PORTFOLIO
selected works from 2016 to 2023
Xingying Chen | Harvard GSD MAUD
24'
Reoccupy Downtown Sao Paulo
Adaptive Reuse of Vacant Buildings in Downtown Sao Pao
Academic / Individual
Site: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Instructor: Cristian Muniz, Fernando Viegas
Time: FALL 2023
The project aimed at revitalizing Sao Paulo's urban core by repurposing vacant buildings into vibrant residential communities. Faced with the twin challenges of housing affordability and underutilization of public spaces, the initiative seeks to address these issues head-on.
The journey begins with a thorough analysis of downtown Sao Paulo's landscape, revealing a stark disparity between the abundance of public infrastructure and the scarcity of affordable housing options. This disconnect is exemplified by spaces like Praça da Sé, where vast public areas remain largely dormant. As populations shift towards the city's outskirts, downtown experiences a decline in residential presence, leading to a neglect of its once-thriving urban fabric.
However, amidst this challenge lies an opportunity: the potential to repurpose vacant buildings as hubs of community life. By transforming derelict structures into modern, mixed-use developments, the project aims to create an urban environment that is both inclusive and dynamic. Through strategic interventions such as ground-floor activations and rooftop gardens, a downtown is envisioned that not only provides housing but also fosters a sense of belonging and community engagement.
The pilot project, centered around a former hotel and cinema complex, serves as a tangible example of this approach. By preserving the building's architectural heritage while integrating contemporary amenities, the project demonstrates the transformative power of housing in catalyzing urban renewal.
REOCCUPATION TYPOLOGIES
Vacant Buildings Reoccupation
REOCCUPATION IN URBAN SCALE
The proposed strategy for reoccupying vacant buildings in downtown Sao Paulo revolves around maximizing space utilization and community integration. By repurposing existing structures, particularly on the ground floor, and infilling them with housing units, the plan aims to breathe new life into neglected areas. Additionally, creating public programs on upper levels fosters connectivity with the surrounding community, transforming the city into a vibrant hub. This approach not only optimizes urban space but also addresses housing shortages, potentially accommodating 1959 units. Furthermore, leveraging vacant plots for new construction could further expand housing availability, revitalizing downtown Sao Paulo while enhancing its accessibility and functionality for residents.
URBAN
URBAN
Reoccupation of One Specific Building - Adaptable Plans
In selecting a vacant building, formerly a hotel featuring a cinema on the ground floor, as the pilot project for testing adaptive reuse strategies, the primary objective is to preserve the existing structural integrity while reimagining the interior layout into versatile, adaptable units.
Reoccupation of One Specific Building - Shared Life
To optimize the utilization of the original atriums, the design eliminates select units on every third floor on either the north or south sides, thereby establishing a centralized shared space flooded with natural sunlight. These atriums serve not only as communal areas for residents but also foster a coworking lifestyle.
The Introduction of Public Ground
The ground level is basically using the original cinema space as a way to create larger flexible gathering space for residents and the public, totally open the ground floor entrance, remove the part of the cinema rooftop to create a garden in the building. And the rooftop of the cinema will also serve as an outdoor collective space for the public. People can take the elevator to access it.
New Facade
To enhance the facade, the original rhythm is reconfigured to imbue it with greater transparency and a lighter aesthetic. A new shading system is introduced to improve ventilation and provide necessary shading where required. For the collective spaces at mid-level and rooftop, frosted glass is utilized to strike a delicate balance between privacy and transparency, enhancing the ambiance of these communal areas.
Reclaiming Domesticity: on Defensible Housing Densification for NYCHA Developments
New York Affordable Housing Densification Development
Academic / Team Work
Site: Mahattan, NY, USA
Instructor: Dirk van Gameren
Time: SPRING 2023
Team Member: Yuno Cho, Andrew Lee, Tracy Miao
This project re-imagines the current urban renewal framework of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) development through a reclamation of usable open space to preserve the essence of the “NYCHA Towers-in-the-Park” model. This usable space reclamation takes on two interlinked trajectories: 1) define the proposed densification and extension in direct relation with the existing NYCHA land building coverage ratio, 2) to posit the “defensible plinth” as an act of liberation for NYCHA residents – the program ushering in a movement of social empowerment, the architectural expression standing as a resistance to the discriminatory policies which kept well-considered design exclusive to the wealthy, and the physical structure a defense against the rising sea levels.
Positioning 20th century design morphologies of the NYCHA development as a point of departure, the project studies the design philosophies of the pre-war, towersin-the-park, and scattered-site typologies. The research led to the definition of a design framework, anchored by characteristics such as campus size, building configuration, accessibility, and open space. This framework is interwoven by properties which emerge from contemporary readings of New York City’s urban evolution, resulting in a proposal which contributes to the Manhattan skyline, offers new wide-ranging unit typologies, establishes communal lounges inclusive to the diverse NYCHA user groups, and creates semipublic social spaces and programs within the “defensible plinth”. To be developed incrementally, the “defensible plinth” also doubles as a physical defense from the 2550-75-100-year projection in coastline sea level rise.
Countering both the historical government disinvestment of the NYCHA and ever-more-frequent natural disasters, this proposal leverages a new model for top-down public-private partnership within the scope of public housing developments to curb longstanding systemic challenges. This model integrates collective social-mixed spaces with wide-ranging unit types – a programmatic definition which can host a diverse user groups of varying socio-economic backgrounds in a growing and vibrant community.
This project is conceived as a pilot for all 355 NYCHA developments situated near the coastline of New York which contend with housing deterioration and the subsequent social inequality, including Baruch House, Wald House, Lavanburg Homes, and Red Hook. The proposal defines a model for the preservation of largescale public housing while maintaining its interconnected social fabrics – malleable to be adopted into varying urban contexts, and responsive to the dynamics of American public housing at large.
Baruch House Extension A
In response to the concern of vertical extensions impacting the public realm daylight, horizontal extensions (left) are proposed where affordable one and two bedroom units are provided. The second level of the Baruch House programmatically connects the plinth by “opening up” and introducing multi-purpose space where community events can occur.
Baruch House Extension B
In areas where lack of public realm daylight is not a concern (near Williamsburg bridge, or facing Manhattan), vertical housing extension on existing Baruch House is proposed. This project proposes the vertical housing extensions to be achieved through public-private partenrships, where 35% of the units are market-rate with 65% affordable.
Ground Level (+0mm) Plinth Level (+5000mm) Horizontal Extension
Extension Level 15 (+45000mm)
In Between Space
The hurricane Sandy had damaged on all Baruch House utility ground floors which had caused eletrical supply outtage for the residents for few months. In response, this project proposes relocation of the utilities to mechanical roof (level 15, in between the old and new), where it serves as an accessible skygarden for the Baruch House residents. Relocated Mechanical Roof (Skygarden) Brick weathering occures near window opening and building parapet, this project proposes “In between Space” which serves two purpose: 1) to propose balcony as an extension of living room for two to three bedroom units with large families, 2) to act as a secondary thermal protection on Baruch House building facade facing South.
Preserving “Towers in the Park”
Plinth
Sea Level Rise Adaptation
This project tributes to Baruch House’s essence of “Towers in the Park”, by proposing housing extensions on existing Baruch House. Viewing the project from Lower East River, the housing extension contributes to the Manhattan skyline incrementally at large. Plinth (Winter) Currently, the plinth allows for cross- visual and mobility connection within the Baruch House development. When the sea level rise occurs, the program internalizes (by infilling the exterior opening) where the proposed bridge becomes the way of access. (Summer)
In & Out Urban Thresholds: Redefining the Urban-Nature Relationship by Climate Adaptation Strategies
South Boston Urban DesignUrban Cores in Transition
Academic / Team Work
Site: South Boston, MA, USA
Instructor: Alex Yuen
Time: FALL 2022
Team Member: Donguk Lee
The project tries to redefine the urban-nature relationship using climate adaptation strategies. Given the inevitability of climate change trend nowadays, the project proposes a strategy for adaption instead of one that focuses on resistance. We try to make people not be afraid of the natural climate change but try to bring nature into the community.
Definition of the relationship between urban and nature base on climate change issues; Not to be afraid of it but adapt to be the future environmental risks with bring nature in the neighborhood. Redefining the 2030 SLR line as a new coastal line dramatically changes the texture of existing urban fabric.
Besides, letting the high-density community and South Boston community be more interactive with the nature and connected to the Emerald Necklace, the project includes a circulation strategy and a boardwalk system in the waterfront, transforming the climate-based strategy into some recreational strategy.
Urban and Nature Strategy
The project uses the SLR line as a redefinition of the urban fabric, so it comes up with 4 zones in the north-south direction.
The 1st zone sets up an 8-feet berm to resist the future sea level rise of 6.4 feet in Boston based on the 2050s’ coastal flooding area. The berm is not a solid concrete wall, but to provide more open space to engage with nature for residents who live here and South Boston.
The 2nd zone is a non-residential area based on the 2070s’ coastal flooding area, which aims to minimize the impact of environmental threats on residential buildings. The ground level is elevated to 10 feet to ensure that buildings are not submerged while providing residents with more possibilities to engage with nature and open space.
The 3rd zone is created based on the setback of the 2070s’ coastal flooding area, which is designed as a buffer zone to cope with environmental changes after 2100. This area can start to include residential buildings, but the ground level of buildings still need to be raised by 10 feet.
The 4th zone is a safe zone for residential buildings, where the ground level of buildings does not need to be raised.
Open Space Diagram
Detail Axon
Open Space -
According to the urban ratio determined, users who will live or visit here requires different types of open space to meet their needs. In waterfront zone with high percentage of commercial and institutional use, the open space will be for providing the frequent events and for the visitors rather than residents. In recreational ground zone with a bold connecting axis from the existing park, it will function as the community spine to inhabitants and neighborhoods from South Boston bring together and enjoy the moment with being nature and playing with nature. In the residential town, the open space shall be community-based. And in the parkland, providing a public park with a sightseeing boardwalk allow people integrate with nature closely and may observe how the climate change affects our environment.
Circulation -
For better connection from or to Boston downtown and South Boston area, the Emerald Necklace connector with a boardwalk has been proposed. And the pedestrian only paths shall make the neighborhood more accessible to the nature.
Circulation Diagram
Housing Strategy
Typology - High Density
Construction ProcessCore & Main Structure
Typology - Low Density
Construction ProcessPartition Wall
From Urban to Nature
Green Sprawl: The Expansion of Blue-green Connectors to Conjugate Fragmented Habitats for Nature and Humankind
Westwood Urban Design - Urban Periphery in Flux
Academic / Team Work
Site: Westwood, MA, USA
Instructor: Alex Yuen
Time: FALL 2022
Team Member: Donguk Lee
The predominant suburban design in the US, such as the endless cul-de-sac and the periphery thick vegetation strip blocking any trespassing, circumscribes the suburban life radius within their property lines.
Like many suburbs in the United States, Westwood has the same miserable scene. Proximity does not mean pedestrian accessibility. Even though there is a nearby shopping center, there is no connection. Residents in Westwood drove their cars rather than allow to have pedestrian access which may occur trespassing issues. In addition, there is no pedestrian access to amazing natural resources nearby—Blue Hill Reservation and Neponset River.
The blue-green connector is introduced as a functional zone of passage between fragmented urban or natural zones providing accessibility, hosting various recreational programs for the suburban community, and thriving ecological diversity by allowing the flora and fauna to circulate from one patch to another.
In the middle of the blue-green connector, the ecolodge park shall function as an important node and a destination as well. The eco-lodge park will be
1) the driving force to let suburban residents come out and play in nature together, even allowing them to explore what is beyond their life boundary.
2) the sustainable engine to launch ecotourism which benefits the ecosystem in the Neponset River watershed by conserving natural resources and which promotes economical profit by attracting potential tourists who are looking for a getaway spot living in the City of Boston.
By green sprawling, we could interconnect segregated areas which may have different land use and have an opportunity to achieve ecological richness by linking patched wildlife habitats.
Boundary Map
"Proximity does not mean pedestrian accessibility."
Boundary Diagram
According to our observation from the site, disconnection and lack of accessibility are caused by pervasive boundaries. A boundary refers to a visible or invisible line that marks the edge or limit of something. All kinds of boundaries, that we determined in site analysis, could be categorized into two: hard boundaries and soft boundaries. Hard boundaries create physical segregation and limit the extent of circulation. Soft boundaries, on the contrary, glue two fragmented areas together and have the possibility to enhance accessibility.
of Eco-lodge Park from Train
Soft boundaries, the surface water, and the thick vegetation shall be transformed as the blue-green connector mainly bridging segregated areas: such as a neighboring town, an adjacent shopping mall, and a nature reserve. The blue-green connector is a functional zone of passage between fragmented urban or natural zones providing accessibility, hosting various recreational programs for the suburban community, and thriving ecological diversity by allowing the flora and fauna to circulate from one patch to another ViewWater Pipe:
Connected with drainage system of neighboring suburban development areas. Collected runoff shall be the main water source of retention pond.
Weir: To allow retained water slowly drain out to lower part and to maintain certain the water level.
Water Treatment System:
Refer to the natural systen that use natural processes involving wetland vegetation, soils and their associated microbial assemblages to improve water quality.
During the heavy rain event, flooding shall be happend in the marsh land overflowing water will flow to Neponset River.
Central Landscape Section
Building Typology
For promoting longer stays than one-night, three different themed villages provide lodging facilities: About-the-Eco, In-theEco, and By-the-Eco.
About-the-Eco: a village placed with the Neponset River research center. The lodge provides various educational programs co-working with the research center to learn more about our nature. It also uses as an academic residence for researchers who work for the Research Center.
In-the-Eco: a village enclosed by vegetated hills to delude visitors into believing that they are in the middle of nature. Additionally, it is a good place for a family outing by providing a variety of outdoor activities.
By-the-Eco: The lodges here are made of natural materials which are not heterogeneous surrounding nature. As a village settled in the adjacent area to Neponset wetland: "White Cedar Swamp" and "Freshwater Marsh", it provides wildlife observation and photography programs.
About-the-Eco
In-the-Eco
By-the-Eco
Stacking Building
View of About-the-Eco
View of In-the-Eco
Iceland Greenhouse Restaurant
Greenhouse Restaurant Design
Iceland Greenhouse Restaurant Competition
Professional / Team Work
Site: Iceland
Time: November-December, 2021
According to the research, 78% of Iceland's land can’t produce food and only 1% of the land is used for agriculture. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to build a restaurant with a modern greenhouse. Covering an area of 5,000 square meters, this building not only provides a variety of fresh and healthy meals for the restaurant accommodating 100 people, but also exports food to local region to support the food production. According to the investigation of local vegetables and eating habits, potatoes, radishes, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, etc. are planted in the greenhouse by soil and hydroponic methods, so do fruits and flowers. When visitors enter the building via a path from the north, they are greeted by the fragrant aromas from the bakery and the mellow aromas of the wine cellars. Through the beautiful courtyard, visitors are placed inside the expansive greenhouse where they view the automated mechanized planting. Going to south, what jumps into visitors’ sight is the enjoyable shared kitchen, also known as teaching kitchen, where people can pick vegetables and fruits by themselves and experience the joy of cooking interactively. Through the south window, they can enjoy the view of the volcano from the distance while surrounded by greenery in the planting area, and taste the delicious and fresh food. Below the restaurant is a multipurpose room where people can watch movies, do yoga, dance, etc., which is aimed to create a public communication space.
Enlarged Plan
Interior rendering of Greenhouse Restaurant
1. pond 2. safety net 3. fishing platform 4. strip foundation 5. natural slope
1. gravity retaining wall
1-1 Section
2-2 Section
1. 50mm fine aggregate concrete 2. 100mm 3:7 lime soli 3. rammed earth 4. steel tube 5. groove 6. steel plate 7. embedded base
