PORTFOLIO
YIMING ZHANG
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA 2020-2024 MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE I ADVANCED PLACEMENT HARVARD UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF DESIGN 2024-2027
1 THEATRICAL RECIPROCITY The Berklee College of Music Center
2 JUSTICE FOR ALL New Augusta County Courthouse
3 HEURISTIC PLAY A kindergarten for 0-6 years old
4 AN ODE TO URBAN JUNGLE A creative cultural center at Union Square Park
TABLE OF CONTENTS
5 BEYOND MONUMENTALITY COVID-19 Memorial in Wuhan
6 DAMMED FOR PASS Fish pass design and LSII Dam resettlement plan
7 AQUA-BYTE Semi-submerged data tower design
8 PAPER TERRAZO Stool design with new paper-based material
APPENDIX
01 THEATRICAL RECIPROCITY
FLEXIBLE THEATER SHAPED BY EXTENDED TERRAIN The Berklee College of Music Center Role: Individual Work Instructor: Elle Gerdeman Category: Academic; Core III Studio; Harvard GSD Time: Aug-Dec 2024; 15 weeks Building Area: 300,000 sqft (27,870 sqm) Location: Boston, MA, USA
This project envisions a transformative addition to Berklee College of Music - a vertical campus combining a blackbox theater, a proscenium theater, student center, administrative offices, teaching spaces, music labs, and dining facilities. At its core, the design emphasizes the dynamic relationship between performers and audiences, motion and stillness, and ground and structure. The design expands the concept of terrain by extending the ground plane vertically, creating layers of platforms, stairs, and open spaces that intertwine movement and rest. People in motion become performers for those who pause, and these roles shift and flow until they culminate in the formal performance spaces. The ascending terrain becomes a theater of its own, engaging the city as both a stage and an audience. Through this interplay of reciprocity, the architecture transforms the site into a living stage, capturing Berklee’s creative energy and fostering interaction, inspiration, and performance at every level.
SITE CONDITION
SITE PLAN During my site visit, I took three photos using a small aperture and a slow shutter speed to capture the motion of people and cars as they moved through the area. The blurriness in the images reflects the speed of their motions, contrasting with the stillness of constructed objects like buildings. These structures, motionless and unyielding, appear as towering giants gazing down on the flow of daily life. This contrast between motion and stillness brought to mind a line from Aldo Rossi’s Scientific Autobiography: “My building stands, mute and cold.” While this sentence is often associated with the pervasive sadness in Rossi’s work, I came to see it differently here, recognizing a relationship between motion and performance, stillness and audience.
CONCEPT COLLAGE
Standing still on the street with my lens, I became an audience, observing the city’s unfolding performance. When I moved, I became part of the show, with others perhaps watching me from their stillness. This dynamic reveals a simple truth: people in motion are performers, while those in stillness are the audience. Spatially, this interplay between motion and stillness is the essence of theatricality. To illustrate this concept, I created a collage showing an audience seated, facing an open street where people are walking. The roles of each group—performers and audience—are unmistakable, reinforcing the idea of a theatrical performance. This understanding inspires me to design spaces in my building that manipulate movement and positioning to create theatricality, where the interplay of roles brings the architecture to life.
The site is at the intersection of two primary arteries, Massachusetts Avenue and the Massachusetts Turnpike - the corner of Mass and Mass. This six-way intersection is at the interface between several neighborhoods and institutions. Mass Ave connects north-south from Boston across the river to MIT and Cambridge. In the east-west direction the Mass Pike runs at a lower elevation and Boylston Street runs “at grade.” The Berklee College of Music (BCM) occupies several buildings in this neighborhood, which marks the center of gravity of its distributed campus and the heart of a vibrant entertainment and cultural community.
The spatial strategy I employed to guide people’s movement relies on elevation changes, stairs, and escalators. Conversely, to encourage people to pause, I incorporated open platforms and the visual and physical impact of gravity. The blackbox theater is positioned at ground level to maximize its flexibility and adaptability for expansion. Above it sits the main theater, elevated and supported by colossal concrete feet, giving it a monumental presence. To reach the main theater, visitors must pass beneath the imposing structure and ascend through a series of stairs, platforms, and escalators. The stairs and escalators propel movement, while the platforms, paired with the massive structure overhead, compel people to stop and reflect. This interplay of motion and stillness creates a dynamic spatial experience where people in motion become performers for those who pause. These roles remain fluid and interchangeable until everyone ultimately reaches the formal performance space, blurring the line between audience and performer throughout the journey.
PROGRAMS & CIRCULATION
THEATER ANALYSIS
SECTION AA’
SECTION BB’
1 2 2
3
4 1
STRUCTURE
3
4
LOAD PATH
The building can be read as three main parts: the academic space, the proscenium theater, and the blackbox theater. The gaps between these components allow the extended ground and public spaces to permeate the structure. Structurally, this is achieved through two separate support systems— one for the proscenium theater and one for the academic block. The proscenium theater is a triangulated volume supported by four massive concrete feet. Above it, the academic block is supported by three concrete cores located at its corners. These cores carry a two-floor-deep space truss at the top, from which all the floors of the academic block are suspended, creating a dramatic and functional structural solution.
SECTION CC’
Facade Axon
The south and west façades are designed with three distinct layers: an outer glass curtain wall, operable panels featuring steel mesh backed with glass, and an inner layer of polycarbonate. In winter, the operable middle layer remains open, allowing the corridor to capture heat from the winter sun, transforming it into a cozy winter garden. In summer, the operable layer is closed, with sunshades reducing solar gain and minimizing cooling energy requirements. The space between the sunshades and the outermost glass is utilized for natural ventilation, enhancing the façade’s efficiency and comfort year-round.
02 JUSTICE FOR ALL
REVIVING & REWILDING CITY CENTER New Augusta County Courthouse Role: Individual Work Instructor: Seth McDowell Category: Academic; ARCH4010 Research Studio; University of Virginia Time: Aug-Dec 2023; 15 weeks Building Area: 136,000 sqft (12,000 sqm) Location: Staunton, VA, USA
A CIVIC BUILDING SHOULD REPRESENT THE CIVIC POWER A COURTHOUSE SHOULD EMBODY THE POWER OF JUSTICE. The project pivots around the transformative redesign of a Court Square, a communal canvas where citizens congregate for diverse activities, from festive celebrations to civic demonstrations. This space, a crucible for shared experiences and collective action, underscores the project’s ethos of accessibility and inclusivity. It serves as an effective tool for showcasing and amplifying civic power. Also, it acts as a magnetic hub, drawing people into the city center, thereby stimulating social and economic activity. In addressing the intricacies of justice, the design intertwines environmental responsiveness with judicial transparency. A previously concealed creek, a silent witness to urban flooding, is resurrected, symbolizing a commitment to ecological and urban justice. The building, elevated, harbors a floodable park beneath, a metaphor for resilience and balance.
Historic Context
1748: The First Courthouse
1755: The Second Courthouse
1789: The Third Courthouse
1835: The Fourth Courthouse
1901-Present: The Fifth Courthouse
It was thirty-eight feet three inches long, and eighteen feet three inches wide in the clear, built with logs hewed on both sides, not laid close, some of the cracks between the logs quite open, four or five inches wide and four or five feet long, and some stopped with chunks and clay but not quite close, two small holes cut for windows, but no glass or shutters to them; the inside not furnished or fitting for his Majesty’s Judicatory to sit.
In 1755, therefore, a second courthouse was constructed and the first courthouse converted to a residence. Little is known about the construction of the second courthouse except that it was furnished with a chimney and fireplace.
Completed in 1789, the third courthouse on the site required that the two earlier courthouses “be put out of the way.” Built of stone, this structure was square in plan, two stories high, and placed near the center of the lot. Entrances were located on the north and south sides and the courtroom was on the first floor. Jury rooms were located on the second floor and were supported by wooden columns.
In 1835, “the old courthouse of Augusta, and other buildings in the yard, were taken down, and the present courthouse and clerk’s offices were erected.” This quote speaks to the fourth courthouse on the site, the structure that preceded the present courthouse.
In 1835, “the old courthouse of Augusta, and other buildings in the yard, were taken down, and the present courthouse and clerk’s offices were erected.” This quote speaks to the fourth courthouse on the site, the structure that preceded the present courthouse.
Flood, Aug 2020
1
2
3
4
JUL 2015: Insufficient for Current Needs Staunton needs a new courthouse In a position paper from the Circuit Court Judge, it was determined that all County courts are insufficient and must be studied. Therefore, Augusta County hired Moseley Architects to complete a Space Needs Analysis & Conceptual Design for a New Courts Facility at the Government Center in Verona, Virginia. This study was completed for all three courts: Circuit, General District and Juvenile & Domestic Relations Courts.
NOV 2016: First Referendum Citizens refuse to move the courthouse out of the town Ballot Shall the Courthouse of Augusta County be removed to the Augusta County Government Center Complex in Verona, Virginia, and shall the Board of Supervisors be permitted to spend $45,000,000.00 therefore? Results of the referendum: Response Yes No
Votes 11,788 23,985
Percent 32.95% 67.05%
The Circuit Court Chief Judge issued an order against the Augusta County Board of Supervisors pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-1643. This action started a judicial process to address the space needs for a secure and safe court facility.
JAN 2022: Legislation Allowing a New Referendum Remove the legal barrier of the last referendum. Legislation was introduced in the Virginia General Assembly to allow Augusta County to ask county citizens to decide the location of the courthouse as part of a referendum for the election in November 2022.
NOV 2022: Second Referendum Citizens vote to construct outside of the town Ballot Under Virginia law, Augusta County must provide an adequate court facility for the Augusta County Courts. To accomplish that purpose: - Shall the county courthouse be relocated to Augusta County at a cost of $80,026,447? - Shall the county courthouse remain in the City of Staunton at a cost of $103,855,525?
Peyton Creek
Contentions around the New Courthouse
SEP 2021: Order to Build a New Courthouse Staunton have to build a new courthouse
1901- Present Courthouse
Augusta County residents voted with an overwhelming majority (86%) to construct the new courthouse facility in Verona, outside the staunton city. More than 30,000 votes were cast in the referendum.
District Court
Is moving the courthouse out of the city center, leaving only parking lots in the city center, really the best choice?
JDR Court
is Lew
ek
Cre
on
unt
Sta
VOID PARKING SPACE IN CITY CENTER
Circuit Court
A
ion
tat
kS
ra mt
SITE CONTEXT A multitude of parking lots in the city center not only drains vitality from the entire area but also exacerbates the risk of flooding through extensive impermeable surfaces.
We need JUSTICE FOR THE ECOLOGY Basic Massing
Fit into Urban Texture
Build Connection
Arrange Courtrooms
Roof Iterations
Final Roof Form
5
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
How courthouse square permeates the site
3F PLAN
2F PLAN
1F PLAN
COURT SQUARE OVERPASS
GF PLAN
Central to the design is a dynamic pathway, seamlessly interlinking the historic courthouse square with the bustling southwestern farmer's market. This flyover passway transcends conventional architectural roles of public square, allowing civic life to flow through, rather than around, the building. This design choice is a statement on the fluidity of civic power, enveloping public spaces within its embrace.
COURT SQUARE OVERPASS PERSPECTIVE
Lewis Creek
Lewis Creek
SECTIONS
How buildings interact with the creek
Public Space
Jury Lounge & Meeting Room Public Space
Jury Lounge & Meeting Room
COURTROOM PERSPECTIVE
Holding Space Judge’s Chamber
TRADITIONAL COURTROOM LAYOUT
Holding Space
Judge’s Chamber
PROPOSED COURTROOM LAYOUT Align jury box with spectator seating
In the scale of the courtroom, civic power is also amplified. By placing the jury box in front of spectator seating, rather than on the side of the courtroom as in traditional courts, the original intent of establishing a jury in the common law system is more prominently displayed.
Here is a more DEMOCRATIC COURTROOM LAYOUT
ROOF PANELING
STRUCTURE
rts
Circuit Court The circuit court handles most civil cases with claims of more than $25,000. The circuit court has the authority to hear serious criminal cases called felonies.
ou
General District Court The general district court handles traffic violations, hears minor criminal cases known as misdemeanors, and conducts preliminary hearings for more serious criminal cases called felonies.
COURTROOM
Ci
rcu
COURT SQUARE
JDR
it C
ou
Cou
rts
Ge
ne
ral
Dis
tric
tC
rts
Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (JDR) The juvenile and domestic relations district court hears all matters involving juveniles such as criminal or traffic matters.
FLOOD PLAIN
Lewis
k
ree
y
C ton
Pe
EXPLODED AXON
Cree
k
Transparency extends to the courthouse’s inner workings. Long skylights and rhythmic façade patterns demystify the courthouse’s interior, revealing the locations of courtrooms and passageways. This architectural transparency is a visual narrative of judicial integrity, fostering public understanding and trust in the justice system. In a significant departure from traditional courthouse designs, all courtrooms are strategically placed on the top floor of each building. This arrangement strategy ensures that each courtroom basks in natural light, a feature rarely seen in conventional and historic courthouses, where courtrooms are often hidden in the building’s core, devoid of windows. The infusion of natural light is more than an aesthetic choice; it creates a warm and welcoming environment, conducive to the solemnity and seriousness of trials. The presence of natural light is not only symbolic of transparency but also plays a crucial role in enhancing the comfort and well-being of all courtroom participants.
03 HEURISTIC PLAY IN A LARGER CONTEXT
A kindergarten for 0-6 years old Role: Individual Work Instructor: Clayton Strange Category: Academic; ARCH3020 Foundation Studio V; University of Virginia Time: Jan-May 2023; 15 weeks Building Area: 37,000 sqft (3,400 sqm) Location: Charlottesville, VA, USA
The design encourages heuristic play within a broader context. Heuristic play, a concept involving theprovision of various objects and receptacles for children to play with freely and without adult intervention, is rooted in young children’s natural curiosity. Applying this concept to the scale of an entire campus, the ground and sky are identified as the largest daily objects for children to interact with, offering significant potential for explorable space.
01. SITE ANALYSIS
04. CANOPY SYSTEM
• The site is high in the northwest and low in the southeast. • Identify the sloped areas and flat areas on site. • Mark the existing roads, buildings, and entrances.
• Free-flowing canopy system embraces two playgrounds and the main entrance. • Visually guide children circulate around buildings. • Introduce light into the buildings and funnel rains to water walls.
CONCEPT MODEL
PROGRAM ASSIGNMENT
02. BUILDING PLACEMENT
05. NATURAL LIGHT
• Place buildings on sloped areas. • Utilize height different to create explorable space for children. • Leave flat areas for playgrounds, farm, and gathering spaces.
• Skylights and gaps on the canopy system introduce natural sunlight into the buildings • Natural light saves energy and improves children’s mental and physical health. • The orientation of each skylight is carefully considered to provide appropriate lighting condition for different programs of each building.
The programs have been organized to align with a typical school day routine. Located in the southeast of the site, the bus drop-off and parking area serves as the morning entry point. Upon arrival, toddlers proceed to the nursery, which is fully equipped for their daily needs, while older children head to the dining hall for breakfast. Post-breakfast, their next stop is the classrooms. After morning classes, they return to the dining hall for lunch and recess. In the afternoon, the children are distributed to various activity rooms, gyms, and a small farm encircling the central playground.
CLIMATE AND HEALTH
KINDERGARTEN DAILY SCHEDULE
03. CIRCULATION
06. RAIN COLLECTION
• A loop with various spatial experience connects all the buildings together. • Pathways between buildings make the loop permeable. • Children and school buses arrive at south main entrance.
• The roof and gutterway together lead water to the planted water walls. • The collected rainwater is used to irrigate the plants in the gardens and the farm. • The water wall transform the meteorological phenomenon to a scale that children can play with.
Light and ventilation have been emphasized in this entire project, as they are crucial for children’s health. Each building is equipped with skylights, ensuring a steady influx of natural light and fresh air. Beyond illumination, the sloped curved roofs serve dual significant roles: firstly, as the wind passes over, the elevated design of these roofs generates a pressure differential, effectively drawing stale air out and circulating fresh air in. Secondly, these roofs are strategically designed to channel rainwater towards rain walls, thereby creating captivating water features during periods of rainfall.
CLASSROOMS
1. Nursery Room 2. Dinning Room 3. Administrative Office 4. Gym 5. Classroom 6. Art Room 7. Music Room 8. Green House 9. Farm 10. Bus Drop-off 11. Community Center / Public Pool
PLAN
How various programs are tailored and assigned to align with the daily routines of children.
CANOPY
PATH
TERRACE
GYMNASIUM
A
A’
B
B’
C
C’ SECTIONS
How buildings respond to the site topography
CLASSROOM SECTION MODEL
GRASSLAND
PAVED PATH
PAVED SURFACE
CLASSROOM HALLWAY COVERED PATH
ENCLOSED PATH
PANORAMA
Encourage children to explore the environment
SEMI-COVERED PATH
PLAYGROUND
ROOF PATH
All seven buildings are situated on a sloped area, connected by a system comprising terraces, paths, and canopies. The paths link terraces and canopies, responding to both ground and sky, and weaving the discrete buildings into a unified whole. These three elements interact, forming spaces with diverse experiential qualities that externalize the concept of heuristic play. Moreover, this system generates numerous informal learning spaces in the gaps between these elements. Such spaces foster children’s social interactions and help create a cohesive learning community.
FRAMED PATH
SOUTH ENTRANCE
RETAINING WALL
05 BEYOND MONUMENTALITY
DEATH AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION COVID-19 MEMORIAL IN WUHAN Role: Individual Work Instructor: Schaeffer Somers Category: Academic; ARCH4020 Thesis Studio; University of Virginia Time: Jan-May 2024; 15 weeks Building Area: 300,000 sqft (27,870 sqm) Location: Wuhan, China
The COVID-19 pandemic, a global tragedy, hit hardest in Wuhan, its first epicenter and my hometown. As the outbreak unfolded, the combination of an authoritarian government and an unprecedented crisis brought about chaos and widespread suffering. During this time, I experienced a strict four-month lockdown, witnessing firsthand the profound impacts of these measures—impacts that extended far beyond the virus itself. From food shortages to mental health struggles, countless stories of hardship were silenced and remain untold. This project seeks to explore how architecture can serve as a means to document and memorialize such a calamity, delving into the intricate relationship between death and monumentality. Here, death is not merely an end, but a catalyst for reflection and social change. It compels us to confront the consequences of authoritarian systems and inspires a call for greater civil rights, transparency, and broader democracy.
LOCKDOWN
FIELD HOSPITAL
WUHAN CREMATORIUM
Le Corbusier once said, “Architecture or revolution,” suggesting that architecture could serve as an alternative to revolution. However, many social issues can only be truly resolved through revolution. If architecture, under such circumstances, seeks to gloss over societal conflicts and oppression, it becomes complicit—it becomes an accomplice. That is why I propose a different approach: “Architecture for revolution.” In my design, the entire monument is intended to profoundly expose oppression, intensify conflicts, and unflinchingly present these issues to the public. It is meant to serve as a catalyst for social transformation.
THE PANDEMIC EXHIBITION SUSPENDED STRUGGLE
CAGED DISQUIET
WHIMS OF FREEDOM
I chose to place my memorial in one of the most secluded yet simultaneously most visible locations in the city: the two mountains. These mountains embody a “double story”—they are secluded because highways and railways isolate them from the city, limiting access, yet they are highly visible due to their massiveness and height. The seclusion reflects a deliberate response to the pervasive surveillance within the city, symbolizing the defiance of control through unauthorized actions. Their visibility, on the other hand, serves as a bold call for revolution—or, if that term feels too intense—a call for social transformation.
SITE - WUHAN
CONCEPT MODELS
UNIT 01 PLAN
PLAZA
UNIT 01
YA N
GT ZE
UNIT 02 UNIT 03
R IV ER
UNIT 00
SITE PLAN I propose a three-phase approach to achieve the design intention. The first phase, Retrospection, focuses on bringing people together to recognize and acknowledge the suffering they have endured. Capillary-like tunnel paths underpass barriers, drawing people from the city to the monument and connecting to nodes along the main path beneath the ridgeline, which serves as the project’s artery. These nodes, designed as dome- or cone-shaped structures with niches in their walls, function as cemeteries, serving as solemn reminders of death and evoking a sense of alarm. The second phase, Oppression, highlights the ongoing struggle against authoritarian control. Here, the tunnel emerges from the ground, transitioning into a trench that represents the tension between authority’s control and the people’s resistance. The final phase, Envisioning a New City, imagines a future after the fall of autocracy. It opens into a tranquil field that invites free interpretation and serves as a symbol of peace, harmony, and renewal, providing a hopeful conclusion to the journey through suffering and resistance.
UNIT 01
UNIT 02
UNIT 03
UNIT 03
UNIT 02
UNIT 01
06 DAMMED FOR PASS
NEW BALANCE AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DAM Fish pass design and LSII Dam resettlement plan Role: Individual Work Instructor: Boris Yu Category: Independent Research Time: Jul-Sep 2023; 10 weeks Planning Area: 25,600 acres (100 sqkm) Location: Stung Treng Province, Cambodia
The Lower Sesan II (LSII) dam is located on the Sesan River, a significant tributary of the Mekong River. Its completion in 2017 disrupted the ecological balance of the entire region and destroyed the traditional way of life for local people. The dam blocked fish migration routes on the Sesan River, a key Mekong spawning ground, drastically reducing fish populations, and its reservoir submerged several villages, displacing over 5,000 people, many of whom were fishermen and have now lost their livelihoods. This project aims to address the challenges brought by the dam to both the people and fish of the region. It features two fish passages, each specifically designed to accommodate the unique migration patterns of various fish species. This approach is complemented by comprehensive plans for resettling displaced villagers and fostering the growth of local industries. Focused on ecological conservation and creating economic opportunities in agriculture, fishing, aquaculture, processing, and tourism, the initiative strives for the harmonious coexistence and development of the region’s human and aquatic communities.
The Lower Mekong Fish Migration System is broken by LSII DAM EVERYONE NEAR THE DAM IS AFFECTED, NOT JUST THE FISH SITE CONTEXT
EXISTING PROBLEMS
SOLUTIONS
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
Sekong
Sesan
Srepok
2014
FISH LOSS
FISH PASS
RESEARCH / TOURISM
The number, size, and bio-diversity of fish species have all significantly declined. Fish is a major part of Cambodians’ diet. Millions of people on the Mekong River system live off catching and selling fish. Fish loss leads to decreased income and food shortages.
A fish pass, also known as a fish ladder, is a structure on or around artificial and natural barriers to facilitate diadromous fishes’ natural migration as well as movements of potamodromous species. There are many factors to consider in designing the fish pass to ensure its effectiveness.
Fish migration offers research and economic opportunities. A fish research center, aquaculture facilities, and fish migration tourism can be established around the fish pass, diversifying the local economy beyond traditional fishing and enhancing the livelihoods of the residents.
INUNDATION
RELOCATION
AQUACULTURE
At 75 meters high, the Lower Sesan II dam is not particularly tall but spans over six kilometers in width, creating a reservoir inundating 30,000 hectares of land, mainly forests, and wetlands used by the local communities. The dam led to the relocation of more than 5,000 indigenous ethnic people.
The relocation sites provided by the government lack facilities and job opportunities, and the people’s traditional lifestyles were not considered. New resettlement sites should consider industries development and preserve traditional practices such as rotational farming in design.
The advantage of the reservoir is that it offers a stable water resource year-round, presenting opportunities for aquaculture. This can provide residents with a more stable income and contribute to the conservation of endangered species.
2023 The site is located in the 3S Basin (Sekong, Srepok, Sesan rivers) in Stung Treng Province, Cambodia, in the middle reaches of the Mekong River. After the dam was completed and began storing water, the reservoir expanded to an area of 75 square kilometers (29 square miles). The transboundary 3S Basin is often cited as providing the Mekong Basin with around 18-20% of its annual discharge, which is particularly significant since the 3S Basin covers only 10% of the Mekong Basin’s total area. The damming of the river has severely affected the water flow downstream in the Mekong River. Therefore, the completion of the dam has had far-reaching effects, impacting not only local fish migration and the livelihoods of local inhabitants but also significantly influencing the Mekong River, Southeast Asia’s most vital waterway.
RESETTLEMENT PLAN
MASTER PLAN
DAMMED FOR PASS
Building a new overflow dam to guide fish entering either south or north pass
SECTION AA’
SECTION BB’
SECTION CC’
Fish Ladder Block
Downstream (Sesan River)
Upstream (Reservior)
LSII DAM
Two-way Migration System
Large Block (Above Water)
Small Block (Above Water)
Small Block (Below Water)
NORTH PASS
Fast current on right side
AQUACULTURE - PASS SYSTEM
Quick Dam-passing for Migratory Fish Slow current on left side
Highly migratory fish adhere to strict migration schedules. They need to reach upstream spawning grounds or downstream feeding areas at specific times annually. The north pass supports efficient bidirectional migration: the main channel caters to upstream movement with water blocks that moderate flow and offer shelter. Local fruit-bearing plants within these blocks provide food for fish passing through. The channel’s left side is fast and deep, while the right is slower and shallower, accommodating different fish sizes and behaviors. Side channels on both sides assist in downstream migration, featuring multiple entrances to ease access from the expansive upstream reservoir.
Flow Rate
Deep Pool Location (Rest Area)
Fish eggs and larvae migrate downstream through north pass.
50 % fish eggs and larvae are captured in aquaculture pond through.
Fish feed on artificial feeds with high nutrtion.
Fish grow up and move to a new pond according to their size.
Mature fish are transported to fish processing plant.
50 % adult fish enter the pond between rice paddies.
Fish feed on chicken feces fallen from the poultry farm above.
Some fish mirgate be- Fish are captured. tween pond and rice Chickens and eggs paddies to spawn. are collected. Rice are harvested.
Fish are processed, packaged, and shipped at fish plant
Downstream (Sesan River)
Upstream (Reservior)
LSII DAM Poultry Farm on Fish Refugee
Rice-fish System
Pools at meander bends
Pools in a straight alluvial channel
Pool at outer channel constriction
Pool downstream of mid-channel island
Pool at tributary confluence
RICE - FISH SYSTEM
Deep Pool Formation Strategies Flow Rate
SOUTH PASS
Habitat Restoration for Sedentary Fish
Deep Pool Location (Rest Area)
The south pass provides habitats for more sedentary fish. This pass is currently a dried natural river channel. The proposed plan involves diverting water from the reservoir and optimizing the river channel through strategies intended to naturally create deep pools that are favored by fish. During the monsoon season, the south pass connects with rice paddies on both banks, facilitating a symbiotic relationship between fish and rice and offering refuge for fish during the dry season.
Adult fish migrate upstream trough south pass.
Fish eggs and hatched larvae move out and migrate downstream
PHASES DIAGRAM
Solve the site issues in stages
YEAR AROUND CYCLE
Accommodate to annual precipitation
NORTH PASS PERSPECTIVE
07 AQUA-BYTE
SUSTAINABLE DATA STORAGE Semi-submerged data tower design with NOVA’s quarry transformation plan Role: Individual Work (This project is part of a broader research, and I am responsible for this enitre project.) Broader Research Team Member: Vishal Jayan, Cetin Irem, Haoran Zhang Instructor: Ali Fard Category: Research; NOVA Atlas; University of Virginia Time: Jun 2021-Aug 2023; 1 year Planning Area: 200 acres (840,000 sqm) Location: Northern Virginia, USA
Northern Virginia (NOVA) is home to about 275 data centers, which handle at least a third of the world’s online use. As spaces for data storage facilities, data centers are extremely exclusive and secretive to the public. However, they consume vast amount of electricity, water, and land. Such rampant sprawling significantly impacts the lives of nearby residents and the regional ecology. While the virtual world captivates with its kaleidoscope of colors and dynamism, it relies on the colossal, albeit monotonous, physical expanse of data centers as its foundation. In today’s era of information overload, we must ask: is there a more sustainable way to store our data? Many companies, including Microsoft, have successfully tested underwater server modules, which do not occupy land and can reduce the electricity used for cooling. Based on previous research and studies, this project proposes a semi-submerged data tower module. The tower’s crown portion can be used for recreation, while the submerged part can dock modular vessels loaded with servers. The project also proposes filling three abandoned quarries in NOVA with water and installing the data towers within them. In the area of these quarries, data towers could have a potential power load exceeding the total commissioned power of all the existing data centers in NOVA.
Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO)
Quarries
W as Do hin m gto in n io & n Tra Old il
QUARRY 01 Units: 68 Vessels: 3714 Power Load: 891.4 MW QUARRY 02 Units: 30 Vessels: 1003 Power Load: 240.7 MW
Leesburg, VA Purcellville, VA
QUARRY 03 Units: 98 Vessels: 6655 Power Load: 1,597.2 MW
01
Wa shi D o n g to n min ion & O ld Tr a il
02
NOVA Data Center Cluster
03
TOTAL POTENTIAL POWER LOAD: 2,729.3 MW
Alexandria, VA Washington DC
NOVA EXISTING CONMISSIONED POWER: 2,600 MW
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
SITE AXON Water is drawn from Goose Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River, to fill the three pits of the quarry. The underwater data center proposed for the quarries can accommodate the commissioned power capacity of all existing data centers in Northern Virginia.
NOVA PERSPECTIVE Moving all the data centers to the quarry will address the negative externality of data center operations and improve the ecology of the entire region.
Quarries
Data Center Cluster
Washington & Old Dominion Trail
NOVA REGION AROUND W&OD TRAIL
PROCESS DIAGRAM
How vessels are transported to the site
TOWER SECTION
TOWER PLAN The vessel shell is designed to fit into a shipping container. Once assembled in the factory, the vessel is loaded into a container and transported to the site by truck. At the shore, a crane barge lifts the vessel and transports it to the designated data tower for submersion and docking. Basic maintenance and replacement can be performed through the robotic arms inside the tower. The entire vessel can also be removed and replaced. The crown of the tower, featuring various programs, is designed to provide services to the community residents, enhancing its utility beyond just data storage.
EACH VESSEL: 12 Racks 864 Servers 27.6 Petabytes 240 KW
T-1: Tower with Structure Above Water •T-1.1 S Watch Tower (Accessible) •T-1.2 S Natural Tower (Inaccessible) •T-1.3 M Natural Tower (Inaccessible) •T-1.4 S Cafe / Green House Tower (Accessible) •T-1.5 M Pool Tower (Accessible) •T-1.6 L Farm Tower (Accessible) •T-1.7 L Sports Tower (Accessible) T-2: Tower without Structure Above Water P-1: Float Platform P-2: Structural Platform
VESSEL DETAIL AXON
T-2
T1.1, P-1
T-1.4, P-2
TOWER ARRANGEMENT
T-1.2, P-1
T-1.5, P-2
TOWER TYPES
T-1.6, P-2
T-1.7, P-2
RECREATION CLUSTER PERSPECTIVE
08 PAPER TERRAZO
REPURPOSE A-SCHOOL WASTE A new material, upcycled from paper products, bound together by corn starch. Role: Individual Work Instructor: JT Bachman Category: Academic; ARCH5500 - Processing the Anthropocene; University of Virginia Time: Aug-Dec 2023; 10 weeks
Every day, the School of Architecture generates a significant amount of paper waste. The waste spectrum ranges from leftover cardboard and chipboard from laser cutting to failed prints, plots, and lightly used hand towels. Despite sorting these paper products for recycling within the school, many do not undergo successful recycling and eventually contribute to landfill accumulation. This issue is particularly acute with materials like cardboard, chipboard, and papers that have been recycled multiple times, resulting in fibers too short for further papermaking. Consequently, paper products have become one of the main contributors to landfill volume. In response, this project explores the potential of upcycling various types of paper products into a more durable material, aiming to prevent these items from becoming landfill waste and offering a sustainable solution within the context of the School of Architecture.
van der Linde Recycling Center Troy, VA 22973
Blend into Pulp Mix with Corn Starch
Clean Printing Paper
Printing Paper + Chipboard
Printing Paper with Ink
Printing Paper with Ink + Clean Printing Paper
Chipboard + Paper Towel
Cardboard
Chipboard
Chipboard + Museum Board
Dry in Oven
Cast in Mold
Paper Towel
Cornstarch, when used as a binder, exhibits a resin-like quality after baking and drying. Mixing various types of paper can result in a finish resembling terrazzo.
From something we work with to something we live with
APPENDIX
BUILDING MATTERS
UVA Campbell Hall East Addition BIM Case Study Role: Group Work Partner: Chun Wang, Xintong Hu, Ziang Zhang Instructor: Seth McDowell Category: Academic; ARCH3260 Building Matters; University of Virginia Time: Mar - May 2022; 8 weeks Location: Charlottesville, VA, USA
APPENDIX
RESEARCH VISUALIZATIONS
COLLECTION OF VISUALIZATION WORKS Role: Individual Work Instructor: Ali Fard Category: Research Time: Jun 2022 - May 2024; 2 Years Location: Northern Virginia, USA
THANK YOU
YIMING ZHANG yimingzhang@gsd.harvard.edu +1 434-227-3826