Selected Works of Yihao Zhang from 2014 - 2020

Selected Works from 2014 -2020

Yihao Zhang

CONTENTS 1/ ROOSEVELT BRIDGE SCHOOL Art School Design

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2/ HUMOROUS DICTATOR

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3/ MY LITTLE FACTORY

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4/ ROOFTOP EQUIPMENT

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5/ SOUTHERNER IN THE NORTH

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6/ TESSELLATION

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7/ A GENTLE BEAST

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8/ SUPPLEMENTARY

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Gymnasium Design

Deployable Self- Employed Workshop Unit

Housing Design

Housing Design

Pavilion

Maultifunctional Mega- Complex

Supplementary Projects

1/ R OOSEVELT B RIDGE S CHOOL A RT S CHOOL D ESIGN Studio work at PennDesign, Spring 2019 Site: Roosevelt Island, New York City Tutor: Daniel Markiewicz

A new Art School is going to be built on Roosevelt Island in New York. As a new building that trying to build a new image of Roosevelt Island, this art school will be seen as a collection of stuffs and diverse interdependent transportation systems. All of those systems are integrated into a whole network, on which spaces and programs are attached, like components.

This building will have a very long span, it will connect the east and the west shore of the Island which will create an image of a bridge. In the urban context, this building will be a counterpart of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge which connects the Manhattan Island and Queens. However, this building is not doing exactly the same thing with the Queensboro Bridge because it is not only using the Island as a foundation like the Queensboro Bridge does, but also allowing users to contact with the Roosevelt Island. This image of a bridge will also fit the additional program we are going to add onto the building as a Ferry Terminal. There will be two ferry stops on both ends of the building which will add a lot of variation of the water way. And by connecting two ferry stops with the interior space of the building will make the Art School as part of the transportation system.

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A BRIDGE & A TERMINAL Instead of just being an art school, it also merges into the New York City public transportation system. Part of it will act as a ferry terminal, and the building is connected with the subway station underground.

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500 250

1000ft

parallel to the bridge

A COUNTERPART OF THE BRIDGE Therefore, it will be a point at which art students and public, different traffic methods, art and public culture, converge. Physically and culturally, it serves as a bridge, an extension and a counterpart of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge at north.

The art school is parallel to the Bridge, so people can see the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge as a background from the south elevation of the art school. In this view, two bridges overlap and merge.

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PLAN & SECTION Interior program and the overall configuration of the building. Also showing the relationship between the builidng and the site.

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interior item stream

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STUFFS & STREAM OF ITEMS Showing the items transportation system in the building with pipes. This system is connecting all parts of this building for moving objects and also people. Also showing the expose of stuffs (infrastructure) of the building to indicate that the systems which keep the builing running are also important.

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chunk model with material details

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1” metal mesh

metal façade frame steel façade holder 36” × 36” HSS steel frame exterior sealer 1 1/2” rigid insolation 1” vapor barrier metal connector concrete slab

Φ 4” secondary steel frame

customized W18 “II” beam 2” exterior metal panel 3” metal window sill

7/8” insolated glass metal window frame 2” hardwood floor finish AC under floor unit W25 I - beam 2” rigid insolation ceiling hook 3 3/4” rigid insolation 3” × 5” aluminum alloy ceiling frame 2” hardwood interior finish

detail wall section

DETAIL WALL SECTION The structure layering of the building façade and the content of the building infrastructure are important parts of the whole system.

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SKYLINE & REVERSED SKYLINE The waving roof is another form of skyline. It extends and responses to the original Manhattan skyline, forming another city landscape. In the meantime, the bottom surface is a reversed “skyline�, creating path through and public space.

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2/ H UMOROUS D ICTATOR G YMNASIUM D ESIGN Studio work at Congqing University, Fall 2015 Collaborator: Jiajia Zhao Site: Chongqing, China Tutor: Associate Prof. Zhaoxia Wang Contribution: Concept 50%, Analysis 50%, Developing 50%, Physical Model 60%

Sometimes, buildings like gymnasium are dictators, have professional and specific programs, and cost a lot to build and occupy a lot of city space making a large piece of urban land single-functioned mandatorily. However, after those big sports events, rare people will use these expensive large buildings. Actually, sometimes an architect has no choice but to design and build these large buildings for the people with real power. So if an architecture will become a dictator inevitably, how about a humorous dictator?

This design devotes to make a gymnasium which must be built in the city more open to the public and more useful during the ordinary times between the big sports events. Using the advantage of the large scale covering of the gymnasium which creates spacious open spaces suit for public functions we add some entertaining new functions which do not appear in a normal gymnasium. Make it an fascinating complex public building.

reading cell

ENTRANCE HALL There is a grand staircase in the entrance hAll allowing people to go to the second floor. This staircase is also an auditorium for lecture. At ordinary times this stand can also be a good place for people to rest and meet. Book cells and working stations are located here, encouraging people to stay. The entrance hell also serves as a node of circulation.

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public speaking

working station

gym stand

Gymnasium

shell

stand support

multi-function platform

market

Public Platforms

gym

gallery

entrance

business

AXON

Public Complex

basketball

art center

The long span creates large open space which is an inborn advantage for arranging public space. Therefore, in addition to the basic functions of a gym, this project has more stuffs to show.

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1

2

4

3 13 5

7

6

13 8 10

12

B1 Floor

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Art center

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1 Art center entrance 2 Staff area 3 Classroom 4 Convenience store 5 Theater 6 Rehearsal room 7 Library 8 Piano room 9 Supermarket 10 Second entrance 11 Cafeteria 12 Restaurants 13 Courtyard

Business area

Ground Floor

Sports area 1

Gallery area Market area

2

Open space 6

3 4

5

7 8

First Floor

5m 0

20m 10m

50m

A multi-function theater in the art center with two-storey space, on the ground floor and the basement floor.

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1 Main entrance hall 2 Exhibition 3 Multi-function room 4 Cafe 5 Basketball court 6 Cafeteria 7 Gym 8 Gallery 9 Reading area 10 Market

view to the courtyard

original texture

UNTYPICAL GYMNASIUM removal

GYM a must-be-there building

obstacle

solution: an absorbing complex

In the entire volume of this building, the proportion of the formal gymnasium has been compressed as much as possible to its minimum only guarantee that it is a fully functional gym for sports events.

We gave the rest parts of this building a lot more accessibility to the public with absorbing programs. They are untypical space in a gymnasium building. Therefore, it can be more useful even after the sports event. It can be treated as a multi-functional and complex community center with the function as a gymnasium which can hold big sports events.

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main game court inner view

ROOF ENVELOPE M×1

M×2

M×2×2

The module is repeated symmetrically. The final result is an envelope which, by its geometry solves several design intentions of the project: natural light, structure and the visual impact for a landmark building.

By continuing the 10m roof module, the rooftop covering obtains structural rigidity.

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Use structural columns to enhance the structural rigidity of the roof.

Glass domes are obtained as a result of the roof module geometry to protect the building from the outdoor.

glazing

Glass wall domes with standard stainless steel skeleton for supporting.

finishing & ceiling

Envelope finishing: Metal structure covering of “Quartz Zinc“ panels with hidden joint anchoring system.

Timber ceiling: Timber ceiling made of beech wood.

envelope structure

Structural beam with variable section welded and assembled in a modular way

structural columns

The primary structural support made of standard dimensions cold bended metal profiles. Designed as structural roof support and to improve resistance to horizontal forces

secondary structure

Structural columns made of standard dimensions cold bended metal profiles and metal plate anchored to the primary structure.

stand support

Stand support made of precast concrete.

STRUCTURE Several modules form the main structure. With the structural columns they support the roof envelope together. The structural columns also help to separate different functions and form different spaces.

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FACADE AND RO

The facade and the roof are both designed and built in a modu These repeated modules decompose the great volume of the atmosphere, like a

OOF COVERING

ular way, which makes them both have sequential appearances. e building. Meanwhile the array-like columns exude a solemn an ancient temple.

3/ M Y L ITTLE F ACTORY D EPLOYABLE S ELF-EMPLOYED W ORKSHOP U NIT Individual work in PennDesign, 2019 - 2020 Site: No specific site Tutor: Brian Phillips

Compared to the old time, now with internet, with computers and 3D printers, the way of manufacture or fabrication has been changed a lot. It used to be more complicated if you want to make something at home by your own hand, and it will be almost impossible if that is a product you want to put on the market. But now days fabrication is much easier even your own home can be a small factory to make some products.

This project is factory can be built or move to anywhere, only if the place have some connection to some urban infrastructure system or some way to generate power. Once powered up and connected to the internet, it is a fully operating factory. It is designed to run by two people, a manager and a designer for example, a small team, and their living area is built on second floor. The requirement of hand craft is minimal, with the in-built fabrication lab unit. The core area is a server running the fabrication lab and support the product design and marketing.

If built in urban area, this factory will help create urban public space and the entrance ramp is like an extension of the urban sidewalk. Or this factory unit can be built anywhere has power and internet, the fabricator can use drones for materials in and products out.

showroom

SHOWROOM & WORKSHOP The showroom is the main public space for showing the product and sell them, manufacturer can make anything they want, in this case, chairs.

Customers can also see the process of making things in this factory.

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STUDIO

EXIHIBIT WALL

WORKSHOP

SERVER

SHOWROOM

Up ENTRANCE

Down to the Street

0

1

5

10 ft

First Floor Plan

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SOUTHERNERS IN THE NORTH [1] Setup The unit has basic program for workshop on the first floor and living on the second. A lift to create a public space is a move to response the urban texture, and a ramp for the entrance making the first floor of the unit which is the showroom an extension of the urban sidewalk.

[2] Production The production process is geo-self-sufficient, absorbing data from the internet to support design and marketing. Materials are coming though the drone worldwide. Final products will be delivered to customers all over the world or purchased by local who walks into the showroom.

[3] Deployable The unit can be built anywhere has connection to urban infrastructure or can generate power and has access to the internet. Once built, the unit is a workshop, an apartment and a store. Therefore, manufacturers can choose a place where more fit for their products to build their little factory.

[1]

program

urban response

drone

[2]

design

fabrication

infrastructure

marketing

drone

[3]

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skin

living

deployable

Down KITCHEN

HOLLOW

LIVING

0

1

5

10 ft

Seccond Floor Plan

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4/ R OOFTOP E QUIPMENT H OUSING D ESIGN Studio work at PennDesign, Fall 2018 Site: Philadelphia, PA Tutor: Brian Phillips

There used to be a lot of manufacturing in textile and mills industry happening in Kensington and Fishtown area, however, the old industries like textile are no longer fit into the new urban context in Philly. Brewing also has its golden time in Philadelphia and it faded out at some point. However, it comes back right now as a new and popular industry which is booming in Philadelphia again.

The reason brewing but not textile can come back is that there is a cultural root of beer drinking in Philadelphia. Brewing in Philly is an industry but also a cultural cement. Meantime, lots of new housing constructions are also happening in Kensington, Philadelphia as here is a housing-needed area due to the new comers. And people are the key points of the developing of brewing industry. In this condition, how new brewing industry can interact with the new urban context especially the housing projects in the urban context could be interesting. This project is trying to grow brewing deeply into the urban context by putting brewing and housing closer than every and see how they can create new conditions of both industry and housing.

NEW RELATIONSHIP As the form of industry has changed a lot after 1980s, as well as the relationship between housing and factory buildings. New relationship can be developed.

1900s, people lived around factories, walk to work

1980s, people lived far from factory

urban housing around abandoned factory

new housing

mutual benefit new industry

now, housing and factory can combine into new type of living & industry

open and activate street space

view to the courtyard

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steel panel skin

steam releasing point exploded skin

housing cores

brewing workshop

connecting pipes

floors

public platforms tasting room / restaurant

PROGRAM Apartments are seating on the top of an old and abandoned factory.

The old factory was partly turned into housing and a brewery is now occupying the space. And the space along the street becomes tasting room and restaurant. The gap between the two volumes is filled in with some platforms as public space.

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HEAT GENERATING Brewing is a heat-generating process.

In the summer, heat is generated at the brewery which will drive fresh air entering the right building and heat will be released at the left peak to enhance the venting process of the interior space.

Summer

Winter

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Ground Floor Plan

Conner Unit Plan

PLAN One bedroom, two bedroom and studio units are arranged in plan depends on different location and boundary conditions. Bathrooms and kitchens are located closer to the center “chimney� for benefiting the ventilation process.

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Edge Unit Plan

section model

CONSTRUCTION LAYING The structure layering of the building façade and the content of the building infrastructure are important parts of the whole living and production system. Also, the overall ventilation system is also partly designed through section. Then center “chimney” also serves as the circulation space.

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SECTION MODEL Space between the double-wall shown in the section is designed for hiding the infrastructure and let the heat flow go through. The interior commuting space and the exterior faรงade condition are also shown in the model.

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1

2

1. section 2. elevation 3. interior corridor

3

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5/ SOUTHERNER IN THE NORTH H OUSING D ESIGN Solo work, Summer 2017 Site: Beijing, China

This is a house built for two southerners who have been living in the north for years. They always have the old southern lifestyle, however, their apartment house built in a northern building style does not fit for their life. The new house will give them a new life they have dreamed for years.

Built for two foreigners, this house is also a foreigner in the city. A house with a southern heart stands in a north city. It is making afforts to fit in this northern city, but the southern dream inside it will always be announcing its character, secretly.

SOUTHERNERS IN THE NORTH [1] 1953-1958 My grandparents are both born and grown in Sichuan, a southern province of China. In spring 1953 my grandfather joined the Korean War as a soldier and went to North Korean. My grandmother went with him. In the war he suffered a minor leg injury. After the war ended in 1953, they stationed in North Korea until they withdrew in February 1958. After that they garrisoned in Heilongjiang province for two years.

[2] 1960-1972 In 1960s, oil fields in north China was rapidly developing and there was a great demand of workers. So, my grandfather retired from the army and joined the Daqing Oil Field in Heilongjiang as an oil worker. And then transferred to Dagang Oil Field after 1964.

[3] 1972-Present Transferred to Huabei Oil Field in Cangzhou in 1972. Through these years their health condition becomes worse gradually, for the better medical conditions they moved to Beijing in 2007. Till now, two southerners lived and settled in the north after returned from North Korean over 50 years.

FORMATION

site

programs

garden

height limit/ sinking

water collecting slope

surface/ openings

stairs/ elevator

public space

living core

October

No ve mb er

er eb ptm Sem

r be cem e D

Though living in the north,my grandparents still keep the southern life style, growing and harvesting things, making preserved foods.

S o u s in

g

yc R ec

G r o wi

yc

l

ng

g Storin

vegetables

v e sti n g

ng

ng

H ar

Re c

Fe bu ary

K i mc h i

January

Ga rlic

ng

i

ea

ry

g

Co g okin g/ Storin

cycle of vegetables and preserved foods

in

v e sti n g

April

preserved meat G r o wi

H ar

rch Ma

in g/ Stori ng

ki Coo

Ma y

king/ d

t Le Be ef

to ta Po wp o Daikon Radish C to a Tom

ok Co

Co wpe a

sm o

Pickled

rl

Peic tu pper ce Cabbage

Kid ney Bean

li

ng

a Sug ared G

July

Sm S ok ed o Saus za age at ao L Me Perserved e Jun

Au gu st

al te d

SOUTHERN LIFE STYLE

g sin Proces

preserved vegetables

PROGRAM B1/ Dining room & Storage & Kitchen

G/ Living room & Sewing workshop

Large dining room for the family dinner party, a big kitchen for grandmother with storing space. A laundry room and the engine room for the elevator.

Primary room for daily activities. A place to keep my granpa’s book collection, a place for reading and guest recepting.

Grandma’s sewing workshop is also on this floor. A little dining table for grandparents’ daily meals.

F1/ Garden

F2/ Bedroom & Guest room

A vegetation-filled garden where grandfather can grow vegetables and flowers. This is a semi-outdoor space with good views. Grandmother can use this platform to air dry her preserved foods.

A concrete box designed as the bedroom is located at the top of the house, which keeps privacy and provides insulation of the noise. Windows on both sides ensure the good lighting condition.

36.7 %

6230

water collect

45 × 45

WATER TANK water out

ELEVATOR

600 100

1300

2250

150 × 75

ENGINE ROOM KITCHEN

gravel

perforated pipe

2900

2050

300

975

2000

700

155

1250

GARDEN

4650 6070

1190

1190

tor

1250

1190

skylight

2850

3550

155

21.4%

150 × 150

DINING ROOM

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2 1 3

4

1. livingroom 2. diningroom 3. garden 4. garden

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6/ T ESSELLATIO P AVILION 501 Studio work at PennDesign, Fall 2017 Collaborator: Rentian Liu, Mitchell Chisholm, Catherine Shih Site: Penn Museum, Philadelphia Tutor: Benjamin Krone Contribution: Concept, Diagram, Rendering, Physical Model

This structure is the aggregation of one form, expressed on three scales, that displays two primary conditions: open and closed. We first use these conditions to draw a flat image of solid over void that appears in elevation from the base of the Cairo grid. From any other angle, however, the pavilion complicates--even directly opposes this initial condition. We push and pull parts in space, shift component scales, and vary connection points to suggest new readings of the same structure.

Here we explore the consequence of multiple interpretations in three dimensions: the expansion of space when the appearance of surface shifts to that of volume, and the inversion of structure as the appearance of mass becomes that of void. The result is a material, spatial language for multiple readings.

FABRICATION

fasten

screws: fasten plastic + creates joints frame: holds the plastic

Make a cut in the center of the plastic sheet and then heat half of the material and shape the form. Then, flip the plastic sheet and heat another half of the sheet and make the same shape again. The component will be ready after cooling down.

plastic sheet

heat

template: only heats one side cover: fastens plastic + creates joints mold: shapes the plastic

side 1

side 2

press

rail support component

press further flip side 1

repeat

container

space for side 1

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Plan

ANGLE AND ELEVATION STUDY Different angles of installation will create different visual effects on the elevation with different openness and transparency. Which can create multiple readings of the project.

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7/ A G ENTLE B EAST M AULTIFUNCTIONAL M EGA- C OMPLEX UIA-HYP Competition, Summer 2014 Collaborator: Dian Liu, Yetian Liu Site: Shibati, Chongqing, China Tutor: Mr. Ke Chen Contribution: Concept 60%, Analysis 60%, Developing 70%, Physical Model 40%

When the old order of an area has been almost completely destroyed, and the site is now in chaos, should we attempt to solve all the problems and restore the site to its previous condition? Or should we give up the old community and build a new one for those inhabitants?

Shibati, the oldest part of Chongqing City, was the representation of old Chongqing, famous for its old building style, the life atmosphere and traditional culture, connects the Upper City and the Lower City of Chongqing. Now Shibati is facing the above-mentioned problem. The site is in a mass, and the urban redevelopment plan cannot move forward. The site is left there in a bad condition.

This design is like a powerful beast, who comes into the site and give the site an entirely new order.

However, this beast will be a gentle one. In this design, although we build a mega-complex, we give the inhabitants a new better life, and the old Shibati will be remembered, and protected in a different way.

50m 0

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100m

200m 500m

phase 1:

Select existing buildings as the supporting point of the structure; Sell the forward delivery housing (phase 1); Rent out some of the hotels.

phase 2:

Select available land and build more buildings as the supporting point.

phase 3:

Build the entrance part and the commercial area near the entrance; Rent out shops.; Sell the forward delivery housing (phase 2).

phase 4:

Build the public area on the north side. The theater comes into service; Build residential area (phase 1).

CONSTRUCTION To avoid the financial issue, the construction of this project will be divided into 6 phases. Build the hotels and the commercial part first. Rent out the hotels and sell the forward delivery housing to get the money for the later phases’ construction. Not like the government’s project before, this project will become a selfsufficient one. Finally with all the buildings come into service and inhabitants move into the community. The mega-complex will be finished. In the meantime, the landscape recovering plan is implementing concurrently.

phase 5:

Build the sports area; Build residential area (phase 2); Most of the public buildings come into service (nursing home, library, etc.).

phase 6:

Build the observation deck; All public buildings come into service; All hotels rent out.

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roof floor

entrance

B1 floor

B2 floor

0

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PROGRAM & SPACE

roof top ring park A park on the roof, with landscape and vegetation. A bikeway is built in this park.

And also, there is a good view of the whole city area.

The section on the north-west side with a supermarket, a theater and a hotel; A sports area on the east side with other functions for the community; A public area on the south side with an observation deck and a library.

The formation of the space also have a pattern. Using these space archetypes, public spaces is designed into various forms to meet their different functions.

commercial area bicycle rental theater

Distinct types of house are designed to meet the various needs. Residences are designed independently, and not use those archetypes mentioned above, since there are different functional requirements between house and public space.

hotel

space form

nursing home Many old people will be living in this area. whole-roof

half-roof

double L-roof

standard form

L-roof

public market Service for the residential area. two-storey space

public space

sports area observation deck

Built on the south side of the Ring, the deck has a perfect view of Yangtze River.

residential area Different residence layouts are provided to meet the different needs of various groups of people.

gymnasium

observation deck

gallery

concave entrance

ramp

fitness

bikeway & rental

roof park

open market

library residence & shophouse type

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50

100

200m

SOLO with shop

two-storey with shop

two-storey

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It is amazing to watch the old town scenery while biking!

This interesting bar is famous in Chongqing!

The balcony has a good view!

Wonderful! I can grow things in my little garden.

Our new home is great!

RESIDENCE & SHOPHOUSE To meet the traditional Chinese lifestyle, different residence layouts are provided, both regular apartments and shophouses with a shop on the top floor, and living area below. The relative position of publicity and privacy has flipped over, different from the traditional way. Also, every apartment is offered a little garden as a little farm, aiming to increasing their income.

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coffee or wine?

north entrance public area

sporting area

PUBLIC SPACE Public area near the north entrance, around the entrance of the hotel.

This area is connected with the Upper City closely. Equipped with some shops and a supermarket, this area will become attractive.

The basketball court in the sports area near the residential section.

Community sports events or live show both can be held there. Threestorey form and the skylight make the space fairly open.

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8/ S UPPLE

EMENTARY

REVIT DRAWINGS Revit detail drawings and modeling. Rendering with textures and materials.

church

Italian cuisine

escalator Island Line to HKU market tea house

theater

B2 market

C

B1

Japanese cuisine fitness center community plaza

parking lo vertical garden

King George V memorial park

5S

tram line park Sai Ying Pun station

tram stop 84W

Island Line to Sheung Wan A

overbrid

tram community center

tram stop 84W, 13E

public platform

B3

ot

973, A10, 18P, 43X, 4 6X, 970, 970X

12 seaside complex

seafood market passenger terminal

gymnasium

swimming pool

ferry to Yung Sue Wan

ferry to Mainland

dge

coastline

HONG KONG URBAN DESIGN

This community has its own operating model, so it is not realistic to make massive changes. The pedestrian network is a crucial part of this it. Thus, we extend the network to higher floors. Hoping to rejuvenate the community.