Portfolio Jiyun Kang
2019-2023 Selected Works
Bachelor of Fine Arts at RISD Interior Architecture Master of Architecture Candidate, 2024 80-3, Unpo 1-gil, Unshim-li, Gangha-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun Gyeonggi-do, South Korea C.P : (401) 346-4549
Sonder:
Inner Sanctum for the Depressed
Metanoia:
Transitional Space for DRC Refugees
Parasite:
Liberty in Mobility for Diversity
Apple Peel Pavilion: Flora to Architecture
The Pendleton House:
Decontextualization for the Under-represented
儉而不陋華而不侈:
Simple but not humble, Colorful but not Wasteful
sonder: inner sanctum for the depressed
Sonder is an apartment complex designed to create an indirect sense of connection for the deptressed. The number of people struggling from depression and anxiety is growning day by day in Providence; however, the number of therapists are far less than the depressed. It is also difficult for the depressed to visit therapist due to high price point. I seek to provide a hub where people sturggling from depression and anxiety can find a courage to seek help and open up to the society.
Fall 2022 Intro to Interior Architecure III Type: Acadmic Instructor: Janet Stegman
Share of Adults Reporting Symptoms of Anxiety and/or Depression Disorder, September 29 - October 11, 2021 Rhode Island (37.3%) United States (31.7%)
Project Statement:
233, Weybosset St, Providence Patient to Mental Health Provider Ratio
Providence is experiencing the highest number of people struggling from depression and anxiety. Such research is also reflected on the growing suicide rate and drug overdose casualities in Providence. As a response to such social issue with a dire need of solution, I suggest reusing an inactive parking garage located in downtown Providence as the residential area for the depressed.
500 to 1 450 to 1 400 to 1 New York
350 to 1 300 to 1
Conneticut Rhode Island
250 to 1 200 to 1
Massachusetts 2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Patients to Mental Health Provider Ratio: 236 to 1
2020
2021
Originally, the site was used as a parking lot, but with the growing population in Providence and the need for affordable housing, the state seeks for a renovation to an apartment complex. Original Structure
Central Pond Placed in the center of the apartment complex where every residnt has a clear view towards. The pond casts a reflection of the sky which has pshychological benefits for the depressed to feel liberated from lonliness.
Fin Walls Fin walls secure complete privacy for each unit. The units in between fin walls act as a modular house. It offers a sense of protection for the residents from the unwanted attention.
Interaction Hub Consists of three different programs: library, counselling rooms, and meeting rooms.
Indirect Sense of Connection
View of Urban Plaza
Visual Opening to Upstairs
The matter of creating a sense of connection for people suffering from depression should be approached carefully. The group oftentimes experience loss in courage to open to the society. Therefore, it should happen subtly and indirectly. In order to response to the characteristics of the user group, I created moments of indirect connection on each corner where floor plates overlap as a result of twisting gesture of floor plates. These moments allow the residents to have a glance at the urban plaza, watching people walking by, hearing footsteps of a neighbor walking down the corridor above, and subtly sense a movement through an opportunity opened to the stories above. Original Structure
First Floor
Second Floor
Third Floor
Facade Type A
Facade Type A - Negative Space
Facade Type B
Facade Type B - Negative Space
Creating indirect sense of connection continues inside of the architecture; the spiky facade, which protects the residents from emotional burdensome coming from the outside world, becomes a dynamic system that casts subtle and gentle shadows on them. Depending on the time of the day, the shadow will gently knock on them, creating a virtual sense of connection to the outside world.
Edward Hopper, Morning Sun, 1952
Digital Collage
N
N
N
N
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Meeting Rooms: Space for the residents for more direct interaction.
Counselling Rooms: Provides a conselling program for the residents willing to have a session with a therapist. The circulation towards the counselling rooms is restricted to the residents, and not visible from the outside corridors securing privacy. Ground Floor
First Floor
Library: Provides a casual gathering space while maintaining the atmosphere calm. It is a hub for the residents who would like to interact with one another without directly communicating.
Urban Plaza: Gathering space for the city dwellers, and a source of indirect sense of belonging and connection for the residents. A gentle threshold for the residents before immersing oneself into the city. Personal Gym: 3 units share a private gym on the first floor. It is surrounded by reflective glass which prevents the pedestrians from viewing them working out. Response to the negative body image that the depressed has. Programs
Second Floor
Third Floor
parasite library: parasite bus stop: parasite park: parasite bathroom: parasite city hall:
parasite:
para parasite school: parasite house house: parasite hospital: parasite sidewalk: liberty in mobility
Parsite House is a modular architecture that is not limited to a type of a program. With this project, I expanded my understanding of an architecture which used to be a permanent, stagnant, tangible space, difficult to tailorize to one’s specific needs. This highly customizable and adaptable modular architecture is intended to be implemented to the existing cityscape as a temporary structure to assist with ongoing social issues, such as flooding as well as a mobile hospital, library, classroom, bathroom, house, bus station and many more.
Fall 2022 Intro to INTAR III Type: Acadmic Instructor: Janet Stegman
Parasite as a Solution to Banjiha Floodings
Gwawnak-gu, Seoul, South Korea,1km2 In recent years, South Korea is experiencing extreme floodings more than ever. In Seoul, there are 220,000 households that are currently situated in ‘Banjiha’ apartments which is half a story lower than street level. In summer of 2022, Seoul experienced the heaviest rain in decades. As a result of this, 20,000 banjiha households were flooded killing 18 people in total.
metanoia: spiritual conversion for the refugees
While researching the status quo of refugee shelters in Providence and around the world, I found out that while it may provide a house, it does not provide a home for the refugees. The shelters do not provide a transitional stage where refugees could find their own way in incorporating the customs of the new setting to their existing ones. I belive having a solid idea of one’s identity and heritage is crucial when you first arrive in a new country. By providing a transitional space for the refugees to adjust to a new setting, Metanoia seeks to provide the refugees not only a house but also a celebration to their heritage and a n educational opportunities for them by housing in downtown Providence.
Spring 2023 Advanced Design Studio Type: Academic Instructor: Patricia Roka
Site Analysis
285 S Main St, Providence, RI Challenge Study
Current building is divided into three different parts vertically. Each part is used as commercial area including optical shop, yoga studio, and a restaurant.
By uniting the three different segments, divided by the firewalls, I would like to create a more interactive and spacious refugee shelter for DRC refugees. 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0
2022
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2010 2011 2012 2013 2009 Refugees from Dem. Rep. of Congo in Providence, Rhode Island
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Design Process
Village Structure Study
Started off the project by making a zine about the culture and traditions of DRC. During the process of research, I found elements that make up their lifestyle and day to day life. It became an inspiration for implementing those elements into the refugee shelter.
Gesture Study
Design Study
Material Study
Roof
Gap Foundation
Section Perspective
The design characteristics of Metanoia: Transitional House is derived from the research carried out in the early stage in the process. For larger concept, I wanted the main gesture of the architecture to symbolize the journey that the refugees had to undergo. I used mainly wood for the material as to represent their vernacular architecture and overall materials used for the residential units in DRC. The wood rods are placed irregularly across the facade and the unit walls to represent the material of straw used. The wood column holding the two floors of residential unit is inspired by the tree trunk of ebony tree, one of the precious and monumental vegetation in DRC. The large trunk of the tree symbolizes stability.
Floor Plan
Roof Plan
First Floor
Second Floor
Indoor Garden Residential Unit Shared Kitchen for Two Units Gym Skylight
Street level down to urban plaza
Urban Plaza
Street level to exhibition box
Exhibition Box
APPLE PEEL PAV I L L I O N Apple Peel Pavilion: Flora to Architecture
This project was an exploration from an object to an architectural form. I set rules to choose an object that is malleable and organic, and something that is difficult to connect with the concept of architecture. I chose apple and while researching and investigating it, I was amazed how much I didn’t know about a fruit that is so familiar to me. I tried to have an explorative process with the project thinking about the envelop.
Spring 2023 Advanced Design Studio Type: Acadmic Instructor: Patricia Roka
Design Process
Suggested Proposal - Alleyway Cafe
Elevations
Front
Right
Back
The Pendleton House:
Decontextualization for the under-represented
When I first visited the site, I was lost, distracted, and misunderstood the narratives behind artifacts especiallly the ones that were non euro-American. Above all, the strong architectural context of 19th century domestic American setting possesses made me feel disconnected from the non euro-American narratives. Therefore, I worked on allowing multiple narratives to have their own voice within the Pendleton House by decontexualzing the architectural context as well as introducing a new exhibition strategy.
Fall 2023 Advanced DesignStudio Type: Academic Instructor: Alvaro Gomez-Selles Fernandez
Project Statement: ICOM defines museum as “ a permanent institution that holds artifacts and specimens in trust for society, safeguard diverse memories for future generations, and guarantee equal rights and equal access to heritage for all people.” An overwhelming architectural context of the Pendleton House fails to ‘safeguard diverse memories as it creates a hiearchy between non American and American narratives. By introducing new mateiral and finishes as well as new exhibition strategies to the Pendleton House, I seek to provide a stage for all the narratives to have its own voice within the space.
Design Process / Challenge Assessment
Challenge
Rigid Circulation
The current exhibition rooms are the four rooms on the first floor. No other places are used to host any kind of artifacts. The programs and curation of the exhibition is highly limited by the architecture, and as a response to that, I woud like to open up the interior spaces fort freer circulation and provide opportunities for more experimental curatorial practices.
Physical Barrier
A
The exhibition held in the Pendleton House mainly consists of one narrative, euro-American narratives. The under-represented voices do not have enough voice within the architecture. My intervention to this place would allow more opportunities for other narratives to have their own voices.
AB
One Narrative
B
GREEK ARTS WING
1904 ~ Flexibility
BRITISH PORCELAIN GALLERY
The four exhibition rooms have physical borders that prevent the visitors from fully entering the rooms and interacting with the artifacts on display. This rigid circulation and floor plans do not provide the audience with comprehensive overview of the narratives as the opportunity to interact with the artifacts is taken away.
A
Architectural Context
CHACE CENTER
Response
HOURL HOUR LY
The rigid floor plans have been unchanged since the day of construction which was 1904. The programs have been changed over the course, however, there hasn’t been a lot of renovation done, making the building lose its prominence. I would like to make a noticeable intervention so that the architecture would regain its glory.
The architectural context of the Pendleton House is 19th century American. The context is expanded from the exterior to interior as well where different narratives are on display. Because of that, there is a hierarchy between non-American narratives and American narratives. By decontextualizing the space, I seek to provide non-hiearchical place for better understanding of each narrative.
Original Floor Plan
Interior Perspective No Physical Barriers
The material of the newly introduced display method and the existing architecture differ from one another to a great extent. The new display system is for allowing artifacts created by under-represented narratives to have clearer voice within a highly contextualized architecture. Aluminum is used for both the ceiling and floor as well as the platforms and backdrops. How much the material is brushed changes the effect of it.
New system within the architectural context
Free Circulation
Exhibition Strategy A AB B
Non Euro-American
Non Euro-American
Euro-American
Euro-American
Non Euro-American
British, Side Chair, 1740 - 1760
Native American, Painting, 1700
Multiple Narratives
Decontextualization
Longitudinal Section Perspective
The new system of distorted reflective panels are introduced at the moments where euro-American architectural contexts become overwhelming: in front of the window frame, door moldings, and fireplaces. By blurring out these architectural context by the distoring the imagery and providing a more neutral background for the under-represented voices allows the audience to have clearer understanding of every narrative.
American, Astral Lamp, 1850 Creamer, Chinese, 1700s
Chinese, Coffee Pot, 1800s
American, Portrait of a Young Girl, 1808 - 1821
Exhibition Strategy
New system for Non-American Narratives
Rerpesentation within the architectural context for Euro-American Narratives
Floor Plate
HOURL HOUR LY
Flexibility
The existing concrete floor plate is cut into a grid with 3’ x 3’ square boxes. Each box contains aluminum plate and steel rods in different height to assemble platforms for artifacts with different heights. This allows the curation of the exhibition to be free and easily configurable depending on the narratives as well as the scale of the objects.
Aluminum Plate
Steel Rods
Small Object Configuration
Medium Object Configuration
Large Object Configuration
儉而不陋華而不侈:
simple but not humble, colorful but not wasteful
‘Simple but not humble, colorful but not wasteful’ was a saying when King Sejong described the architecture of his castle. With the use of colors that are ‘imperfect’ and showing the rough brush strockes, I tried to mimic the saying in my own way. After interpreting the saying in two dimensional way, I tried to spatially capture the sentiment of it.
Project Statement By starting off with a paiting, I wanted to create a space that could encapsulate the essence of the painting. I wanted the strands of threads indicating directions to be also prominent in the 3D form. I wanted the circular gesture contrasts with the square. I wanted the negative spaces within the bigger circles have a sense of void.
The painting was a result of a form assessment of an object that I couldn’t deduce what it was. I was blindfolded when I chose the object, and later I found out that it was a watch holder for display in shops. The object had a base which is represented as a red circle and the actual holder part was smaller, represented as a blue circle in the paitning. The two circular volume was attached by another circular volume as represented with a pastic cap. This part was also made out of different materials than the other two circles. I noticed a sense of direction informed by the hierarchy of shapes and sizes. I wanted to capture such sense through a strand of thread .
Extursion of 2D Painting I created multiple layers of circular floor plates to emphasize the spatial qualities of the project derived from a paiting. The size of these plates are identical, preventing the viewers to know what is below the roof when seeing from above. Exposure of what’s beneath available after investigation was a response to the saying of 儉而不陋華而不侈.
Mixed Media, Acrylic Paint, Thread, Pastic Cap, Graphic Post Production