roles: separating spaces deliberately, directing the flow of visitors, bring in proper sunlight and wind, and preserving sense of privacy by blocking the direct view from the opposite residence.

Plan (by Shuyan Zhang) showing where the perspective section is cut from

This proposal takes into account the convenience of the local neighbourhood by introducing a shortcut in the middle connecting the two streets. Due to the four-meter height difference between two ends, the section shows different heights varied with different floor levels.

High differences often generate attractive spaces: from the axonometric section on the right and the perspective section below, the studios and the workshops benefit from the sunlight from the public passageway above during the day.

GSA will offer workshop-based courses specifically for students as a tribute to the industrial history of the site. GSA merges the workshop and studios into one space to encourage workshopbased work.

Longitudinal Section with axonometric context

SHORTCUT MAKES A LIVE

The ARK Community, Miami, United States

Entry in Arch Out Loud Competition

Group Work with Xiaowen Wang (Interior Design), Xinling Yu (Landscape Architecture), MIngrui Jian (Sustainability Strategy) I was responsible for CAD Plan Drawing, Digital Modelling, Rendering and Technical Drawing in this project November 2022

This project aims to solve the rising problems of both population and sea level on the east coast of Miami: the floating land is based on cargo vessels, with water recycling systems and public spaces located at the center of the community. Each flat unit follows a rational plan, where utility zones are fixed in long series to replace the function of walls as they divide each flat themselves. Units can be expanded by opening up the utility areas. The rectangular areas between utility zones can be divided by additional partitions for flexible function: living rooms, bedrooms, etc.

Potential climate change is a concern; the building fabric is resistant to extreme weather, as illustrated on the right, and the floating land could be dismantled into ships with installed engines to escape from any climate catastrophe.

Horizontal Section

A SOLID SEA, Queensferry, Scotland, United Kingdom

Elective at ESALA

Individual Work

December 2023

Year level completed: Year 4

Tutor's Name: Victoria Clare Bernie Professional email: v.bernie@ed.ac.uk

In this course I focused on gathering information on marine acitivities and produce a site drawing within Firth of Forth in Scotland. Here comes the Solid Sea Project, which is a new invention with the point of view centerd on the line of the Road Bridge. From the Bridge, there is potential to chart the relentless passage of vessels linked to Scotland's material and tourist economy: oil tankers, cruise ships, tugs, yachts, fishing boats, naval and coastguard boats.

Using on-site observation and MarineTraffic app, I mapped the river traffic in an attempt to draw out the density of movement in a single section of the Forth. Transcribed onto a planimetric drawing, these vessels and their routes began to make manifest a 'solid sea', a densely occupied waterway. Sections drawings of vessels were laser engraved or etched on Perspex sheets.

The site drawing was further extended beneath the water charting wrecks and bathymetry, and from there, the perspex became historically deep and thick like a slice of crystallised time, acknowledging the critical role of the Forth in the conflicts of the 20th Century. More Perspex sheets could be produce to look at different times and locations by borrowing the methodology.

The resulting work, an immersive installation combining film projection onto etched Perspex to a wall, map drawing and vessel identification cards, plays as the site of intense mapping, allowing visitors to review the vessel activities within one area throughout history in an architectural way.

The figures below show arrangement and a close look of the key elements in the final installation.

ALIHIES MEDITATION CENTER

Entry in Young Architects Competition Group Work of three July 2022

A competition entry that turns mine ruins into several semienclosed spaces for meditation purposes.

CROOK-HEY BEADHOUSE

Academic Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA)

Individual Work

May 2021

A project that refurbished the old Crook-hey Hall into dwelling places for the old, with a risk of rising sea level.

A SOUND ASSESSMENT

Technical Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Group Work of four May 2022

A technical study of how building fabric fliters noise in detail, and the role of acoustic elements in social structure.

2020 GRADUATION YEAR BOOK

Practice Experience in Guanghua Cambridge

Individual Work

June 2020

A design and composition of graduates' profiles and contacts into a publication. This design was published over 500 copies.

LAYER OF TRUST

Practice Experience in YUGO Student Living Ltd

Individual

A diagram illustrate all the locks within a student accommodation.

holders have different 'permeability' to the building.

BETWEEN LOCAL AND GLOBAL

Architecture Dissertation at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA)

Individual Work

December 2023

This research uses container as a global object to reveal the regional differences in climate, law and economic factors.

ST MARK PAVILION

Technical Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Group Work of four

March 2022

A detailed study of the mortice and tenon technique in achieving structural stability without using nails.

DESIGN REPORT OF VITA FOUNTAINBRIDGE

Practical Reflection at the University of

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of

CANAL POINT RESIDENT GUIDE

Practice Experience in Yugo Student Living Ltd

Individual Work

April 2023

A user guideline of a student accommodation in Edinburgh, from room assembly to fire safety strategy.

ALTAY WATERSIDE INN

Academic Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Individual Work

A study of building elements: ground, wall, roof, with final assembly of the three components onto a site.

SCALE & SECTION

Elective at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA)

Individual Work

April 2022

A study of the object 'section' in various scale, from micro cells to macro universe, through ways of digital painting.