WENHAN CHANG Portfolio, 2015-2023, Part I

張文翰

WENHAN CHANG Part One

Ta m k a n g U n i ve r s i t y, Ta i w a n A r c h i t e c t u r e Po r t f o l i o 2015-2023

WENHAN (Vincent) CHANG Contact:

banana555888@gmail.com

Lives Somewhere In: Taiwan

Academic Institution: Tamkang University

Academic Subject:

Architecture, 2015~2020

Professional Institution:

LML Architects, 2020~2023

Other Portfolios:

issuu.com/vincentwhchang

CONTENT

Part 2

Part 1

I. Experiments Experiments of Materials Experiments of Ideas Experiments of Tools

II. Main Projects Downstream & Suburb Midstream & Urban Upstream & Creation Back where it began

III. Professional Works

Year 1 & Experiments

01

Year 1 & Experiments: Materials, Concepts and Tools

T

hese collection are the experiments that I’ve conducted mostly in year 1 and some across the latter years. These projects delve into some specific aspect of architecture and designing in general. While these are not as in depth as a major project, they still provide me valuable insights in the path toward understanding architecture.

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

Experiments of Materials Paper & Hard surfaces Defining folding rules To make a provided flat plan into a 3D construct, I set up a set of rules to define which folding action should be taken on which 2D feature. I create a set of rules that categorized the rarity of the lines, and correspondingly, the rarer lines is, the more drastic action it should partake.

Through several trials, I find one particular set of folding rules produced the most desired result, as the end product are modestly layered, looks sufficiently complicated yet organized.

I categorized the lines into three groups with descending rarity: “Blue”,“Green”, and“Red”.

The action that a “Blue” should take is folding 90 degrees. “Green” should platforplatformdevelope upward. “Red” shall form intemediatary platforms.

03

Year 1 & Experiments

Woodworks & Joints Designing Alterable Joints In this project, I studied the movement’s of avians at the precise moment it is trying to take off, and design a series of alterable joints and components to mimic the wing’s action.

Three components of a wing

The model can be categories into “wings” and “body”, wings are the parts with the more complex mechanism and support alterable joints. Body are the foundation that holds everything together and balance it.

A Wing consisted of 7 parts

While a rather straight forward project, in these processes, I’ve also grew more experienced in the basics of woodworking, and more understanding in the properties of the wooden material, which proved insightful in my future projects.

It’s the spine that holds most components together.

“Wings” is the one with the alterable joints, each side of a wing consisted of 7 parts, and each of those consisted of 3 components, and can be slot together in either 180° or 150°.

The balancing leg components.

The “Body” consisted of the main body and legs, and is primarily a vessel to hold on to the wings and balance the overall weight of it.

Two angles of assembling joints mimics the action of a bird right about to take off.

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

Casting & Inspiration

The grid on the surface represented the fiber structure of the sugar cane, from it’s insides to it’s skin.

The notches stands for the cane′s habitat: commonly by water bodies in wet lands.

The noticeable layers on the side mimics the sugar cane′s defining joint structured body.

Transcribing Observation & Casting In this project I experimented with translating features derived from observing sugar canes into a casted model. As casting doesn’t easily allows one to make delicate features, it challenges me to break these observed features down into more fundamental properties, implementing it into the bulky casting model. Another part of the challenge is to make the plans in mind into reality, as in the process of making the cast, I faced many unforeseen issues, ranges from simple leakage to getting cement mixtures into the inner parts of more complicate regions in the cast.

Fortunately I find a balance in between and casted a model close to what I envisioned, though due to time constraint, I don’t have the opportunity to develop the model further.

05

Year 1 & Experiments

Metalwork & Lights

The inspiration came from an observed old roadside lighting decoration, made from bricks, concrete and mosaic glass. It’s unique properties and placement intrigued me and modular composition of it inspired me to the next step.

The rectangular material and cubic exterior represents the rigid brick structure of the site.

The metal bars installed within can reflect lights, making a grid-like reflection. Both the wooden pillar and the metal bars are adjustable, making interesting reflection and shadow outward.

Reflection Lightbox The inspiration came from an observed old roadside lighting decoration. Its property to house lights and it’s modular composition inspired me to design a lightbox of sort. As this project coincides with another course on metalworks, I find that I can utilize the reflective nature of metal in my project. I used wooden frames and metal components to assemble a closed cube system with rotate-able pillars. For the reflecting mechanism, I cut and polished a large sheet of steel into 24 pieces of smaller bars with different reflectivity. After assembling the parts, I installed a lighting device as the finishing touch.

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

Experiment of Concepts Automata & Mechs

Jellyfishes and how to move them This project focuses on deconstructing the observed motions of jellyfish and utilize these concepts into a movable installation. I studied the jellyfish’s method of moving and designed a set of mechanism to mimic the motion. The basic unit is a simple mechanism that can expand and contract, it can be linked together with theoretically unlimited amount of identical units and form into a large brane like structure that can all contract and relax at the same time.

Components

Unit

Full Mech Contract

07

Relax

Year 1 & Experiments

Motion Captured Freezing Movements In this project, I aim to deconstruct a moving mechanism into a fixed structure yet retains the motion of it’s inspiration.

I studied the mechanisms of a door knob and transcribe the moving parts and the twisting/slotting movements into various set of form.

In the model, the outer frames and inner parts aren’t connected physically but hanged with a wire, for the outer frame serve as a referencing frame to the concept of rotation inside. The vortex structure inside represents the flow of kinetic force to two different vector.

The section of door knob

Path and twist of force

Deconstructing movements

Concept drawings

Study models

Drive of components

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

Music Metal

Imperial March

In the earlier stages of this project, I made a collage to try to convey certain of emotions, but I find clear imagery holds too much of a preexisting bias and may distract observers from the information I was conveying.

Canon

Fur Elise Analysed these three tracks: Imperial March, Fur Elise, and Canon.

In studying materials, I find that metal, a ”hard” material, actually offers a flexible range of expressivity.

Materializing Sensory Information This project experiments in the method of transcribing esoteric informations into tangible form, specifically auditory informations and the emotions it evoke. I studied three tracks that represents what some reports shown to be the three fundamental human emotion: fear, aggressiveness, and affection, deconstructing each of them into fundamental properties based on rhythms, compositions, and complexities. In several trials, I find that metals are the most suitable material since it’s very flexible in it’s form and it’s neutral color scheme prevents any bias the oserver might hold. I combined the three studies of emotions into a installation, representing a materialized form of the fundamental human experience.

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Year 1 & Experiments

Pavilion Environment Inspired Form

Unit study

This project is located in the unique “tree tunnel” within the campus of TKU. Dozens of decades-old oak trees form the cozy environment many students choose to rest in-between classes.

Unit concept Inspired from a past project, different unit is able to join in different angles. Combined with studied concept, I find it serve as the best assembling component to the pavilion.

Wood

My goal is to design an installation that doesn’t try disrupt the atmosphere of the site, but serve as an extension of it.

In the process I studied and developed several prototypes that derives from the formation and structure of these trees.

In these experiments, I find the relatively simple tunnel-like covering carapace provides the best desired result.

Steel

Wood

Strengthen I strengthened the original design to met the required structural strength.

Using steel as bone structure and wood as secondary aesthetic fitting skin.

Form and assembling study

Structure Integrity testing Using analyzing program to find the most structurally straining parts, and reinforcing said locations.

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

Experiment of Tools

Chinese Ink Painting In the study of methods to create a certain atmosphere, I tried several artistic expressions, one of them are Chinese ink painting. I find Chinese ink painting very fascinating, as it has a vastly different set of rule in contrast to the more rational way of architectural expression I’m used to.

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Physical Model During the span of my studies, even in the latter years when I learned alternate methods in presenting designs like digital modeling, in every project physical models were still made, as I find physical models still provides an unique insight in the spatial properties.

Year 1 & Experiments

Rendering & Post-processing Before year 3, all of the plans and drawings are required to be hand-drawn in order to strengthen the core drawing skills. With the start of year 3, I started to learn digital modeling and rendering, while also getting into post-processing programs, as these refines the method of presenting my works with desired aesthetic.

Structure & Construction Technique While refining designs and planning ability, structures and the practical subject of construction techniques are also a significant link in my studies, as those were an integral part in solidifying my concepts, and in some cases, itself became the highlight of those projects.

Complex Modeling & Grasshopper

Filming & Editing

In the path of learning digital modeling, I’d also learned grasshopper and similar programs, as it provides whole new possibilities to making complex shapes or compositions that are usually quite time consuming. While still not proficiently fluent in it’s usage, I was able to create sufficiently complex models previously not possible.

One of the artistic expressions I’ve learned was filming and editing, as I found the story-telling form of visuals combined with audio the most straightforward method (not necessary the easiest though) to convey what I hope the audience to experience.

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東海

East China Sea

Beginning of a Journey

臺北 Taipei

Tamsui Impression

臺灣海峽

淡水

Tamsui

臺中

Taiwan Strait

Taichung

臺灣

Taiwan

太平洋

Pacific Ocean

萬華

Wanhua

高雄

Kaoshung

巴士海峽 Bashi Channel

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臺北

南港 Taipei Nangang

Downstream & Suburb: Arts and Festivities

At the end of the Tamsui river spanning

across Taipei, sits the suburban town which the river got it’s name, Tamsui. As one of the earliest settlement, the rich cultural traditions accumulated through the centuries makes Tamsui one of the most artistic and festive town in Taiwan. The unique atmosphere offers the architecture process a certain rhythm, immersing in Tamsui’s ritual.

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

Year 2: Scale - Middle

Tamsui Impression Decoding Landscape The shores of the downstream Tamsui river is one of the famous picturesque attraction in greater Taipei. As this project take place in this iconic site, I tried to integrate the scenery into the inn program. Instead of simply directing rooms to the scenery, I tried to decode the atmospheric view first through my subjective impressions and re-organize them into usable data as a foundation of my planning.

1. Starting from pictures depicting the base, I drew this from my own impression of the site’s atmosphere.

Tamsui Impression

This site is located next to the Tamsui river, about 10 minutes' walk from the subway station, in the end of Tamsui Old Street, with a tranquil atmosphere and a wide view of the riverbank. As it is facing directly eastward, the sunset view of Tamsui is famous across Taiwan.

N N

11 :: 11 0 0 000 0

2. Using impression to re-color the painting, and using the depth of field and spatial sequence of the picture to organize the lines

Atmosphere’s Impression

Reorganization

Interpretation

Conversion

F in d a r ea s with symbol i c vi ew s a n d a tmosp h er es near the si t e an d r ecord them

Recol or an d di vi de ac c or di ng to my ow n i m p r e s s i ons t o t ranscri be t he p ur e q ual i a t he atm osph e r e l e ave on m e

R e i nt e r p r e t t he p ai nt i ng and p l ac e t he l aye r s ac c or di ng t o t he de p t h of t he p ai nt i ng

F ro m t h e re in t e rp re t e d p ro d u c t , e le me n t s o f s p a c e a re t ra n s c rib e d a n d mo d e le d in t o p la n n in g .

To decode the iconic view, I set up a set of rules and steps to organize my chaotic impressions and thoughts into useful data.

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3. After the last step, I used white lines to further categorize the objects of focus on the drawing.

4. Reinterpret the relationship between each section’s relative depth, and organize them into a semi-3D mapping of my impression of the site.

5. After sorting the through the drawing, I extracted these key objects and completed my impression map.

Downstream & Arts

Spatial Imagination

Level Plans

Tamsui Inn Using the information learned from previous stage, I adjust the placements, size and depth of each room in the inn correlating to the extracted impression fragments. After several massing prototypes, I found the best set of solution that can match my core concept while providing a interesting spatial experience at the public section of the inn.

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

Year 3: Larger than itself

Beginning of a journey Tamsui Art Carnival Every October by the Tamsui old streets, there will be a festive event where every local schools, temples, and organizations will participate in a grand parade. Every participant will prepare costumes, carts, or a performance to highlight their creativity and honor a local historic event. This event span across the whole Tamsui riverside, a parade of 1.3 kilometers, starting near the Tamsui metro station, while stopping at several significant locations for a brief performance, ending at a heritage site where a revered philanthropist/missionary arrives at Tamsui one and a half century ago.

In this is significant event for Tamsui, through surveys and inquiry, I found that there are several aspects that can be improved to enhanced the overall experience and promote the event further. From a dedicated exhibition/visitor center to a open ground for the large performance near the end of the parade.

Attractions along the route of the Art Carnival.

A b ou t Site

Not only located in center point of the carnival’s parade, this site are also sit in the edge of old street attraction, from a tourist’s point of view, this site can be experienced as the final stop of a tour of Tamsui. Therefore, I aim to integrate the architecture into Tamsui, let people know and appreciate the festive Tamsui they don’t often see.

On the axis parallel to Tamsui river, are the centerpiece of the carnival. While full of attractions, the experience can often felt detached from the beautiful natural environment

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Introducing a new axis vertical to river, making the natural beauty of Tamsui back into a part of the Art Carnival experience.

Downstream & Arts

The Journey

Site With a Story

VI SITO R′S RO UTE

L

O RI G INAL

R O UT E

Visual Gradient

Switching Axis

Activities

Views

Entry retreat

Preset route

SI NG L E BUI L DI NG

S

CO M M O N

Experience

W id e r a n d f a s t e r rou t e s w ill ma k e u s e rs f o c u s on the s u rrou nd ing view a nd its experience W id e ro u t e s : b e s t p la c e d in p la c e w it h le s s a ctivities , bu t with grea t views

P la ces with s m a ller rou tes a nd lower roof will let u s ers m ore focu s on the s u bs ta nce of the a rea Sm a ll rou tes : bes t pla ced a t a rea with high a ctivity d ens ity

Program’s Effect

P la c e re s t in g s t op s o r a t t ra c t io n s t o ma k e long rou tes interes ting Ro u t e s : p la c e in t e ra c t iv e p ro g ra ms acros s les s a ttra ctive rou tes

A well pla ced progra m ca n a ttra cted other u nrela ted s econd a ry progra m Squ a re: progra m s cou pled with flexible s pa ces ena ble s econd a ry a ctivities

Subtle Guidance

Analyzing the environments of the site to ensure a smooth integration of the program, meanwhile, accessing interesting environmental details and activities around to create a complete mapping of the story of this particular site.

100m

2

4R FLOO R

3R 2R 1R Far

SIGHT

Mi d Ne ar

0-1 2-4 6-10 11-15 16+ pp l/ 1 00 m

4 F + ( GL +100 0 I~ )

3 F(G L + 70 0~ )

2 F (G L + 40 0 ~ )

W a lls , f e n c e s , in s t a lla t io n s e t c c a n b e u s ed a s a tool to d irect focu s G u id a n c e : s e t u p a x is in s p a c es towa rd ta rget

4-6

2

H ight d ifference a nd brea k ing the line of s ight ca n m a k e u s ers interes ted in wha t la y s bey ond expecta tion: m a nipu la ting s ights to gu id e u s ers

Analysing each segments of the carnival’s route, and I try to deconstruct the experience of each of these places and categorize them into types of experience unique to the site.

1 F (G L + 0 ~ )

Spatial Sequence

Journey’s Route

4 . I NN

The parade will stop at several attractions for performances, while near the end of parade, there will be a large event that serve as the final highlight of the entire carnival. While the event was used to perform near a park, recently as the event was getting more attraction and in turn more visitors, the fractured open space became more and more inadequate to host such an event. As such, I decide to choose the site by the park to serve as a supporting structure for the event, while at the rest of the year this place can serve as a center for visitors to learn more about this significant local event.

W OR K ER S V IS IT O R ( AS ABO V E)

F ES T IV AL P AR T IC I P ENT

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

Pla n n in g th e E x p e r i e nc e

Third floor serve solely as office B

Work Space

A N Y A N TR EE S/ H

T/ ES G R IN E EE FF S O T C H G SI

A R B O R P A

Route & Form

R K / P ER FO R M A N C E

Side activities and art programs in second floor Spacial Guidance Activity A R T C LA SS R

Resting Area

O O

/ N IO / IT H IB C E H EE UR EX SP CT LE

M /H IL LS

Art Interactions

E/ C N A T M A R SE FO RK ER A P P

Route will continue across buildings.

Concerning greens and park activities

TA M S U I A N

A primary route surround the building, with small pocket spaces attached to, allowing people to stay

D T. G U A N IN

T/ T ES S R TI E AR FF O ET C RE ST

M

Rou te Exp e r i e nc e

Main activities are happened in first floor M

Spacial Guidance

A IN B U IL

R

IN

A

D

P

Actvivity

G

K / M A IN B U IL D

Resting/Lounge

G

/ N IO / IT H IB C E H EE UR EX SP CT LE

IN P A R K / P ER A

IN

M

A

R

M

FO

IL

E

U

C

B

N

D IN G

E/ C N A T M A R SE FO RK ER A P P

R K O O B T G AC IN R D TE EA IN /

C

A

E

B D

The deconstructed spatial properties from previous analyzations and corresponding views were integrated into the overall route of the architecture, which can be experienced in one uninterupted walk.

In the tour around the building, each key program will form a narrative of the whole event, servings as a miniturized Art Carnival localized entirely in the architecture, allowing more people to learn of it.

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Downstream & Arts

SOUTH PERSPECTIVE The south building is for various performance activities, the large staircase can be used as seats for stage play, the viewing platform allows people to rest after touring the Tamsui old streets, there is also an coffee shop by the river shore, providing beverages and information.

In the final plan, there are two seperate buildings, one for rest and performance, another for exhibition and other indoor activities such as exhibition. The large hall and high ceiling in the exhibition building is to provide the festival a place to exhibit past parade’s installations, for some of them are quite large.

Center of Tamsui Arts Carnival After deconstructing the elements that surrounds the site, I started to plan how to integrate these into the architecture and form a cohesive narrative. Visitors will be able to browse the entire architecture and the exhibitions in one circle without the need to go back and forth between different part of the building. The whole architecture became a part of the route in the tour of Tamsui, bringing visitors to every programs and views located in each pocket. From either the entry or exit, visitors will pass through the exhibit of the Art Carnival, providing info for past and upcoming events.

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東海

East China Sea

臺北 Taipei

臺灣海峽

淡水

Tamsui

臺中

Taiwan Strait

Taichung

臺灣

Taiwan

Modern Antique

太平洋

Pacific Ocean

Tight Community

高雄

Kaoshung

巴士海峽 Bashi Channel

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Floods and Social Housing

萬華

Wanhua

臺北

南港 Taipei Nangang

Midstream & The City: Dense & Aging Urban Environment

I

n the midst of Tamsui river, sits the heart of old Taipei. Despite facing flooding as it’s located in a basin, the convenient riverside location allowed it to grew into the largest city in Taiwan. However, as time went on, the heart gradually shifted toward other places. What’s left was an aging population in a decaying urban environment, in desperate need of certain infrastructure and facilities to accommodate the shifting society.

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

Year 2: Scale - Middle

Tight Community Scattered Community

Form Study

School Work Dinning

Residents will to participate in community activities HIGH

Commute Outdoor activity After class

LOW

The lack of a organization hub and various designing efficiency made the local residents hard to join of form an active community.

Students and elders are often left alone or with each other while the adults are working.

In addition, there a number of elders that live alone, making the site in need for caring services.

Its common for locals to install various add-ons to their home

Interactions

Between programs

Publicity

Connection

Material mosaic

Split and grow individually

Organic middle hub

Split and altered accordingly

Space of caring

Although in different buildings, through sound and sight, people can roughly stay aware of their neighbor’s wellbeing. If this concept is utilized in public buildings, the well being of a community member can be publicized, increasing awareness and integration.

Organic shape of the buildings and the resulted courtyard in middle

Knowing & Caring

Organic shape of the buildings and the resulted courtyard in middle Giant hub

Various nodes in a community

Route to various places

Space of conversations

According to survey, while the central hub of a community can hold certain activities, most of the conversation between neighbors happened on the route between two nodes or programs. If given a proper space on route, these community binding activities might be more helpful and occurred more often.

Community Pockets

A Space for sharing 共_空間

Knowing & Caring

Assist & Take care

Educate & Sharing

Unity

Make the space in community able to let residents know and familiarize each other, most of all to look after each other

Adding caring program in community, take care of the weak and those who need a hand

Create classrooms, workshops, lectures to spred knowledge, not only for students, but also the unemployed and people new to society

Create a fair platform for residents to discuss issues and solve problems, unite local community, and aim for a better community

Elder Care & Dinning Together Located in Taipei city’s Wanhua district, Shin-An county has one of the highest elder population % in Taipei. And unfortunately, the county also has a much higher % of low income family, making the area in urgent need of a hub for community care, whereas current services are unorganized and inefficient. One of the existing care is the “共食 (Dinning-Together)”, where a community organization prepares lunch and dinner for the local elders, primary those who lives alone and/or in financial difficulties.

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Narrow Sidewalk

Pressure of building and road

Lack of retreat

A welcoming space

To squeeze the maximum usage out of their owned land, many buildings and constructs will be extended right to the sidewalk.

Not only does this obstruct public usage, but also exert an uninviting pressure, which isn’t ideal for a community building.

The space should be relaxing and give an expression of welcoming and sharing.

Hub in crossways

High accessibility

Add in programs

Constant flow of knowledge

To create a space which can be used for short pass-by conversations yet not obstructing the path of pedestrian, several community space prototypes were studied.

Program Study

Midstream & Society

The large central atrium embed in is a hub of various route and program, giving residents many pockets to meet, conversation and rest.

Community Center In the plan, the various programs were connected through a large central atrium, acting as a hub, routes circled inside while providing various platforms for rest and small group activities. The ground floor is composed two semi-open sections, housing the lobby and community restaurant. Second floor and third floor has various classrooms, office, and conference room, while on the top floor lies a community theatre.

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

Year 3: Larger than itself

Modern Antique COMMUNITY

Nodes Green Town Center School zone Neighborhood Center

This site is located right by the community’s center, the elementary school and it’s attached programs have the potential to be an integral section of a resident’s daily life. To bring full potential out of the site, the interface with the residents is extremely important.

User’s Interface

The intersect of programs

Nan-jichang Apartments & Elementary School

Fun spaces between programs

Everywhere can be playground

The intersect of programs can spark interaction and fun. In space between programs, it can be diverted into multiple pockets on surface and vertically. Increasing spacial experience, this way, students don’t need to occupy hall or go to a specific place for playing

Nan-jichang was the most advanced apartment complex in 1960s’ Taipei, however now it was known as the county with the lowest income in Taipei city. While facing many social issues, in recent years, with the local member’s effort, many community care system and programs are established and the neighborhood is slowly improving. However, the place is still in need of renewing hardwares and public installations, as most of the existing ones are retrofitted from the local, equally old, elementary school’s vacant classrooms. This gives the reason and opportunity to combine pubic installations and elementary in to one, as the hub of renewal of the once shinning Nan-jichang.

Student’s Domain

Classro om s

Between classrooms’ platform

Classroom s

In a large program

Pocket spaces

Between classrooms, adding a resting platform can increase interaction and give this group of students a private space of themselves.

Not only between programs, in a large space like library, creating a place with utility can increase the usage of the program. Various pocket space can make activities happen more often.

No shelter

too wide

Open space In a student’s daily life, study and play is the center.

Corresponding to this, classroom and playgrounds is the focus of a school’s space

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Outside of classroom, students benefited in playing in various spaces, non modular or limited spaces is helpful to develop a child’s thinking pattern.

Inside of classroom, to avoid students being fatigue to learning, a stimulating classroom is helpful, an unorthodox space for resting and reading.

The lack of usage in wide space

Space of activities

A wide space is a good feature and allows various activities, but on the other hand, the usage of this space will be quite low, due to its size and lack of obstacle. To choose one is to sacrifice another, but in this case, there is a large park nearby. Therefor the method of site is to create fragmented space.

Midstream & Society

Shaping Form

Activity Zone

I mapped out the various activities, it’s intensity and direction of the local community, giving me a insightful understanding of the area surrounding the school. This serve as the bases of planning out the programs of the school.

Program Relations

Using site analysis, the axis and program’s location is determined, the private and public space of them and interactions with community is also set.

Using these data, the basic shape of the architecture has emerged.

Public programs & School’s Prides The local Jongyi elementary school not only act as a elementary, but also housed various local community programs. Due to the lowering birthrates, many classrooms are now vacant, and in turn become the hosting ground of these programs. While providing these empty rooms to the community is a temporary solution to the lack of infrastructure, these classroom aren’t purpose built for these activities and exists many insufficiencies.

For these reasons I set my sight on renewing the school while integrating these programs officially into the school. In the process I aim to preserve the local school’s tradition, such as the national prize winning judo courses, and the annual community wide banquet.

LOC A L RESID ENT S

ST U D ENT S

With many programs, original or addition, the relation is complex. To make the user’s route and sense clear, using types of users to organize the connection.

CL A SSR O O M S J u d o Co u r t

P i ck u p / S t a t i o n

A t ri u m

Co mmu n i t y Cl as s r o om

Form Study Ea s t S t re e t S q u a r e W e s t S t re e t Ne i g b o r h o o d En t r a n c e

O ffi c e

W e s t S t re e t Ma r k e t

Additionally, the architecture around of site is iconic, attempting to inherit the iconic symbol and spirit, I developed the shape of school using them as an inspiration.

Ki n d e r g ar t e n P i c k u p / P l a yg ro u n d

Each of the program’s location either makes the community easier to participate or promote the unique quality of the specific activities.

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

Planning of Interior In the overall planning, the Judo courts, community cafeteria and such important community wide activities are located in the ground floor near the previously analyzed locations. While the other community focused activities are primarily in the south building. The rest of the regular classrooms are spread across north and south buildings, with the center building that houses most of the offices and specialized classrooms linking them together.

ENTRANCE / PICK-UP ZONE 1

PLAYGROUND KINDERGARDEN PICKUP SCHOOL'S OFFICE HEALTH CENTER STORAGE

The northen building holds most of the in-school activities that are either semi or not open to the public, including a indoor gym that split into two levels as the gym itself and the audience seats. Another program in the building is a school library located on the top, there are multiple platforms allowing users to sit on. It has an little attic, storing school books and a few seats to allow discussion.

PICK-UP ZONE 2/ STATION

ATRIUM

W.C

W.C

KITCHEN

JUDO COURT

CAFETERIA/COMMUNITY ACTIVITY AFTERCLASS STUDY

GＦ

ＰＬＡＮ

０

GL+300

5

15 Ｍ

BASKETBALL / BADMINGTON COURT

LOADING ZONE

The community part of the school is either on ground level, or in a single building, due to security and management issue. However, student’s access to these programs aren’t an issue. On spacial relations, these programs are between study spaces and outdoors.

South Building Section

1ST GRADE CLASSROOM

2ND GRADE CLASSROOM BASKETBALL/BADMINGTON COURT CONFERENCE WAITING OFFICE

ATRIUM

PLAYGROUND

ATRIUM 1ST GRADE CLASSROOM

MEDIA CLASSROOM MEDIA CLASSROOM SPEECH HALL

2ND GRADE CLASSROOM

ATRIUM STORAGE

STORAGE

STAGE OFFICE

OFFICE ATRIUM 4TH GRADE CLASSROOM

5TH GRADE CLASSROOM

DAYCARE CENTER ATRIUM

ART CLASSROOM KINDERGARTEN 4TH GRADE CLASSROOM

CLASSROOM

CLASSROOM

5TH GRADE CLASSROOM

CLASSROOM

2Ｆ ０

ＰＬＡＮ 5

GL+550

3Ｆ

15 Ｍ

０

ＰＬＡＮ 5

North building Section

GL+950 15 Ｍ

3RD GRADE CLASSROOM SPECIAL CLASSROOM LIBRARY

3RD GRADE CLASSROOM OFFICE STORAGE STORAGE

6TH GRADE CLASSROOM STORAGE

SPECIAL CLASSROOM

SCHOOL GALLERY / STUDENTS' EXHIBITION

6TH GRADE CLASSROOM ALUMNI / PARENTS ASSOCIATION ROOM

4Ｆ ０

ＰＬＡＮ 5

GL+1320 15 Ｍ

On the higher floors, playgrounds are distributed around, each grade has it own spaces, preventing the issue of having various playground restricted to student’s age, since the rapid growing 6~12 year old requires different scaled playgrounds.

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B1 ０

ＰＬＡＮ 5

GL-250 15 Ｍ

SOUTH WEST ISOMETRIC VIEW

On regular days, there are two entrys to school, but in special occasions, the programs on the ground level can opened by rotating the window-doors, allowing access from community.

Midstream & Society

Community Center

Running Tracks

A

I

H G F

E

C B

The northen building holds most of the in-school activities that are either semi or not for public, includes a indoor gym which split to two levels as the gym itself and audience seats. Another program in the building is a school library on the top, there are multiple steps in there allowing readers to sit on. It has an little attic, storing school books and a few seats to allow discussion.

Kindergarten

Basement Entrance Classrooms

School Gym

Judo Court

Planning of Exterior The playground on ground level surrounds the central building, between north and south buildings, spreading public activities across the campus instead of focusing activities in isolated pockets of space. On the 2nd floor and above, each grade that is similar in age is clustered together and has it’s own outdoor terrace with open spaces and a small playground fitted to the student’s age group.

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

Year 3: From City to Man

Floods and Social Housing

Group Analysis Activities

Biking Lanes

Nodes Site Location Town Center Parks & Public Squares Border

In the group analysis, the rough location of the private and public space and place of interactions with community is mapped. Using these data, the ecosystem around the site has formed.

We envisioned a belt of places tied together by a bicycle lane, which is an activity already present but not really properly addressed.

We choose our site on a location that is an awkward link in the local area, littered with run-down warehouses and illegal constructions.

Serving as a community’s center, to bring full potential out of the site, defining how should we interface with people is extremely important.

Program Relations NE I G H BO R H O O D

PROGRAMS

U S ER S

Riverside, Cityside

By Datong district, the site is one of the oldest districts in Taipei. It used to be the heart of Taipei, however now it’s a shadow of what it was, as many other issues similar to the previous sites plagues the district. But one of the most pressing issues is the flooding.

Since the whole city is already located in a basin, this district sitting by the Tamsui river’s bend is especially prone to flooding during the monsoon seasons or typhoons. While the infrastructures present prevented most of the destructive torrent, this area still often experiences rising waters that sometimes can be up to a meter.

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We try to bring many programs into our site, some are original to the place while some are addition. To make the user’s route and easy to navigate, we try to categorize and organize them by their hierarchy of connection to the community.

The distribution of programs can spark interaction and commitment to a longer interest. We try to create a linear experience with clusters of activities along each specific location.

A series of raised biking lanes connect this part of the city, while serving as a touring path along the shore and the district at regular times, these can also serve as a safe path to travel or a refuge at times of flooding.

These lanes span across the shores, parks, attractions, a commercial zones that is currently under planning, and of course our site.

Midstream & Society

Personal Analysis Layout & Intergration Public Activities

Overal Spatial Relations

Planning Units & Community Structure Community Space Analysis

Residents

While the overall web of the building is determined, I started to detail the planning and how to from a cohesive public space with various type of resident.

ACTIVITY ROUTE

ROUTE

Defining the relationship of each programs within the resident-only section of the building, I intend to ensure that the sense of community can be formed.

Mapping the location and direction of the site with the group project’s vision in mind. I intend to utilize these data to plan the first three open-to-public levels.

Using the data to determine the public/private space’s optimal distribution.

Using these data to determine the rough layout of the indoor/outdoor areas in lower levels.

A graph of a detailed structure of interaction and beneficial elements that each group of users might bring to each other. Using these I determined the specific spatial structure and sequence.

Unit Analysis Within the first few levels that are open to public, I intend to continue the experience of the commercial zone nearby.

Breaking down the lower levels into several blocks to clearly define the layout and it’s programs.

Delving into the more specific layout and massing, including the various essential programs, the rough plan of the building is formed.

COR E/ SINGL E FA M IL Y UNIT

EL D ER UN IT

Shaping Form

Massing & Integrating I divided the architecture into 2 zones, one is open for public and another is for the residents. The public spaces occupies the lower levels, I designed the layout around the integration into the overall neighborhood, with various open space that serve as a continuation of the commercial zone and biking lanes.

SINGL E UNIT

M UL TIP L E SINGL E UNIT

COMMUNITY

WEAVED

PRIVATE

Weaving the community spaces in-between the living units and connecting these separated chunk of small spaces into a large web of spaces, creating a sort of a vertical village.

After detailing the public spaces, I started to study how housing units specific to each demographics should be planned, these demographics not only includes local groups that might need access to affordable housing, but also appeal to younger demographics to liven up the environment and serve as the backbone of various community work.

Unit Planning

In the resident’s zone, I designed overall structure into a web of units and community spaces that resembled a village. In some units, some specific functions are placed in public spaces in contrary to the norm in practice. These are intended make residents more involved in the community and encourage neighborly interactions.

SINGLE PARENTS LIVING UNIT

ELDER LIVING CELL

SINGLE LIVING CELL

SINGLE LIVING CELL

SINGLE PARENTS LIVING UNIT

CORE FAMILY LIVING UNIT

CORE FAMILY LIVING UNIT

I design several units that each accommodates to the specific demographics.

In some units, some specific functions like kitchen or laundry are placed in public spaces instead.

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

Integration SOUTH EAST ISOMETRIC VIEW

Integrating into the local environment by planning and the placements of the first few open levels. Serving as one of the links in the biking lane system, offering resting stops for the visitors passing by.

accessible by residents 3rd floor

accessible by public 2nd floor

Flooding The architecture address to the flooding issue on two levels: a. Reducing the structures exposed and using round edges and layered facade to reduce flooding damage; b. Making the second level as the primary access point for the building, enabling residents to enter and leave through the second level too.

accessible by public Ground floor

Extension These levels also serve as a extension of the commercial districts down south, offering shops and community markets to liven up the community and serve as a community income.

B-B’SECTION

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SOUTH ELEVATION

Midstream & Society

NORTH EAST ISOMETRIC VIEW

G A

D

H

F E C

I

B

Lower Levels The second floor and be accessed through various points: outdoor staircases, biking lanes, indoor stairs and elevators. Making the second floor the de facto lobby. While the first floor were an open plan room with a attic able to house various activities like community markets or events. Placing these less essential spaces on the ground level is to prevent flooding from obstructing basic services, but additionally also promoting the communities activities further than it’s own circle.

Social Housing The public spaces can be divided into 3 levels, the ground level is an open-space room intended for public activities like community markets, withholding more essential services like lobby and security room to the second floor to ensure unobstructed service during flooding. While the third floor houses other programs like daycare and community classrooms.

PARKING LOT ENTRY

BIKE LANE

ATRIUM

CONNECTING PLATFORMS

CONNECTING BRIDGE

COMMUNITY STORE

Inside the overall structure of the resident’s zone, each 6~10 units are formed into a small group and each will have a small atrium, with places for some services like laundry and kitchen, accommodating to the specific demographics. While the downside of these direction are obvious, I believe it can be a trial of a more tightly knitted community in contrary to the cold model of modern apartments.

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Vincent (Wenhan) Chang - Architecture Portfolio

WENHAN (Vincent) CHANG Contact: banana555888@gmail.com Other Portfolios: issuu.com/vincentwhchang