Xuhan Zhao Portfolio 2023 April

PORTFOLIO

Xuhan Zhao

Providence, RI | (401) 241-4091

xzhao04@risd.edu | xuhanzhao101@gmail.com

EDUCATION

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE, RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN (RISD)

Sep 2019 - May 2024 | Providence, RI

• Major: Architecture (GPA: 3.789 / 4.0)

• Interdisciplinary concentrations: Nature, Culture, Sustainability Study; Computation, Technology and Culture (in progress)

HONOR/AWARD

HONOR STUDENT

2019 Fall, 2020 Fall, 2022 Fall | RISD

• Top tier academic performance

HONORABLE MENTION | ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION, VIRTUAL HOME EDITION #1

Jul 2022 | U.S.

• Collaborative project: Meta-surfing House

EXPERIMENTAL AND FOUNDATION STUDY TRIENNIAL, WOODS-GERRY GALLERY

Jan - Feb, 2020 | Providence, RI

• Artworks of drawing, design, and stop-motion animation on display

SKILLS

• SOFTWARE: Microsoft Office, PS, AI, ID, AutoCAD, Rhino, Sketch up, V-Ray, Enscape

• CRAFT SKILLS: Physical Model Making, Laser Cut

• LANGUAGE: English fluent (TOEFL 105/120); Mandarin native

SELECTED EXPERIENCE

TEACHING ASSISTANT | RISD ARCHITECTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN I

Sep - Dec, 2022 | Providence, RI

• Supported the instruction of architectural technology courses

• Organized outside of class help sessions, workshops and office hours to support students

• Assisted with homework and project grading

• Other teaching related tasks such as material preparation

DESIGN AND RESEARCH PROGRAM “THE AZORES - DESIGN WITH AND FOR NATURE”

Jun - Jul, 2022 | Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal

• Site visits to learn about the island ecologies and approach to sustainable wood forestry management

• Participated in workshops with University of Azores plant scientists about innovative use of invasive plant materials and biofibers

• Proposed a biofiber butterfly pavilion design for BIO KAIROS farm

ACHITECT ASSISTANT INTERN | EAST CHINA ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN & RESEARCH INST.

Jun - Aug, 2021 | Shanghai, China

• Participated in projects including Pacific Insurance Technology Ecological Park, Huzhou Taihu Sail Hotel, Putuo Mountain Lianhuayang Pier

• Coordinated with architects to complete preliminary data collection, relevant case analysis, drawing plan, elevation, section and other related design drawings, physical 3D modeling, design text arrangement, etc.

KINETIC CULTURAL CENTER FOR THE BOAVISTA URBAN AREA

Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest Edition 2023 Lisbon

Student name: Xuhan Zhao

Instructuctor: Jonathan Knowles

Rhode Island School of Design

United States

Utilizing kinetic mechanisms like sliding and rotating walls, foldable furniture, this project maximizes the space efficiency and achieves the diverse functional use of shared spaces. The kinetic louver system allows customizable shading needs.

The whole life cycle of this project is also considered as a kinetic system. The apartment building is composed of prefabricated CLT panels from Azorean cryptomeria wood, considering the convenience of onsite assembly and material reuse in the future.

THE SITE

SUNLIGHT ANALYSIS AT 12 PM

Linking art institutions and museum, creating a cultural corridor

AFrame structure made from RECYCLED STEEL

Louver system made from RECYCLED ALUMINUM

Reduce carbon emmision during construction process

30% of energy can be saved

273 solar panels are able to generate 144,631 kwh/year

Horizontal and vertical SHADING DEVICE optimize facade performance

PREFABRICATED CLT Panel made from AZOREAN CRYPTOMERIA WOOD

CLT modules can be easily disassemble and REUSED in furniture industry in the future.

Kinetic Components in APARTMENT

Moveable Louver Facade

Sliding Wall

Foldable Furniture

Kinetic Components in PUBLIC SPACE

Rotational Wall

Multifunctional Exhibition Space

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BUILDING INFORMATION AND UNIT COUNT

Frame

Steel frame, reinforced concrete (parking and ground level)

Gross area

Net livable area

6329 m2

5403 m2

R value

PV panel

HAVC system

Electrical load

EUI

Walls: 40; Roof: 50; Floor: 30

273 panels, 144,631 kwh/year

Radiant heating per unit; ERV per floor; Air well for natural ventilation (No AC)

449,797 kwh/year

594,338 kwh/year

Parking LCA score

196 kg CO2 e/m2 (Category A)

Building Height

Co-living unit

44 car parking space; 64 bike parking space

26 m

Typical kinetic one bed unit: 9 Two kinetic units with shared kitchen: 3

Typical kinetic one bed unit: 25

Apartment unit

One fixed bedroom + kinetic wall (potentially two bedroom unit): 12

Double height two bed loft: 8

APARTMENT

Two bedroom unit

Two bedroom Loft

Co-living Unit

Commertial space

VIDEO LIBRARY

One bedroom unit Services

Common spaces

Lisbon film commision area

TRADITIONAL APARTMENT

TYPICAL ONE BEDROOM UNIT FLOOR AREA: 50 M²

APARTMENT WITH KINETIC COMPONENTS

KINETIC ONE BEDROOM UNIT FLOOR AREA: 25 M²

PROVIDED BUILDING GROSS CONSTRUCTION AREA: 1100 M²

OVERSHADOWING THE LIBRARY

550M²

UP TO HALF OF THE BUILDING GROSS CONSTRUCTION AREA CAN BE SAVED

REDUCE BUILDING VOLUME AVOID OVERSHADOW OF ADJACENT LIBRARY

LIFTED PLATFORM FOR GROUND FLOOR CIRCULATION AND CONNECTION OF THREE BUILDINGS

OCCUPIABLE COMMERTIAL ROOF TOP CONNECT TO THE LIBRARY WITH BRIDGES

MORE SPACES FOR EXTERIOR SHARED TERRACE

EDP II Building (Under construction)

Future kinder garden

South entrance

Entrance to underground parking

West entrance

STREET VIEW FROM SOUTH ENTRANCE (Perspective A)

WEST ENTRANCE VIEW (Perspective B)

1st Floor Library

a. Reception area

b. Exhibition area

c. Cafeteria

d. Shop

e. Public bathrooms

f. Auditory

g. Network servers and backstage

h. Filming equipment storage

Ground floor Commertial Area

1. Bookshop

2. Flower store

3. Art supply store

4. Ceramic workshop

5. Sport center

SECOND

SECOND

2nd Floor Library

a. Deposite and archive room

b. Film and video description room

c. Video digitalization room

d. Cyclorama studio

e. Secretary and administration support room

f. Collective visioning room

g. Working room

h. Coordinator room

i. Meeting room

j. Workers bathroom

Co-living units & Exterior platform

FLOOR CORRIDOR (Perspective D)

FLOOR VISION ROOM LOOKING AT EXHIBITION SPACE (Perspective C)

MULTIFUNCTIONAL VISION ROOM AND GALLERY SPACE IN THE LIBRARY

SEPARATED VISION ROOMS

VISION ROOM AND GALLERY SPACE

3rd Floor Library

a. Individual visioning room

b. Technical support to individual visionning room

c. Video edition room

d. Sound studio

e. Reading space

f. Workers eating area

CONNECTED VISION ROOM WITH SHARED STAGE

g. Executive project production room

h. Coordinator room

i. Meeting room

j. Workers bathroom

UNIT TYPES

Typical Kinetic Unit (3 operation methods) Position 3: Entertainment

One Fixed Bedroom + Kinetic Wall (Potentially two bedroom unit)

Position 2: Working & Studying

Position 1: Sleeping & Eating

Two Kinetic Units with Shared Kitchen 4th Floor

Double

height two bedroom loft

During the natural ventilation potential hours, the predominant wind direction is northwest. In general, the wind speed is gentle and moderate. The wind that blows from the direction between east and southeast takes the least percentage of time during a year.

In this project, exterior balconies and air well are used for natural ventilation purposes.

Heating and Ventilation Diagram

Radiant heating

ERV

Suppy air

Return air

Fresh air

Stale air

Wind rose map of natrual ventilation potential hours

Annual Energy Use

Life Cycle Analysis

Energy Use Intensity

= Annual energy use / Net living floor area

= (594,338 kwh/year -144,631 kwh/year)/58161 sf

= 449,707 kwh per year

= 1,534,760.0496 kbtu per year/58161 sf

= 26.39 kbtu/sf

Heating demand of this project: 61,570 kWh/ year

The Space Heating Energy Demand of passive house standard shall not exceed 15 kWh/m2 of net living space per year.

Maximum heating demand: 5403m2 * 15 kWh/ m2/ year= 81,045 kWh/ year

61,570 kWh/ year < 81045 kWh/ year --- MEETS THE PASSIVE HOUSE STANDARD

Solar Energy Generated

1. Existing wall to remain

2. New footing

3. Raised utility floor

4. Vibration isolator

5. Electrical conduit

6. Radiant heating pipe

7. Steel column with Tnemec fireproof coating

8. 5 ply CLT

9. Isover Ultimate Insulation for sound absorbtion

10. Decoustics Solo-M wood panels

11. Vibration isolation hanger

12. Fire proofing

13. Rubber

APARTMENT CONSTRUCTION DETAIL

1. Recycled concrete paver

2. Pedastal system

3. Water proofing layer

4. Isover Ultimate Insulation

5. 5 ply CLT

6. Glass railing

7. Steel beam with Tnemec fireproof coating

8. COOL-LITE XTREME 61/29 (II) glass window

9. Isover Ultimate Insulation for sound absorbtion

10. Decoustics Solo-M wood panels

11. Vibration isolation hanger

12. Fire proofing cover

13. Track for sliding wall

14. Aluminum louver

15. Sliding wall on rollers

16. Sleeper

17. Raised utility floor

18. Concrete diaphragm

19. Radiant heating pipe

20. Concrete circalation core

21. 3 ply CLT wall

22. Fire proofing

META-SURFING HOUSE

Collaborative project with Jiayi Cai and Bochuan Zheng

July 2022

Architecture Competition, Virtual Home Edition #1 Honorable Mention

The fast-paced and high-intensity working life in the future puts a lot of pressure on people in the physical world, while the metaverse gives people the opportunity to create their own unique, wonderful and interesting working and living station. VR technology allows virtual avatars to travel in time and space, and combined with optoelectronics and architectural space to construct a deep, immersive wonderland.

There are two main functions of the house: entertainment mode and working mode, which can be simply switched in the virtual world according to the user's need. In the working mode, the futuristic working space populated with dynamic digital surfaces creates an efficient and comfortable working environment for virtual avatars.

In the entertainment mode, living space innovatively replicates the beauty of nature. The whole room is covered by grass and flowers, which is inspired by the basic human need for warmth and coziness.

The multi-functional conference hall integrates the functions of display, meeting, social interaction and sports. The semi-circular transparent swimming pool is connected to the multi-functional conference hall, whose large glass wall can also be used as an LED projection screen.

Transparent glass waterways reflect light and color from the LED walls below, evoking an ethereal atmosphere that connects the digital and physical environments, making different spaces visible to each other and visually connecting the participants of different activities.

As a versatile and flexible platform in metaverse, this project actively engages virtual avatars, providing a multifunctional space for working, entertainment, leisure and excitement.

Concept Diagram

Site Plan

The site of the virtual house is located on an isolated island in the middle of the ocean, where the virtual avatar can be completely undisturbed by the outside world and emerge in the world of nature.

The virtual world is free from physical space constraints and is a place full of possibilities. In the past, the communication between people and community mainly relied on the real architectural space, but now it has been moved to the digital space. The design adopts an aesthetic that captures the integration of virtual experience into real-world social activities. Working here does not require long commutes, instead teleportation points allow people to easily get anywhere they want to go.

The virtual word is infinite. People travel through teleporation points to each destination in the virtual world. People create their own 'world' (room) on their land.

Circulation Diagram

Working Circulation

Entertainment Circulation

There are two circulations in the building for users to choose freely.

In terms of the entertainment circulation, outdoor waterways meander around the entire house. Users can reach the very top of the waterway through stairs or the teletransportation elevator, then travel from the semicircular pool, which is a recreational space for swimming, surfing and boating and end to the waterfall. The waterfall merges into the sea, and after a single leapr, people jump in the sea of virtual world.

For the working circulation, users arrive at the teleportation point and entered the working space on the first floor. If they would like to enjoy the entertainment mode of this building, they can take the elevator towards to the second floor or the third floor, diving into the waterfall.

Entertainment & Working Space (Perspective a)

1. VR Sports Room

Garden (Perspective c)

9. Waterway

2nd Floor Plan

9. Waterway

3rd Floor Plan

Exterior and Interior View of Display Space (Perspective b)

MACHINE LEARNING AND TEXT ANALYSIS OF CHANG'AN

March 2022

With the rapid development of AI technology, data analysis and visualization are widely used in the fields of architecture and urban design. Starting from the analysis of historical texts of the Tang Dynasty, this project interprets the urban space of Tang Chang'an, integrating the time space of history, text, and readers to build a narrative digital model.

Taking the legendary novels of Tang Dynasty and modern news as examples of text space analysis, this project combines machine learning and space analysis. The semantic extraction and narrative reproduction of the multi-dimensional information contained in the text are carried out. Literary narrative and its local historical context expand the potential of spatial narrative and become the basis of spatial design.