ROUGE RHYTHM
WEI YING'S PORTFOLIO
 Beams and columnsThe beams and columns of House VI are stacked and overlapped each other without providing much structural support. |  Addition & SubtractionHouse VI is formed by using the additive and subtraction concept. |  MassingThe massing of House VI consists of cube and cuboids infused together. |
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 OpeningsThe placement of skylights, translucent panel screens, glass slits and window openings makes House VI a truly unique house. |  Grid SystemThe formation of the House VI form started off with a simple grid system and the form of the house is finalized through manipulation of the vertical and horizontal planes |  Repetition and UnityGlass slits are placed on symmetrical sides of the house to achieve a sense of repetition and unity. |
 SymmetryThe form of House VI is somewhat symmetrical by flipping over the planes and shear walls on both sides of the house. |  AxisThe staircases in the House is arranged in a contrasting manner which emphasizes the axis of the house. |  CirculationThe top image with region painted in red represents the constricted circulation of the first floor which directs the user from staircase to the bedroom and the one and only washroom in the house that is only accessible via the bedroom. The image below with region painted in green shows a less constricted circulation of the ground level of the house. |
 Positive and Negative SpaceThe positive and negative space include the interior, exterior and basement of the house. |
Architectural Design Studio 2
For our very first Design Studio 2 project, in a group of 5, we are assigned to analyse, investigate and explore a case study house, House VI by Peter Eisenman. House VI, or the Frank Residence is completed in the year 1975, in Connecticut, United States. It is a highly controversial house as the house challenges the unconventional living and defy the Form Follows Function concept. Peter Eisenman totally abandoned the Modernist view of function as an important aspect when designing a building.
We are to produce a short video clip to introduce Peter Eisenman and his dictums and concept, along with his works and the architectural elements of House VI that we have indentified. Later, a complete set of Architectural drawings of House VI are produced, displaying the plans, sections, elevations and Axonometric projection of the building.
The final task of this project is to produce a set of ten 6 x6 x6cm conceptual models to formulate our architectural concept and ideas analysis of House VI. The conceptual models display the elements and characteristics, along with Eisenman's design concept of House VI.
Through this diagrammatic abstraction project, we acquired the ability to identify master architects and their works and understand the basic architectural compositions of solids, planes, lines and frames.
Project 1: Famous People, Familiar Faces, Diagrammatic Abstraction
Project 1, task 1: Video clip of House VI by Peter Eisenman
 Ground Floor Plan |  First Floor Plan |  Section A-A |
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 Section B-B |  East Elevation |  South Elevation |
 North Elevation |  West Elevation |  Axonometric Projection |
Plans, sections, elevations and Axonometric Projection of House VI
10 Conceptual Models
Project 2A: Pavilion @ Kuala Selangor Nature Park
For our second project, we are to form a group of 2 to design a pavilion for a specific character in Kuala Selangor Nature Park. We went to Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Selangor to carry out our site analysis for this second project. Groups are broken down to analyse different sites, such as hill, open field, mangrove swamp, forest, river and lake. My partner and I obtained the open field to carry out our site analysis along with 10 other colleagues. The aim of this project is to generate form and space through architectural conceptualisation, with the emphasis on exploring the user requirement and simple spatial organization skills and site responding to develop an architectural proposition.
*CLICK ON THE OPEN FIELD PANORAMA ABOVE FOR SITE ANALYSIS SLIDES.*
The second task of this Project 2A is to design a pavilion for the specifically assigned character on drawing lots basis. My partner and I have gotten a Hairdresser for our pavilion client. The proposed site for the pavilion is the open field (on top of Malawati Hill) at Kuala Selangor Nature Park with the purpose of a place for relaxation and contemplation. The designed pavilion includes spaces for meditation, contemplation, observation and viewing.
The design concepts for our pavilion include the extracted elements and characteristics of the Hairdresser. The design concepts are: FLUIDITY, VERSATILITY and TRANSFORMATION.
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Fluidity: The structure of the pavilion is inspired from the fluidity of the hair, which can be shaped and twisted into various forms.
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Transformation: The hairdresser is able to transform the outlook of her clients and she is constantly keeping up with the latest trend to create new hair designs.
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Versatility: The Hairdresser is a charismatic lady that is able to work with numerous clients of different personalities and hair types. She is also able to adapt, improvise and react spontaneously on treating and shaping her clients' hair.
Project 2A, Task 2: Pavilion Design
With these concepts in mind, we created a pavilion with transformable spaces to accentuate the fuildity and versatility nature of the hairdresser. The pavilion structure is made up of timber slits joined together on steel poles that acts as the hinge for the joints. The hairdresser is able to push and pull the timber slits to manipulate the spaces within. The timber slits is able to form a ledge for sitiing and lounging. The pavilion is able to transform into a series of spaces and designed with respondance to the user's needs and site context.
 Character description |  Design Development and Concept |  Site PlanSite Plan of the open field with pavilion roof plan drawn in the scale of 1:200. |
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 Roof PlanRoof plan of the pavilion drawn in 1:50 scale. |  Elevation |  Enclosed SpaceFloor plan and elevation showing the pavilion in enclosed form. |
 Entrance SpaceFloor plan and elevation showing the second space, in which the hairdresser opens up the timber structure of the pavilion to create openings. |  Engaging Public SpaceFloor plan and elevation showing the hairdresser manipulate the timber structure of the pavilion by creating a space to engage with the visitors of the park. |  Viewing Platform SpaceThe floor plan and elevation featuring the forth space in which the hairdresser arranged the pavilion into a viewing deck area. |
 Enclosed Spacesection and perspective view. |  Entrance Spacesection and perspective view. |  Engaging Public Spacesection and perspective view. |
 Viewing Platform Spacesection and perspective view. |
A series of presentation drawings and panels of the Pavilion
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A series of study and mock-up models experimenting with various model making materials
 Space 1- EnclosedThe pavilion is closed up whenever the Hairdresser is away. |  EnclosedThe primary form of the pavilion, which is designed within a 3x3x3metres cube. |  Space 2 - EntranceThe hairdresser maneuvers the timber structure of the pavilion by pushing and pulling the slits to form openings. |
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 EntranceThe rear view of the pavilion depicting one of the openings. |  Space 3 - Engaging PublicThe pavilion structure is spread apart that changes the exterior form of the pavilion. |  Engaging PublicThe timber structures extrude out to form ledges that function as table, sitting area and lounge for the hairdresser and the visitors. |
 Engaging PublicThe pavilion is opened up into a W-shaped form so that users would be able to enjoy the scenic views of the horizon and forest located at the foot of the hill. |  Engaging PublicHuman figures are inserted to demonstrate the interaction between the pavilion and user experience, as well as how the pavilion engages with the site context. |  Space 4 - Viewing PlatformAs dusk approaches, the pavilion structure is pushed in to form undulating stairs that lead up to the viewing deck. |
 Viewing PlatformThe hairdresser and visitors are able to climb on top to the viewing deck to enjoy the sunset view. |  Viewing PlatformThe rear view of the pavilion |  Viewing PlatformIt is a space to appreciate the beauty of the site and surroundings. |
Pavilion Final Model in Balsa Wood
By the end of Project 2A, I have learnt the importance of designing a building that engages with the site context. The design process is a complex task in which the site plays an important role in affecting the users' experience. As quoted by Frank Lloyd Wright, It is crucial to intergrate the design along with the site so that the building would look like as if it grew from the site, instead of sitting on it. Thoughts and attention should also be given to the climatic and topography of the site in terms of materials selection for the designed building. This project is enriching in a way that enables us to experience the full-on building designing process, from site analysis to the end product of the pavilion.
Design Studio 2, Project 2A: Pavilion presentation day.
Project 2B: Retreat House @Kuala Selangor Nature Park
For my third and final project of studio 2, we are required to design a retreat house for the same character from the pavilion project. It is an individual project and a continuous project from project 2A. Therefore, my retreat house client remained the same, which is the hairdresser. We are to designed a retreat house that denotes a place that provide peace, tranquility and privacy. The retreat house must functions as habitable architectural spaces to enable the activity associated with living, dining, cleansing, cooking, storage and such within the built up space of 150 square meter. This project explores the relationship between architectural tectonics, functional space and context in architecture.
I have extracted 3 design concepts in terms of the character and career wise of the hairdresser. The hairdresser is a person who is constantly open to new ideas, keeping up with the latest trend with an artistic edge/flair. She is able to transform a person's outlook and loves to challenge the traditional ways of doing things. The three concept extracted from this short narrative are as below:
Design Concept
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Transformation: Rotatable transformable spaces with the integration of modular capsule units. The fixed capsules reflects the will to adapt to site.
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Flexibility: Spaces transform and function according to user's need and preference to bring out her flexible character. Each planes and surfaces are utilised.
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Unconventional Living: The hairdresser is young and contemporary. She challenges the unconventional way of living that reflects her expressive nature.
Hence, a capsule-like retreat house is designed for the hairdresser with rotatable spaces that is able to relate to the unconventional living lifestyle. The capsules are arranged in linear form that go along with the contours of the proposed site. The retreat is designed in a minimalist cylindrical form that stacked on one another. The simplicity of the form is able to enhance and bring out the qualities of the interior spaces within that emphasizes on user experiences, which is the key element of the entire house.
The space configuration of the house is arrange into four activities. These are the possibilities of how the spaces could be rotated and utilised. The designated spaces for the hairdresser include a dressing room, studio/workspace/bedroom, bathroom, kitchen/dining/meeting area, foyer/lounge and a viewing deck. The private and semi-public spaces are arranged in relation to the site context. This being said that private spaces are located at the open field, which is away from the densed visitors areas. The semi-public spaces like foyer/lounge, viewing deck, bathroom and kitchen/meeting area are place on top of the slight contours, looking towards the scenic view of the horizon and the foot of the Malawati hill which is a densed tourist spot. Below illustrates diagram of the potential space configuration.
Presentation Panels
 Retreat House SectionA section of the retreat house demonstrating how the user engage with the space and the site context. |  Viewing DeckInterior perspective drawing showing the viewing deck capsule. |  Rear viewThe private spaces are located on the open field, directing the user's visual towards the quietness of the vast open field. |
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 Fixed CapsulesThe two fixed capsule (bathroom & viewing deck) sit on top of the slight contours so that the user is able to enjoy a profound view of the surrounding site. |  Perspective viewAn exterior perspective view showing the general outlook of the retreat house. |  East Elevation |
 West Elevation |  CapsulesThe capsules are designed in modular units basis. |  Interior view 1Interior view exhibiting the kitchen/dining/meeting area of the house. |
 Interior view 2Interior view exhibiting the workspace/studio/bedroom of the house. The curve edges (sleeping area) is shaped according to proportionate human anthropometry. |  Interior View 3interior view featuring a ledge for seating for the dressing room/bedroom of the house. |  Dressing room/ bedroom capsule |
 Foyer/ lounge capsuleA retractable chaise lounge is designed at the foyer area for the hairdresser to lounge on it. |  Foyer/ Lounge capsuleThe chaise lounge is retracted back to the capsule. |  Workspace/ studio capsule |
 Bathroom (service capsule)The bathroom features adjustable timber louvers on top half and enclosed panels at the bottom half of the capsule. |  A series of the capsule units. |  Study Model 1The very first study model made of styrofoam boards experiments with the space design of the capsules. |
 Study Model 2Second study model made of model and craft boards showing the finalized capsule design. |
Through this retreat house project, I am able to interpret and analyse a client's character in relation to the design of a small building and to design a house that meet the user's requirements and respect site context that balances both internal (architectural spaces/layout/circulation) and external (aesthetics and forms) design values. I have came to realise the importance of user's experience and able to design a building that is well intergrated onto the site. This is a truly challenging and interesting project that emphasizes on the originality and drawing relations with the nature.
Final presentation day.
Group photo of Design Studio 2 Project 1 colleagues with Mr. Peng Wei (Project 1 design tutor).