Yi Zhao Portfolio 2024

PROFESSIONAL WORKS -

COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

Welcome to the Commercial Projects section of my portfolio. Here, you will find a selection of my work in creating functional, sustainable, and visually appealing landscapes for commercial properties. My approach integrates the needs of businesses with environmental considerations, ensuring spaces that not only attract and retain customers but also contribute to the overall well-being of the community. Each project showcases my ability to blend aesthetic appeal with practical functionality, meeting the unique demands of commercial clients.

THE VALLEY

This perspective looks towards a crushed limestone area featuring tables and seating.

This perspective looks towards the main walking path in the Valley area, leading to the main building.

CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION - THE VALLEY

CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION - OUTDOOR CAFÉ

This perspective looks towards the musical instruments at the East entrance of the Pocket Park.

This perspective looks towards the swings at the West entrance of the Pocket Park.

CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION - POCKET PARK

2024-04-11 The Musical Instruments

2024-01-30 The Swing and the Stairs

2024-02-29 The Stairs

2024-02-29 The Swing

2024-04-11 The Swing and the Stairs

2024-01-30 The Musical Instrument

This perspective looks towards the event lawn at the outdoor patio of the restaurant.

This perspective looks towards the site at the intersection of the streets.

Drone photo of the construction site taken on 2024-05-31.

Rendered plan view of the site.

LAND USE ANALYSIS

City Central Park Site Area: 12.91 acres Design Scope: The park is designed to accommodate large-scale events while providing ample space for community activities. The goal was to create a versatile and inviting urban green space that serves as a hub for both major events and everyday use by city residents.

DESIGN CHARRETTE AND BUBBLE DIAGRAM

MASTER PLAN

PROFESSIONAL

WORKS -

02 PLANNING PROJECTS

The Planning Projects section highlights my experience in large-scale landscape planning and design. This includes master planning for urban developments, public parks, and mixed-use spaces. My planning philosophy centers on creating cohesive, sustainable, and accessible environments that enhance urban life and foster community engagement. Through thoughtful layout and strategic foresight, I aim to create spaces that are both functional and inspiring for future generations.

Integrated Site Planning: Balancing Building Diversity and Open Space

Project Description: This project involves planning a 412.66 AC site with various building types. The objective is to layout the site to accommodate different building types while adhering to density requirements and ensuring a specified percentage of open space. The planning process aims to create a harmonious balance between built environments and natural landscapes, optimizing land use while preserving the site's character and functionality.and functionality.

SENIOR HOUSING

MULTI-FAMILY

TOWNHOMES

LODGING

2

SPRING

CREEK

(MIN.

1 STORY OFFICE

1 STORY COMMERCIAL/RETAIL

1 STORY COMMERCIAL/RETAIL

1 STORY COMMERCIAL/RETAIL

1 STORY COMMERCIAL/RETAIL

1 STORY JEWEL BOX - RETAIL/RESTAURANT

1 STORY COMMERCIAL/RETAIL

1 STORY COMMERCIAL/RETAIL & 1 STORY OFFICE/RESIDENTIAL ABOVE

1 STORY COMMERCIAL/RETAIL

1 STORY COMMERCIAL/RETAIL

LODGING

1

1 STORY COMMERCIAL/RETAIL

1 STORY COMMERCIAL/RETAIL ROUNDABOUT

PLAZA/EVENT SPACE/OUTDOOR DINING

DINING

OPEN LAWN/EVENT SPACE/OUTDOOR DINING

DETENTION POND

ALLOWABLE USES: Residential Multifamily, Restaurant, Retail Shops,

PROFESSIONAL WORKS -

RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

In the Residential Projects section, you will see my passion for transforming private outdoor spaces into personal sanctuaries. I work closely with homeowners to understand their visions and needs, crafting bespoke landscapes that enhance their living experience. From intimate gardens to expansive estates, my designs prioritize beauty, comfort, and harmony with nature. Each project reflects a tailored approach to creating outdoor spaces that are as unique as the people who inhabit them.

NEW LIMESTONE CHIP AGGREGATE DRIVEWAY NEW GUEST PARKING AREA

COBBLESTONE

COBBLESTONE

EXISTING

KEY:

GARDEN SHED (EXISTING STORAGE SHED - RELOCATED)

GARDEN SHED PATIO (+/- 6’ x 16’ )

+/- 10’ x 12’ HOT TUB WITH BENCH SEATING (HOT TUB WITH SPILLWAY INTO THE POOL)

COBBLESTONE EDGER AROUND THE BLUESTONE PATIOS AND LANDSCAPE BEDS

FENCE/GATES AROUND THE GARDEN

HOUSE ADDITION (15’ EXPANSION)

+/- 14’ x 25’ COVERED BLUESTONE PATIO WITH A HANGING DAYBED (COVERED ROOF LINE TO BE ATTACHED TO HOUSE)

OUTDOOR KITCHEN WITH BAR HEIGHT SEATING

FAMILY ACTIVITY SPACE WITH SYNTHETIC TURF AND STRING LIGHTING

MOVIE PROJECTION WALL

+/- 17’ x 27’ INDOOR/OUTDOOR POOL HOUSE WITH COFFEE BAR AND BATHROOM

FIREPLACE WITH LOUNGE FURNITURE

OUTDOOR SHOWER WITH A BLUESTONE STEPPER WALKWAY

SMALL BLUESTONE PATIO (+/- 9’ x 15’ )

OPEN LAWN WITH SYNTHETIC TURF

+/- 20’ x 40’ POOL WITH AN 8’

VAN WEELDEN RESIDENCE

DECK LOUNGE FURNITURE WITH UMBRELLAS

48’ HTPOOL FENCING WITH SELF CLOSING GATES, PER LOCAL CODES

WALKWAY WITH GATE TO ACCESS THE GARAGE AND DRIVEWAY

25’ x 41’ GARAGE WITH SECOND FLOOR GUEST QUARTERS

GUEST PARKING / TURN AROUND AREA

PLANTING KEY:

EVERGREEN TREES OPTIONS

• TEDDY BEAR MAGNOLIA

PLANTING KEY:

• GREEN GIANT ARBORVITAE

EVERGREEN COLUMNAR TREES OPTIONS

EVERGREEN TREES/SCREENING OPTIONS

• EMERALD ARBORVITAE

• TEDDY BEAR MAGNOLIA

• TAYLOR JUNIPER

• GREEN GIANT ARBORVITAE

EVERGREEN COLUMNAR TREES OPTIONS

FLOWERING ORNAMENTAL TREE OPTIONS

• NATCHEZ CRAPE MYRTLE

• EMERALD ARBORVITAE

• TAYLOR JUNIPER

• AUTUMN BRILLIANCE SERVICEBERRY

FLOWERING ORNAMENTAL TREE OPTIONS

SMALL FLOWERING ORNAMENTAL TREE OPTIONS

• NATCHEZ CRAPE MYRTLE

• AUTUMN BRILLIANCE SERVICEBERRY

• LIMELIGHT HYDRANGEA (TREE FORM)

• DAPPLE WILLOW (TREE FORM)

SMALL FLOWERING ORNAMENTAL TREE OPTIONS

• LIMELIGHT HYDRANGEA (TREE FORM)

EVERGREEN FOUNDATION/LOW SHRUB OPTIONS

• DENSE YEW

• DAPPLE WILLOW (TREE FORM)

• OTTO LUYKEN LAUREL

EVERGREEN FOUNDATION/LOW SHRUB OPTIONS

• DENSE YEW

• OTTO LUYKEN LAUREL

EVERGREEN SCREENING SHRUB OPTIONS

• SKIP LAURELS

EVERGREEN SCREENING SHRUB OPTIONS

• HICKI YEW

• SKIP LAURELS

• HICKI YEW

EVERGREEN HEDGE PLANT OPTIONS

EVERGREEN HEDGE OPTIONS

• BABY GEM BOXWOOD

• BABY GEM BOXWOOD

• HOOGENDORN HOLLY

• HOOGENDORN HOLLY

EVERGREEN SHRUBS OPTIONS

EVERGREEN SHRUBS OPTIONS

• WINTERGREEN BOXWOOD

• WINTERGREEN BOXWOOD

• CHESTNUT HILL LAUREL

• CHESTNUT HILL LAUREL

LARGE FLOWERING SHRUB OPTIONS

• LIMELIGHT HYDRANGEA

LARGE FLOWERING SHRUB OPTIONS

• LIMELIGHT LIGHT HYDRANGEA

• JUDDI VIBURNUM

• JUDDI VIBURNUM

FLOWERING SHRUB OPTIONS

• BOBO HYDRANGEA

FLOWERING SHRUB OPTIONS

• ENCORE AZELEA

• BOBO HYDRANGEA

• DRIFT ROSE

• ENCORE AZELEA

• DRIFT ROSE

FLOWERING PERENNIAL OPTIONS

• WALKER’S LOW CATMINT

• PINK PANTHER CORAL BELL

FLOWERING PERENNIAL OPTIONS

• WALKER’S LOW CATMINT

• PINK PANTHER CORAL BELL

GROUNDCOVER OPTIONS

• VARIGATED LIRIOPE

• LAMB’S EAR

GROUNDCOVER OPTIONS

• HOSTAS

• VARIGATED LIRIOPE

• LAMB’S EAR

HOSTAS

VAN WEELDEN RESIDENCE

VAN WEELDEN RESIDENCE

FRANKLIN, WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TN

PUCKETT RESIDENCE

This section, Other Works, showcases the breadth of my skills beyond standard project design. Here, you will find detailed renderings, precise grading plans, and technical details that illustrate my commitment to excellence and precision in landscape architecture. These elements demonstrate my proficiency in the technical aspects of design, my ability to visualize and communicate complex ideas, and my dedication to crafting landscapes that are both beautiful and technically sound.

Residential Plan Rendering for Market Use

Commercial Project Plan Rendering

Conceptual Sketch for Prairie Landscape Design

3D Model Rendering for Residential Development

STUDENT WORKS -

Envision 2040 at U of I-Urbana-Champaign

Collaboration for Holistic Sustainable Solutions Champaign, Illinois, US.

Studio- Group work (Leader) / Individual work

University and neighbor cities, as a community with same destiny,through complementary and collaboration, to achieve sustainable co-development and co-prosperity.

2021 ILASLA Student Merit Award

Climate Change

Carbon Emissions

Water Resource

Champaign

University of Illinois

Urbana

This project is trying to create a pedestrian-friendly transport system in order to reduce the number of parking lots and increase the safety level of transportation, which will help to reduce carbon emissions. It will explore trade-offs between three key elements: safety, usability, and aesthetics. It will propose a suitable balance between these elements by developing a framework for reshaping the existing infrastructure.

North Railway Low utilization rate

Commercial Opportunities

Apartments & Facilities

Abundant green spaces

Service facilities

Green Street

Sixth Street

Florida Avenue

Broadway Avenue

Commercial

Trolley

Shared-Street Ecology-Landscape

Existing Green Network

Environment Sensitivity

This project aims to increase biodiversity, restore the ecology value and achieve urban rehabilitation. In order to help promote the economy, recall the culture and improve the environmental quality to meet the nationwide goals of alleviating global warming, rebuilding infrastructure, and reducing carbon emissions.

Proposed Green Space

Depth Analysis

Precipitation Statistics

In the past, the designers have already successfully made the flood water drain out by using advanced technology and construction. But this project is pursuing a more challenging goal – stormwater harvest, recycle and reuse. The project tends to use stormwater to improve the environment quality, promote the ecologic value and increase the visual quality.

Daily Runoff Analysis

The site is located along the Green Street and Gregory Street, where has a lot of available space to design for various activities. And these two streets themselves have different characteristics. For the Green Street, there are more commercial facilities along it and there is more space on the street for people. Combing with the greenway planning system we did in the previous modules, we are tent to transfer Green Street into a Leisure greenway. And for Gregory Street. It connects one of the gateways of UIUC and surrounded by a lot of student dorms. Also it joins the Sport Loop with the Doner Drive and the Maryland Drive to the south. Based on the previous greenway planning system, we will transfer this street into a Sport greenway.

Urban Design Sturctural Diagram

Urban Design Master Plan Sketch

Urban Design Master Plan

Site Design Sketch

Exploring Demographic Vulnerability in the Context of Flood

Studio- Group work (Leader)

McHenry City, Illinois

Regional Scale

At the beginning, we start without predetermined goal: we examine the distribution of vulnerable people with flooding area to determine the area suffering most. In this area, we prove old people is the most vulnerable group comparing to other vulnerable groups. In this case, we consider how changes in the future will influence those old people and come up with two strategies: one is compact city, and another is greener city. Finally, we validate those two strategies and determine the most feasible strategy and scale it down into site scale.

Precitipation Tendency

McHenry County Vulnerability Analysis Over 65 PopulationChange Rate Under 14 Population Change Rate

Why are older people more vulnerable?

•normal effects of aging

•limited mobility

•more likely to have chronic disease and disability

•communication (seeing, hearing or speaking)

•mental functioning (Alzheimer’s, senility, dementia)

•physical functioning (difficulty walking, climbing stairs, lifting or grasping objects)

•financial insecurity

•social isolation and marginalization

•strong attachment to place

•less comfortable with digital information

What are the impacts on older people?

•disruption to medical care

•lack of access to food stores, pharmacies

•lack of access by emergency services

•separation from familiar social structures

•exposure to contaminated water

•lasting effects of trauma

Based on literature reviews, we determined several criteria to analysis the vulnerability within McHenry County. The criteria is: single family with children, disability, population over 65 years old, renter occupied home, people of color, female headed home, runoff depth and low income home. We give them equal weight to get the final result. And based on this result, we decided to narrow down the scale into McHenry City.

From 2000 to 2010, McHenry County has a relatively high negative growth in population of under 14 years old, compares to other counties in Illinois.

From 2000 to 2010, McHenry County has a relatively high possitive growth in population of over 65 years old, compares to other counties in Illinois.

Reducing risk of fooding will benifit everyone, and especifically for older peeople because floods will be more likely to:

Cut them off from stores, library

Cut off access by ambulances if they need them

Cause significant financial harm

Require them to do the difficult physical work of evacuating, placing sandbags or moving all their stuff to higher ground

City Scale

Potential Migration Site

Migrate older people to suitable places will make them have a more convenient environment and less likely to be impacted by floods.

Key features of suitable locations for older people include:

Accessibility to grocery stores, pharmacies, medical centers and cultural resources

Walkability

Low possibility of flood

Mitigration Site

For strategy I – Potential Mitigation Site, we use four criteria to filter the whole site to choose the mitigation site which has more potential to reduce the impact for vulnerable people. For strategy II – Potential Migration Site, we use four different criteria to choose the most suitable site for vulnerable people to live, avoiding the impact of flood. And make those places as potential sites for vulnerable people migrate to.

After we pick up three areas which have highest density of vulnerable people as research areas, we made a comparison among their mean runoff.

Comparing design strategy I and II with business as usual (no action), result shows that runoff depth in design strategy I decreases, but design strategy II’s runoff depth increases. In this case, design strategy I seems like a better idea. However, we also admit this validation has some limitations: first, we fail to condiser the effect of topography to runoff concentration; second, design strategy II concentrates more people in certain area, which results in higher percentage of urbanization. Without change of other factors, increasing urbanization definitely increases runoff.

The result shows that this strategy does reduce the runoff in every research area.

The result shows that this strategy reduces one of the research areas, but the runoff of the other two areas is increased due to the higher urbanization level.

Site Scale

In this scale, we began by exploring the communities, landscapes and environmental quality of the county at a regional scale. We discovered that the area has lots of good things, including varied topography, relevant history, rich agricultural land, many parks and nature preserves, good air quality, public transportation connecting to Chicago and much more. We chose to focus at a local scale on the town of McHenry, specifically the area along Boone Creek, as our initial site for design interventions to change flooding patterns and to protect vulnerable communities living in this flood-prone area.

As there exists various available spaces in site and they are not well distributed. Our group decides to divide them into several types according to their common characteristics. Characteristics involve size and surrounding environment. Seven types of green infrastructures with their functions are listed at left.

Green Parking Lot

Urban Forest

Friendship Park

Community Park

Linear Space

Pocket Park

Wetland

Validation for Typology

Typology