PORTFOLIO YEE ZHI YU Architectural Progress Showcase
CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)
Yee Zhi Yu
PROFILE: My name is Yee Zhi Yu and I am studying architecture at Nanyang Polytechnic. I developed an interest in arts since primary school and was offered O-Levels Art in secondary school while I was taking my NLevels. I decided to take architecture in poly to explore and further my interest in the design industry. I learnt different software and digital tools such as Revit-BIM, Rhino, Photoshop and many more. During my time in NYP, I participated in multiple team projects which allowed me to hone my interpersonal and communication skills. I had the opportunity to be involved in the Singapore Young Leaders Programme and Polytechnic Forum where I connected with other students from different schools to shape me to become a leader and a team player.
MOBILE CONTACT +65 9186 2366
EMAIL ADDRESS zhiyuyee122@gmail.com
NATIONALITY
When I was in PFP, I participated in the Spectrum art competition 2021 in NYP. I was awarded first place and my art piece is exhibited in school. Outside the scope of my design course, I like to draw and paint. My school works and programmes has made me to become a diligent individual. I hope my internship will provide me the chance to learn and broaden my knowledge in the architectural field.
Singaporean
YEAR OF BIRTH
RELEVANT PROJECT EXPERIENCES
2004
SCHOOL PROJECTS
LANGUAGE PROFICENCY
Year 2: The Genius in Nature
English (Written & Spoken)
For this studio project assignment, we explored the natural order of plants and animals in their living habitats. We had to create spaces and structures with programs inspired from the plant or animal we chose. I
Mandarin (Spoken)
IT PROFICENCY Autocad Rhino Revit-BIM Photoshop Lumion
EDUCATION Diploma in Architecture Design Nanyang Polytechnic (current) Completed Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) Nanyang Polytechnic (2022) Completed N Levels CHIJ Katong Convent (2021)
chose to study the Red Button Ginger plant. The ‘genius’ of the plant involves the channeling of rainwater that flows between the overlapping bracts. I designed a preschool with facades that mimics the bracts of Red Button Gingers. I learnt more about biomimicry and how we can integrate it into architecture.
Year 1: Dwelling Design: The Villager & Their Dwelling of Magic The studio project assignment sent us to explore Little India. We had to observe and discover a ‘villager’ while documenting their way of life to create a concept design to put on our chosen site. My villagers include a tabby cat, an old lady doing laundry and an uncle smoking. In the alley, the tabby cat kept entering openings in pots. I developed a design from enlarging the pots to human scale and took the form to make a transitional space. I was able to immerse myself in the process by uncovering the lives of these ‘villagers’.
AWARDS SDM Director List 2022/2023S1 SDM Director List 2022/2023S2 SDM Director List 2023/2024S1 1st, Spectrum Art Competition 2021 (NYP)
DESIGN WORKSHOP ARCHIFEST 2023 INTERIM Wayfinding for Healthcare
PROGRAMMES Singapore Young Leaders Programme - National Youth Council Leaders Course (2023) Polytechnic Forum (2023)
THE SPIRAL GINGER PRESCHOOL - 3D Perspective View
THE SPIRAL GINGER PRESCHOOL - North Elevation
JAPANESE ONSEN BATHHOUSE - 3D Perspective
REDESIGN OF CENTENNIAL TREE HOUSE - Cutaway Section
ABSTRACT TIGER - PFP Artwork Project
CONTENTS 1) Year 2 Studio Project: Genius in Nature The Spiral Ginger Preschool 2) Japanese Onsen Bathhouse 3) Redesign of Centennial Tree House Project 4) Year 1 Studio Project: Dwelling Design Transitioning through the Eyes of Small Dwellers 5) Polytechnic Foundation Programme Artwork
THE SPIRAL GINGER PRESCHOOL YEAR 2 STUDIO PROJECT (2023)
‘RAIN’ GARDENS
RENDERED WEST ELEVATION
RENDERED SECTIONS OF CLASSROOMS
THE SPIRAL GINGER PRESCHOOL
GENIUS IN NATURE: The Channeling Bracts of Red Button Ginger Red Buttons Gingers are cone shaped plants with bright red bracts with a waxy surface. They have overlapping red bracts that are tightly compacted. The genius comes from how it channels rainwater that flows between the bracts and down to the leaves where the water go to the roots.
Red Buttons Gingers in a cluster:
SITE - MacRitchie Reservoir, Singapore
The Red Bracts, also known as ‘modified leaves’ have a waxy surface. From observations, whenever it rains, the rainwater will align itself along the overlapping bracts of the Red Button Ginger. The rainwater will flow onto the leaves and channeled to the roots.
BEFORE THE RAIN:
DURING THE RAIN:
There was a long pathway where there will be people that will come from both sides. There is a pavilion and solar panels near the area and the site was near residential houses. There is an abundance of trees and ventilated with prevailing wind from Northwest.
FORMS EXPLORATION PATTERN EXPLORATION
SECOND PROCESS MODEL: The first model I tried to build the form of the red button ginger and how the petals spread out when it dries. Then, for my second model, I tried to mimic the overlapping bracts in a curved shape but it was too stiff. I attemped again with my third process model by building it similar to my drawing. I decided to untilise the bracts as a facade in simpler forms that enhances the channeling of the rainwater.
FIRST PROCESS MODEL:
THIRD PROCESS MODEL:
ENTRANCE/ RECEPTION
STAFF ROOM
INDOOR PLAY AREA
KITCHEN
CAFETERIA
PERSPECTIVE VIEW 1
CLASSROOM FOR AGES 1-2
PERSPECTIVE VIEW 2
CLASSROOM FOR AGES 3-4
CLASSROOM FOR AGES 5-6
The building utilises timber, cork and aluminium as sustainable materials. Even paint from recycled materials.
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
THIRD FLOOR PLAN
FOURTH FLOOR PLAN
NORTH ELEVATION
WEST ELEVATION
SECTIONS OF CAFETERIA & PLAY AREA
SECTIONS OF CLASSROOMS
SITE SECTION
JAPANESE ONSEN BATHHOUSE YEAR 1 PROJECT (2023)
SITE - 55 Tanjong Rhu Road, Singapore
RECEPTION AREA & STAIRS
CHANGING ROOM
TEA ROOM
SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY & LIFT
CAFETERIA
REDESIGN OF CENTENNIAL TREE HOUSE YEAR 1 PROJECT (2023)
REDESIGN OF CENTENNIAL TREE HOUSE BY WALLFLOWER ARCHITECTS SCHOOL PROJECT CHOSEN PROJECT: CENTENNIAL TREE HOUSE BY WALLFLOWER ARCHITECTS NEW DESIGN
SITE - 44 Dunbar Walk , Singapore
For this school project, we are to use an existing project site and redesign it from scratch into a net-zero energy house. We are to show our design concept and integrate active and passive design strategies to achieve human comfort levels and adopt sustainable design practices. This project helps us broaden our knowledge of passive and active design strategies and also understand human users’ needs.
TOP VIEW OF BUILDING
SECTION 1
SECTION 2
TRANSITIONING THROUGH THE EYES OF SMALL DWELLERS DWELLING DESIGN: The Villager & Dwelling of Magic (2022-2023) SITE - B Upper Weld Road, SG 207337
For this project, we were sent to explore Little India. We had to observe and discover a ‘villager’ while documenting their way of life to create a conbcept design to put on our chosen site. One of the villagers I decided to focus on is this tabby cat I found wandering. The tabby cat was very cautious and kept exploring different ‘openings’ such as holes through broken doors and even openings through pots. It sniffed, licked and rubbed against the pots to familiarize itself with them. I found this incident to be interesting and explored more on it. Other villagers I identified in the alleyway were an old lady doing her laundry outside and an uncle smoking during his break time.
CLOSE UP VIEWS OF THE POTS THE CAT ENTERED: I went up close to the pots after the cat disappeared into them. I took note of the curve pathways that were created by the pots. I then sketched out the top view of the pots and used arrows to represent the movements of the cat.
CONCEPT SKETCHES AND DIAGRAMS
S THE CAT I OBSERVED FROM A DISTANCE:
OBSERVE
SNIFF
LICK
RUB
FINAL MODEL WITH PROPOSED IDEA
3D PERSPECTIVE SITE MODEL
SITE MODEL WITH PROPOSED IDEA
FIRST PERSPECTIVE
PROJECT WRITE-UP
The villagers I focused on were the tabby cat, an old lady doing her laundry and an uncle smoking. The tabby cat was a small dweller I happened to encounter at the alley. The curious cat was fond of hiding in small spaces and openings. At one point, I noticed the cat going into a cluster of pots and disappearing into them. I realised that the pots had spaces in between one another. I began observing the curvy ‘pathways’ the cat took through the pots. I decided to take the form of the pots and enlarged it to human scale, creating a transitional space along the stretch of the alley. It allows people to explore through a cat’s perspective. The enlarged curved structures create different paths to walk through and pockets of spaces for the villagers. There are areas where the lady can do her laundry with sufficient space and sitting areas for the uncle to smoke. There were chairs available in the alley so anyone can move them around to their preferred space. As you walk through, you are immersing in the eyes of the cat while uncovering the daily lives and activities of the people in the alley.
SECOND PERSPECTIVE
ZOOMED IN IMAGES OF THE PATHS:
The curved shape of the structures creates pathways that allows anyone to explore and walk through. It gives sheltered shade too. LAUNDRY AREA
SITTING AREA
SHADED AREA
The lady doing her daily laundry. The structures near the laundry area are made lower to allow more exposure to sunlight.
There are chairs found in the alley. People can just take the chairs found around the area and sit wherever they like.
Shaded areas are to show how the cats (in the pots) shade themselves from the hot sun.
SECTION OF THE STRUCTURE
REALISTIC TIGER
PFP ARTWORKS - THE S ABSTRACT TIGER
SERIES OF TIGERS (2021)
‘PERSONAL’ TIGER - TIGER MOM