ARCH 131 Fall 2015

wood cheng JoAnn Moore Arch 131, Fall 2015

california polytechnic state university san luis obispo

I was born in Hong Kong, raised in New Zealand and now attend college in the United States.

My life has been a mix a mix of different cultures, personalities and talents I am Chinese by ethnicity yet conform to none of the racial stereotypes Architecture is my passion I love playing field hockey, soccer, piano and double bass I have a younger brother who can be ridiculously cute and unbelievably annoying I attended Auckland Grammar School, a school of 3000 in a city of barely a million Design has always been my dream I used to dream of being an inventor and a car designer My current self now tells me my calling is to become a practicing architect My dreams are driven not by money and fame but by my love for design I hope I can offer a fresh perspective on life with my designs and make the world a better place

2

4

gamespace 01 pg

6-17

interpolated void 02 pg

18-37

port san luis pier 03 pg

38-79

slo journey sketch 04 pg

80-95

table of contents

6

01 gamespace

dirt 3

linearity

8

half-life 2

illusion of free choice

real f

freedom

far cry 3

angry birds

shattering the barriers

the binding of isaac

movement & circulation

analogue diagrams

exploration: diagrams models

joy

10 fear peace movement

angry birds

the binding of isaac

far cry 3

half-life 2

dirt 3

refinement: diagrams

exploration and refinement

half-life 2: draft 1 2

12

far cry 3:

draft 1 2

angry birds:

draft 1 2

convergence

radiation

fragmentation

developed models

developing models

top

14 front side

fragmentation

radiation

convergence

angry birds

far cry 3

half-life 2

movement implied by placement of models in presentation

radiation

...out towards

fragmentation

...to be contained by

convergence

...which is the unifying element

presentational layout

I loved how this project started off with games, innately themeheavy media, and allowed us to discover our own meanings from within one single, isolated screenshot.

From the outset I analysed the ideas behind each game, and explored and extended them until I developed the themes of fragmentation, radiation and convergence. These themes are presented in a progressive manner in both the final pin-up and model to give meaning to the project.

I need to improve on my drawings. My final diagrams were too stiff and static, unable to convey the flowing progression which is my prominent concept.

This project taught me to brainstorm and explore ideas, and to convey meaning in design.

16

final model and reflection

18

03 interpolated void

deobjectified

20

ph

o

s o t

i t r pa

nine square

exploring 22

void 1

crossing

24

void 2

arcing

26

void 3

extending The process of interpolating voids taught me to explore and experiment with design. The chaotic nature of the overlapping lines and shapes means there is no right or wrong way to draw them.

My best designs, in fact, were the ones where I made mistakes, retraced my lines and in doing so opened up a world of possibilities for interesting compositions

28

digital void

30

based on the arcing void

3d operations

study models

32

arcing, twisting, converging, framing

initial models

34

illuminating

final assemblage

Taking the arcing void and turning it into a three-dimensional space forced me to think creatively. overlapping pieces, joining and forming spaces was essential.

The final light assemblage, while quite different from the initial model, still conveys the motions of arcing, converging and framing, but in a more elegant manner that better encompasses the light source.

The construction of the final assemblage was very difficult. Pieces kept breaking off or unsticking, which was testament to the complex interpretation of the aforementioned motions. In fact I made the same model three times (!) to get it looking just right.

36

reflection

38

03 port san luis pier

40

recording and documenting

42

recording and documenting

44

kayaking

seagull flight

gutting

wave movement

casting a line

recording and documenting

46

recording and documenting

occupying/interacting/ci

48 occupying

relaxing

kayaking

circulating/interacting

observing

experiencing

irculating

preliminary programming

50

as-built transverse section

52

substructure

joists/beams/pilings

top view

as-built physical model

program 1

unloading beside greeting below and beside occupying below

54

program 2

unloading over discovering below and beside occupying beside

program 3

greeting beside occupying below discovering in

program 4

unloading in discovering over occupying beside

program 5

occupying above and below discovering in greeting below and beside

developed programming

design a:

observation deck and sub-deck viewing platform iteration of program 2

56

design a:

stair seating with interior gallery and sub-deck amphitheater iteration of program 3

reform 1

how do we make the pier relevant to its surroundings?

By designing around the elements - sky and water which define the pier

a continuous, uninterrupted flow between sky and sea, above and below initial ideation

58

smooth, easy cirulation between the different decks

exploded axonometric

four-part pier: four levels, each one bringing the other closer to the two extremes - sky and water

developed ideation (reform 2)

realizing concepts through sketch

60

reform 2

62 connecting decks

reform 3

parametric frame design modeled and tested in sketchup providing an experience for people who choose to walk up to the sky

64

reform 4

66

...building

68

transverse oblique section

70

waterline

reformed cross-section

72

final model

74

final model

76

final model

The most challenging part of this project was teamwork. We each have our own brilliant ideas, so how do we communicate them and agree on a common standpoint?

Through understanding and patience, I learnt. Understanding that we all think differently, and patience for each other when we can’t always meet together at the same time.

Our concepts were strong, I think - linking sea and sky, and providing continuous, flowing circulation in between became the focal point of our design.

Given the narrow constraints of our particular site, we employed this concept to great effect, focusing on levels rather than wide expanses of deck which our small site could not afford us.

78

reflection

80

04 slo journey sketch

a series of quick 15 minute sketches of 12 landmarks down in slo downtown

route map 82

performing arts center

grand avenue overpass 84

veteran’s museum

california-mill house 86

mill st. railway

toro-mill intersection 88

morgan stanley

osos st. bus station 90

mission

carnegie library 92

chorro st house

alex g. spanos stadium 94

This first quarter of architectural design was no doubt extremely exhausting - thanks to the sheer scale of our projects - but also very rewarding. I often found myself working well past what was required (and also well past my bedtime), simply because I loved the design element to this course so much.

In merely 10 weeks, we have learnt a plethora of design basics - how to draft, model, communicate ideas, draw quickly yet beautifully - among many other skill sets we have picked up along the quarter. I am very pleased with how the course turned out, nurturing these basics and setting us up for ‘real’ architecture further down the road, rather than throwing us off the deep end.

I really like how we were given the chance to work on several projects this quarter, which meant that we could explore different media and materials. Each project felt distinctly unique, but I was still able to carry over most of my skills that I had learnt from the previous one.

I am without doubt excited to see what next quarter holds!

96

course reflection