Portfolio 2024 Complete Version

Menghan Yu University of Pennsylvania

2024

EDUCATION University of Pennsylvania • Master of Landscape Architecture

Beijing Forestry University • Bachelor of Landscape Gardening

Philadelphia, US. 2021- Pre

Beijing, China. 2017

PRACTICE EXPERIENCE Snøhetta

• Landscape Architecture Intern

Michel Desvigne Paysagiste • Landscape Architecture Intern

Menghan Yu 余孟韩 ymenghan@upenn.edu +47 48507966 Oslo, Norway, 0355

With experience living, studying, and working in diverse cultural settings, I've discovered a deep passion for exploring how people interact with landscapes, influenced by culture, climate, and social justice. My ongoing exploration involves intertwining aesthetics, sustainability, and equality, and integrating them into everyday landscapes.

I find inspiration in art and nature, which fuels my creativity and drives me to experiment with interdisciplinary design approaches.

Elysian Landscapes

• Landscape Architecture Intern

Oslo, Norway. Agu, 2023 - Pr

Paris, France. May- Agu,

Los Angeles, US. May- Agu,

PUBLICATION

Wei Fang, Yu Menghan, Li Yixiao, Wang Xaingrong. “Research on Community P Space Renewal Based on Tactical Urbanism— A Practical Path to Promote Lands Justice [J]” Landscape Architecture, 2020, 27(09):102-108. 2020

SKILLS Rhinoceros Grasshopper AutoCAD ArcGIS Pro

Adobe Suite Enscape V-Ray Lumion

Microsoft Office

Mandarin(Native) English(Professional Proficie

PROFESSIONAL WORK

esent

7-2021

resent

, 2023

, 2022

Public scape

ency)

With Snøhetta

With Michel Desvigne Paysagiste

Astridplein Competition. Urban Plaza. 11,000 m2

Antwerp, Belgium

Tidningskvarteren Marieberg Competition. Urban Space. 40,000m2

Stockholm, Sweden

Exness Headeadquarters Competition. Masterplan. 210,000 m2

Limassol, Cyprus

5941 Kanan Dume Rd Commission. Residential. 50,000 m2

Malibu, US

Project Tucson Competition. Feasibility Study.

Abu Dhabi, UAE

11692 Stardust Dr Commission. Residential. 7,000 m2

Las Vegas, US

Diriyah Gate Parks Competition.

Park. 160,000m2

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

With Elysian Landscapes

WORK SAMPLE

CHAP.01

HUMAN AND NON-HUMAN

CHAP.02

COMMUNITY FIRST

Eco Chapel

Lost Atlas

Black Sand

Just Green Enough

Snow Buffer

Poro-CITY

Sustainable material | Religious community Climate change | Responsive coast

Prototypical Topography/ Sound scape

Cultural heritage | Urban healing Anti-gentrification | Productive landscape

Industrial campus | Public trust

CHAP.03

RATIONAL LANDSCAPE

CHAP.04

Parametric Playscape

Unfold

Urban Agriculture Feasibilty Study

Assemblage

Grasshopper

ArcGIS Pro | AfterEffect

Clean energy generator Sensory garden

Shadow Weaver Bamboo pavilion

AARTSY

CHAP.01 HUMAN AND NON-HUMAN

"The human condition is merely one among numerous others in a world full of similarities, exchanges and movements that point upwards, downwards, inwards and outwards."

Critical Coast

Eco Chapel Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Typology: Sustainable development Individual Work | 2021 In Ethiopia, climate change and excessive reclamation efforts have turned once-fertile land barren. Despite ecological degradation, the site retains potential for religious and cultural significance, as well as mushroom habitats. The Orthodox faith inspires a communal routine blending pursuit of an imaginary Eden with forest conservation, giving rise to the Eco Chapel concept.

Mushroom cultivation, adapted to seasonal precipitation rhythms, recycles organic waste and supplies the Chapel with plastic mycelium material, serving various needs. Mycelium functions as a versatile building material, including bricks, seats, and coffins in the dry season, while degrading in the wet season to enrich soil for new mushroom cycles. This mycelium circulation aligns with regional climate characteristics, fostering communal life and bridging human activities with ecological remediation.

MYCELIUM

27’’ 21’’ 1.5’’

TOP SOIL GRAVEL 101’’

59’’

’’ 7 2

’’ 4 2 85’’ 0

43’’

10’

0

+

2 0 ’’ 2 .5 ’’

10’

TOMBSTONE OUTDOOR FURNITURE

6 ’

?

TOP SOIL

TOP SOIL GRAVEL

PLANTING POT DEGRADABLE COFFIN

47’’

TOP SOIL

TOP SOIL

30’’

MYCELIUM

27’’ 21’’ 1.5’’

TOP SOIL GRAVEL 101’’

59’’

’’ 7 2

’’ 4 2 85’’ 0

0

+

OUTDOOR FURNITURE

6 ’

PLANTING POT DEGRADABLE COFFIN

’’ 1 5 4 4 ’’

TOP SOIL GRAVEL

TOP SOIL GRAVEL

’’ 9 1

126’’ 118’’

5 9 ’’

10’

0

WALL

20’’

4’’ ’’ 6

182’’ 122’’

’’ 4

0

10’

30’’

2 9 2 ’’

27’’

47’’

74’’ 47’’

59’’

0

10’

TOMBSTONE

?

TOP SOIL GRAVEL

2 0 ’’ 2 .5 ’’

43’’

10’

TOP SOIL GRAVEL

10’

ROAD EDGE

ARCH

CORNERSTONE DRAIN

PAVEMENT

Black Sand Location: Baltim, Cairo, Egypt Typology: Climate Adaptation Collaboration with Xiya Xu | 2021 The Nile Delta, once fertile and vital for sustaining Egypt's population, now confronts a pressing threat from rising sea levels. Harnessing the economic potential and adaptability of black sand offers a solution to multiple challenges. By utilizing its unique properties, such as flexibility, we can substitute traditional industries, restore ecosystems, and slow seawater intrusion.

Creating artificial sand terrains and repurposing sand mining channels can introduce a salt marsh system to contain encroaching brine. This, along with integrating bay salt industries and strategic topographic design, provides a new path for the sinking delta to coexist with rising seas. This approach bridges human activity with ecological remediation, fostering resilience amid environmental change.

Snow Buffer Location: Debert, Canada Typology: Soundscape Collaboration with Wen Zhou | 2021 In Debert, Canada, the lengthy snow season fuels winter sports but leads to runoff issues when it melts.

Near a residential area, the airport, though underutilized, remains vital for casual aircraft. Urgent measures are needed to handle snow and mitigate aircraft noise.

Clearings at the airport can be repurposed into sound-absorbing landscapes for noise reduction and snow storage. Inspired by the Chladni model, this design counters aircraft noise and enhances winter space positivity.

CHAP.02 COMMUNITY FIRST

During my time at the University of Pennsylvania, my social identity encompassed more than just being a student; I was also an international, a newcomer, an outsider, and a minority. These personal experiences sparked a deep interest and passion within me for amplifying the voices of the vulnerable through reimagining inclusive urbanism.

Lost Atlas Location: Coatesville, PA, United States Typology: History Preservation Instructor: Molly Bourne Studio III | Weitzman School of Design | Fall 2022

A lyric reflects, "this life is sharp as Coatesville steel," evoking the resilience of America's premier steel production hub. This project seeks to unveil Coatesville's obscured history, honoring the indomitable spirit of the black community's hard work and self-expression across generations.

Inspired by the region's 300-year steel legacy, the project highlights the overlooked hands behind the industry's grandeur. It acknowledges ongoing struggles for cultural recognition among African Americans in the area.

To reconcile labor with heritage, I propose reclaiming space through the BLACK way. This envisions labor not as marginalized but as a healing process weaving the past, present, and future of the black community together.

PENNSYLVANIA 1870s-WWII

American Industrial Revolution pushed iron and steel making to another level.

1869

The Nation Labor Union, or Colored National Labor Union was formed by African Americans to organize their labor collectively on a national level.

1865

The North won the American Civil War(1861-1865).

Slavery was abolished.

1847

Last slave appeared in Pennsylvania’s records.

1780

Pennsylvania passed the first state Abolition Act in the United States under the leadership of George Bryan.

2008

The economic recession of closures and layoffs t iron and steel industry.

1767

Mason-Dixon line was put in place.

Since then many enslaved people travel across the line to seek freedom in the North.

1720s 1639

Iron and steel industry took off in PA.

Earlist enslavement documented in PA.

1619

Early settelers ste up the first ironwork at today’s southern Richmond.

The first slave ship White Lion landed at Point Comfort, today’s Hampton.

Iron Producing Steel Producing Mineral Resources

PENNSYLVANIA SLAVERY PERIOD

*CHART

Documented 1680s-1860s.

slave

population

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PA,

Data source: Population in the colonial and continental periods.

caused decades to Pennsylvania

PARKESBURG

The food economy

CHRISTIANA

The edible history

ATGLEN

-an approch to rebuild the HONEY cultural connection BROCK

Sl

According to the slave of Chester County, a la tion of black labors yoeman or farmer durin

EXTON LANCASTER NEW MORGAN

TOOUGHKENAMON

Food Desert

Pre-Colonial

AVONDALE

Road Farming and fishing are important objects of pre-colonial African Main Railway history. Many crops such as okra and beans were introduced to America from Africa.

ELVERSON GAP

THORNDALE

DOWNINGTOWN

WEST GROVE

2022

2030

Coatesville is in the center of food desert, over 20% of residents live with food insecurity.

COATESVILLE

The food economy

Adovocate homeste make Coatesville

WEST CHESTER

PARKESBURG CHRISTIANA

HONEY BROCK

ATGLEN

Slavery

According to the slavery document of Chester County, a large proportion of black labors worked as yoeman or farmer during that era.

EXTON

KENNETT SQUARE THORNDALE

Food Desert

DOWNINGTOWN

TOOUGHKENAMON AVONDALE

Road

GAP

WEST GROVE

2022

Main Railway COATESVILLE

Coatesville is in the center of food desert, over 20% of residents live with food insecurity.

2030

Adovocate homestead and community food garden, make Coatesville self-sufficient in food.

Anteb

With African native crop troduced and grown in Am community created the which it was strongly in the traditional practices ricans and Southeastern N icans from its inception.

2050

Export South agricultu the American altho attract fundsiden and has become an easily celebrated aspect of American food culture.

WEST CHESTER

PARKESBURG

The food economy

CHRISTIANA ATGLEN

Black-owned restaurant

KENNETT SQUARE

TOOUGHKENAMON

Food Desert Road

AVONDALE WEST GROVE

Main Railway

2022

Coatesville is in the center of food desert, over 20% of residents live with food insecurity.

The food economy

Antebellum

With African native crops being introduced and grown in America, black community created the soul food which it was strongly influenced by the traditional practices of West Africans and Southeastern Native Americans from its inception. Soul food is

the American South although today it has become an easily identifiable and mainstream

aspect of 2030 celebrated American food culture.

Adovocate homestead and community food garden, make Coatesville self-sufficient in food.

Local

2050

Export agriculture products regionally, attract funds and resources to the city.

Farmers market

lavery

ery document arge propors worked as ng that era.

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ps being inmerica, black soul food nfluenced by s of West AfNative AmerSoul food is

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foodbank

Retention pond Irrigation system Retention pond Rain garden& Purificaiton system Retention pond Retention pond Wetland Irrigation system Retention pond Rain garden& Purificaiton system

Phase I

Existing Site Condition

Remove the central industy, clean up the site

Phase I

Existing Site Condition Small bussines center Market Agriculture

Remove the central industy, clean up the site

P

Phase III

Introduce programs

Recreation center Community park

Remove the left industy, build hydrology system

P P

Memorial space Culture center Sculpture garden Lookout Visiter center Transportation center

Circulation

Phase III

Introduce programs

Phase II

Memorial space Culture center Sculpture garden Lookout Visiter center Transportation center

Recreation center Community park

Orchard Greenhouse+manufacturing

Remove the left industy, build hydrology system

P

Orchard Greenhouse+manufacturing

Small bussines center Market Agriculture

Phase II

Circulation

Proposed histpry district

Proposed histpry district

Retention pond Wetland

The system aims to hit different goals at phasing. To provide a healthy and safe space for all the proposals, cleaning up the post-industrial site is introduced at an early stage.

With remediated soil and restored hydrology, urban agriculture would take over some vacant lots to help build a self-sufficient community and eliminate food insecurity. As the productive landscape is growing, it alters the economic structure into a more eco-friendly and long-term prototype. The output does not only support the local restaurants but also opens up the possibility for Coatesville to bond with its neighboring cities. The progress enhances cultural communication such as African American Carnivals which brings in people and resources. When the system grows into a good shape, more and more cultural events can be introduced, such as artists in residence programs, allowing the community to proudly illustrate the collective expression.

PROGRAM HANDBOOK FUTURE

+ Coatesville Artistes in Residence Program + Black Labor Memorial + Edible Culture Festival ......

PRESENT

+ Lancaster/Coatesville Black Culture Carnival + Blakc Media Renaissance + Community Voice Initiative + Coatesville Community Food Co-op + Greening Coatesville Program

Just Green Enough Location: Fishtown, PA, United States Typology: Post-industrial landscape Instructor: Misako Murata Studio II | Weitzman School of Design | Spring 2022 Fishtown, on Philadelphia's gentrification fringe, faces ongoing struggles.

Gentrification persists, leaving affluent areas with lush green spaces while disadvantaged communities lack them.

The "Just Green Enough" concept by Curran and Hamilton highlights the paradox of creating green spaces for vulnerable communities, often leading to gentrification, termed environmental gentrification.

This project aims to define "Just Green Enough" for Fishtown. It proposes an experimental urban green renewal process aligned with local environmental goals. It seeks a balance between environmental enhancement and anti-luxury stances while fostering community access and engagement with green spaces.

FOO

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PHILADELPHIA

NEIGHBOURHOOD COMMUNITIES

JOB CRE

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FISHTOWN ALTH

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REMEDIATION URBAN AGRICULTURE

phytoremediation

composting

phytoremediation

urban agriculture

gathering

resilient waterfront

PROGRAM

phytoremediation

composting

phytoremediation

urban agriculture

gathering

tree nursery

resilient waterfront

PROGRAM

PLANTING

PROGRAM

PLANTING

GRADING

PLANTING

GRADING

phytoremediation

composting

phytoremediation

urban agriculture

gathering

tree nursery

resilient waterfront

phytoremediation

composting

phytoremediation

urban agriculture

gathering

tree nursery

resilient waterfront

2100 sea-level

PROGRAM

HYDROLOGY

tree nursery

CONTAMINATION CALCULATION

Cu

Zn

Pd

As

Cr

Co

Se

REMEDIATION STRATEGIES REPLACING using clean soil to replace or partly replace the contaminated soil with aim of dilute the pollutant concentration, increase the soil environmental capacity, and thus remediate the soil.

Metal Sugary

CAPPING placing a cover over contaminated material such as landfill waste or contaminated soil.

Dye Leather

PHYTOREMEDIATION (PHYTOSTABLIZATION) a plant-based approach, which involves the use of plants to extract and remove elemental pollutants or lower their bioavailability in soil.

Coal Lumber

DISTRIBUTION MAP

Power station Ship building Rollingmill

Replacing Capping Phytoremediation

Niddle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis

Alpine pennygrass Thlaspi caerulescens

White willow Salix species

Neecile spikerush Aeolanthus biformifolius

Tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa

Alfalfa Medicago sativa

Mornig glory Ipomoea alpine

Neecile spikerush Aeolanthus biformifolius

Black mustard Brassica nigra

Chinese brake Pteris vittata

Indian grass Sorghastrum nutans

Pennycress genus Thlaspi

Poro-CITY Location: Kingsessing, PA, United States Typology: Urban design Instructor: Christopher Marcinkoski Studio IV | Weitzman School of Design | Spring 2023 This studio focuses on a proposed future life-science campus in Kingsessing, West Philadelphia. Through extensive research, we identified two primary concerns: public suspicion towards the pharmaceutical industry and the failing waste management system in Philadelphia. These issues reveal a disconnect between the public and urban administrators.

The focal point of both concerns is the clogged circulation.

The proposed biotech manufacturing campus in Kingsessing aims to reshape the image of the life science industry as transparent and publicly engaged. This will be achieved by carefully orchestrating circulation to facilitate smooth industry operations while ensuring harmonious coexistence with public access. Such an approach fosters direct interaction and knowledge exchange between the neighborhood and biotech companies, thereby promoting a positive impact on the community.

REGIONAL RAIL

BUFFER

PARKING

PLANTER

PLAZA

PLANTER PEDESTRIAN BIKE LANE

0

GRAYS AVE

10’

20’

OFFICE

OFFICE

COMMERCIAL

BUILDING

COMMERCIAL

PATIO

PLANTER

ARRIVAL

PLANTER

PATIO

RAIN GARDEN

BUILDING

0

10’

20’

CHAP.03 RATIONAL LANDSCAPE

Computational. Systematic. Objective.

Parametric Playscape Location: Pittsburgh, PA, United States Typology: Grasshopper Study Instructor: Keith VanDerSys Media II | Weitzman School of Design | Spring 2022

Urban Agriculture Feasibilty Study Location: Pittsburgh, PA, United States Typology: GIS Study | Animation Instructor: Keith VanDerSys Media III | Weitzman School of Design | Fall 2022

Scan to play animation

CHAP.04 ARTSY

"Art is not confined to galleries and museums. It can be found in the smallest of details in nature."

Roberto Burle Marx

Based on the calculation, our installation can produce 22464 Kwh per year. The electricity produced by this installation will e used for the bladeless drone with an irrigation system. The remaining electricity will be used to power other infrastructure in the civic park such as lighting, water feature, as well as,cell phone charging devices. The electricity will mostly be used to support the irrigation system and outdoor lighting when it comes to the private garden.

Unfold Based on the research paper related to Solar-Driven Hygroscopic Water Harvesting, a multilayer Harvesting device can achieve a water production of 2.4 Kg/m2/day. Our installation can harvest 261,654 liters of water per year. This production of water supports common foodstuffs as the chart shows.

Location: Mannheim, Germany Land Art Generator Design Competition | 2022 Collaboration with Zicheng Zhao, Wei Xia, Andreina Sojo, Priyanjali Sinha We designed an organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar system to generate 22 MWh per unit each year. The artwork provides additional social cobenefits including water harvesting for irrigation. A shortlisted entry to the 2022 Land Art Generator Initiative design competition for Mannheim in partnership with BUGA 23.

Scan to view webpage

Assemblage Location: Philadelphia, PA, United States Typology: Subjection interpretation Instructor: Rebecca Popowsky Studio I | Weitzman School of Design | Spring 2021 An experiment without boundary.

Shadow Weaver Location: Beijing, China 3rd BFU International Garden Festival | 2020 Award of Excellence | 2nd Place Winner | Construction Prize Collaboration with Haoru Xin, Tianqi Qiu, Yaxuan Wu, Yujun Liu, Lingshan Ni, Kuning Hu, Qirui Zhang Parametric bamboo pavilion