Landscape Architecture Porfolio

Landscape Architecture

Works

Create a Sustainable World

Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved the outdoors. On the many family bike trips, my family took paths through the different scenes of my hometown in Dublin, OH. I enjoyed the colorful leaves that filled the trees and the flowers that bloomed along the path. I used to come home with dirt on my clothes and helped my sister with her at-home science kits with earthworms and ants.

One of my favorite times of the year is around May, when my parents are planting for the summer. Our front and back yard were filled with beautiful planted flora. Each Saturday, my parents visited the garden store to fill their garden with more plants and their vegetable garden.

In my senior year of high-school, my environmental research class, worked with a local kindergarten to work on a community garden. This community garden was placed outside Indian Run Elementary, and grew produce for the kids to bring home to their families.

Even in college, I still enjoy the tomatoes and peppers, from my parents garden, when they give me food. With their love of plants passed down to me, I hope to learn more about horticulture and planting for sustainable ecological worlds.

The Columbus Commons is arguably one of the most popular places in Downtown Columbus, OH. In the wintertime, I used to perform with BalletMet in their production, ‘The Nutcracker,’ at the Ohio Theatre. The Theatre is located North of the Commons, and the garden is full of winter evergreens and decorations. I remember walking through the lit gardens, and being mesmerized by the thoughtfulness of the garden. In contrast, the Commons, in the summertime, is filled with flourishing flowers and greens. My family participates in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s event, and the opening ceremony is located at the Columbus Commons. The outdoor amphitheater, that’s there, was surrounded by the supporters of the walk. In both seasons, I saw people utilize the park, building snowmen to sunbathing on the lawn. The many uses of the Commons, entices me to create multi-seasonal places for people to gather.

One summer, when I was a camper at Camp Architecture, we visited the Columbus Commons. It was one of the most memorable places, because it was in the city, and the vast space

Design for People

Olentangy

Regional Analysis

A semester-long project, broken down into multiple parts, asks students to design a modular habitat for Midwestern pollinators. For this part of the project, students were asked to analyze the Dayton, Ohio National Air Force Base. Four locations throughout the base were chosen for the project: Bass Lake, Hope Hotel, National Air-force Museum, and the Huffman Prairie.

Habitat for Hard Spaces Studio

Hope

In Progress, Autumn 2022

In Collaboration with Jerry Liu & Nzuri McGree

Professors: Halina Steiner, Karla Trott & Jack Gruber

Programs used: ArcGIS, Adobe Illustrator

of

Hope Hotel Conference Center, Dayton, OH, Regional Analysis

Rewilding

Landscape Habitat Immersion

A semester-long study, this project explored designing a habitat for endangered flora and fauna in the Midwest region of the United States. The goal of the project was to design a sustainable habitat that would help endangered species bounce-back to desired population levels. Students were also asked to design an animal blind for humans.

Spring 2022

Landscape Studio Award Project Spring 2022

In Collaboration with Yurika Yamada

Professors: Katherine A. Jenkins & Parker Sutton

Programs used: Rhinoceros 3D, Adobe Illustrator

Rewilding Studio

State Golf Course

Projected Plan

The new project site is conditioned for a prairie ecological system. The three species of concern chosen under flora, for this site, were the Rock Elm tree, American Cranberry bush, and the Prarie Redroot Flower. The three specfies of concern chosen under fauna were the Eastern Harvest mouse, Loggerhead Shrike, and the Rusty Patch Bumblebee.

The north side of the lake is projected to be planted with short prairie grass, while the south side of the lake is projected to be planted with longer priarie grass species. The existing fairways are projected to be tuned into flood plains (south of the lake), planting ground for the prarie redroot, and berms for the Rock Elm trees.

Topography pancake model. Model was created by layered contour lines, and cut out by a laser cutter machine.

Materials: chipboard

Designed animal blind for human integration. Model was thought to be a pavilion-like structure placed off the path. The walls of the structure are made of pillars oriented vertically and diagonally for climbing vines to grow up the pillars.

Materials: chipboard, wooden sticks, artificial moss, paper

Perspective 1: Cranberry River Walk

Phase

Understanding Pollinators

A semester-long project, broken down into multiple parts, asks students to research Midwestern pollinators such as moths, butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and orioles. Our group researched the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly.

Habitat for Hard Spaces Studio

Zebra

Autumn 2022

In Collaboration with Caitlyn Milsap

Professors: Halina Steiner, Karla Trott & Jack Gruber

Programs used: Adobe Illustrator

November-February: The spring-born zebra swallowtail are in their overwintered pupae. There are two flights in a year for this species, during this time, the species can survive in their pupal stage.

Takes about 1-2 weeks for this species to emerge from their chrysalis.

March-April: Once emerged, the zebra swallowtails usually stay around the host plant, the Pawpaw Tree, and surrounding plants. They are now in their final adult stage.

Their wing span is about 2.5-3.5 inches. Their wings have long, triangular wings with black zebra-like stripes on a white wing. Two blue spots and long, thin tails are at the bottom ends of the wings. Red Spots, or a stripe appear on the lower wing as well.

This species reproduces very often, often laying over hundreds of eggs in a given season.

May-June: After mating, the female will lay individual eggs on individual Pawpaw leaves. The larvae will stay on their leaves all their caterpillar life. They need to be separated when developing because they’re known to be cannibalistic.

The leaves provide a food source and protection for the larvae.

The entire development takes about 3-4 weeks.

Ecology & Technology

Olentangy Cafe

This project asked students to design a landscape for a projected small cafe along the eastside of the Olentangy Trail. The cafe was inspired by Cafe Kontejner in Prague, Czech Republic. This project asked students to grade the existing landscape for three required elements: ADA Accessible ramp, stairs, and a retaining wall. This project also asked students to draw construction details of three built elements within the design.

Spring 2022

Professors: Ethan McGory & Jason Kenter

Programs Used: Rhinoceros 3D, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

Ecology & Technology

Olentangy

Olentangy Trail_Materials

Plan

Water Concrete

Permeable Pavement

Existing Deciduous Trees

Added Trees

Platanus x acerfolia, Zelkova serrata, Liriodendron tulipfera, Betula nigra, Quercus rubra, Platanus occidentalis, Fagus sylvatica

Native Garden Plants

Liriope muscari, Picea pungens, Miscanthus sinensis, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangea paniculata, Hydrangea quercifolia, Rosa

Salix sp., Juniperus virginiana, Solidago sp., Elymus canadensis, Sorghastrum nutans, Ailanthus altissima, Lonicera maackii, Acer rubrum, Morus rubra, Typhus sp.

Native Grass

Wetland Plants Bike Racks

Tables & Chairs

Olentangy Trail_

Plan

Olentangy Trail - Stormwater Plan

Regraded

Wetland plantings

slow water ooding

Ponds

Wetland plantings Wetland plantings

Swale Permeable pavement

Rain garden Swale

Contruction

PRESSURE TREAED WOOD BLOCKS WITH SAND SWEPT JOINTS

Olentangy Trail - Details & Contruction

PRESSURE TREAED WOOD BLOCKS WITH SAND SWEPT JOINTS

NEOPRENE TRACK COAT 20MM (3/4”) BITUMINOUS SETTING BED

(2”) ASPHALT CONCRETE BASE

(6”) AGGREGATE SUBBASE PREPARED SUBGRADE

PLANKING RETAINING WALL

or 150x 150 (8”x8” or 6”x6”)

TIMBER UNIT @1000MM (3’-6”) O.C.

SUBGRADE:

NEOPRENE TRACK COAT 20MM (3/4”) BITUMINOUS SETTING BED

50MM (2”) ASPHALT CONCRETE BASE

150MM (6”) AGGREGATE SUBBASE

RAMP

TIMBER PLANKING RETAINING WALL

PREPARED SUBGRADE

200x200 or 150x 150 (8”x8” or 6”x6”)

(8”)

(5”) CONCRETE, REINF. AS REQ. 15MM (1/2”) EXPLANSION JNT. W/SMOOTH DOWELS. PLACE EVERY 6000-75000MM (20’-25’) AT RISER BASE

675 (TYP.) (2’-3”)

(5”)

(8”)

(12”)

(2”-6”)

OR 80MM (2” OR 3”) P.T. PLANKS

(8”)

(5”)

SUBGRADE

(4”) AGG. BASE

(1”X2”) NOTCH AT BASE OF RISER

PERMEABLE

SUBGRADE:

(5”)

NEOPRENE

(3/4”)

(2”)

(6”)

SETTING

REINF. AS REQ.

(1/2”) EXPLANSION JNT. W/SMOOTH

SUBGRADE

or 150x 150 (8”x8” or 6”x6”)

TIMBER UNIT @1000MM (3’-6”) O.C.

OR 80MM (2” OR 3”)

PLANKS

(2”-6”)

GRANULAR FILL

COURSE AGGREGATE

FILL

OR (6”X8” OR 6”X6”)

(6”) AGGREGATE

PREPARED SUBGRADE

Media Lab

Landform Modeling

A semester long project asked students to explore the use of a CNC router, and the creation of topography models. The first stages of this project were to find a site within Ohio to create a 2D drawing of the topography. The second phase of the project to create a berm, swale, and ramp within the topography model. The third phase of the project was to create 3D built elements within the topography, at any scale. The final phase was to create a digital representation of the land.

Spring 2022

Professors: Parker Sutton & Micelle Franco

Programs used: Rhinoceros 3D, Rhinoceros 3D V-ray, RhinocerosCAM, Grasshopper, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

Above: This model was created after the second stage. A foam block was used for the physical model, the top of the foam block was carved out using RhinoCAM and the CNC router.

Left: The same physical model as above, but with 3D printed built elements

Phase 1: Landform Modeling. This is the model after the built in berm, swale, and ramp. Starting this project, students used Rhino3D to create the topography contour lines. Then modified the contour lines to create the berm, swale, and ramp.

Plan

Hachure Map

Phase 2: Grasshopper Analysis. Stuents learned how to use Grasshopper, an extension program to Rhino3D.

Above:

Perspective: From first built element, looking towards the second built element

Section: Entire site with built elements

Axonometric: Entire site with built elements

Ecology Analysis’, Hand-Drawn.

Columbus, OH (614) 787-1890

jiangxew@gmail.com

Xiaocai Way