portfolio hannah cao

[email protected]

+001.217.721.8959

2019 Cureton Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA

HANNAH ZHENGXI CAO

TABLE OF CONTENTS

urban agriculture facility

closed loop grid

low-rise, high-density housing

urban lab and observatoy

01

06

13

18

2

1000’1000’

1000’

1000’

1000’

1000’

1000’

main roads

train tracks

airport

industry

green

schools

Since the 1950’s Detroit has lost over 50% of its population, leaving 15 square miles vacant in a 53 square mile city. In this derelict condition I am exploring the intervention of an Urban Agriculture Facility (UAF) in the abandoned Packard Automobile Plant. This 3,500,000 ft2 factory, designed by Albert Kahn in 1911, is the first industrial construction to have used reinforced concrete in Detroit. Closed in 1958, the plant today stands completely empty, crumbling, and slowly invaded by vegetation.

I am proposing an update to the concept of factory in the community. The existing plant is over half a mile long, appearing as a inconsiderate and depreciative “wall” to its adjacent residential neighborhood. The UAF perforates the exiting plant to create a “new wall” which grows, collects, and distributes produce goods to the surrounding areas. The factory is a place of production, research, and education, creating both a visual and metaphorical new horizon for the area. If infrastructure is the underlying foundation or basic framework within a society, the UAF acts as infrastructure to its neighborhood as it introduces a new form of organization. The building provides sustainable awareness, address issues of community, building and material technology, and sets the framework for future developments.

urban agriculture facilitydetroit, michigan, usa

fall 2012 - ongoing thesis advisor: aki ishida

1

STUDIES OF EXISTING FACADE

SKETCH EXPLORATIONS OF LIGHT, WATER AND TRANSITIONAL SPACES

2

SKETCHES OF PERFORATING EXISTING BUILDING spring

summer

fall

winter

3

8:00 am

12:00 pm

6:00 pm

SECTION B_DAYLIGHT CHANGES IN SUMMER1”=32’

8:00 am 12:00 pm 6:00 pm 10:00 pm

8:00 am

12:00 pm

6:00 pm

SECTION B_DAYLIGHT CHANGES IN SUMMER1”=32’

8:00 am 12:00 pm 6:00 pm 10:00 pm

SECTION TRACKING DAYLIGHT CHANGES IN SUMMER

SPACIAL HIERARCHY AND MOVEMENT STUDIES

4

(LEFT) DAYLIGHT INTERPLAY ON PANELS BETWEEN SPACES. (RIGHT) NIGHT RENDER LOOKING SOUTH TOWARDS INTERVENTION.

5

Recently established as a conglomerate of eleven municipalities, the Camposampierese Federation (highlighted in red on left) is searching for new collective identity. The federation’s “villa” or “pavilion” nature causes the built areas to be extremely scattered, bringing concerns for its future mobility and servicing needs. Despite the area’s dispersed nature, the old Roman grid remains a strong presence in the federation. A 7x7 block section of this grid is brought into investigation (highlighted in green on left). Each block is contains certain defining elements: the layering of programs from the periphery, water flow, generational redistribution of land, the recent increase of industry, and dead end roads.

From this investigation a proposal for a new level of energy and resource autonomy is made. The goal is to create a “closed loop system” through investigations on different scales. The project is addressed at the scale of the house, the 700m x 700m block, and the 7x7 grid. This intervention capatlizes on the qualities of dispersity instead of density for increasing sustainable living. This is an opportunity of challenge the notion that only dense areas can be energy and resouce efficient.

closed loop gridcamposampierese federation, italy

spring 2012 atelier: freek persyn

block

G5

chan

nels

and d

rains

inter

ior &

acce

ss ro

ads

hous

ing (2

%)

indus

try &

shed

s (1%

)ag

ricult

ure fi

elds (

66%

)

6

A B C D E F G

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2

3

4

5

6

7

housing 2%

industry & other 1%

elds 66%

housing 2%

industry & other 3%

elds %

housing 1.3%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 2.4%

industry & other 0.3%

elds %

housing 4%


elds %

housing 2%


elds %

housing 3%


elds %

housing 1.3%


elds %

housing 2.3%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 4%

industry & other 2%

elds %

housing 2%


elds %

housing 6%

industry & other 5%

elds %

housing 1.2%


elds %

housing 2%

industry & other 2%

elds %

housing 1.6%


elds %

housing 1.1%


elds %

housing 2%


elds %

housing 2.3%


elds 66%

housing 3%

industry & other 1%

elds%

housing 1.5%


elds %

housing 3.4%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 2.5%


elds %

housing 2%


elds %

housing 3%


elds %

housing 5%

industry & other 2%

elds %

housing 1.5%


elds %

housing 2%


elds %

housing 3.5%


elds %

housing 2.5%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 2.3%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 1.5%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 3%


elds %

housing 1.2%


elds %

housing 3%


elds %

housing 3.5%


elds %

housing 1.5%


elds 6

housing 2.6%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 1.7%


elds %

housing 1.5%

industry & other 2%

elds %

housing 1.3%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 3.5%


elds %

housing 1.3%


elds %

housing 2.5%


elds %

housing 1%


elds %

housing 4%


elds %

housing 4%


elds %

housing 2%


elds%

housing 1.3%


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housing 2.3%


elds %

A B C D E F G

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

housing 2%

industry & other 1%

housing 2%

industry & other .8%

housing 1.3%

industry & other 1%

housing 2.4%


housing 4%


housing 2%


housing 3%


housing 1.3%


housing 2.3%

industry & other 1%

housing 4%

industry & other 2%

housing 2%


housing 6%

industry & other 5%

housing 1.2%


housing 2%

industry & other 2%

housing 1.6%


housing 1.1%


housing 2%


housing 2.3%


housing 3%

industry & other 1%

housing 1.5%


housing 3.4%

industry & other 1%

housing 2.5%


housing 2%


housing 3%


housing 10%

industry & other 2%

housing 1.5%


housing 2%


housing 3.5%


housing 2.5%

industry & other 1%

housing 2.3%

industry & other 1%

housing 1.5%

industry & other 1%

housing 3%


housing 1.2%


housing 3%


housing 3.5%


housing 1.5%


housing 2.6%

industry & other 1%

housing 1.7%


housing 1.5%


housing 1.3%

industry & other 1%

housing 3.5%


housing 1.3%


housing 2.5%


housing 1%


housing 4%


housing 4%


housing 2%


housing 1.3%


housing 2.3%


A B C D E F G

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

A B C D E F G

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

housing 2%

industry & other 1%

elds 66%

housing 2%

industry & other 3%

elds %

housing 1.3%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 2.4%


elds %

housing 4%


elds %

housing 2%


elds %

housing 3%


elds %

housing 1.3%


elds %

housing 2.3%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 4%

industry & other 2%

elds %

housing 2%


elds %

housing 6%

industry & other 5%

elds %

housing 1.2%


elds %

housing 2%

industry & other 2%

elds %

housing 1.6%


elds %

housing 1.1%


elds %

housing 2%


elds %

housing 2.3%


elds 66%

housing 3%

industry & other 1%

elds%

housing 1.5%


elds %

housing 3.4%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 2.5%


elds %

housing 2%


elds %

housing 3%


elds %

housing 5%

industry & other 2%

elds %

housing 1.5%


elds %

housing 2%


elds %

housing 3.5%


elds %

housing 2.5%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 2.3%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 1.5%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 3%


elds %

housing 1.2%


elds %

housing 3%


elds %

housing 3.5%


elds %

housing 1.5%


elds 6

housing 2.6%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 1.7%


elds %

housing 1.5%

industry & other 2%

elds %

housing 1.3%

industry & other 1%

elds %

housing 3.5%


elds %

housing 1.3%


elds %

housing 2.5%


elds %

housing 1%


elds %

housing 4%


elds %

housing 4%


elds %

housing 2%


elds%

housing 1.3%


elds %

housing 2.3%


elds %

A B C D E F G

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

housing 2%

industry & other 1%

housing 2%

industry & other .8%

housing 1.3%

industry & other 1%

housing 2.4%


housing 4%


housing 2%


housing 3%


housing 1.3%


housing 2.3%

industry & other 1%

housing 4%

industry & other 2%

housing 2%


housing 6%

industry & other 5%

housing 1.2%


housing 2%

industry & other 2%

housing 1.6%


housing 1.1%


housing 2%


housing 2.3%


housing 3%

industry & other 1%

housing 1.5%


housing 3.4%

industry & other 1%

housing 2.5%


housing 2%


housing 3%


housing 10%

industry & other 2%

housing 1.5%


housing 2%


housing 3.5%


housing 2.5%

industry & other 1%

housing 2.3%

industry & other 1%

housing 1.5%

industry & other 1%

housing 3%


housing 1.2%


housing 3%


housing 3.5%


housing 1.5%


housing 2.6%

industry & other 1%

housing 1.7%


housing 1.5%


housing 1.3%

industry & other 1%

housing 3.5%


housing 1.3%


housing 2.5%


housing 1%


housing 4%


housing 4%


housing 2%


housing 1.3%


housing 2.3%


A B C D E F G

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7

ANALYSIS OF 7X7 AREA IN ROMAN GRID

7

HOUSE PLOT IN BLOCK G5

165 m

25 m

8

13. 14. 15.

1. roof top = 336 m2

2. south facing roof= 128 m2

3. annual hours of sunshine = 2036 hrs1 m2 of solar panel generates 60 watts/hr and 4 people require189 m2

4. geothermal uses 25-50% less electricity then traditional. 3-5 years pay back

5. insulation saves 40%-50% heating cooling energy6. low energy bulbs use 25% energy required for standard light

new family energy demand = 9637 kWhnew square meter solar energy demand: 79 m2

7. total area for agriculture = 2753 m2

8. ~27% of municipal solid waste is biodegradable9. biodegradable waste makes biogas, used for heating water

and cooking.10. cultivated land per capita in high income countries = 3700 m2x

4 people = 14800 m2

11. 0.28 hector sustains 1 cow, yeilding 550 kwh/year from cow dunga single home can produce 2-6 kgs of compost monthly = 72 kgs year

12. replacing open fields with greenhouses

13. roof rain collection with 800 mm precipitation annually = 268.8 m3

14. 1752 m2 needed to supply laundry and toilet (rooftops supply 15.4% water demand)

15. adding greenhouses yields rooftop area of 1760 m2 > 1752 m2 needed

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

ANALYSIS OF HOUSE PLOT

7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

9

conservatory house poplar forestyardstreet

CLOSED LOOP HOUSE PLAN AND SECTION

10

greenhouses shed fields

11

VIEW FROM STREET INTO CONSERVATORY & HOUSE

12

The site is located north of busy commercial Oxford Street, east of gallery filled Newman Street, and west of the eateries on Rathborn Place. London is in desperate need for more residential areas, but how does one create a sheltered space in such complex and boisterous urban conditions?

The low-rise, high-density apartments brings a pedestrian scaled space to relieve visitors and residents from the congested city fabric. By creating a hierarchy of spaces the transition from public to private allows for both the extention of existing roads and sheltered spaces. Located in a strong Georgian style area, the large new complex tries to insert itself with respect the character of the neighborhood. A brick skin wraps the building’s exterior, allowing for a quite facade that brings new proportions and spacial organization to the forefront of the building exerience. The complex’s ground floor is entirely commercial space, creating a plinth on which the rest of the building sits. The buildings drop to 4-5 stories down the center of the complex to create a pedestrian path. This allows for the street take on a slower moving, plaza like atmosphere while still maintaining the required zoning density. Entrances are located on this path for residents to access their private courtyards and apartment units.

Newman Street

Oxford Street

Rathborn Place

low-rise, high-density housinglondon, uk

fall 2011atelier: jonathan sergisontwo person group project

13

MASSING MODEL AND SKETCH ITERATIONS

14

FINAL MASSING MODEL

SECTION WITH RAISED COURTYARD

N

15

VIEW FROM OXFORD STREET LOOKING NORTH TOWARDS PEDESTRIAN PATH

1616

VIEW LOOKING SOUTH TOWARDS PEDESTRIAN PATH

17

Located city’s fringe, the 400 foot long site requires a transformation that will help bridge the dramatic change in urban condition. The Urban Lab and Observatory (ULO) is a building designed to allow a closer look and/or reframing of the city. The building is a mixed use space with galleries, auditorium, offices, studios and apartments for temporary visiting artist. From reading the city, the street condition as well as the day/night transformation became the focal points that drove the rest of the design. The ULO becomes both a microcosm that attempts to break the strict staking of levels in the city and a bridge that connects the corners of the site. The first six levels of the building are linked through a series of ramps, allowing for a gradual transition from street to the building’s interior. Underground, offices and studios are lit with skylights that become lighting at night for the plaza above. Mimicking qualities of the sidewalk, ramps which wrap the building are thin concrete slabs emphasized by framing which stand perpendicular to the ramp’s slope. Apartments on the top four floors have a variety of dimensions to accommodate a wide range of inhabitants. In addition, a roof garden runs down the apartment complex, creating a lofted plaza for viewing the city.

urban lab and observatorycincinnati, ohio, usa

spring 2011studio: jim bassett

18

N

PROCESS PLAN: EXTENTION OF CITY STREET AND LAYERING OF SPACES

19

MODEL: RAMP WRAPPING BUILDING. RESIDENTIAL SPACES LOFTED OVER RAMPS

20

SECTION DETAIL OF RAMP GALLERY SPACE

1. cellular decking2. wide flange3. dropped ceiling wire mesh panels4. runners/sheet-metal tees5. double pane insulating glass6. concrete facade element7. raceway for electric and communication8. base mullion9. surface of concrete ramp

6

8

15 fe

et

5

4

7

9

3

12

21

MODEL: STEPPED ROOF AS RESIDENTIAL OPEN SPACE

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portfolio hannah cao

Documents

new wall

existing plant

pmsection b

exiting plant

new level of energy

metaphorical new horizon

new collective identity

new form of organization