Ran He UD Portfolio 2023

I. Graduate Works

Kebele 19

A new weaving industry in Addis Ababa

Nominated Work

Harvard GSD Urban Design Studio| Spring 2022

Professor: Marc Angélil

Collaborator: Yu Qin

Shiro meda is a neighborhood famous for its traditional textile and clothing which is also known as kebele 19. This project will focus within, on, and beyond the boundary of kebele 19

Ethiopia is currently considered the new frontier of the garment industry, with clothes “Made in Ethiopia” being the cheapest to produce globally. In fact, largescale factories have been built all over the country, particularly around Addis Ababa, producing for foreign markets and global brands, while exploiting the young labor force seeking to make a living.

Taking its clues from a long tradition of craftsmanship in textile-making and of artisans being organized in small-scale co-operatives, the studio sets out to explore modern-day alternatives to current lowwage, precarious production arrangements. In seeking to identify strategies for empowering people via locally embedded forms of economic development, solutions are sought for incorporating the labor force and the

workplace into the civic realm – socially and spatially.

Located in the north of the city, the site is in the popular and partially informal neighborhood of Shiro Meda, where traditional craftsmanship serves as the primary basis of securing a livelihood for those living and working there. The studio asks: How could this neighborhood of small-scale co-operatives become market-compatible in the future and still maintain its current qualities?

Left: Typology

Right: Site Diagram

Here are the basic components of the ring architecture- a two-storey loop with the ground floor lifted up. This allows movement inside and out of the kebele. On the top floor the ring organizes the traditional textile making workflow. occasionally separated by utility rooms and circulation cores. On the lower level, space is left for markets which can be informal.

The building has a simple structure but it accommodates for various uses and reconfigurations should the need arise. We designed a list of spaces that

could be fit inside the ring that relate to the local residents’ needs. Once again these are some of the possible auxiliary units that can be embedde in the ring.

These auxiliary facilities are can be permanent constructions or ad-hoc installations.The architecture also plays an important role in facilitating the resource, material and labor flows in and out of the kebele.

Left: Building Diagrams

Right: Axonometric View

1. projection 2. breaking 3. addition 4. collision 5. transformation 6. connection

Top: Spatial Operations

Bottom: Zoom-in Plan

Top: Axonometric Diagrams

Bottom: Building Perspectives

Shiro meda revolves around production and exchange of fabric and textiles. However, the space allocated for these two economic functions are often sporadic and disjointed. The kebele boundary provides a boundary which could unify these functions into a single system.

The original kebele boundary is unrefined- with a underdeveloped river edge on the west side and an overextended road on the east. To mitigate these edges and to provide space for the aforementioned functions, we are proposing an architecturalized kebele boundary- a refined ring that circles the kebele.

By introducing the ring, we connect to different kebele elements and interact with them. The ring also provides space for informal activities such as a carnival path for religious celebrations and informal selling around the band.

Left: Masterplan(Before)

Right: Masterplan(After)

I.

Graduate Works

Reykjanes Resource Park

A new eco-industrial landscape

Harvard GSD Urban Design Studio| Fall 2022

Professor: Anna Gasco

Collaborator: Yu Qin, Ni Ye, Liang Yang

This planned Resource Park is located at the far end of the peninsula’s southwest corner. It enjoys an extensive coastline and is also the start node of the volcanic geothermal belt on the island. Due to its abundance of natural resources, the park is already home to a number of industries, such as energy production, fish farming and processing, and salt production.

The industrial infrastructure are in a frame with these sceneries. One is the pipelines. These silver lines creep from the turbine factory at the centre of the site and extend out in all directions. We take advantage of the extensiveness of the pipeline to construct a wayfinding system that connects dispersed attractions and pedestrian traffic across the sites. By integrating the walkway with pipelines, it will not only conserve the land use but also better guide the pedestrian footprint, thus preserving the fragile landscape.

Right: Park Masterplan

I. Graduate Works

Bottom-up Sub-Urbanism

Re-imagination of suburbia

Harvard GSD Urban Design Studio| Fall 2021

Professor: Stephen Gray, Rahul Mehrotra

Collaborator: Yixin Wu

suburban community

strip mall industrial park

forest/wetland suburban outskirts

SCALE

In this project, we started off by analyzing parcels of the existing built environment- we identified “snapshots” of our site with mismatched adjacencies, incoherent programs, discontinuous public realm as well as underutilized spaces. Putting these elements together gave us a rough sense of how much potential the site has in each of these clusters.

Our goal is to strategically re-configure the existing site condition not through total redevelopment but by formulating a number of widely applicable “rules” which address building density, programs, street adjacencies, community connection, and the arrangement of nature and public green spaces. We wanted to see how much difference it would make by applying small and subtle local changes and applying them over the entire site.

I-95 (8-Lane)

I-95 South (6-Lane) University Ave (4-Lane)

Residential Cul-de-sacs, 2-Lane Roads

Airport Runway Fountains, Gardens, Small Parks

Forests and Wetlands

Yard Plants Swimming Pools

In this project, we started off by analyzing parcels of the existing built environment- we identified “snapshots” of our site with mismatched adjacencies, incoherent programs, discontinuous public realm as well as underutilized spaces. Putting these elements together gave us a rough sense of how much potential the site has in each of these clusters.

Our goal is to strategically re-configure the existing site condition not through total redevelopment but by formulating a number of widely applicable “rules” which address building density, programs, street adjacencies, community connection, and the arrangement of nature and public green spaces. We wanted to see how much difference it would make by applying small and subtle local changes and applying them over the entire site.

In this project, we started off by analyzing parcels of the existing built environment- we identified “snapshots” of our site with mismatched adjacencies, incoherent programs, discontinuous public realm as well as underutilized spaces. Putting these elements together gave us a rough sense of how much potential the site has in each of these clusters.

Our goal is to strategically re-configure the existing site condition not through total redevelopment but by formulating a number of widely applicable “rules” which address building density, programs, street adjacencies, community connection, and the arrangement of nature and public green spaces. We wanted to see how much difference it would make by applying small and subtle local changes and applying them over the entire site.

Top: Existing Site Map

Bottom: Proposed Typologies

Left: Masterplan Right:Zoning and FAR Proposals

Design Visions

Our first focal point is the University Park Amtrak Station. As an important gateway for traffic from Boston and nearby cities, this station facilitates both railway transit and acts as a stopping point for vehicles from nearby communities. At the moment the majority of building footprint is dedicated to parking and vehicle storage. However, being the very first building to be seen from the highway, we believe it has a lot more potential than its current development. A few changes on the architectural level, if introduced, could increase the surrounding foot traffic and establish a more coordinated local traffic network. An open ground floor with a central courtyard also provides much needed public space around this block.

We introduce convenient and pedestrian-friendly paths from the Westwood neighborhood to the site so that people get easy access to what makes their lives wonderful. The largely shortened distance also stimulates green travel with less reliance on private cars.

On the north west of the site where there’s dramatic elevation difference, a bridge connected to the roof garden on the strip mall then down to one of the main recreational green open spaces contributes to a pleasant walk. Elevators inside the buildings are also utilized for connection between different levels. The ground floor facing the lower side can be occupied by service stores at the front and car parking at the back and it reduces ground parking.

VIBRANT PARK

RAIN GARDEN

MEDITATION ZONE

II. Undergraduate Works

The Argent Floater

Spring 2018 Comprehensive Studio Professor: Elizabeth Kamell

Collaborator: Sizhe Wang

KEUKA LAKE

We started to think about the structure we are adopting for a building such as this. The structure must be light, firm, consistent and allow large spans for moving seaplanes. A steel truss system with exterior curtain walls thus became the basis for future iterations.

On top of that, each façade needs to be individually analyzed and e valuated according to its program and energy requirements. Excessive sunlight causes unnecessary cooling thus a shading system is required.

S imilarly, to a seaplane with draws its power of flight from air and sustenance from water, this building is designed t o be self-sufficient in energy needs. By installing solar panels on the roof, a significant portion of the building’s energy cost could be offset.

Sitting right on top of the water, the building has excellent access to grey water both used for general cleaning as well as maintaining the seaplanes. Water also offsets big temperature swings on land, which acts both as a heating and a cooling assistant.

With that in mind, we started to think about the structure we are adopting for a building such as this. The structure must be light, firm, consistent and allow large spans for moving seaplanes. A steel truss system with exterior curtain walls thus became the basis for future iterations.

On top of that, each façade needs to be individually analyzed and evaluated according to its program and energy requirements. Excessive sunlight causes unnecessary cooling thus a shading system is required.

Similarly, to a seaplane with draws its power of flight from air and sustenance from water, this building is designed to be self-sufficient in energy needs. By installing solar panels on the roof, a significant portion of the building’s energy cost could be offset. Sitting right on top of the water, the building has excellent access to grey water both used for general cleaning as well as maintaining the seaplanes. Water also offsets big temperature swings on land, which acts both as a heating and a cooling assistant.

Left: Section AA’

Right: Ground Floor Plan

Left: Facade Studies and Interior Render

Right: Physical Model (Wood, Paper, Metal Mesh)

II. Undergraduate Works

Emergent E_Scapes

Spring 2017 Advanced Urban Studio Professor: William MacDonald

//Collaborator: Furui Sun

Hybrid Culture as Qualitative Affective Field

TOURIST CULTURE

INFRASTRUCTURE CULTURE

DOMESTIC CULTURE WORK CULTURE

The urban life gives birth to our everyday cultures. These cultures affect the way we perceive our urban space. They interact or counterinteact with each other in various ways. Through interactions and changes through time, qualitative relationships are established spatially.

TOURIST CULTURE

DOMESTIC CULTURE

INFRASTRUCTURE CULTURE

HYBRID CULTURE A.M.

WORK CULTURE

Intensity Mapping

Mapping of culture and qualities as fields in situ.

HYBRID CULTURE P.M.

Intensity Mapping

Hyper Inflective Field placed on site to generate relationship between qualities.

DEFENSE SUPPORT

AGGRESSION RESPONSE

DEFENSIVE FORMATIONSUPPORTIVE FORMATION

AGGRESSIVE FORMATION

RESPONSIVE FORMATION

DEFENSIVE FIELD

SUPPORTIVE FIELD

AGGRESSIVE FIELD

RESPONSIVE FIELD

“Systemic Hybrid”

The ‘Systemic Hybrid’ method allows for the investigation of incremental and aggregative processes and systems in volumetric relations of form, space, and time. The studio will focus on a synthetic design research into complex adaptive geometries, that will eventually yield the potential of ‘open-ended systemic hybrids’. The ‘systemic hybrid’ method leads to continually generative architectural solutions with the potential to respond to sponsored systemic change via evolving variables [such as context, time, use, politics, economy, history, in other words culture at large]. The goal is to create an ‘adaptable’ and ‘anticipatory’ architecture. An architecture able to be altered with time, in time and by time. An architecture with these traits and attributes is especially beneficial when it is deployed as an educational environment.

Building Envelope Analysis

Colours

Example Programs

collaborate, communicate

A. Encouraging C. Contingent exhibit rm learn, show

A. Encouraging D. Flexible activity space relax, play

office

educate, manage

C. Contingent B. Compensatory

morning - noon

gymnasium activate, nurture

D. Flexible B. Compensatory multimedia rm show, discover

C. Contingent

D. Flexible

café learn, think, nurture, comm. guide

morning - evening

classroom

C. Contingent

A. Encouraging B. Compensatory labs practice, experiment, discover A. Encouraging C. Contingent

D. Flexible

music rm practice, create, collaborate A. Encouraging

garden nurture, experiment, discover

Building Envelope Quality Analysis

B. Compensatory

D. Flexible

B. Compensatory

C. Contingent

D. Flexible

morning - evening

morning

evening morning - evening morning

The ‘Systemic Hybrid’ method allows for the investigation of incremental and aggregative processes and systems in volumetric relations of form, space, and time. The studio will focus on a synthetic design research into complex adaptive geometries, that will eventually yield the potential of ‘open-ended systemic hybrids’. The ‘systemic hybrid’ method leads to continually generative architectural solutions with the potential to respond to sponsored systemic change via evolving variables [such as context, time, use, politics, economy, history, in other words culture at large.

Left: Physical Model (Wood+ 3D Print)

Right: Renderings

III. Professional Works

Wuxi Sensor Park Urban Design

Wuxi, China

Design Internship with HKS Shanghai, 2021 Design Team: Bin Cao, Huaichang Wang, Johnny Chen, Rui Bao, Jiakang Li, Hongqiu Wang, Ran He

In this project, I assisted with the early conceptual design- developing diagrams documenting the site and studies on massing, street sections and design principles. Communication with the city’s planning department was a key part of this project and the diagrams played a key role in conveying design methods and strategies.

The Urban Design project of Wuxi Sensor Park started from an already-developed industrial park. The goal of the project is to strengthen the current establishments by connecting the park to the city. Our team started by analyzing the existing site conditions and identifying major axes within the park. A series of studies were conducted on the road systems, tenants, building typologies.

By formulating a series of design principles, the team aims to connect the site with surrounding city districts, such as downtown, civic centers, hightech districts and natural recreational areas. The new park embraces a multitude of uses including R&D, offices and complimentary service programs.

These overarching principles act as an urban armature and allowed subsequent design to be precise and on-point.

Massing studies and skyline studies were carried out and discussed with the city planning department. Along a main central axis, several thematic corridors are laid out according to existing building clusters and design vision. Road system hierachies are established in the scope of pedestrians.

III. Professional Works

Chengdu Vanke Tianhui

Chengdu, China

Design Internship with HKS Shanghai, 2021 Design Team: Bin Cao, Feng Xiao, Huaichang Wang, Johnny Chen, Peng Xie, Ran He

In this project, my role was to optimize and refine building models, with a special focus on developing facade strategies. The scope of this project ranges from schematic design to construction administration and it needed a unified building facade strategy.

In conversation with the client and a few consultants, I assisted with choosing the right materials and metal framing strategies for the project.

The site is located at the old industrial district of Chengdu. This development aims to combine the old memories many people hold dear with new and exiciting programs. From a rust belt to a vital district for local communities to gather and enjoy.

Combining industry with the theme of art and culture creates a powerful synergy. The close proximity to the surrounding residential areas means this is a great opportunity to design an event venue for the local people.

For a large project spanning across multiple plots, it is important to unify the buildings’ identities through facade design. Integrating different strategies across a range of programs such as ground level retail, dining plazas, gathering space and office towers is a crucial task.

陶板 幕墙： 1.4*0.9

铝合金外框：(1100 -1400) 元/m2

不锈钢外框：(1600-1900) 元/m2

金属板幕墙： 1.4*1.8

铝合金外框：(1000 -1200) 元/m2

不锈钢外框：(1500 -1700) 元/m2

铝合金外框：(1100 -1400) 元/m2

不锈钢外框：(1600-1900) 元/m2

III. Professional Works

Gao’an Road No. 1 Primary School

Shanghai, China

Design Internship with Scenic Architecture Office, 2018

Huazhan campus of Gaoan Road No. 1 Primary School is located at the intersection of Longwu Road and East Huazhan Road in Xuhui District, Shanghai. With a compact site, this 40-class school was built under a high FAR of 1.4. On this long and narrow site, the only suitable location for the 200-meter track and field is on the west side, which also helps to block traffic noise from Longwu Road. According to building codes regarding setback, fire protection, sunshine and noise control, the main classroom building can only be arranged in two rows on the east side. The multi-function building is then located between the playground and the academic area, accommodating the multifunction hall, covered sports field, gymnasium and other activity spaces.

I was involved in the conceptual design phase of the school and performed material studies and building visualization for the client.