Portfolio - Hong Chen

Hong Chen Portfolio 5.6.2

Table of Contents Augmenting Robotics

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What Are We Doing Here? is a capture from a longer video demonstration from my thesis project: Augmenting Robotics.

How do we bring non-engineers into the field of digital fabrication?

Augmenting Robotics explores using an augmented reality interface as a more intuitive way to control and handle a robotic arm system.

The Hive

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How can AI be used in our design? The Hive explores the usage of a trained AI image generator to create “happy accidents” which was then used to create a multi-unit housing complex.

Nomad-Logic

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In the era of digital nomadism, Nomad-Logic seeks to explore the possibility of applying a similar concept to our built environment.

Clouds

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Can a project be defined entirely by a single keyword? Clouds aims to explore this through a design for a student centre located on the grounds of the University of Toronto.

Sunny Heights

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What does a skyscraper optimized to maximize sun exposure look like? Sunny Heights attemps to answer this question whilst being entirely parametrically generated.

Desert Flower Desert Flower seeks to test the success of creating a functional structure using an entirely codified design base. Created from basic 2-dimensional shapes, Desert Flower takes the form of a civic centre.

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Cover Photo: What Are We Doing Here?

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Augmenting Robotics was an exploratory thesis into imagining an alternative way to interact with the robotic arms that we increasingly see in all facets of the fabrication world — both within the field of architecture and outside it.

The project utilized AR technology produced by the Fologram team along with Rhino 8, Grasshopper, Robots (a plug-in), and a HoloLens 2 to create a method of programming, simulating, and executing robotic commands in a way that would lend itself to being more intuitive and beginner friendly.

The thesis also attempted to see if AR technology could be leveraged in a way that would be useful for experienced users — with calibration flexibility and efficiency being a prime exploratory subject.

As the project is demonstrated best with video, more can be found about it here:

Hong Chen I am an aspiring architect and designer with a deep interest in how technology and computation can redefine the boundaries of traditional design. My background spans digital fabrication, augmented reality, robotics, and parametricism, giving me hands-on experience with tools like Rhino, Grasshopper, and a wide range of powerful plugins.

With a degree in architectural studies (specializing in architectural technologies) and a minor in computer science (focused on UI/UX design), I have developed a unique skill set that blends design thinking with computation-first problem-solving. I am particularly interested in how parametric, automated, and emerging digital tools can enhance the way we design and build—while remaining critically aware of their ethical and moral implications.

At the core of my workflow is the belief that technology should not replace creativity but amplify it. Whether through scripting specialized workflows, critically integrating technology into built spaces, or rethinking fabrication methods, I am always exploring ways to push design forward in responsible and meaningful ways.

Academic Credentials

Contact Information

Bachelor of Arts - Architectural Studies Minor in Computer Science University of Toronto | Daniels Faculty of Architecure, Landscape and Design

E: mk.hongchen@outlook.com Alt E: mk.hongchen@gmail.com W: mkhongchen.ca P: +1 587-969-1033

Professional Experience

Proficiencies

ANDStudio (Shanghai) Intern Shanghai, China

Rhino 7 | 8 Grasshopper Enscape | V-Ray D5 Render Adobe Lightroom CC Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Suite Microsoft Suite Google Suite Python 3 Java | Processing C | C# | C++ Unity

September 2021 - June 2025

May 2024 - August 2024

Canada Border Services Agency (YYZ, YYC) Student Border Services Officer Calgary, AB | Toronto, ON May 2023 - April 2024

Arpi’s Industries Ltd. Shop Help, Sheet Metal Apprentice Calgary, AB

May 2021 - August 2021 | May 2022 - August 2022

Laser cutting Model making Robotics (UR10e)

4 years 3.5 years 2 years 1 year 6 years 3 years 1 year 3 years 5 years 7 years 4 years 3 years 2 years 1 year 3 years 3 years 2 years

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The Hive

02/2024 Hong Chen, Alex Argiriou, Faizah Ahmad 4

The Hive Academic 02/2024 Hong Chen Alex Argiriou Faizah Ahmad Using an AI image generator trained on a set of hexagonally shaped houses as the basic typology, the group created a series of AI generated images which was then analysed to see the biases and “mistakes” that the generator made whilst attempting to create new forms. These mistakes were then investigated for their possible impact on the existing typology, and gave rise to interesting and novel iterations on the original form.

These iterations were then applied to a site in the city of Toronto to create a housing complex that was both denser than the existing properties on the site, and more open as well.

The Hive represents an early investigative work into the usage of AI technologies in architecture, and their potential to suggest novel design routes and innovations on existing typological conditions.

Original Year: 2024 Type: Academic Project Class: ARC381 Professor: Suzan Ibrahim Collaborators: Alexandra Argiriou, Faizah Ahmad, Hong Chen 5

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Nomad-Logic 03/2025 (Updated Version) Hong Chen

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Nomad-Logic Academic 03/2025 (Revised Edition) Hong Chen NOMAD-LOGIC explores the idea of mobile architecture via the form of a cafe. Realizing the rise in digital nomads and temporary experiences (like pop-up stores or weekend markets), NOMAD-LOGIC aims to consider whether our built environments can be made to be more adaptable as well.

To achieve this, the cafe makes use of a shipping container as its base form — allowing it to make use of an existing logistics network for its mobility. Whether the cafe be a temporary vendor at an event, or even a permanent expansion to an existing structure, NOMAD-LOGIC is designed to be flexible and adaptable to a wide variety of situations and climates.

Original Year: 2022 Updated: 2025 Type: Academic Project Class: ARC112 / APS112 Professors: Jay Pooley, Jason Bazylack, Steven Fong (Client) Collaborators: Nawal Dabbagh, Zachary Chisamore, Yiyang Hu, Young Hoon Cho, Hong Chen Additional Notes: NOMAD-LOGIC was originally a project done collaboratively between Nawal Dabbagh, Zachary Chisamore, Yiyang Hu, Young Hoon Cho, and myself; a group consisting of both engineering and architecture students.

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Transport

Long

Designed to have enough space and fastening points, the cafe should be able to be shipped with all its components being fully contained inside an ISO 20ft shipping container.

Envisioned for environments like streetside food-truck style placements, or at crowded events, the Long configuration allows for the cafe to provide shading and a to-go service.

Short

Patio

Similar to the Long configuration, Short does not provide an area for customers to enjoy their goods on-site. What Short allows for though, is operatability in tight spaces (like a narrow alleyway) and to provide better insulation (due to its smaller opening).

Patio is the cafe’s “full” complement, with raised deck seating and an option to have top coverage. This configuration is imagined to be used in parks, plazas, or any open areas where there is enough room for the cafe to capture extra outdoor space.

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Clouds 03/2023 Hong Chen

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Clouds Academic 03/2023 Hong Chen Clouds was an investigation into creating a student centre based off of a single keyword to guide conceptual design. The keyword originally chosen for the Clouds project was “split”. This idea was expanded into an exploration on how we can separate and make distinct spaces (or rooms) using a variety of methods.

Clouds was then chosen as a secondary keyword due to the final design’s curvilinear design language, giving the idea of clouds floating in space and providing a place of refuge, both through strict boundaries (like interior walled-off spaces) and through soft boundaries (playing with the elevation of the cloud geometries to try and separate spaces from one another.

To drive the distinction, Cloud’s basement takes on an extremely traditional form, conforming to traditional grid based designs as its method of delineating space.

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Study Room Study Room

Study Room Study Room

Patio Space

Basement

1F / 2F

Study Room

Patio Space

3F 14

4F

Exposed Staircase (Seasonal Acess)

Covered Stairwell (Weather Permitting Acess)

Enclosed Basement (Year Round Access)

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Sunny Heights 05 / 2023 Hong Chen

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Sunny Heights Academic 05/2023 Hong Chen Sunny Heights is a skyscraper which was entirely parametrically designed.

Using Grasshopper and Rhino 7, the tower’s primary design was to allow as much sunlight penetration into every layer of the structure as reasonable.

To achieve this, the Grasshopper script allows for variations in the diameter of the inner opening, the setup of the opening pattern, the general tilt of the structure and the number of divisions in the basic circle.

Though the structure is not one that would stand in reality, and the units themselves have not been properly designed, the basic form invokes a the question of alternative optimization — instead of attempting to maximize floor plate area, what if designers chose to maximize something else instead?

Original Year: 2023 Type: Academic Project Class: ARC280 Professor: Nicholas Hoban 17

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Desert Flower 12 / 2021 Hong Chen

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Desert Flower Academic 12/2021 Hong Chen Can functional forms be generated from code only? Desert Flower is the outcome of an early attempt at answering this question.

Generating basic 2D shapes using Ben Fry’s and Casey Reas’ Processing programming language, then importing them into Grasshopper for Rhino 7 to generate 3D geometries, Desert Flower is imagined to be a public centre, with large sweeping wings and a monumental central rotunda.

Each part is designed to be adjustable with a change of a number or a slider, allowing for multiple variations to be generated quickly.

Original Year: 2021 Type: Academic Project Class: ARC180 Professor: Brady Peters 21

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