SARA TIN-U
A SECOND HOME: REIMAGINING CHINATOWN Extension + Renovation of Austin’s Chinatown Center How can the architectural typology of an Austin Chinatown be reimagined? What are the implications in relation to positive placemaking and cultural identity within the Chinese diaspora? Undergraduate Honors Thesis + Bachelor Design Study 2022 - 2023 Advisors: Charlton Lewis, Todd Brown, Stephanie Choi, Arnold Jin, Yung-Ju Kim
2023 Texas Society of Architects Studio Award Winner To be featured in November/December issue of Texas Architect Magazine Plan II Model Thesis Nominee
Welcome to Austin’s new Chinatown! Chinatowns have long held various meanings for the Chinese diaspora, from connecting with heritage to finding a safe space. With increasing anti-Asian sentiment attributed to SARS-COV-2 (Covid-19) and a fast-growing Asian population, Austin’s lack of an enclave has become more apparent. Thus, a Second Home aims to investigate the meaning of Chinatowns for the Chinese diaspora as well as expand the typology of Chinatown by exploring the spectrum of Chinese architecture and hybridizing traditional and modern aspects to create a uniquely Chinese-American design. This investigation includes in-depth historical, cultural, and psychosocial research in which walking interviews were conducted. As a result of this, the Chinatown Center was selected as the site for extension and renovation in order to give Austin the Chinatown it deserves and needs. With critical race theory and empirical psychosocial data as the framework for design strategies, this urban and architectural design intervention delves into cultural landscapes with a focus on how to preserve and reinforce the cultural identity of the Chinese diaspora in order to foster positive placemaking. This intervention acts to uplift the underserved, specifically the elderly demographic, as well as enable immigrants and new arrivals.
“I think [Chinatowns] do have a special responsibility not only to those of the Chinese community, but really to the Pan-Asian community and to the community of the city as a whole [...] they do play a special role in negotiating identity, in providing education, and also opening people’s eyes up to different types of cultures and ideas.”
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HOLISTIC HEALING CENTER Rethinking Rehabilitation Facilities and Pain Management What is the spectrum of pain? How can a holistic approach to health be integrated through preventative measures, inpatient care, and post-rehabilitation strategies? Advanced Design
In a speculative future, those in the health industry began to rethink and reconstruct the perception of pain. With the Opioid Crisis at the forefront, the Holistic Healing Center was established to address different types of pain patients feel through education and outreach, inpatient care, and post rehabilitation strategies. The design serves as a response to the Opioid Crisis and offers alternative methods for pain management and treatment in the US.
Spring 2022 Instructor: Stephanie Choi Collaborator: Damini Sayeed
With its central location in Downtown LA and partnership with local NGOS targeted towards homelessness, the facility provides access to the local homeless population to help those with opioid addiction find a space of temporary residence and healing. The facility rethinks traditional western perspectives and approaches to pain management with its personalized care that integrates western pharmaceuticals with practices from Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Curandurismo. The overall design scheme focuses on creating a balance between the mind, body, and environment. Patients reside in the center for about 1-2 months and following their stay, are able to attend weekly group sessions and workshops. The outdoor spaces encourage physical activity, social interactions, and meditation.
ZONE 3
WELLNESS
ZONE 4
ZONE 2 REHAB
EDUCATION
ZONE 1 DETOX
HOLISTIC HEALING CENTER ZONES
CARVING FOR COURTYARDS
CUTTING + CARVING
SPLITTING FLOOR
PUSH + PULL TO CREATE SOCIAL SPACES
SCREENS + BOUNDARIES FOR PRIVACY
LACK OF ACCESS, ADDICTION
SOCIALIZE
REHABILITATION
REHABILITATION, ISOLATION
ISOLATION
DETOXIFICATION, REHABILITATION
PUBLIC ACCESS
WALK
REST REFLECT
INSERTING LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES ACUTE PAIN, CHRONIC PAIN
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CIRCULATE
REST
MEDITATE
CONNECTING SPACES THROUGH PATHS LACK OF ACCESS, ISOLATION, REHABILITATION
VEGETATION + WATER FOR ACCESS TO NATURE LACK OF ACCESS, ISOLATION, REHABILITATION
YOGA + DANCE STUDIO
GYM
PHYSICAL WELLNESS
POOL + SAUNA
DETOX ROOMS
OFFICES
COMMUNITY SPACES
PAVILION SPACE
OFFICES
CAFE
STAFF LOUNGE
EDUCATION + WORKSHOP CENTERS VISITOR CENTER
COMMUNITY SPACES
EDUCATION + WORKSHOP CENTERS
LOBBY
COMMUNITY SPACES
INTAKE SPACE acute pain
addiction
rehabilitation
lack of access
detoxification
isolation
potential relapse
taichi instructor dance instructor
physicians
yoga
therapist patients
yogi
administrator
patients
therapist dietitian
masseuse
dance instructor
taichi instructor
acupuncturist
pharmaceutical scientist
tcm specialist
churches physicians
patients food banks
hospitals public education
nonprofit organizations
homeless shelters medical schools
Inpatient Spaces Patient Community Public Spaces Physical Wellness Staff Community
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ATX GROVE A Post - Pandemic Shopping Experience In a post-pandemic world, groceries are just a click of a button away. How do we encourage young adults to reinvest themselves in shopping as an experience? How can the shopping experience be transformed into a social experience? Advanced Design Comprehensive Fall 2021 Instructor: Michael Garrison Collaborator: Clara Truax
ATX Grove is an integrated vertical farm and market place catered towards a Gen Z demographic that encourages transparency of the farm-to-table process and celebrates Austin’s social culture. The design creates a space where people can gather and transforms grocery shopping into a social experience for young Austinites. The free-flowing market space builds off of the programmatic spaces, especially the three types of greenhouses: aeroponics, aquaponics, and hydroponics. Exposed timber structure and transparent materials are utilized throughout to highlight each step of the growing process- from the cistern-colonnade entry and visible mechanical systems in walkways to the transparent greenhouses and hybrid marketwarehouses, customers are able to fully immerse themselves. Regarding circulation, two main pedestrian axes cater to both public and private transportation. Within the space, greenhouses extend into the ground level so as people enjoy their sip-and-shop, they can learn about growing food in an urban environment and about sustainability. This reinvigorated shopping experience looks towards the future in terms of architecture’s relationship to the environment as well as our relationship to food.
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Wall to Floor Connection
Shear Connection + Solar Shading
Composite Column System
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Professional Experience Michael Hsu Office of Architecture (MHOA) Dick Clark + Associates (DC+A) Summer Internship + Professional Residency Program (PRP) Summer 2021 + Summer 2022 - Fall 2022 Houston + Austin
Softwares Used: SketchUp Enscape ArchiCAD Revit Illustrator Photoshop Indesign
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I worked as a Project Designer at MHOA, an architecture and interior design practice with a range of project types including, but not limited to hospitality design, mixed-use developments, adaptive reuse, single-family residential, retail, and restaurants. Much of my internship experience focused on the renovation of a commercial mixed-use strip in which I completed site research in the field, as well as modeled various iterations to present to the client. I also worked as an Intern through UT Austin’s Professional Residency Program at DC+A, an architecture and interior design firm that focuses on residential and commercial work. I was placed on numerous projects, including a multi-family residential unit, a wine shop, a commercial mixed-use development, and single-family residential. I attended client meetings, participated in site visits, modeled iterations, created renders, and more. I played a significant role on the marketing team, planning social media, creating diagrams for the AIA Homes Tour Webinar, and assisting with a photo shoot for a completed project. Through these experiences, I’ve gained exposure to all design phases, with a concentration in schematic design and construction administration. These diverse experiences have been crucial to my understanding of architecture in the real world and have allowed me to explore not only architectural work, but also interior design and marketing.
renovation of commercial mixed-use strip - onsite research + design iterations (MHOA)
diagram for AIA Homes Tour Webinar photography by Leonid Furmansky
multifamily unit (collab w. interiors team)
commercial + residential work - onsite photoshoot + renders + design iterations (DC+A)
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THANK YOU