Individual design and team construction Design by Niankun Li
2021 Undergraduate Construction Design Competition
The Second Prize
Completed in 2021 Summer Zibo, Shandong, China
In today’s increasingly homogeneous urban environments, small-scale architecture can act as a catalyst for community interaction and vitality. This project draws inspiration from the traditional Chinese loom, using it as a metaphor to weave connections between people, the space, and the environment. The installation aims to foster public engagement and reintroduce a fading cultural symbol into the contemporary cityscape in a new form. Completed in October 2021, the installation gained significant attention and has been embraced by local residents, becoming a vibrant and engaging space within the park.
"Physical Model" (top) and
"Night View of the Completed Installation" (bottom)
Background
In China's traditional agrarian society, family roles were distinctly divided, with men responsible for farming and women for weaving. This division, once integral to daily life, has largely faded from modern existence. However, the cultural significance and wisdom embedded in this way of life are still valuable, and through this project, I seek to revive and reinterpret these traditions using architecture as the medium.
At the heart of this exploration is the Da Hua Lou Ji, a highly advanced form of traditional textile machinery. It stands as a symbol of the intricate craftsmanship and intelligence of its time. Even today, the design and functionality of this loom carry a sense of fascination and intrigue. By blending the mechanical aspects of the loom with the behavior and movements of its operators, I aim to create a new architectural expression that resonates with both the past and present.
While the specific working methods of the loom may no longer be applicable to modern life, I believe that reinterpreting its underlying principles in a spatial and architectural context can offer a fresh perspective. This project seeks to invite modern audiences to engage with, observe, and reflect on a way of life that once defined entire communities. By bringing this nearly forgotten cultural artifact into a contemporary environment, I hope to foster a deeper appreciation for traditional wisdom and allow it to inspire new forms of architectural innovation.
The Traditional Chinese Silk-Making Process
Da Hua Lou Handloom, a fully manual, human-powered weaving machine.
Design proposal
Sectional Axonometric
Design proposal
Section perspective
Variation of different forms
Physical Model Construction Process
The abandoned Chinese asset
Research and Conservation Strategies for China's 20th Century Post-War Industrial Sites in Rural Contexts
Team Members: Lingpeng Zheng Niankun Li
Shuo Ding
Supervisor: Prof. Lorenzo Cantini
Final Thesis, Politecnico di Milano
October 2024
During the 1960s and 1970s, the "Third Front" construction strategy led to many industrial sites, now mostly abandoned, in rural areas. Since urbanization has caused population declines in these areas, China has promoted a rural revitalization strategy, emphasizing resource conservation and improving the rural environment.
This thesis explores the protection and regeneration of industrial heritage as a tool for rural revitalization, focusing on design strategies and the importance of heritage, history, and community. It also addresses how these factors influence architectural transformation and future development.
Pre-Renovation View (top)
Post-Renovation Rendering (bottom)
Design proposal
Technical drawings
Axonometric Section
Technical drawings
03
Durban Art Workshop
A multi-use cultural center
Team Members:
Niankun Li
Xin Qiu
Xinmei Liu
Shuo Ding
Professors: Silvia Bodei
Israa Mahmoud
Thematic Studio a.a.2023/24
Politecnico di Milano
Score: 30 (full score 30)
Site: Durban,South Africa
In Durban's central business district, the Rivertown area, once industrially inclined and now seeking rejuvenation post-apartheid, aims to transform into a vibrant cultural and artistic hub. This vision includes the introduction of artist workshops, galleries, and improved pedestrian infrastructure, alongside the development of a central public playground connected to other public spaces. The goal is to revitalize Rivertown as a dynamic cultural district rooted in indigenous traditions.
"Physical Model" (top) and "Rendering of entranence view" (bottom)
The new vertiport at Autodromo Nazionale Monza merges modern architecture with practicality, serving both as an eVTOL hub and a communal space. Its unique, sculptural design features a dynamic metal fabric facade. Elevated above a parking lot, it creates a vibrant atmosphere for race events, connecting spaces and enhancing functionality with a canopy-like structure that also serves as a viewing area.
"Rendering of Entrance View"
Site analysis
Diagram
To support the use of eVTOLs, a new vertiport at Autodromo Nazionale Monza biends modern design with functionaity, acting as a cross between anairport and a bus station. lts distinctive architecture features a sculptural form and a facade adorned with metal fabric, offering fexilbility forevent-specifc modifcations.
Positioned over a concrete parking lot, the vetiport enhances the festive race atmosphere by connecting to theparking area, elevating to the frst floor to form a welcoming gathering space. Aditionay,its design incorporates a floating aspect that defnes thespace below, improves connectivity, and potentially serves as a viewing stand during races, maximizing space utility.
Technical drawings
Physical models
"1:20 Detail Model" (top) and
"1:500 Site Model" (bottom)
05
After school ?
Youth Refugee Shelter with Hospitality Services
Team Members: Niankun Li
Vittorio Azzali, Gessica Gallinari
Greta Galloni
Professors: Lorenzo Cesare Bini
Francesca Lucia Maria Albani
INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO Semester A.Y.2022-2023
Politecnico di Milano
Score: 27 (full score 30)
Site: Lecco, ltaly
In response to the growing social issue of displaced youth, we have designed a youth shelter aimed at providing safe and supportive living conditions. The facility includes essential infrastructure such as dormitories, a kitchen, and activity rooms, creating a nurturing environment for young people. Through this approach, we hope to address the immediate needs of vulnerable youth while contributing to a broader solution to societal challenges.
Design proposal
East Elevation
West Elevation
South Elevation
North Elevation
Typology Physical models
1:150 model
1:20 model
Architectural Preservation of Villa Reale di Monza
A Comprehensive Study of Historical Architecture and Preservation Techniques
Team Members:
Niankun Li
Elizaveta Chudakova
Andrea Giustozzi
Mane Saakyan
Emily Lawrence
Xiangyuan Zheng
Professors:
Stefano Della Torre
Daniela Oreni
Course of Architecture Preservation a.y.2022/23
Politecnico di Milano
Site: Monza, Italy
This project focuses on acquiring knowledge related to historical building restoration, with a practical component involving on-site surveying and photography at the Villa Reale di Monza. The collected survey data was used to create detailed models and architectural drawings, highlighting areas of decay and deterioration. This work aims to deepen the understanding of preservation techniques and the complexities involved in restoring heritage architecture.
"Physical Model" (top) and "Rendering of entranence view" (bottom)
07
Line to line
Urban street reconstruction
Personal Work: Niankun Li Time:
Site: Jinan, Shandong, China
At the end of urban roads, there are no traffic signals or management, allowing residents' demands for space to spill over. The land designated for urban roads should have been covered with greenery, but every corner has been fully utilized. We are accustomed to the spatial arrangement of urban streets—the orderly rows of street trees. But is it truly necessary to fill every space with trees?
"Temporary Shelter in the Corner" (top) and "Desolate Street" (bottom)
Background
After the epidemic, I often saw takeout scattered everywhere and parents waiting at the school gate. I began to re-examine this boundary. Various functions converged here, such as a self-service car wash, bus station, abandoned houses, charging stations, parking lots, sanitation resting spots, and mobile operations. All these activities take place next to an 8*200m green area. The ideal situation would be to introduce a kind of adhesive at the junction of the city's edge—something that connects the part to the whole of the city. A single building cannot create an ideal city; there must be space that acts as glue.
Design proposal
Design proposal
Renderings
"Daytime Facade Rendering" (left) and "Nighttime Facade Rendering" (right)
