Architecture Portfolio_Yunshu

Architecture Portfolio

Selected works 2017-2024

yunshu@umich.edu • (734)-834-6328

Museo del Novecento, Milano, Italy

Yunshu Huang e: yunshu@umich.edu t: (734)-834-6328

Education

University of Michigan, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Master of Architecture, May 2024

Selected Coursework:

Gestural Architecture: Integrated human movement and technology into multi-scale design processes.

Included a study trip to Milan, Italy.

New Tower of Babel: Designed a water filtration system for the New Iceland Embassy to address rising sea levels. Included a site visit to Washington, D.C.

Wear the house: Transformed a defunct mall into a multidisciplinary artists' community. Included a field study in Chicago, Illinois.

Hunan University, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Changsha, China

Bachelor of Architecture, Jun 2022

Professional Experience

LS3P, Savannah, Georgia, Jun 2023- Aug 2023

Student Intern: Designed site layouts and developed 3D models using Revit and Rhino for diverse projects, enhancing zoning and circulation feasibility. Created analysis diagrams and reviewed addendums to ensure compliance with design intent and standards. Collaborated with senior architects to deliver compelling presentations.

Selected Projects:

USCB Beaufort Convocation Center: A 55,000-sf multipurpose facility for 3,500–4,000 individuals.

601 Cohen Street 5-Story Multifamily: Affordable housing emphasizing urban integration.

Residential Condo Design (K-12): A nine-building sustainable condo complex.

Riverboat Restaurant: A scenic riverside dining project harmonized with site conditions.

Land-based Rationalism D.R.C, Beijing, China, Aug 2020- Sep 2020

Architectural Intern: Designed facades and 3D models using Rhino and Grasshopper, enhancing project visualization and feasibility. Conducted structural calculations and prepared bid documents for presentation to clients.

Selected Projects:

Main Exhibition Pavilion for the 10th Jiangsu Horticultural Exposition: A 95,000-sf pavilion drawing 40,000 visitors daily, repurposing industrial sites into ecological hubs.

Birdwatching Tower: A cultural facility within the 13th China (Xuzhou) International Horticultural Exposition. The Future Darden Stage: A 2,109,720-sf tourism complex on a repurposed quarry featuring hotels and outdoor theaters.

Additional Experience

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jun 2024- March 2025

Research Assistant:

Climate Future Symposium and Exhibition

Research Project: MiCE Architecture: Design Strategies to Mitigate Michigan Coastal Erosion

Produced precise 3D digital and physical models utilizing CNC machining, 3D printing, and handcrafted techniques. Created comprehensive architectural drawings, including plans, sections, and elevations, for innovative housing designs featuring adjustable foundations to mitigate Michigan coastal erosion.

Activities& Volunteer Experience

Zhumeng Studio - Hunan University, Hunan, China, Sep 2019- Sep 2021

Led a team of five to create engaging articles and cartoons documenting student life during COVID-19, fostering connection and resilience within the student community.

Hunan Art Museum voluntary activities, Hunan, China, Nov 2019

Organized and led children’s educational activities, teaching them design and physical model-making skills.

Oblique Photography and Media Representation Studio, Hunan, China, Sep 2018

Gained proficiency in UAV operation and time-lapse photography; produced a promotional video for the Lizi Jian and Xiezi Long Art Museum.

Honors& Awards

Honorary Nomination Award, Thesis Award- Sensibility for Aesthetic Explorations, Ann Arbor, Michigan, May 2024

Recognized by the University of Michigan Taubman College for exceptional creativity and sensitivity in aesthetic design through a distinguished thesis project.

Taubman Student Show 2023, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mar 2023

Selected to showcase outstanding studio work by the University of Michigan Taubman College.

Silver Award, Exhibition of Architectural Design in Developing Countries 2021, Mar 2022

Awarded by IAS and HESAP for innovative and vibrant architectural design projects in developing countries.

First prize, Sustainable Architectural Design Competition in Hunan Province, Hunan, China, Dec 2020

Recognized by the Hunan Provincial Department of Education for outstanding sustainable architectural design.

First prize, Rural areas of architecture activity in Hunan University, Hunan, China, Aug 2020

Organized by Hunan University, it honored innovative suburban development solutions in a rural architectural design competition.

Chinese (Native), English (Proficiency)

Software Skills

3D Modeling: Revit, Rhinoceros, Google SketchUp, AutoCAD, Microsoft Office, V-ray, Grasshopper, Enscape, Mars, Zbrush, Ansys

2D Graphics: Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom, Premiere, Lightroom), AutoCAD, ArcGIS, Microsoft Office Word

Fabrication: CNC Machining, 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, KUKA Robo

01- GESTURAL SYNTHESIS

INTEGRATING HUMAN MOVEMENT, EMOTION, AND TECHNOLOGY INTO ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

With the advent of mechanization, movement in architecture acquired new layers of meaning. Motions such as walking, gesturing, and expressing emotion were dissected into distinct frames, influencing how architects conceptualized dynamic form. Before computers, design was intrinsically tied to the body, with the hand as the primary tool to describe geometry and form. While geometry remains foundational, this thesis seeks to reintegrate the significance of gestures in architecture by digitally analyzing human movement, reasserting the role of haptic and embodied knowledge in design.

The concept of Gestural Architecture encapsulates the fusion of human movement, emotion, and technological advancements within architectural processes. In a digital age that often prioritizes abstraction over physicality, this approach reimagines the relationship between human emotions and computational tools. By employing digital technologies as a medium, paired with the designer’s tactile intuition, Gestural Architecture aims to evoke a sense of humanity and emotional resonance rooted in design thinking.

This thesis draws inspiration from the Italian Futurists and Marey’s geometric chronophotography, employing 3D animation software to record and analyze movement trajectories of the human body. Through experimental drawing techniques and fabrication processes, overlapping motion patterns are visualized across time and space. The staircase emerges as a central subject of inquiry— a transitional public space that bridges interior and exterior environments while facilitating emotional and psychological journeys. By analyzing how individuals ascend and descend, the design captures the interplay of motion, memory, and social interaction, emphasizing the staircase as both a spatial and emotional conduit.

April, 2024

Master Thesis_ Individual Project Honorary Nomination Award, Taubman College Thesis Award- Sensibility for Aesthetic Explorations

From Italy’s Futurism movement to Jules Marey’s stop-motion photography, people have tried to capture the movement of a single object across different moments in time. These efforts explore the connection between the human body, movement, and time — and the relationship between the instant and the eternal.

The design concept is based on the motion of a person upstairs. Using animation software, key body points—head, shoulders, arms, hands, abdomen, thighs, knees, and feet—are captured dynamically.

Their movement trajectories are then transformed from points to lines, and from lines to surfaces, to generate a basic unit 3D model. The body is deconstructed by separating its parts and expanding the shoulder width. The left and right sides are individually scaled up and down.

Based on the fundamental function and form of the stairs, the human body is translated into a staircase.

CNC- Body Parts Sculpture

Using various fabrication methods, different body parts are expressed and reassembled in unique ways.

CNC machining is used to cut foam boards, transforming individual body parts into independent sculptural forms. These elements are then recombined to create a new human structure and sculptural composition.

CNC- Different Perspective Assembly

Top view render

Top view render

The body is fragmented and reimagined, each piece reshaped and reassembled. In the end, the journey leads back to a reflection—seeing oneself anew.

02-REIMAGINING DIPLOMACY: THE NEW TOWER OF BABEL

AN ICELAND EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON D.C.

ADDRESSING RISING SEA LEVELS AND PUBLIC CONNECTIVITY

The New Tower of Babel is envisioned as a pioneering Iceland embassy in Washington, D.C., addressing the dual challenges of rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Situated on a vulnerable site, the project recognizes the urgent need for innovative design solutions to combat environmental challenges while fostering a deeper connection between the embassy and its surroundings. This embassy is more than a diplomatic hub—it is a model of resilience, transparency, and community integration.

At the heart of the design is a comprehensive water filtration and management system inspired by Iceland’s glacial rivers. The landscape and architectural elements work in tandem to address environmental concerns. Greywater is collected and filtered through a tiered system that reflects the natural flow of water from high to low points, culminating in an innovative underground filtration process. The resulting clean water is then reused to support the embassy’s functions, embodying principles of sustainability and resource efficiency. Beyond its technical innovations, the project redefines the relationship between diplomacy and the public. The design opens the embassy to the community, creating a welcoming and accessible space that harmonizes with its riverside and highway context. By integrating environmental resilience with civic openness, the New Tower of Babel transcends its role as an embassy, becoming a symbol of progressive diplomacy and sustainable design.

December, 2022

Academic Studio- Individual Project Taubman Student Show 2023

Lack of connection Block pedestrain go into the greenspace

The site is at the end of the axis of DC which connects with the Washington Monument. I consider about the signt with the Potomac River and Washington Monument.

The site now is a parking lot with a lot of inactive green space. The visitors can't have interesting experience when they walk along the waterfront. The Sweden and Iceland Embassy now also don't have a good relationship with the arounded green space.

03-WEAR THE HOUSE: SOFT BOUNDARIES, CREATIVE LIVES

TRANSFORMING A DEAD MALL INTO A MIXED-USE COMMUNITY FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTISTS

Wear the House is a visionary renovation project that transforms a defunct shopping mall into a thriving mixed-use community for interdisciplinary artists. This innovative development reimagines underutilized retail spaces, creating a self-contained ecosystem where living, working, and creative expression coexist seamlessly. By redefining the relationship between public (commercial) and private (residential) spaces, the project addresses the evolving needs of modern creative communities.

The design employs soft, flexible materials—such as soft PVC, nets, fur, and fabrics—to challenge traditional rigid architectural boundaries. These elements adapt to the unique demands and personalities of residents, fostering a dynamic and personalized co-living experience. This material palette not only reshapes the physical environment but also encourages a sense of fluidity and openness between public retail areas and private living quarters, redefining the concept of shared space.

Functionally, the community is self-sustaining, integrating commercial spaces, infrastructure, and public services to support its artist residents. These facilities provide opportunities for part-time work within the community, enabling artists to sustain their livelihoods while focusing on their creations. Wear the House exemplifies how adaptive reuse, innovative materiality, and community-focused design can breathe new life into abandoned spaces, turning them into hubs of creativity and collaboration.

April, 2023

04- GESTURAL SYNTHESIS-FURNITURE

INTEGRATING HUMAN MOVEMENT, EMOTION, AND TECHNOLOGY INTO ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

With the advent of mechanization, movement in architecture acquired new layers of meaning. Motions such as walking, gesturing, and expressing emotion were dissected into distinct frames, influencing how architects conceptualized dynamic form. Before computers, design was intrinsically tied to the body, with the hand as the primary tool to describe geometry and form. While geometry remains foundational, this thesis seeks to reintegrate the significance of gestures in architecture by digitally analyzing human movement, reasserting the role of haptic and embodied knowledge in design.

The concept of Gestural Architecture encapsulates the fusion of human movement, emotion, and technological advancements within architectural processes. In a digital age that often prioritizes abstraction over physicality, this approach reimagines the relationship between human emotions and computational tools. By employing digital technologies as a medium, paired with the designer’s tactile intuition, Gestural Architecture aims to evoke a sense of humanity and emotional resonance rooted in design thinking.

This thesis draws inspiration from the Italian Futurists and Marey’s geometric chronophotography, employing 3D animation software to record and analyze movement trajectories of the human body. Through experimental drawing techniques and fabrication processes, overlapping motion patterns are visualized across time and space. The staircase emerges as a central subject of inquiry— a transitional public space that bridges interior and exterior environments while facilitating emotional and psychological journeys. By analyzing how individuals ascend and descend, the design captures the interplay of motion, memory, and social interaction, emphasizing the staircase as both a spatial and emotional conduit.

April, 2024

Academic Studio_ Individual Project

05-THE BOTANICAL APARTMENT: A GREEN CONNECTION

REVITALIZING WEST 14TH STREET WITH VERTICAL GREENING AND HIGH LINE INTEGRATION

The Botanical Apartment is located on West 14th Street in Manhattan, New York, adjacent to the iconic High Line. This project responds to the decline of green spaces in Manhattan since the 1950s, addressing the pressing need for urban greenery and fostering stronger connections between the High Line and its surrounding architecture. While the High Line has successfully transformed an industrial rail into a celebrated public park, it still struggles to integrate seamlessly with nearby buildings, leaving opportunities for deeper urban and ecological synergy.

The design introduces a bold architectural concept: a sphere inset within a cuboid, serving as a transitional element between the public realm of the High Line and the private spaces of the apartment. The sphere's non-directional geometry facilitates a smooth gradient from chaotic urban dynamics to tranquil green sanctuaries. Vertical greening, integrated climbing walls, and transitional spaces allow for a unique interplay of nature and urban living, emphasizing the project’s commitment to biophilic design principles.

Beyond its architectural innovation, the Botanical Apartment reimagines how buildings can engage with public infrastructure and urban ecology. By merging private living spaces with verdant, public-facing elements, the project not only enriches Manhattan’s green footprint but also strengthens the connection between residents, visitors, and the High Line. This transformative approach exemplifies how architecture can bridge the divide between nature and urbanity, fostering sustainability and community engagement.

October, 2021

Individual Project

BUILDING PLANS

05-FUTURE ACADEMY: BRIDGING TRADITION AND INNOVATION

REDEFINING EDUCATION AND LIVING FOR A HARMONIOUS TOMORROW

The Future Academy addresses the growing tension between tradition and modernity in a rapidly evolving world. This project reimagines the relationship between study and residence, nature and technology, and traditional versus contemporary teaching methods. By analyzing the structure of traditional academies and developing a new layout, the design fosters an immersive educational experience that reconnects individuals with nature and embraces a simpler, more authentic way of living.

To escape urban noise and cater to diverse personal needs, the Future Academy introduces adaptable living and study modes. These flexible configurations allow individuals to design their own lifestyles, creating a deeply personalized environment. The system also encourages meaningful social interaction by blending these modes to facilitate connections among people with different perspectives, fostering face-to-face communication and collaboration.

By harmonizing nature with technology and tradition with the future, the Future Academy creates a transformative environment for education and community living. It transcends conventional boundaries, offering a space where individuality and collective engagement coexist, and where the essence of learning is intertwined with the rhythms of nature and modern innovation.

April, 2019

Academic Studio_ Team Project Teammates: Zhuoyu Song, Xinli Luo

Song dynasty (976-1246)

Yuan dynasty (1246-1314)

Ming dynasty (1314-1527)

Qing dynasty (1527-1812)

Basic function zoning formed which had a central of lecture hall.

Axis showed primarily and main architeture were close to river.

Space radioactive distribution and indenpendent Confucian Temple area.

Increase sacrifice archiecture and strengthen main axis.

THE PEACH GARDEN TRAVEL

Landscape axis

When standing at the entrance of the future academy, you can feel the depth and extended level by overlapping doorway and courtyard.

Go straight. You enter a big study center courtyard which helps you focus on yourself. You face nature, leaving away the noise from urban.

Enter the next residential courtyard. In this area, you can feel an apparent active atmosphere. Students relax and be honest with each other.

Here is the entrance to the garden. Standing here, you can hear the sound of bamboo when the wind blows through it and the murmur of a distant brook. You can see the bridge, grassland, corridor, and mountain in the distance.

After you go through the entrance, you have a board vision. Here, everything is like the traditional Chinese garden- the unflatten ground, the lake, the old tree, all of which make you feel quiet and peaceful.

The 200 years old tree stays permanently. Students talk with each under it as in ancient times. Here, nature is the teacher who teaches students how to think. Now, the Peach Garden travel is just beginning.

This story is based on future background, depicting a prospective college student's campus life. People there are guided by different axis to achieve their life demands. We emphasize the order of space, indicating the level of space and guiding people to immerse in here absolutely. We call this process "the Peach Garden travel."

The plan of future academy heritage the traditional axis of traditional academy. We use three levels courtyard to divide the basic function zoning- leisure, study and residence. The interior corridor and exterior corridor form the path to go to different courtyard and garden.

We designed 3 scales courtyard- functiong zoning, central fucntion courtyard and mode courtyard. Different scale courtyard can form different kinds of social network, so it can help people to make friends with different people freely as the old times rather than just stay alone.

Future Academy stays in the urban, giving people a sense of returning to nature. When you enter the Future Academy, you feel you have entered the Chinese ink painting. The mountain, the tree, the stream, and even the rain are all around you. You can hear chirps from birds, and the wind rustles the leaves. Here, you can communicate with people of different ages, careers even races. Future academy tries to create equal interaction, eliminate barriers, and be tolerant of the differences between other people.

BUILDING SECTION

07-PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

LS3P

USCB Beaufort Convocation Center: A 55,000-sf multipurpose facility for 3,500–4,000 individuals.

601 Cohen Street 5-Story Multifamily: Affordable housing emphasizing urban integration.

Residential Condo Design (K-12): A nine-building sustainable condo complex.

Riverboat Restaurant: A scenic riverside dining project harmonized with site conditions

Role: Student Intern

Team: Neil Dawson, Michael Garcia, Ken Elwood, Yunshu Huang

07-PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Land-based Rationalism D.R.C

Main Exhibition Pavilion for the 10th Jiangsu Horticultural Exposition: A 95,000-sf pavilion drawing 40,000 visitors daily, repurposing industrial sites into ecological hubs.

Birdwatching Tower: A cultural facility within the 13th China (Xuzhou) International Horticultural Exposition. The Future Darden Stage: A 2,109,720-sf tourism complex on a repurposed quarry featuring hotels and outdoor theaters

Role: Architectural Intern Team: Yuanzheng Dong, Xiaoming Fu, Yuming Guo, Yunshu Huang