Portfolio 2023 Tiffany Dang

architecture + design portfolio Tiffany Dang

artist cooperative renders animations hitha healing house

el raval market calculation environmental (re)imagination

ADDITIONAL

middle town recording performance chironomia photography

El Raval Market ARCHITECTURE 1

By accommodating Barcelona’s large and culturally diverse immigrant population, the El Raval Market creates a space that is suitable for the aging population while simultaneously appealing to the younger generations. The technique of way-finding and contrast through colour-coding makes it easier for the visitor’s vision. The roof features sawtooth monitors, bringing in diffused light into the open marketplace. A vegetative roof harvests rainwater which helps reduce

internal temperature. Under the roofing system is a timber ceiling structure. It is designed in a concave/ convex form to mitigate excess noise and control sound. The structure is a steel beam and girder system for its ability to span long distances and overall durability. In addition, a hydronic radiant heating and cooling system with a dedicated outdoor air system is executed.

international market

food hall

cafe

seating

mechanical room

electrical room

data room

janitor’s closet

staff room

storage & supply

garbage collection

loading & receiving Ground

main entry

circulation

carnisseries

market

sabors frescos

restaurant

seating

Wayfinding Colours & Key

view from ground floor looking at the international food market

North-South Section

East-West Section

view from ground floor looking at the various tapas bars

East Elevation

view from the second floor looking over the market

West Elevation

view from ground floor looking towards ave de les drassanes

parapet coping

6” metal stud

water-proof membrane

vegetative roof

water drainage

composite steel decking

air and water barrier

steel girder plywood sheathing

outboard insulation

seamed metal cladding

steel column w/ concrete casing

integrated gutter

12”deep steel beam

8’ deep parallel chord truss

hanger

timber ceiling

air duct

metal decking

operable windows

timber fin

floor finish

insulation

drain tile

radiant heating pipes in concrete slab

view from the outdoor seating area behind the market with pop-up food carts and goods

view towards the south facade with the timber fins looking towards the cafe

ARCHITECTURE 1

The NW Goldberg Artist Cooperative

The creative work and living environment stemmed from the growing interest in the arts, within the NW Goldberg community in Detroit. This is recognized through future developments such as the Motown Museum, the art-centered community center called the “ArtBlock,” and unique sculptures and art murals created by local artists at Lincoln Street Art Park. The artist cooperative housing project emphasizes the passion for the arts by fostering an

environment that promotes further growth of neighbouring businesses, and where mind-like artists can collaborate. With various shared amenities and spaces for artists to cultivate their craft, they also have the opportunity to access their “individual retreats” to balance their social and productive lifestyle.

East-West Section

view inside an art studio where each artist has a designated space

Holden Warehouse: Food Market (Existing Building)

North-South Section

view from the communal kitchen that is shared with all residents

ArtBlock (Existing Building)

East Elevation

view from Lincoln St. towards the main entrance with the existing mural

view inside a typical 400 sqft studio apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows

South Elevation

view from the alley looking towards the collective seating area includes shade from the sun

view inside the internal courtyard that provides additional outdoor space and sunlight into the core

Hitha Healing House ARCHITECTURE 1

Located in Detroit, the Hitha Healing House and Garden provides spaces that support Universal Health and Wellness’s mission to improve the quality of life through programs that instill healing, empowerment, and transformation among youth and women. The interior of the house incorporates cultural motifs and acts as a space for uniting and cultivating healthy well-beings. The garden connects the interior to the outdoors by integrating native, colourful and

aromatic plants. The landscape includes spaces for groups to gather and connect while also providing quiet places for individual retreat and reflection within the community. The Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC) collaborated with Universal Health and Wellness to create the conceptual design and combined ideas from focus groups.

Porch

Ramp

Plant structure over ramp

Integrate plants throughout

Entry

Gather/ Connecting Gather/ Dining

Kitchen

Deck

Individual Reflection

FIRST FLOOR

Healing/ Massage Therapy

Healing/ Massage Therapy

Bathroom

Retreating/ Reflection

Roof Deck

SECOND FLOOR

LIGHTING 2

Calculations, Renders, Sequencing

While working alongside architects, interior designers, and electrical engineers a great understanding was shown from an architectural perspective and applied to lighting spaces. These tasks include designing and calculating light systems to provide adequate light levels using IES standards for best practices. Additionally, an integration of visual interest was established in a variety of architectural spaces including cultural, civic, and hospitality typologies. Sustainable lighting

was achieved through LEED, in order to achieve net-zero energy consumption. To communicate design ideas with clients, designers, and other collaborators, animated GIFs were created to visualize lighting sequencing. The following projects are architectural lighting focused and was completed during a light consulting internship at Arup.

Lighting Calculations: Airport + Hospitality

Light + Dark

Lighting Sequence Circadian Rhythm: Airport + Public Art

Lighting Calculation and Sequencing: Public Art

Lighting Design: Airport

SCENOGRAPHY 3

‘Middletown’ Set Design

play by Will Eno

This design explores the concept between character dynamics and viewer interaction with the use of material and shape. It presents both interior and exterior spaces and 3 distinct areas of Mary’s kitchen, John’s living room, and the town square. In addition, there are various floor height changes to incorporate multiple conversation areas. The design of their homes reflects their personalities and outlook on life. Likewise, it reflects their relationship of life and death, as suggested in roof lines signifying

hierarchy. The design illustrates the idea of transparency, where the audience can see through the exterior walls and getting a glimpse of their lives. Translucency exemplifies a buffer between the darkness and light of the future.

Transparency

Allows the audience to determine what they are allowed to view and interpret throughout the performance.

Balance

A variety of conversational areas for action and dialogue in a symmetrical arrangement to create stability

Hierarchy

Demonstrates social and economic differences of the characters suggested from the height of the roof lines

transparent

translucent opaque opaque

Act 1, Scene 3

Mrs. Mary Swanson seen sitting at her kitchen table reading.

Act 1, Scene 1

John Dodge quietly contemplating in his home

Blue Stage Lighting

Red Stage Lighting

Act 2, Scene 7

The cop, mechanic, and librarian have a conversation on the lawn of the hospital.

Act 1, Scene 4

The tour guide showcases the town monument: a simple block of concrete

Teal Stage Lighting

Green Stage Lighting

RESEARCH 4

Environmental (Re)Imagination

Master of Architecture Thesis

Theatre is everywhere. Each day, it is natural that we live socially by playing a role of ourselves on a theatre stage, which is the world. But these daily interactions do not impose a new perspective on the environment. Performance lives within our spatial realities and allows for momentary experimentation through expression. These theatrical performances can also include small-scale interventions with limiting resources. How can ephemeral and theatrical “play” within our existing spaces be used as a method, to inform and reveal user experiences of the everyday environment? How do the practices of theatre performance and architectural

design belong in the same discourse? Through the lens method and analyzing various theatrical performance precedents, exercises, installations and workshops, existing spaces can be learned by a regenerated outlook through theatrical performances. By “creating to know” and “learning by doing”, it experiments by engaging others with familiar places and reflecting on experiences. This challenges the conventional notions of formal performance spaces. Bridging the gap between the practice of architecture and theatrical performance, it is a study on how people perform and interact within the environment, but re-imagined.

a common scene at the pit

The Journey

Exercise 1 - Shape Viewpoint

Up, down, left, right. The shape is your body. Consider the relationship between your body and other bodies, within the space

The Design

Exercise 2 - Architecture Viewpoint

Let the colour respond to your movement. How do you interact with these colours? Let the light respond to your moment. Where is the light?

The Memory

Exercise 3 - Event Viewpoint

Find a space in the pit you are drawn to. Relive a memory of a moment at the site by acting it out, by talking, moving, gesturing

RESEARCH 4

‘Everyday Choreography’

Everyday Choreography is a study of a user’s experiential movement within a space or environment. There is a paradoxical experience between the mundane action of taking the stairs and the sense of dynamic architecture. It is everyday life and motion that people use the stairs for circulation. The footwork sequence of lifting your leg and then down again in an orderly performance and the user’s sightline changes as they make their way up or down. The pedestrians were unknowingly participating in the show

by acting as the choreographer. Here, a “follow the leader” enactment was expressed by the performers from mimicking the pedestrian’s actions as they are moving through the stairwell. How do these pedestrians use the stairwell? How can this everyday experience be realized in a theatrical sense through the movement of people?

Master of Architecture Thesis: Environmental (Re)Imagination

Stairwell performance exercise

Figure IN2.4

Diagram depicting the instructions of the performance

‘Perform Unconscious’ RESEARCH 4

Through the application of live experimentation and digital projection, “Perform Unconscious” explores the concept of performance through daily interactions from the concepts of sociologist Erving Goffman. It focused on demonstrating that people do not have to be considered conventional performers to be a performer of everyday life. This installation put the participants on the “stage” by reacting to themselves and the shadow character through improvisational performance. The secondary layer in

this installation includes the concept of outside participants who observed the act from a distance and did not directly “play” with the installation. The outside participants were the audience of the installation itself. This sketch problem was filmed and photo-documented to collect the participants’ behaviors and reactions during the installation.

Master of Architecture Thesis: Environmental (Re)Imagination

In collaboration with Joseph Loria

Interactive installation

‘Chironomia’ ADDITIONAL WORKS 5

Short documentary film

Chironomia is defined as the art of hand gestures or gesticulation. From the base of our palms to the tips of fingers, it is the hands that extend out to an audience. In combination with voice, it is an expressive way of portraying ourselves through bodily presentation. As the common expression states: we talk with our hands. As people, we naturally live everyday socially like on a theatre stage, playing a role or representation of ourselves. It is where these social interactions where we start to “act”

by delivering lines and improvising favorable impressions in front of others. Here it is questioned, “Why do we use our hands to perform?” This short film explores the performative side of using our hands to communicate with others. Through various gestures, movements, and moments, the presentation of self through identity is defined by our lives being on a stage.

Master of Architecture Thesis: Environmental (Re)Imagination

‘Recording Performance’

Performing is impermanent by nature since it a short-lived event. It interprets our bodily movements through different everyday places. This stop-motion video expresses life’s actions and the dynamics of stillimages through various poses stitched together to create a performance. The stylized choreography is inspired by an architect’s daily routine. Through daily activities such as eating, commuting, working, presenting, and socializing, everyone is a performer. As people participate together to

create a performance that unites, there is also individuality through how each performers interpretation of their pose. In a sense, the familiarity of a routine seems constant, however, it is the opposite. It demonstrates self-awareness that changes our performance as we adjust towards life’s obstacles. The variety of spaces showcases how performing can occur anywhere and at any time.

Stop-motion animation

Master of Architecture Thesis: Environmental (Re)Imagination