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Mengfei Wu Design Portfolio Application for Junior Architect Position China | USA | Finland | Japan Selected Works 2011-2015 Master of Architecture, Bachelor of Engineer Architecture | Interior Design | Furniture
This portfolio contains projects that illustrate series of selection. Context is one of the most crucial influences in the sequence, as architecture is but the manifestation of one’s response towards his immediate adjacency and larger environment. Another influence factor intensively discussed in this portfolio is human. Architecture means nothing if no human beings are involved in the space or event. Context forms the entity of architecture, whereas human instills soul into it.
Materiality and Humanity
To me, these are the two most important qualities of architecture, which define the duality of successful space. Therefore, my design process is consisted of series of decisions of the two. In this modern age, one of them is either over-exaggerated or under-designed, but I wish to create spaces that answer both of the requirements. The beauty of architecture does not lie in sculptural or grotesque gestures with absolutely no resemblance to any existing structure, but in innovative and yet optimized solutions that meet function demands and enhance spatial quality at the same time.
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Mengfei Wu Design Portfolio
Academic Studio
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Design Work
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Professional Project
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Resume
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хн╕
Washington University in St. Louis, USA Master of Architecture, 2011-2015 Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland International Exchange Program, 2014
學校專業設計
Academic Studio
Sublime Slice, Concrete House Fall 2013, Optional Studio, Individual Succession and Distinction, Metal Housing Complex Fall 2012, Core Studio, Individual Lifestyle Reflection, Artek Exhibition Center Spring 2014, Comprehensive Studio, Individual Industrial Fringe, Brewery Beer Garden Spring 2015, Degree Project, Individual
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Concrete House, Individual Work 8 Weeks, St. Louis, USA Instructor, Peter Stempel Optional Studio, Fall 2013 Washington University in St. Louis
Sublime Slice
In this exercise, students were asked to discover a real space (the so-called “sublime slice�) from the city we live, that is to say, inside St. Louis; document this space in architectural language (plan, section, and other useful two dimensional drawings); then reimagine this space with other functions that students choose to adapt, and re-interpret this particular space in our own languages (sketches, perspective drawings, plans and sections if necessary). From very initial idea of spatial organization to more architectural section drawings, the imagination of oneself evolves from pure illustration into more liable structures. Our imagination and the physics of real world always concede with one another, but to design a piece of architecture from imagination other than physical constrains was quite a unique journey to me.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015, Academic Studio
“The house is still but a sort of porch at the entrance of a burrow.� Economy, Walden, Henry David Thoreau I love the way Skinker Metrolink station organizes functional spaces and circulation paths, in which three different circulation systems are individually serving the function for their respective groups of people with no confusing intersections, and at the same time visually connected to one another so that the space can be perceived as an integrated system as a whole. Its light and shadow effect is another reason that I see the space as sublime. Sunken deep into ground, most metro stations tend to be either too dark (like depressing dungeons), or too many artificial lights (like cheesy stores). And yet it is neither of the case here: along the slopes or the rails to the end, it always shines with natural light. When it came my chance to re-imagine the space into some other habitable programs, I hesitated for what functions shall be the most appropriate. I felt reluctant picturing it as something already similar to it, such as a fabrication factory, or a chemistry laboratory. I found it more thrilled to create an intensely contrasting space out of it, and I thus chose it to be a house.The rooms are of functions listed below. 1. Bedroom: Existing 2. Bath: Living 3. Kitchen: Dinning 4. Parlor: Socializing 5. Religious Space: Praying 6. Library,Ballroom, Or Others: Fulfilling
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Section C-C Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
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Section D-D
Light And Shadow
0. Skinker Metrolink Station Space And Organization
1. Excerpt Section Circulation And Entrance
I picked St. Louis Skinker Metrolink station as sublime slice in the city, and tried to draw its space in twodimensional drawings at the beginning of this exercise. On its first look the space does not seem to be sublime at all, especially when thinking of its function as a local metro station with rails and wires. However, if taking some time and carefully scrutinizing through the space from one entrance to another, one will soon find out that designers of the station carefully played with the spatial qualities.
2. Matter And Space Material And Scale
3. Space Beyond Excerpt 9
1. Guest Entrance 2. Service Entrance 3. Private Entrance
1. Parlor: Very Public 2. Dining: Public 3. Kitchen: Service
1. Bedroom: Private 2. Bath: Very Private 3. Pray: Most Private
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
0 2
Underground Level
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[Plan Sequence] 0. Skinker Metrolink Station And Excerpt 1. Space Beyond Excerpt 2. Matter, Function, And Inhabitation
Ground Level 11
[Place, Context, And Construction]
[1] I am very convinced that it is prioritized to design how spatial experience transforms as one approaching through it. Very often, such “distinctions” are achieved by different natural light qualities, but it is also achieved by other factors at the same time: different material quality, volume size, story height, and views. [2] In terms of building forms, I do realize that I am in fond of sinuous space/ boundary. I like to research into how nuanced deviation of wall/roof/floor/….. and even stairs influence a space. As a result, my designs often tend to feel like “growing” from some existing context: whether it is ground, levee, or simply another room of the apartment. I feel that the first project, employing slopes as a language, has the potential to speak more about the continuity in flows of spaces. [3] I love to examine a same idea in different scales in the same project. In this project, the idea of “folding” is the theme topic, and I was trying to “fold” a house, a bedroom, a service hollow, a window, a slope, and even a handrail. Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
1 A.4.3
Detail: Accessible Roof 1'-0" = 0'-1"
Grass Steel Bent Plate Water Proof
Double Glazing Glass 4+4 Argon Air Gap Double Glazing Glass 4+4
Reinforced Concrete Slab Wood Floor Finishing
Steel Bent Plate Roof Cleat Light Aggregation Insulation Sealant Concrete Finishing Slab
Steel Connection Sealant Concrete Slab Rigid Insulation Water Proof Bent Steel Plate Drainage Grill
Double Glazing Glass 4+4 Argon Air Gap
Gravel
Pavement Brick
Rubber Sealing
Double Glazing Glass 4+4
Column
1 A.4.2
Detail: Foundation 1'-0" = 0'-1"
Section A-A 13
Metal Housing Complex, Individual Work 10 Weeks, St. Louis, USA Instructor, Valerie Greer Core Studio, Fall 2012 Washington University in St. Louis
Succession and Distinction
Located on the edge of St. Louis City and University City, the project was to install a high density residential house as a part of the “2025 Parkview Plan� for Delmar Loop area. The project was to emphasize the continuity of the city fabric spatially and through time, as well as distinguish itself as a modern microenvironment within an older traditional neighborhood. This project starts with creating spaces speaking with the direct neighborhood, and grows into a larger gesture that might become a landmark threshold of Delmar Loop area.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015, Academic Studio
2000s, reinforced concrete building with brick pattern veneer
1890s, brick with ornament pattern
1990s, pre-fabricated brick assembly
1960s, brick masonry, aged into dark red color
2010s, steel structure complex with corten steel panel in different forms
1920s, brick masonry, aged into dark red color
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
The design concept is to locate this housing in a way that it melts within the existing neighborhood as well as stands out from its repetitive surroundings. The primary facade material is chosed to be corten steel panel, perforated or not, which has similar dark red color as brick buildings surround it, but also unique in a way that it reflects light and rusts through time.
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Model 1/8� = 1’-0�
Certain changes in urban plan are happening to solve existing problems: by 2025, Washington University North Campus and Olive will develop more residential, commercial, as well as office buildings; and according to Parkview Plan (2025), older buildings will be either demolished or renovated, and three parks as well as several high density housings will be built. In addition to the general change of urban context, this housing project will address to enhance the neighborhood by establishing connections within larger University City area that dissolving boundaries, allowing continuous views to provide more safety, and generating more traffic flows that activate the community. Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
Green Space To revive University City neighborhood along with the Delmar Loop area, a new urban plan (parkview plan 2025) addressing outdoor open areas for social activities has been proposed. Therefore, this housing complex was designed so that it has similar concentrations on open green spaces for public, semi-public, as well as private needs. 19
West Elevation: From Eastgate Corten Steel Panel 12’ by 6’ Adjustable Louvre 12’ by 6’ Perforated Corten Panel 12’ by 6’
[Facade Panel Composition] Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
East Elevation: From Skinker Blvd.
[Material Strategies] Except for glazing, the facade panels have three types: corten steel solid panel, perforated panel, and adjustable corten louvres. In general, the solid panel is outside of walls, the louvres are outside of room windows, and the perforated panels are outside of glazings for corridors (parallel transportation spaces). Corten louvres, along with other forms of panels, are pre-installed to enhance the indoor environment according to St. Louis local climate data.
Louvre Length
Louvre Angle 21
Plans: Second Level and Above Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
Plan: Ground Level 23
Artek Exhibition and Education Center Individual Work 10 Weeks, Helsinki, Finland Instructor, Phillip Tindell Comprehensive Studio, Spring 2014 Aalto University Espoo Campus
Lifestyle Reflection
This studio project is to design an exhibition/education center for Artek in the heart of Helsinki: on the edge of Punavuori, known as the “design district�. Artek definitely means more than just a furniture brand to a local Finnish people: in fact, it is the living quality that most families are pursuing; it is the memory that everyone has been growing up with; it is the national habit that is to be maintained. Thus an Artek Exhibition and Education Center is not to be considered as an office complex, but rather a showcase of an ideal lifestyle, from where the local Fins as well as tourists from all over the world can enjoy the high quality of life that Artek portrays.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015, Academic Studio
[Urban Context]
[Axonometric Sketch]
The project is challenging because it is located in the juxtaposition of Design Museum, Museum of Finnish Architecture, Johanneksenkirkko (St Jones Church), and other important urban structures, such as city parks, tram lines, main roads, axis shift of city grid, and etc. To me, the architecture is to be conceived with regular appearance that fits into the site, while at the same time with dynamic spaces inside that take visitors to a separate amazing world of Artek designs that is completely different from the outside world.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
As the most notable Finnish furniture brand in the world, Artek has long been famous for its functional, simple, and yet elegant design. Inspired by the Artek curves of bent plywood chairs and free shaped glass, this design is focusing on the expressive form of the space that creates a sense of fluidity. The project is to house the new office and exhibition gallery of Artek-vitra furniture, and at the same time provides education place that includes library, archive, seminar room, auditorium, and other multi-functional rooms.
Private Spatial Quality
Public Spatial Quality
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[Spatial Organization] The required programs are divided into three sections: exhibition, which is open to general public; education, which is set for promising future designers, in particular students from the normal high school that is right adjacent to the Artek plot; administration, which is limited only to Artek staff. Considering the exhibition section being the most public, it is arranged on the lower levels that can be directly accessed from the main street Yrjönkatu, whereas the administration section occupies the upper most levels with can be entered only with proper authorization. The education section is partly mixed with the exhibition section, but shares the same front/ back yard with Helsinki Normal High School. Notice that the public and restricted sections are spatially separated by the apartment-sauna level, with no vertical connections that is open to the general public. Furthermore, the apartments, being private when they are housing visiting designers, are also crucial parts of the exhibition themselves when they are not being occupied by any residence. Floating above the exhibition platform, it is the best stage for the Artek company to present the lifestyle it is portraying with a most concrete and direct narrative. The structure, on the other hand, is intentionally designed into column-beam frame system. One of the concerns is that with regular grids, the building can be supported with minimal sized structures, so that it can create an image of “lightness” as a whole, on the contrary to a freeformed “chunky” structure.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
[In Helsinki] One of the most interesting challenges in Helsinki to me, is its unusually high latitude, which leads to incredibly low solar angle as well as extreme daytime. So a light well is positioned right on top of the exhibition area, and a roof garden is designed especially for summer times.
Roof Garden
In Library
Office Level
Towards Light Well
Main Lobby
Amphitheater 29
Site Section B-B
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
Site Section C-C
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Section A-A
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
Section A’-A’
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One important image of the design is a sense of “lightness”. In terms of a real building, it means light structures: thin floor plates, small columns and beams, elegant lateral supports for glass façade, and etc. The most challenging structure, however, is a light roof. In Helsinki, a roof, especially an occupiable roof, can be extremely thick, because it has to deal with snow load, waterproof, insulation, and many other practical issues. The intention of the above drawing is to introduce a wellfunctional cover with acceptable thickness to the design.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
[Technical Challenges] Admittedly, it is quite controversial to build architecture with all-glass enclosure in areas as cold as Helsinki. As visually impacted as it might become, this design is not convincing unless the insulation problems can be solved. This set of drawings is trying to offer one possible solution.
Detail Drawings
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Brewery, Museum, and Beer Garden Individual Work 13 Weeks, St. Louis, USA Instructor, Angela Pang Degree Project, Spring 2015 Washington University in St. Louis
Industrial Fringe
Mississippi river, Union Pacific train line, industries along the river, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Lemp beer cave and garden, local communities and art. These were the romance of St. Louis, and together they composed an internationally prosperous city with unique Mid-west lifestyle. Golden ages are gone. The city is losing charm. This project is to propose a modern harbor for the past, the spectacular industrial past that believed in machine, efficiency, and function; and yet beyond the past - with more respect to nature and human. It is a place that brings modernized citizens back to natural landscape, to the river; a facility that allows the elderly to recollect memories, and the young generation to restore faith; a shelter to relax, or go wild.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015, Academic Studio
[What Does The City Want?] Located on a historic landmark, the site at Carondelet Bellerive Park has all the ingredients: river, train track, factories, legendary jazz band, and local residential community. Even better: two amazing urban parks and a breathtaking bluff.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
In the city of St. Louis, a unique industrial strip has been developed along the Mississippi River since its very first residence. The only exception, however, is on the Carondelet neighborhood, where family housing and senior apartments were built since the 1860s, when Union Pacific Train track was still a busy line, and Carondelet was still a retreat for city life. Those who built their villas including the Ead’s family, who built the Ead’s Bridge in downtown St. Louis, which still is one of the most significant landmarks on Mississippi River. 39
1 Residential Scale
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1 On Bridge
view from west carondelet neighborhood towards east on the river direction: the building is designed as if it is hidden by the bluff
2 On South Broadway
Industrial Scale
view from north residential neighborhood towards south industrial area: the building is designed as part of the landscape, and not expose itself too much to the pedestrians
3 On South Broadway
view from south industrial area towards north residential neighborhood: the building is perceived at about the same scale as other factories adjacent to the site
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
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[Wrapping Around] To encourage more communication between nature, machine and human, this brewery is designed in the way that the main building volumes are wrapped around by series of exterior ramps, which come from landscape, and go back into nature. Walking through these ramps, major programs, namely, Museum for STL Drinking History, Microbrewery, Tap Room with Event Space, and Beer Garden, will gradually unravel themselves as one strolls lower to riverfront.
Spatial Composition
Plan: Brewery Level 41
Unfolded Section B-C-C’
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
[Touring Slope] This unfolded section drawing is cutting along the exterior touring slope, on which visitor could experience the whole brewing process without entering into the building. The slope has access on different levels into the building, so that local residence as well as brewery staff can walk on it conveniently. An amphitheater is designed in the halfway on this slope, where people could easily gathering together, giving or receiving performance, so that this brewery can also serve as a community center that has the potential to revive this area. 43
Section A-A
I like this Mississippi Riverfront Park very much. It is perhaps one of my favorite spots in the city: romantic, unique, and above all, beautiful. It is said to be one of the most popular dating place for St. Louis homosexual group, and I imagined a lot of love stories is going on everyday. However, the site is to some degree abandoned, and looks dangerous after night fall. I was told that it is getting worse. I was very sad for not having such a wonderland anymore, and felt obliged to do something about it. This brewery that I am proposing, when working on it, was portrayed as a shelter, or social space, for those gay groups, as well as other young people who are willing to spend some time here at this urban park.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
500 years flood line
No project can illustrate my portfolio topic, contingency and inevitability, better than this project, as it is literally surrounded by contingencies. The direct and natural one is of course the Mississippi River. This project is pushing to its extreme towards the river so that the flood plane will become a very important factor throughout the design, and also provide opportunities for visitors to have special experience in relation with the water. Another critical and interesting contingent condition is the train, the line of which was one of the very first US mid-west train lines “Pacific Union�, and has been functioning for more than a hundred years. Therefore I took advantage of this human legacy and designed the beer garden in the way that the train line is just running through it.
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One of the most important interior spaces designed in this project is presented in these renderings and model photos, where brew house, lounge for employees, and interactive taproom are intertwining together. Tourists will then have chances to experience the brewing process as well as working environment directly without interfering. On the other hand the joy and happiness of the tourists could in turn motivate and stimulate the staff crew.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
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術
Washington University in St. Louis, USA Master of Architecture, 2011-2015 Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland International Exchange Program, 2014
其它課程設計
Design Work
Waving Metal, Facade Design Spring 2014, Environmental System, Team Leader Repetitive Continuity, Pattern Study Fall 2011, Core Studio, Individual Chair 52, Bent Plywood Chair Spring 2014, Furniture Design, Individual
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Facade Design, Team Leader, Team of Three 8 Weeks, Helsinki, Finland Team, Yuxuan Chen, Qian Huang Instructor, Chandler Ahrens Environmental System II, Spring 2014 Washington University in St. Louis
Waving Metal
“Buildings are complex interrelationships of systems that must coalesce at multiple scales in relation to the comfort of the human body. Design strategies must opportunistically negotiate and synthesize these complex relationships including solar heat gain, internal heat gains, heat loss through the façade, daylight levels, artificial lighting, ventilation, and acoustics.” In this design exercise, building systems, especially enclosures and temperature controls, were designed to maximize the energy utility according to local climate data. The façade system, in particular, was parametrically designed from variables listed above.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015, Design Work
HVAC System Sectional Diagram
Typical Floor Plan
In this task we picked Helsinki as the site location. Close to Arctic, our site is in the subfrigid oceanic climate zone that has cold winters and cool summers. Solar altitude is very low, so in summer the days are long (up to 19 hours) and in winter days are short. Sunlight is needed in general throughout the year.
West Elevation
To tackle with a climate like this, we designed a facade with large window areas with relative horizontal shadings in the south and north side, and vertical shadings in the west and east side to allow adequate sunlight while blocking sun glitter. The pattern of opening sizes is relate to the function of room inside of that facade area: the more public the room is, the smaller the openings are. Some of the openings are filled with solid panel than transparent glazing if air duct is connected to it.
South Elevation
The composition of windows is two layers of triple glazing with 10mm air gap in between as insulation, so that in winters these windows will not add too much burden on the heating system.
Radiation Analysis: Generic Facade Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
Radiation Analysis: Parametric Facade
The interior temperature control system is consisted of two parts: cooling system with fan coil and air duct above the ceiling, and heating system with radiant slab and radiant tube below the floor on each level. The reason for such design is rooted in aerodynamics that hot air is tend to move upwards whereas cold air moves at the opposite direction. So by separating the temperature control system like this, convection of air can be generated naturally, and thus enhance the ventilation efficiency at the same time. We chose radiant slab and radiant tubes for the heating system besides air conditioner, because such a system is more economic due to its less electricity consumption.
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a. Waterproof Layer Insulating Layer Concrete + Metal Deck b. Insulating Board c. Steel Beam d. Fan Coil e. Acoustical Board f. Timber Floor g. Radiant Slab + Radiant Tube h. Concrete Slab + Metal Deck i. Steel Beam j. Fan Coil
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k. Fresh Air Duct l. Triple Glazing m. Aluminum Mullion n. Steel Cable
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Pattern Study, Individual Work 8 Weeks, St. Louis, USA Instructor, Catalina Freixas Core Studio, Fall 2011 Washington University in St. Louis
Repetitive Continuity
A “pattern” is a perceptual structure bearing both repetition and variation. Patterns can be recognized in macro and micro scales. However, to recognize a pattern means not only to mimic the form, but also to follow its logic, to abstract the way it functions. In this design studio, it is started with study of “water” patterns, and then transform it to a natural landscape form, and then finally to architecture.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015, Design Work
Pattern Study in Different Scales
Unit Composition: Hand Drawing
Surface Composition: Hand Drawing
Surface Elevation
Landscape Diagram: Hand Drawing
Surface Plan Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
Following studies of the mechanism of water molecules was applying it to a less abstract form of representation: a model. In the first half of exercise I tried to make a model that has the same spatial qualities and water wave behaves, and making the curving pattern controllable by adjust the parameters of basic units, as the diagram shows on the left page. Then the next question is, how to implement it into a even more concrete and practical form, such as landscape and architecture. My answer to it is neither unique nor optimal, but opens up possibilities that transcend our general recognition of so-called “architecture”.
Pattern: Surface
One possibility is to create an “occupiable façade” that can form spaces by itself, and at the same time function as enclosures of other internal spaces. The model below roughly builds up a façade for a regular office building in the downtown area. Without even changing its spatial organization inside, immediately it stands out from its neighborhood as a lively and interactive space.
[Occupiable Façade]
North Facade
South Facade
Pattern: Landscape
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Bent Plywood Chair, Individual Work 10 Weeks, Helsinki, Finland Instructor, Julie Tolvanen Furniture Design, Spring 2014 Aalto University Espoo Campus
Chair 52
In this furniture design class, students are asked to design a public chair with given materials: bent plywood as seat, and steel tubes (with various diameters) for legs and arms. My motivation was to build a chair with larger dimension of “frame” to allow a certain degree personal intimacy even in a public space. One of the most special features of my chair is that its curve is a combined curve of a working chair for the seat area and a lounge chair for the back part, so that one can both “sit-up” and “sit-back” on a same chair.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015, Design Work
Regular Chair: Too Intimate For Public Use
Chair 52: Allow Some Distance In Between
My design started with a very simple idea: a chair that has breathing gaps, in human scale and smaller. In human scale means that there is certain distance left in between the seat and the arms, so that anyone sitting in it will not enter his adjacent people’s intimate personal zone. In smaller scale means the material scale, as I deliberately left some gaps between the seat and the rectangular frame, in the way that it causes a false illusion as if the seating is floating on the frame.
Fake Square And Real Square
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
The design process started with a very rough sketch of two squares and one curve, as my very first instinct to the material constrain of this design task, which was the very traditional combination of bent plywood for the seating part and steel for other parts, was to contrast the material quality of the two to the extreme. So I sketched and tested the idea in a 1/10 model form with rigorous and strong squares representing the masculine of metal, plus a light and gentle curve showing the elegance of plywood.
4 mm
Then the next step was to study the right curve for this chair, so that it is more than just being pretty. In groups we scanned some master chairs such as Clash Chair, Bird Chair, and Muu Chair, made foam model according to their curves, and tried out their comfort level and different combinations using those foam models. Eventually I decided to marry the curve of a work chair to a lounge chair, so that one can both sit-up and sit-back on the same chair. This move was proven to be successful and my chair was awarded the most comfortable one among all the 24 designed produced that year.
11 mm
10 mm
Sketch, 1:10 scale paper model, digital study, 1:1 scale mock-up, mold and the final chair: 52 iterations before the final prototype. But it is still just a prototype.
Explosive Assembly 61
建
Shigeru Ban Architects, Tokyo, Japan Architect Intern, 2014 Beijing Institute of Architectural Design, China Architect Intern, 2008
實際建設項目
Professional Project
Shizuoka International Airport, Competition Entry Summer 2014, Under Construction Mount Fuji Heritage Center, Design Development Summer 2014, Under Construction
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Competition Entry, Under Construction 8 Weeks, Tokyo, Japan Modelling, Rendering, Presentation Material Shigeru Ban Architects
Shizuoka International Airport
Inspired by the local tea tree forest, which is one of the most symbolic landscape types in Shizuoka area, Mr. Shigeru Ban’s initial impulse was to create a teaforest-like atmosphere in the midst of Kanto Plain. Mr. Ban’s passion on this design was to apply a cuttingedge new technology of bending plywood in two directions to achieve the effect of three-dimensional twisting (as shown on the left). For me, this is the very first time to acknowledge the material property as the primary motivation and starting point for a project. I felt so lucky of getting the chance to join a competition team because everyone can be in charge of any part here in the design process: there was no superiority like other teams.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015, Professional Project
Interior Rendering: Main Lobby Structures of the new building part is consisted of twisted timber arches that forms columns and roofs. The twisted timber is using a new wood process technique that recently development in Japan.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
Industrial Technique for Twisted Timber in Three Dimensions with Minimum Wood Loss and Maximum Material Strength: Creative Design with World New Technology.
While working for this competition entry, I was involved in testing the reasonable dimension, spacing, height, and other parameters of the roof structure through both digital and physical media. I also got the chance to talk with Arup structure engineers and timber production experts about the practicality of such a bold move as to use a technology as unknowingly new and expensive as this project. Renderings and diagrams presented on these two pages were primarily drawn by the author. For plans, sections, and other parts, the author could not present in this portfolio due to confidentiality reasons at this stage. There were still a lot of issues remained unsolved by the time I left the position, but excitedly, this project got the award at the end. I very much look forward to seeing its final construction solution in the near future.
Connection with Existing Structures
Terminals
Joint Details
Security Check
Lobby
67 9m
9m
Interior
Exterior
Design Development, Under Construction 8 Weeks, Tokyo, Japan Parametric Studies, Modelling, Rendering Shigeru Ban Architects
Mount Fuji Heritage Center
Mr. Shigeru Ban’s design concept of this project is very simple and yet elegant: an upside down Mount Fuji shaped timber structure with spiral slopes inside as exhibition areas, and mirrored shape in the reflection pool in front of it exactly like Fuji. All the materials in the page are primarily completed by the author of this portfolio, and were presented to the clients and owners (government sectors) as final deliverables of Design Development stage. Other Materials such as detailed plan and section drawings are not allowed in this portfolio due to privacy provisions.
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015, Professional Project
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
Collaborative Working Environment This project is both an architecture and a landscape design. The design of reflective pool and front plaza was outsourced to a professional landscape designer firm, who are specialized in urban parks. The timber structure, again a very innovative and unique utilization of material, was designed with Arup’s timber structure engineer team. The exhibition part inside of the “up-sidedown Fuji San” was mainly planed by a consultant firm primarily working for museum arrangement and exhibition design. In this project I learned that architecture, especially one with multiple functions and large scale, cannot be accomplished without supports from other specialities. On the other hand, at some time the architects team need to be persistent on what they would like to achieve, regardless of how hard it might be to actually construct in real world. The advise from those experts are nothing but solutions of your design. One shall not compromise easily of the rejections from experts. They are not an excuse for you not to try hard to achieve what you want to achieve.
Explosive Axon: Spatial Composition 71
In its physical and central diversity architecture can only survive as architecture, and not as a vehicle for some ideology or other. A city’s architecture is always a bit like a constructed, psychological version of its people. - Jacques Herzog
Mengfei Wu Portfolio 2015
EDUCATION
Washington University | St Louis, USA
2011.08 to 2015.06, Master of Architecture, with honors
HONORS AND McDonnell International Scholarship | 2011 to 2015 Washington University in St. Louis, International leadership, top 1% AWARDS
Aalto University | Helsinki, Finland
Luo Jian Scholarship | 2009 to 2010
Tsinghua University | Beijing, China
Zheng Geru Scholarship | 2007 to 2008
Tsinghua University, Academic excellence, top 10%
2014.01 to 2014.06, International Exchange Program, architecture
Tsinghua University, Academic excellence, top 5%
2007.09 to 2011.07, Bachelor of Engineer, with honors
Faculty Book Award | 2015
Washington University in St. Louis, Representation skill, nominated
PROFESSIONAL Kengo Kuma And Associates | Tokyo, Japan 2016.02 to current, Architect, Intern EXPERIENCE Studio Alpha | Shanghai, China
2015.08 to current, Instructor, Part time
Shigeru Ban Architects | Tokyo, Japan
EXTRA CURRICULA ACTIVITIES
2014.06 to 2014.09, Architect, Intern
Shifting Limits | 2013.12.06 to 2013.12.08
Washington University Dance Theater, Modern Dance Performance
Dance Salons and Performances | 2008 to 2011 Tsinghua University Dance Group, Corps de Ballet
China Academy Of Building Research | Beijing, China
Volunteer Teacher at Guangxi | 2008.07 to 2008.09
2010.10 to 2011.06, Structure Engineer, Intern
Tsinghua University, 1st Place Student Volunteer Activity Awards
Beijing Institute of Architectural Design | Beijing, China
2010.08 to 2010.10, Architect, Intern
China Construction Corp. Ltd | Beijing, China 2010.06 to 2010.07, Assistant Construction Manager
EXHIBITIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
SOFTWARE SKILLS
AutoCAD: Proficient Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign: Proficient
Degree Project Exhibition | 2015.05
Washington University in St. Louis, excellent degree project
Climate Consultant, eQuest, DIVA for Rhino: Proficient Ecotect, Vasari: Skilled SAP2000, Etabs, PKPM: Skilled
Helsinki International Exhibition | 2014.05
Aalto University, excellent work of Helsinki Program
MS Office: Proficient Matlab: Basic
Approach, Publication | 2011 to 2015
Washington University in St. Louis, excellent studio work
Pedestrian Flow Analysis in Railway Station | 2010.06
Tsinghua University, Research Center of Transportation Engineering
Influential Factors in Real Estate Market | 2009.09 Tsinghua University, Institute of Real Estate
SketchUp, V-ray (for SketchUp): Proficient Rhino, Grosshoper, T-spline, V-ray (for Rhino): Proficient REVIT, 3DMax, Maxwell: Basic
LANGUAGES
Chinese (Mandarin): Native English: Fluent (TOEFL112) Japanese: Fluent (JLPT N1 certificate) German, Chinese (Cantonese), Korean: Basic
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Mengfei Wu | Beijing, China, 2015 © Yuhaiyuan Erli 10, Unit1 Room 108, Haidian District