Architecture Portfolio_Ellis WANG Yulai

WANG YULAI

ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL & ACADEMIC WORK

A. PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT AT 164-164A BOUNDARY STREET

PROJECT TYPE: RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

FIRM: ASSOCIATED ARCHITECTS LIMITED, HONG KONG

This is a proposal for 164-164A Boundary Street, a new 20-story residential building with recreational facilities and basement parking on a approx. 496m2 development site in the neighbourhood of Ho Man Tin. The 66m structure would contain 2348m2 of space, including 14 single-floor units and 1 duplex unit, a clubhouse on 1/F, and 17 parking spaces.

Contribution:

- Develop building facade and interior design.

- Responsible for 3D modeling and renderings.

- Assist in GBP submission.

- Assist in project administration and design coordination.

The overall design of the lobby strives to create a luxurious and warm atmosphere.

To extend the style of exterior into the lobby, stone and bronze elements of the facade are introduced to the entrance. For areas where people spend longer period of time, including reception and mailroom, the main materials change to wood to create a more soothing and comfortable space.

LABORATORY FACILITIES

PROJECT TYPE: INSTITUTIONAL BUILDING

FIRM: ASSOCIATED ARCHITECTS LIMITED, HONG KONG

Design Description

This building is designed to consolidate testing services from government laboratories, while also providing a library, post office, and homecare services for the community. It is situated in Area 86 of Tseung Kwan O and is connected to the LOHAS Park residential area in the north via a footbridge. The tower houses the lab facilities, while the public amenities are located in the podium, creating a welcoming space for the neighborhood.

Contribution

- Develop building facade design - Responsible for 3D modeling and renderings - Assist in design presentation (PQDVC) - Draft architecture requirement report

ALTERATIONS & ADDITIONS OF METROPOLE BUILDING

PROJECT TYPE: A&A OF COMMERTIAL BUILDING

FIRM: ASSOCIATED ARCHITECTS LIMITED, HONG KONG

Design Description

This is the renovation project of Metropole Building (新都城) at nos. 428-438 King’s Road, North Point. The client wants to completely renovate the commercial building and upgrade it into a shopping mall in line with contemporary needs. AAL, as AP and project architect, works with AJAR, as design architect, to propose design and prepare drawings for this project.

Contribution

- Site Investigation - Assist in GBP submission.

- Assist in project administration and design coordination.

Design Description

This project is a unique single-family residence located Mashan Island in Shandong Province, China. The layout employs a ninesquare grid system, optimizing space utilization and flow. Courtyard and terraces incorporate the stunning natural surroundings into the interior spaces, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. Strategically placed skylights punctuates the home, bathing it in natural light and creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow for a visually intriguing effect.

Contribution

- Assist in weekly presentation drawings and renderings - Assist in 3D modelling

- Assist in design coordination

B. ACADEMIC

NEGOTIATED GROUNDS: A NATURE SCHOOL ABOVE FISHPONDS

AUTUMN 2021 / MARCH STUDIO / INDIVIDUAL WORK

TUTOR: JOSHUA BOLCHOVER

The first phase is conceptualising processes of change through experiment and observation. By designing a device, I recorded the process of a 15*15*15cm foam cube being corroded by glue and translated it into a notation drawing.

This drawing shows how the voids, corroded by glue coming from different directions, grow and mix inside the cube.

The aim of this studio is to investigae how architecture can inform and alter the process of urban transformation by providing a spatial generator that can stimulate change in an urban area that is in urgent need of development. As for the method, it is arranged as a series of experiments that begin abstractly but increase in specifity to distil distinct spatial concepts that are then tested against increasing number of constraints, such as site, program and performance.

As the final result, in the Deep Bay Wetland Hong Kong, where the needs of development collided with the importance of ecological conservation, I designed a nature school on the area's fishponds, hoping to provide a teaching space that is close to nature and flexible in function, and also hopes to the local ecosystem centered on fishponds can be protected by introducing educational institutions to this area.

device

sliced cube

The next phase is where two students take two dinstinctive materials (timber sticks and conrete) to design a spatial prototype that reponds to an abstract site condition. The aim is to not consider too much site information, but only respond to its spacial characteristic. The site for our group is a piece of land in middle of a fish pond area. There are three intersections along one line.

Our strategy is to lift up a huge mass with the help of densely distributed frames. Structural and circulation cores are located at the junctions, and the grid rotated in contrast to the orthogonal set up of the intersection and allow the mass to overhang as much as possible over the water. Voids were also cut in the mass to set up the internal organization of the space and bring in light, which is inspired by previous documentation of corrosion.

Aspects from site are introduced in phase 3. Prototype from last phase is tested in a specific site and get developed into a complete projects by introducing programe. In order to make full use of the natural resourse and beautiful landscape of this

area, I define the function of the building as a nature school, where children can learn environmental knowledge and cultivate ecological awareness. For the development of the area, the introduction of educational institutions can also achieve a balance between development and environmental protection.

fishpond ecosystem

PHASE 03 STUATING + ADAPTING

birds-eye view of this region

Building shape is transferred from rectangle to circle, offering a continuous panoramic view for the students. Structural system is slightly adjusted, and only three landing points are used to support the entire building. The idea of voids is preserved, providing vertical traffic and indoor lighting for the building. In the end, a natural school lightly sits on the fish pond.

Structure:

Three trusses connected to one point as the vertical structure and three beam trusses connects them horizontally. The main structure fully utilizes the stability of triangle. The floor beam are put on it and columns are placed to hold up the ceiling. Since three main beams are equal, they form an equilateral triangle on the plane. In this way, the geometry of structure works with the geometry of plan.

Space:

The space is only divide by curtains to push the flexible plan

tem to an extreme condition.

There are two kinds of curtains. One is opaque (made of wool) and can obsorb sound. It can enclose relatively private rooms for teaching, working or meeting. The other is translucent (made of voile). It can enclose relatively public rooms for dining, relaxing or playing.

Basically the composition of curtains follows a grid system but influenced by two extra elements, trusses and voids. The trusses that penetrate the floor will influence circulation space. The Voids are carved to let light in, offer vertical circulation and give opportunity to go below the main floor to and close to the water.

Construction:

The use of prefabricated components and the use of screw pile foundations allows the building to be constructed and dismantled quickly, in response to the uncertainty of the future development of this area.

INHABITABLE FABRIC: AN EXPLORATION ON FLEXIBLE ARCHITECTURE

SPRING 2022 / MARCH THESIS / INDIVIDUAL WORK

TUTOR: JOSHUA BOLCHOVER

This project starts with making devices to observe what kind of space can be generated by fabric. These devices are designed to change the fabric form at will. The voids between layers of fabrics

My thesis project explores how to utilize fabric to design buildings that can be flexibly divided and provide a rich sensory experience to users. Physical models are the primary research method. Models in different scales are made during the process in order to identify possible space types, determine suitable structure systems, and prove the feasibility of the design prototype.

The final result is more like an art installation. Supported by steel cables and metal columns, a light space made of fabric floats above the ground. People can pass under it and manually adjust the shape of the space with the help of custom-made mechanisms. This installation can be seen as a 1:4 model, representing an architectural prototype that can change form in response to particular external forces.

The first step has demonstrated the potential of fabric as a subdivision tool for architectural design. After this, the aspect of structure is brought into the project. The criteria for choosing the structural system is that it should be light, easily disassembled and has some degree of standardization.

Two systems are tested, scaffolding system and cable net structure. The latter one gets selected for further development as space and structure are more complimented. In this system, fabrics are not only suspended from poles but also connected by ropes. The constraints from these two components stabilize the surface without sacrificing the flexibility of space.

operation video

operation video B

The final step focuses on improving the tensile system designed by the second model from last step by making larger scale models. The goal of this phase is to build a prototype of a habitable scale (approximately 1:5) that people can walk through and adjust the fabric.

REVITALIZING TONGTAI DISTRICT: AN ALTERNATIVE URBAN RENEWAL STRATEGY

SPRING 2019 / BACHELOR STUDIO / INDIVIDUAL WORK

TUTOR: WANG KAI

The current urban renewal method of Changsha City is brusque. The government sells the land usage right to developers, who then turn the city's old streets into a one-size-fits-all commercial complex. The original street pattern and spatial texture were changed and destroyed.

This project takes Tongtai District as the site, aiming to explore an alternative spatial strategy to replace the current urban renewal method of Changsha City. By inserting new programs into the existing buildings to activate the old districts, the original city texture is protected, the locals don't need to relocate, and the memory of the city gets preserved.

Tongtai District

STEP 01 STREET IMPROVEMENT demolish a few houses to form a complete street network.

STEP 02 ZONING setting a new zoning plan for this district

STEP 03 BUILDING SELECTION select specific buildings to prepare for the

STEP 04 BUILDING RECONSTRUCTION insert new functions into those

The five types of buildings/spaces have corresponding renovation strategy according to their spatial characteristics. Also, different functions are assigned to each building according to the district zoning of the block.

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