Selected works from 2021 to 2025 E-mail: yl3878@cornell.edu
YIFAN LIU AR AR T
PORTFOLIO CHITCTURE
24-year-old should not limit a young man's ambition, and a 30-page portfolio does not represent an architect's future.
CONTENT
Design Practice Project 01 10/2022 - 12/2023,4th-5th Year
Extracurricular design practice in How Programme? from 2022 to 2023.
The College 02 09/2021 - 12/2021, 3rd Year
Architecture's most unpretentious and traditional design process and presentation.
Bird Living - Bird Watching 03
Architecture serving birds and nature.
02/2022 - 06/2022, 3rd Year
Stereotomic 04
Architectural design tools based on the ancient stonemason's method of cutting stones.
04/2022 - 09/2023, 4th Year
Warsaw Student Residence Community 05 12/2021 - 06/2022, 3rd Year
To Create an environmentsuitable for young people’s life, career-growth and social networking.
STREETOPIA 06
Firs attempt on urban desing and residential complex design.
05/2023 - 10/2023, 4nd Year
AquaLink Cleveland 07
Proposal for urban development by Lake Erie and CHEERS.
Winter Break 2024, 2 Weeks
Assistant Architect 2022.10-2023.12
Extracurricular
NOODLES
Facade design, Hardcover Design, Furniture Design
Aranya, Hebei, China
'S Noodles is the latest generation of KV and other partners' 23-seat series of restaurants. Mr. KV, as the principal and designer, has carried out the architectural renovation and interior design of commercial buildings within the Anaya Community IX neighborhood. I assisted KV as a design assistant to bring the design to life.
N27 · SSS · POPUP
Facade design, Hardcover Design, Furniture Design
Aranya, Hebei, China
Due to the nature of the restaurant's flash mob, the entire restaurant's cost control was very strict, the facade was simply treated, with the addition of an air-retracting film header, the entire restaurant's tone was positioned in grass-green, to bring a touch of Dalian's physical and mental coolness to visitors to the Anaya Auditorium in 2023.
N27 is a family-run restaurant business, in which KV acts as the designer to control the design effect for each store, and I act as the design assistant to help KV to complete the design landing match, which will be presented in the summer of 2023.
The Anaya VII community is a vibrant and emerging neighborhood, and on the north side of the old park, we designed a sunken 700mm red clay court in a waterfront location, partnering with international red clay court brand, Tianjiao Sports, to complete the design of the entire site.
The entire DU project space is dominated by light grey tones, so in the ECRIVAIN store space a Pantone color called spring pear matte light yellow was chosen as the color of the additional panel wall, wanting to make the transition between the inner and outer space more natural and soft.
XinTiandi, Shanghai, China Fashion Store
Hardcover Design, Furniture Design
The College
Spring 2022, Design Studio
Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, ETHz Site:
Training in the control of block, slab, and stick from traditional architectural design strategies, and applying the ability to actual architectural design. Requires a thorough understanding of building structures and the logic of the organization of building component construction. Presentation of design solutions in conjunction with ETHz Architectural Education requirements for physical models, hand-drawn drawings, electronic drawings, and renderings.
Xicheng District, Beijing, China
Instructor: Yu Dao (Chair of ETHz), Ren Zhongqi, Jiang Wei Individual Work | Academic
Formal Investigation of Space
The element type of the space definition determines the type ospace.In a design, elements of unclear or ambiquous type like slablikeblocks, stick-like slabs or block-like sticks, etc. can be used. This also depends on the scale of the element, as building material adds furtherdimensions. Also, various element types and variations might be used in a design.
A block has a mass which can also be interpretedas space and a continuous outer surface. The surfaces and their edaes zone the surrounding space. The space defining element is on the outside of the space. The space defining element is on the outside of the space. Space is perceived throughthe continuous surface surrounding or outlining it, and the zonesformed by convex edges.
A slab has two surfaces and a continuous edge. The surfaces separate two spaces and the edges zone the surroundingspace in two directions. The space defininoelement is between spaces. The space defininoelement is between spaces. Space is perceived in three ways: throughthe overlapping zones formed by the edges, as cearly separated by asurface and as partial enclosures formed by several surfaces.
A stick has only one edge. It forms a locus defining space around it. The space defining element is inside the space. The space defining element is inside thespace. Space is perceived in several different ways, as surrounding astick, as a permeable boundary, as a linear outline and in the accumulation in depth resulting in a differentiation of density.
Block Stick Slab
Double Yard and School Zürich, Switzerland
Leutschenbach School Zürich, Switzerland
1111 Lincoln Road Miami, U.S.A.
Giuliani Hönger
Christian Kerez Herzog & de Meuron
Handmade models are the most primitive and intuitive method of presenting architectural design, even in today's world of rapid computer software development, this design process cannot be omitted. In this process, I can intuitively feel the structure, the logic of construction and the presentation of design elements.
Atrium 1:100 Outdoor Platform 1:100
BIRD LIVING - BIRD WATCHING
Architecture
Spring 2022, Design Studio
Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture
Instructor: Jiang Wei, Mu Jun
Site: The River Dee, Chester, UK
Individual Work | Academic
Honorable Mention
Bird Watching in The Chester Meadows 2022 International Competition
" The real essence of all architectural works exists in structural activities. While specific materials are assembled and constructed, our architecture becomes a part of the real world " Peter Zumthor
The Plight of Birds
“We are deeply troubled by the disquieting research published today on the number of birds killed every year in Canada due to human-related activities,” said Ian Davidson, executive director of Nature Canada. “Fortunately, there are concrete and sensible ways that people and governments can prevent the needless death of birds, especially now during the migratory season.”
“There are estimates in North America that a billion birds are killed every year by human activity,” said Paul Pratt, naturalist for WIndsor Parks and Facilities. “Cats and windows are the two you hear about the most. The greatest chance birds have of dying have something to do with our activities.”
Site
The meadows are rich in biodiversity and offer a fantastic opportunity for designers to challenge themselves and explore their creativity within this sustainable and vernacular We now live in a world where architecture takes valuable resources and causes destruction of the naturalenvironment. We are looking for a design scheme that builds a connection between humans and nature andgives back to our natural surroundings, rather than only taking from them.
Earl’s Eye Meadow
How can humans occupy spaces that inspire harmony with the natural environment? What can we, as designers, do to accomplish this and create architecture that avoids destruction of the natural world while also benefitting our environmental impact? We now live in a world where architecture takes valuable resources and causes destruction of the natural environment. We are looking for a design scheme that builds a connection between humans and nature and gives back to our natural surroundings, rather than only taking from them.
I chose wood structure as the main building material, which is closer to nature and more traditional. Reducing nature's awareness of human activities, hide human activities in the bird watching platform, and let the bird watching platform create a shelter for birds at the same time
Artificially provide a temporary shelter for birds, and place the bird watching platform on the Bank of the River Dee which is also the boundary between the city and nature.
The whole building is overhead and ground, and the concrete foundation is the only place where the building destroys the natural environment. At the same time, since vehicles are not allowed to enter the nature reserve, it is more convenient for building materials to enter the construction site than steel structure.
The space reserved for birds on the first floor and the second floor is just a man-made support for birds and nature. The specific activities of birds, including nesting and staying, are left to birds to give full play to the creativity of nature and develop into a more natural space after completion, and make the whole building more integrated into nature.
Timbers & Planks
Programme Evolution
Natural Materials
From the highest angle, observe the activities of birds in the distance.
From the highest angle, observe the activities of birds in the distance.
Provide a habitat and rest platform for birds near the bird watching platform.
There are different expressions on both sides of the building, and the open side will face the more gentle and open water. The introverted and introverted side faces the land and rocks, which becomes a milestone of natural tenderness and hardness in the section
The three original habitat and living sites of birds, sky, land and water, intervene in the structures at the boundary to provide an additional habitat level for birds. The construction behavior and human activities shall be separated from the ground as far as possible to reduce the damage to nature and birds.
Bird Watching
Bird Living
Bird Living
Above Building facade and behavior Division
Lower Left
Topographic profile
Roof supporting structure
The load-bearing capacity of the roof is small. The beam supporting the roof uses small longitudinal section raw materials and is fixed with angle steel and self tapping screws.
Main bearing structure
The vertical member with the largest load-bearing in the single body is strengthened into four wooden squares, and the connected members are connected by overlapping and locking.
Breast board structure
The timbers and planks are overlapped with each other and connected with a small number of steel members.
Bird habitat structure
Hide the steel member inside the wood member, which is closer to the real nature.
STEREOTOMIC
Summer 2023, Researching Studio
Instructor: Zhang Yunyu, Zhang Shaopeng
Individual Work | Academic
Design and build with stone is not simple, but not even impossible. In the past, design and build with stone was very common in the largest part of Europe and Asia. Specially in Europe, stone was (and still is) abundantly available and, consequently, the theoretical and practical competences to design and built with this material were largely diffused. This condition has contributed to its knowledge spread, diffusing a proper constructive culture. Instead, nowadays it is possible to observe the absence of consolidated and communicable cultural design practices on the subject. To be widely known and diffused, the research should be easily comprehensible and widespread, a goal that the complexity of a doctoral research not always can achieve. Moreover, who wants to try to face the design of an innovative stone architecture, has to surely manage a series of themes (form finding, tessellations, etc.) which need a high time consuming to be master properly, time not always adequately available. Consequently, all this early difficulties, could discourage the designer who finishes to fall back on more reassuring and canonical solutions, because of the lack of robust skills on the subject.
Therefore, it is necessary to start from a basic knowledge which must to be as more clear and replicable as possible. In this way, more designers will be encouraged to experiment. It is possible that they could produce imperfect concepts, but however perceptively similar to the correct and optimized version of the project. It is important to point out that in architecture, formal, structural and materiality are only some of the aspects to consider. Because there are many other to investigate, it is important that the design process remains easy to manage but, at the same time, conceptually rigorous. In the early design phases, during the concept development, it is not necessary to produce a “perfect” idea, but it is important to consider all the main elements of the project, in order to be develop it further without major alterations. The aspects to unavoidable consider from the beginning of the conceptual development of stone architecture projects are:
Stereotomic
Stereotomic architecture is the architecture of subtraction or carving away of solid form. The word is derived from the two Greek roots 'stereo' meaning three-dimensional and 'tomos' meaning to cut. It relates to but is not synonymous withe stereometric forms.
Design And Technological Challenges of Stone Architecture
The production of stone architecture faces two relevant challenges: the first is related to theoretical design aspects and the other one is related to technology and fabrication. They are obviously linked, but they must to be faced in two different moments of the design process.
In the past, design and build with stone was very common in the largest part of Europe and Asia. Specially in Europe, stone was (and still is) abundantly available and, consequently, the theoretical and practical competences to design and built with this material were largely diffused.
The operability of stones is the key to ensuring that multiple masons can work together to form a complete work. So even seemingly heterogeneous blocks and surfaces must be based on standard aggregates, cut or spliced as a result.
The process of generating the CCTV Headquater by OMA is equally very clear. It starts with a pyramid with a base side of 160 meters x 160 meters and a height of 800 meters. Then it was cut according to the city height limit and skyline design principles. Finally, the top and bottom blocks are cut off to form a final space.
Block Subtraction
The difference set operation between blocks can form a predetermined space within an unknown space. The newly formed surface after cutting can prepare for the next operation.
The cutting of geometric bodies by plates can evenly or unevenly cut the complete body into smaller units of blocks, reducing the unit volume for the next step of space reduction operation.
Standard Geometry
The interaction between standard geometries can enable the final building form to be manually constructed, preventing the limitations of nonlinear design on construction.
Slice Cutting
30m Floor Plan
Stepped Space
During the interlocking of the blocks, the outer surface of one inclined block enters the interior of the other, and the space enclosed by the intersection of the two inclined surfaces is suitable for a stepped space that can be used for lecturing, scrutinising, and lounging.
Transverse Section
The elevators, egress stairs, and MEP system are all truched into a thin vertical strip along the back edge of the site, so the rest of the footprint can be freed up for a pure geometric & spatial experience.
45m Floor Plan
Light Cone & Cylinder
Subtracting a single light-transmitting cone from the cylindrical assemblage introduces sky light into each level of the space, which reduces the usable area, but for an exchange space this is very
Warsaw Student Residence Community
Warsaw's buildings were severely damaged after the Second World War, and in order to revive the post-war economy, a large number of factory buildings were built, which nowadays have become the main target for renovation and transformation. A new block of flats, offices and an exhibition centre is proposed for a block of old factory buildings in the Warsaw Dzielnica Praga Północna.The design pays the highest respect to the old factory by designing the new building as a low-profile curtain, presenting the old factory as a sculpture to the city and representing the old factory as the spiritual centre of the neighbourhood.
Honorable Mention
ARCHITECTURE STUDENT CONTEST 2022
First Prize of China Stage
Site: Dzielnica Praga Północna, Warsaw, Poland
Contest, Spring 2022
Instructor: Ren Zhongqi
Team Work | Liuyifan, Liu Shiyu, Yu Zhaoqing
"Hi, I'm Fabio, fresh graduate from University of Warsaw , majored in graphic design."
"I need an apartment to live in."
"I am currently an independent designer and I just need a cheap work place to work."
"Of course, as an ENTP, I really need to socialize frequently!"
"One day I found myself very skilled in the application of bionics in design works."
"I won many small projects and placed my works in the exhibition space , many people began to hear of me."
"Many of them came to visit me in the pub, including my later clients and talented young people who were interested in it."
"We have established a tiny design company to complete more projects on a larger scale, we need a larger space to work together!"
"More young people came upon hearing the news, even taking trains from Warsaw downtown. I hold regular forums for them."
Warsaw, as a region with relatively developed higher education, provides fixed financial support for the work of fresh graduates, ensuring their basic living and work needs. But students still need a relatively concentrated area to handle work, life, and entertainment.
Fabio's Live after Graduation
Apartment Interior Decoration Apartment Public Area
Apartment Sculpture Staircase
Old Factory Renovation Corridor
To create an environment suitable for young people’s career growth, life and social networking.
To create a spiritual center to drive the sustainable development of the district.
To create a source to continuously output power to the society.
Analysis of Green Buildings
Prefabricated Assembly System
As a newly constructed building, a minimum environmental pollution strategy is necessary. Secondly, selecting appropriate building materials can help complete the scenario envisioned earlier. This plan adopts the building material selection provided by Saint Gobain®
Prefabricated structural units and on-site assembly greatly reduce construction costs and time. Secondly, we refer to the interior decoration prefabricated module scheme provided by Saint Gobain® to solve problems such as water seepage and sealing from the architectural design level.
the climate
of the
through
or
Glare Prevetion Introduced Air by Mezzanine Rain Water Reservoir
Opened Square to South Staircases Introduce Air to Each Floor
and First Floor Elevation High-Rise Truss Placement
Facade Installation
STREETOPIA
To continue the location of the historical streets with the streets as the center. At the same time, at the ground level, we emphasized the connectivity between the street and the public space, creating an environment that blends the traditional hutong atmosphere with modern functionality. In order to enhance the vitality and socialization of the neighborhood, we provided public activity spaces on the second floor of each residential building, and connected each activity space through a skywalk.
We have created a comfortable and convenient living and working environment for the residents. Through carefully designed floor plans, elevation proportions and lighting design, we have pursued the perfect combination of visual aesthetics and functionality to provide residents with a comprehensive neighborhood that is pleasant to live and work in.
Scenes from Traditional Hutongs
In terms of floor plan layout, we have pursued the comfort and privacy of the living space. Through the skillful layout, each residential unit is able to enjoy sufficient natural lighting and ventilation. Drawing on the characteristics of traditional hutongs, we created staggered courtyards and courtyard spaces in the design to provide residents with private and pleasant outdoor recreational areas.
Small plazas are an important element of community regeneration, so even small areas of vacant space are efficiently converted into small plazas. While this is not an ancient traditional space type, it does facilitate neighborly communication and is an important component within the modern hutong space.
Due to the constant changes in the house sites over the centuries, many of the building boundaries are no longer as neat as they generally were in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but rather there are staggered blocks formed as a result of alterations and extensions, and many of the recesses have been utilized.
Spontaneous planting is the right of every resident, either to grow edible vegetables or fruits or to beautify their front door. Some are planted in pots on the ground, while others build their own shelves for planting. Those plants gives the community a new green characteristic
Spontaneously constructed pergolas give residents extra storage space, a place to store less valuable items even if privacy is at a premium, increasing the efficiency of indoor space utilization in a way that occupies public space. It was used to be limitation of spaces, but it become a new utilisation.
The original east-west oriented public narrow alleys were divided into semi-private spaces with walls due to changes in house ownership, and at the nodes where the narrow alleys meet the main hutongs, they are generally reserved for the main hutongs to form more spacious outer courtyards.
Traditional courtyards are enclosed spaces on all four sides, with the inward-looking and peacekeeping courtyards serving as the family's main landscape and activity center. However, due to changes over the past hundred years, most of them have been transformed into large miscellaneous courtyards
Small Square Unevenly Distributed Mass Spontaneous Implantation Eaves Space Fore Courtyard
Inner Courtyard
In the urban design stage, the boundary between residential clusters, office clusters, and urban open functions is an urgent issue that needs to be solved. Secondly, the commercial nature of the first floor of residential buildings plays an important role for residents.
Residential Cluster Inner Courtyard
Typical Block - First Floor Plan
Typical Block
New Generation of Living Machines
The new generation of tenants do not need or have the financial strength to afford excessively spacious living spaces. High privacy, reasonable space utilization, reasonable lighting, and low decoration costs are the main reference points for tenants to choose to rent. While increasing the rental income of the community, the living space with a sense of package in the courtyard is preserved.
Proposal for Urban Development by Lake Erie and CHEERS in Cleveland
Winter Break 2024, ULI Hines Student Copmetition
Instructor: Wilson Rui Qian, Mitch Glass, Juxni Wu Team Work, 2 Weeks
Yifan Liu, Xinqi Xie, Shu Chen Xu, Ziteng Ma (Cornell); Oscar Wang (NYU)
Challenges in Cleveland
Foster Equitable Connections for New Shore Life
Honor Cleveland's rich Black cultural legacy by embedding a cultural spine within the site that bridges communities. Through arts, education, and equitable economic opportunities, this space will foster innovation and inclusivity, while creating a vibrant environment that celebrates shared heritage and supports the city's ongoing revitalization.
Create a New Talent Hub for Tomorrow's Cleveland
Reimagine Cleveland's future by establishing the site as a vibrant third development center. By offering diverse and affordable housing, collaborative workspaces, and dynamic public spaces, this hub will attract and retain young professionals, freelancers, and entrepreneurs, complementing the growth of Downtown and University Circle.
Conduct Sustainable Water Experiment for Cities along the Great Lakes
Promote the ecological restoration and sustainable management of Lake Erie by incorporating innovative water systems, immersive educational initiatives, and community-driven research programs that safeguard the lake's environmental health while bolstering the Midwes's economic resilience.
Design Strategies
Regional Connectivity
Connecting Cultural Spine and Nodes
Urban Flow and Community Impact
Bridging Cheers lnitiative and Community
Structuring Grids
$1,120,000,000
Water Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (W-SCADA)