Background
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01 A Library in Chinatown
What does it mean for a Library to be Free to All?
This project is a series of investigations on how architecture can give form to accessible public institutions that are truly free to all. By researching on site in Boston’s Chinatown, I was able to define the needs for the library: a dynamic social space to support the thriving communities.
This library houses a cafe on the ground floor to bring in people and support businesses. There is an open floor concept community room throughout the center of the building. On the top floor, there is an auditorium for hosting educational events and panels. The library becomes quieter gradually on each higher floor, with stacks and study areas scattered throughout.
The key feature is the projection wall on the back side, allowing for large scale celebrations and light shows to attract people from all over.
An axon drawing highlights the form of the building and its relation to its surrounding. The protruding rooms are a cafe, community room, and auditorium. The diagram on the right shows the progression of the design and the overlapping between the floors.
The projection wall is the highlight of Chinatown at night. It can be used for festivals, promoting events, or even just light for ambiance in the city.
Ground floor plan featuring two main entrances, cafe, lobby, elevators and stairs, and a study area with stacks.
Plans for floors 2, 3, 4, and 5.
The similarities and connections between floors.
A short section cut through the community room in the center of the building
A program diagram. The building programs get progressively more quiet moving up the floors.
A corner view of the cafe, demonstrating the glass facade against the concrete core of the building.
02 Rethinking the Pavilion
What defines a pavilion?
Pavilion is a broad term for a wide variety of structure types, so how do you decide what a pavilion entails? By defining the needs of the people who use it. Because pavilions are a smaller scale than buildings, they are perfect for testing architectural strategies while addressing a programmatic agenda and site specific constraints.
This is a proposal for a pop-up library pavilion in Chin Park in Boston’s Chinatown to be installed during spring and summer months. The main function is to provide shelter and seating to support a wide variety of activities and events, and storage for media and books.
A study of where people congregate in Chin Park.
People need shelter from the weather, however that may be.
Study model, 1st rendition. Testing seating on both sides with a space to walk though.
Study model, 2nd rendition. Testing a climbable structure with a bridge to cross over.
Final model, cut and assembled by hand using balsa wood.
The top has hollow blocks to connect the structure without loading weight, and sheds sunlight underneath.
Plan view in park context
Section cut at a human scale
A closer look at the pavilion in action: reading, checking out books, and arts and crafts.
A few of the many ways to interact with this pavilion.
03 Double House
How does a house respond to its surroundings? How do you provide for privacy and shared spaces in a double house?
How does a house respond to its surroundings? How do you provide for privacy and shared spaces in a double house?
This project is a two family home on a hill that responds to its surroundings, addressing key elements like sunlight, ground levels, and access points. The floor plans needed to work in a small square footage while also relating to different areas.
This double house is two homes joined at the side, with the floor layouts flipped. The lower home has bedrooms in the lower level, while the upper home has bedrooms in the upper level. Thus, keeping the kitchens and living areas on a common shared floor.