Aaron Chen Design Portfolio | UC Berkeley by Aaron Chen

AARON CHEN

UC Berkeley CED | 2025

WUHAN

TIME: 06/2022-08/2022

TYPE: COMPETITION

SITE: WUHAN CHANGJIANG, CHINA

ROLE: cover concept art, viewing tower, diagram, legend, section

This project is a design competition where Heller Manus participated in collaboration with China’s local design institute (LDI). It includes a masterplan for the province of Wuhan and it plans to transform the city into a gateway to the Yang Tze River which will connect central China to outer China. The objective of our design is to inspire cultural and technological advancement toward a greener city that reflects the natural landscape of Wuhan. I was able to offer technical skills required to model parametric curves. The chinese phrase below translates to: Yang Tze River Garden People of the

1-1: central core

1-2 : circulation radiates from central core

1-3: pedestrian pink areas radiates connecting program

1-4: site context and large massing develops from pathways

programatic diagram by Author

[diagram & masterplan]

[description]

The project started with a circle with a center that acts as a north south axis akin to vernacular chinese cities. The orange circulation path cuts and separates the circle into fourths where buildings are pulled out from the circle to accomodate varying programs. Landscaping and circulation radiates from the center connecting the city. The iconic towers alluding to the natural scenic mountains serve as a gateway toward the pier and frames the city as a center of cultural and technological innovation. Water serves as a environmental activator that promotes riverside culture.

I was involved with the form of the towers where it meets the sky as well as the facade treatments of the vertical mullions that follow the curvature of the chinese style eaves. I applied the landscaping and the circulation.

Being part of the design development phase of the project and seeing how each member of the team had a voice in the final design was the most rewarding part of this experience.

programatic diagram by AUthor

2. BELDEN

TIME: 06/2022-08/2022

TYPE: COMMERCIAL

SITE: BELDIN PLACE SAM’S GRILL SF

Role: Drafter

This project is a renovation of Sam’s Grill SF where the restaurant ownvers had renderings and shop drawings of a proposed addition of an outdoor patio seating area. Tasked with the job of synthesizing surveyer’s drawing and the given renderings, I produced technical drawings that met ADA and building code requirements. The most difficult part of this job was to figure out the circulation of the small site that accomodate the varying elevations of San Francisco’s terrain. I learned about occupancy limitations, required fire exits for commercial spaces, and construction methods for earthquake safety. [info]

[renderings & diagram] [description]

The rendering given shows a nice flat ground that is perfect for construction; however, the surveyer drawing says otherwise with an elevation change of 1 feet from the front of the site to the back. Much have changed from the initial rendering to the proposed technical drawing. The shop drawing did not have the columns lined up with the rafters and the addition of the patio blocked a fire escape ladder from the 2nd floor. The proposed plan extended the fire escape and improved circulation.

*renderings and diagram provided by client*

NEON

TIME: SPRING 2022 | 100B UCB DESIGN STUDIO

TYPE: ACADEMIC / URBAN INSTITUTE

SITE: OAKLAND

PROFESSOR: AMANDA BRIDGES

[urban analysis & concept]

[description]

This project is for the design of an urban institute. Inspired by the nightlife of Oakland and the vibrancy of neon lights, this urban institute uses the components of neon lighting which include the frame and the tubes itself as part of the expression of the facade. Verticality of the building is broken up by the opaque and transparent tubes that are able to light up at night and elevate the experience.

rendering / rhino & phoptoshop

3-3: model / straws and chipboard

3-6: program diagram

4. OAKTAGON

TIME: FALL 2021 | 100A UCB DESIGN STUDIO

TYPE: ACADEMIC / MUESUM

SITE: OAKLAND

PROFESSOR: LINGXIU CHONG

The purpose of this project is to create a space that serves as a museum and library that offers different experiences for commercial and educational use. The shape of the octagon responds to all sides of the street and creates an interior space surrounded by rooms on all sides. Moving up through the floors will provide an accoustical experience that gets quieter corresponding to the programs respectively.

4-1: elevation

4-1: axon diagram

OAKTAGON-2F

OAKTAGON-3F

OAKTAGON-4F

5.

PHOTOGRAMMETRY

TIME: FALL 2023 | 100C UCB

DESIGN STUDIO

TYPE: ACADEMIC / EXPLORATION

SITE: REALITY & THE IMAGINED PROFESSOR: MICHAEL YOUNG

[description]

A new house is being built in the neighborhood. A month passes by but no sounds of construction echoed in the valley. A year passes and people forget about this house until a neighbor notices a strange large white tree nestled within the rounds of the hill.

The house on the hill is a genetically modified tree that grows into a habitable tree house. Utilizing techniques of biomimicry, it is a carbon negative house. The waxy crystalline structure of farina found on succulents is replicated on the south facing side of the house.

Photogrammetry reconsiders what can be architecture. Reality captured through technology allows the insides to be the outsides and the outsides to appear on the insides. The thinness of the interior held by the thinness of the exterior creates an exciting architectural experience that is explored through the poche.

The friction brought by innovations in modern technology of imaging and representation (photoshop, 3d BIM software) can produce images that are equally important as plans, sections, elevation, and renders.

[description]

Combinations of photogrammmetry models of still-life, interior, and exterior utilizes photoshop skills that architects use today. Architects are subject to the ways media is consumed. As a form of art consumed in a state of distraction and through the collective, the built environment can positively affect the subconscious.

5-4: solarpunk urban render

Introduction to 3-D digital modeling using a 3-D software. This class emphasizes on learning basic commands to create 3-D objects including building interiors and exteriors, and defining photo-realistic views with apporpriate light sources. Using the floor plan layout made in the CAD drafting class, a rendered model was made. Traditional Shou-sugi-ban is used as the cladding of the exterior of the building with black shingles as the roofing. [description]

6-2: rear axon

[description]

The purpose of this residential project is to maximize the use of space to a series of spaces that allows for a flexible life style. The goal was to have a circular flow of spaces from one room to another on the first floor while the many windows allow for natural lighting to come into the interior.

Having a staircase greet the people in the front entrance creates a grandiose without being superfluous. The material of the floor are carefully considered in each space. Wooden floors in each living space creates a natural

neutral tone without being too warm or cold. The contrast of the dark exterior and the light interior creates a bigger feeling space. A high ceiling living room emphasizes the feeling of a larger than usual living space.

Having 3 bed room, 3 full bathrooms, and another room staged as an office, this house offers a family oriented style that uses minimalism as a base for the design inspiration but is fully functional without any sacrifices to ensure that a family of 5 would be comfortable in.

6-8: great room 6-9: kitchen

6-11: music room

6-10: dining area

1 SOUTH ELEVATION

1/4"= 1'-0"

PROJECT 7

RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL

DRAWINGS

ACADEMIC TERM: 4A/B ARCH DRAFTING & GRAPHICS | SPRING 2019

TYPE: RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL

[description]

These 2 projects consists of 2 semesters of Autocad drafting of a residential and commercial building each. The first semester was a focus on the introduction to principles and practice of archectural drafting with emphasis on working drawings for wood frame construction. Topics include reprographics, orthgraphies, architecural scales, various plan

layouts, sections, schedules, and elevations. Demonstrating representation showing, codes, electrical systems, framing basics and other building systems will be studied.

An understanding of how architectural construction drawings are created is essential to the building industry. Drafting is not a 7-1

General Notes:

1. Code Compliance: The work shall comply with and conform to all laws, rules, codes, ordinances, etc., of the governing body having jurisdiction over the work, conditions specified in the Owner handbook, as well as the rules and regulations of the various utility companies serving the building. Nothing in these drawings shall be construed as directions to perform work contrary to these requirements. Applicable codes include, but are not limited to the following: California Building Code (2001 or subsequently adopted edition), state and local building codes.

mechanical act, nor does the computer think for you. The quality of a building is directly related to the quality of the drawings prepared by the drafter. Preparing construction drawings is an essential component within the continuum of design that begins with the initial sketch of an idea and ends with the final finish work of the contractor. Fundamentally, drafting is a form

familiarize himself with the project site and existing conditions.

5. Details: Where certain construction features are not fully shown, the construction shall repeat similar conditions shown elsewhere.

of communication: construction drawings delineate exact production needs for the builder, the client, the building official, and other design professionals.

6. Changes, Additions and Revisions: Prior to the start of any construction work the General Contractor shall lay out the work in conformity with these drawings. Any changes and/or revisions of the structure due to relocation or addition shall be brought to the attention of the Architect prior to the commencement of said change or revision. Structural members or elements that require changing or

Architect. The Contractor shall make any corrections required by the Architect to properly interpret the work, and file with him three corrected copies. The approval of the Architect of such submittals shall not relieve the Contractor from responsibility for deviation from the Architect's drawings or contract documents, nor shall it relieve him of responsibility for errors of any sort in shop drawings or schedules.

8. Safety Measures: At all times, the Contractor shall be solely and completely responsible for conditions of the job site, including the safety of persons and

the smooth progress of the project. The General Contractor is also responsible for the receiving and safekeeping of all items shipped to the job site for the use by the General Contractor or others for this project.

10. Connection with Existing Work: Where the construction provided for herein or shown on the plans is to join with or match existing work, it shall be finished exactly similar to that work so as to form a complete, unified and finished job.

11. Guarantee: All work is to be done in a first class workmanship manner. All work done by the General Contractor or

cleaning and polishing all hard surface flooring, cleaning of all construction debris from carpet and wall surfaces, polishing all laminate, glass and mirrors in order to facilitate the turnover to the Owner. If the carpet is installed two or more days before turnover date, carpet shall be covered with a protective cover.

13. Plumbing: All work on the plumbing system shall conform to the requirements of the "Uniform Plumbing Code (1997 or subsequently adopted edition), state and local codes. Additionally, the plumbing system shall have the following characteristics:

1 SITE PLAN 1/8"= 1'-0"