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
Acknowledgement
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. JunZhang’s 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 Munõz for their help on the final model; Justin Chu and Gabe Hohag for
organizing 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.
 Table of Contents

Acknowledgement  iv
Hypothesis  4
Site Research  7
Huanggang, Shenzhen  21
Precedents  33
Design and Development  43
Plans and Sections  55
Models and Renderings  69
References  82
Hypothesis
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
Shenzhen’s 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 current
crises. 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.

4
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.

5
 Site Research
This author’s 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.

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Restart of Kowloon-Canton Railway in 1979 Guangdong Province, China

Shenzhen - 深圳
Originally a small fishing village adjacent to HK - New Territories, Shenzhen
was 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.

Shenzhen, Guangdong

8
Shenzhen’s 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.

9
 1980 1990

2000 2009

Timeline of Shenzhen’s Development

Dating from the Ming Dynasty, Shenzhen (深圳: 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

10
 HG village

1988 1992 1996

Shenzhen’s Rapid Urbanization

False 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.

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 GROWTH OF POPULATION
NEW YORK LONDON PARIS BERLIN SHENZHEN

*88% are between 15-59; 85%

are migrants or first generation
2005 2005 2005 2005
Shenzhen-born

1978 2005

1978 1990 2005

30,000 750,000 10,000,000*
VIENNA . . . 271,000 750,000 2,000,000

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

Growth of Population
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 Shenzhen’s 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 supply
eventually reaches demand.

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

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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Shenzhen Convention Hall covers over 2 city blocks and offers up to 105,000m2 exibition space

Scale of the City

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 laid
out 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.

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 College graduates overwhelm booths at a job fair
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 family’s burden, find themselves overwhelmed by the
changes taking place.

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While less visible, clusters of informal mid- and low-rises make up the majority of the Shenzhen. Eateries and shops on the ground level

Urban Village in the City

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. The
housing 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.

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Perspective from an adjacent highrise Preparing for redevelopment

As Shenzhen’s markets mature over time, fanciful promotions and upward mobility have slowed for the uneducated and unskilled. Since migrant
can not get Shenzhen hukou (户口：proof of citizenship), their children do not have access to proper schooling, healthcare, and other social
services. 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 taller
apartments 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 Shenzhen’s urban renewal program.

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

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 (渔农村: Fishermen’s Village) was an informal village spawned in the late 1850s as a fish-farming collective of 150 villagers. With
the influx of workers coming to SEZ, Yunong villagers redirected their energies to real estate development. By 1994, local villager had
constructed 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.

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March 2003: Yunong Village with informal housing 2009: Yunong Village touted as a huge success for Shenzhen’s HUD

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 government’s 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 security
details. 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.

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 1km
base map from Edushi.com
 Huanggang, Shenzhen
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 the
south.

21
Shenzhen landscape in 1983, Huanggang village on upper left An outdoor meal in a Huanggang courtyard c. 1980

Huanggang: Transformation of Site

Huanggang (皇岗: royal port), established in 1950s, was a village of patty fields that serviced a local dock. Since 1978 and the introduction of the
open 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.

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Huanggang central building includes a covered market and primary school (1) Youngsters leaving elementary school during lunch break (2)

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.

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 10

2
5

3
1
9 8

N 100m

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The formal and forbidding Huanggang Plaza, built in 2003, is lightly used by local population (3)

Huanggang: Site Visit Instead, they gather near playgrounds and under shaded planters (4)
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 owners
and strollers.

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.

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While rare, some have remodelled the 2nd floor (5) Upgrading drainage system before the wet season (6) Plumbing, gas main, and electrical wiring on facade (7)

Huanggang: Existing Conditions

Since 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.

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 the 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.

26
27
The entrance gate was once the tallest landmark (8) Looking at Huanggang from adjacent highrise (9)

Huanggang: Pressure for Urban Renewal

Unlike 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.

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Overall plan for green spaces along CBD axis Proposed urban strategy for Huanggang, 2007 Huanggang has speedways on all sides (10)

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.

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This restaurant has replaced load bearing walls with columns and beams

Overlapping Territories in Huanggang

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.

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 Types of Territories

Public

Semi Public

Semi Private

Private

Encroaching Village in the City (Shrinking) Encroaching

High Rises High Rises
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 Precedents
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.

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Plug-In City, Peter Cook 1964

Precedents: Concept
Peter Cook’s 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 Fathy’s 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.

35
Linked Hybrid, Beijing, Steven Holl 2003 Temporary steel trusses as formwork for elevated highway, Medway

Precedents: Structure
I have been fascinated by skybridge networks and their ability to extend spaces and craft sequences. The Linked Hybrid introduced this typology
into China’s 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.

36
Resting on the cores’ formwork, Vanke Residences, Shenzhen, Steven Holl 2009 Wolfsburg Cultural Center, Germany, Alvar Aalto 1962

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 Aalto’s Cultural Center’s small and intimate roof courtyard. The sidings shield occupants from
street views and high winds, and also visually redirect viewers’ attention skywards. While there weren’t too many built structures of that height in
Wolfsburg, Shenzhen’s skyline would be a perfect backdrop to a village-scale roofscape.

37
Urbanus’s analysis and propsal for the generic Urban Village

Precedent: Program
The 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.

38
Tulou by urbanus, a fushion of modern construction and a traditional 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.

39
 Beijing Pre-1980 (Horizontality)

Beijing Post-1980 (Verticality)

Propsed 2003 (Hybrid Space)

Studying Beijing landscape: Diagram for Linked Hybrid by Steven Holl

Analysis of Huanggang as an Urban Village

Steven Holl’s 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 Huanggang’s urban village diagrammed in a similar
context - just with slight differences in typology and chronology:
1. Shenzhen’s chaotic handshake villages vs. Beijing’s traditional sihe-yuans (multi-generational courtyard complexes)
2. The presence of urban villages still in Shenzhen vs. Beijing’s 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: Shenzhen’s stages of development (page 22). The proposed Connective Vocational Clusters will reintegrate
the urban village to the backdrop city scale.

40
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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 Design and Development
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.

43
 o
45

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

Parts to Whole Relationships: Facade Layout

To 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 building’s 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.

44
 N 2 10 20 50 100m

45
Vertical tubes could bring down both structure and light Sun-path Diagram for Shenzhen; only near vertical sun reaches the alleyways

Parts to Whole Relationships: Vertical Cores

Light 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.

46
 N 2 10 20 50 100m

47
Main structural spans rest on 25m tall pillars Secondary structure are hung off of main structural grid

Parts to Whole Relationships: Structure

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.

48
 N 2 10 20 50 100m

49
Distinct volumes would blend into territories

Parts to Whole Relationships: 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.

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

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 Direct Connector Indirect Passage Direct Passage

A small, quick connector that connects A larger, semi enclosed passage space that A complete passage that erases the
two distinct volumes by bridging connects two or more volumes with a previous boundaries of volumes and
the interstital spaces. common point. creates a new, continuous space.

Unbiased

A direct bridge from one contained A larger, semi enclosed passage space that A complete passage that erases the
space to another. connects two or more volumes with a previous boundaries of volumes and
common point. creates a new, continuous space.

Biased

A slightly longer direct bridge A larger, semi enclosed passage space that A complete passage with a slight turn.
with vertical link. emphasizes one space over its adjacencies. The emphasized zone becomes central
to the programv

51
First level connectors showing zoning conditions N 2 10 20 50 100m

Parts to Whole Relationships: Connections

Interior 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.

52
Applying the connectors to form walls, spaces, and passageways N 2 10 20 50 100m

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.

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 Plans and Sections

55
N 2 10 20 50 100m

56
 +36m Plaza Level

+32m 3rd Level

+28m 2nd Level

+24m 1st Level

+0m Street Level

57
N 2 10 20 50 100m

58
 Direct Connector Indirect Passage Direct Passage

Unbiased

Biased

+36m Plaza Level

+32m 3rd Level

+28m 2nd Level

+24m 1st Level

+0m Street Level

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N 2 10 20 50 100m

60
 Direct Connector Indirect Passage Direct Passage

Unbiased

Biased

+36m Plaza Level

+32m 3rd Level

+28m 2nd Level

+24m 1st Level

+0m Street Level

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N 2 10 20 50 100m

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 Direct Connector Indirect Passage Direct Passage

Unbiased

Biased

+36m Plaza Level

+32m 3rd Level

+28m 2nd Level

+24m 1st Level

+0m Street Level

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N 2 10 20 50 100m

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 +36m Plaza Level

+32m 3rd Level

+28m 2nd Level

+24m 1st Level

+0m Street 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 View of from front entrance

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.

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Northwest view

Right: Model in context of existing Huanggang Village heights.

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

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North Courtyard

Left: Looking down from the northeastern corner from the Expo Hall.
Opposite: Connective Clusters showing relationship to existing Huanggang Village and the
central plaza.

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View from western axis

View from village rooftops

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The central opening mirrors the courtyard condition of the clock tower’s hemi-circle arcade.

View of central coutyard

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References
Context Urban Villages
Biao, Xiang. Migration and Health in China: Problems, Obstacles and Solutions. Huang, Zhengdong, and Qingming Zhan. “Mapping of Urban Villages in
Asian Metacenter Research Paper Series. National University of Singapore: China,” School of Urban Design, Wuhan University.
Asia Research Institute, 2003. http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/confluence/download/
attachments/34308102/Huang+China+UrbanVillageMapping.pdf?version=1.
Burtynsky, Edward. China. Steidl, 2006.
Kuang, Xiaoming, and Ge Xiao, eds. “Informan Image and Text.” Urban China
Muckle, J., and Morgan, W.J., eds. Post-School Education and the Transition 10 (June 2006): 99-103.
from State Socialism. Nottingham, UK: University of Nottingham Continuing
Education Press, 2001. O’Donnell, Mary Ann. “The Meaning of Work and the Pursuit of (Happiness).”
Shenzhen Noted, June 21, 2009. http://maryannodonnell.wordpress.com/.
Tuñón, Maq. Internal Labour Migration in China: Features and Responses, April
2006. URBANUS. Village/City City/Village. China Electric Power Press, 2006.

Theory
Busbea, Larry. Topologies: The Urban Utopia in France, 1960-1970. The MIT
Press, 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 in

Architecture. Academy Press, 2005.

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