elevated vocational clusters final draft

8/14/2019 Elevated Vocational Clusters Final Draft

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Junming Shi

ELEVATED VOCATIONAL CLUSTERS:RAISING THE GROUND PLANE

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE PROFESSIONAL B.ARCH DEGREE,

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

SUBMITTED JANUARY 2010

ADVISORS

Prof. Christoph Kumpusch

Prof. Dr. Mark Morris


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This journey was made possible with the support and generosity of many people.

My advisors Prof. Christoph Kumpusch and Prof. Dr. Mark Morris and I have been on the

same footing from the start. They have provided me with their utmost patience, support, and

awareness; their critical and precise approach has allowed me to refine my ideas into this thesis.

I also thank Prof. David Salomon for his guidance during prethesis development and Prof. Mary

Woods for her advice on setting up a critical framework for the site visit. On the Shenzhen trip,

Mr. YiGu and Mrs. JunZhangs coordination and experiences gave me access to the city and

provided me with personal insights to the Shenzhen-ren.

I am grateful for the friendship and guidance of my peers and mentors, particularly to: Amanda

Huang and Melissa Munz for their help on the final model; Justin Chu and Gabe Hohag fororganizing group critiques and alimentary provisions; Prof. Alexandr Mergold and Ken Vineberg

for their continued input on this thesis; and Andre Abrahamian and Victor Chea for their

enduring support.

Lastly, I would like to thank my parents for their absolute love and dedication, and for allowing

me to freely pursue my interests.

Acknowledgement


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Table of Contents

Acknowledgement iv

Hypothesis 4Site Research 7

Huanggang, Shenzhen 21

Precedents 33

Design and Development 43

Plans and Sections 55

Models and Renderings 69

References 82


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After 30 years of growth, Shenzhen has advanced far beyond its initial labor, spatial capacity, and social infrastructure. In this process, Urban

Villages in this city of migrants are facing conflicts of scale and identiy. Changing economical and cultural conditions threaten to uproot

Shenzhens first generation. Local shops, village spaces, and community routines, are being displaced by hypermalls, parking lots, and sky

scrapers. These challenges call for an architecture that is at once flexible, dense, and accessible to help bridge the different scales.

This thesis proposes an elevated megastructure for vocational training in digital technologies, healthcare, and hospitality to resolve the currentcrises. This intervention will mediate a pair of new Grounds, one level with the city, the other floating above the village. The Street level will be

fitted to city scale while village features will now be accessible from rooftops on the Plaza level.

Hypothesis


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In this endeavor, I will incorporate site analysis, precedents and formal explorations. To craft a new identity for the Shenzhen-ren with this

proposal, I plan to immerse myself with a focused site visit to seek out and accurately record the existing conditions of Shenzhen. Then armed

with the diagrams and sketches, I will use physical and digital methods to design and develop a proposal centered around this idea of dual

ground planes, and those spaces that inhabit between them.


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This authors cultural and historical understanding of the

site provides this thesis with its initial instincts as well

as context for its responsible development. As such, the

following analysis of the site unlocks many of the core

ideas in this proposal.

Site Research


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Shenzhen -Originally a small fishing village adjacent to HK - New Territories, Shenzhenwas selected for reform as the first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the late

1970s. The ideological shift attracted both skilled and unskilled labor from

all over China, propelling Shenzhen to swell into a sprawling metropolis.

Guangdong Province, ChinaRestart of Kowloon-Canton Railway in 1979

Shenzhen, Guangdong


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Shenzhens economy has been historically composed of light and high-tech manufacturing, housing and construction, and trade and shipping.

Since 2000, there has been steady growth in fields of hospitality and service-based industries tailored to the newly rich and rising middle class.


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1980 1990

2000 2009

Timeline of Shenzhens DevelopmentDating from the Ming Dynasty, Shenzhen (: deep, marshy land) was once composed of a small fishing township and several costal farms in

the flat and fertile Pearl River Delta. In 1950s, LuoHu Customs linked southern China with Hong Kong and Macao, before China plunged herself

into international isolation. In 1979, with a population of 30,000, Shenzhen was officially opened up to world trade as the Special Economic Zone

(SEZ). It was a graduated experiment in establishing a market economy. This was the first time in 40 years that foreign corporations and invest-

ments were allowed directly on any Chinese soil, and Western technologies and goods were seen by the general Chinese population.

Entire woods were cleared to build new factory towns, farmlands and swamps were converted into light manufacturing, farmhouses were razed

and rebuilt into multi-story apartments, and paths were widened into boulevards. In a short decade, the population of Shenzhen had doubled five

times over, and the once-fishing village of 10 km transformed into a sprawling, linear city covering 327 km .2 2


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1988 1992 1996

Shenzhens Rapid UrbanizationFalse coloring maps from 1988 to 1996 show the initial manufacturing centers, the urbanization of the coastal regions and the gradual outward

expansion: street pavings and the built environments have replaced both swamps and woodlands. Costal lowlands with shallow bedrock has led

to the rise of many urban clusters along the coast and natural crossing points into Kowloon. Further development of the in-between lands has

blended together the urban landscape. Since 2000, Shenzhen is developing a network of elevated highways and subways to compliment the

existing speedways.

With these links to the various urban centers, Shenzhen has grown into a linear metropolis.

HG village


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Like the explosion of the 19th century cities, urbanization of Shenzhen was fueled by the mass migration from the countryside to the city. In

greater China, the pent up demand for jobs, the opportunity for a new start, and the modern railroad is multiplied with Shenzhens insatiable

demand for labor and promises of upward mobility. The massive influx has transformed Shenzhen into a City of Migrants.

The scale of the city continues its extraordinary growth, be it office towers, pedestrian crowds, or consumer spending power. While many of the

issues with growth are addressed with more growth, social consequences for the rapid and often vapid urbanization are emerging as supplyeventually reaches demand.

VIENNA 271,000. . . 750,000 2,000,000

BERLINPARISLONDONNEW YORK

200520052005 2005

GROWTH OF POPULATION

19901978 2005

30,000 750,000 10,000,000*

SHENZHEN

1978 2005

*88% are between 15-59; 85%are migrants or first generation

Shenzhen-born

Comparing urbanization rate with other cities in The City of To-morrow and Its Planning

Growth of Population


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Shenzhen city hall during the 30 year celebrationsInvasion of Big Box stores and wholesale consumption

Large-spaces are the reflections of the growing scale of Shenzhen. Against the urban backdrop of super skyscrapers, six- and eight-laned

roadways, high-rise residential complexes, and the population density, these mega-spaces are reduced to barely appropriate.


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Much of the city has been painted with fast, rough brush strokes: lands cleared and factories built and walled off; swamps filled and residential

high-rise complexes built; multilane highways laid out in anticipation for future traffic. Until now, the pacing has never been fast enough. After

30 years, much of the land has been built up, and as old and new factories are moving outwards, focus is turning inwards to urban beautification

and renewal projects.

Desperately needed civic centers, educational institutions, cultural buildings, subway lines, and advanced research and industrial parks are laidout over dilapidated factories and slummy neighborhoods. In order to both fulfill existing and future demand, public mega-buildings like the

Shenzhen Library, City Hall, Expo Center, MixC Mall, etc.. are introduced into the fabric of the metropolis.

Scale of the City

Shenzhen Convention Hall covers over 2 city blocks and offers up to 105,000m exibition space2


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Shenzhen is not all new. Its traces and histories are can be found in the

quickly disappearing urban villages, slums of Shenzhen. In the individual

and collective memories of the Shenzhen-ren are embedded the recent

transition from their lives as migrants. Even the second generation, who has

now shouldered the familys burden, find themselves overwhelmed by the

changes taking place.

College graduates overwhelm booths at a job fair


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Urban Village in the City

Eateries and shops on the g round level

Once a rotating door to newcomers and college graduates, they now provide for migrants that have settled down. Though these villages are often

out-dated and potentially hazardous to live in, there is a visible sense of community and responsibility among there residents . The enormous foot

traffic, along with ground level shops and condensed public spaces of these villages are in contrast to the culture of highrise apartment-to-

elevator-to-parking lot that is present in many of the newer developments.

Everywhere, blocks of informal housing have been built up by the farmers-turn-landlords of Old Shenzhen throughout the 80s and 90s . Thehousing units are direct extrusions of the 10mx10m footprint alotted to each farmer, separated by tight, grid-like alleys. All floors the storefront

level extend out onto the roads below, with window balconies sometimes protruding from the facades. As they are squeezed tightly enough to

keep the alleys shaded most of the day, this housing typology is referred to as handshake housing.

While less visible, clusters of informal mid- and low-rises make up the majority of the Shenzhen.


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As Shenzhens markets mature over time, fanciful promotions and upward mobility have slowed for the uneducated and unskilled. Since migrantcan not get Shenzhen hukou (proof of citizenship), their children do not have access to proper schooling, healthcare, and other socialservices. Many villages that were once competitive gateways to the city have instead become slums traps of the metropolis. Self organization and

community bonds have become the determining factor to the vitality of these neighborhoods.

At the same time, rising land values have been constantly pressuring rents. In the late 80s, this was resolved by tearing down and rebuilding tallerapartments one at a time, leading to the different characteristics of facades, floor heights, and roof styles found today. Due to the shortage of

undeveloped spaces in the 90s, this practice was discontinued in favor of larger scale redevelopments. Those urban villages that were not deemed

well formed have become the targets of Shenzhens urban renewal program.

Perspective from an adjacent highrise Preparing for redevelopment


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Slum Villages and Urban Renewal

Chaotic villages are the results of poor urban planning, neighborhood design, and the rush to keep up with demand. Low income and lack of

adequate management further degrade living conditions within these slums. In terms of redeveloping these areas, both the government and

private interests are involved. It is a partnership that is profitable at best, but often sacrificing the local residents who can not hope to afford the

improvements.

Yunong Village (: Fishermens Village) was an informal village spawned in the late 1850s as a fish-farming collective of 150 villagers. Withthe influx of workers coming to SEZ, Yunong villagers redirected their energies to real estate development. By 1994, local villager hadconstructed 37 illegal units without seeking the proper permits. The best of those units were outfitted with air conditioning, balconies, had

waterside views -- they were top of the line in Shenzhen.

March 2008: New residential complex for saleMay 22, 2005: broadcasted implosion of 16 remaining structures in Yunong Village


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Officially, ventilation issues and poor security prompted the government to intervene in the neighborhood. Yunong is a high profile site, located

next to Huanggang/Lok Ma Chau control point, which serves as a point of entry/exit to Kowloon, Hong Kong. In addition, it was an opportunity

to showcase Shenzhen governments willingness to execute their urban village redevelopment plan. As such, this spectacle was widely publicized

in state media, culminating with a live demolistion of 16 buildings.

What once was a pedestrian friendly residential zone bustling with activity has now become its own gated community with private securitydetails. In only 4 years, all physical traces of a cohesive village have been re-landscaped into a small park amongst the 25 story high-rises. Out of

the thousands of tenants displaced, only 250 residents moved into the new complex. Instead of working locally, the new residents often commute

long distances to their office workplace.

March 2003: Yunong Village with informal housing 2009: Yunong Village touted as a huge success for Sh enzhens HUD


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base map from Edushi.com

1km


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Located at the heart of the Futian district in Shenzhen,

Huanggang is where the not-so-past sits next to the new

scale of a metropolis. It is an urban village that is part

of the Central Business District Axis (CBD): sandwiched

between the civil and commercial blocks to the north,

and a public park and Futian Customs to Kowloon to thesouth.

Huanggang, Shenzhen

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Huanggang: Transformation of Site

Huanggang (: royal port), established in 1950s, was a village of patty fields that serviced a local dock. Since 1978 and the introduction of theopen market system, Huanggang has undergone raze-and-rebuild cycles twice. First cycle was the light manufacturing plants that replaced

adjacent patty fields and the partial transition of housing units to two story homes. Then in the mid 1990s, the district underwent a drastic change

to six story mid-rise apartments with ground level store fronts, wider streets for carts and bicycles, a formal central plaza, and a pair of

market/office/school mix-use buildings.

Shenzhen landscape in 1983, Huanggang village on upper left An outdoor meal in a Huanggang courtyard c. 1980

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The neighborhood has boomed with like-minded people: struggling together whether working demanding hours, caring for elders, raising fami-

lies, and making new connections. Today, a strong community has formed around the bustling shops, internal nursery and elementary school,

communal market and public spaces.

When asked, residents identify strongly with the density, security, and typology of these handshake housing units. In extended conversations,

residents also mentioned the growing presence of car-culture and the dangers that it poses to their pedestrian village.

Huanggang central building includes a covered market and primary school Youngsters leaving elementary school during lunch break

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Huanggang: Site Visit

Opposite: Meandering paths taken during the visit to Huanggang. Huanggang contains two

intersecting axis containing a unshaded plaza and newly empty spaces. As mainly temporary

buildings occupy the vertical axis (shaded), I chose those areas as the site for my intervention.

The formal and forbidding Huanggang Plaza, built in 2003, is lightly used by local population

Instead, they gather near playgrounds and under shaded planters

There are two main entrances: one from the Exhibition Hall up north, and

another from the Huanggang subway stop, located to the southeast. I visited

Huanggang twice over three days. On the first visit I was drawn into nature of

handshake units, the imperfect grids, and the village layout in general. The

second visit I noted the public and commercial spaces in the village, tracings

of different historical textures, and interacted with receptive shop ownersand strollers.

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(3)

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Huanggang: Existing ConditionsSince the last demolition of low-rises, renovations in Huanggang have been necessity upgrades (facade based plumbing, electrical wiring, gas

mains, underground drainage and sewage, and storefronts expansions). Considering that poorer villages still lack these amenities, Huanggang

residents are justifiably satisfied with their living conditions. Current political and economical pressures forces, however, the reality of renew-

ing the village into yet another high-rise block.

Plumbing, gas main, and electrical wiring on facadeWhile rare, some have remodelled the 2nd floor Upgrading drainage system before the wet season

Opposite: All handshake housing units in Huanggang have commercial shops on the ground level, creating a datum

separating public and private activities. These stores range from th e ubiquitous family diner to a rare jewelry repair

shop. Competition from the likes of Carrefour and Walmart have forced many of these storefronts innovate or close.

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Huanggang: Pressure for Urban RenewalUnlike more informal villages, Huanggang has been able to withstand the onslaught of towering offices and hotels up to now. Still, the activities

of the city demand for a larger scale. A few of these issues include: a pair of educational facilities built in the 80s; a dark and overflowing flea

market tucked away in the center; an unshaded and mainly symbolic modernist plaza on the western axis; heavy traffic needing full sized streets,

inability of smaller stores competing against supermarket prices, and the rising of property values and rents. Any serious renewal effort must

address these core village issues.

Looking at Huanggang from adjacent highriseThe entrance gate was once the tallest landmark

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The official assessment for Huanggang calls for the creation of a public connector for the Exhibition Hall and lower park. Rather than tackling the

issues of the local community, they are suppressed for a grand vision to extend the CBD axis at the heart of Shenzhen. In this proposal, Huang-

gang village will merely serve as a connector to the large green space to the south. This strategy involves the demolition of the entire community,

the construction of additional pedestrian sky-bridges, and will result in yet another glorified green space surrounded by new high-rise develop-

ments.

Though the invasion of the city scale into Huanggang is inevitable, there are alternative urban strategies incorporating these handshake villages

into the city. Given the intricate nature of public and private spaces in Huanggang, it is possible to weave the city into the village.

Proposed urban strategy for Huanggang, 2007 Huanggang has speedways on all sidesOverall plan for green spaces along CBD axis

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During the site visit, I set out to observe the how spaces relate to the activities that occur there. Even before entering the village, I noticed the

lack of a definite perimeter, and the visual density of the storefronts. Not all paths were equal for there was a measurable degree penetration of

public space at the ground level. Those on the main streets had large glazings and were filled with activity; those two houses down were often

shuttered, more than one emanating mahjong tiles sounds. At the paths intersections, I often found groups sitting and socializing with passerbys.

Still, there was a strong sense of community and security, as I found out when I attracted too much attention on the second visit. I gathered in a

conversation with the local security militia that many non-residents come through the village to purchase goods, attend schools, and some, cause

mischief. While gate communities provide more security, there are little opportunities for commercial development.

Overlapping Territories in Huanggang

This restaurant has replaced load bearing walls with columns and beams

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Public

Types of Territories

Semi Public

Private

Semi Private

Village in the City (Shrinking) EncroachingHigh Rises

EncroachingHigh Rises

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This thesis draws from a larger body of research, theory,

and practice. I sought to understand their intentions,

processes, and impacts. When refining this thesis, I

employed their forms and strategies accordingly.

Precedents


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Plug-In City, Peter Cook 1964

Precedents: ConceptPeter Cooks Plug-In City imagins a city of frameworks and infrastructure that allows for the organization and expansion of cellular components.

It approaches city design from a macro scale, offering combinations of residential blocks, industrial sectors, and leisure and institutional regions

interlaced with connectors. The strength of the proposal is its scalability, as components can be broken down into capsules, and cities can expand

upon itself into mega-cities.

The housing units in Huanggang Village, while isolated from the city, are already component-like in nature. Instead of creating more residential,

a smaller scaled version of the Plug-In City is needed to tie the existing urban village into the greater fabric of Shenzhen.


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Museum for a Small City, Mies 1942 Plan for New Gourna, Hassan Fathy

Mies proposal of Museum for a Small City states that architecture should be almost nothing and instead accentuate the objects on display.

The proposal manipulates a gallery space with light and forms within a larger warehouse to create a space that minimally impacts the pieces on

display. In his next project, the National Museum, Mies designed a volume lightly marked by a lofty ceiling and transparent glass. My interests

extend to this ability to compose and redefine a space within a a larger context, specifically, the open spaces of Huanggang village.

Hassan Fathys plan for New Gourna incorporates linked courtyards with local construction techniques. The Nolli plan approach to public and

residential spaces become a strong identity and organizing element for the city. Similarly, the Elevated Clusters utilizes light wells to organize

both internal programmatic zones and street level spaces.


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Temporary steel trusses as formwork for elevated highway, MedwayLinked Hybrid, Beijing, Steven Holl 2003

Precedents: StructureI have been fascinated by skybridge networks and their ability to extend spaces and craft sequences. The Linked Hybrid introduced this typology

into Chinas urban landscape, a country where privacy is highly valued. In this residential complex, skybridges link atria together as an alternative

to the ground level. This discussion of a mall space, albeit a more residential one in nature, is what Huanggang Village needs to reclaim from the

encroaching city.

On the train ride to Shenzhen, I passed long strips of elevated highway under construction, ranging from completed portions, through formwork

and preparation, all the way down to foundation piles. Their trusses and formwork reminded me of heavy weight elevated structures, and their

animation at 130km/hr prompted me to imagine quality of spaces within these formworks.


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Resting on the cores formwork, Vanke Residences, Shenzhen, Steven Holl 2009

Another Steven Holl project, the Vank Residence, offers a realistic structural method for floating a megastructure 15 meters in the air. The 380

meter long horizontal skyscraper rests on a trussed steel floor plate that then carries the loads down through 13 slender cores. Elevators shafts

and stairwells are also embedded within these cores. If applied to Huanggang Village, these urban pillars would allow adjacent programs to

freely flow into and occupy the carved void spaces.

For the above roofscape, I was reminded of Alvar Aaltos Cultural Centers small and intimate roof courtyard. The sidings shield occupants from

street views and high winds, and also visually redirect viewers attention skywards. While there werent too many built structures of that height in

Wolfsburg, Shenzhens skyline would be a perfect backdrop to a village-scale roofscape.

Wolfsburg Cultural Center, Germany, Alvar Aalto 1962


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Urbanuss analysis and propsal for the generic Urban Village

Precedent: ProgramThe Chinese firm Urbanus has done a number of studies on the redevelopment of Urban Villages, ranging from programmatic interventions to

redevelopments. The proposal reallocates program spaces on a scale with the least impact to the identity of the village. By removing a select

number of housing units, and reallocating onto the roofscapes of adjacent units, the proposal attempts to both ventilate a residential ground

level and activate a commercial roof level.

However, urban villages neither has the programmatic complexity nor the scale for this proposal to be commercially or culturally viable.

The handshake units do not contain green houses, tea chambers, ample circulation, nor park spaces. Thus, only residential programs will be

redistributed onto adjacent rooftops. Instead on a larger scale, this programmatic distribution concept may work to preserve the characteristics

of the urban village.


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Tulou by urbanus, a fushion of modern construction and a tradit ional urban typology 4-in-1 Tower Proposal , Steven Holl , 2009

The Tulou, another Urbanus project, re-imagines the urban village typology with a service center surrounded by a tight-knit residential complex.

The mix use structure at its core provides necessary facilities and services such as food markets, theaters, clinic, and daycare for the residents.

These programs are vital to the success of any community.

The 4-in-1 Tower Proposal best models the future for urban villages. Towers dominate a site just northwest of Huanggang once filled with

handshake units. An elongated sequence of volumes would anchor the adjacent high-rises, lift the ground level away from the street traffic and

parking, and create a new circulatory path filled with communal and commercial spaces.


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Beijing Pre-1980 (Horizontality)

Beijing Post-1980 (Verticality)

Propsed 2003 (Hybrid Space)

Studying Beijing landscape: Diagram for Linked Hybrid by Steven Holl

nalysis of Huanggang as an Urban VillageSteven Holls Linked Hybrid arose out of his analysis of the conflicts of horizontality and verticality in Beijing. He sought to re-introduce the

community into the landscape of sky-scrapers and reconnect the city to its past. Opposite is Huanggangs urban village diagrammed in a similar

context - just with slight differences in typology and chronology:

1. Shenzhens chaotic handshake villages vs. Beijings traditional sihe-yuans (multi-generational courtyard complexes)

2. The presence of urban villages still in Shenzhen vs. Beijings completion of urban renewal prior to verticality

3. The pacing and scale of development in Shenzhen

In Shenzhen 2008, Verticality has not yet invaded Huanggang, but parts of the village are slated for redevelopment. Therefore, instead of

recreating a version of Hybrid Space to give Shenzhen a new identity, I propose a linear, connective structure to reintegrate the existing

community of Huanggang into the future Vertical city.

Opposite: Shenzhens stages of development (page 22). The proposed Connective Vocational Clusters will reintegrate

the urban village to the backdrop city scale.


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Shenzhen Pre-1979 (Agricultural Village)

Shenzhen 1990 (Industrial Village)

Shenzhen 2003 (Village in the City)

Shenzhen 2008 (Villageless City)

Proposed (Connective Vocational Clusters)


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The development of this thesis was non-sequential:

ideas were tried, discarded, rethought, and ultimately

incorporated. Despite the process, the design followed

a rigorous framework set forth in the thesis.They are

represented in the following as parts of the whole.

Design and Development


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Parts to Whole Relationships: Facade LayoutTo sketch a rough volumetric boundary, I looked at the existing site conditions. To preserve the views to the adjacent buildings, I marked the

ground with offsets of the buildings heights. In order to avoid the narrow and dark conditions that exist in the narrow alleys, I also marked a

spatial offset at 45 degrees to the ground. These spatial offsets, then, register the existing condition onto the new facade.

Just as how two-story buildings once dominated the site, before the drastic scale jump of the handshake units, this facility will tower over these

current buildings. And just as the current site once had its own imperfect grid before it being swallowed up, I will re-introduce the grid, this time

with respect to the current Huanggang scale. The new default unit scale will be 15m by 20m, with deviations to allow for aligning facades.

With spatial offsets, these grids become suspended volumes of varying heights that make up the ceiling of the new street level.

45o

Offset from boundary heights to preserve views Extrapolated footprints to match existing facades


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2 10 20 50 100mN


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Parts to Whole Relationships: Vertical CoresLight Cores - Scattered throughout the facility are a number of vertical openings that penetrate completely through to the Street level. The cores

will complement sunlight from the periphery to provide daylight to the Street level. Also, these light cores will provide adjacent interior spaces

with daylight. The spaces underneath will be in contrast to the dim alleyways.

Vertical Access and Structure - Four pairs of vertical cores will be the structural mainstay of the megastructure. They each have a long staircase

and two bays of large elevators that transport people and goods vertically into the facility levels and above to the Plaza level. These eight pillars

will provide a sense of interior space to the open Street level.

Shenzhen receives harsh, near vertical sunlight for most of the year, rendering many shading devices ineffective. Also, being at the mouth of the

Pearl Delta region, Shenzhen has frequent rainstorms that drench the city. Thus, shaded public spaces provide double the benefits for its users.

Sun-path Diagram for Shenzhen; only near vertical sun reaches the alleywaysVertical tubes could bring down both s tructure and light


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2 10 20 50 100mN


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At the Plaza level, sitting above the vertical cores, primary vierandeel trusses span the entire width (up to 40m). Secondary trusses and beams

are hung from those trusses to provide for the support for the individual volumes. Within these volumes, tertiary columns suspended from the

formwork support floor plates individually, allowing for possibilities of multiple plates forming larger, more fluid spaces.

The structual layout is flexible and adaptable. Since each volume is independently supported, it may connect to any of the adjacent spaces based

on programmatic needs. In addition, this strategy allows for flexible floor heights and vertical connectors for small classrooms to medium sized

labs to large open spaces.

Parts to Whole Relationships: Structure

Main structural spans rest on 25m tall pillars Secondary structure are hung off of main structural grid


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2 10 20 50 100mN


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Opposite: Taxonomy of Connections showing the different types of spatial connections

Parts to Whole Relationships: Territories

Distinct volumes would blend into territories

Territories are formed by joining individual volume-unit together. Different types of connections will lead to the formation of distinct territories.

Direct Connectors isolate units and create private spaces for small labs and offices. Indirect Passages connect units sharing similar a program

or programs with similar requirements. Direct Passages combine units into a much larger zone, though still with traces of structure from the

individual units.


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Indirect Passage Direct PassageDirect Connector

Unbiased

Biased

A larger, semi enclosed passage space th atconnects two or more volumes with a

common point.

A complete passage that erases theprevious boundaries of volumes and

creates a new, continuous space.

A small, quick connector that connectstwo distinct volumes by bridging

the interstital spaces.

A larger, semi enclosed passage space th at

connects two or more volumes with a

common point.

A complete passage that erases the

previous boundaries of volumes and

creates a new, continuous space.

A direct bridge from o ne contained

space to another.

A larger, semi enclosed passage space that

emphasizes one space over its adjacencies.

A complete passage with a slight turn.

The emphasized zone becomes central

to the programv

A slightly longer direct bridge

with vertical link.


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Parts to Whole Relationships: ConnectionsInterior spaces are a recording of the programmatic narrative formed by connecting volumes together. In general, volumes are joined with Direct

Connector, Indirect Passage, Direct Passage. These three types are applied to each condition as qualified by the spatial program. In turn, they

vary the heights and spatial flow of the building. The interiors may vary from large atria to zoned laboratories.

2 10 20 50 100mNFirst level connectors showing zoning conditions


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At the first main level, the programmatic territories are isolated and rigid: heavy equipment and specialized training labs. Therefore, the first level

plan is generated with mainly Direct Connectors, as most of the traffic will be intra-program vertical movement. As the lowest level is also the most

secluded, there are few indirect passages to meander through.

Further levels above become more and more inclusive, with programs ranging from classrooms, workshops, offices, and labs. Both Indirect and

Direct Passages linking different light wells create a linear exhibition zone throughout the upper levels. Throughout the levels there are also access

points onto the roofscape of Huanggang Village.

2 10 20 50 100mNApplying the connectors to form walls, s paces, and passageways


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Plans and Sections


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2 10 20 50 100mN


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+0m Street Level


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2 10 20 50 100mN


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+24m 1st Level


Unbiased

Biased


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+28m 2nd Level


Unbiased

Biased


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2 10 20 50 100mN


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+32m 3rd Level


Unbiased

Biased


64/82

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2 10 20 50 100mN


65/82

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+36m Plaza Level


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Models and Renderings

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Side view of sketch model, the center does not open up to the surrounding context

Through sketch models I explored the idea of vertical light cores and atrias, as well as ground level programs and variations. I determined that

having programs on the city level will reduce the clarity of a open ground space. Instead, I inserted these variations onto the roof level so to create

an enviroment to allow for village level activities.

View of from front entrance

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Right: Model in context of existing Huanggang Village heights.

Opposite: Perspective up to an opening on the south tail.

Northwest view

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Left: Looking down from the northeastern corner from the Expo Hall.

Opposite: Connective Clusters showing relationship to existing Huanggang Village and the

central plaza.

North Courtyard

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View from western axis

View from village rooftops

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View of central coutyard

The central opening mirrors the courtyard condition of the clock towers hemi-circle arcade.

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ContextBiao, Xiang. Migration and Health in China: Problems, Obstacles and Solutions.

Asian Metacenter Research Paper Series. National University of Singapore:

Asia Research Institute, 2003.

Burtynsky, Edward. China. Steidl, 2006.

Muckle, J., and Morgan, W.J., eds. Post-School Education and the Transition

from State Socialism. Nottingham, UK: University of Nottingham Continuing

Education Press, 2001.

Tun, Maq. Internal Labour Migration in China: Features and Responses, April

2006.

Theory

Busbea, Larry. Topologies: The Urban Utopia in France, 1960-1970. The MITPress, 2007.

Cook, Peter, ed. Archigram. Princeton Architectural Press, 1999.

Francesco, Proto. Mass, Identity, Architecture: Architectual Writings of Jean

Baudrillard. Chichester, West Sussex, England: Wiley Academy, 2003.

Goldberger, Paul. Building Up and Tearing Down: Reflections on the Age of

Architecture. The Monacelli Press, 2009.

Rossi, Aldo. The Architecture of the City. The MIT Press, 1984.

Shane, David Grahame. Recombinant Urbanism: Conceptual Modeling inArchitecture. Academy Press, 2005.

Urban VillagesHuang, Zhengdong, and Qingming Zhan. Mapping of Urban Villages in

China, School of Urban Design, Wuhan University.

http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/confluence/download/

attachments/34308102/Huang+China+UrbanVillageMapping.pdf?version=1.

Kuang, Xiaoming, and Ge Xiao, eds. Informan Image and Text. Urban China

10 (June 2006): 99-103.

ODonnell, Mary Ann. The Meaning of Work and the Pursuit of ( Happiness).

Shenzhen Noted, June 21, 2009. http://maryannodonnell.wordpress.com/.

URBANUS. Village/City City/Village. China Electric Power Press, 2006.

References

elevated vocational clusters final draft

Documents