Kaiwen_Chen_Portfolio_for_UCL

PORTFOLIO KAIWEN CHEN Collection of Works 2021-2023 Application number: 24093309 Application for MArch Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 2) [TMHARCSING09] in the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London's Faculty of the Built Environment

Right: My presentation of a new method of Site Drawing

CONTENTS

Flat For Ever, Paris, France

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

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PORTA, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Academic Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Individual Work December 2022

MIRA 130, Pisa, Italy

13 - 14

Personal Project in Prix W Competition Individual Work April 2023

SOLID SEA, Queensferry, United Kingdom

15 - 17

Practice Experience with Victoria Clare Bernie Individual Work December 2023

ARK Community, Miami, United States

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Technical Study in Arch Out Loud Competition Group Work of Four November 2022

Gayfield School of Architecture, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

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Technical Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Group Work of Four December 2021

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 Student Living Ltd Elective at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA)

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Table of Contents

ACADEMIC STUDY I FLAT FOR EVER, Paris, France

Site Analysis, Paris, France

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

Degree Work at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Group Work with Yuchen Peng (Plans), Chang Yang (Section), Shuyan Zhang (Elevations) March 2022

CLIENT INFORMATION

SITE INFORMATION Please scan the QR code above to watch the movie of my client living in the proposal.

The client is a pianist, as illustated below. A minor stroke left her partly paralysed. However, by no means her enthusiasim for piano was paralysed. There is a resonance of musical elements throughout the proposal, many parts of the building could be use as performance space, making the apartment a musical instrument. As the client is a wheel chair user, this project is also an apartment designed for other wheelchair users. To maximise the accessibility for every resident, stairs are replaced with ramps.

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.

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MY CLIENT ANNIE

MY CLIENT'S FORMER HOME

This is a charcoal portrait of my client and a study of my client's living habit. She and her husband like to have meal and afternoon tea at the corner of their kitchen.

Other routine include:

Above is a perspective of Annie's home drawn with charcoal. it is essential to study the former arrangement of an old, as she might strongly depends on her daily route. The main function of her former home are: 1. Kitchen & Dining room 2. Secondary Bedroom 3. Bathroom 4. Study with piano

Academic Study I

5. Vestibule with closet 6. Chamber 7. Master Bedroom 8. Atrium 3

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

Kaiwen Chen

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Windows and views of the two residences which would be affected by the constructions are outlined.

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Auxiliary lines are extended and offset from each threshold of the residence opposite to the site.

An attempt of the plan following the shape of massing. At this stage the geometry is more tentative, with the temporary ignirance of the boundary.

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By setting another angle, a grid is created and each shafts could be focused on specific points.

A tracing paper is layered onto the plan. A line starts to generate a section from the intersection with the plan.

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Main cuts are made to suggest specific path for every single threshold that will be affected by us.

More details are added onto the tracing paper. At this stage, I have explored the posibilities of level change to its maximum.

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

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The typical floor plan is completed with details on circulations, including a staircase and a elevator.

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Specific measurement is given to the structure by re-drawing those sketches on AutoCAD.

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The CAD Typical Floor Plan is finished with a clear architectural language, with furniture being placed.

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When the typical floor plan is confirmed, it became the template for generating lower ground level plan.

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Basement floor plan is finished for space to park vehicles. (Ramp for cars is located on the right)

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A communicative diagram is produced to explain the function and geometry of the floor plan.

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ESALA is seasonally exhibiting these drawings in the Matthew Architecture Gallery in Minto House.

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Academic Study I

THE APARTMENT OPPOSITE

MAKE EYE AS KNIFE

MODEL AFTER ITERATIONS

Apart from plans, this model shows the residence opposite the site, which heavily influenced the proposal, in three dimentional way.

This project will block the view from this apartment to the Paris. As a result, the massing is based on the Site Area times Site Height (taken from adjacent buildings) minus Eyesight beams from thresholds of neighbouring residences.

By imitating the elevation from neighbourhood, it provides a symmetrical scene when pedestrians pass the street between the residence and Flat for Ever.

The Eyesight Cut not only takes place on plans but also on sections.

Not every level is generous for leaving spaces to residents opposite viewing the Paris. Instead, the eyesight are focused on several points.

By cutting the mass, it also creates interesting spaces. For instance, the grid-like facade is the result of intensive cuttings.

Mitigation strategies are taken place throughout this project to minimise the influence on the residents living opposite and the broader neighbourhood.

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

The building is built on a steep slope: by keeping the floor of the concert hall the same level with the entrance, our client: a wheelchair user can follow the level ground all the way to the stage, for her piano performance.

In addition, the permeability of the facade could be adjust by dragging curtains.

Model 1: Balsa sticks achieving a three dimensional matric structure

Model 2: Cloth hangers achieving geometry refer to eyesight beams

MASSING

The empty space in front of the apartment with grid facade is the site, and the grid-like foundation structured the changing height difference of the surrounding area.

Academic Study I

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Model 3: Clay achieving continuous slope to target height difference Kaiwen Chen

INTERIOR: LIVING ROOM OF THE DAY Here is a view of one of the living rooms, which is adjacent to the concrete service core and faces southeast.

The leading concept within the apartment 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.

Bedroom | Morning

Living room | Noon

Corridor | Afternoon

Roof | Afternoon

Atrium | Evening

FROM 2D PLAN TO 3D SECTION MODEL Based on the AutoCAD plan above, a physical model of 50 carved section pages layering together is produced on the right.

This model is an attempt to use two-dimentional element to generate three-dimetional 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 cardboards, they are then carved according to the floor height and layered together to become a volume.

The middle part is the staircase, with two bedrooms on both sides. The living room on the right occupying two floors The two photographs are the same model with different direction and source of lighting: Figure on the left illustrate the model with artificial lighting from above.

Figure on the right use sun as the light source, luminate the volume of the apartment with the first rays of the morning sun from threshold.

Section Model luminated by artificial lighting.

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Section Model luminated by sunlight.

Academic Study I

PERSPECTIVE SECTION WITH TECHNICAL DETAIL This perspective cut shows two levels of apartment within Flat for Ever in great detail, with the material assembly carefully illustrated: Cross Laminated Timber is used in most building fabrics, mainly within living rooms and bedrooms, as wood texture generate softer atmosphere.

Concrete is used for bathroom and kitchen flooring, as well as the service core and the elevator shafts, based on its water-proofing performance.

All the service area are arranged and condensed into rectangular zones, with the ceiling storing pipes and the flooring allowing vertical perforation.

As the proposal is sophisticated in its form, 15 more sections are made below.

An architectural CT generate from digital model Academic Study I

Axonometric diagram showing where the sections are cut in the CT 7

Kaiwen Chen

ACADEMIC STUDY II: PORTA, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Degree Work at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Individual Work December 2022

Blockchain applications have an accelerating pace and promise to change the way how society exchange, store information and trust each other. They move the crowd from being the source of supply to being the intermediary who runs and owns the market themselves. How could these technologies be viewed in an architectural / spacial / physical context? Here comes the Porta.

This project aims to help newcomers of one city to integrate with locals and work towards a mutually rewarding purpose, by launching an application and a footprint.

SOCIETY 2023

SOCIETY WITH BLOCKCHAIN

DECIPHERING THE DLTS

CENTRALISED SYSTEM

DE-CENTRALISED SYSTEM

SMART CONTRACTS means immutable, distributed digital contract programs stored on a blockchain that run when predetermined conditions are met.

Smart contracts have greater trust, greater security and more efficiency. e.g. Kickstarter

BLOCKCHAIN

BLOCK

Service provided by central institutions.

E.g. deposit is from banks, Instagram is from Meta

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Provided by every users.

No administration needed: 100% self-sufficient system

The Tron Kirk is decided to be the site for Porta I The urban pattern is being studied, resulted in a semicircle.

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can be thought of as one page in a ledger, where the transaction data are permanently recorded. (around 4000 per block)

Increased in scale. Five vertical elements are added.

All stairs are supposed to be adjusted by PorTalents.

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HASH can be thought of as fingerprint of a block, with a unique code is representing transactions.

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CHAIN

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every block stores the 'hash' of the previous 'block', By linking the two blocks, a 'chain' is formed.

Increased permeability of separation elements.

An overall reduction of size response to context.

BLOCKCHAIN A computerised ledger distributed to everyone in the network, with no central authority (e.g. Bank), forming a decentralised system consists of blocks, hashes and chains System based on blockchain is very difficult to be changed, or hacked, which means it is more trustworthy.

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Increased width of the separation elements, 1/5 of them is for circulation, 4/5 is for ventilation.

Academic Study II

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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 has potential for outdoor activities from seminars to sports.

ITERATION IN STEP III

FINAL DECISION IN STEP IV

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ARRANGEMENT THE THEATRE This arrangement creates an appropriate space for lectures, movies, concerts, etc. Besides, the structure formed six semienclosed spaces for seminar of smaller scales underneath, separated by five vertical ventilation ducts.

ITERATION IN STEP III

FINAL DECISION IN STEP IV

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ARRANGEMENT THE PYRAMID 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, that pedestrian could sit and rest onto.

ITERATION IN STEP III Academic Study II

FINAL DECISION IN STEP IV 9

Kaiwen Chen

BETTER THAN TINDER

LAUNCH OF PORTA APP

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 facade of your city or adjust the height of some modules that are part of the Porta project.

VIDEO TUTORIAL 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 kind, which would help them earn Portokens and spend them on activities and urban adjustments.

Please scan the QR code below to watch my video tutorial produced for the PORTA application.

Academic Study II

Porta Homepage Six function in total, click PorTALK

Portalk: Settings Portalk: Select your status Porta needs to know your location first You can decide if you want to talk or not

ECO SYSTEM WORK ITSELF Portalk: Choose your status For instance, I am Happy to talk now

The main audience of the app are locals and arrivals within a city, with the target age range of 18-50. PORTA App encourages the two groups to socialise and exchange knowledge with a self-sufficient eco-system.

Kaiwen Chen Kaiwen Chen

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Portalk: Map A Map showing Porta users nearby

Portalk: Instructions Tips need to know before tapping others Academic Study II

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

HOW THIS STRUCTURE WORKS

A Rendered View of the entrance to the vaults underneath the South Bridge. The entrance is one of the five separation element, while the other four serve as ventilation shaft of the basement.

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

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

The location of the site is at the heart of Edinburgh, not far away from the Waverley Train Station. Here is a significant point leading the flow of tourists to realise the great construction of the South Bridge.

The structure is meant to be adjusted by Porta users. Adjust the height of one module cost one token. If you have 6 tokens, you could arrange a pissa slice of the project. If you have 36 tokens, you could arrange the whole!

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

SECTION SHOWING VARIATION The section below 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.

Porta Homepage Six functions in total, click PorTASK Academic Study II

PorTask: Earn your token Porta is collaborated with Volunteer work

PorTable: Introduction You could vote for a module

PorTable: Select one module PorTable: Vote for a height Adjustment on one module cost 1 token Adjust the height of your chosen module 11

PorTable: Colour your module You can paint it with colour you like Kaiwen Chen Chen Kaiwen

Maybe you get bored with the tones of Edinburgh, a chance to change the colour of part of the city is something to rejoice in. If you earn enough PorTokens through the Porta app, you can make the facade any colour you want it to be!

Blockchain-based projects often involve NFT (Non-fungible Tokens), and having a display board to showcase your artistic value is an excellent opportunity, provided you could earn that much!

Academic Study II

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

Porta Homepage Six functions in total, click PorTASTE or PorTALLY to check your balance Kaiwen Chen

PorTaste: Settings Porta needs to know your location for orientating yourself to local community

If you walk to the top, you will enjoy a panoramic view around the junction of the Royal Mile and the South Bridge. In addition, there could be a movie night, a concert or a lecture holding. (Figure above)

PorTaste: choose your status You could decide to be either the event holder or the event participant

PorTaste: Introduction Select your interest from these tags You could change your interets later 12

If you walk lower down, you will find the sheltered space is used for installing vending machines, storing bicycles, hosting exhibitions, or simply a place to hide from rainfall! (Figure on the Left)

PorTaste: Event Map A Map showing events around you which refers to your interest tags

PorTaste: Search If you are not satisfied with the results around you, you could search another Academic Study II

PERSONAL PROJECT: MIRA 130, Pisa, Italy Prix W Competition Individual Work April 2023 Personal Project

This project is a miracle based in the countryside of Pisa, solving the housing problem of low-income society by reusing one hundred and thirty retired containers.

The modulus was set based on the 40’ ISO container, which is 2.44 meters in width, 12.19 meters in length and 2.59 meters in height.

A continuous corridor evenly divided each container into two households, allowing residents to reach three indoor staircases, four outdoor staircases, laundries, communal lounges, reception, supermarket and bike parkings.

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Above: Axonometric diagram illustrate assembly logic

Kaiwen Chen

1. BRIEFING: Containerised Architecture MIRA 130, PISA, ITALY

SECOND FLOOR Studio with one bed x 14 Studio with double bed x 26 Study x 4

Affordable housing has a limited budget, while containerised architecture is relatively 3. Dwelling: Spatial Coordination inexpensive (1,300 euros per used) Regarding availability, Pisa is a coastal city, and the site is 68 meters away from one railway track. In addition, Container construction could MODULE: be completed period time as on-site foundation not required.

The module is within basedshort on 40’ ISO of containers, which concrete show 2.44 meters iniswidth, 12.19 meters in length and 2.59 meters in height.

2. MASSING: Concept

CIRCULATION: AThe central corridor divided eachwhile container into two households tothe reach three site has an 80evenly m x 44 m canopy, adjustment is not allowed on structure. internal and four external staircases.

Massing process finished with a shape of ’M‘ to maximise the view from thresholds.

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 The Module is based on reused 40' ISO containers, which shows 2.44m in width, in the triangular area formed by the ‘M’ shape. The common areas are plans at the 12.19 m in and 2.59block. m height. junctions of length each housing The function includes communal lounges, studies, Pisa hasand a Mediterranean Climate, semi-indoor courtyards are reserved to laundries bike parking, achieved byso fivefive containers lying in series. achieve thermal comfort. Common areas are incorporated at the junctions of each block to enhance residents' quality of life and social interaction.

4. Engineering: Technical Design

3. DWELLING: Spacial Coordination

Title:

Second Floor Plan Scale:

1:500 on A4 N

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FIRST FLOOR

4.installation ENGINEERING: Technical Design The of plumbing and electrical systems were integrated into the structure

Studio with one bed x 14 Studio with double bed x 26 Study x 2 Laundry x 1

under permits and The installation ofcodes. vertical plumbing and electrical system were integrated into service modules. One living unit and one service unit combine into a household of two beds.

I developed a scheme with two types of modulus, with all vertical pipes in the serving unit servearea utilities.

One living unit one service combine one household Thetoliving is condensed with and bedroom, studyunit area, and a into wardrobe.

The door offacing two beds. the entrance leads to a balcony, which could be indoor when window is closed.

Title:

First Floor Plan Scale:

1:500 on A4 N

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GROUND FLOOR Studio with one bed x 14 Studio with double bed x 18 Laundry x 1 Reception x 1 Clinic x 1 Bike Park x 1 Supermarket x 1

Title:

Ground Floor Plan Scale:

1:500 on A4 N

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

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Axonometric Diagram illustrating the detailed assembly logic.

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Personal Project

SITE DRAWING: A SOLID SEA Queensferry, United Kingdom Practice Experience with Victoria Clare Bernie Individual Work December 2023 I was asked to gather 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 done by AutoCAD and then 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.

Figures below are milestones which gradually leads me to the final installation.

Practice Experience

Practice Experience

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Kaiwen Chen Chen Kaiwen

VESSELS' IDENTITY Technique: MarineTraffic App + Procreate The three bridges of the firth work as a net, collecting the identity of every single vessel passing by.

The information of vessels are gathered from the MarineTraffic app. This application is handy throughout the research: I could visit the app any time and anywhere to study the details of vessels sailing or mooring synchronously within the Firth of Forth.

Research on Vessels' identity within the firth is re-drawn with personal language through Procreate, then printed and categorised into six sets of Playing Cards.

This A0 Charcoal Drawing is recording the vessels' movements within the Firth of Forth. The Maid of Forth and the Forth Belle are popular options for tours.

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Practice Experience

CRYSTALLSED TIME SHEET 2014 VERSION

CRYSTALLSED TIME SHEET 2023 (PRESENT) VERSION

CRYSTALLSED TIME SHEET 1940 (WW2) VERSION

Technique: AutoCAD Line Drawing -> Laser Engraving on Perspex Sheet

Technique: AutoCAD Line Drawing -> Laser Engraving on Perspex Sheet

Technique: Adobe Photoshop -> Laser Etching on Perspex Sheet

To give contexts to the perspex sheets, an AutoCAD drawing is produced with the scene of the Forth Road Bridge and the Queensferry Crossing under construction in 2014, a crucial moment of Firth of Forth. This arial view also records the two ports on two sides and the industrial harbour on top right corner.

The rectangular screen extended from the line of the Forth Road Bridge aims to record all the movements of vessels underneath the Road Bridge. In this version, types of vessels include sailing boats, passengers, container freighters, oil/chemical tankers, tugs, etc.

The Firth of Forth is a historical site that could be analysed to a much deeper extent. Online archives have been analysed throughout history, looking for warcraft. As a result, aircraft carriers, destroyers and cruisers are illustrated above, following the perspective with 2023 version but dispersive destination .

The Queensferry Crossing now shares most of the vehicle flow rate from Queensferry to North Queensferry instead of the Road Bridge.

In most cases, vessels move perpendicular to the line of the bridge. As a result, perfect sections will be recorded.

This is a PNG rather than the previous two CAD documents, so the pattern is etched onto perspex instead of engraved by the laser cutter.

Practice Experience

An overview of my work place.

Practice Experience

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Kaiwen Chen

TECHNICAL STUDY I: 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) I was responsible for CAD Plan Drawing, Digital Modelling, Rendering and Technical Drawing in this project November 2022

Horizontal Section

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 are concerned, 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.

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Above: Rendered Perspectives of the ARK

Technical Study I

TECHNICAL STUDY II: Gayfield School of Architecture, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Degree Work at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) 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.

December 2021

MASSING MODEL 1

MASSING MODEL 2

MASSING MODEL 3

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

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

This proposal generated a pathway in the middle, which facilitates the passage of the students. At the same time, the path increase connectivity between the two parallel roads for the general public.

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 plan made by Yuchen Peng

Fig. 2 Distribution diagram by Yuchen Peng

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 streets and bringing in the public flow is the heart of this proposal. (Fig. 2) 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 this perspective section, the studios benefit from the sunlight from the public passageway above during the day.

CONCEPT: A LYING FACTORY

TYPICAL ROOF PARAPET DETAIL

PLAN

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.

TECHNICAL ASSEMBLY 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.

Above: Rendered Axonometrics and a perspective of the workshop

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 workshop-based work.

Technical Study II

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Kaiwen Chen

OTHER WORKS BETWEEN LOCAL AND GLOBAL Shipping Container & its Sustainability Kaiwen Chen (S2050065) MA (Hons) Architecture Dissertation ARJA10002 2023

ALIHIES MEDITATION CENTER

CROOK-HEY BEADHOUSE

BETWEEN LOCAL AND GLOBAL

Entry in Young Architects Competition Group Work of three July 2022

Academic Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Individual Work May 2021

Architecture Dissertation at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Individual Work December 2023

A competition entry that turns mine ruins into several semi-enclosed spaces for meditation purposes.

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

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

SOUND ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY CENTER

2020 GRADUATION YEAR BOOK

ST MARK PAVILION

CANAL POINT RESIDENT GUIDE

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

Practice Experience in Guanghua Cambridge Individual Work June 2020

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

Practice Experience in Yugo Student Living Ltd Individual Work April 2023

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

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

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

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

LAYER OF TRUST

DESIGN REPORT OF VITA FOUNTAINBRIDGE

ALTAY WATERSIDE INN

SCALE & SECTION

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

Practical Reflection at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Individual Work April 2023

Academic Study at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Individual Work December 2020

Elective at the University of Edinburgh (ESALA) Individual Work April 2022

A diagram illustrate all the locks within a student accommodation.

Different key holders have different 'permeability' to the building.

A design report of VITA student accommodation, design by Michael Laird Architects

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

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

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Other Works