moxiao guo SELECTED WORKS | 2023
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contact: m6guo@uwaterloo.ca (647)-469-7188
hello!
I'm Moxiao! I am a second-year student at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture. Through the lens of design, I am particularly interested in how spatiality, form, context, and other aspects of architecture come together to foster and strengthen communities from a local, intimate scale to an international or digital domain. How can we design to provide support and build a culture that benefits a collective whole? Architects possess the tools and capabilities to create extraordinary value in any facet of our physical, conceptual, or spiritual environments. Thus, we are responsible for taking on this challenge by continuously posing questions and engaging in discussion to adapt to our changing landscapes. With my curiosity towards new experiences and learning opportunities, I am motivated to contribute to designing a more sustainable world with your team, where communities can excel without social, environmental, or systemic boundaries.
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curriculum vitae qualifications • High proficiency with digital and other visualization tools through drafting, modelling, and conceptualizing for numerous architectural and artistic projects • Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills developed through past experiences in community service, volunteering, recreation, and school projects
education SEPTEMBER 2022 - PRESENT
University of Waterloo School of Architecture • Candidate for Bachelor’s of Architectural Studies / Honours co-op program • F_RMlabs Systems Coordination Team (2023) • galt. Publication Editor (2023)
SEPTEMBER 2018 - JUNE 2022
Unionville High School • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (Class of 2022) • Honour Roll (2019-2022)
experience JULY 2023 - AUGUST 2023
skills NeighbourLink North York - Youth Worker North York, ON • Collaborated with colleagues to facilitate summer camp and dropin programs to more than 40 unique youth, requiring weekly analysis, planning and efficient coordination to ensure safety and satisfaction • Enriched NeighbourLink programs through donation outreach; translated to the successful launch of summer program’s field trip initiative, with 4 free off-site experiences and complimentary meals for children • Performed marketing tasks such as designing posters and banners for youth and community-wide events including first annual Taste of North York night market, and preparing Willowdale neighbourhood newsletters
MAY 2023 - AUGUST 2023
JULY 2022 - AUGUST 2022
• Adobe Photoshop • Adobe Illustrator • Adobe InDesign • Google Suite • Microsoft Suite
analog
• Curated visual arts lesson plans with art instructors from pages and layout designs to text and content for multiple age groups on a projectto-project basis
• CNC
Sunny Tutorial School Ltd. - Summer Camp Counsellor Markham, ON
• Laser Cutting • 3D Printing • Hand Drafting/Sketching
languages • English (native) • Mandarin (conversational)
interests • Basketball • Sports
Buildner Pavilion of Humanity Edition #2 Competition • Honourable mention
Excellent Academic Standing • Maintained average above 80% at University of Waterloo
NOVEMBER 2022
• Enscape
• Model Making
distinctions
SEPTEMBER 2022 - MAY 2023
• Rhinoseros 3D
Creative Genius Academy - Marketing Assistant Markham, ON
• Organized and implemented activities such as inventive gym games or book discussions that stimulated active learning; greatly enhanced personalized camper experiences • Cooperated with other staff to ensure children’s safety and well-being through supervision and engagement during field trips, outdoor play, and other camp opportunities
OCTOBER 2023
digital
• Reading • Chess • Illustration • Photography
Project Feature • 1A Studio project featured at Riverside Gallery at University of Waterloo
SEPTEMBER 2022
President’s Scholarship of Distinction • Awarded with an admissions average above 95%
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Maria Speare Executive Director NeighbourLink North York 89 Centre Avenue Toronto, ON M2M 2L7 416-221-8283 x1 maria@neighbourlink.org
October 10, 2023 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to wholeheartedly endorse Moxiao Guo, who joined NeighbourLink North York as a Canada Summer Jobs student this past summer. Our organization's mission is to empower neighbors to support one another in practical, relational, and sustainable ways, enabling the realization of their full potential. Moxiao is an individual of passion, charisma, empathy, and dedication, who wholeheartedly committed his summer to making a profound impact on our community members' lives. In his role as a Youth Worker, Moxiao supported various initiatives such as organizing a children's summer camp and youth basketball program for under-resourced families who would not have otherwise accessed such enriching experiences. Moxiao's collaborative spirit was evident as he worked seamlessly with his peers and engaged effectively with community members, all while demonstrating his individual problem-solving capabilities. I had the privilege of witnessing Moxiao's genuine enthusiasm for learning and willingness to step out of his comfort zone during his time with us, which included highly successful outreach efforts. These efforts resulted in the addition of valuable elements to our summer program, such as field trips and providing nourishing meals for our participants. Moxiao's proficiency in design and illustration also proved invaluable, as he contributed to activities such as poster creation, website input, and newsletter production, and events support. Through his community development work, Moxiao displayed an understanding of issues related to housing, politics, and community building. His ability to build trust within our community in such a brief time frame is a testament to his character, values, and his potential as a future leader. These qualities are invaluable to any organization fortunate enough to have Moxiao as part of their team and he has my highest recommendation for any opportunities that may come his way. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to me at 416-221-8283 x1 or via email at maria@neighbourlink.org. Sincerely,
Maria Speare Executive Director NeighbourLink North York
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table of contents convergence pavilion
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the feather
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the cave
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the reveal
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5
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| HONOURABLE MENTION |
convergence pavilion PROJECT: Buildner Pavilion of Humanity: First Contact Edition #2 PROGRAM: Pavilion LOCATION: Svalbard and Jan Mayen COLLABORATORS: Cindy He
What achievement represents humanity and is significant enough to show extraterrestrial visitors?
Humanity would be a modest species compared to other intelligences in the grand scheme of the cosmos. We are fragile organisms with short lifespans and limited technological prowess; if extraterrestrials were to visit our world, no feat would accurately represent the relative impacts of our accomplishments. Yet, our mere existence proves to be an achievement in itself, and its finite limitations contextualize this achievement as well as our fundamental being. The Convergence Pavilion represents a collective, ongoing human effort: our ability and desire to share, preserve and express our memories and emotions to create connections—to transcend beyond our existential boundaries through nonquantifiable means. We invite those beyond our planet to listen to our stories and share their own, not necessarily tales of perfection or accomplishment but of subjective significance, simplicity, compassion, and growth. And for those living with us on Earth, this pavilion acts in the same manner, a beacon for reconciliation, learning, and selfreflection, and to understand each other for our uniquenesses as we tread in the shared peaceful certainty that is impermanence.
Overall view approaching pavilion
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collective
Spectrum The programming disperses itself onto a spectrum between the interpersonal and the intrapersonal, defining the basis for the pavilion’s functions, senses, and experiences. The core of each floor formulates the two extremes on this range. singular
Convergence The first level converges multiple bodies to generate an overlapping arbitrary space in the centre, encouraging interactivity and crossing between spaces. The lower level establishes a continuous winding pathway that descends and acts as a subjective and singular experience.
View entering bottom level
View of performance space
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5 3 6 1
4
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Ground floor plan
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8
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Lower floor plan
1 2 3 4
Performance space Conference Reception Cafe
5 6 7 8
Workshop Rest/Study Gallery Contemplation
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North facing elevation
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5
1
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8
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West facing section
East facing elevation
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1
2
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1
2
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1 2 3 4
Performance space Conference Reception Cafe
5 6 7 8
Workshop Rest/Study Gallery Contemplation
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Self-supporting curved canopies transition into the ground beneath, acting as landforms that emerge from the site to reveal the entrances to the pavilion.
The above level consists of interactive programs working and arranged in accordance with the form of the converging volumes. The performance space connects to every other program, acting as the most active interpersonal space.
A spiralling sequence leads the user through the story of humanity; the gallery, the mediator of past and present, of supposed objective reality and subjective experience, disperses itself around the perimeter.
The most secluded intrapersonal space is in the centre, where structural partitions deminishes vision and stimulates the other senses as they traverse towards the centre. The person's experiences are isolated and internal.
Exploded axonometric
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View of workshop/study space
View of gallery space
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02 the feather PROJECT: ARCH 193 Studio Design PROGRAM: Pedestrian Bridge LOCATION: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada SUPERVISORS: Rick Andrighetti, Isabel Ochoa
What can elevate the journey between two destinations?
Spanning 30 metres across the lake of Victoria Park in Kitchen, Ontario, The Feather gently rests in the bushes on either side. Taking inspiration from the wonderous biology of the bird species that return to this park every year, the bridge's steel "barbs" extend out of its rachis, continuing the canopy and creating a sense of rhythm like the texture of a real feather. These steel members establish the general silhouette of the bridge and reach down to nestle onto the walkway beneath. In an attempt to instil the notion of dynamism, movement, and swiftness, its asymmetrical spiralling gesture invitingly connects both sides while guiding the gaze towards the rest of the park.
Overall side view
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View entering bridge
Context plan
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View crossing bridge
North facing section
East facing section
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Floor plan
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1
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5 6
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Prefabricated steel panels
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HSS ornamental members welded to HSS structural arches
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HSS arches welded to steel plates bolted to concrete footings
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Wood decking boards bolted to steel angle bolted to HSS bridge beam structure
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Stainless steel guardrail with cable railing system
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Side HSS beams connected by HSS beams supporting central HSS beam
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Additional HSS ornamental members
Structural axonometric
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03 | FEATURED IN RIVERSIDE EXHIBITION |
the cave PROJECT: ARCH 192 Studio Design PROGRAM: Pavilion SUPERVISORS: Fiona Lim Tung
How can rudimentary components be manipulated to create elegant architectural features?
This conceptual problem asks to reduce architecture to its essentials, to the simplest of forms, a cube, and using solids and voids to create spaces for gathering, rest, and contemplation. The Cave accomplishes this through a subtractive and iterative process of a monolithic solid, focusing on the dance between natural light and shadow and establishing cavernous exploratory moments charged with wonder. Engulfing the pavilion from above, sunlight trickles into thin crevices, fissures and revealing openings while the cantilevering overhangs keep the occupied space cool and dim. Skylights mark each moment of ascension from the lowest, most occupied level to the highest, most secluded, quiet zone.
Model overall quarter view
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Lower floor plan
Section 1
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1st floor plan
2nd floor plan
3rd floor plan
Section 2
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Elevation 1
View of first floor
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Elevation 2
Elevation 3
Elevation 4
View of second floor
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04 the reveal PROJECT: ARCH 193 Studio Design PROGRAM: Children’s Library LOCATION: Toronto, Ontario, Canada SUPERVISORS: Rick Andrighetti, Isabel Ochoa
How do the youth appreciate and capitalize on architectural spaces?
Despite the decline of what is known as a traditional library, the development of problem-solving, critical thinking, learning, and knowledge persist with this building type. Situated on Broadview Ave and Thompson St in Toronto, Canada, "The Reveal" represents a mechanical puzzle, a symbol of the attainment of knowledge through engagement and experimentation. Children learn through trial and error and example as they engage with everyday problems that continually grow in complexity. Within this building, shifts and connections unveil and embrace the central element, the children's area. Resulting is a circulation that concentrates the language of the building's key programming and the importance of child development in a complex world.
View of front entrance
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establish central element
East facing section
View into children's area
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open towards neighbourhood
shift according to site to create courtyard
extrude towards commercial
final
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Lobby
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Staff Employees can monitor outdoor programming while retaining privacy if necessary.
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Children's area Area featuring rest, study, and performance spaces enclosed by children's book stacks.
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Meeting/flexible Rooms for study, meetings, and library programming such as children drop-in activites.
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Storage
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Maternity support Quiet spaces for rest and breastfeeding closely supported by staff.
2nd floor plan
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Cafe
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Outdoor space
Visual connection to courtyard; caregivers can monitor children.
Sliding glass doors open up outdoor resting and play spaces to the children's area.
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General book stacks for all ages on the second floor.
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Book stacks
Computer lab Building shading device for screen visibility.
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Rest/study Spaces can provide other media such as board games and digital resources.
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Public washrooms Gender neutral containing baby changing tables.
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South facing elevation
North facing section
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West facing elevation
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View of outside courtyard
thank you! m6guo@uwaterloo.ca
(647)-469-7188