Yalei Zhu from University of Pennsylvania MLA
Landscape Architecture Portfolio
2021-2024
O1/ "Not Fancy" Park
O2/ Shad"ed" Park
O3/ SFI Engagement in Greenbelt
O4/ Drop2Home
O5/ Flood Forecast/ Region Potential
O6/ Pennypack Creek Tidal Cliff Park
O7/ MAYA SKZOO- Felix Lee
O8/ Sketches Physical Models
Site: Staten Island, NY
Individual Work:
UPenn LARP 6010 (Aug. -Dec. 2024)
Instructor: Catherine Seavitt
Abstract:
The North Shore of Staten Island, often seen as its “backyard,” struggles with pollution, disaster risks, and social vulnerabilities due to marine traffic and low-income conditions. To truly benefit the local community, I propose an approach inspired by the “BACKYARD” concept— focusing on practical, inclusive improvements rather than superficial beautification. Guided by “Not Fancy,” this initiative prioritizes genuine community needs, ensuring sustainable development without inviting gentrification.
SI Local\Global Maritime Shipping
Staten Island, a key East Coast shipping hub, hosts the Sandy Hook Pilot Station and several tugboat companies.
After a brief analysis and overlay of the data, I focused on the North Shore of Staten Island and summarized many of the issues that need attention. Staten Island is not a fancy place to live, and at the same time a lot of people are not very happy living here. But behind the negativity, there is a lot of potential buried. For example, there are a number of local organizations in the vicinity of the venue that help to solve various problems.
Three major flood intrusion waterways were identified on the North Shore. Historical photos reveal that these areas were once spaces for water storage. Additionally, significant bare spaces in floodinvaded blocks, such as parking lots and excessive auto industrial areas, were noted.
The design scope is positioned on a narrow stretch of waterway and the block behind it. Parking lots within these blocks could align with the idea of a backyard.
Building a "not so fancy" park could be a way to approach this, as Prof. Ellen mentioned—the sadness and history of the land can't be easily forgotten. The improvement of the area should be led by the local community rather than creating a design that appears fancy but deepens the separation between people and the land. Enhancing local engagement is key; it's not about achieving a fancy result, but about the ongoing process of daily change and the transformations that emerge from it.
Different sea walls control the extent of accessibility within the site at different times
No Flooding Season
Flooding Season
Gardening No Flooding Season
Season
Site: Delaware Riverside, Philadelphia
Individual Work:
UPenn LARP 5020 (Jan. -May. 2024)
Instructor: Karen M'Closkey
Abstract:
The site is located along the Delaware river and, an area with a severe heat island effect. Additionally, the river serves as a critical migration route for American Shad. This design aims to mitigate the heat island effect and support the survival of the shad by introducing more shaded areas both for people and fish, and enhancing habitats through strategies such as topographic modifications and the creation of diverse landscapes.
The section perspectives indicates the site as rundown and cluttered, making direct access to the water difficult.
Fast-growing trees were gradually replaced and cut down to make seats
The series of plans illustrate the shifting shade throughout the day and the gradual increase in vegetation cover over time.
Plant List - Spring
Trees
Sweetbay Magnolia
Magnolia virginiana
Tulip Tree
Liriodendron
American Plum
Prunus americana
American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
Shrubs
Cornelian-cherry Dogwood
Cornus mas
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Herbaceous
Snow Crocus
Crocus chrysanthus
Daffodils
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Summer Snowflake
Leucojum aestivum
Plant List - Summer
Trees
American Basswood
Tilia americana
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
Catalpa
Catalpa speciosa
American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
Shrubs
Sweet Pepperbush
Clethra alnifolia
Shadbush
Amelanchier
Silky Dogwood
Cornus amomum
Herbaceous
Fragrant Waterlily
Nymphaea odorata
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Broadleaf Cattail
Typha latifolia
Plant List - Autumn
Trees
Sugar maple
Acer saccharum
Red maple
Acer rubrum
Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
Shrubs
Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Herbaceous
Chrismas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Goldenrod
Solidago petiolaris
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Site: London, UK
Team Work: AALU (2021-2022)
Instructor: Eduardo Rico-Carranza
Abstract:
In order to protect the edges of London's Metropolitan Green Belt from destruction, and with an understanding of existing UK policy
SFI, our team actively explored and engaged different groups of people within the Greenbelt in an attempt to mitigage acute social tensions in an ecologically transformative way.
Process: After analyzing regional policies and ecological connectivity in the Green Belt, we chose Buckinghamshire as our pilot site. We found many farms near the Green Belt, where the SFI policy offers government bonuses for improving ecological qualities like soil. However, field research revealed that many farmers were unaware of or indifferent to the policy. Our goal is to create a platform to increase farmer participation, using SFI incentives to expand open space management and gradually restore fragmented land in the Green Belt.
Field research revealed many farms thrive by engaging visitors, with schools nearby. Our game aims to attract children to visit farms, using tools like Apple Watch to explore and interact with different areas. This enhances their experience while increasing farmer income and motivation for environmental management.
Children
In the form of a brochure showing the experience children will have when they arrive at the farm
Site: Ontario, Canada
Individual Work: May- Oct. 2022
Abstract:
Although Canada has the one of the highest freshwater in the world, indigenous people living in remote areas suffer from a chronic lack of access to store water while mitigating seasonal flooding through three different strategies.
Individual Work:
UPenn LARP 5420 (Aug. -Dec. 2024)
Instructor: Robert Pietrusko
Abstract:
Mixture of RHINO, ArcGIS, Adobe Suite to show the integration and analysis of information
Team Work:
UPenn LARP 5120 (Jan.- May2024)
Instructor: Anneliza Kaufer, Dorothy Jacobs, Judy Venonsky
Abstract:
Change the landform and design the planting as required on the site provided by visualizing in AutoCAD.
by Team
by Yalei Zhu
Individual Work:
UPenn DSGN 1030/5005 (Aug. -Dec. 2024)
Instructor: Guava Rhee
Abstract:
From beginner to proficient in Maya, developing skills and building own models.
Model Reference:2023 MBC
Performance_White Love
Sketches
