Issuu

GONG YANNI

CONTACT

852 - 57491135

86 - 13995587337

21105474d@gmail.com yeonye1019@outlook.com

PROFILE

A motivated Year 4 student currently studying Environment & Interior Design, with 2 years previous experience in Architectural Studies. Adequate analysing, sketching, design and self-managing skills with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Dedicated to being involved and making positive contributions.

SKILLS

AutoCAD

Rhino

SketchUp

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Illustrator

Sketching

Physical Modeling

Enscape

Vray

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts: Environment & Interior Design

09/2021 – Current

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

-Outstanding Student Award 2024/25, School of Design

-2021/22 & 2022/23 & 2023/24 Dean’s List

-2022/23 & 2023/24 HKSAR Government Scholarship

-2022 Nippon Paint AYDA Silver Awards (Interior Design)

-2021/22 School of Design Scholarship for Hall Residents

Higher Diploma: Architectural Studies

09/2019 – 06/2021

HKU SPACE Community College

-09/2021 Higher Diploma in Architectural Studies with Distinction

-2019/20 & 2020/21 Principal’s Honors List

-2020/21 Academic Excellence Certiﬁcate

-5 selected projects in the list for annual exhibitions and yearbooks, one among which won the 2022 Nippon Paint AYDA Silver Awards

CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT

EID Programme Student Assistant

03/2024 – Current, PolyU

Provide support on social media management and marketing materials, and exhibition set-up for the annual graduation design show

Printing Shop Student Helper

04/2023 – Current, PolyU

Provide printing, bookbinding and mounting support

WORKING EXPERIENCE

Littleurbanmountain Design Limited 06/2024 - 08/2024

Summer Intern

Participation in a set design project for visually impaired people at Tai Kwun and a social design project for kids at PMQ: Prepare, develop and edit, under the guidance of the project leader, drawings, models, images and other related documents; develop representations of design options for discussion.

DESIGN-RELATED EXPERIENCE

PD60 Gala Dinner Steering Committee & PolyU

09/2024 - 10/2024

Cooperative Project - Event Venue Design

PolyU Design 60th Anniversary Gala Dinner

Participation in the student team to develop event concept and thematic design ideas. Dedeliverables include a storyboard of the concept, a signing board, a showcase system, a table centerpiece, and atmospheric videos.

BEAU ARCHITECTS

12/2023

Exhibition Design

Participation in the draft models, display of exhibits and diagrams preparation for 3 preliminary design proposals

Wu Zhi Qiao Charitable Foundation & PolyU

2022 summer (July - November), Kuk Po, HK

Co-Learning Centre Design

A practical project with the tutor’s guidance

Participation in the design team to develop concepts and 1 set of drawings for discussion with the client with other 5 students

601 STUDIO

05/2022

Wine Cellar Design

Participation in the mood board, storyboard, and draft models preparation for 2 preliminary design proposals

Hong Kong General Chamber of Social Enterprises 05/2024

Graphic Design

Volunteering to design a digital booklet and a banner for the coming European social enterprise study tour

Phygital Fusion & Spatial Reconstruction Element Study - Column Logo Square, PolyU, Hung Hom

Academic Work, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Individual Project

Instructor: Gilles Vanderstocken, Sky Lo Tian Tian, Charles Lai Course: STUDIO IV, 2023

Urban Gap & Body Space: Translation & Interpretation of Body Movement Staircase, Hiu Lai Court, Kwun Tong

Academic Work, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Group - Individual Project

Instructor: Gilles Vanderstocken, Michael Chan, Anneli Giencke

Group Members: GONG Yanni, YEUNG Chung Wing Trinity, LU Xiaoxin Effa

Course: STUDIO I, 2022

Academic Work, The Hong Kong Polytechnic

Individual Project

Instructor: Daniel Elkin, Jonathan van der Stel

STUDIO III, 2023

& Spatial

CONTENTS & CREDITS

Academic Work, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Group - Individual Project

Instructor: Daniel Elkin, Jonathan van der Stel Group Members: GONG Yanni, WONG Chun Jun Juno

Spatial Narrative of the History Neighbourhood Centre Design

Stone Nullah Lane Garden, Wanchai

Academic Work, HKU SPACE Community College

Individual Project

Instructor: Daniel K F CHEUNG, Shu Fan LEE, Tony Tung Leong LEUNG Course: Architectural Design 2, 2021

Phygital Fusion & Spatial Reconstruction Element Study - Column Logo Square, PolyU, Hung Hom

This project is about a transformative accommodation for spatial elements, from digital manipulations to physical integration.

Plans are seen as sections, spaces would grow not merely from extrusion, and scale changes the properties of spatial elements and space, where these two are interchanged. In my case - COLUMN - was designed based on interpreting the space formed by manipulating the plans.

Columns with their own spatial interiority are produced. The form bring an intrinsic functionality - VOIDS - which are created where the new design meets the original branches or columns.

There is a raised walkway at the back of the site, where one can see the other columns through the void. Even though each column looks monotonous, when they are held by the void, a new sense of space is created.

Qualities from the physical model are re-introduced to the digital one. More, the accidental crack brought about an important vertical element, rather than merely stacking.

COLUMN DESIGN - The concept is to challenge the stability by testing:

i. Connecting method of a ﬁxed node; ii. Dimension of the vertical gravity-transferring load shifter;

iii. Thickness and lateral depth of the counterweight,

to create an off-centred inclined conﬁguration, where more spaces would be formed.

COMPOSITIONAL ANALYSIS

CONNECTION METHOD OF STONEHENGE

VARIATION OF LAYERS

LITERAL COMPOSITIONAL INTERPRETATION

PROPORTIONAL RELATIONSHIP

ORIGINAL PROPORTION EQUAL PROPORTION

OVER PROPORTION

4 DEPTH / HEIGHT OF COUNTERWEIGHT B A

REDUCED DEPTH (CONTACT SURFACE)

CHALLENGE: ALIGNMENT WITH OFFSET GRAVITY CENTRE & COUNTERWEIGHT

INCREASED HEIGHT (MORE WEIGHT) B A LOWERED LEVEL (MUTUAL COUNTWEIGHT) B

COLUMN CONSTRUCTION

The main idea is to construct 2 “L” shape right-angle volumes:

i. Upper bearing surface & Load shifter; ii. Bottom support & Counterweight; iii. The constructing methods involve: Split Cast & Integral Cast.

COLUMN CONSTRUCTION

The main idea is to construct 2 “L” shape right-angle volumes:

i. Upper bearing surface & Load shifter;

ii. Bottom support & Counterweight;

iii. The constructing methods involve: Split Cast & Integral Cast.

When the designed column is going to be applied in the context of Logo Square on campus, the ﬁrst trial replaced 3 original columns with branches at 45-degree, involving substitution, integration and complementary. Later, these approaches were applied to all 8 columns and the square shape was adapted into rectangular ones.

In the end, the solution was to create voids where the new design meets the original branches or columns.

This echoes the image chosen to develop in the mid-term, and even the style of Aires Mateus at the beginning - Voids matter, voids eventually become spaces, and the superimposed voids contribute to the spatial quality of the space.

Surprisingly, there is a raised walkway at the back of the site, where one can see the other columns through the void. Even though each column looks monotonous and clean, when they are held by the void, a new sense of space is created.

02 A VESSEL FOR NATURE

Adaptive Reuse

Environment Technology and System Visitor Centre Design

Tai Mei Tuk Youth Hostel, Tai Po

Overview

This project explores the theme of adaptive reuse, integrating energy generation technology within a visitor centre located in a relatively isolated area with a long-established hostel and abundant natural resources.

The design aims to transform the existing space into a vibrant hub for cyclists and hikers, leveraging the natural landscape and resources to create a unique and sustainable visitor experience.

Concept

The primary focus of the design is to cater to the needs of cyclists and hikers, who are anticipated to be the main users of the visitor centre.

The design language of the centre is inspired by the natural surroundings, particularly the slope of the hill behind the site. This is reﬂected in the ‘tilting’ architectural elements, which create a dynamic ‘mountain waterfall’ effect within the centre, utilising the gravitational potential of water from the nearby reservoir.

Architectural Features

• Indoor Waterfall: A central feature of the design, the indoor waterfall connects the reservoir behind the centre to the bay at Plover Cove, symbolising a seamless integration with nature.

• Tilting Walls: These architectural elements mimic the slope of the surrounding hills, guiding visitors through the building and enhancing the natural ﬂow of movement.

• Undulating Level Connection: By retaining the original ﬂoor levels and introducing slopes, the design creates an indoor hiking experience, encouraging exploration and interaction with the space.

1. Visitor Centre Ground Floor Plan - Easy Access to Essential Amenities

2. Visitor Centre Section A1 - Long Section with Indoor Waterfall Features and Undulating Level Connection

3. Visitor Centre Section B1 - Short Section with Indoor Waterdall Features and Tilting Walls * Red coloured drawings indicating the original construction.

Water Level and Tidal Energy System

A Main Entrance

Visitors go (and see) at an angle to the orientation of the building - Continuity between the curved feature wall and the outer fence wall

B Ground Level Scenery

Views are blocked by bushes, trees or fences on the adjacent plot

C Roof Level Scenery

the

and

View

Tai Mei Tuk Youth Hostel

View

Views of

mountain

opportunity of seaview Youth Hostel Model with Site Context

Original Drawings of the Youth Hostel

01 Concept of Tower

Enclose the ground ﬂoor, maintain the lavatory and mechanical rooms, programmes mainly at lower levels, and build a viewing platform high for the both mountain and sea view.

04 Development of Water Tower

01 Enclose the ground ﬂoor with

02 Concept of Capacitor

Make use of the water vapour in the air, attach the rusty metal panels to the original concrete walls, which not only involves water-based energy generation techonology, but also provides textural features to the building envelope.

05 Planar & Long-Sectional Development

The glass pool overhead is not only for the ambience of the space, but also for the storage of water and the used of height and gravitational potential to generate electricity. In order to present this process to visitors, a glass cylibder display similar to the one in the aquarium has been created in the centre. The original three storeys have beern opened up and raised to create a double-storey building of around ﬁve metres each storey, with all the programmes mainly located on either side.

03 Concept of Water Tower

Make use of the oriiginal water tanks (the ‘water tower’ can be underground), connect to the Plover Cove and Reservoir to fulﬁll the needs of 1) level difference; 2) water ﬂow; 3) glazed water display on the roof.

06 Short-Sectional Development

While the view through the building’s layered frames is ideal, the double-storey adjustment diminishes depth and layering. To address this, the glazing will be tilted outward to improve visibility for passers-by and reduce sun glare. This tilt also reﬂects the slope of the hill behind the building. Additionally, part of the original central Common room at ground level will be converted into a semi-outdoor space for visitors to gather and wait.

STRUCTURE

CONFIGURATION

Material & Spatial Reinterpretation

Private House Design

Tai Yuen Village, Lamma Island

Client

The house is designed for TWO family mainly: the retired house owner and his wife (70 years old or above). They have a granddaughter who has been studying at university. As the owner of the house, he rents it out to another couple and invites them to live there together.

Community

The neighbourhood relations in this area are relatively good, especially in the two houses in the bottom left corner of the map (refer to the site visit), where people stand in their own yards and look at and greet each other.

Circulation

The house and its immediate surroundings occupy a large amount of area, however, its planning seems to make the circulation patterns troublesome.

Mission

To provide more choices of access to every direction, as well as establish a more welcoming plaza for the community to have gathering activities (make use of the large area), the site is intended to contribute as much as possible to the community and the ﬂow of people - an exciting pathway is introduced in the middle with a generally ﬂat open space created by changing the contour.

PROGRAMMES

ACCESS/CIRCULATION

The house is situated at the highest level and around the edge of the Tai Yuen village, adjoint to the main road footpath. This footpath receives most of the passers-by, people from the basketball court, and children from the schools. The house and its immediate surroundings occupy a large amount of area, however, its planning seems to make the circulation patterns indirect. The site itself presents a disparity between the main entrance to the house and the most open space.

The house on Lamma Island has the potential to create a integrated vertical-horizontal journey. Surrounded by this, a common area/main space is set to the centre (similar volume as combining the living rooms).

This is the ﬁrst step to expose the access to the “room(s)” inside a private house. The sense of the presence of “a house” could be minimised. From the study models, the preliminary idea is to have activities happened as part of the communication, outside a room, but inside a community.

Circulation Model for new design

Ground Floor

First Floor

MATERIAL EXPLORATION - TANGIBE & INTANGIBLE

A material/Materials to represent the characteristics/impressions of the original house, or the proposed new design.

COFFEE GROUNDS, FLOUR POWDER & PEBBLES

BATH SPONGE CLAY

Houses can be very adaptive, like a piece of fabric on a ﬂat surface that rises where something is happening. When everything recedes, the shape of the fabric is either ﬁxed and unchangeable or reverts to its original shape. In order to “ hold “ the fabric, it is replaced by clay, which is afterwards steeped in plaster to achieve the purpose.

The houses do not dominate the view, leaving a wide open landscape on the ground. Floating houses are light and should not be bulky, but have a solid foundation.

The texture of the earth has also been imitated in an attempt to blend in better.

Ironing Shaping

FABRIC SHAPING <METHOD>

Wire ThreadingFabric soaked in white latex

TYPES OF FABRIC & MEDIUM

Bath Sponge + White Latex

Bath Sponge + Plaster Mesh

Semi-stiff Fabric + Plaster

Double-Layer of Plaster

The site on Lamma Island contains rich information, making the interpretation various but also requiring me to focus on the access and environment (landscape, topography, etc.).

The rationalisation of the building form involves the interior spatial sequence and the corresponding landscape.

The overall direction is intended to connect the lowland forest behind, the road crossing through, the terrace occupied by the original houses and the residential area in front (a quiet area) without creating the sense of a linear seperator.

INTEGRATED FLOWING FORM & BRIDGING

As fabric, it should be a whole, so a morphological model should be made. This gradually developed into the ﬁnal design, which retains the curved approach, the interference with the road, the extension towards the quiet residential area. In addition, an intermediate attempt was made to introduce a bridge to compensate for the obstructed road. But these attempts evoke a strong sense of presence - perhaps changing the topography is another way of doing this.

3. Integrated Flowing Form

Physical Model & Digital Rebuild (Section)

Physical Model Materialisation (Rebuild)

PHYSICAL MODEL OF THE PRIVATE HOUSE WITH IMMEDIATE

SECTIONAL MODELSPATIAL CONNECTIONS

04 THE TRANSFORMER

Urban Gap & Body Space: Translation & Interpretation of Body Movement

Staircase, Hiu Lai Court, Kwun Tong

The topic is the residual spaces - gaps/ valleys in the urban city - a site-related design project. Site observation, analysis and documentary were conducted; scale, proportions, and materials of the body extension device were re-examined and developed; initial languages of interpretation and representation were encouraged and guided as well.

Through the process, the information of the ‘Gap/Valley’ has been collected as much as possible at ﬁrst, and then it was

used to better the integration of the body extension device into the site. The goal was to achieve a site-speciﬁc design but still developed from the previous device, which emphasises the Body-Space and Spatial Interaction & Encounter at the same time.

The design is named “transformer” - for transforming sunlight into the shadows; transforming my body extension into an installation; lastly transforming the visual communication pattern.

Narrative of the Body Extension Device: Ideals and Reality

The site is located inside Hiu Lai Court in Kwun Tong, precisely the gap highlighted in orange between the Hiu Fai House on the west and the Hiu Lai shopping mall on the east. It is the steps that connect two typical levels in the community, more than four metres apart. It is also basically situated at the centre of the community.

01 Hanging the Laungry - 2019.8.1

02 Mid-aged Dancers in front of the Wellness Care Centre - 2021.7.29

03 Christmas Performance - 2021.12

04 Christmas Carnival - 2021.12

05 Christmas Carnival - 2021.12

06 Sky Lantern Festival - 2021.1.29

07 Night Site Scan

There are 6 kinds of people we observed passing through the site at noon - ranging from single to family, 1 to 4 people, young to aged, moving ﬂexibly to inconveniently.

VISUAL COMMUNICATION

As the height difference between the two levels increases, people’s visual communication is weakening and it disappears at the ground level. Therefore, a location in the middle of the two vision ﬁelds is needed. Thanks to the site being well-lited, sunlight on the design will project shadows onto the ground, and then people climbing stairs would notice the change naturally. Besides, the shadows are not limited to design location, they may cover a distance away.

Concept to Enhance the Visual Communication

To transform the body extension device, the mechanism is that it is triggered under pressure and then unfolds to form a triangular support structure. deﬁned a sliding track as the key of body extension, so it remained. In later stages, decided to use the stepping movement as the trigger, which is still related to the foot.

After adjustments, the change are: ﬁrstly, shown in the dimensions of each components; Secondly, the track is only placed on the ground, strings and moving pedals are introduced; Lastly, the site feature - railing on the upper level - is well related.

To transform the visual communication pattern, in the interaction drawing: poeple coming to the staircase from a distance would see the overall view of the design, then their vision would be led by the sticks in different directions; people from the upper platform would perceive the subtle changes of the stick tips, curiosity aroused would encourage them to approach the edge, then look down; people climbing stairs would notice the shadow changes, then they may tend to look upwards, see what is going on above head. In this way, a new pattern of visual communication would be generated by those different vision journeys.

INTERACTIONS

VISUAL JOURNEY

Spatial Narrative of the History Neighbourhood Centre Design Stone Nullah Lane Garden, Wanchai

The project is about a journey of unveiling the shared memories in the past to people, by presenting a drainage pipe underground. Back in 1860, it was a stone nullah where people lived with, and now it is the site where a neighbourhood centre is proposed.

Bringing about this topic and the site’s environment will evoke different memories and reactions in different people. There is an existing community centre focused on offering various services more physically, then I aimed to build a space focused on more on history and mind.

People emerge at the garden, impressed by the contrast between city and nature.

• Phase 1

Perceive the presence of the drainage pipe, wonder what it is, and appreciate the open exhibition space.

• Phase 2

Seek the answer in the library, grab some knowledge on the stone nullah, exchange information.

• Phase 3

Meditate with the stone nullah, and have a self conversation. It is not a usual practice to present a huge drainage pipe buried underground before, but it may elicit some thinking about now and the past.

• Phase 4

Retrieve the memories and stories shared by others. It is like a group healing, listening to others but reﬂecting at the same time.

- Downpour Damage, Burst of Pipe

- Typhoon Damage, Rainstorm Flooding

Construction of Retaining Wall & The Park2001 - Stone Nullah Lane Garden

PHASE 2 - COMPREHENSION

PHASE 4 - REFLECTION

This garden is surrounded by high buildings, connecting two levels nearly 13 meters apart, however, it is still well-lit. The sunlight working with the dense trees and plants would describe the beauty of this site.

INTERPRETATION & TRANSFORMATION

Circulation patterns are extracted based on vintage maps and historical usage of the nullah. These patterns are later applied to the route planning for the neighbourhood centre, and the layout for individual rooms.