PORTFOLIO.
Circle of Play
Designing a kindergarten of childhood wonder, where every space is innovatively designed to inspire and facilitate uninhibited play.
Locatedin30thAve., Astoria, NewYork,thisprojectisaboutdesigninga kindergartenwhere"play"isthemainfocusforearlychildrendevelopment. BasedoffGerman pedagogue Friedrich Frobel'seducationalmaterials (Frobel'sGifts),thiskindergartenheavlyfocuses onhisteachingandtheory.
Therooofofthebuildingslopeddowninordertoblendinwiththe suroundingresidentialbuildingheights.Thefacadeismostlymadefrom glass for exposuretonaturallightandmoreengagementwithoutdooreven whilebeingindoor.
Thereis adoubleheightareaitcanbeconvertedtoeithercafeteriaorindoor playarealikebasketballcourt.
DendriCity
DendriCity
The goal of this project is to provides a village-like space underneath the cover of an inorganic dendriform canopy in the middle of the City College Campus.
Lana Chen,Frank Lu,Evelyn Zin
The canopy is shaped through outlining the program in clusters on the site using voronoi. Area centroids act as the main trunk of the structure, while the edges of the diagram mimic dendrities found in nature.
Dendricity can be used for a variety of events. Classrooms can be used for creative activities like group painting or lectures. Offices supply services for organizing new educational programs or concerts and sports tournaments in the event hall. The small food court is furnished with vendor bars and a cafeteria on the side, allowing people to take quick lunch and study breaks throughout their school day.
On the left, classrooms and offices are placed, catering to the large population of locals in need of free public programs. To the right, vendors and cafeterias are placed to allow easy student access. The large event space in the center connects the sections of the project, allowing the interaction between both sides of the city. These programs stem off arbitrarily throughout the site using breezeways as the main circulation tool, mimicking and creating the interior structure of our own dendriform. Mechanical rooms are accessed underground through the top right of the site.
The 3 different levels of the canopy follow the topography loosely. These structures mimic the characteristics of a forest, where tree tops have crown shyness and never touch eachother. The unique slope of the roof harvests and or reflects solar heat, allowing natural light to fall throughout the spaces below. Breezeways connects opposite sides of the street, in addition to enabling the passage of fresh air and natural ventilation.
Using the canopy structure, rainwater will be collected by taking advantage of the slope we have from solar gain. In the center, we will have a drainage pipe to bring down rainwater to be filtered and reused in our site as hot and cold water.
Detailed drawings of roof and column with specific callouts.
Detailed sectional wall drawing with specific callouts.
Detailed drawings of roof and column with specific callouts.
In a neighborhood where there are multiple schools and residential buildings, this project is to designed a building (dedicated to the students of Columbia University) that has both elements of tranquility and curiosity. We want people in the community to experience both a secret nightlife (speakasy bar) and a quiet space (gallery). In order to mark it as a schoolfriendly building, the bar will be the hidden part of the building.
A black terra-cotta panel is used to show the contrast of the water flowing down. Not only water gives a tranquil sight for the pedestrians, but can also draw their attention to the building
This longitudinal section of the building shows the intricate side that hides in the building. The building with an overwhelming interior, disguised by the tranquil facade brings out the balance as a whole.
The plumbing system is required for this man-made waterfall to work. The volume of the pool on top is calculated in order to build the right size for the water reservoir underneath the building. A pump machine is installed in the water reservoir for water to pump up to the building. There are 2 circulations for the water flow that goes front and back of the building.
The building can be spread out to four floor plans: basement, first, second and third floor
A room behind on second and third floors is where the piping located which can only entry from office..
The speakasy bar and kitchen are located in the basement, and the main gallery space and storage on the first floor, the upper gallery on the second floor, then an office on the third floor.
There is one path that can lead to the speakasy bar which one can only get there by venturing through the stairs. The interior of the bar is inspired by the retro design of laundromat. Food will come out from the tiny chute door that is disguised as washing machine. The vending machine in disguise on the right is the door to the kitchen.
These sliding tables work as a workstation for the kitchen staffs which does not only limit to cooking but also for working non-cooking related tasks and meetings. Chairs can be tucked under the table to save space.
Millwork for one of the kitchen workspace (cleaning area)
Millwork for floor to ceiling wooden storage.
Layers of intricate stairs to create a maze like illusion made from rebar inside the concrete stairs with lighting fixtures. Every landing is a small space for galley pieces exhibted or hanged on wall. Standoff fixture to hold up the glass panel as our railing, and the slotted handrail sitting on the glass panel.
Detail of Stair Railing
