PORTFOLIO

BHUJON KANG

PROFESSIONAL

C O L L A B O R AT I V E

ACADEMIC

RESEARCH

PROJECTS

PROFESSIONAL PROJECT
2007-2016

BHUJON KANG

HETEROJUNCTIONAL BARRIER
PAVILION IN PARK

PROJECT YEAR/STATUS 2008~2012 / COMPLETED

CLIENT SH CORPORATION
TOTAL FLOOR AREA 400 m2
LOCATION PAJU, GYEONGI PROV., KOREA
PROGRAM EXHIBITION AND OFFICE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHIN, KYUNGSUB

Elaborating the Contextual Contrast

The site is situated amonst a rapidly growing housing development
outside of Seoul, where a conflicting dichotomy exists between a
pedestrian bridge and a large expanse of green area. The buldings social
role, apart from serving as the parks exhibition space, administrative
office and general facility, links the raised walkway to natural habitat
below. The general form in plan follows topographical cues, curving
towards the overpass as if being pulled against its will. This facade is
wrapped in a solid skin of twisting metal panels as a symbolic barrier.
A series of semi-circular ribs connected to an orthogonal concrete core
are spaced apart according to their specific task, creating large public
areas or framing smaller individual functions. Large round openings
puncture through the hard Northern elevation offering wide panoramic
views of the reserve and cityscape, while a Southern-facing clerestory
allows ample sunlight to illuminate the inside all day long. Natural
wood planks cover the interior of the curved surface to create a warm
ambiance contrasting the rectilinear hardness of material.

SEE THE DIAGRAM BELOW FOR THE LOCATION OF CENTER LINES

9
00
4,

10.0

X6

X5

33
,6

380
180

4
AD

180

LOUNGE
2
WD

5
1126

SEMINAR ROOM
CH: 3000

FL 0
SL-220

3
WD

FL 0
SL-220

FL.0
ZINK()
259

2446

2,44
9421

8000

5C
AW

1
AD

29679

5B
AW

4012

9,011

5A
AW

2446

5000

8,810

1365

958

6000

GL.0

870

9,42

6848

4207
1853

1294

9,011

8,810
1
AE19

1
AE18

CH:

(1)

9,42

DECK1
FL.0

EXHIBIT

2
AD

FL 0
SL-220

1
AE17

CH:

8
AW

1
AE16

2,44

5D
AW

114

2446

2700

FL 0
SL-220

3
AD

OPEN

SUNKEN DECK

52

1
AE15

259

DN

445

8,

62

12

OFFICE1
CH:

UP

()

FL.?

3A
AD

90

62

1
WD

FL.0
ZINK()

7
AW

4
AE22

FL 0
SL-100

8,

1
WD

35

0
32 90
0
0

DECK2

TOILET(M)
CH: 2700

FL 0
SL-100
900

70

CH: 2700

100
(100 F.D)

,3

90

FL 0`
SL -40

14

100 SST' PIPE

(100 F.D)

CH:

5.50

4.50

TOILET(W)

6
AW

STAIR

10.0

10.00

10.00

30

FL 0
SL-220

.0

10

2,

Y2

X4

OFFICE2
CH: 3000

X7

00

X3

44

.00

X9
5
2.

3,

10

X8
3 R=100000

Y3

514
4 R=

1 R=40
200

X2

50

2 R=3770
0

X1
2.

( )

1ST FLOOR PLAN

PEDESTRIAN PASSAGE

PEDESTRIAN PASSAGE

CUTTING EDGE

CUTTING EDGE

10 YEAR FLOOD LEVEL

10 YEAR FLOOD LEVEL

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
RESTROOM

RESTROOM

SEMINAR

SEMINAR

SUNKEN

SUNKEN

OFFICE

OFFICE

1. edge cut of topography

1. edge cut of
bytopography
the pedestrian
by the
bridge
pedestrian bridge

STAIR

LOBBY

LOBBY

EXHIBITION

EXHIBITION

3. layering the program,

3. layeringburying
the program,
into the
burying
groundinto the ground

(IN)DIRECT SUNLIGHT

LOWERED DATUM
MATCHING TO
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

STAIR

(IN)DIRECT SUNLIGHT

CLERESTORY

CLERESTORY

MAIN ENTRANCE

MAIN ENTRANCE

LOWERED DATUM
MATCHING TO
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

4 VIEWING OPENINGS

2. creating curved
2. creating
facade as
curved
a barrier
facade as a barrier

4 VIEWING OPENINGS

4. connecting and
4. connecting
viewing the
and
context
viewing the context

HAEUNDAE PUBLIC LIBRARY

PROJECT YEAR/STATUS 2016 / COMPETITION 2ND PRIZE

CLIENT HAEUNDAE DISTRICT OFFICE
TOTAL FLOOR AREA 3000 m2
LOCATION HAEUNDAE, BUSAN METROPOLITAN CITY, KOREA
PARTNER ZITTA ARCHITECTS, BUSAN

Placing Between Nature and Urban

This project sits on a very unique site in-between the southward preserved mountain area and
the northward urban fabric. Passing through the three schools in front of the site, the library
welcomes visitors with the widely opened beautiful green panorama toward the Jangsan
Mountain on the south.
The building simply has two sides; a curved south and a flat north. Celebrating the panorama and
the gentle daylight all day long, the curved facade penetrates the given nature into the building,
whereas the flat facade functions the vertical circulation and counteracts on the unbanity.
At the rooftop, the library expects a small and various events, and even an observing deck
with the amphitheater. This is a connecting idea with which the entire building also tries to
communicate with the green context.

5 |

4 |

3 |

1,2 |

CHOONHAE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

PROJECT YEAR/STATUS 2015~ (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
CLIENT CHOONHAE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
TOTAL FLOOR AREA 10,000 m2
LOCATION ULJU, ULSAN METROPOLITAN CITY, KOREA
ARCHITECTS OF CREDIT ILSHIN ARCHITECTS

Our proposal puts a spatial value as compressing the given complex

programs into two volumes and distancing them with the inbetween
corridor. The courtyard functions for rests, devotion for studies, and
communication with the local neighborhood.
The art hall and the college building sit on an artificial plinth side by
side and symbolize the central and hierarchical axis of the campus
which starting from the southward headquarter building. The plinth
contains the college library for students on one side and the lifetime
study facility for public on the other and opens to everyone. The two
volumes on the public plinth will express the willingness and symbolism
of the college in their motto, Make World with Truth.

GOSAN PUBLIC LIBRARY COMPETITION

PROJECT YEAR/STATUS 2013 / COMPETITION ENTRY
CLIENT SUSEONG DISTRICT OFFICE
LOCATION DAEGU METROPOLITAN CITY, KOREA
TOTAL FLOOR AREA 4,000 m2
PROGRAM LIBRARY AND PUBLIC FACILITY

Communicating with the Urban Contexts and Social Phenomena

In the proposal, we consider how the library can maintain the previsou emptiness in the
interior space which is positively operated for public activies and events that the site currently
accommodates.
Also, we tested how vertical expandability can absorb the planar discordance in the structural
system. Differing from Gothic architecture and some contemporary precedents, it is a worthy
experimentation of stacked verticality ruled by different structural coordination at each
level.
(1) Lower part of the building - The public corridor at the ground floor extends the inner
connectivity to the exterior, penetrating the entire building. This 6~8m wide ravine is
expected to generate various public activities for the community. This plaza widens the
accessing street to the main entrance and adapts for outdoor public activities.
(2) Upper part of the building - We want the library space to be read as one integrated
space with sublime verticality and repetition. As the books on the walls define the spatial
boundary, the concrete shells frame the functional variety with one spatial language. Visitors
experience the layered verticality through the punched openings on the 4th floor.

4TH FLOOR

3RD FLOOR
1

4050

8100

8100

4050

-1,800
F.F.L
UP

multifunctional amphitheater

8100

4050

lounge

lounge

8100

DN

4050

lobby / exhibition space

4050

4050

0
F.F.L

UP

UP

UP

DN

open

8100

8100

staffs
room
/24hr
reserv.

volunteers'
room

DN
UP

8100

8100

stockroom
UP
DN

UP
DN

UP

open

upper library

8100

8100

open

+13,800
F.F.L

info. desk

classroom1

media room

8100

staff
lounge

open

8100

directors
office

open

B
8100

open

preserved books

open

4050

4050

4050

10

+13,800
F.F.L

classroom2

2ND FLOOR

open

DN

8100

public
corridor

11

8100

group
study room
office

8100

open

0
F.F.L

4TH FLOOR

SITE PLAN / GROUND FLOOR

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

1
4050

2
8100

3
4050
4TH FLOOR
PLAN

8100

LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE DUTCHMAN

CHAPEL IN DESERT

LOCATION LOST DUTCHMAN STATE PARK, ARIZONA

PROJECT YEAR/STATUS 2012 / PROPOSAL
TOTAL FLOOR AREA 400 m2
PROGRAM CHRISTIAN CHAPEL

Questoning the Assimiliated Repertoire in Regional Practice

The double-layered chapel space is surrounded by a continuous hallway at the perimeter which expands inward at each corner. A concavity in the middle area of each side, accommodates separate
programmatic functions. Based on the distance from the entrance, this constant passage offers varying
degrees of privacy. We believe this is a way to create a cognitive programmatic separation without the
use of physical barriers. Different from the universal spatial density of the hallway, the chapel space has
a defined
hierarchy over the altar. Looking toward the mountain peak, the altar clerestory contains a
FORMAL
VARIATION
transparent
window differing from the translucent channel glass used in the other volumes. Visitors then
IN
DIFFERENT
communicate
with natural changes in the landscape through this window.
OPERATION

AT
ARCHITECTURAL
SCALE

BASIC DIVERSION

ITERATIVE EXPANSION

SURFICIAL INCISION

HIERARCHICAL SUBJUGATION

REGULATING BOUNDARY

bend
ing

MORPHING
PROCESS

cut
stitch

SCHERKS MINIMAL SURFAC

REDEFINED TOPOLOGY

ing

h
etc
str

BINDING RECONSTRUCTED PARTS

SECONDARY MANIPULATION

MEETING HALL

CHAPEL

SECTION KEYMAP
0
0

PASTORS
STUDY

10m
LOBBY

30

PRIVATE
PRAYER

+5,000mm PLAN

A-A SECTION

D-D SECTION

B-B SECTION

E-E SECTION

GROUND PLAN

C-C SECTION

F-F SECTION

MAIN GATE OF DONGSEO UNIVERSITY

LOCATION SASANGGU, BUSAN
PROJECT YEAR/STATUS 2013~2015 / COMPLETED

The geometry of gate is composed of a set of different radial orientations. Since this gate
represents the campus complex of three colleges, it is expected to allude harmony and
integrity of the three colleges. Firmly supported from the ground and highly stretching towards the sky, the dynamic shape of the gate symbolizes their willingness to lead the newly
coming era.
When appoaching to the front, one may look up the campus inside the arch which overlaps
the peak of Mountain Umkwang with the University Church at the same time with welcoming everyone. Through this sequential event, the gate becomes a symbolized place for the
territorial transition and the public entry of the campus.

BENTHAUS

WORKSHOP FOR SCULPTURAL ART

LOCATION YONGIN, GYEONGI PROV.

PROJECT YEAR/STATUS 2007~2011 / COMPLETED
TOTAL FLOOR AREA 300 m2
PROGRAM EXHIBITION AND OFFICE

This project was commissioned by a retiring sculptor who taught

in a National college in Korea. The site is sitting behind a couple
of buildings and the front street which is surrounding a beautiful
lake, and is surrounded by small hills at the other three sides as
protected (or visually disturbed.)
Although this situation asks to take the eastward opened view to
the lake, we also suggested a strong formal gesture as accepting
the north-south axial linearity of the site. At the same time with
inserting a bar-shaped basement mass into the ground as actively
using the different levels between the sides, we wanted to create
another type of tensional relationship. It is the contrasting bent
bar on ground. We anticipated that the relationship of two bars
is read as a contrasting and tensioning balance. Despite the
same materiality, two different formal characteristics organize the
identical separation.

ACADEMIC PROJECT
2008-2010

BHUJON KANG

EMBRYOLOGICAL ISOMORPHISM
SPRING 2009, William OBrien Jr. Studio
LOCATION: FREDERICKSBURG, TX
PROGRAM: LAND | ART MUSEUM

COMPOSITE MODELS
This project investigates the
geometric, formal, and physical attributes of composite
systems. Two expansive surfaces, each representing sides of
distinct volumes, become referential set for the building
design. Several methods of surface integration are used;
design, appropriate, steal, vary, inherit and extrapolate, which
are modeled three-dimensionally as composite systems.
According to a set of these models, a link of design principles
will operates as architectural elements with functional
adaptation. In spite of originally non-gravitational based
status, they have potential characteristics endowed such as
transparency, heaviness, giver-taker, or naturalness. As the
characteristics get integrated into extracted contexts from site
analysis and given programs, the characteristics in the
system will transform into architectural and structural entities
which are flexible for external conditions.

INTERNAL AMALGAMATION
HOMOGENEITY

EXTRACTION

COMPOSITION

REFLECTION

PLAN

SECTION

FACADE

METHODS FOR CREATING SURFACES

BAND

OBJECTS PLOTTING ON THE LINES

SET MID-LINES FOR VALLEYS

SURFACING

CIRCLES OCCUPATION

WEB CONNECTION

PATCHING

PATCH

RING

CONNECTED CYLINDER

SPLITING

PHENOMENAL COMPOSITION : TOPOGRAPHICAL GEOLOGY

ARCHITECTURE

EXTRUSION

PENETRATION

CONNECTION

RECEIVER

CONNECTION

EROSION

NCE

RGE

DIVE

LANDSCAPE

EXTRUSION

TUNNEL

APPROACH

SUB-CONNECTION

DESCRIPTION This project focuses on the development of alternative reciprocities linking site
and building. Temporarily eschewing common, practice-oriented, site-defining elementslot lines,
set back requirementsthis methodology will instead test interpretations of site which highlight
systemic attributes, life-cycles, time-based ecological processes, topological characteristics, etc.
PROGRAM & SITE The program is a small Contemporary Land | Art Museum located outside of
the town of Fredericksburg, TX. The museum consisting of approximately 40,000 square feet
includes interior permanent and temporary exhibition galleries, public spaces, education
amenities, and administrative spaces. Strategically located on the western perimeter of central
Texas, the Contemporary Land | Art Museum will act simultaneously as a gateway to the countrys
seminal works of contemporary land art.

ISOMORPHISM

[,i-s-mor-,fiz-m]

1: similarity in organisms of different ancestry resulting from evolutionary convergence

2: similarity of crystalline form between chemical compounds
3: a correspondence that is held to exist between a mental process (as perception) and physiological processes

Y6

Y5

Y4

Y3

EXHIBITION

Y2

EXHIBITION

Y1

X1

X2

X3

X4

X5

X6

X7

EXHIBITION

EXHIBITION
LOBBY

UP

UP

UP

Y7

EXHIBITION

UPPER FLOOR PLAN (1=1/128)

ROOF PLAN (1=1/128)

TRANSITION PROCESS Formal, material, and dimensional varieties from the

experiments are linked with topographical issues, especially related to
landscape/architecture unification. Potentiality which the flexible surfaces had in
separated models becomes scaled-reality and is integrated into a phenomenal
collage model. It contains a unified boundary for the future architecture as a set
of discovered ideas and principles from the previous models.
GEOLOGICAL ADAPTATION The notion of unification for landscape and
architecture is presented by topological connectivity of the collage model. One
surface conceptually plays a role in eliminating tacit boundaries which are
otherwise generated on edges of materiality. As a whole, this system
demonstrates a positive alternative to phenomenal segregation.

A-A SITE SECTION (1=1/64, 1:768)

B-B SITE SECTION (1=1/64, 1:768)

EXHIBITION
EXHIBITION

FUNCTIONAL
SPACE

INTERIOR

EXTERIOR

Enlarged Partial Section

View of Exhibition Hall

VISUOSPATIAL MITOSIS
FALL 2010, Kevin Alter Studio
LOCATION: AUSTIN, TX
PROGRAM: Public Library
Team Project with J.S Lee

The mushroom structure is realized from thinking of

both cultural aspects and advanced digital
technologies. We expected this bundle of mushrooms
works as a systemized spatial homogeneity. Through
the simplified geometry we tried to show an
assumption that the composition of the structure can
accomodate a various type of functional requirements.
A region which is created by the boundary of the plane
on a mushroom defines its functional identity although
it seems boundless in section.

Programmable Donut

Offices
Gallery
Seminar Room

Book Stacks
Foyer

Book Stacks
IT Room
Lounge

Third Floor

Offices
Cafeteria

Third Floor Plan

Seminar Room

1=1/64
Main Hall

Reading Room
Conference Room
Lounge

Second Floor

Second Floor Plan

1=1/64

Sectional Study Model

Longitudinal Section
1=1/64

View from 7th Street

View of Reading Room on the 3rd Floor

ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION
FALL 2009, Wilfried Wang and Werner Lang Studio
LOCATION: AUSTIN CENTRAL AREA, TX
PROGRAM: STATION FOR HIGH SPEED RAILWAY
Design Excellence in School of Architecture, University of Texas At Austin

Analysis with Austin Downtown Area

Building Use

Zoning minus View Corrdor

Hotel
Residence
Commercial+Retail
Office
Convention Center
Religion
Public Service
Cultural
Station Related

Religion
CBD

CBD (no limit)

DMU (120 ft)
Commercial+Office (60 ft)
Multi-Family (50 ft)
Single-Family (35 ft)
TOD (varied height)
Station Related

Sightseeing + Entertaining
Residence
Proposed
Expected Connection

Expected Connection

Visitor Accomodation

Public Transportation

Green Space + Possible Parking

Existing Bus Lines

Proposed Bus Line
Proposed Train Lines
High Speed Railway

Green Space
Possible Parking Spots

R2,000 ft

Proposed Green Space

Passing through TOD

R1,000 ft

Disconnection

1,500 Parking Lots

Butler Park

Auditorium Shore

Music Hall Downtown

Congress

Austin Station

Texan culture and Lifestyle created by abundant resources and the wide
territory have become the biggest obstacle in the pace of economic crisis
and environmental pollution. Beyond the campaign which requires changing
our lifestyles and legal penalty, do we not need a fundamental change?
Explicit expansion in Austin has created a pattern of inefficient energy uses.
With the dormant public transportation system, two highways penetrating
through the city shorten the commute time to the downtown area, but are
now over-saturated. Through the restoration of the train line which now
seems somewhat inefficient, people anticipate a more developed public
transportation system.
From when IH-35 built, it worked as class segregation between East/West
Austin. This practical and political urban wall has made different phases of
two regions in terms of lifestyle and density. With gentrification as the goal,
East Austin becomes a target for urban development. Although regional
solidarity and cultural rejection prevent the natural direction, the potential for
East Austin to make a connection with the downtown area becomes
inevitable.
Austin central station will be an unchallenged gateway which connects cities
in the Texas mega-regionincluding Dallas and Houston areas in the basis
of dense development and public transportation system.
As a part of an urban landscape, the train station plays the role of an urban
connector. Elongation of 6th street and its events also become good
motives. Bringing IH-35 underground and actively overlapping the
pedestrian passages with train station programs, it is expected that the train
station itself becomes a part of urban scaled landscapes. Vertical
separation is one of the clearest ways to share spatial occupation of each
entity. Each path is intersected and indicates the connections which are
programmed and controlled relative to the function of the station.
Geometrical manipulation on the 2nd floor helps to control the pedestrian
flow such as an artificial valley.

Time-based Flow

Time-based Activity
24:00

Hotel

Consuming
18:00

Rush-hour Congestion
18:00

18:00

Sightseeing

Convention
Center

Retail

Resting

12:00

Commuter Rail
Passenger
Retail

Hotel

12:00

ar C

have

co

ar

00:00

6th St.

uter R

it
Trin

00:00

4th St.

ive

dR

Re

ail

Hotel
Residence

Ces

ar C

Navasota

Ces

Interstate 35
(Underground)

n
Sa

Comm

4th St.

ive

dR

Re

6th St.

ail

er

uter R

06:00

06:00
06:00

W
all

Comm

it
Trin

12:00

Resting

12:00

Rush-hour Congestion

Retail

Office

06:00

TOD - Station

Interstate 35
(Underground)

have

n
Sa
z

co

ar

00:00

Navasota

18:00

Residence
Resting

HSR
Passenger

er

Entertaining

W
all

Hotel

00:00

24:00
24:00

24:00

Using cross ventilation systems on the platform level, this

building requires minimally controlled areas which include
offices and retail spaces. The geothermal exchange system
penetrates inside steel structures, and the merged system
guarantees functional compatibility and systematic
simplicity.
This new T.O.D will bring a huge amount of physical and
psychological transition to the East Austin areas. The
constructions are foundation stones which propose a new
way of urban development. One of the short-term objectives
of this station is to make a successful connection between
downtown area and the East Austin area. The city of Austin
still has a lot of potential for increased density in this area.

30

60

120

A-A SECTION

B-B SECTION

RESEARCH PROJECT
FOR DIGITAL FABRICATION

TOKYO

PH O E N IX

BU S A N

PROJECTS AT TOYO ITO ARCHITECTS

COMPETITION - MUSEO DE LA VEGA BAJA
EXHIBITION - WHERE IS ARCHITECTURE?

Sometimes the conventional design process requires

extra endeavours in order to bring unprecedented
achievements in the building design. They mainly
focus on resolving the geometrical complexity and
realizing drastic forms. The advanced computer
technology has mostly answered these requirements.
Likewise, I would like to introduce some of my
projects which actively use the advanced technology
and the digital fabrication methods. These projects
will show how those techniques are applicable in
different conditions and how they can be merged
into the conventional design process in the different
phases. This inconsistency rather demonstrates the
universality and expandability of the technology.
After the Sendai Mediatheque, Toyo Itos design
agenda for public architecture aimed to create an
systemized field composed of repetitive structural
units. Like the Taichung Opera House in Taiwan,

Final Rendering Image of the proposal (courtesy of Toyo Ito Architects)

an structural unit contains a series of parameters

to be morphed by different programs. Some of the
units (called Catenoid) become the auditorium while
others are foyers, toilets, and so on. The facade,
as the cutting edge of the structural system has no
ornamentation but clads the sectional elevation.
There are other projects sharing this system like the
Library at Tama Arts University. Not only is it an
endeavour to be freed from the structural grid, but it
made possible to create the most progressive architectural design.
The competition, Museo de la Vega Baja in Toledo, Spain had the similar aspiration that the architecture is literally a series of structural units. In this
competition proposal, the design focus was on the
roof geometry and the tripod supports which are expected to be systematically identical. This structural
system was allowed to create the spatial variation
under the roof build-up. Some triangular cut became

skylights, while others for the interstitial space.

Affected by Itos precedent project, Za-Koenji
theatre in Tokyo, the goal for the roof geometry is
to be made of developable surfaces, which means to
be unrolled on a plane with no loss. In so doing, the
roof geometry could be extracted from either cones
or cylinders. Unfortunately, the hexagonal roof
geometry (x-y direction) followed by the given plan
couldnt possibly be developable surfaces which
are supposed to be intersected exactly on the linear
edges of their own hexagonal boundary due to the
beams beneath the edges. Beams can only be twodimensional curvatures. So, the idea for the developable surfaces was changed into creating threedimensional catenary surfaces for the roof geometry.
Each unit could not be identical anymore.
Also, there was another issue to have too many
customized tripods. The 3D model must be prepared
for the 3D printed model and the rendering images.

Study Model (1:100)

Study Model (1:200)

Mass Production Process of Structural Tripods using Grasshopper

Final Rendering Image (Courtesy of Toyo Ito Architect)

Screen capture image of the grasshopper script used for the tripod creation :
It was my first scripting model for me to be ever practically used. I wished it much simpler for the faster operation. Nonetheless, it
dramatically shortened the entire design process. We almost earned four man-days just before the deadline.

Installation Inside in at the Opening Ceremony

Since they had never been familiar with this kind of

tool, it was very skeptical at the first time. After a
quick demonstration, the tripods were churned out
with the parametric design tool much faster than
expected. The grasshopper script produced 3D tripod
objects by a series of parameters; the height of bottom neck, and the angle and length of three branch-

es. It was my first scripting model to be ever practically used. I wished it much simpler for the faster
operation. Nonetheless, it dramatically shortened the
entire design process. We almost earned four mandays just before the deadline.
Before the competition, I participated in the ex-

Za-Koenji Theater, Tokyo

hibition, Where is Architecture? at Museum of

Modern Arts of Tokyo. Five architects were invited
where Toyo Ito was the first one. For the exhibition,
a fabric covered steel pipe frame was planned. It was
exactly the same shape with the Toyo Ito museum
in Ibaraki which is conceived from his proposal of
structural polyhedrons for the Oslo public library
competition. Six representative projects were selected and redesigned by their own morphology to be
exhibited as a part of plane of the polyhedrons.
For the exhibition, I was in charge of redesigning
the installation for Za-Koenji theatre. The installation mainly focused on the roof composition of the
building made of 5 pieces of cones and cylinders. As
mentioned above, the installation is simply a expansion of those geometry in terms of making a consistent field. At the center of the hexagonal surface
composed of 123 pieces of cones and cylinders, the
representative gray colored 5 pieces of the scaled

roof shape of the theater. The surfaces were made

of the translucent plastic sheet called polyjam
in Japanese, that illuminates with lighting fixtures
above. The pieces of developable surface were cut as
unrolled to be attached together. As sub-structuring
elements, the white cardboard frames aided to shape
the three dimensional form of the piece following
the trimmed edge. After sandwiched all together by
glue, tape, and stapler, they could be hung in the air.
This project displays how digital modeling tools can
be merged with the traditional way of fabrication.
Although I still doubt, in the contemporary market,
how architects can keep their craftsmanship in their
design without the advanced fabrication tools such
as laser cutter and 3D printers, all of the exhibition
materials were prepared by labor-intensive manufacture at that moment likewise the most of the construction process still do.

Installation Image ( Daici Ano)

Assembly Diagram

Modeling Process for the installation

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Making Process

1:1 Facade Mockup (manufactured in ZAHNER, Kansas City)

PROJECTS AT WILL BRUDER + PARTNERS, LTD

KAFD SPA BUILDING, AL RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
FOR FACADE DESIGN & 1:1 FACADE MOCKUP

With about 4,000 pieces of anodized titanium panel

which cover the entire facade of the two buildings,
this spa building project had never hidden the audacious ambition to be the splendid monument in the
King Abdhulla Financial District in Al Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia. The cultural/religious order required two
separate buildings for women and men. The space
program was equally divided at each building including the first class luxury interior, greenery fissure
gardens, a monorail station and large swimming
pools. The buildings were located above the gigantic
plenum of the parking structure supporting the two
spa buildings.
When participating in the project, one of my roles
was to design the facade pattern. After several studies, the pattern was conceived from a triangular grid
pattern and the basic shape of the pattern resembled

a water drop. The water drop pattern is varied as four

different sizes from 250 to 10mm. As a fractal concept, smaller units gradually define the edge condition of transparency. At distance, it simply looks a
punching metal, however, there is a variation at a
close look, which gives some arbitrariness for the
pattern, the grid was slightly tilted as well as having some sub-layers with iterating smaller patterns.
The density of pattern was literally meant the level
of transparency on the facade and was intended to
blur the edge between the opening and solid parts of
the facade. For instance, the fissure gardens and the
swimming pools needed more transparency simultaneously with a certain privacy in the office district.
So, the facade system was considered under the
severe climate in the Mid-Eastern desert area and for
the integrative method of visual distraction/transpar-

Operation of Tessellate Panel (Courtesy of WORKSBUREAU)

Alternative Pattern Study

ency by program. As well as a double skin facade, the

panel hid three sub-layers that open/close the patterned apertures by off-centered rotation, where the
full-height curtain-wall glass is laid behind.
The grasshopper scripting was used for a translator of natural expression into pixelated apertures.
Based on the intended density of the openness of
apertures, The gray coloured gradation was created
surrounding the entire building facade. The pattern
could demonstrate the lighting effect in the series
of rendering images. As each room required different brightness and visual penetrability, the images
showed how the space works with proper daylight
and artificial lighting setting.

For the mock-up model, we hired Zahner in Kansas

City who was also in charge of the copper panel of
De Young Museum in San Francisco design by Herzog and de Meuron. As the aperture units varied in
four different sizes from 250mm to 10mm, Each has
a different fabricating method. In efficiency manner,
the biggest one was cut by a water jet while the smallest one was penetrated by a custom made punch.
Although the digital fabrication method was fundamental to realize this project, the pattern design still
had some challenges. All of the tilted facade on each
side were not identical with different angles. Whenever changing the grid patterns, it was a time-spending work for the calculation of the script.

Initial Gradation

Transformed Image (used for fabrication)

Image of Mockup Panel

Screencapture of Grasshopper Scripting Model

Main Perspective

Rendering Image of Mens Fissure Garden

Rendering Image of Massage Room

Diagram for Operation of Tessellate Facade Panel

WINE DROP
PROPOSAL FOR TEMPORARY WINE CELLAR

This proposal is for a wall-mounted wine cellar for

a luxury restaurant to exhibit their signature wine
right before serving. The transparent surface may be
literally imagined as a water surface which ripples
spread out when the wine bottle is dropped into the
surface. That is why the project name is metaphorically wine drop.
On the other hand, this project aims to research the
composition of plural ripple patterns mimicking the
natural phenomena. Despite the simple centrifugal
diffusion, there is a potential complexity when the effects simultaneously occur nearby. The ripples can be

manipulated by the trigonometric formula which

controls the Z-value on the surface. The more inferences create the more interesting patterns.
In order to manufacture this product, the liquid
plastic is poured on the CNC cut wooden moulds to
create the wavy surface. Since the cylinders for wine
bottles are too deep to cast at once, The surface piece
and the cylinder are glued and sanded together at 2
below the surface. At the bottom of cylinder,
a sensor for LED lighting responds to the bottles. It
was also proposed as a tiled product with a continuous pattern that can be stacked on the wall.

UNIVERSITY MAIN GATE

DONGSEO UNIVERSITY, BUSAN, KOREA

This project was built in order to celebrate the 50

years anniversary of the university. Since this gate
represents the campus complex of three colleges, it is
expected to allude harmony and integrity of the three
colleges. The firmly supported arch also means the
deep-rooted foundation of the campus.
When approaching to the front, one may look up the
campus inside the arch which overlaps the peak of
Mountain Umkwang with the University Church at
the same time with welcoming everyone. Through
this sequential event, the gate becomes a symbolic

place for the territorial transition and the public

entry of the campus.
The 10m high tilted arch was derived from the steep
sloped main entrance of the campus on axis along
with the headquarter building and the church. Despite the symbolism as main gate, the object cannot
be too tall to overwhelm the hierarchy of buildings.
Facilitating the slope, the tilted arch alluded the
visual continuity during the approach to the campus
at the same time with a harmony with other buildings. In so doing, the arch could create an interesting

appearance with the structural tension.

The geometry is composed of a set of different radial
orientations. The notion of developable surface was
also used in this project. I imagined a swirling curves
which constitute the shape of arch for the sake of
creating an embracing image of the three colleges
together. As connecting two parallel lines, a series of
developable surfaces are created.
In order to allow the geometric tolerances while in
fabrication, the truss of welded steel pipes were cho-

1:100 Scale Model (3D Printing Model)

sen for the skeleton while 6mm steel plates cover the
surface. The other and the most significant issue was
how to support the tilted steel structure on the steep
slope. In order to counter-balance the weight of steel,
a pair of two tons of concrete foundations support
the arch underground.

cially at the joints of more than five branches of

pipe (We later knew there is a feasible technology to
CNC welding machine for this kind of complicated
object.) After fabricated at a factory, the arch transported to the site as four separate pieces to be reassembled.

The welding process was not that easy. Despite the

3D shop drawing, the precision and quality of the
welded joints could not be easily achieved, espe-

In spite of some trials and errors in fabrication, this

project became a certain momentum to be confident
of the application of digital technology.

3D Model for Structural Placement

Site Plan

Drawing for Unfolded Steel Plate Finish

1:50 Scale Model (Paper Model)

Pre-assembly at the Manufacturing Site

In-situ Assembly

At the Manufacturing Site

Section View Inside

View after Completion