Portfolio_Mina

ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO

BY MINA LI

Molonglo Group Centre and Surrounds (MGC) is the primary commercial hub of the Molonglo Valley, a greenfield development planned to accommodate a future population of approximately 55,000. The Suburban Land Agency (SLA) engaged SMD to conduct an urban review of the corridor, aiming to optimise the interface between the JGD3C and its urban and environmental context. This review was informed by the Molonglo Group Centre and Surrounds – Draft Concept Plan published by EPSDD and served as the foundation for the PSP landscape design. As an assistant at SMD, I contributed to the project by supporting 3D modelling, drafting drawings, and preparing visual presentations for the MGC area.

KEY WORDS: places for people, movement, vibrant streets, green and sustainable

2

4

4X4

500 Student Housing a student housing block that redefines modes of sharing

In 4 x 4 Student Housing, each unit is a module of 16 people, consisting of two zones: private and shared.

Each student occupies a bedroom for sleeping, changing, and storing personal belongings. Every two bedrooms share a winter garden, and every four share a set of common household amenities, including a bathroom and kitchenette. Every 16 bedrooms share a double-height outdoor space in the middle, serving for larger-scale social events.

As its inhabitants explore their identity in the community between solitary and social, the building respects this openness of choices by constructing a gradience to balance between independence, intimacy, and collective. Its answer to the site and brief is affordable and durable with a minimalist aesthetic.

KEY WORDS: sharing livestyle, levels of intimacy, boundaries, collective and independence

4 X 4 - A HUGE HOUSE: 500 STUDENT HOUSING MINA LI GRETA HE MONICA CHEN

VIEW FROM GROUND FLOOR

Group Acadamic Project Mina Li, Greta He, Monica Chen 03/2022 - 06/2022 MARC5000 Induction Studio 42-50 Paramatta Road, Sydney, NSW, AU

6

Unit Plan

Interior Render

4 X 4 - A HUGE HOUSE: 500 STUDENT HOUSING MINA LI GRETA HE Architectural Drawing MONICA CHEN

TYPICAL UNIT PLAN 1:75

Shared Living Space (16 students)

The boundaries between every two layers are ambiguous, shifting from open to closed, creating multiple spatial possibilities in different scenarios.

Imagine when two kitchens of four are opened to the central shared space, they can serve 16 people of the whole module with minimal extra devices.

4 X 4 - A HUGE HOUSE: 500 STUDENT HOUSING MINA LI GRETA HE MONICA CHEN

OUTDOOR SHARED SPACE

8

Typical Floor & Ground Floor Plan Architectural Drawing

Elevation & Section

4 X 4 - A HUGE HOUSE: 500 STUDENT HOUSING MINA LI GRETA HE MONICA CHEN

TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN 1:300

Architectural Drawing

Ty p

ica

Gr ou

nd

lF

loo

r

Flo

or

10

Women-only communal bathing breaking through a new disciplinary regime of beauty

In the context of internet age, beauty discourse spreads itself through social media to every corner of our lives. Prescriptive beauty norms have become the solid base of not only fashion industry but also the inexorable law of many gender-related creations.

The new disciplinary regime of beauty was erected in a more hidden and harmful way, perpetually guiding women’s ‘free choices’.

In this study, I proposed a single-sex bathhouse project for women, exploring the possibilities of liberating appearance pressure for women. This project will discuss the strength of communal bathing and how it provides opportunities for women to reassess, reconnect, and rethink their relationships with their own bodies.

KEY WORDS: prescriptive beauty norms, communal bathing, single-sex space, gazes, self-identities, third person perspective, internalised objectification

Individual Acadamic Project Mina Li 08 /2023 - 11/2023 MARC6000 Thesis Studio Taylor Square Substation No.6 and Conveniences

12

Concept Research & Site Investment

Women-only communal bathing:

breaking through a new disciplinary regime of beauty

I focus on a site on Oxford Street where pedestrians and visitors from nearby facilities use the plaza, creating an isolated zone around a heritage property in Taylor Square.

The amount of time spent on enhancing beauty reveals a persisting gender asymmetry

Journey of water, lead by water

This creates discomfort for rare visitors, prompting the author to consider the daily 'gazed upon' situation faced by women in this area.

Being seen/Not being seen

Voids for cross ventilation

Inheritance from past

1844 courthouse

Trams during rush hour in Taylor Square

1907 men’s convenience

1938 women’s convenience

RY T N

1

E

1

No.6 substation and women’s convenience

2 Underground open lounge where to relax and communicate

2

1880s Pissoir Urinal

underground men’s convenience

Reception to enter this Women-only bathhouse

“Up to the end of 1914, according to a council publication, only £1,064 was spent on women’s public lavatories, while more than £15,000 was spent on public lavatories for men.”

3 3

Experience a series of rooms and access the pool

Architectural Drawings

The bathhouse project, centered around reuse, reveal, and reconnect, necessitates t h e e xc av a t i o n o f a n u n d e r g ro u n d bathhouse.

SITE PLAN

The new underground platform uses a 'cut language' to map invisible boundaries and create a vapor void, interpreting relationships between gazers and gazed upon.

The staircase leads to a buffer zone floor for female patrons, ensuring privacy and encouraging them to reassess their relationships with their bodies.

This women-only bathhouse programme is proposed to draw attention to issues of prescriptive beauty norms and look for possibilities of liberating appearance pressure for women.

The power of collective exposure in women-only spaces is enormous, as it will be a chance to rethink, release, and reconnect women’s bodies.

The strength of redefining and transforming a space with the past of ignoring women’s needs into a space which is completely designed for women is a strong move to raise awareness of past and vigilance for more gender-related phenomena.

18

Photos 1: 50 Model photos

Women-only communal bathing:

breaking through a new disciplinary regime of beauty

Journey of water, lead by water

Being seen/Not being seen

Voids for cross ventilation

Inheritance from past

RY T N

E

20

Living in the City Rothwell Research Studio: Lacaton & Vassal Architects The workshop builds on the Rothwell Symposium (2729.04.2021) to explore a range of questions associated with the Rothwell program led by the current co-chairs, French architects Lacaton & Vassal.

This report looks specifically into the twin towers of Waterloo, Matavai and Turanga. The research aims at improving the quality of the existing dwellings, and also radically seeking for possible solutions of densification. On Stage 1 of our research, we identify the characteristics of the current living environment for the tower inhabitants. On Stage 2, we propose two transformation schemes for the existing structures to provide better apartments. On Stage 3, learning from the values of the twin towers, we discussed the possibility of building a new structure on the site to accommodate more residents.

KEY WORDS: densification, social and affordable housing, generosity, living environment renovation, materialities

We acknowledge the Gadigal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we perform our research, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Group Acadamic Project Mina Li, Greta He, Grace Guan & Monica Chen 07/2021 - 09/2021 ARCH9040 Rothwell Research Studio Waterloo Estate, Sydney, NSW, AU

22

Research On The Site

Existing Value The most dominant window inside an apartment, successfully introduces beautiful view and sunlight into the room.

The balconies during the 2017 #WeLiveHere Project symbolized community memory, as people lit their windows to protest against the city’s plan to demolish two towers.

Site Characteristics

Observing and interviewing tower residents, we identified high average age and low mobility as key factors for potential improvements, focusing on improving indoor environment.

24

Transformation Strategy

Design Details

Improving & Increasing

Balcony Transformation

8

4 1977 ORIGINAL PLAN

1977: 8 small units

The original balcony, a symbol of residents’ memories, will be preserved during renovation. Units facing north, east, and west convert hard-to-use balconies into bay windows for outdoor 1996 REDEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022 REDEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 North units use balconies as built-in cabinets and 2022 REDEVELOPMENT PLAN 2 2022 REDEVELOPMENTenjoyment.

PLAN 3 storage spaces, enlarging storage space.

1996: 4 large units

8

10

18

2022: 8 large units

2022: 10 large units

2022: 10 large units & 8 new units

Existing

Variations Of Facades

Northeast 2022 Unit Proposal I & Proposal II REDEVELOPMENT PLAN 2

2022 REDEVELOPMENT PLAN 3

1996 REDEVELOPMENT PLAN

Proposed

Open Up The Tower

N 0

1m

2m

5m

10m

PROPOSAL I: 8 → 4 → 8

The proposal enhances the tower’s natural light and views by transforming the existing balcony into a bay window, creating a comfortable seating area.

2022 REDEVELOPMENT PLAN 3

A new winter garden, situated next to the living and bedroom areas, provides natural light and diverse views, particularly beneficial for elderly residents who can invite friends for social interaction.

N 0

1m

2m

5m

10m

PROPOSAL II: 8 → 4 → 10

The blind walls and walls with small windows as an opportunity to add attachments and added an extra bedroom and an extra balcony for each studio. And by doing this, we protruded a new slab out of the original façade and expanded the perimeter of the building. This means we can more windows, and the more windows, the more inhabitable rooms, the more residents can live a better life of quality.

Facade Strategy The building’s residents (especially the elderly residents) will enjoy a large polycarbonate wintergarden, shading, and an inner thermal curtain to reduce heat gain and operational energy, utilizing a cheaper and easier-toinstall material.

26

Final Site Plan & Elevation

Exterior & Interior Views

Elevation

28

The Urban Oasis a mixed use aquatic park bringing restoration to dense urban

The project site is at 14-26 Wattle Street Pyrmont, an inner suburb that is undergoing considerable change as new multiunit residential projects are constructed in an area characterised by large brick warehouse buildings, terrace housing, apartment projects and the Sydney fish markets. As the population increases and the demographic composition changes, there is increasing diversity and an opportunity to explore new building typologies and mixed uses. The URBAN OASIS is such a project.

The URBAN OASIS – a place for exercise, relaxation and entertainment in a club-like atmosphere operating from 5am till Midnight - bringing the restorative qualities of water to a dense urban area with a mix of swimming, floating, eating, drinking and relaxation.

KEY WORDS: relaxation, healing, physical and mental wellbeing, diversity, mixed-use aquatic park, experience of water, connection with nature

Individual Acadamic Project Mina Li 03/2020 - 06/2020 BDES3026 Architecture Studio 3A 14-26 Wattle Street Pyrmont, Sydney, NSW, AU

30

Plan & Sections Architectural Drawing

Site Investment

Section A

Goals

Requirements

The space is intentionally designed to be a place that interacts well with surrounding and encourages people to visit.

- Main pool with minimum dimension of 25m – for swimming & relaxation.

- The main column-free space must be able to accommodate a 30m hypothetical circle.

- The pool space shall take advantage of natural light and ventilation.

Section B

32

Load Analysis

34

Exterior & Interior Views

Model Photos (1 : 200)

36

A Spherical Puzzle Connecting the Segments -- The (re)making of SOH

The Sydney Opera House was designed like a intricated spherical puzzle of more than 2000 precast concrete segments, which are connected in both longitudinal and lateral directions. There are various segments, depending on its location and connection methods, revealing the unprecedented structure complexity.

This project focus on the assembly of Sydney Opera House and the possibility of introducing robotic assistance in its bolting process, due to the high risk of working in construction industry. This research and experiment successfully visualize the assembly and bolting process of the SOH, providing training material for similar projects and potentially serving as a prototype for future robots working on sloped or curved facades.

KEY WORDS: robotic arms, construction safety, digital modelling, cost-effective, future rapid construction

Group Acadamic Project Mina Li, Greta He, Monica Chen 08/2022 - 11/2022 MARC5010 Pure Imagination Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney, NSW, AU

38

Change from threading to placing

Research & Prototype

Prototype Phase I - Bolting

1.Robot Lab setting KUKA KR6-10 R1100 is fixed on table to provide stability

construction model video

The original method of installing threaded rods consi of threading from side holes and adjusting their posit with human hands. The robot has a limited working ran which makes it more difficult to do long-distance thread motions. Considering the efficiency of robot moveme Our first attempt of model is 1:2. This is because the 1:2 Gripper for threaded rod prototype 1.Grip threaded rod & installation werobot redesigned the segment so it has a horizontal chan scale threaded rods and plates are lighter for the to facing robot. This allows test robot to place the rod dir deal with. However, the 1:2I segment is too small to allow Phase - Bolting Itera The designed tool is atDesign solving move inside solving the pocket, so the 1:1 segment wasoutside II - Placing plate and Problem solving lyDesign from and provides more accurate results in Phase II - Placing threaded rod and ProblemPhase Design robot and toProblem tached to gripper which our final choice. rod’s locations.

Tool S Redesign plates connected the robot The DMAF lab to provided KUKA 1.GripKR6-10 plate R1100 for ourChange from threading to placing test.

It is secured on a 900 mm high table.

The dimension The change of segment reverses the original order of The ini arm. The gripper tool is offirstly 1:1 model comes from 3 which compara-The original method of installing threaded rods consistedplacing threaded rods and plates. The plates now have to require Grip plate whichisis aplaced opened andsegment then tively small segment. Moreover, the model only demon-of threading from side holes and adjusting their positionsbe installed after the installation of threaded rods. Since lisions on supported structure closed toofgrip the threadstrates part segment near the permanent bolt pocket,with human hands. The robot has a limited working range,the structure of segment changed, the plate’s shape has to the spa gripper tool for rods is specifically designed usi rod on designed sup-working range in DMAFwhich makes it more difficult to do long-distance threadingchange to beThe inserted into the pocket. The new plate has rotation soed its dimensions suit the robot’s existing gripper joint for KR10 robot. The addition lab.

Both the port. motions. Considering themodefficiency of robot movements,similar channels that face the segment and two holes for advanta 1: 30 structure printed parts are bolted to existing gripper’sfor movin 1.Grip threaded rod car t tool and els iterations (3D so it has a horizontal channelrobot to grip. we redesigned the segment

Experiment Workflow Tool Selection Trials & Results Robot Work Flow Robot WorkTrials Flow & Results Trials & Results

The designed tool is attached to gripper which connected to the robot arm. The gripper tool is firstly opened and then closed to grip the threaded rod on designed support.

2. Support platform Set up support platform for 1:1 segment model with 60 degree angle to stimulate actual working angle in SOH. The position is the same with the position in KUKA prc program

2. Place threaded rod in the model.

Move threaded rod and place it into the channel and release it. The movement follows the highlighted curve.

3. Grip and move 3. Place model Place simplified model of Segment 3 on shell A2. Plate and Threaded rod are placed in position manually in the following sequence: Plate, Thread rod, washer and bolt.

Grip rod and move horizontally, continue this process twice until it locates at desired position

the gripper are specially designed 2. Place threaded to rod grip the plate firmly. in the model.

Tri

tions. So, when the gripper closes, it drives two 3D p parts to close and secure threaded rod in the middle.

The ne like str simple many u various bot nee change electric Plate installation.

1:1 redesigned segment porti

printed polysmooth; facing robot.

This allows test robot to place the rod directbronze rods) ly from outside and provides more accurate results in the 1.Place tool rod’s locations.

1: 2 test bolted model

The selected tool is air ratchet with a new converter and M36 socket Move threaded rod and to bolt M36 nut on M24 place it into the channel threaded rod. The angle 3d printer failed tolerance testopposite successful printe of tool holder allows the The reason why these plates’ channels have the and release it. The movetool to work parallel to direction to the segment is to avoid movement of threaded ment follows the high2. Move plate the model. rod. Some segments on shell are nearly perpendicular These kinds of special grippers require high precis lighted curve.

The 1:1ground physical model uses an not M24 threaded rod tha The segment on the shell in real life will be at a specific to the surface. might moveinifthe location.

IfThe thethreaded target isrods precisely midpo Move plate and rotate to angle, so we rotated the model to simulate 60° of segment fixture. construction process, the plate and rods 1without m long.

At first, weparts, tried togripper grip the rod at resistan about twoIn moving the will detect desired angle.

The movefocus portion 3 on the ribs.

To locate the model stably, we designed a will be fixed in place by grouting. of its end. stop However, because threaded fa at the middle, i.e., the not fully closed.rod has aspan ment follows the hightable which is also self-supported to adjust the distance beThe firs large weight, the other 2/3 A s ofw i rod t h gis r i pinclined p e r s f o rdownwa 3. Grip and move lighted curve. model location tween model and robot. To simplify the working flow, we It can b error place between digital threaded rods, for horizo Therefore, the robot couldn’t itgripper into the segment portion used hex nuts instead1:1 ofredesigned special nuts of SOH. Install order and real world requires high preci- position 2. Power source channel on segments. We plates then reprogrammed thetorobo conn Grip rod and move horision of location.

If the tarThe exploration will start with bolting to see if we can grip the threaded rod at the to atensure stabi bec get ismidpoint not precisely the has The 1:1 physical uses an M24 threaded rod thatthe is bolting zontally, continue this replacemodel humans with robotic to do Power source isarms a portamidpoint of two moving Once the rod is placed in the channel, the robot release Slot the plate into 1 m long. At first, we tried grip the rod about 1/3robot can process.

Then webleto will continue to at test if the process twice until it3.loair compressor pump.

The fin parts, the gripper will get and grips tomiddle do short-distance threadingportabl moti of its end. do However, because thewell, threaded has a the fairly model not in other motions as placing plates and it again The tool issuch keptasrod connectcates at desired position stuck at the middle. threading the2/3 needle. large weight, the other of during rod is inclined downwards. support insta ed the following inside the pocket. bolting Push the plate into the Therefore, the robot couldn’t place it into the horizontalPosition not in the middle. experiment. both ide 1: 30 model pocket. The slot hasperspective reaTo gain accurate results, the threaded rod is first channel on segments. We then reprogrammed the robot to sonable tolerance for the on a support structure, which is screwed to the pla grip the threaded rod at the midpoint to ensure stability. plate to go in. table for stability. In reality, this support structure co Once the rod is placed in the channel, the robot releases it

and grips it again to do short-distance threading motions inside the pocket.

Successful Tests

a stored device that automatically jacks up a new th rod so the robot always knows where to grip its targ

Full Tests

For video test log, please scan 1: 30 model perspective these codes

drill +so

Gripper for plate prototype installation.

Inbalanced threaded rod&due to gravity.

Design Experiment

Outcomes & Reflections

Inbalanced threaded rod due to gravity.

Successful Test.

LAB experiment video

Tool Design Iterations

40

Appendix Render Practice

Technical Drawings

Physical Models

Digital Modelling

42