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