KAIDI_YANG_PORTFOLIO

KAIDI YANG PORTFOLIO

2019

- 2023

Auburn University | 08/ 2018 - 05/2023 Bachelor of Architecture University of Southern California | 08/ 2023 - Present Master of Architecture

Kaidi Yang (Toby)

CONTACT

Email kaidiyan@usc.edu

Tel (+1)334-444-9793

Add 1275 W 30th St, #304

Los Angeles, 90007, California

EDUCATION

University of Southern California | 08/ 2023 - Present

Master of Architecture

Auburn University | 08/ 2018 - 06/ 2023

Bachelor of Architecture

EXPERIENCE

Birmingham Rainbow Bridge Revitalization Project 09 - 12/ 2022 Research on both structural and economic conditions of the existing bridge. Incremental development while collaborating with the City Hall and residents.

The first phase of intervention started in 10/ 2023

Montgomery Downtown Master Planning Charette

09/ 2022 Investigation of local communities around Troy University. Master planning of business patterns and proposals for housing projects.

Wedowee Neighborhoods Development Charette 09/ 2020 Investigation and analysis of housing situations. Master planning and Urbanism interventions with local community and city hall.

COMPETITIONS

INTERNSHIP

OTHER

Los Angeles Affordable Housing Challenge by BUILDNER - 2023 -Housing / Communal Living / CLT Assembly / Cultural Emphasis

4th Year Students Annual SPIRE Competition, AL - 2022

-K-5 Education Design / Comprehensive / Code Study / Steel Structure

The Annual Alabama Forestry Student Design Competition - 2020 -Final list of 8 / CLT Assembly / Landscape

Williams Blackstock Architects | 01- 05/ 2023

Architecture practice in University of Memphis Business School

Other works in architecture

Software Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino,Grasshopper, Adobe Design Suite, SketchUp, Blender, Maya 3D, Rendering

Language English, Chinese (native speaker)

Hobbies: Hobby crafting, painting (sketch, watercolor, architectural drawing), graphic design, music production, photography, traveling

Archipelago

Waterfront Waterfront Art Destination

Waller Creek Waterfront Proposal Project

Architecture program | Individual Work Site: Austin, Texas

Instructor: Ernesto Bilbao exb0001@auburn.edu

Design Description

Austin City has its magic characteristics between citizens and nature. Waller Creek is the green belt that is meandering across the core of downtown area. However, the flood issue and chaotic development created countless vacant parcels along the trail and made the creek an unbearable void.

This project is meant to take one of the most vacant block that has old hotel blocking the city view and trail. It uses Waller Creek as the asset to generate the music & art cultural center. These two are the famous impression that Austin contains. By collecting these cultural elements, this project could strengthen the cultural value of the city and gain the financial factors to benefit back to the maintenance of the creek.

Waller creek, as the unique green space across the heart of Austin City, connects all the important assets from Lady Bird Lake all the way to the state capitol. It represents a different speed to experience the city compared with the I-35 on the side.

Site: Waller Creek

Austin City was developed from the original courts in 1893. Through the time line of city growth, the original district has always been the center of the focus point. After the airport and interstate was built, the city was connected through north and south, while the mean circulation was still attaching on the green strip - Waller Creek. It became the unique moment that a slow and quiet area could occur in the heart of city.

Flood has been the biggest issue that was brought by the creek during the rainy season. In the early 1960s, the flood impacted the adjacent ten blocks and caused countless economic loss for the feudal department. In 1990s, the government tried to solve the flood by replacing the conduits underneath but the strict code caused the underdevelopment of the surrounding parcels.

Cost of Flood / $1m

EXPLOSION DIAGRAM

The project is shaped by different components that connect by a specific geometric logic. Every component has the common hight as eighteen feet in order to create the smooth circulation experience for each floor. However, inside the upper level, the hight of each unit could be various based on the proposal use. The trimmed geometry provided the direction of light to go through indirectly.

Geometry : Basic Core

Space: Trim Connection:

SECTION POSITION 1

SECTION POSITION 2

SECTION POSITION 3

SECTION EXPLORATION

The interweaving relations of internal space keep changing from the west entry to the east entry. The major gallery hall is traversed by exhibition halls and the doors between different entities. The intersection of two entities would have the hight change as the opportunity to shape the indoor balcony for rich experience of space and light.

Stacking

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

On the ground level, two major clusters are connected by the outdoor amphitheater space. It provides the major circulation access towards the back of site, while being used as the stage for outdoor music events. Austin has unique culture of local bands. This would be the anchor point to activate the potential of musical business and become the new musical center for people to gather together with their passion.

DIAGRAM ANALYSIS

There are elevators and stair cases on each cluster. The specific spiring stair case follows the geometry of the gallery unit. It leads visitors to the second floor in a tangible way and shows the unexpected difference view on the upper level to enrich the hierarchy of the art gallery.

The folding section goes through all the major spaces at the same time through western and eastern side. The whole circulation flow is full of surprise and unexpected points. On the western side, a double-hight in the hall area. The secret path in between the unites would have the visual access to see the event

RENDERING PERSPECTIVE

Exterior Stage

The intersection of three major clusters are connecting by the sky bridge with clear view of the city. space occupied as the light well and also provide the echoing environment for instrument practice happening from above and bring the natural light at the same time.

50’ 25’

Suburban Gambit

A game between cars and doors: Enjoyable infinite growing system of strip mall

Spring 2021, Suburban strip mall system research project

Architecture program | Individual Work

Site: Auburn Mall, Auburn, Alabama

Instructor: Matthew Hall msh0029@auburn.edu

Design Description

Suburban area is the important representation of American social structure. More people do not tend to live in crowded downtown and went to suburbs instead. We live, we drive, and we complain about this abnormal karma that designed completely for the four-wheel boxes instead of human. Is there any way to break the checkmate?

This project is to focus on the biggest symbol of suburban areastrip mall. By analyzing its logic of conflict between automobiles and pedestrians, the project would attempt to develop a system that could make strip mall an enjoyable place on human scale. It meant to be the system that beyond the limit of sites, and has the potential to grow infinitely as the new way to live.

“Wait....did we just pass the entrance?...uh never mind this is the way in.”

SUBURBAN FABRIC

Suburban condition defines the lower density of population and less demand of centralized economic complex. Under this condition, whatever programs would have less limits of boundaries but more freedom of manipulation and growing.

The site is Auburn Mall - a strip mall at the intersection between Auburn and Opelika, AL. This is the typical condition that occurs on almost all the suburbans as the way people live. The highly automobilized society defined this system for people to shop, gather or suffer from the distance between their homes and stores on the car. Strip malls are not designed for pedestrians, and people cannot expect pedestrian experience, the demand would not support the change to happen. Is there any way to break this endless circle of suburbs?

SITE PHOTOS

Intersection

Suburban Area

Auburn

Opelika

Typical American strip mall site -- attachment on high roads

Chaos arround the unpredictable parking context with various sizes

All languages talking towards the sea of paking lots

Isolated islands floating in the sea

Negative space in the front & back

better way: closure

Distance between the door and car?--FOREVER

Unhuman gaps: draive way invading pedestrian

Clusters have surrounding corridors to connect public courtyards. Each unit has the secondary transparency between outside place and inner courtyard. It provides the options of fast access from automobiles or keep walking in for deeper exploration.

The system would be the sample solution for the suburban condition. It provides the opportunity for different programs to exist together and fabricate the flexible system which could be any scale The system starts from a unit that has a cluster of four elements on 360 degrees. All the elements have the access from outside towards the interior courtyard that formed by itself.

The sizes of units are different which could be divided by various proportions to contain different programs but still keeps the same structural language. They are connected by the corridor of the width of a drive way. There is flexibility to form a larger project by connecting several 100x100’ units to satisfy the various sizes of programs, and at the same time it would create different space while respecting the same structural language and scale.

Regular Core Unit

Connection with variation

Structure Grid

4-Unit Cluster Sample 1

4-Unit Cluster Sample 2

AXONOMETRIC VIEW

Each cluster would form a unique public space by mixing different unit facades. It challenged how different languages can communicate with each other and collaborate on a clear grid. No matter what the chess is, they will always have the opportunity to celebrate on this chessboard.

THOUSANDS FACES IN ONE FORM

The system will be cut on a specific direction by the main drive way under the context. Units will be split by a road that is perpendicular to the main road to approach interior space. Automobiles would park in the pocket space which provides the easy and safe access from car door to the storefront. The units could combine together to form a larger cluster as the possibility of civic and cultural programs. The hight of the middle cluster has the flexibility to change in order to create the hierarchy on vertical scale.

Gambit of Chess Board

Each cluster would form a unique public space by mixing different unit facades. It challenged how different languages can communicate with each other and collaborate on a clear grid. No matter what the chess is, they will always have the opportunity to celebrate on this chessboard.

STRUCTURE DETAIL ELEVATION

The Fold

Midtown - Uptown Connection: New downtown destination across city heart

Fall 2022, Birmingham Rainbow Bridge Renewal Project

Teammates: Clay Causey, Bob Williams, Hester, Kang

Site: Birmingham Richard Arrington Jr Blvd S, Alabama

Instructors: Alex Krumdiek, John Pittari azk0036@auburn.edu

johnpittari.jr@auburn.edu

Design Description

What can a bridge become beyond the structure of connection? Rainbow Bridge is one of the three main bridges that connect northern and southern areas in Birmingham. This bridge stood across railways and provided a quick path for cars from south to north for several decades. It is not safe to pass through due to aging and lack of maintenance and thereby now worked as a site for commemorating the civil rights movement in Birmingham’s history. Nevertheless, the cost of reconstruction will put a heavy strain on local finances.

The project was commissioned by Birmingham City Hall to find the direction as alternative answer of demolishing. The purpose of this project is to make the bridge a pedestrian park and even further, the new core destination of the city for people to enjoy.

CONNECTION

The city is divided by the rail road track across in the middle. Even though there are plenty of anchor points with magnificent business and residential potential, people barely have ways to easily access from south to north. This river of iron needs the stronger connection. Rainbow Bridge, which is on 21 st street, has the most efficient character as the connection compared to the automobile bridge and tunnels on both sides. It also connects to both sides with the highest quality of pedestrian walkability. This site becomes the core part that can create the space for people to walk through safely and enjoy the unique view.

ANCHORS

Birmingham set up on the clear city fabric grid. Since 1990s, more population is coming back into downtown area to create more residential and commercial opportunities. Besides the Railroad Park, there are a lot of vacant parcels around rail road which is at the physical and economic center among all the development growing.

MASSING GENERATION

Basic logic is rising up the addition level for heavier constructions and trees, and fold it down to create the second level between the ground parcel and untouchable bridge. In this case, various hierarchies would provide more opportunities for the adjacent development to engage with the bridge but still within their own freedom of designing.

HISTORY VALUE

The original bridge is still readable, but it even becomes the structural language blended in the park, which represents the historical value of what the bridge captured for the city.

Public spaces on both sides would form pocket areas that interact with adjacent developments. Architects might not have the right to decide what they would be designed, but this is giving the vision of how the district could grow and achieve based on the bridge project. Parking lots would be absorbed underneath, while all commercial or quite residential are occupying on the middle and higher hierarchy on both sides.

PERSPECTIVE RENDERING VIEWS

Railroad Visual Connection Skyline Between

Top level are defined as fast access, including the pedestrian-focused green space along the building side and mobile-focused smooth area along the eastern side with faster access. This provide people different options to experience the space through various speed. Lower level is supposed to be more private area, with massive shade by dense tree canopies to create the quite park experience.

Vertical Access on Powell Avenue

Bridge and Park

ONE PARK THREE MOVES

Three powerful moves constructed the system of the whole project. The first one is amphitheater area that sits right next to the PNC parking deck area. The screen wall system is proposed on the facade of parking deck with LED screen to create the cultural characteristic of bridge. Upper level and lower level defined the two different functions of the project— public and private.

At both ends of the bridge, the cross road area would become the pedestrian entrance based on the traffic pattern master plan. It not only connects 1st Ave N and Rotary Trail, but also activated the safe and attractive opportunities for people to easily access.

BRIDGE SURFACE FLOOR PLAN

PEDESTAL SYSTEM DETAIL

Considering about the weak load condition on the bridge surface, the pedestal system is introduced to the structure. The sizable cone components could stack together to hold the new layer of material without directly hurting the original surface, and creates space underneath as the opportunities for drainage and thermal deformation

Pedestal System

Communal Threads

Co-dividual Housing for 100 residents

The Return of Housing Project Architecture program | Team Work

Teammate: Charles Lafon

Site: Exposition Park West, Los Angeles, CA

Instructor: Hadrian Predock

Design Description

Here we are in Los Angeles, one of the biggest urban environments that are suffering from housing crisis. Standing on the perspective of entry level workers, young starters, married or simple, the of living could be challenged as the logic of how housing could be designed and constructed for the high quality living experience. This project provides the concept of Co-divided housing, starting from the minimum dwelling units for one person to generate the system of complex in the larger scale for 100 people.

Co-housing means a group of homes that include some shared facilities (= areas, rooms, equipment, or services for particular activities): The village was inspired by co-housing in Denmark. Most co-housing communities include a common house with a kitchen, mailboxes, and laundry rooms.

Co-sharing means the use of an office or other working environment by people who are self-employed or working for different employers, typically so as to share equipment, ideas, and knowledge.

Co-dividual is a strange aggregate as semantically it means with divisions, means an aggregate of many small pieces...

“Residents in the affordable housing deserves the better quality of daily uses, cultural celebrations, and the respect, through the caring and logical designing.”

The fundamental strategy of the spatial organizing is to define the hierarchy of different functionalities of residents’ daily uses. In the general architectural logic, spaces are usually connected by “connections” such as corridors and lean spaces, which could generate isolation and weaken the sense of co-sharing. We defined the strategy of Space x Space which is the anti-corridor method that use spaces to connect other space. It utilizes all the space in the complex, not only by spatial connection, but also by spaces being used visually and mentally.

Following diagrams show the analyzation of the relationships of different uses of space by the scale of how many people are using them.

After clarifying the scale and functionality of spaces, we input another logic layer of privacy and publicity onto the diagram. The smallest unit for one person would be the absolute private area of the project, which is defined as minimal dwelling units. In between five units, residents would share a more private socializing zone for more quiet and smaller activities. In addition, every two groups of five “pod” would share one kitchen and dining area as more public activities. The spaces connect all the pods are for the most public activities such as gardening and party. Based on that, the top layer are programs such as common-owned thrift store and tool rooms to support the co-sharing lifestyle.

TYPE A DWELLING FOR 1

TYPE B DWELLING FOR 2

The lower floor plan shows the logic of the overall project. The minimal dwelling units have the single type for one person and another type of two for the couple or family’s temporary stay. They all share the same amount of sunlight and have equivalent access towards the bathrooms and laundry. Each two pods not only share the kitchen area but also an outdoor courtyard that brings the natural light and form the natural cooling tower. The two ends of projects are for the bigger public-owned facilities such as the thrift store, green house, and community party area.

Inside the grand hallway, the zigzagging spaces are designed for not being able to see through but have partial visual connection. When residents are walking through the grand hall towards their units, they would be able to see and smell people from different cultures cooking and dining. We believed that dining is the fundamental demand of human and also the easiest connection to bring people into the conversation regardless the culture or careers. The space not just assume people to go together, but instead the connection would naturally happen through how residents see, smell, and touch.

GRAND HALL PERSPECTIVE

The language of arch was implied in the indenture project. The arches in the hallway are carved CLT panel to show the nature of wooden structure. It not only emphasizes the characteristics of the project, but also creates the overlapping tunnel spaces as the visual language to divide spaces and reveal the functionalities at the same time.

OUTDOOR PERSPECTIVE

The project remains two-story high to blend into the surrounding neighborhoods of Los Angeles residential fabrication. The facade is using painted steel to show the gradient of the sunset color tone as the representation of the cultural icon of Los Angeles.

LONG SECTION THROUGH THE GRAND HALL

Annular Paradise

Multiuse & Easy-access Education Environment

Spring 2022, K-5 School Project

Architecture program | Individual Work

Site: Montgomery, Alabama

Instructor: Randal Vaughan rzv0001@auburn.edu

Design Description

Montgomery as the capital of Alabama, is suffering from the decaying due to the irrational development. There are plenty of vacant lands within important assets waiting for the chance to be used. The site is near to the neighborhood but also adjacent to the high speed road off the interstate.

“What experience that children would have fun in learning?” The proposal of this project is to design a K-5 school that could serve the surrounding neighborhoods and also contains its safety condition along the risk of high speed driving on north Clay Street. The idea is gathering a cluster of units with different functions and hug the annular public space in the center. The scheme is meant to create various moments and space to let children have fun learning and regard school as the enjoyable place beyond the destination. It would explore realistic issues such as codes and handicap systems to create the easiest access in terms of circulation.

SITE ANALYSIS

-Troy’s campus is an important step in the progression from downtown Montgomery to the neighborhoods.

- The corners of almost every single block in our scope is abandoned or empty, so infilling is one of our main priorities

- The streets are much bigger than what current traffic trends require, and the sidewalks are skinny and eroding

- Phasing will be important because most of the area is consumed with school buildings, so we will need to be conscious of school years.

MASSING GENERATION

LEARN & HAVE FUN

Schools are always stereotypically concerned as the place that is forced to go to for children. While considering about the efficiency of education, the enjoyable experience is also a factor that educational design should cover. The main concept of the project is to define several unites based on different functions, and combined with the central annular component to be the system that is easy to access any corner from the whole space. It used the slope condition as the chance to determine the main circulation flow from west to north.

FACADE PERSPECTIVE

FLOOR PLANS

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

All units are attached to the annular piece in the middle, while it is shaping the exterior courtyard as the safe and private hardscape playground. Inside the glass screen there would be ramp system around the circulation for handicapped access. Classrooms would be placed on the same side for less confusion for younger aged children. Cafeteria, library, administration center and other utilities are grouping up in the other side. In this case, the central courtyard could be equally accessed from different direction.slope condition as the chance to determine the main circulation flow from west to north.

COURTYARD VIEW

More than a playground! A terracing hardscape playground that provides a safe way to hug the nature. It is the destination, it is the view, and it is also where childhood’s stories happen.

ROOF GARDEN VIEW

Experimental planters as a tangible aperture for students to explore under the sky.

HALL WAY READY STAIRS VIEW

Reading is never an assignment inside the room. An open and bright reading space is beyond the role of stairs. Exploration of knowledge could happen anywhere outside of classrooms.

No more wide open awkward spaces where you won’t stay. These sunken hubs represents the moment of gathering and focusing. (also where gossips start)

HALL SUNKEN HUB VIEW

SECTION & ELEVATION

All units are attached to the annular piece in the middle, while it is shaping the exterior courtyard as the safe and private hardscape playground. Inside the glass screen there would be ramp system around the circulation for handicapped access. Classrooms would be placed on the same side for less confusion for younger aged children. Cafeteria, library, administration center and other utilities are grouping up in the other side. In this case, the central courtyard could be equally accessed from different direction.slope condition as the chance to determine the main circulation flow from west to north.

The steel frame structure took the inspiration from common education spaces. Steel columns and beams on both inner and outer side would be exposed and painted as the structural language. CLT wood would be applied for interior involvement as friendly surfaces for children. On the facade, dark grey painted steel panels with gradians should be the cladding material which captures the orange exposed window frame as the clean but varied visual language.

STRUCTURE DETAIL SECTION

Steel Panal

Overhanging Ceiling

Steel Window Frame

Rigid Insulation

HVAC Conduits

Concrete Foundation

Steel Columns

Egg & Shell

Parametric penalization modeling practice

Fall 2023, Computational geometry assignment

Architecture program | Individual Work

Instructor: Matt Conway mconway3@usc.edu

Design Description

Understanding the mathematics and geometry behind surface types, rationalization, and discretization is fundamental knowledge for designers to master form. However, it is equally important to practice techniques for translating this information into measured drawings and schedules, as this is key to utilizing complex geometry in professional practice and scaled construction.

The physical model serves as a tactile means to engage with the process of physical assembly and assess the effects produced by its modulation, allowing the observation of form in light and space. Using the grasshopper script to construct the penalization surfaces as the practice of parametric fabrication. This pair of models meant to represent the idea of “egg and shell” as the opposite of pawns of the chess game.

Other Works

Cobb Lane Bar & Residential Project

Site : Cobb Lane, Birmingham, AL

Semester: 2020 Fall Urban Studio

Individual Work

Chicago Printshop Project

Site : Chicago Printers Row, IL

Semester: 2019 Fall

Individual Work

Wood Comp 2020

Architecture Photography & Digital Art

Site : Sunny Slope, Auburn, AL

Semester: 2020 Spring

E-mail kaidiyan@usc.edu

Address 1275 W 30th St, 304, 90007 Selected Work from 2019-2023

KAIDI YANG