MARK YU-CHEN LIEN
Architecture Portfolio 2021
DECONSTRUCTING THE (POST)INDUSTRIAL AND ECOLOGICAL DIVIDE
Cornell AAP Mater’s Thesis
PHILI NAVAL YARD GATEWAY PAVILION
MICRO QUARRY URBANISM
Cornell AAP Master’s Studio
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES
HUANG FAMILY COLUMBARIUM Commission
OSLO RIPPLE EFFECT TOWER
TORONTO FUTURE TOWER
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
LUMENS MoMA PS1 YAP
Jenny Sabin Studio
ZHUANGWEI VISITOR CENER
Fieldoffice Architects
311 W 42ND STREET TIME SQUARE
JOURNAL SQUARED APARTMENT
GOTHAM’S POINT APARTMENT Handel Architects
COMPETITION / PUBLICATION
POST RETAIL 5TH AVENUE MONU Magazine entry
MIDDLE WEST
Princeton Pamphlet Architecture 36
M._LAB Personal illustration
DECONSTRUCTING THE (POST)INDUSTRIAL AND ECOLOGICAL DIVIDE
CORNELL MASTER’S THESIS
ADVISOR: TAO DUFOUR & RUBEN ALCOLEA
This thesis explores the architectural implications of a mode of ecological thinking aimed at a critique of the divide between (post)industrial infrastructure and ecological intentions. The project speculates on the temporality of the petrochemical landscapes in Alberta Canada, projecting a 100 year transformation after its abandonment from a fragmented semi-arid mining site to a network of ‘artificial’ lush wetlands.
Set in the imminent future of a post-petropolis world, the landscapes of abandoned oil infrastructures become the new ground to facilitate ecological systems in the new climatic conditions affected by global warming. The design proposal speculates on methodologies for blurring the territories of infrastructure, landscape and architecture.
The North American landscape is traditionally understood in terms like beauty, wilderness and the sublime. The American transcendentalist in the 1820s and 30s as well as the Hudson Valley School were key in shaping this perspective on the American cultural identity through paintings, literature and the national parks movement
In parallel to this cultural creation of the picturesque American landscape is the growing industrial movements from the 1840s gold rush to the 1880 industrialized coal mine and continuing today. The true American landscape is a cyborg of altered landscape with industrialization and imagined sublime
Cold Lake, Alberta Canada Oil Field
Inland oil mining infrastructure, especially the oil sand operation in Alberta Canada, is one of the major industries transforming the American landscape. From initial survey to operation and transportation, major impacts are made on landforms, ecologies and indigenous cultural identity.
Timeline of First Nation Transformation
The first nation, like the land, became synonymous with the cyborg analogy, mixed with indeginous traditions and skills working in the oil industry.
Irrigated & Conditioned ground
Oil pipelines are problematic in creating physical divides on what used to be an open landscape for animal migration and ecological continuity. This intervention seeks to deconstruct the strong figure-ground relationship between the oil pipelines and the ground, blurring the way they interact with each other to create a hybrid condition for both to coexist.
Trap Line Pump Station
First nations, who have gained expertise in operating pipelines, will use that skill to reverse engineer the infrastructure to irrigate and regenerate pockets of wetland ecology, critical to revitalize the larger wetland and the first nation hunting tradition. Oil pipelines become the new trap line where pump stations become hunting cabins for overnight trips.
Deconstructed ground
Oil pads are elevated and compacted ground to prevent oil leakage. However, the pads create ecological dead zones, fragmenting the open wetland hydrology and animal paths. These interventions cut into the pads, reconnecting the larger ecological network while creating new spatial conditions for wildlife to intersect with the first nation’s activities.
Geothermal Greenhouse
Oil wells extend underground as deep as 5,000 ft, enough to be repurposed as geothermal wells for passive energy. Energy that can condition houses and greenhouses year round for agrarian traditions. The structure can also act as canopy for wildlife to shelter in the increasingly harsh global climate.
Bridge as ground
This intervention seeks to remove the physical divide created by oil pipelines by building a cross bridge over the pipelines to reconnect the open landscape for animal migration and ecological continuity.
Irrigated ground & beehive
As a cross bridge, this intervention seeks to take advantage of the animal traffic and integrated beehives to enhance pollination to regenerate the depleted vegetation around. Irrigation systems through the pipes will facilitate plant regeneration during dry seasons.
Model of the overpass bridge with the elevated landscape filled with the soft soil from the excavated ground for water retention. Both interventions seek to create tectonics for animal passage and ecological continuity across the oil pipeline. These conditions also create blurred boundaries for the re-purposed (post)industrial infrastructure to engage with ecological habitat and its regeneration - a hybrid condition similar to that of a greenhouse but applied on a territorial scale of the oil infrastructure.
MASTER’S DESIGN STUDIO TEAM: LINJUN YU
This project explores the public opportunity to revitalize the Philadelphia Naval Yard as it transforms into a new tech and cultural hub of the city. Through a gateway pavilion that features a bike station and spaces for a cafe and gym, the pavilion seeks to create different vantage points near the waterfront for visitors and workers to re-experience the historic site and the decommissioned battleships around the waterfront.
The design of the project draws from the sectional profile of ship construction and explores its morphology in generating the various special conditions as visitors appearches the waterfront.
Sectional Morphology
This project seeks to contextualize a formal study in aggregative geometry. Drawing inspiration from the usually unseen frameworks of a ship’s hull, the studies explore a similar sectional morphology like a ship where different composition of programs and exposure to the exterior changes along the length of the body.
The bike station is accessed through 2 ramps leading to the entry gate of the naval yard and is elevated to a storage deck overlooking the ships and the site beyond. Activating also as a visitor center, the station includes spaces to house a gym and a cafe.
The design of the station was developed by designing key sections for different spatial conditions to relate to the surrounding context and internally. The sections are then stringed together parametrically to create a fluid spatial experience from one condition to the next condition.
Sectional Detailing
The design of the structure is integral to the sections where the frames of each segment are structural and interlocks with the adjacent section creating a self-supporting arched structure with several anchor points grounding the loads. The grounding points also serve as access points to the pavilion above.
MICRO QUARRY URBANISM
CORNELL MASTER’S DESIGN STUDIO
TEAM: DIEGO GARCIA BLANCO
This projects stems from the development of Cuba in the post soviet era where large scale government industries and foreign trade have collapsed leading people to seek ways for self-sufficiency with the skills and resources they have gained over the years of industrialization.
This project capitalizes on the existing limestone excavation sites along Havana’s Metropolitan Park as an opportunity to revitalize the skillsets locals have to not only build their homes but also generate a sustained economy within their backyard. This project explores the tectonic of shaping and manipulating terrains, landscapes and buildings in order to rethink the relationship between housing as a domestic [micro] and urban [macro] territory.
Economic prototype for post-Soviet Cuba
Cuba has been a country swayed by the western powers into a confused and hybrid economy that relies heavily on foreign intervention and investments. In the spirit of the Cuban revolution, this project aims at developing a prototype of self-sustained economy through the highly skilled Cuban workers and the rich natural resources available in the land.
Quarry Urbanism Prototype
This project explores the architectural tectonic of subtraction and addition to create a working prototype for Cuban miners to use their skillsets to create houses with material found within their backyard (old quarry site) and be able to develop a self-sustained economy trading the excessed construction material harvested locally.
The mineral rich ground are not only a site for mineral extraction, but the rich top soil along with the phosphorous from the limestone create a fertile mix agricultural production within the terraced landscape from quarry.
The Metropolitan Park in Havana is a site of rich natural resources but also where workers for the large industries with factories in the area (backed by soviet investments in the 1980s) still reside, in makeshift slums and scrambling for work in the city till today.
Quarry Housing Typology
Diagrams showing details of excavation where cut sizes of stone materials are related to furniture and interior layout dimensions in the negatives it leaves behind. Each housing unity step down the terrace with three levels to create a gradient from the public front above at the street level to the more private quarters below, deeper in the quarry.
The easily workable material of stone and brick also makes conversion and expansion possible as the family size grow
HUANG FAMILY COLUMBARIUM COMMISSION
PERSONAL PRACTICE / UNDER CONSTRUCTION
POSITION: DESIGN LEAD
This project is commissioned through close relatives to construct a columbarium in memory of my grandfather and in extension to the larger Huang family.
The project is located at a remote site in Tainan Taiwan. Without power on site, the project focuses on introducing natural light to create different focal points within the pavilion. The overall form derives from my grandparent’s fascination with the pyramid.
Chinese Cemetery Feng Shui
The scope of this project was to design a columbarium for storing the ashes of those deceased. My task involved the initial conception to coordination with AOR for the technical structural, ventilation, and waterproofing consultation. I also worked closely with GC with expertise working at grave sites for considerations on finishes and details.
Due to the spiritual nature of this project the dimensions and design were ruled using a traditional feng shui ruler with the aid of a feng shui master. Locations of doors, beams and angles are also tailored to meet the traditions of Chinese feng shui compass.
SCHMIDT HAMMER LASSEN ARCHITECTS
POSITION: ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
At SHL Architects, I was part of the competition and research team developing designs in a team composition of up to five members, divided by the scope of the building from exterior to interior to landscape as well as visualization. I worked as an assistant in all categories developing drawings and modeling for the final production. I also worked as the design lead on an internal research.
This is a competition project for a new office development at Vaterlandsoarken located at the heart of Oslo. The site is located at the intersection of a business district and a vibrant multicultural community along the river. This clash of culture and activities was key in the programming of the site as well as how the tower engages with the ground.
Programatically, the project starts from the waterfront with a field of public pavilions around the building, activating this major cross road between the two sides of the river. The public activity further extends to the amenities at the ground level of the tower and up through the central atrium where greenery also continues up through the tower internally creating a vertical extension of the park at each office level to improve the working environment.
The landscape pavilions compose of three sections: a waterfront dock, an elevated outdoor plaza and a sports pavilion with accessible roof top for outdoor events. These three pavilions also serve as urban street lights to keep the area lit to give a sense of safety. They also serve as water retention pods during heavy rain to maintain the accessibility of the area.
The facade curtain wall systems are strategically composed of angled solar cells to generate electricity for powering the amenity facilities.
This project was an internal design research, working directly with the partner Morten Schmidt, to explore speculative housing typology and potential research partners in the Canadian market which the office was trying to move into.
The overall system remains a standard of current construction with a core for vertical transportation and mechanicals while the gridded shell can be a stand alone structure and customizable to local zoning setbacks and size.
Prefabricated residential units are later craned in to insert into the grid and tap into the core.
The project seeks to visualize a future urban building typology that creates a dynamic living experience celebrating the Canadian love for outdoor spaces. Irregularly stacked residential units create a more dynamic spatial experience vertically, blurring the divide between outdoor gardens and amenities with the residential units.
A standardized gridded super structure allows for construction to proceed in advance prior to the completion of the full design composition of the prefabricated housing units and the amenities in between.
JENNY SABIN STUDIO
POSITION: COMPETITION DESIGN TEAM
Lumens is an adaptive canopy structure that evolves over time. The canopy is knitted with both solar active, photoluminescence and hydro active threads, giving it dynamic properties to change with the environment.
The competition was developed through a team of 8 architecture designers in collaboration with engineering and special effects consultants over the course of 4 weeks. I took part in the initial concept development with 3D modeling and was in charge of visualization for the competition.
Lumens is an adaptive canopy structure that evolves over time. The canopy is knitted with both solar active, photoluminescence and hydro active threads, giving it dynamic properties to change with the environment.
The competition was developed through a team of 8 architecture designers in collaboration with engineering and special effects consultants over the course of 4 weeks. I took part in the initial concept development with 3D modeling and was in charge of visualization for the competition submission. I was also involved in the installation of the project during the summer of 2017.
The project develops from the idea of inhabiting within the cone structure of PolyThread project by Jenny Sabin Studio at the Cooper Hewitt exhibition.
ZHUANGWEI DUNE VISITOR CENTER
FIELDOFFICE ARCHITECTS
POSITION: LEVEL I ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Zhuangwei Visitor Center is a 30,000SF building situated along the Northeast National Coast of Taiwan. The project features large curvilinear gallery spaces for visitors to meander between the sand dunes and the artworks in the area. The second floor features a restaurant that extends to the accessible green roof above allowing a higher vista of the larger dune space beyond.
I have been involved as a designer in these projects working from design development to construction documentation.
Architecture as landscape
The project seeks to blend with the surrounding dune scape not only in its curvilinear roof but also in the shaping of the ground around the building through backfilled landscaping and within the building where interior floor curves around walls like sand.
The design process was predominantly conducted through large scale 1:50 model to fully explore the spaces, light and material. A system of measurements was used to extract coordinates from the physical model to be modeled digitally for documentation.
Due to the limited technology available in Taiwan, we developed a non linear roof geometry using a single and consistent curvature for ease of construction. Through grasshopper scripting we were able to deconstruct its geometry to coordinates for local structural engineers for analysis.
Left is a capture of the scripted process of extracting the three dimensional coordinates of the roof geometry for structural analysis
RESIDENTIAL & MIXED-USE PROJECTS
HANDEL ARCHITECTS
POSITION: LEVEL 2 ARCHITECTURE DESIGNER
At Handel Architects, I have been involved in the exterior facade and interior team on a number of residential and mixed-use projects, from preliminary design studies to technical detailing and coordination with various design scope and consultants during CD. The tasks includes preparing documentation for planning boards, zoning massing studies, design iterations and presentation, model mockups and documentation for construction. Recently I have joined on a CA project, reviewing shop drawings, providing sketches for construction and working with general contractors and installers on site for unaddressed details.
This residential project is located right across the port authority at the heart of Times Square in Manhattan. The overall facade design draws from the dynamic language of billboards and signage, characteristic of this area, while creating moments of transparency and screening for residents within the building facing the busy street.
This is a 300,000 square feet residential project with 330 rental units. The project is on a through lot with two buildings: a 32 story tower and a 7 story building joined at cellar to level 2 with an interior amenity courtyard at the center. The project also includes a roof top swimming pool at the top of the tower.
The screen acts as shades for the amenity space directly behind it. The screens are shaped metal attached to the curtain wall using structural silicone. The glass is also fritted with colored stripes to create dynamic visual movements as one walks along it.
This is a sequence of studies exploring different three dimensional patterns to create dynamic visual effects as one moves across the screen without the use of mechanical systems. Some utilize variable shadow lines, reflectivity and color, all in the search for a dynamic system that doesn’t need mechanical systems to create its effects,
Merging and redesigning existing lobbies
I joined the project during DD-CD, in charge of the large lobby linking the phase 2 and 3 tower. This mega lobby is a 10,000 SF area composed of 3 entry vestibules, a cafe, open mailroom, 2 elevator lobbies and one reception desk strategically position to have maximum visibility across the plate and to all entries.
Journal squared is a residential complex in Jersey City comprised of 3 towers broken into 3 phases of design and construction. In partnership with HWKN and Major, the team at Handel architects collaborate to redesign parts of the phase 2 tower under construction and the new phase 3 tower. Vestibule
The challenge was to work with an existing structural and mechanical layout for a previously designed lobby for phase 2 and working with some of the design language inhereted from previous phases.
Plan of the main lobby at Phase 3 with Phase 2 indicated in light grey
Gotham’s Point is two residential towers, one at 360,000 SF (33 story) and the other at 700,00 SF (57 story), located at the tip of Long Island City currently under construction. The apartment building is 75% affordable housing with community facilities including a boat house as well as retail spaces
I was involved in the project from DD-CD working predominantly on the podium for both towers. Recently, I rejoined the project assisting on CA, reviewing submittals, providing sketches and conducting site visits to resolve issues with general contractors and owner.
PUBLICATIONS / ILLUSTRATION
COMPETITIONS & PERSONAL WORK
Publications are a key part of my personal practice to develop speculative and critical ideas on greater issues around the world. It is also critical in keeping me engaged with the more academic side of architecture and research. Hand drawing is another practice I use to experiment with expressions of geometry, details and spatial misreading for future references
POST RETAIL 5TH AVENUE
MONU Magazine entry 2020
Team: Evelyn Fung
Post-Retail is a project visualizing the post-pandemic 5th Avenue, a.k.a. the Millionaire’s Row, which transverses Manhattan from North to South. The 5th used to be New York’s most renowned shopping street, representative of the glory of American capitalism. As the pandemic transforms the retail landscape, we believe that capitalism in the urban context will undergo a major change. Beyond the contemporary shared economy, future retailers in the city will shift to service orientated businesses to reactivate what has become obsolete commercial real estates. Physical stores will no longer be marketplaces for products but showcases of branded lifestyles. Retail districts in the city will become extensions of parks and platforms for public events to occur.
In Post-Retail New York City, green spaces and recreational activities spill out from Central Park along 5th Avenue, transforming retail stores into event spaces. Fashion brands like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino become playgrounds for luxury sports like horse riding, bidding and racing. Storefronts are now vessels for luxury experiences with well kept ranches and barns rather than a showcase of mannequin and handbags. Jewelry brands like Bvlgari, Tiffany & Co and Harry Winston will be providing dive, dig and find your own pearl experience in their deep water park.
Not a good diver ? You could also hang in their raw bars, enjoying fresh shellfish from the pool. Watch brands like Hublot, Omega and Blancpain will revitalize their age-old art in automata, creating grotto and fortune telling booths for people to stop, think and meditate.
As rust belt cities breathe new life through the greenery of postindustrial parkways and creative industries, New York City and many other major cities that have become so dependent on commercial activities in the post-retail era will be reactivated by the consumption of shared branded lifestyles.
MIDDLE WEST
Princeton Pamphlet Architecture 36 Honorable Mention
Team: Cheryl Xu and Linjun Liu
The issue of political refugees is an issue about borders and conflict of interest between the refugees and their host states. The former seek direct and safe passageways to shelter while the latter impose screening and checking to ensure their own security. This has been the basis of much of the debate on the amount of refugees to accept and has caused great fractions within developed nations. From the refugee crisis in the early days of the Syrian conflict to the most recent event of American departure from Afghanistan.
The proposed floating city of “Middle West” tries to deal with the issues created by these conflicting agendas by creating a middle ground -- a buffer zone floating in between sea and land, country to country, culture to culture. The creation of the buffer zone, on one hand makes space for checkpoints and elongates the coastline, while on the other hand eases the cultural transition for the refugees by providing them with spatial and social opportunities to temporarily inhabit the self-sustaining camps. Combining refugee camps with border control also creates temporary security for the refugees from threats at home and policing within.
The site of “Middle West” is located in the Ionian Sea along an alternative migration sea route which departs from Turkey and shores on Italy.
The structure of “Middle West” takes form as the historical and cultural extension of existing states while also allowing for the states to redefine their physical and geographical edges of land consumed by the rising level of sea water, addressing the issue of coastline recession and resource scarcity. With the impact of global warming, crossing the ocean in a densely packed fishing boat by smugglers is becoming increasingly dangerous, as not only weather conditions are becoming increasingly turbulent, the distance from coast to coast is also expanding as water level rises globally. This floating city will facilitate in shortening the distance of dangerous travel in the open sea.
legend
Personal Illustration Work
M._lab is a self managed social media account with monthly illustrations to explore forms, spatial conditions and patterns for future references.
Most of the work stems from the fascination with how graffiti creates multiple readings of depth and tectonics in a compacted form. Taking these illustrative techniques, I try to embed some architectural details and conditions within the expression, seeking to generate new ideas for tectonic relationships and details for architectural practices.
The early series of work are more pattern-making that could be read as plans or sections. They seek to create slippages between figure and ground, as well as take expressions of depth as means of that slippage. In some expressions, textures are added to create a sense of materiality.
The most recent series starts to take on a much more 3 dimensional illustration where start from an architectural detail such as a joinery or the structural ribbing and explore its exaggerated expression to tease out its character.