Transforming abandoned grain elevators while redefining the normal Casino typology. Understanding the capabilities of abandoned grain... Show moreTransforming abandoned grain elevators while redefining the normal Casino typology. Understanding the capabilities of abandoned grain elevators and how they can be reused to create a successful design. Sponsorship: Felsen, Martin Show less
My project is an urban redevelopment following catastrophe. A catastrophic explosion in 2010 left a portion of Nanjing city destroyed. The... Show moreMy project is an urban redevelopment following catastrophe. A catastrophic explosion in 2010 left a portion of Nanjing city destroyed. The project proposes a new urban plan to rebuild the neighborhood and restore the community. A powerful explosion at an abandoned plastics factory in Qixia district of Nanjing city has left several people dead and dozens injured. Buildings and vehicles within 100m of the factory destroyed, 3000 citizen got the key of the street and buildings suffered varying degrees of damage in the area 8 miles in circumference. The blast was caused by a leak from a gas pipeline inside the factory, the blast happened after workers dismantling the plant damaged a propylene pipeline. The leaked gas was then ignited when a car engine was started at the scene. There were a community college and several kindergartens in this area, fortunately, it was summer break at that time, no students hurt reported. It is a unique opportunity to develop a plan in an urban context when the prior years of development have been wiped away. The purpose of the project is giving condos return to 3000 people who lost their houses in the explosion and planing mix-used buildings of the community for next 20 years. At present, many old nerghbourhoods in China are being replaced by new ones. In the most cases, the existing urban patternes are erased and a town is built with out any links to what had previouly existed there. My ptoposal is reusing most of the existing tree line streets, river and bridges. The key of this proposal is sustainability, first idea is using existing river to develop a nice wetland park and the second idea is farming gradens. Show less
The project will seek to create an environment for that fosters living, community, and learning for graduate students at Illinois Institute of... Show moreThe project will seek to create an environment for that fosters living, community, and learning for graduate students at Illinois Institute of Technology. Show less
The Alcuin Library was designed in the 1960's by Marcel Breuer when the purpose of a library was to provide storage of, and access to,... Show moreThe Alcuin Library was designed in the 1960's by Marcel Breuer when the purpose of a library was to provide storage of, and access to, information. This project is an addition and renovation of the existing academic library into a campus center concentrated on learning information. Show less
This project provide children with the learning chance they can not get in regular schools. The environment help them develop multiple... Show moreThis project provide children with the learning chance they can not get in regular schools. The environment help them develop multiple intelligences. Show less
This project is about Renovation of Pritzker Park with refurbishing an underutilized urban pocket park, by adding a public community facility. ... Show moreThis project is about Renovation of Pritzker Park with refurbishing an underutilized urban pocket park, by adding a public community facility. Sponsorship: Denison, Dirk Show less
C-ward is the neighborhood (in Mumbai) that was designed and developed around 1940 and thereafter there has been no or very little improvement... Show moreC-ward is the neighborhood (in Mumbai) that was designed and developed around 1940 and thereafter there has been no or very little improvement in infrastructure, which has led to narrow street, unsafe pedestrian and limited open space. C-ward in one of the most prime real-estate location considering it right next to financial district , close to major train station and close to Shoreline. ROMF (Remaking of Mumbai Federation) has taken the initiative to develop the C-ward and the project site part of ROMF development area. City centers have always been source of density because of scarcity of land. The sensible and effective use of such land would be to build vertical (high-rise) and also to have the possibility of expansion for the future development. A mixed use high rise development diversifies the use of space within a single building structure. Combination of living, entertainment, shopping and lodging in single urban structure, helps to utilize the full potential of an urban site. Sponsorship: Durbrow, John Show less
The Alcuin Library was designed in the 1960's by Marcel Breuer when the purpose of a library was to provide storage of, and access to,... Show moreThe Alcuin Library was designed in the 1960's by Marcel Breuer when the purpose of a library was to provide storage of, and access to, information. This project is an addition and renovation of the existing academic library into a campus center concentrated on learning information. Show less
Reintroducing the courtyard concept in contemporary housing typology that addresses energy and human comfort in the surrounding environment. Sp... Show moreReintroducing the courtyard concept in contemporary housing typology that addresses energy and human comfort in the surrounding environment. Sponsorship: Denison, Dirk Sponsorship: Waldorf, Tyler Show less
This project provide children with the learning chance they can not get in regular schools. The environment help them develop multiple... Show moreThis project provide children with the learning chance they can not get in regular schools. The environment help them develop multiple intelligences. Show less
The aim of this project is to develop a cluster of hybrid houses in Evanston designed to produce energy and reduce resources consumption in... Show moreThe aim of this project is to develop a cluster of hybrid houses in Evanston designed to produce energy and reduce resources consumption in comparison to the houses surrounding it. The project goals are to demonstrate performance improvement. Maximize sun exposure and the interaction between the houses and its gardens. To raise awareness that it is possible to live in a more environmentally friendly unit without hardship is another purpose of the project. Sponsorship: Denison, Dirk Show less
THE FAÇADE HAS THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL WHEN TRYING TO OPTIMIZE THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF A BUILDING. THE MAIN GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO... Show moreTHE FAÇADE HAS THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL WHEN TRYING TO OPTIMIZE THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF A BUILDING. THE MAIN GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO INVESTIGATE WHAT IS THE VALUE OF FACADE RETROFIT AND STUDY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERFORMANCE, WEIGHT, EMBODIED ENERGY, ASSEMBLY EFFORT, COST AND POTENTIAL SAVINGS. 4 DIFFERENT FACADE SYSTEMS ARE ANALYZED AND COMPARED IN THE CONTEXT OF AN EXISTING BUILDING. ONE OF THE SYSTEMS IS CURRENTLY INSTALLED AND HAS BEEN RECENTLY RETROFITTED, WHILE THE OTHER THREE ARE DESIGN PROPOSALS WHICH FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS: PERFORMANCE AND DAYLIGHT, MINIMAL STRUCTURE AND ADAPTABILITY. Sponsorship: Sobek, Werner Show less
The project is a resource center for formally incarcerated people returning to civil society. Many transitional facilities are overrun with... Show moreThe project is a resource center for formally incarcerated people returning to civil society. Many transitional facilities are overrun with the great flux of people reentering society every year. Room for Growth project proposes to stabalize this group of people by offering another option of counseling centers, housing and work training facilities in the Washington Park neighborhood of Chicago. Show less
Compared to the rich literature on urban sprawl in Western cities, relatively little is known of the driving factors, processes, and future... Show moreCompared to the rich literature on urban sprawl in Western cities, relatively little is known of the driving factors, processes, and future trends of urban sprawl in China. This research will analyze the socio-economic forces behind two parts of urban sprawl in China: urban decentralization (the creation of development zones and new towns) and urban renewal (infrastructural changes to existing urban fabrics) and reveal two basic characteristic for Chinese urban sprawl: a). de-densification; and b). expansion of urbanized areas (urban built-up areas). This proposal aims to use the term “urban sprawl” to consider the reasons behind urban land-use changes and urban pattern transformations on a regional level. It begins with definitions of sprawl in Western and Eastern countries, and follows an analysis of the social, political, and cultural factors of sprawl. Three case studies will focus on three urban centers in China: Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Still another component is data analysis with the program SPSS based on related Index for urban sprawl and sustainable development for 15 top urban regions in China during 10 years. This research has explored causes of urban sprawl in China: a). the changing residential preferences of some residents: willing to move out of the core; and b). overcrowded, deteriorated, and old-fashioned structures in central cities becoming targets for demolition in pursuing a new era of modernity, prosperity, and renaissance. Then, this research has pointed out: a). uneven land reform is the key to understand Chinese-style urban sprawl and it is also the necessary condition to the paradox posed by development zones and urbanized villages; b). China’s urban sprawl is driven by both market and government forces; and c). there are a series of new conditions for urban sprawl in China, for example: rising private automobile ownership, rising demand for space and changing residential preference, local public policy, and the real-estate industry. This research intends to provide a comprehensive definition of “urban sprawl” in China, identify the patterns of urban sprawl and growth in three urban regions (Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou), and illustrate the concepts and possible alternative strategies for green urban growth and change in China. Finally, it will offer suggestions on how to effectively control urban sprawl in China, as well as provide a pathway to achieving sustainable development. Ph.D. in Architecture, July 2012 Show less