yijie@u.nus.edu
+65 8435 5176
+86 15621550060
WeChat: j172309
PORTFOLIO
ZHANG Yijie
Selected Works 2022-2024
Master and Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, NUS
Apexus
Date: Jan 2022 - Apr 2022
Source: National University of Singapore Core Studio
Instructor: Henry Steed (NUS Adjunct Associate Professor), Abby Ng (NUS Tutor)
Classfication: Small-Scale Park Design
Location: Yishun, Singapore
Area: 7.7 ha
Amidst the urban crescendo of Yishun-Canberra, our proposal envisions Yishun Neighbourhood Park as an elevated oasis, transcending its topographical prominence to become a communal heart. In this tapestry of growth and tradition, the park emerges as a crucial nexus, bridging the fragmented urban narrative with its verdant, elevated grounds. Our design interlaces the area’s rustic kampung essence with contemporary urbanity, crafting a sustainable, interconnected green haven. Here, nature and community coa-lesce, sculpting Yishun Neighbourhood Park into a symbol of harmonious urban integra-tion and a beacon of collective identity.
Montreal Green Park
Sungei Simpang Kiri Canal
Plaza
MRT Station
Yishun Neibourhood Park
Chongfu School Methodist Church
Northland Secondary School
Yishun Town Secondary School
Khatib Bongsu Canal
Yishun Nature Park
Yishun Pond Park North Point City
Yishun Industrial Zone
Yishun Park Hawker Centre
SAFRA Yishun
Yishun Park
Yishun HDB Estate
YISHUN NEIGHBOURHOOD
PARK - NATURE IN TOWN, NEXUS FOR ALL
A multi-purpose nexus with functions and spaces well catered to the user groups in the region. Play, rest, gather, exercise, learn... activities are integrated into this green fabric which reunites its surrounding fragmented lands.
Diagram
Open flat lawn with limitless opportunities and activities.
Community ground invites groups of people to visit, stop and spend time with each other.
Enthusiastic hardscape with surprising undulations, ideal space for fitness fanatics and excitement seekers.
MindMosaic
Date: Aug 2023 - Nov 2023
Source: National University of Singapore Core Studio
Instructor: Janice Tung (NUS Tutor), Dorothy Tang (NUS Assistant Professor)
Classfication: Middle-Scale Urban Design & Landscape Architecture
Location: Chinatown, Singapore
Area: 50 ha
In the heart of bustling Chinatown, lies Jalan Kukoh, a poignant reflection of Singapore’s socio-economic contrasts. Predominantly a precinct of rental HDB blocks, Jalan Kukoh is home to a substantial population of low-income elderly residents grappling with financial struggles, social isolation, and physical limitations. This landscape architecture proposal seeks to transform the everyday environment of these seniors into a nurturing, serene haven that fosters mental well-being and social cohesion.
Our design ethos revolves around creating natural settings that are more than just visually pleasing; they are sanctuaries that engage, comfort, and heal. The proposal aims to create a supportive environment where the elderly can find respite, engage in gentle physical activities, and foster meaningful social interactions.
MENTAL HEALTH OF ELDERLY IN RENTAL BLOCKS IN OUTRAM SINGAPORE
Outram, the poorest and oldest district in Singapore, has a high concentration of rental blocks, which are for Singaporeans who have no other housing options, including a large number of low-income elderly. These elderly suffer from financial difficulties, social isolation and physical challenges. Singapore Outram Jalan Kukoh Precinct
Shopping Malls
Premium Restaurants
4/5-star Hotels
Hustling Visitors
Condominiums Clarke Quay Bars Outings
WEB OF CARE: MENTAL HEALTH LANDSCAPE FOR ELDERLY IN RENTAL BLOCKS
Sit and chat with neighbours!
Want a quiet backyard to rest and chill
A mid-stop along the road to rest and stay safe.
Underutilised hilly green space
Kampung-styled void deck
Dense forest on steep hill with no path A flat path wanders downwards gently
Narrow boring pedestrian path
Barren hilly grassland with people j-walking to MRT
Void Deck
As a uniquely Singpaorean term, void deck has been a gathering place and a substitute for former communal kampong compounds for many residents, etching memories among the senior citizens and fostering social bonds.
Sensory Path
A lush forest, sitting behind Jalan Kukoh, bounded by Outram Sec, premium hotels, and Outram Road, previously a barrier but now a vegetated connectivity with sensory experiences.
Mini-refuge-land built upon the reserve site
Mounds inter-shaping natural processes with boardwalk
Refuge Land
Along hustling Outram Road, there is hardly pedestrian paths.This small patch of lawn by roadside, servces a refuge island for restful moments.
Meanwhile
A lawn nestled under Pearl’s Hill Park, next to Outram MRT Station and opposite to DukeNUS Medical School, is planned to be residential areas built with condominiums. Instead of leaving it empty, an interim design of mental health for elderly and all is developed.
Merry-Go-Round
Widely open to bustling commercial areas and Singapore General Hospital and well-connected to Outram MRT Station, the flat big lawn serves a wheelchair-friendly ground for all to mingle.
Pearl’s
Duke-NUS Medical School
Jalan Kukoh HDB Estate
Chin Swee HDB Estate
Outram Secondary Jubilee Church
Tomb of Tan Tock Seng
Birds and Plants
Some me-time after school
A flat ground with wide paths!
MEANWHILE - ECOLOGICAL SOLUTION OF HEALING URBAN ESCAPE
Underutilise Soil Erosion
White-throated kingfisher
Collared kingfisher Asian koel
Javan myna
Canna Lily
Common Chaser
Tawny
Shrub
Habitat Snag
CO2 O2
Cymbopogon citratus
Basil Pandan
Cape jasmine
Buddleja paniculata
Day Cestrum
Calamint
Orange Jessamine
Texas Sage
Clinopodium chinense
Orthosiphon Aristatus
Crepe myrtle
Ruellia tuberosa
Panama rose
Pink trumpet vine
Asystasia gangetica
INTERIM GROUND FOR VISITORS, STUDENTS, RESIDENTS AND WORKERS
60 cm
Duke-NUS students
Outram MRT
Chinatown
Singapore General Hospital
Pearl's Hill Park
Cross node for People Mix
Open Entrance/Exit for All
Jalan Kukoh elderly
Singapore General Hospital patient
Kids after pre-school lessons
Parents who pick up their kids
KAMPUNG LEPAK - SOCIAL SOLUTION OF VOID DECK
Freed up previous fences built around the ground storey and enteded over the empty lawn outside the HDB block. The space is generously created as an open-air double-storey void-decks. This space is to complement the conjested architecture of Jalan Kukoh, providing a public open space for residents to enjoy.
MERRY-GO-ROUND: SUPPORTIVE SOLUTION OF CIRCULAR PARK
Given a considerable proportion of elderly suffer from dementia and loss of senses, this circular path design is meant to be a rehabilitative supportive space for agents and also a small walking experience for all. The path is built to be 4m wide to accommodate wheelchairs, as patients in Singapore General Hospital might use this space for exeercises or leisure.
Connected to HDB Sensory
Look-Out Deck Road
50cm Under 03
Date: Aug 2024 - Nov 2024
Source: National University of Singapore Core Studio
Instructor: Casey Wang
Classfication: Town-Scale Urban Design
Location: Sakurai, Nara, Japan
Area: 200 ha
The “50 Centimeter Under” project aims to revitalize Sakurai, a city rich in history but struggling with modern challenges. Through archaeological discoveries and systematic studies, the initiative seeks to reconnect the community with its Yamato roots, highlighting its historical significance during the Kofun period. The strategy includes time-tilled rotations for agriculture and excavations, connected commerce corridors to enhance mobility, and an archaeo-agrarian landscape integrating historical sites with modern living. Additionally, the rewilding of the Yamato River emphasizes ecological restoration. This comprehensive approach aims to foster sustainable community development, boost tourism, and preserve the cultural legacy of Sakurai.
Its expansive flatlands and favorable climate made it an ideal location for early Japanese settlers to engage in agriculture, thereby fostering the development of early Japanese civilization and the establishment of powerful ancient capitals.
The introduction of rice agriculture enabled these early inhabitants to establish stable communities
Yoshino cedar, native to Japan’s Kii Peninsula, is valued for its straight grain and durability, extensively used in traditional architecture and woodworking in the region.
Tsuyubakaze
VEINS OF YAMATO: LAYERING OF HISTORY, NOW AND FUTURE
Vital for agriculture, historically supporting rice cultivation and contributing to the region’s economic development.
Originated from Mount Miwa, Yamato River nurtures the first settlement of humanity in Japan with her water.
Only rice species that is suitable for sake brewing in Nara Prefecture
Somen originated in Japan over 1,000 years ago, valued for its thin, wheat-based noodles, typically served cold with dipping sauce
Originated around 300 AD as a ceremonial drink brewed by priests Japan’s iconic rice wine
Miwamizu,
Mount
Spiritual centers for Shinto and Buddhist worship, respectively, offering spaces for rituals, prayers, and community gatherings.
water
Buddhism was introduced to ancient Japan from China during the reign of Queen Himiko, marking a significant cultural and religious transformation in Japanese society.
Miwa Mountain is a sacred site in Japanese mythology, revered as the dwelling of the god Ōmononushi and a symbol of divine-natural union in Shinto beliefs.
Primitive Shintoism in Yamato emerged as an indigenous belief system, venerating natural spirits and ancestors, laying the foundational spiritual framework of ancient Japanese culture.
Cleansing, and offering rituals, deepening one’s spiritual connection in Japan. A
The Yamato Dynasty, Japan’s first and longest reigning imperial line, began around the 3rd century
Sacred
from
Miwa, for premium taste
VEINS OF YAMATO: LAYERING OF HISTORY, NOW AND FUTURE
MAKE YAMATO GREAT AGAIN: DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Carbon-14 technology for dating artifacts
Rice farming during growing seasons
Off-season archaeological excavations
Systematic excavation processes
Protective shelters for sites
Exhibition spaces for education
Time-Tilled Rotation Connected Commerce Corridors Archaeo-Agrarian Landscape Rewilded Yamato River
Car and bike rental stations for mobility
Pedestrianize commercial zones
Visual cues for connecting commercial areas
Open spaces for visual continuity
Rice fields utilized as landscapes Naturalize canalized riverbank
River integration for irrigation
Pavement upgraded to pervious materials Soften rectangular boundaries
Reroute river as irrigation for rice fields
Pond landscaping for water recreation Cleanse before entering recreation areas
Elevated walkways over key routes Legacy and archaeological appreciation Floodplain Restoration
Tourist focal area with viewing retention Educational Walkways
Long-Term Relevance Self-Regenerating Legacy Revitalization Urban Repositioning Community Development Resilient Infrastructure
YAMATO MOSAIC PARK: BRING BACK THE UNDERNEATH
1 Archaeological/Agricultural Landuse Rotation
3 Archaeo-Agrarian Park
2 Connected Corridors to Commercial and Other Zones
EXPERIENCE OF MULTIPLICITY ALTOGETHER
FiTerrain
Date: Aug 2023 - Nov 2023
Source: National University of Singapore Elective
Instructor: Ervine Lin ((NUS Senior Lecturer)
Collaborator: Jeffrey Lok Yong Quan, Peng Kangqi, Tee Shu Zie, Yap Xi Yi
Classfication: Small-Scale Digital Landscape Architecture
Location: Clementi, Singapore
Area: 12 ha
Our proposal for Clementi Wood Park is a visionary reinvention of landscape architecture, where fitness seamlessly integrates with nature, accessible to all ages, and is experienced as a form of play. The design pivots on three core concepts: ‘Fitness in Nature’, ‘Fitness for All’, and ‘Fitness as Play’. Utilizing cutting-edge tools like ENVI-MET for microclimate analysis, Flood Modeller for hydrology, and Grasshopper with Rhino for advanced spatial design, we develop sensible and responsive design recommendations. This holistic approach transforms the park into a dynamic fitness landscape, balancing ecological sensitivity with the diverse needs of the community. Through this innovative amalgamation of technology and nature, Clementi Wood Park is set to become a pioneering model for future urban green spaces, fostering health, inclusivity, and joyous engagement with the natural world.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES
Strategy 1: Leverage Slope Gradient
Route 1 - Easy: 0 - 3° Incline
Pathways that is nice and relatively flat that caters to beginners and users looking for warming up exercises or leisure walks.
Route 2 - Intermediate: 3 - 18° Incline
Pathways that introduces a gentle slope, offering an intermediate challenge for users looking for a more
Route 3 Enthusiast: > 18° Incline
Pathways that includes steepest angle of slope that would challenge users who are seeking an adventurous trail.
Strategy 2: Distance
Process 1: Topography Cutting
Route 1 - Easy: ~500m
The first trail provides a shorter and more accessible distance, ideal for beginners or those looking for quick and low-intensity workout.
Route 2 - Intermediate: ~800m
The second trail extends the distance, offering a balance between manageable challenge and an enjoyable trail for intermediates.
Route 3 Enthusiast: ~1200m
The third trail offers a longest and most challenging journey, ideal for users to push their endurance and stamina.
Process 2: Fill Optimisation Process 3: Route and Connection Generation
Most optimal Cut and Fill balance with the lowest amount of excess soil, generated from Galapagos
Controlled area for optimised Intermediate Route and Enthusiast Route
Route 2 - Intermediate Min Slope Optimisation (Route Difficulty)
Route 3 - Enthusiast Max Slope Optimisation (Route Difficulty)
4: Route Connections
Generated Min slope of Intermediate route 11°
Generated Average slope of Intermediate route kept around 5°
Generated Max slope of Enthusiast route left uncapped
Generated Average slope of Enthusiast route kept around 7°
5: Relocation of Affected Trees
Strategy 3: Introduction of New Elements
Water
By strengthening flood-prone areas, water elements are introduced to the site as a natural play element
Diverse fitness facilities of various intensity levels are implemented to cater to all groups.
Fitness Facilities Obstacles
Adding obstacles along routes elevate the physical challenge to navigate and thus
Both Intermediate and Enthusiast routes generated within the same controlled area.
A generated instance of the two colliding were deliberately chosen to improve the connection between the two.
Existing circulation which is already well connected to begin with were also utilised to weave our design together.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Allotment Garden
Fitness Corner
Dog Run
Palyground
Nature Play
Open Space
1. Water Playground
2. Jumpy Bumpy Course
3. Enthusiast Jumpy Bumpy Course
4. Trampoline Park
5. Log Play & Shrub Maze
6. Sloped Stream Play
7. Activity Lawn
Design Concept
The installation, situated beneath the Esplanade Bridge, takes the form of an overhead grid. Each node on this grid is intricately connected to a plastic bottle collected from the Marina area. These bottles are suspended at varying heights, deliberately mimicking the undulating movements of ocean waves.
To bring the installation to life, each plastic bottle serves as a vessel for a lighting rod, and it’s filled with different volumes of water. This strategic design ensures that every individual bottle becomes a unique contributor to the overall visual impact. When activated, the lighting rods generate a radiant display, creating patterns reminiscent of water ripples.
The interplay of light and water symbolism serves as a powerful metaphor for the interconnectedness of human actions and their consequences on our oceans. The installation seeks to visually represent the ripple effect caused by a single act, emphasizing that even small changes in behavior can have a profound collective impact.
As viewers engage with the installation, the sparkling lights echo the metaphorical sea of waves, spreading awareness of the far-reaching consequences of plastic pollution. These light patterns extend beyond the immediate installation, casting a visual representation of water ripples onto surrounding surfaces such as the bridge wall and floor.
Front Right
2022 Singapore iLight Festival Proposal
Instructor: Kenya Endo
Collaborator: Adam Cheung, Yin Yi