Zihan (Cindy) Liu Portfolio2024

THREE UNITS ONE HOUSE

Providence, RI

The purpose of the project is to create a multi-family dwelling, including a studio apartment, a two bedroom for a couple and a three bedroom with multi generation. There is a RISD Nature Lab for students, sharing the same site. The site is on a slopery hill, it is the difficulty yet the highlight going through out the whole design.

It is focusing on modle making, material, and mass.

PROGRAMMING

The site will be divided into two distinct sections: one designated for semi-public use, specifically tailored for the teaching lab, while the other portion is reserved for residential purposes. Acting as the nexus between these two functions and groups of people, the kitchen and outdoor garden space will serve as pivotal connecting elements.

Functionality will dictate the circulation pattern, with residents accessing their quarters from the southern side, via Angell Street, while lab personnel will have direct entry from the northern side, leading them straight into the lab. These two circulation paths will remain separate, ensuring minimal intertwining between the two groups.

By strategically twisting the mass along the site, the buildings are positioned along the eastern side, which accommodates the steep slope, while the outdoor garden occupies the gentle western side. A pathway is envisioned to traverse the site from south to north, effectively breaking down barriers between individuals and guiding them seamlessly into the garden and kitchen areas.

Two sets of models were created: the upper ones, scaled at 1/8”, illustrate the relationship between the surrounding environments and the on-site design. Meanwhile, the lower ones, scaled at 1/4”, serve as section models offering detailed design decisions, showcasing materials and interior information.

THE SENSATION OF SPACE

North Lawndale, Chicago, IL

The purpose of the project is to create a place for CCA charter school’s students to develop their own personal interests along their path to graduation, and to build up connections between the school and the community through brick making, ceramics, and group activities.

This project includes two parts of design, the interior multi-use activity room renovation and the ceramic studio /pavillion located at the backyard of the school.

Situated in the heart of North Lawndale on the west side of Chicago, the CCA charter school project strives to transform CCA into more than just an educational institution with a ceramics studio for students. The overarching goal is to establish a community art center that showcases and celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the African American community, benefiting a broader audience.

Janurary

October May

Wind analysis of Chicago determines wind direction, playing a crucial role in establishing optimal air circulation within the ceramic studio. The eastward wind, in particular, proves to be the gentlest, effectively mitigating the risk of indoor temperature decline when windows are opened during the winter season.

My concept is to bring yearning to the environment and for people to feel hope when engaging with the space. My design is inspired by the Adinkra symbol for “hope”, Nyame biribi wo soro. This symbol has a half circle or rounded shape, or rectangles and circles overlapping each other, the overlap represents the powers above, watchful and protective.

Making bricks as concept model-- shape inspired by the “hope” symbol, it also being used in the design of the east facade, bricks bonding together represent the culture and city are linking tight.

Colors play an very important roll for coding specific areas orsymbolic ornament. These colors are powerful and vibrant, they give one hope and support.

The interior layouts have embedded rounded corners, to purposefully soften the visual boundaries and guide people so that they focus on what the space provides.

The indoor multi-used space serves as a clay-making space, lunch room, study room, lounge, aquaponics hub, and celebration space.

The furniture is designed to maximize mobility and allow students and faculty to create activity areas based on their schedule.

The shape of the furniture borrows from the hope symbol and adds a layer of playfulness to the school.

The exterior garden is for CCA’s clay studio and outdoor biology activities and provides a stage to build connections with the outside world: the pavilion with a wavy roof carries the wish forward, plants and flowers surround the small house.

The colors and the shapes of the spaces and furniture trigger the environment’s engagement with plants, arts, fish and with the people who make CCA Academy’s vision and spirit come true.

ENVIRONMENT OF HEALTH West Loop, Chicago, IL

Being healthy is the top priority for all human beings, but going to the hospital/healthcare center sometimes could be frustrating, in this project, I will explore how to reduce people’s stress level, to provide a healing environments for both patients and staff. Knowledge of “Architecture Psychology” has provided the guiding princeple of the design.

Sunlight plays an important roll in this project, plants need sun to grow bigger, people need sun to heal themselves. Shadow study of March, 9AM. Lock the position of the building, provide the position of the garden.

Healing Garden Program:

The healing garden is designed for clients and patients to escape the stresses of daily life, connect with nature and support their journey towards healing and recovery. These are selected plants that appear in the garden. The outdoor garden is located on the third floor “hypotenuse” of the building; while indoor ones are located each floor as highlight moments of the interior.

BLOCK SECTION DIAGRAM & SPACE PROGRAMMING

A block section diagram provide the relationship between building and it’s urban contact, the location of each space explains the building function.

First floor is mostly public space which include the registration and the pharmacy, provide the conveniency for patients to check-in/out and get the prescriptions medication on the way out.

Second floor has most of clinics; there are cafe and staff offices on the hypotenuse of the triangle, the best sopt of the building, in order to provide the equial benifits for both staff and patients.

Third floor has the indoor healing garden and the roof top garden outside, for people to relex and meditate.

When I first saw the project, I immediately thought of dunes and rock climbing. The process of using sand casting and plaster has confirmed this associ- ation. I view this project as a means to illustrate how a cube can encompass outdoor activities from various perspectives. I began by carving and multiplying triangles, stacking them together to create stair-like shapes. Then, I mirrored and reflected the modules to introduce a twisting effect. After implementing these significant design choices, I added finer details to provide additional depth.I sought to utilize the grid differently by connecting corners, allowing the radiation lines to guide the depth of each move.

A set of ceramics work 3D printed by a special machine, with high contracting glaze, representing the Yin-Yang. They echoing with each other and provide a atmosphere of meditation in an environment.

Supposing a house is living, necessities of care became demand. Warmth and will in the cold sustains essential comfort and fundamental needs. A rustic exploration of wooden construction on the outside warmed by the down jacket components designed for the harshest elements. This home is a daring juxtaposition of both natural and synthetic human ingenuity.

A children’s daycare project focusing on planning and rendering in Revit. It is for Revit learning and practicing purpose.