Effa LU 2021-2024 Selected Work by Effa LU

LU XIAOXIN-EFFA

PORTFOLIO

Selected Projects

2021-2024

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Environmental Design

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

TABLE OF CONTENT

ACADEMIC DESIGN PROJECT

WELCOME TO BICACA 01-02

Transforming Lives: Spatial Development in Rural Rwanda

Urban Memory between Hong Kong and Shenzhen

SEASIDE TAI MEI TUK

Urban Memory between Hong Kong and Shenzhen

Adaptive Reuse of a Youth Hostel in Tai Po as a Visitor Center

BETWEEN THE COMMINITY

Adaptive Reuse of a Youth Hostel in Tai Po as a Visitor Center

BETWEEN THE COMMINITY 12-14 MOMENTO 03-07

Transforming the Cattle Depot as a New Social Hub for the City

WEAVING HORIZONS 15-16

SECTION I SECTION II

WEAVING HORIZONS 15-16

Reconnecting Past and Future in Sham Shui Po

PROFESSIONAL PROJECT

PROFESSIONAL PROJECT Reconnecting Past and Future in Sham Shui Po

MODEL PICTURE&TECHNICAL DRAWING

ART WORK

visuals and images in this portfolio are original works created by the author, unless explicitly credited otherwise 08-11

PROJECT 01-WELCOME TO BICACA

SERVICE DESIGN & ACADEMIC RESEARCH PROJECT

INSTRUCTOR: PROF. DR. GRACE NGAI, DR. LEE YOOHYUN JENNIFER GROUP RESEARCH,INDIVIDUAL DESIGN, SUMMER, 2023

In the summer of 2023, I joined a service&research team to Rwanda to provide off-grid solar electrical support, illuminating 400 households in a rural area. This experience revealed to me that "place" is a social construct of "space."

In Rwanda, life revolves around villages surrounded by banana trees. Despite being just 40 kilometers from Kigali, many areas lack electricity. Standing on the red earth, I was greeted by joyful children and grateful elders after connecting their homes. Though I had only installed solar panels, they told me I had "lit up their lives."

As an Environmental Design student, I began to consider how I could further support these communities facing not only infrastructure challenges but also broader issues related to living conditions—especially in the context of global urbanization and rural development.

What can bring them hope? How can I add value to their lives and enhance their survival?

The project addresses the challenges of rural Rwanda, where the majority of the population lives in off-grid, dispersed communities. Three strategies are introduced:

Solar Energy for Off-Grid Areas: Utilizing solar power to provide sustainable energy solutions for rural communities, overcoming challenges posed by Rwanda's diverse terrain.

Integrated Development Strategy-Empowering Local Communities

Improving Agricultural Efciency: Analyzing land use to improve agricultural productivity by addressing fragmented land holdings and optimizing farming practices.

Establishing a women’s handicraft workshop to preserve traditional basket weaving and a farmer knowledge exchange center to share agricultural practices. These initiatives are integrated into the broader rural development plan, supporting local culture, enhancing community engagement, fostering economic growth, and promoting sustainable practices within the region

Cultural and Economic Empowerment: Creating platforms for farmer knowledge exchange and women’s handicraft workshops, integrating traditional crafts like basket weaving to empower local communities and generate new economic opportunities.

PROJECT 03-SEASIDE TAI MEI TUK

ACADEMIC STUDIO DESIGN

INSTRUCTOR: PROF. DANIEL ELKIN, JONATHAN VAN DER STEL INDIVIDUAL WORK, SPRING SEMESTER, 2023

Located in Tai Mei Tuk, Hong Kong, this project transforms a youth hostel into a visitor center through adaptive reuse. Positioned at the heart of a natural park and a key transportation hub, the design provides exible spaces for diverse visitor activities while integrating sustainable solutions such as wind energy and natural ventilation to enhance environmental performance and reduce the carbon footprint.

ADAPTIVE RE-USED SPACE

TRANSFORMING THE YOUTH HOSTEL INTO A VISITOR CENTER

HARNESSING G WIND ENERGY W RGY

TAI MEI TUK, HONG KONG

“Stay”zones and The primary orientation

Furniture for sitting encourages people to remain in the area and determines the main height and direction of their gaze.

“No-Stay”zones and Clearance

Furniture like bar table naturally requires space and suggests that people do not linger in that area.

“Stay”zones and The primary orientation

“No-Stay”zones and Clearance

The diagram illustrates an unobstructed view direction; the scope of the view through the windows extends to the ground level

The open area in this arrangement suggests that the space in front of it should be free from large furniture items

The naturally formed ‘stay zones’ and the ‘no-stay zones’ also makes the entire space ow without causing overcrowding, and the division of space is guided by human movement, achieving the objective of the entire design: transforming the site into a dynamic social center which could be explored and enjoyed by all types of people in all age.

Based on this logical arrangement, simple spaces could be alive,and the two areintertwined, and combined, making the forms of space more diverse and the activities that can be carried more alive, such as coffee &

reading area as the service area of the gallery, the workshops corresponding to the artist village on the front of the Cattle Depot. this project represents a thoughtful and innovative approach to urban development through a perspective of interior design, prioritizing sustainability, community involvement, and the unique needs of the site. From the perspective of the interior, a diverse space that satises the social needs of users can be created through basic means such as simple structure, convenient assemblies, and freely combinable furniture, while meeting functional requirements of the overall spatial quality. 14

VI.

PROFESSIONAL PROJECT

PROFESSIONAL

Art Gallery In Wan Chai

MODEL PICTURE&TECHNICAL DRAWING

Adaptive Reuse of Edinburgh’s Gothic Church into a Contemporary Art Library

Precedent

PROJECT 06-WOAW GALLERY

SUPERVISOR: GILLES VANDERSTOCKEN

SITE/SUN STREET, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG ISLAND

BEAU ARCHITECTS INTERNSHIP,SUMMER,2023

Roles:

Spatial & Architecture Design, Analysis, Material Selection, Construction Site Handover, Standard Excel Schedule Making, CAD Construction Technical Drawings, Collage Style Rendering, Digital 3D modeling.

The Woaw Gallery Adaptive Reuse Project transforms an industrial space into a contemporary gallery, blending functionality with aesthetic renement. The design preserves the industrial character while enhancing usability through adaptive spatial solutions. I contributed to spatial design, material selection, CAD technical drawings, 3D modeling, and construction documentation. On-site tasks, I assisted with spatial measurements and handover coordination, provided hands-on experience, bridging theory with practice.

The design embraces an industrial aesthetic, featuring furniture that complements the adaptive reuse theme. By integrating aluminum panels and hardware components, the existing working bench was transformed into new pieces that dene the gallery's thematic spaces. In the evenings, benches at the entrance extend the indoor space into the outdoors, while tables on the second oor serve as staff workstations when the gallery is closed. During gallery hours, the adjustable working bench doubles as a bar for guests, with curtains separating the private interior from the public area below. 18

This project transforms a historic Gothic church in Edinburgh into a contemporary art library, blending its architectural heritage with modern functionality. The design preserves the church's original character while introducing adaptive reuse strategies to create a space that celebrates both cultural memory and contemporary artistic expression.

Key Design Highlights:

Spatial Recon

guration:

Modular furniture and exible layouts accommodate diverse functions such as reading, exhibitions, and social gatherings.

Aesthetic-Functional Balance: Industrial materials like metal and glass integrate seamlessly with the original Gothic structure, enhancing spatial quality.

Dynamic User Experience: Height-adjustable furniture and zoned spaces delineate private reading areas from public gathering spaces, offering a rich spatial experience.

Metal Structures: Strength and Elegance

The design integrates exposed steel beams that crisscross overhead, adding both structural strength and industrial character to the space. Custom-designed metal shelving units, with their minimalist forms and dark

nishes, contrast elegantly with the warm stone walls, creating a functional yet visually striking element.

These metal structures not only enhance the library's aesthetic but also provide durable, versatile solutions for housing its extensive collection of art books and periodicals, seamlessly blending form and function.

NATURAL LIGHT TESTING

The sketching of geometric forms serves as a foundation for exploring spatial relationships. Instead of arranging the shapes in rigid, orderly compositions, I experiment with rotation, interlocking, and layering—combining them within specic spaces and assigning each form a unique materiality.

This approach enhances the sense of depth in physical space, which fascinates me. Observing the forms from a rst-person perspective evokes a magical feeling, as though I have been miniaturized and the scale of the world has shifted. Every detail becomes magnied, revealing subtle information that might otherwise be overlooked—effortless to perceive yet rich with insight.

These spatial explorations allow me to uncover new ways of perceiving and constructing relationships between objects, space, and the viewer. new

MATERIAL AND FORM: EXPLORING PLASTER FIGURES

I enjoy using sketching techniques to shape plaster gures—but what fascinates me more is combining them with different materials. By wrapping the gures in paper, enclosing them in plastic bags, or intertwining them with strings, I explore the interplay between materials and the constraints of gurative forms.

This process deepens my observational skills and hones my patience, as I analyze the integration and separation of textures, light, and shadows. It is a practice of both artistic exploration and disciplined study, enhancing the understanding of materiality and form.

As a spatial designer, the concept of ‘spatial relationships’ is ever-present. We discuss aesthetics, functionality, culture, nature, and, above all—people. Design revolves around human interaction with space, yet these relationships are dynamic and eeting. How can they be captured and recorded?

Sketching allows me to project this three-dimensional world onto a two-dimensional plane, preserving depth and form. Through this process, I explore my perception of space and the emotional resonance it carries. However, recording time presents a unique challenge—is it a feeling, or a measurable imprint?

By working between abstraction and guration, I use sketching to document my experiences and emotions in specic spaces. This practice sharpens my sensitivity to both spatial composition and the subtleties of emotion. These dialogues across time and space lead to moments of introspection, enhancing my ability to perceive and analyze design holistically.

While design encompasses far more than aesthetics, this artistic discipline strengthens my eye for detail, critical thinking, and sensitivity to the interplay between space and experience.

Recapturing the Essence of My Hometown

Through these paintings, I attempt to recreate childhood memories of my hometown—scenes rich with cultural atmosphere and authenticity. Though the images are static, they evoke a deep multisensory experience: I can almost hear distant echoes, sense faint aromas, and feel the life within these spaces.

In modern Chinese cities dominated by towering skyscrapers, even retro-style neighborhoods fail to preserve the true soul of old cultural landscapes. These works raise poignant questions: Where has this urban memory gone? And how can it be passed on to future generations?

By painting, I strive to preserve and relive the essence of a hometown that exists vividly in memory, but has all but disappeared in reality.