My journey into architecture began with a quote from Clavino’s Invisible Cities “You take delight not in a city’s seven or seventy wonders but in the answer it gives to a question of yours.” Every time I see landmarks from other cities on a trip with my family, I am reminded of what I once saw in that. Travel keeps my steps and mind moving, which fuels my desire to be an architect. Throughout the voyage, I saw and enjoyed a wide range of architecture, underlining the significance that architecture plays in people’s daily lives by serving as containers for their activities.
While studying at the University of New South Wales, I became interested in the behavioural relationship between people and architecture. Through theoretical studies and design studios, I realized that human activities shape architectural space, and architectural space affects human behaviour. This dynamic interaction between human actions and space has become my main design approach which focuses on improving the built environment to better serve daily life.
Following my 2020 graduation, I went back to China to use my skills on various projects in various places. My work is grounded in human-centered design and sustainability and ranges from building a minimalist school in Dahariwal to designing an art installation in Piazza San Marco that combines modern and historical elements. Promoted from Architecture Graduate to Architectural Assistant, I honed my abilities at both the concept and construction drawing stages, working with interdisciplinary teams and clients to realize complex design concepts. My obsession with creativity and continuous improvement inspires me to design environments that not only meet functional needs but also enhance the lives of those who inhabit them.
ACCOMPLISHMENT:
Teamwork Project
2023: Excellent Architectural Design Award GuangzhouCompetition (Completed Project)
- Frist Prize
- Xinjiang Cultural experience centre
- Issued by Guangzhou Government
2023: Active Sustainable Award (China) Conceptual Design
- Second Prize
- Haizhu Bay Branch Hospital of Sun
Yat-sen Memorial Hospital
- Issued by Active House Alliance
2022: Active Sustainable Award (China) Completed Design
- Shortlisted Project
- Kejun Financial Centre
- Issued by Active House Alliance
2022: Excellent Urban Planning Award Guangzhou
- Third Prize
- Yangjiang Opera House
- Issued by Active House Alliance
NAME:
Wanrui (Wendy) ZHANG
EDUCATION:
2023-2025: The University of New South Wales
Master of Architecture
2017-2020: The University of New South Wales
Bachelor of Architectural Studies
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
2023-2020: Guangzhou Design Institute (GZDI)
One of the Hundred Famous Institutes of Contemporary Chinese Architectural Design
Personal
2022.06: Guangzhou Architectural Design Associa -tion Green Building Competition
Honoring the history: Toliet & Substation Ehibition
HISTORY TUNNEL+ MEMORY OF LGBTQ+
Respond to the New Charateristic: Art District & Art School
NIGHT BAR + CELEBRATION OF LGBTQ+
Gathering point for the neighbourhood & LGBTQ+ Community
CULTURAL HUB + EDUCATION CENTRE
REBORN.
HISTORY + LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY + THE DRAG CULTURE
CONCEPT/ “Reborn” breathes new life into the LGBTQIA+ Museum at Taylor Square, transforming it into a vibrant cultural landmark. Inspired by the flamboyance and creativity of drag culture, the design celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community’s journey of resilience and selfexpression. The museum’s facade becomes an ever-changing canvas, bursting with bold colors, dynamic forms, and interactive lighting that engage the community and reflect the spirit of drag.
BOURKE STREET
2.
3.
5.
6.
7.
1. Reading/ Leisure Space
Cafe/ Night Bar
Stage
4. Exterior Balcony/ Stage
Exhibition Space
Skylight
Man Washroom
8. Woman Washroom
9. Control Room
10. Toilet Exhaust Shaft
11. Mechanical Ventilation Shaft/ Plumbing or Wet Services Shaft
BOURKE STREET
The architectural concept prioritizes sustainability by integrating cross-ventilation and heat evacuation strategies, fostering passive cooling methods that reduce dependence on air conditioning and enhance occupant comfort.
From cascading green walls to rooftop gardens, my design embraces verticality as an opportunity to infuse spaces with natural beauty, fostering sustainability and enhancing the well-being of visitors.
porary transformation.
Reusing red bricks from the demolition reduces carbon emissions and maintains the original façade. Rotating the bricks adds a modern rhythm, creating a more dynamic, directional entrance that blends the building’s heritage with its
MATERIAL REUSE
ical context. By employing varied masonry techniques, subtle detailing is introduced to enrich the façade while creating a cohesive aesthetic.
a dialogue between the new architecture and its histor
The design incorporates brickwork on the first floor as a foundational element to harmonize with the surrounding context and honour the site’s heritage, establishing
In response to the site’s orientation and the challenge posed by the intense Western sun, the architectural concept prioritizes effective shading strategies for the main performance facade.
VERTICAL GREEN APPROPRIATE SHADING BEAUTY OF BRICK
It also promotes natural ventilation by allowing airflow between the two layers, improving indoor air quality.
A double facade with perforated aluminium panels improves energy efficiency by acting as a thermal buffer, reducing heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter.
By seamlessly integrating the built environment with its panoramic surroundings, the gallery aim to create immersive spaces that celebrate and enhance the visual experience, connecting inhabitants and greeny with the beauty of their context.
UTILISING VIEWS
Police Station
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
HARDWOOD
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
Wendy (Wanrui) Zhang, z5111494
VEIN - CONNECTIONS
- INDIGIGROW SUSTAINABILITY AND EDUCATION CENTRE
BUSHWALK EXPERIENCE
Based on my experience with ESBS, I believe that creating a centre that offers a bush walk-like experience would be a vein-like connection within the centre, and provide an ultimate journey of transformation from human to non-human and beyond, which breaks away from traditional education centre experiences. Such a centre would embrace the unique characteristics of ESBS and offer visitors a truly immersive experience.
The site is located in the Dharug country, which is rich in history and species, between a bustling city and the coastal environment. Identifying the land that can be built on is crucial to showing respect for the site.
Following the site contour, creating 2 sets of grids interesting together to gain the modular buildings and maintain interesting in-between spaces for maintaining routes for insects and future ESBS regeneration.
Following the flow and the shape of cloud to determine that design a curve roof to enhance the wind guiding performance that caring the more than human characteristic.
Two distinct speed experiences (buggy and bush walk) will be created based on the existing site condition and surrounding transport, allowing a wider range of ESBS views for visitors.
Opportunity to create a connection with functions themselves and maintain courtyard-oriented open spaces that become hubs for activity and respite through green space.
Reuse the old building materials for the renewable design and using local material such as sandstone and spotted gum timber to to maximise the sustainability and building performance.
Considering the existing landscape, breaking down the large volumes into small pieces presents the potential to minimise the influence of the site and foster a symbiotic relationship between the project between humans, non-humans and more than humans.
Lifting the ground to remain the route for the existing ESBS creatures and embracing nature and all living beings, while minimizing environmental harm.
Maximize the environmental performance by integrating the leaf canopy with the existing brick structure, making the building an icon and seamlessly blending with the green site.
THE
By adapting to the contours and elevations, our structures not only minimise environmental impact but also create a dynamic, organic interplay that celebrates the unique character of the site.
Envisioned as a dynamic public realm, our architecture conceptualises an open floor plan that serves as a vibrant hub, activating social interactions and engaging the ESBS community, inviting the public to seamlessly flow and participate in the diverse pop-up events in ESBS centre.
In response to the site’s orientation and the challenge posed by the intense Western sun, our architectural concept prioritizes effective shading strategies for the main performance facade.
Lift up!!
Sandstone
Spotted Gum timber
Lift up!!
THE BUSH WALK( OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE CENTRE)
THE BUSH WALK( OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE CENTRE
THE GREEN HOUSES
DESIGN STRATEGIES:
1.Spatial experience:
Drawing inspiration from nature’s interconnectedness to foster a dynamic, ecologically conscious learning experience that enriches understanding of both built and natural worlds.
2.Environmental sustainability:
Using renewable materials and passive design to maximise building performance and minimise energy loss.
3.Sense of belonging:
Embracing all the human and non-human characteristics within the site. Respecting the existing condition and creating multiple small architectures to adapt the site and form a community instead of a single large architecture.
CONCEPT/ Playtainer is an emerging study community as well as a communal space that promotes safe learning and communication while allowing children to create narratives to dream and develop senses related to balance (balance) and proprioception (awareness), advising people to safely and comfortably socialising while pandemic. Drawing inspiration from popular culture of the past and abstracting important identities for our new neighbourhood’s character. The scheme tries to use informal architecture to minimise the costs and the happiness for the children while maximising the regionalism and the contribution to the community, which has achieved all-weather utilization and sustainable development.
BACKGROUND/ The site is located in DAHARAVI, one of the largest slums in Asia and is not subject to government reconstruction field. The site is inhabited by a large number of local poor families and consists of homogeneous scattered buildings and dilapidated shelters, and the overall lack of identity affects the overall image of the city.
PRE-PANDEMIC PANDEMIC PEOPLE& LIFE BEHAVIOR PEOPLE& LIFE BEHAVIOR ACTIVITIES
Research of human behaviors during Pandemic/ Background Analysis
BACKGROUND/ Ever since the rapid spread of the covid-19 coronavirus, the world has been undergoing a drastic shift from regular social life to minimal social interaction due to fear and regulation. Children have lost opportunities to study in Dhavavi and there is an urgent need to build a school where they can learn safely.
OVERLAPPED MULTI-LAYER SPACES
Design Strategy/ Concept
Senior's need/ The Eight Dimensions of Wellness
INTERSTING STUDY
SUSTAINABLE NATURE
SENSE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY PHYSICAL WELLBEING CULTURE
Intellectual Emotional Spiritual Environmental Interesting Social Exerise Relaxing The playtainer (Minimal school) rate Maximise social interation while Limited ppl number
CONCEPT/ Based on the rethinking of the informal space on campus and the relationship between campus and the community, the original intention of the design is to find an architectural form language that can combine students' growth and learning, life and experience, green safety and feeling. On the basis of the observation and thinking of the vitality of space and space, through the full use of space, a full-time, multi-level space for learning and life is created.
UNIT COMPOSITION
Modular Design/ Concept
Modular Design/ Concept
Data of Education in India (Pandemic) Illustration of Daharavi Building
CONCEPT/ Overlapping containers formed the central playground are the key to the modular design elements that form inbetween spaces which enhance the school's identity, scenery and communication with the community. Due to the excellent insulation and flexibility of the container, the design of the unit can be adapted to different environments and space organizations.
Uniformity
Stainablility/ Function
Extrusion/ Connection
Responded and Transportation
Central playground/ Entry
Prevention/ Landmark/ Interestingness
An abstract symbol of the slum not only reffered to the site but also epressed a sense of rhythm and sequence. The serise of structurre created a stilt sapce for communication and amusement while keeping the social distance.
THE SCAFFOLD
A continuous narrow space that provole a deep obsession for children to appreciate, amuse and perceive and make judgments, and exercise the physical coordination and motor ability of every sense.
THE PIPES
THE PLATFORM & THE STAIRCASES
The platforms and stairs, it forms the most public open interface and cognitive image of the school for the community, giving back to the city in an open form to establish a transitional relationship between the campus environment and the urban environment. The platform and the stairs gives pupils more opportunities to observe the intersting things happening in each area of the whole building and neighbourhood.
THE SHIPING CONTAINER
The main structure is formed inspired by the informal architecture used daily which provides a efficient solution to both the safety issue (COVID-19) as well as a green friendly construction way to save our planet.
CONCEPT/ In order to maximize the integration of "sunlight, green space and space" into the campus, methods such as overhead, interspersed, overlapping, staggered, and roof gardens are adopted, so that the building itself becomes a link connecting many functions and areas of the campus. The annular space is connected stairs pipes functional rooms in series, creates an environment in which learning and life are organically integrated, adding a deeper, warmer and more humane connotation to campus culture. The multi-level roof platforms are also endowed with different functions and teaching meanings.
The View from Amusement Terrace
CONCEPT/ The playground plays the connection and transition between the inter-class activities and the teaching space, in order to make the scale of the building more intimate and comfortable, the inward courtyard makes it easier for children to spontaneously experience the space. Schools are not only a space for education, but also a space for students to remember their childhood. ‘Playtainer’ responds to the tandem community with an open, shared and diverse "park community", carries modern educational functions, and at the same time creates a vibrant and energetic amusement park for children.
Multimeida Classoom (Can be Separated into two normal classroom)
Observation tower (The sculpture landkmark of Dharavi)
THE SYMPHONY OF TIMBERLAND
-A SCULPTURAL ARCHITECTURE FOR ENGAGING DAILY EVENTS
CONCEPT/ sculptural architecture that provides its audience with a space to re-align the spirit and to re-discover leisure in a way that utilizes the tenacity of timber to dialogue with history, providing a physical atmosphere that is both dynamic and enveloping, that people can use as a space to interact with one another in the real world.
Group Work
Team Member/ Fang Han
Location/ Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy
Type/ Scuplture Architecture
Time/ 06.2022
Responsibility/ Teamleader+ Scheme Design + Visual and Graphic presetation
CONCEPT/ Architecture is a piece of flowing music, and the whole building emphasizes the fluidity of space through the up-and-down movement and composition of the arch that celebrates the use of timber. Through the modular arch matrix, the building as a whole shows a sense of overall strength through simple repetition; creating new common ground, and a theatre-like environment where people can have some kind of performance interaction; guided by the arches in all directions, all entrances will eventually reach the central resting place. Through three diverse arched forms, the virtual and real changes, the road forms different combinations of spatial functions and tour experiences, as if being in a maze.
PRELIMINARY RESEARCH & CONCEPT
Research of Human/ Design Strategy
CONCEPT/ The installation folows the rhvthm of the music to adiust the combination of modwles, creating changes in densily and creating a leisure space oifive postures of reclining - lie down - talor sit - iting upright - standing, to achieve the design of transparency and depth. The architecture is asustainable design that can be adapted to diverse spaces by changing the number and arrangement of timber sticks and is reproducible.
OVERLAPPING SHADOWS IN PLACE
-A FACTORY RENEWAL PROJECT
CONCEPT/ sculptural architecture that provides its audience with a space to re-align the spirit and to re-discover leisure in a way that utilizes the tenacity of timber to dialogue with history, providing a physical atmosphere that is both dynamic and enveloping, that people can use as a space to interact with one another in the real world.
The overall design takes green building materials as the "BONE", traditional Lingnan design wisdom as the " SPIRIT ", modern creative office space as the " SHAPE ", and green equipment and technical measures as the " FLESH ". With both form and spirit, the bones and flesh are rich, and the historical coal bunker butterfly is transformed into a new green creative office building facing the future, which is a powerful response to the double carbon goal and energy transformation.
The project emphasizes the creation of a "climate buffer layer" that continuously wraps the core office space, which is composed of the overhead ground floor, hanging garden, cold alley space on the east side and open gray space on the west side. In line with the historical building protection "authenticity" principle.
Design combined with the overall concept of "overlapping shadow in place", the waste bricks are filled with traditional patterns , which, together with the historical information retained by them, jointly promote the preservation of cultural memory and the inheritance of traditional skills.
Guangzhou belongs to the South Asian tropical monsoon climate zone climate resources are very rich. Due to its low latitude and the vast South China Sea to the south, both the ocean and the mainland have a very obvious influence on the climate of Guangzhou. The average annual temperature in Guangzhou is between 21.5 ℃ and 22.2℃ . There are abundant rain resources. The average annual precipitation is more than 1800 mm, and the annual precipitation days are about 150 days.
The facade of the building adopts photovoltaic integrated design to provide clean energy that can cover the energy consumption of the building operation. The water source heat pump system is used to reduce the HVAC power consumption. The west side of the building is combined with active shading and vertical greening, and the east side of the building is combined with light well hot pressure ventilation to promote indoor natural ventilation and ensure air quality.
1F
The building uses recycled green building materials greatly reducing carbon emissions from the material side. Adequate natural lighting and ventilation can also greatly reduce energy consumption while satisfying comfort. Through the implantation of various active and passive design strategies combined with climate buffer space, the design goal of low carbon emission and sustainable operation can be achieved through calculation
The LGBTQ+ Museum, the Darlinghurst Police Station
