SDA Portfolio 2013

LOS ANGELES

SDA | Synthesis Design + Architecture2404 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 9ELos Angeles, CA 90057, [email protected]: +1 213 438 9967

LONDON

SDA | Synthesis Design + ArchitectureUnit 2.6 Rockwell House, 10-14 Hewett StreetLondon EC2A 3NNUnited [email protected]: +44 207 193 7263F: +44 207 681 1107

www.synthesis-dna.com

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EXTERIOR SKIN OF KEELUNG HARBOR BUILDING - Keelung,Taiwan

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00_ CONTENTS

01_PROFILE

02_PEOPLE

03_SELECTED PROJECTS

04_INSTALLATION AND OBJECTS

05_ COMPANY DETAILS

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01_ PROFILE

POLYFOLD PARTITION Calgary, Canada

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01_ PROFILE

SYNTHESIS DESIGN + ARCHITECTURE

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01_ PROFILE

OUR OFFICE LOCATED - American Aement Building, Los Angeles, USA

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PROFILESynthesis is an emerging contemporary design practice with over 20 years of collective professional experience in the fields of architecture, infrastructure, interiors, installations, exhibitions, furniture, and product design. Founded in 2011, our work has already begun to achieve international recognition for it’s design excellence. Our diverse team of multidisciplinary design professionals includes registered architects, architectural designers and computational specialists educated, trained, and raised in the USA, UK, Denmark, Portugal, and Taiwan. This diverse cultural and disciplinary background has supported our expanding portfolio of internatinoal projects in the USA, UK, Russia, Thailand, and China.

VISIONOur work focuses on the merging of creative and intellectual design processes with intelligent fabrication and construction techniques to create beautifully crafted designs. We like to refer to this territory as “digital craft”, where the exchange between the technology of the digitally conceived and the artisanry of the handmade is explored.

As our name implies, we see architecture as the composition of multiplicities to form a cohesive vision – both on a tectonic, conceptual, and ideological level. We view each project as a unique opportunity to integrate diverse and often contending conceptions and constraints into a coherent whole. Our process explores contemporary design as an expression of contemporary society and cultural values that seeks to enhance the way people experience the built environment by capitalizing on the potential of time, space, and form to affect and inspire those who inhabit it.

PROFILE SYNTHESIS

SYN•THE•SIS

noun \’sin(t)-thə-səs\

a: the composition or combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole

b: the combining of often diverse conceptions into a coherent whole

c: the dialectic combination of thesis and antithesis into a higher stage of truth

We believe in design that is driven by integrated performance. Though architecture is by definition static, its visual, spatial, structural, material, environmental, economic and social affects are intrinsically dynamic. Integrated performance, the manner in which a single design actively fulfils the full array of its intentions, defines the performative aesthetic for which we strive. This interest in what we call “Informed Form”, carries forward the legacy of architects like Frei Otto, Antonio Gaudi, and to explore the non-linear relationships between geometric logic (form, geometric organization, variation, optimization, etc), materiality (material composition, fabrication, etc) and performance (structural, environmental, aerodynamic, etc).

PROCESSOur team designs through collaboration. Our role is to facilitate the dialogue between architect, client, user, engineer, fabricator, and builder to effectively lead a synergized design development marked by a seamless flow of idea, strategies and solutions pertaining to all

HISTORYOriginally founded in London January 2011 by Alvin Huang, Synthesis Design + Architecture is a forward thinking international design firm exploring design at the intersection of Performance, Technology and Craft. Following an appointment as a Tenure-track Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Southern California, Alvin subsequently relocated the office to Los Angeles where the firm was incorporated in October 2011. Since its founding, the office has expanded to include a team of seven full-time designers with a diverse global background and wide range of experiences. The design trajectory and ethos of the office is rooted in balancing both the experimental and the visionary with the practical and the pragmatic to achieve the extraordinary.

PROFILE _ 01

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DISTINCTIONS SYNTHESIS

Perspective Magazine 40 under 40, Nomination 2013 Nominated award highltighting the generation of talented individuals under the age of 40 who will lead Asia’s design industry in the next two decades (award pending)

Wallpaper* Bespoke, Selected Designer 2013 1 of 3 international designers handpicked to collaborate with Austrian sunglass company Silhouette to design a limited edition sunglass series

Dale Taylor Visiting Lectureship, U. of Calgary Faculty of Environmental Design 2013

Alvin Huang awarded a Visiting Lectureship to lead workshop/installation in Digital Fabrication and emerging design technologies

Shanghai Wuzhou International Plaza Design Competition, 1st Prize 2013

1st place winner of invited international design competition for 180,000sqm mixed-use development

South Broadway Arts District Public Art Competition, Shortlist 2013

1 of 5 designers shortlisted out of 200+ submissions for a public art installation in Denver (final award still pending)

Architizer A+ Awards - Residential Interiors, Finalist 2013 Chelsea Workspace is 1 of 5 finalists out of 233 submissions

Architects Journal Small Projects Award, Shortlist 2013 Chelsea Workspace is 1 of 24 Shortlisted projects out of 233 submissions

Prospectus #220, Shortlist 2013 1 of 5 designers shortlisted out of 250+ submissions to compete for a public art installation at Spaceport America in New Mexico

Rami G. Holland 30 for 30 Cultural Pioneers 2012 Named as 1 of 30 of the most culturally invested, relevant and emerging designer names of 2012 who will doubtlessly have a major influence by the time 2030 comes around. Within the list are independent designers, heritage design houses and curators of fashion, photography and art.

D&AD Award for Environmental Design, 2009([C]Space Pavilion by Alvin Huang + Alan Dempsey

DRL10 Pavilion Competition Winner, 2008([C]Space Pavilion by Alvin Huang + Alan Dempsey

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01_ PROFILE

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MEDIA SYNTHESIS

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS “Synthesis : Exploratory Practice + Applied Research” Kasian Gallery, Calgary, Canada 2013

The Architects Journal Small Projects Review, The Building Centre, London, UK 2013

Dwell on Design, LA Convention Center, Los Angeles, USA 2013

ACADIA 2011: Integration Through Computation, Calgary, Canada 2011

Digital Futures Exhibition, Shanghai, China 2011

FABRICATE, The Building Centre, London UK 2011

Input/Output, Temple University, Philadelphia USA 2010

Digital Architecture London, The Building Centre, London UK 2009

Digital Thinking: Parametric Prototypes, Xian China 2009

Advanced Architecture Biennale, Settima/Tokyo Japan 2009

DRL X, Architectural Association, London UK 2008

Beijing Architectural Biennale, Beijing China 2008

Shanghai AAC, USC/Tongji, Shanghai, China 2011Invited Lecture

Department of Theoretical & Applied Aesthetics, Univ.of Lund, Sweden 2011

Invited LectureThe Bartlett, University College of London 2011

Invited LectureETH Zurich, Zurich Switzerland 2010

Invited LectureD_Lab, Architectural Association, London UK 2010

Invited LectureNew Technologies in Digital Architecture, Tel Aviv Univ.Tel Aviv Israel 2010

Invited Lecture and PanelistWorld Architecture Festival –Barcelona Spain 2009

Shortlisted presentationDigital Architecture London, The Building Centre, London UK 2009

Invited Lecture and Panelist Faculty of Architecture, HKU, Hong Kong 2009

Invited LectureDessau Institute of Architecture, Dessau Germany 2008

Invited LectureSIMAE Conference, Inst for Advanced Arch. Catalonia, Barcelona Spain 2008

Invited Lecture and PanelistFaculty of Architecture, Xiamen Univ, Xiamen China 2007

Invited Lecture

SELECTED INSTALLATIONS“Additive Subtraction,” Appropriate/Mutate/InnovateBeijing Architectural Biennalle, Beijing, China 2013

An exhibition exploring featuring novel designed objects constructed from everyday objects

“InformedForm: Geometry, Performance and Craft” Kasian Gallery @ University of Calgary, Canada 2013

1:1 Scale prototypes of form-found minimal surface structures

“Minimal Relaxation”, The Art of Spatial Architecture MOCA Shanghai, Shanghai China 2012

Temporary form-found tensioned roof canopy and landscape as part of an exhibition that explores relationshps between art and architecture.

SELECTED LECTURESSimAUD: Simulation for Architecture and Urban Design Conference, San Diego 2013

Keynote SpeakerDesign Matters Lecture Series 2013University of Calgary, Canada

Invited Lecture Faculty Pecha Kucha @ USC, Los Angeles, USA 2012

Faculty Lecture Jumpstart Series, UCLA AUD, Los Angeles, USA 2012

Invited LectureTongji University College of Architecture + Urban Planning, Shanghai, China 2012

Invited Lecture China Shanghai Architectural Design + Research Institute, Shanghai, China 2012

Invited LectureLA Firms Design China, LA Forum, Los Angeles 2012

Invited Presenter Serial Series, Woodbury University, Burbank, CA 2012

Invited LectureDigital Futures Conference, USC Tongji University, Shanghai, China 2011

Keynote Speaker

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01_ PROFILE

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SELECTEDPRESS (MAGAZINES + NEWS) ArchDaily, “Craft in the Digital Age” by Guy Horton, USA, Feb. 18, 2013 ArchiWorld Magazine, Korea, March 2013

Architects Journal, “Anglo-American Rising Star Completes Thai Plaza”, by Tom Ravenscroft,

Evolo Magazine, “Rethinking the Waterfront”, by Marija Bojovic, USA, February 2013

Architects Journal, UK, “Newcomer Synthesis Wins Huge Chinese Job”, by Richard Waite, Jan. 29 2013

The Architects Newspaper, “Synthesis wins competition with ‘Urban Canyon’ Concept”, by Sam Lubell, USA, Jan. 22 2013

Evolo Magazine, “Celebrating Luxury”, by Marija Bojovic, USA, January 2013

Stylus Magazine, UK, January 2013

Future Laboratory Magazine, UK, December 2012

The Architects Newspaper, USA “Minimal Relaxation has Maximum Impact”, Oct 2, 2012

Dwell Magazine, “Hidden in Plain View”, USA July/August issue 2012

Design Bureau Magazine, USA, June/July issue 2012

The Architect’s Newspaper, USA “Synthesis Design’s Bespoke Office”, February 3, 2012 Detail Magazine, Germany, December 2010 PLOT, Germany, March 2010 Mark Magazine, UK, July 2008

Icon, UK, May 2008

WRITING“Integrating Digital Materiality: Drawing Logic” by Alvin Huang 2011

Fabricating the Future Tongji University Press, Ed. by Philip Yuan + Neil Leach

“The [C]Space Pavilion: An Experiment in Digital Craft” by Alvin Huang 2009

9 Problems in the Form of a Pavilion Architectural Association Press, Ed. by Dempsey and Obuchi

SELECTED INTERVIEWS & PROFILES“Analyze Bliss: L.A. studio Synthesis uses number crunching to profoundly subtle effect.”

by Julia Cooke, Surface Magazine, USA, March/April 2013

“Predicting the Future of Architecture: A Roundtable Discussion”

by Jun Zhang, Urbanism + Architecture Magazine, China, October 2012

“The China Construct: Translating expectations into reality in a fast-changing China”

by Guy Horton, The Architects Newspaper, USA, 7/18/2012

“The Intern Catch-22: The Practice of Architecture and Unpaid Internships”

by Sam Lubell, The Architects Newspaper, USA, 7/6/2012

“Architects Talk About Materials” by Peter Woo, Domus China, China, June 2011

“New Practice Profile #83 - Synthesis Design + Architecture”

by Richard Waite, The Architects Journal, UK, September 2011

PUBLICATIONS SYNTHESISSELECTED PUBLICATIONS (BOOKS)Commercial Landscapes 2013

Hong Kong Polytechnic Intl Press, Edited by Loya Lu

Top Space & Art IV 2013Art Power Intl Publishing, Ed. by Diana Lee

Contemporary Digital Architecture 2 2012Links Intl Press, Ed. by D. Kottas

Fabricating the Future 2011 Tongji University Press, Ed. by Philip Yuan & Neil Leach

FABRICATE 2011 Edited by Ruairi Glynn

Contemporary Digital Architecture Design + Tech. 2010Links Intl Press, Ed. by D. Kottas

AD (Architectural Design): Turkey: At the Threshold 2009Ed. by M. Hensel, article by M. Garcia

Dig. Architecture: Passages Through the Hinterlands 2009Edited by Ruairi Glyn

Digital Fabrications: Architectural and Material Techn. 2009Princeton Arch. Press, Edited by Lisa Iwamoto

9 Problems in the Form of a Pavilion 2009 Architectural Association Press, Edited by Alan Dempsey and Yosuke Obuchi

AKT: Design Engineering 2008Actar, Edited by Michael Kubo and Hanif Kara

DRL X: 10 Years of the Design Research Laboratory 2008Architectural Association Press, Edited by Tom Verebes

AD : The Information and the Argument 2004Edited by Michael Chadwick

PROFILE _ 01

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02_ PEOPLE

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02_ PEOPLE

SYNTHESIS DESIGN + ARCHITECTURE

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EDUCATIONArchitectural Association, London UK Master of Architecture + Urbanism, 2004

University of Southern California, Los Angeles Bachelor of Architecture. 1998

Harvard University, Cambridge, Secondary School Program in Architecture, 1992

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONSAmerican Institute of ArchitectsMember Arizona Board of Technical RegistrationRegistered Architect #53260

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTSUSC - School of Architecture, Los Angeles, USA Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), 2011-

Architectural Association/Tsinghua University, Beijing, China Tutor (AA Global Visiting School), 2010

Chelsea College of Arts - Interior & Spatial Design, London, UK Diploma Tutor, 2006-2007

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCESynthesis Design + Architecture Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA 2011-

Founder + Design PrincipalEstablished international design and consultancy practice focused on the integrated application of material perfor-mance, emergent design technologies and digital fabri-cation in contemporary architectural practice. Recently completed interior project in London, UK. Current com-missions include projects in Lampang, Thailand, Bang-kok,Thailand, and Quanzhou, China.

Amanda Levete Architects, London UK 2008-2011DirectorAppointed one of three founding directors by Principal Amanda Levete during the transition of the office from Future Systems to Amanda Levete Architects. Led the design and development of the 145,000sqm Central Embassy project in Bangkok, Thailand, the 10,000 sqm Corian Super-surfaces interior in Milan, Italy, and the 40m span Spencer Dock Bridge in Dublin, Ireland, among others. Further responsibilities included publicity, recruit-ment and coordination of the office’s design research agenda including the application of parametric modelling and digital fabrication processes throughout the office.

Future Systems, London UK 2006-2008Lead DesignerDesigned and developed numerous projects including the 145,000sqm Central Embassy project in Bangkok, Thailand, the 40m span Spencer Dock Bridge, and the 2,000sqm Clyde Lane House. Responsible for all furni-ture and product design including the Drift In/Out Bench-es and Swerve Table for Established & Sons, and the Black + Lite lamp for Swarovski.

Zaha Hadid Architects, London UK 2004-2006Lead DesignerLed the design and development of the 10,000sqm Pau Mediatheque in Pau, France (1st place design competition in 2004) and the Aqua Series for Established & Sons. Contributed as a key team member on numerous competitions including: the Highline in NYC, Connecticut Science Center, and SOHO Forum in Beijing, China.

AECOM, Los Angeles, CA, USA 1998-2002DesignerKey design team member and Construction Administrator for the 32 story BMC Software Phase IV office tower. Responsible for responding to all RFI’s, attending site meetings, producing punch lists and the production of all Elevations, Sections, and Curtail Wall related details.

02_ PEOPLE

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ALVIN HUANG, AIA is the Founder and Design Principal of Synthesis Design + Architecture. He is an award-winning architect, designer, and educator specializing in the integrated application of material performance, emergent design technologies and digital fabrication in contemporary architectural practice. This exploration of “digital craft”, is identified as the territory where the exchange between the technology of the digitally conceived and the artisanry of the handmade is explored. His wide ranging international experience includes significant projects of all scales ranging from hi-rise towers and mixed-use developments to bespoke furnishings.

Prior to forming Synthesis, he gained significant professional experience working with Amanda Levete Architects, Future Systems, Zaha Hadid Architects, and AECOM.

Alvin received a Master of Architecture and Urbanism from the Architectural Association Design Research Laboratory (2004) in London and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California (1998) in Los Angeles. His work has been widely published and exhibited and has gained international recognition, including being selected to represent the UK at the Beijing Biennale in 2008. In 2009 he was awarded a D&AD Award for Environmental Design.

Alvin is currently a Tenure-track Professor at the USC School of Architecture in Los Angeles. He has also taught design studios and master classes at the Architectural Association (London), Tongji University (Shanghai), Tsinghua University (Beijing), University of Lund (Sweden) and Chel-sea College of Art (London). He has been an invited critic and guest lecturer at various institu-tions in the UK, US, Germany, Spain, Sweden Israel, Switzerland and China.

Alvin Huang Founder and Principal

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EDUCATIONSouthern California Institute of Architecture (SciArc), LA, USAMasters in Design Research (MediaSCAPES), 2011

Bartlett School of Architecture, London, UK Graduate Diploma in Architecture (RIBA PART II) 2006-2008Commendation (Honors) in Design

Bartlett School of Architecture, London, UKBSc in Architecture & Built Environment (RIBA Part I) 2001-2004Honors in Design

Escola Secundária do Lumiar , Lisbon, Portugal High School, Final Average grade 18 out of 20

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONSArchitect Registry at Stiching Bureau Architectenregis-ter (SBA), Netherlands, 2010

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEImaginary Forces, Los Angeles, USA October 2011

DesignerProject: WWZ teaser ad 3dimensional graphics designThailand, and Quanzhou, China.

Electroland, Los Angeles, USA June 2011Volunteer / Exhibition setupSet up for SKATE 1.0 a sound and light exhibit @ the A + D museum in LAPart of the COME IN! 2: SURF.SKATE.BIKE exhibition

Amanda Levete Architects, London, UK June 2009- May 2010 RIBA PART II Architect / Architect

Norreport transport Interchange, Copenhagen, Denmark Competition/Concept WorkNews International Headquarters, Wapping London270 million pound refurbishment of a desused printingPress in Wapping, London, to house new offices for The Times,The Sun, News of the World, Myspace among others. Responsibilities: Stage D Stage E / As part of the News Facade Team, I was involved in concept and detail design development, coordination with consultants, production of specifications, drawings and imagery, etc.

Zaha Hadid Architects, London UK July 2008 - June 2009Lead DesignertectTripoli People’s Conference Hall, LibyaSchematic Design (concept design) and Enabling Works StagesDetail DesignResponsibilities: Landscape and external areas design packageConcept design to detail design development.Coordination with consultants.Drawing package and report preparation.

TEACHINGArchitectural Association, London, UK Day workshop/seminar for UndergraduateInter 3 on Real Flow/3ds max, February 2010

Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK4 day workshop/seminar on Real Flow/Rhino/3ds maxFluid Dynamics Simulation software, November 2009

Ecole Speciale d’Architecture, Paris, France2 day workshop/seminar on Real Flow, Sep. 2008

Ecole Speciale d’Architecture, Paris, FrancePortfolio Presentation and Seminar Jan. 2008 and Sep. 2007

Southbank University, London, UKPortfolio presentation and seminar, October 2006

Wilkinson Eyre Architects, London, UK Feb 2006 - June 2006

RIBA PART II Architect / RIBA PART I ArchitectProjects: Hotel & Business Centre, Praia, Cape VerdeHotel Guarajuba, BrazilAssistant to Wilkinson Eyre’s Bridge Team: Cork Docklands bridge Bridge in South Korea (competition) Stratford-Upon-Avon canal bridge (competition) 7 pearls development in Dubai Footbridges in New York (competition) Maggie Centre in Oxford: Initial design studiesParadise Street Development Area, Liverpool (Bus Sta-tion, Car Park, Ticket Office)Responsibilities: Involved from Planning to construc-tion on site.Concept design to detail design development.Coordination with consultants / Drawing package and report preparation.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONSNOTCOT.ORG Liminoid Ecologies Exhibition Oct 2011

(http://www.notcot.org/post/43506/)Experimenta Design 2011 Bienal, Lisbon, Portugal - Sept - Nov 2011

(Project Liminoid Ecologies)Frodig Arkitektur, YARD gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark Sept - Oct 2011

(exhibition)SciArc Graduate Thesis Show / SciArc Graduate Thesis Publication, Los Angeles,USASciArc Spring Show, Los Angeles, CA, USA - Liminoid Ecologies April 2011Experimenta Design 09 Bienale, Lisbon, Portugal September 2009

(‘ECTO1 - a mediator between the urban inhabitant, the city and the environment’ as part of the bienale’s TANGENCIAIS program)

ACXT Prize January 2009(Finalist for the International Award for International Di-ploma)

Bartlett Summer Show June 2008, 2007, 2004, 2003 & 2002

(slade school of art, London, UK)

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Filipa Valente joined SYNTHESIS as an architect in Los Angeles in November 2011. Filipa is a native of Portugal and a graduate from the MArch and BSc in Architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London UK as well as more recently from the Masters in Design Research on Architecture and New Media Art (MediaSCAPES) through the Southern California Institute of Architecture. She is a licensed architect in the Netherlands. Through professional experience Filipa has had the opportunity to work for different architectural practices around the world holding positions at Zaha Hadid Architects, Amanda Levete Architects and Wilkinson Eyre Architects in London. She has also taught workshops on fluid dynamics study applications in design and portfolio preparation at the AA (London), ESA (Paris) and Oxford Brookes University (Oxford).

Filipa Valente Architect

PEOPLE _ 02

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EDUCATIONSouthern California Institute of ArchitectureMaster of architecture 2009-2011

Ming Chuan University, Taoyuan, Taiwan Becholor of ArchitectureAward Excellent Performance in Design Thesis 2001-2006

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEP-A-T-T-E-R-N-S Co Principle and Founder Marcelo Spina May. 2010- Jul. 2010

Intern Working as assistance designer of ‘Lucent Saddles’ in exhibition at the 2010 Venice Biennale. Involved in the early design research and the fabrication process by us-ing CNC and computational tools. Working as assistance designer of the Kaohsiung Mari-time Cultural & Popular Music Center International Com-petition in Kaoshiung Taiwan. Designed and developed master plan and visualization for competition proposal.

Daniel Tai Architects Associate Aug. 2007 - Oct. 2008DesignerJoin Daniel Tai Architects Associate as architectural de-signer. Responsible for Shanghai Yungtay Engineerine CO. Elevator Testing Tower. Shanghai, China as project designer. Also a project designer of Yuan Ying Buddhism Temple, Changhua, Taiwan. Collaborated with Lu Yu -tong’s calligraphic house which was in an exhibition of twenty contemporary architecture projects in the site of “20 Next-Gene Houses” in Ao-d, Taipei, Taiwan. Also the Interface Vendors of Material Library for setting up a standard material library in the office.

Stonehenge Architects International Office Aug.2006 - Jun. 2007

DesignerJoined Stonehenge Architects as design team member. Majorly responsible for the project, Pauian Archiland of-fice building in Design Development , Construction Docu-mentation and Interior Construction Documents. Also involved in numerous high-rise condo building in Taipei, Taiwan in Construction Documentation stage.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONSNAAB exhibtion at Sci-arc, Los Angeles, USA Mar. 2012 (“Fashion Museum Omotesando”)Published in Limited Edition publication “EVOLO SKY-SCRAPERS” (“Fashion Museum Omotesando”) Oct. 2011 Sci-arc Graduate thesis weekend exhibition Sep. 2011

(“Breeding Unfamiliarity”) Evolo Website online Magazine Jul. 2010

(“Fashion Museum Omotesando”)Florence Festival On-line Exhibition 2006 Dec.2006

(“Undergraduate Thesis”)Exhibition in Huashan1914. Creative Park, Taipei, Taiwan Jul. 2006

(Undergraduate Thesis exhibition)EAward Excellent Performance in Design Thesis, Jun. 2006

(Ming Chuan University, Taoyuan, Taiwan )Workshop of Florence Foundation Oct. 2004

(“Florence Foundation” Award the best design of school)

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Chia-ching Yang joined SYNTHESIS in December 2011. She has a Masters Degree from the Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Architecture from Ming Chuan University in Taiwan. Her previous professional experience includes P-A-T-T-E-R-N-S, Stonehenge Architects, Daniel Tai Architects, and D.Z. Architects. Working in those offices gives her the insight of materiality and construction experience. Her previous experience let her focus on studying architecture visualization of materiality in related to different scale of environmental context in Sci-arc.

Chia-ching Yang Architectural designer

PEOPLE _ 02

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EDUCATIONUniversity of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA Bachelor of Architecture Degree, Cum Laude August 2006 – May 2011

Frederick Fisher and Partners, Los Angeles, CA, USA Jun. 2007-Aug. 2009

Architectural InternKey design team member for Alfond-Lunder Family Pavilion, at Colby College, a 20,000 sf. Art exhibition and studio space for student artists. Contributed in design meetings, renderings, and physical models. Contributed design drawings for 50,000 sf. Leo Baeck Temple expansion and renovation in Los Angeles.

DESIGN AWARDSInternational Design Competition Finalist Sep. 2011

(AWR Farm Tower with RCDF Studio)“Little Tokyo Design Week” Los Angeles, USA July, 2011

(Senior Thesis Design Project) Raymond S. Kennedy Award for creative innovation 2011

(Senior Thesis Design Project) Thesis project published on Evolo.us Arch. Blog, June 15, 2011

“Emergent City”Tau Sigma Delta Honor Society for Architecture Gradu-ates 2011University-wide Global Scholar 2011

Italy Study Abroad ProjectSuckerPunchDaily.com July 13, 2010

“Emergent Porosity” project publishedUSC Italy Spring 2010 study abroad project published in TALE&A, an Italian architecture magazine 2004USC SCion Merit-Based Scholarship 2007 - 20112nd Place, USC campus-wide “Library of the Future” de-sign contest Oct., 2007Published in Contemporary Digital Architecture 2, by Dimi-tris Kottas (Forthcoming)

“Emergent City” Thesis Project and “Emergent Poros-ity”

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCESynthesis Design + Architecture Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA Nov. 2011-

Architectural DesignerDesigned and developed numerous large-scale retail/lifestyle centers including Central World Expansion “Soi Central” in Bangkok, Thailand and Ocean City Leisure club in Quanzhou, China. Also designed/drafted fabrica-tion methods for facade in Lampang, Thailand.

DLR Group WWCOT, Santa Monica, CA, USA Aug. 2011Independent ContractorKey designer for 30,000 sf. Los Angeles Valley College Multi-Purpose Center (competition, 2nd place). This de-sign/build collaboration involved Building Information Modeling with Revit and communication in all phases with engineers and contractors. Produced complete drawing set for Design submittal and coordination with contrac-tors.

John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects, Los Angeles, CA, USA Oct.-Nov. 2011

Architectural DesignerKey design team member for 75,000 sf. UCLA Biomedi-cal Library (competition 2nd place). Created renderings/ drawings for all design documentation and communica-tion. Designed and modeled 75,000 sf. Clean Tech In-novation Campus in Los Angeles, a multi-disciplinary of-fice/collaboration space for green technology along the planned “green corridor” in Los Angeles.

RCDF Studio, Los Angeles, CA, USA May 2011- Oct. 2011Architectural DesignerDesigned and developed 30,000m2 Hydroponic Vertical Farm Tower (Finalist, International AWR LOFT Competi-tion) in London, UK. Designed and developed a private 4,000 sf. duplex residence featuring a hydroponic wall and powered by a parabolic solar collector array. Created all renderings/ drawings for design documentation and communication.

02_ PEOPLE

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Joseph A. Sarafian joined SYNTHESIS with the opening of its Los Angeles branch in No-vember of 2011. Joseph has worked at such firms as Frederick Fisher and Partners Architects, and Koning Eizenberg Architecture in Los Angeles. Following his graduation from the University of Southern California, Joseph worked at RCDF Studio, DLR Group WWCOT, and John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects. Joseph has had projects published on Evolo, and Suckerpunchdaily, and in Little Tokyo Design Week, among others. His use of parametric techniques provides a consistent medium for the realization and implementation of his design ambition.

Joseph A. Sarafian Architecutral designer

PEOPLE _ 02

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02_ PEOPLE

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TEAM SYNTHESIS

CURRENT:Behnaz FarahiTehran, Iran

Kais Al-RawiToronto, Canada

Kurtis NishiyamaCalgary, Canada Timothy HarmonMichigan, USA

PAST:David O. WolthersDenmark, Copenhagen

Thomas T. JensenDenmark, Copenhagen Jurgen StrohmeyerVienna, Austria

PEOPLE _ 02

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03_ SELECTED PROJECTS

TOWER FACADE OF XIAMEN DEAMECITY - Xiamen, China

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SELECTED PORTFOLIO PROJECTS

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CENTRAL PLAZA LAMPANG Lampang, Thailand


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Location: Program:Client: Status:

Program Area:

Central Plaza Lampang is located in Northern Thailand, just outside of the famed city of Chiang Mai. The facade design of this 60,000sqm shopping center attempts to capitalize on the buildings freeway side location by promoting a sense of visual movement and moire through the installation of a dynamically evolving steel diagrid lattice. The dynamic arrangement of this lattice is carefully calibrated to transfrom from opaque to transparent to expose and reveal deliberate moments based on the perspective of the viewer.

Similarly, the interior design of the 3 story shopping center focuses on the arrangment of atriums and sculpting of soffits to create lateral visual connection between floors and encourage movement through the space. The idea of a dynamic field which stimulates movement is also applied to the arrangement of lighting fixtures in the exposed ceilings and the patterning of the terrazo floors.

The development of the project has been calibrated to fit tight budget and construction limitations in the rural region of Northern Thailand.

Synthesis Design + Architecture has completed the Con-cept Design and Schematic Design phases for this pro-ject, which is currently in Design Development.

The estimated project opening will be in January 2013.

SELECTED PROJECTS _ 03Lampang, ThailandFacade Design + Interior DesignCentral Pattana Public Company LTDCurrently in Design DevelopmentStart of planing 2011Completion 01. 20136,000sqm

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SUPERSTRUCTUREPRESSURE EQUALIZED PRECAST PANELS

L BEAMASSEMBLY COMPONENTSEXTRUDED ALUMINUM SILL PROFILES

FOLDED METAL SHEETS

DescriptionDateRev DescriptionDateRev

SYNTHESIS Design + Architecture. Do not scale, only figured dimensions are to beused. If in doubt ask. All dimensions are in millimetres unless otherwise noted andare to be checked on site.

SYNTHESIS Design + Architecture UNIT 2.6, ROCKWELL HOUSE 10-14 .LONDON EC2A 3NN TEL: 020 7193 7263 FAX: 020 7681 1107

Drawn Checked

Issue Date Scale

Drawing Rev

DescriptionDateRev

A

AHDW

Central Longan

NTSFacade Concept Diagram 01

Conceptual Design

24.08.2011

014 XXXXXX

FACADE AXOFACADE MOCK-UP NIGHT VIEW


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111 CENTRAL LONGAN FACADE + INTERIOR DESIGNCONCEPT DESIGN STAGE

02 AUGUST 2011

LEVEL1PAVINGDETAIL

PAVING DIAGRAM

DescriptionDateRev DescriptionDateRev

SYNTHESIS Design + Architecture. Do not scale, only figured dimensions are to beused. If in doubt ask. All dimensions are in millimetres unless otherwise noted andare to be checked on site.

SYNTHESIS Design + Architecture UNIT 2.6, ROCKWELL HOUSE 10-14 .LONDON EC2A 3NN TEL: 020 7193 7263 FAX: 020 7681 1107

Drawn Checked

Issue Date Scale

Drawing Rev

DescriptionDateRev

A

AHDW

Central Longan

1:500@A3Reflected Ceiling Plan

Conceptual Design

24.08.2011

005 XXXXXX

REFLECTED CEILING PLANINTERIOR VIEW

INTERIOR VIEW

SELECTED PROJECTS _ 03

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SOI CENTRAL bangkok, Thailand


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This project is an expansion of the existing CentralWorld Shopping Center in Bangkok, the third largest mall in the world. With 4,000 sqm of enclosed retail and 8,000 sqm of restaurants and bars facing an open-air protected courtyard, the project looks to capture the sophistication and atmospheric vibrancy of “al fresco” dining in European cafe culture and pair it with the energy and intimacy of the Soi’s of Bangkok to define a new contemporary Soi cul-ture of sophisticated outdoor dining and lively pedestrian streets for Central World.

A fluid open air trellis flows through the open air court-yard and provides the effect of dappled light which filters through it to protect from the sun while allowing open air experience and producing ambient lighting and atmos-pheric effect.

Given the unique position of the project facing the high traffic condition of Ploenchit Road and the BTS Skytrain and Skywalk, the facade and roof serve as a the graphic identity of the building while acting as a veil which reveals and conceals views. We are proposing a twisted horizontal louver facade system which will incorporate graphics, sig-nage, identity and environmental and visual performance into a beautiful and elegant skin.

The primary driver of our formal organization and design concept is the continuous flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic along Ploenchit Road. This unique urban condition is amplified by the presence of the elevated BTS Skywalk and Skytrain. Our design seeks to channel these flows into the project through multiple skybridge connections and swirling atrium conditions.

Location:Program:Client:Status:Program Area:

Bangkok, ThailandRetail and Lifestyle CenterCentral Pattana Public Company LTDCurrently in Design Development 12,000 sqm


33

FACADE MATERIAL DIAGRAM


EXTERIOR FACADE BAND PLANTERSEXTERIOR PERFORATED FACADEEXTERIOR SOLID FACADE

EXTERIOR FACADE - FRAME DETAIL

TERRACES - WOOD CUTOUTS

34

INTERIOR MATERIAL DIAGRAM


CORRIDOR - WOOD SOFFITRETRACTABLE CANOPYHANGING GARDEN

OPEN WOOD JOIST SOFFIT

CORRIDOR - WOOD FLOOR

BALLUSTRADE PLANTERS

GLASS SHOPFRONT

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SOUTH ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION BLOW-UP


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BRIDGE BLOW-UP SOUTH WEST BRIDGE VIEW


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OCEAN CITY VISITOR CENTER Quanzhou, China

38


The design of the Ocean City Visitor Center responds to its beautiful beachfront site by incorporating the fluid lan-guage of the ocean, integrating the built mass with the natural landscape, and providing privileged views of the pristine sand beach and the surrounding development of Ocean City. The fluid and dynamic lines created by these natural phenomenon will provide a visual connection be-tween the project, the landscaping, the beach, and the South China Sea.

Rather than consider the visitor center, the tower, and the sculpture plaza as three distinctly separate structure each of them is viewed an articulated moment within a continu-ous field of flow which visually and literally connects the surrounding buildings, the beach, and the sea. These ar-ticulations are merged into a constant morphing, peeling, and blending of the natural topography to form landscape, boardwalk, building, plaza, stair, bridge, portal, and tower. This continuous experience blurs the boundary between skin/structure, and roof/wall/floor, and interior/exterior, and ultimately bridges the gap between the road, the beach, and the sea to create a unified and visionary entry experi-ence to Ocean City.

Location:Program:Client:

Start of Planning: Status:Program Area:

Quanzhou, ChinaVisitor Center, Restaurant TowerQuanzhou Ocean City Tourism Development Company2011Currently in Concept Design5,000sqm

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CRICULATION DIAGRAM

PEDESTRIAN ACCESSVEHICULAR ACCESSPEDESTRIAN EXTERIOR CIRCULATIONPEDESTRIAN INTERIOR CIRCULATIONVERTICAL CIRCULATION


40

PROGRAM


LOBBYPLAZASCULPTURE PLAZAUNDERGROUND PARKINGTOWER ITALIAN RESTAURANT POOL BEACH SHOPS

PHASE IICHINESE RESTAURANT SPECIALTY RESTAURANTTEA BAR

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XIAMEN DREAM CITY Xiamen, China


42

The design concept for Xiamen Dream City integrates the project with its beachfront site by materializing as a series of buildings imbedded within an urban landscape deck that appears to emerge from the beach itself.

The contour lines of the natural topography of the site are conceived as a dynamic vector field which has been activated by the strategic placement of key program-matic elements. These elements act as invisible forces which disturb the field and re-organize the arrangement of the contours to form a continuous and rippling surface of undulating dunes, canyons, and valleys which define a network of public plazas, linear gardens, and winding pathways at surface level. Below the surface, the deck peels away to reveal the contents of the low-rise buildings embedded within the landscape. The dynamic and cas-cading effect of the openings articulate a series of protect-ed terraces, waterfront views, and sculptural north-facing rooflights for the retail, dining, and entertainment venues at lower levels.

Location:Program:Client:Start of Planning:Status:Program Area:

Xiamen, ChinaMixed-use luxury retail, entertainment, and HospitalityPrivate20112011 - Concept in Progress3,000,000sqm


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SITE CONTOURS

PROGRAMATIC FORCES

PROGRAMATIC FORCES

CIRCULATION + VIEW VECTOR

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NEW TAIPEI CITY MUSEUM OF ART New Taipei City, Taiwan

46

SELECTED PROJECTS _ 03Location:Program:

Client:Status:

New Taipei City, TaiwanMuseum of Contemporary ArtChildrens MuseumCommunity CenterNew Taipei City2011 - Competition

The New Taipei City Art Museum is conceived as the ar-chitectural expression of a dynamic and fluid lifestyle/art experience. It is not only a museum of contemporary art; it is an architectural and civic landmark that shapes the vi-sual and spatial experience of the visitors to the museum, the users of the park it inhabits, and the citizens of the city it represents. It is a dynamic building that is inherently con-nected to the identity of New Taipei City, and furthermore augments that identity through its iconic presence.

The design of the museum challenges the conventional notion of a museum as a centralized network of enclosed galleries each to be experienced in serial fashion, but in-stead proposes a gradient network of continuously con-nected and articulated spaces with no start and no end. The programs of both the Contemporary Art Museum and the Children’s Museum are arranged as closed loops of continuous programmatic experience. Each of the loops has been deformed into a three dimensional helicoidal knot which peels away from the ground and cantilevers out to sculpt dramatic interior gallery spaces and define partially enclosed outdoor exhibition spaces. The two knots nest within one another, creating programmatic tangencies articulated by peeling transitions and surfaces where they overlap, thus opening the closed condition of the two loops into a single continuous spatial network.

47

- TUBULAR SPACE FRAME STRUCTURE- GLAZED CERAMIC LOUVRE SYSTEM- SKY BRIDGE TO YINGGE STATION

- PERMANENT GALLERIES- TEMPORARY GALLERIES- SPECIAL EXHBITION SPACES

- OUTDOOR EXHBITION SPACES- LOBBY- LIBRARIES- LECTURE HALL- SHOPS

- ADMINISTRATION- STORAGE- PARKING- CONCRETE BEAM- CONCRETE PILE FOUNDATION

+ = =LOOPING PROGRAM GRADIENT

GEOMETRIC OPERATION (HELICOID + KLEIN BOTTLE)

CIRCULATION + PROGRAM GRADIENT DIAGRAM

PROGRAM GRADIENT AP-PLIED TO FINAL GEOMETRY

ORGANIZATIONALCONCEPT:


48

OUTDOOR EXHIBITION SPACES

GALLARY


49

NEW KEELUNG HARBOR SERVICE BUILDING Keelung, Taiwan


50

Location:Program:Client:Status:Program Area:Engineering:

Keelung, TaiwanHarbor service buildingPort of Keelung, Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd.2012 - Competition 140,000 sqmBuro Happold

Inspired by the geometric patterns of Taiwanese Hen Cages and the structural shells of luxury racing yachts, the building takes shape in a dynamic gradient form that transitions from exo-skin to exo-skeleton in response to programmatic content as well as performative requirements. Thus, what appears to be formal expression, is actually “informed form” which responds to the integration of weather, urban context, program, circulation, and sustainability through integrated design responses that inform the building orientation, spatial layout, façade design, and choice of material and structural system.

The building progam is divided into three primary experience groups and cyclical sequences. These three groups share programmatic overlaps and transitions which allow exchange between groups.

The building strives to generate an efficient operational strategy using passive techniques that manipulate the natural environment for the benefit of the internal environment. The building is orientated into the prevailing wind direction which allows the air flow to be tuned around the flanks of the tower between the main structure and the façade.

The majority of structural components will be prefabricated and shipped to site for erection which will offer a better control on quality of workmanship and finish as well as a faster construction schedule. Materials and components will be sourced locally where viable to minimize shipping distances and therefore the carbon footprint of the construction. The external components will be designed to resist the marine environment of the harbor and serve the lifetime of the building with minimal maintenance required.


51


STRUCTURAL SYSTEMSThe concept for this building explores the use of modern materials and composites. Due to the local expertise in carbon fiber, certain aspects of the building will implement the use of this material due to its inherent strength to weight ratio. Where viable, the carbon fiber will be used within the structural design to increase structural efficiency.

52

Glazing:- Low-E glass- Self-cleaning- Controllable louvers and shades

- upported off each floor plate

Opaque surfaces (Carbon Fiber):- Excellent strength to weight ratio- Stressed skin span

- Exellent in tension

Systems:- Solar shading- Rain screen- Acoustical control- Integrated natural ventilation requirements- Rain collection

- Cleaning and maintenance


FACADE SYSTEMS AND TOWER STRUCTURE

Deep Gridshellstructural performanceshading performance

Shallow Gridshelldiagrid stress linesstructural performance

Air Intakesdiagrid stress linesventilation performanceshading performance

Perforated Skindiagrid stress linesdaylighting performance

Stressed Skindouble curvaturestructural performance

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CIRCULATION OF USERS PROGRAMMATIC TRANSITION


54

Rather than consider the programmatic arrangement as the organization of platonic programmatic elements, we have considered the program as a self-organizing system of agents of programmatic pixels which aggregate based upon weighted connections to specified anchor programs. Starting with the typical bubble diagram to define relationships, the placement of specific anchor programs re-distributes the transitional programs into gradient fields of varying densities and distributions of pixels rather than hermetic zones with defined boundaries and thresholds.

LOOP- DESIGN PROCESSPROGRAM SELF-ORGANIZES ALONG CIRCULATION PATHS

INITIAL BUBBLE DIAGRAM RESPONSIVE DIAGRAM


55


56

DAEGU GOSAN PUBLIC LIBRARY Daegu, Korea

Our proposal for the Daegu Gosan Public Library challenges the conventional understanding of the spatial and social experience of a public library as a series of discrete reading rooms with defined thresholds and cluttered stacks. We propose an intelligent, open, and integrated library experience which supersedes the media storage methods of the past and changes the library space into a hybrid environment through ubiquitous information resources, integrated furnishings and active communal social spaces. The architecture is designed to enable and embody the spirit of open-source exchange and collective knowledge through free-form geometries, open plans and integrated amenities. We have minimized the thresholds between spaces, floors, and functions to consider the library as an active, continuous, and fluid field of social, cultural, and intellectual discourse. Contrary to the convention of defining the building program as a composition of platonic spaces with controlled adjacencies, we have approached it as a varied and constant programmatic gradient which allows programs and uses to bleed into one another, thus facilitating constant physical, visual, and social exchange.

Conceptually and literally, the ground field of the site swells, peels, and multiplies vertically as a continuation of the adjacent park and urban fabric. This constant sectional change is articulated as a smooth vertical gradient which merges floors, ramps, stairs, terraces and furnishings into an inhabitable and ergonomic landscape culminating in an open-air roof-scape lounge and terrace overlooking the city of Daegu. The boundaries between floors are blurred, as the continuously walk-able surface which unifies the many spaces of the library facilitates circulatory, physical and visual connections both internally within the network of spaces and externally with the surrounding context. Circulation through the library is coupled with the various programs and generates a fluid transition between different environments allowing users to freely browse the books on display while simultaneously being able to sit and use their laptops, tablets, and smart phones on the ubiquitously distributed Wi-Fi network, or locally transmitted blue-tooth hot spots.

SELECTED PROJECTS _ 03Location:Program:Client:

Status:Program Area:

Daegu, KoreaPublic LibraryDaegu Metropolitan City Suseong-gu Office2012 - Competition 3,100 s.q.m.

57

SECTION BLOW-UP


58

RAMP CONDITION STAIR CONDITION

SEAT/BOOKSHELF CONDITION DESK CONDITION

INTEGRATED CONDITION

CIRCULATION/PROGRAM INTEGRATION DIAGRAM

RAMP CONDITION STAIR CONDITION

SEAT/BOOKSHELF CONDITION DESK CONDITION

INTEGRATED CONDITION

CIRCULATION/PROGRAM INTEGRATION DIAGRAM

RAMP CONDITION


59

CHENGDU LOTUS POND MARKET DEVELOPMENT Chengdu, China


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Chengdu, ChinaCommerical/ office buildingJinniu district market development and service center2012 - Competition 290,000 s.q.m.

With two sites, two retail podiums and three towers, our primary design intent was to unify the various programs, buildings, and parcels into a single and cohesive identity.Inspired by the flowing ribbons and choreographed movements of traditional Chinese Ribbon dances, our proposal for the Chengdu Lotus Pond Development seeks to recreated the elegance of the flowing ribbons and the notion of the projects form not as a collage of platonic objects, but rather as a choreographed composition of dancing surfaces which come together, peel apart, and are in constant yet synchonized movement. Architecture emerges in the space between (both inside and outside) the choreographed surfaces. The project is articulated as a collection of dynamic bands which simultaneously wrap the two podiums, connect the two sites (in the form of 3 connective sky bridges), define a unifying external courtyard and merge the horizontal (2 retail podiums) with the vertical (3 office towers). The wrapping moves of the retail podiums articulate two opposing external courtyards which collectively form a single courtyard experience that starts at ground level at the pedestrian street and dips down to a lower ground level that spatially unifies the two sites visually at upper floors and literally at the ground and lower ground levels. In order to reduce the carbon footprint of the project, cut and fill construction techniques are proposed to redistribute all excavated earth on site to avoid relocation.

The dynamic gradient pattern of the facades is inspired by the pulses and gradient intensities of urban traffic conditions. As an intense urban develoment, we want to capture the intensity of the city and make it graphically legible in the facade of the building. We utilize the gradient conditions to articulate the differences between horizontal and vertical, opaque and transparent, curved and straight. The continuously varying tesselation pattern is designed to attract visual interest that follows the geometry and embraces they dynamic nature of the projects urban condition. The facade is proposed as a variable gradient of three primary facade panel finishes, in two curtain wall systems. The atrium condition of the towers is proposed as a double glazed unitized curtain wall system with low-e glazing. The rest of the facade is an aluminum panel system with clear glazed and reflective glazed inserts where required. The varying pattern of the facade has been

designed through a parametric 3D model which allows for the rationalization and optimization of the facade into the maximum number of repeated panels in order control cost.

Location:Program:Client:

Status:Program Area:


61

LOW-E DOUBLEGLAZED UNITIZED

CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM

REFLECTIVE DOUBLE GLAZED UNITIZED

CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM

CAST IN PLACE WHITE CONCRETE STRUCTURE BASE

CONCRETE PAVINGWITH INTEGRATED

STAIRS

CONCRETE PAVING W/ INTEGRATED

PLANTERS

ANODIZED ALUMINUM PANEL

CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM

GLAZED SKY LIGHT

128 CHENDGU COMPETITION MATERIAL PALETTE AND FACADE SYSTEMS

MATERIAL AND FACADE SYSTEM


62

AERIAL VIEW

COURTYARD


63

SHANGHAI HUTAI ROAD DEVELOPMENT Shanghai, China

03_ SELECTED PROJECTS03_ SELECTED PROJECTS

64

Situated along Huatai Road in the third ring of the urban metropolis of Shanghai, the Shanghai Wuzhou International plaza embodies the energy and vibrancy of the cities distinct urban environment. Inspired by traditional Chinese concepts of Yin and Yang, the development is organized as two nested volumes which have been broken apart to reveal a flowing canyon condition which connects the project to the urban fabric of the city. The northern block features an enclosed 4 story luxury retail shopping podium anchored by the corporate headquarters of developer Hong Kong Wuzhou International Group and a 5 star hotel tower. The southern block is composed of a 4 level retail, lifestyle and entertainment complex anchored by two office towers. The fluid canyon condition connects the two entry plazas of the site with a “river” stand alone detached retail units with a network of connective skybridges. Integrated landscaping, furnishings, and lighting within the canyon hard-scape are arranged in pulse like formations which stimulate and encourage visual and pedestrian activity.

The dynamic patterning and fluid pattern of the cladding embody the pulses of activity and urban energy of the city to merge façade with roof and podium with tower. The façade is to be clad with RHEINZINK standing-seam titanium zinc panels, while the roof system utilizes RHEINZINK double standing-seam titanium zinc panels. The roof area is equipped with interior gutters at its lowest points and is covered with perforated standing-seam profiles to protect it from soiling. The building material needs no maintenance because of the material’s patina, which develops during the course of natural weathering and protects it from corrosion. The patina is a layer of zinc carbonate, which regenerates itself.

Location:Program:Client:Status:

Program Area:Contract Value:Design Team:

Project Credits:

SELECTED PROJECTS _ 03Shanghai, ChinaMixed-use office, hotel, retail, entertainment & lifestyle developmentHong Kong Wuzhou International Group Co., Ltd. Invited Competition (First Place)180,000sqm$250,000,000 USDSynthesis Design + Architecture (Design Architect)Shenzhen General Architectural Design Institute (Executive Architect, Structural Engineer, MEP)OneView CG (Vizualisation)Alvin Huang (Design Principal), Chia-ching Yang, Joseph Sarafian, David O. Wolthers

65

ANCHOR STORE

SUB-ANCHOR STORE

SUPER MARKET

STORES

FREESTANDING RETAIL

HEADQUARTERS

OFFICE TOWERS

HOTEL

L01 - International Luxury (LV, Chanel, Prada, etc)

L00 - Super market, banks, sundries

L02 - Bridgeline Brands

L03 - Lifestyle

L04 - Signature F&B (high end restaurants)

L01 - High street Brands

L02 - Local brands

L03 - Local brands

L04 - F&B, Cinema

Mall A (North)

Mall B (South)

Freestanding Retail

L01 - boutique retailL02 - RestaurantsL03 - Restaurants

ANCHOR STORE

SUB-ANCHOR STORE

SUPER MARKET

STORES

FREESTANDING RETAIL

HEADQUARTERS

OFFICE TOWERS

HOTEL

L01 - International Luxury (LV, Chanel, Prada, etc)

L00 - Super market, banks, sundries

L02 - Bridgeline Brands

L03 - Lifestyle

L04 - Signature F&B (high end restaurants)

L01 - High street Brands

L02 - Local brands

L03 - Local brands

L04 - F&B, Cinema

Mall A (North)

Mall B (South)

Freestanding Retail

L01 - boutique retailL02 - RestaurantsL03 - Restaurants


66

AERIAL VIEW

ENTRANCE PLAZA


67

PUSHKINSKY CINEMA Moscow, Russia


68

Location: Program:Client:Status:

Moscow, RussiaFacade RenovationPrivate2011 - Competition pending

This proposal to redesign the facade of the Pushkinsky Cinema places the face of the landmark venue behind a sculptural veil which acts as a dramatic backdrop to Push-kin Square and an iconic face to the cinema. Inspired by the screened views, geometric intricacy and flowing sur-faces of a “Russian Veil”, the design contrasts the impos-ing presence of the Brutalist architectural icon by simul-taneously enclosing and revealing its contents behind a delicate yet robust open air lattice materialized as thermo-formed sheets of DuPont Corian.

The composite effect of the varied orientations of the hex-agonal screen components creates a rich and dramatic moiré effect which dissolves from opaque to transparent and back again as one moves around, through and within the building. This dynamic effect encourages visual inter-action and connectivity between the cinema and Pushkin Square by simultaneously revealing and concealing the contents of the cinema through a multiplicity of varying and directed views into and out of the lobby.


69

HANGING SLOT DETAIL MODULAR ASSEMBLY CONCEPT THERMOFORMING CONCEPT


70

THERMOFORMING CONCEPT VIEW VECTOR DIAGRAM ELEVATION


71

04_ INSTALLATION AND OBJECTS

CHELSEA WORKSPACE - London, England

72


SELECTED PROJECTS

73


[C]SPACE PAVILION* London, England

74

[C]Space is the winning entry in the AADRL10 Pavilion competition. It was selected by the jury for the proposals radical use of material, it’s expression of form as a con-tinuous transformation of furniture to floor, walls and roof structure; and it’s constructability within a tight schedule and budget. The design was proposed to be entirely con-structed from Fibre-C, a thin fibre reinforced cement panel that is normally used as a cladding solution.

The striking presence of the pavilion invites inspection from a distance and upon closer interaction reveals its ambiguity through the merging of sinuous curves, struc-tural performance, and programmatic functions into a single continuous form. As you move around, the surface varies from opaque to transparent, producing a stunning threedimensional moiré. The surface encloses while also providing a route through for passing pedestrians blurring the distinction between inside and outside.

The jointing system in the pavilion exploits a simple inter-locking cross joint which is tightened by a set of locking neoprene gaskets. Consultation with the Fibre-C technical department, structural engineers AKT, and extensive ma-terial testing were required to develop the design. In par-allel to the digital modelling, numerous rapid prototypes, scale models and full scale physical mock-ups were built to develop the design of individual elements and test the tolerance and fit of entire assemblies.

Since its erection in 2009 the pavilion has been widely published and exhbited as a seminal project within ex-perimental architectural discourse, particularly in regards to digital fabrication and parametric modeling techniques.

*designed in collaboration with Alan Dempsey of Nex Architects

SELECTED PROJECTS _ 03Location: Program: Client: Status: Awards:

London, EnglandTemporary PavilionArchitectural AssociationCommissioned in 2008Completed in 2009DRL10 Pavilion CompetitionWinner, 2008D&AD Award for EnvironmentalDesign Winner, 2009

75


76

To facilitate the assembly of the pavilion, three dimensional working drawings were produced. These are not presentation drawings, but rather, a set of instructions with which to approach each successive stage assembly.


77

The C_space Pavalion went through sixteen revision with in 5 weeks, occurring in correspondence to ongoing engineering analyses of the compressive and tensile stresses on the ele-ments of the pavilion, carried out in collaboration with Adams Kara Taylor. These diagrams indicate the structural information coded into the elements, and served to make decisions with which to feed back to each successive set of design revisions.


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79

CHELSEA WORKSPACE London, England


80

INSTALLATION AND OBJECTS _ 04

This home office for a private personal investment advisor responds to the clients brief of a discrete yet sculptural design solution for a home office by conceptually draping a dynamic surface over an orthogonal arrangement of the required home office elements including a work desk, storage units, printer, paper shredder etc. Set within a tiny 7sqm room in the client’s Chelsea flat, the design intent was to minimize the imposing presence of the boxy storage requirements the client required by disguising them within a sinuous form that emerges from the walls of the room. As the owner desperately wanted to reduce the visual clutter of “stuff” within his work space, storage for books, filing cabinets, printer, shredder, electrical cabling, phone, internet, and lighting controls are all concealed within the volume of the construction. The space is organized around the lone window in the room, in order to provide the client with a pleasant view and ample natural daylighting. The glow of natural light from the window further serves to articulate the geometry of the installation through the play of light and shadow.

Constructed with a strict budget of 7000GBP, the fluid geometric form is articulated as a series of alternating CNC milled birch plywood ribs which are pre-fabricated into modular units and spray finished with a clear lacquer. These units are hung on a series of z-clips bolted to the interior wall, and held in place by self-weight. Horizontal

spacers, which stabilize the open ends of the plywood ribs, are arranged in a pixelized graphic pattern representing a world map, where the owner (a seasoned world traveller) can map out his travels.

The project is the result of an intense collaboration between designer and fabricator. This dialogue was made possible through the exchange of 3D files not only as design deliverables, but as production and fabrication documents. The result merges the digital with the handcrafted to produce a stunning result.

Location:Program:Client:Status:Program Area:Credits:

London, EnglandBespoke desk and storage system for a home officePrivateCompleted in 2011 7sqmAlvin Huang (Principal), David O. Wolthers, Jurgen Strohmeyer, Thomas T. Jensen

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Rev Date Description

Drawing

ScaleIssue Date

CheckedDrawn

SYNTHESIS Design + Architecture. Do not scale, only figured dimensions are to be used. If in doubt ask. All dimensions are in millimetres unless otherwise noted and are to be checked on site.

©

Rev Date DescriptionRev Date Description

SYNTHESIS Design + Architecture 2420 Wilshire Blvd Suite 9E, Los Angeles, California 90057Tel +1 213 438 9967 [email protected]

111 A 21D 311

10.10.2011

CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC NTS

CHELSEA WORKSPACE

AH/DW/JS AH

EXISTING PARTITION WALL

HORIZONTAL Z CHANNELS

INNER VERTICAL SPACERS

CNC MILLED BIRCH PLYWOOD PROFILES

OUTER HORIZONTAL SPACER W/ GRAPHIC PATTERN

SWING DOOR STORAGE DRAWERS

EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC


82


Drawing

ScaleIssue Date

CheckedDrawn


©



111 A 21D 318

10.10.2011


CONCEPT DIAGRAMS NTS

CHELSEA WORKSPACE

AH/DW/JS AH

0.1 FORMAL EVOLUTION DIAGRAM

0.2 GRAPHIC MAPPING DIAGRAM

world map graphic point sampling of map points converted to spacer spacers projected to geometry

basic program arrangement program elements blended to one another and the existing wall blended curves are lofted to create seamless surface surface is sectioned to create 3d form from 2d profiles


Drawing

ScaleIssue Date

CheckedDrawn


©



111 A 21D 318

10.10.2011


CONCEPT DIAGRAMS NTS

CHELSEA WORKSPACE

AH/DW/JS AH

0.1 FORMAL EVOLUTION DIAGRAM

0.2 GRAPHIC MAPPING DIAGRAM

world map graphic point sampling of map points converted to spacer spacers projected to geometry

basic program arrangement program elements blended to one another and the existing wall blended curves are lofted to create seamless surface surface is sectioned to create 3d form from 2d profiles

CONCEPT DIAGRAMS


83

MINIMAL RELAXATION Shanghai, China


84


The design of this temporary installation reinterprets the traditional Chinese garden to activate the roof terrace of the MoCA Shanghai as an undulating and responsive multi-layered landscape. The upper (canopy) layer simultaneously produces gradient spatial conditions and framed viewing portals which curate views of the surrounding hi-rise towers, while the lower (landscape) layer articulates a series of back-lit sculptural ground forms which subdivide the terrace and provide atmospheric effect through responsive color-changing LED lighting effects. Inspired by the work of Frei Otto, the entire project extends his body of design research into physical and digital form-finding processes for minimal surface structures through dynamic mesh relaxation techniques.

The canopy examines the potential of gravity forces and internal tensions to derive geometry by relaxing a tensioned net, in which every web member reveals its load path to express its funicular form in multiple dimensions. It is further articulated by a series of carefully calibrated apertures, each oriented to frame a specific view out of the roof terrace to frame a selected tower in the surrounding skyline. Each aperture responds to a corresponding landscape feature which swells out of the ground plane of the roof terrace.

The flowing membrane of the landscape, in close relation with the hanging net, gives a new character to the terrace. The landscape consists of a fractal forms divided into the grid-like geometry from the net above. This forces the eye to fill in the voids creating a fluid geometry. The four sides and the base are intentionally flat and matte to show the clear division but the sixth face is where the form finding properties of the shrink wrap are revealed. The different edge conditions of the four sides of each box create a unique geometry on its sixth and most visible face, when seen as its whole, creates a fluid and undulating surface.

The combination of the spatial acrobatics of the canopy in confluence with the emergent landscape swelling out of the ground plane creates a series of gradient spatial conditions which articulates the continuous roof terrace space into series of relaxation zones, each focused on a curated view of the surrounding skyline. The final installation was realized through a series of tensioned net structures to articulate an undulating roof canopy and a series of shrink-wrapped plastic skins which articulate a generative landscape. The undulating landscape is embedded with color-changing LED’s connected to motion sensors, with color changing responses to express intensities of occupation. The highly successful installation activated the previously under-utilized roof terrace into a popular summer evening destination, while also serving as highly visible civic landmark viewable from surrounding high-rise towers.

The temporary installation is a commissioned work for the exhibition “MoCA Mock-ups: The Architecture of Spatial Art”. The entire project was designed, fabricated, and installed by a team of graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Southern California’s American Academy of China summer studio.

Location:Program:Client:Status:Program Area:Credits:

Shanghai, ChinaTemporary Canopy and Landscape Installation for rooftop terraceMoCA ShanghaiCompleted in 2012 160 sqmNeil Leach (USC/AAC Program Director), Wendy Fok (Univ. of Houston/We Designs), Alvin Huang (USC/Synthesis Design + Architecture)Students - Ethan Barley, Chi Bhatia, Gabby Gertel, Ty Harrison (Canopy Team Leader), Luya He, Justin Kang (Landscape Team Leader), Michelle Kraintz, Xiaoyun Li, Xinyue (Amber) Ma, Arjun Ma-hesh, Xiaojin Mi, Nicole Stitzel, Yimeng Wang, Sahar Youdai, Chaoxun Zhang

85


86


87


POLYFOLD PARTITION Calgary, Canada

88

INSTALLATION AND OBJECTS _ 04Location:Program:Client:Status:

Calgary, CanadaFree-standing wall partitionACADIA ConferenceCompetition 2011

The design of this dynamic wall partition was focused on the challenge of creating a three dimensional freestanding wall partition made entirely from flat sheet material. Com-posed entirely of a network of stacked 3D polygons, the density of the partition articulation responds to the cur-vature of the surface, whereas the orientation and aper-ture size are driven by specific view vectors from within the gallery space. Key views are highlighted, while other views are blocked. The entire assembly is made from 3mm thick polished aluminium sheets, laser cut and etched for folding and assembly notation, and hand-folded and as-sembled.

89

PERFORMANCE BY GEOMETRIC ADAPTABILITY

BEHAVIOR


90

CURVATURE / REGULAR HEX TESSELATION

BASE CURVES

CURVATURE ANALYSIS

CURVATURE / HEX TESSELATION BY BEZIER

CURVATURE / HEX TESSELATION BY SINE

CURVATURE / HEX TESSELATION BY SINE SUMMATION

CNC CUT ALUMINIUM SHEET

FOLD + ATTACH

LEAVE ONE END OPEN

ATTACH TO NEIGHBOURFOLD AND FIX

QUADRILATERAL CONNECTIONS FOR STABILITY

01

02

03

04

05

06

SYSTEM PROPERTIESTESSELATION BY CURVATURE ANALYSIS

ASSEMBLY - FOLDINGSEQUENCE:


91

SINK Xiamen, China


92

Location:Program:Client:Status:

Xiamen, ChinaSinkPrivate2011, ongoing

The SINK project is perceived as a customizable, embryo-logical form highly adept to mass production. The SINK seeks to alter the performance and user experience of public restroom hand-washing by being operated only by sensors - meaning users will never actually come in contact with the sink – minimizing the problem of bacteria transferring from person to person. Water faucet and soap dispenser is hidden inside the sink itself. In addition the SINK addresses the problem of cleaning – by consisting of smooth surfaces, rounded corners and by being mounted on the wall with all drainage and egress being conceiled – the SINK is easy to clean.

Conceptually, the form is derived from the relationships between a set of points that create the overall diagram-matical shape. Via a parametric setup angles, lengths, widths, heights can be altered to change the appearance of the SINK but never the function.


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Drawing

ScaleIssue Date

CheckedDrawn

SYNTHESIS Design + Architecture. Do not scale, only �gured dimensions are to be used. If in doubt ask. All dimensions are in millimetres unless otherwise

noted and are to be checked on site.

©



NN

01.03.2012

CONCEPT DESIGN

DESIGN PARAMETERS 1:10

RIPPLE SINK

AH/DW AH

1127

611

202

500

687

287

900

R521

R378

R318

R348

R422

R337

R18

R10

R5

R30

R9 R11R17

349

149199

50

ELEVATION - FRONT1:10

ELEVATION - SIDE1:10

+900

ELEVATION -FRONT ELEVATION -SIDE


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META LAMP Los Altos, California

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Location:Program:Client:Credits:

INSTALLATION AND OBJECTS _ 04Los Altos, CaliforniaSuspended Light FeatureLos Altos College School of SciencesAlvin Huang (Principal), David O. Wolthers,Joseph Sarafian

The Meta Lamp is a bespoke suspended light feature for the Los Altos College School of Sciences. It’s form embodies the expressive, generative and organic aesthetics of micro-organisms studied in the Life Sciences (D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson, radiolarians, and diatoms), while its generative design process employs the computational, material, and fabrication technologies developed in the Engineering Sciences (metaballs, parametric modelling, translucent resin, and SLS rapid prototyping). The result is a stunning light fixture that encourages dynamic visual interaction and has an iconic presence within the stairwell of Los Altos College.

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LIGHT SOUECES

EXOSKELETON LIGHT INTENSITY// CURVETURE ANALYSIS

ENDOSKELETON


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ROCK ‘N’ ROLL SEAT New York, USA

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Location:Program:Client:Credits:

INSTALLATION AND OBJECTS _ 04New York, USAOutdoor furncture designThe Battery ConservancyAlvin Huang (Principal), David O. Wolthers,Joseph Sarafian

The Rock N Roll Chair is an ergonomic, iconic, and (most importantly) fun chair for New York’s Battery Park!! The uniquely elegant design sparks visual interest, encourages interaction, and is highly mobile while utlilizing an economic, responsible and sustainable manufacturing process.

The stackable pod shaped design can be “rolled” into two different seated “rocking” positions – an upright chair position that is perfect for group discussions and a low slung lawn chair position that is perfect for individual lounging in the park.

Both positions feature an ergonomic form that hugs the user and provide maximum comfort for extended sitting in either a static or rocking condition.

The perforated pattern of the skin reduces the weight of the chair while placing more material where the structure requires more rigidity, this simultaneously produces a stunning moiré effect which encourages visual interaction. With a monotone outer skin, the colored inner skin appears and disappears as one moves around the chair.

The proposed color schemes reference New York’s professional sports legacies, providing a splash of color, fanaticism and local identity.

Inspired by the 111 Navy Chair by Emeco, the proposed fabrication process utilizes recycled glass bottle flakes combined with glass fiber and non-toxic color pigment. A composite of 65% rPET plastic and 35% glass fiber pellets, is melted down and injected into a rotational mold. Once the mold is loaded, the mold is rotated/revolved, tempered and cooled. The entire process takes approximately three minutes and takes 111 recycled bottles out of landfill.

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THE HOME TEAMS:

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extrusions

pour recycled coposit liquid

material

MOULD ASSEMBLY

RIGID FORM

BI-AXIAL ROTO MOULD

perforations

extrusions


material

MOULD ASSEMBLY

RIGID FORM

BI-AXIAL ROTO MOULD

perforations

extrusions


material

MOULD ASSEMBLY

RIGID FORM

BI-AXIAL ROTO MOULD

perforations

POSITION 1O degrees rotation

rocking

POSITION 2rocking

POSITION 2270 degrees rotation

STACKING ROLLPOSITION 136O degrees rotation

(ROLL)

MOULD ASSEMBLY BI-AXIAL ROTO MOULD RIGID FORM


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05_ COMPANY DETAILS 聯絡方式

CONTACT

LOS ANGELES

SDA | Synthesis Design + Architecture2404 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 9ELos Angeles, CA 90057, [email protected]

T: +1 213 438 9967

LONDON

SDA | Synthesis Design + ArchitectureUnit 2.6 Rockwell House, 10-14 Hewett StreetLondon EC2A 3NNUnited [email protected]: +44 207 193 7263F: +44 207 681 1107

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