SHIX WANG PORTFOLIO
UNIVERSITY OF BATH 2020 - current
HEAL Healing Ground Year 1 Project 3
Castle Park Medical Centre Year 2 Project 2
Apr – May 21
Nov 21 – Jan 22
HEAL
HOPE Reparation
Year 1 Project 2
Feb – Mar 21
Reconnecting the Church Forests of Ethiopia Year 2 Competition (Group)
Jul – Sep 22
REVIVAL Bath Solarcycle
Year 3 Project 1 (Group)
The Quilt
Year 3 Project 2
PROFESSIONAL WORK PERSONAL WORK
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Oct 22
Nov 22 – Jan 23
The first chapter is a collection of projects focusing on architecture’s therapeutic attributes. These buildings are designed to restore users’ health—both mental and physical—through the manipulation of spatial qualities such as material, light and depth.
HEALING GROUND
Masonry Communal House | Individual On a small island off the coast of Northumberland lie the derelict remains of brick cottages slowly subsumed into the landscape. An existing walled enclosure is to be reconstructed into a residential centre where occupants can seek amelioration.
Inspired by how dispirited humans can be revitalised the same way that wilted flowers can be made to bloom again, I chose horticultural therapy in the form of gardening as the main activity to heal residents from past experiences or the stresses of daily life. With a monolithic exterior and small openings ‘carved’ out of the massing, the building appears protective on approach. A massing model cast in plaster, exploring monolithicity.
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A series of developments made over six weeks. The primary changes include pushing the dwelling block northwards to let morning light into the garden, reducing the size of bedroom windows to suit the cold climate and feel more protective, and reversing the roof pitch to shelter the veranda from rain.
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HEALING GROUND
A view of the veranda and garden enjoyed from the living room.
Despite the building’s solemn exterior, the interior is cosy and full of character, with features like built-in shelves and alcove seating, accompanied by brick and timber finishes.
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The first and second-floor bedrooms have window seats facing the sea, for residents to sit and meditate.
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A dwarf tree presents itself at the start of the entrance sequence, hinting at the microclimate within the enclosure.
The ground floor has two wheelchair-accessible bedrooms with clerestory windows to allow more daylight.
HEALING GROUND
1:20 Detailed section 10 12
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8 1
13
3 5
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2 4
AA’
Ground-bearing slab
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600x150x20mm sessile oak panels 65mm screed with underfloor heating 100mm insulation Damp-proof membrane 150mm concrete slab 150mm hardcore Strip concrete foundation
2 3 4 5 6 7
BB’
CC’
2 3 4 1 5
1 9
2 3 4 5 6 7
6 7 8
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Masonry cavity wall
100x215x65mm reclaimed brick (inner leaf) 9 100mm insulation 10 80mm air cavity 11 Wall tie 12 100x215x65mm reclaimed brick (outer leaf) 13 Damp-proof course
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8
1
1
2 5 3 4
2 3 4 5
A
215x100x25mm brick slips in mortar 25mm mortar bed Breather membrane 25mm plywood sheet 100mm insulation Vapour control membrane 15mm internal sheathing board (breathable) 600x150x20mm sessile oak panels 75x220mm timber joists at 450mm centres
DD’
EE’
Warm pitched roof 1 2
1 2 3 4
Opening
Cavity tray 215x100x25mm brick slips glued to insulated steel lintel Cavity closer Cavity tray
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C
C’
E
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E’
Intermediate floor
600x150x20mm sessile oak floorboards 100mm insulation 20mm plywood deck 600x150x20mm sessile oak panels 75x220mm timber joists at 450mm centres
D D’
A’
B
B’
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CASTLE PARK MEDICAL CENTRE Timber Frame | Individual
Single + Double-storey spaces
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Curved roof + Public square
The building takes on a fluid, organic form in retaliation to the rigidity and rectilinearity of the site and the institutionality of medical centres. A curved roof creates spaces of different volumes, enabling experiential transitions from room to room.
Thresholds
Street character
CASTLE PARK MEDICAL CENTRE
The objective was to create a comforting and welcoming space by ensuring that communal areas were bright and open. A walled garden with private contemplation spaces also gives visitors a variety of choices.
The addition of stepped seating to the public square allows for a gradual progression from the busy pedestrian street to the serene medical centre.
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REPARATION
Steel Frame Exhibition-Memorial | Individual
HOPE
The next two projects are emblems of hope for a better future, much like the light at the end of a tunnel.
The toppling of Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol marked a change in public attitudes. I saw the empty plinth as a symbol of hope for the future and wanted to celebrate the emptiness of it. By enclosing the plinth within the building, the slave trade is being remembered in a way that is different to how Colston was being revered before.
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REPARATION
Initial sketch models exploring the ascension of roof heights to materialise the element of progression.
1:50 model of the building clad in copper standing seam (above) and structural steel framework (below).
The building’s long, prism-like form and the shadows cast by the continuous skylights at zenith create a ceremonial path along the plinth’s linear axis.
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The plinth is set deeper into the ground so that its empty seat is visible at eye level.
A distinct change in lighting, material, structure and level emphasises the utmost importance of the final destination, the ‘Tower of Hope’, which houses the empty plinth. 12
RECONNECTING THE CHURCH FORESTS OF ETHIOPIA
RECONNECTING THE CHURCH FORESTS OF ETHIOPIA Bamboo Frame Housing | Group Competition
In the highlands of Northern Ethiopia sits the Community of St Gabriel’s Church, one of many church forests—tiny fragments of greenery among vast land cleared for agriculture. The scheme’s core principle is to help restore native forest corridors, whilst implementing sustainable land management processes. The settlement model was designed to be easily adapted across the region, a step towards a better quality of life and a climate-resilient future. The settlement at dusk. (Individual)
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REVIVAL
The final chapter looks at existing buildings and spaces that have been given a new lease of life, adding value to the communities around them.
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BATH SOLARCYCLE
BATH SOLARCYCLE
Cycle Network and Terminal | Group-work Bath Solarcycle is a city-wide cycle network that strives to generate a cultural shift away from cars and towards cycling. The Riverside Terminal is the network’s central node, providing cycle facilities, hospitality services and green spaces.
A digitally-drawn promotional poster for the scheme, portraying cycling to be more desirable than driving. (Individual) West elevation showing the cycle path going through the Riverside Terminal. (Individual)
1:500 woodwork and laser-cut model. The cycle path, in blue, passes through the terminal, allowing users to join and leave the network easily. (Group)
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THE QUILT
Adaptive Reuse Theatre | Individual Oxford faces rising inequality, propagated by a lack of free and accessible education for the vulnerable who are stuck in low-wage, low-skill jobs (or no job at all)—ironic given how deeply rooted in knowledge and education the city is. The Quilt is a theatre with an education and upskilling centre, to bring the community of Oxford together and bridge the wealth divide.
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THE QUILT
St Peter’s College
CONCEPT
EXPERIMENTATION
Roof structure and area schedule tests
Grade II listed buildings
Adaptive reuse first | Facade retention
Patchwork of people and stories
Exploring materials and textures within foyer
Exploring elevation design
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First floor
0
2m
5m
10m
Lower ground floor The site’s level change presented an opportunity to create a patchwork of varying spatial qualities within the building, in terms of light and depth.
Office
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WC
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Breakaway zone Safe space for distressed audience members, so that they can relax and rejoin once they have calmed down.
Mezzanine Seating
Plant
7 8 9 18
Control room Breakaway zone Gallery seating
Mezzanine seating Away from the main cafe space, so that people are not pressured to purchase from the cafe.
Quiet seating Spaces for private conversations, or simply to break away from the crowd.
THE QUILT
Within the building, two retained walls are left exposed due to their historic significance.
Exploded isometric distinguishing the building’s different volumes and materiality.
1:20 model of building elevation, with the existing facade cast in plaster.
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Phase 1 | Scaffolding
People formed the core of the scheme—it was important for the building to be a porous, visible extension of the public realm.
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Phase 2 | Demolition
Phase 3 | Deconstruction
THE QUILT
Phase 4 | Foundation reinforcement
Phase 5 | New structural frame
Phase 6 | New envelope + Reconstruction
The facade of the building’s extruded masses is differentiated with a modern touch. 21
PROFESSIONAL WORK
Concept design for the public walkway (Project AG).
tp bennett Feb – Aug 23
Concept design for the atrium (Project PH).
Stage 3 Project 5BG Addition of a staircase between floors Prepared Stage 3 drawings and helped issue Stage 3 pack for the addition of a staircase and floor slab void to an office building. Stage 4 Project UF Refurbishment of an office building Helped with Stage 4 joinery detailing.
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Concept design for the office lobby (Project AG).
Concept diagram at pitch stage for a building in Paris (Project Light).
Stage 1 – 2 Project AG Refurbishment of a prominent office building in Central London and the public realm around it Developed the scheme alongside project leads. Took on the role of project runner towards the end, producing and issuing the final feasibility report to the client and project team.
Stage 1 – 2 Various projects Participated in concept design and pitches for multiple office buildings across Europe, including Paris, Frankfurt and London.
Stage 5 Project DB Refurbishment of an office building Went on two site walks, increasing my understanding of construction components and details. Subsequently assisted in filling in a client change request form.
PROFESSIONAL WORK
Chetwoods Architects Feb – Aug 22 Stage 2 Project FM Conversion of a Grade II listed building to residential space, with new apartments and townhouses added to site Designed plans and elevations for regular and accessible dwellings. Subsequently prepared pre-planning application drawing pack. Stage 4 Project ECH Conversion of five existing hospital buildings to residential buildings. Prepared tender drawing pack. Stage 4 Project CHH New industrial buildings on a brownfield site Designed elevations for proposed Phase A buildings with an associate. Proposed elevational designs (Project CHH).
The dwelling blocks to the North and West of the visual are the ones I helped design and model (Project FM).
Typical kitchen and bathroom tender detail drawings (Project ECH).
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PERSONAL WORK
welcome to the fish tank Gouache on paper, June 2021
night lights Gouache on paper, July 2020
This is a scene from a “mamak shop”, a typical sundry shop in Singapore. To me, the ordinary and humdrum nature of this scene is what brings it to life—it is a form of beauty in the everyday.
An alleyway in Singapore at night time. Again a commonplace setting in everyday life, but there is serenity in how the still puddles of water reflect light from the streetlamps. There is a feeling of one being alone but not truly alone, as light spills from the flats above.
PERSONAL WORK
Nihon Watercolour on paper, August 2021 This was a farewell present for a friend who was leaving Singapore to study in the United States. I asked her to send me the favourite picture she’d taken and surprised her with the finished piece the final time we met.
winter sun Oil on canvas (A3), March 2022 This is a view running along my favourite route in Bath, by the River Avon. Running, as is painting, is something I do to destress and help take my mind off things.
THANK YOU
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