• PORTFOLIO
  • Re-imagining Venice
  • AI:PRINCETON
  • TI KAY
  • GALLERY
  • Resume
  • More
    • PORTFOLIO
    • Re-imagining Venice
    • AI:PRINCETON
    • TI KAY
    • GALLERY
    • Resume
  • PORTFOLIO
  • Re-imagining Venice
  • AI:PRINCETON
  • TI KAY
  • GALLERY
  • Resume

[Section guide]

Concept Development and Design Process

 This section outlines the initial concept development and the design process, showcasing the ideas, inspirations, and steps taken to shape the project’s vision. 

OVERVIEW

The second part of the architecture project will include a summary of the design concept, along with basic drawings, simple sketches, and an outline of the main spaces and facade.

construction/structural

The construction/structural part will include a summary of the structural approach, along with basic diagrams, sketches of key elements, and an outline of the main structural components and materials. 

     This third-year studio project, set in Princeton, New Jersey, envisions a dynamic and adaptable student center. The concept challenges the notion that a building's design must be constrained by the time of its construction. For example, the needs of a student body from 1970 may no longer represent those of today's students. Why, then, must the infrastructure remain static?


This project explores the idea of a building that evolves—spatially interacting with its site and adapting internally to meet changing demands. The design prioritizes flexibility, focusing on the potential for spaces to transform dynamically rather than adhering to a fixed layout. While not a fully finalized project in terms of detailed floor plans, it highlights an advanced concept of what can be achieved with adaptive architecture.

Key features include:


  • External spaces controlled by mechanical flying buttresses that cling to the facade and external walls, dynamically adjusting them as directed by an AI system.
  • AI systems that monitor building use, identifying patterns such as increased activity in specific areas at 3 PM, and adapt accordingly by redistributing HVAC loads, plumbing resources, and other systems to meet demand efficiently.
  • Interior spaces designed to shift and reconfigure, accommodating changes in function and user needs over time without requiring physical reconstruction.

SITE PLAN

[Concept Development and Design Process]

GENESIS

A sphere with nodes that can expand, contract, and connect to reshape space. It’s all about flexibility, where the nodes represent activities happening in the space, making it adaptable and transformative. 

getting physical

This exercise explores how external physical space transforms over time, illustrated through three collages from 2025 A.D., 2050 A.D., and 2100 A.D. It visualizes the evolution of space as programs and activities change, while the overall structure remains consistent. The collages emphasize how the white modules shift and adapt with each era, reflecting the dynamic relationship between form and function across time.

2025 a.d.

2025 a.d.

2025 a.d.

2050 a.d.

2025 a.d.

2025 a.d.

2100 A.d.

2025 a.d.

2100 A.d.

Structural Nervous System

These two images represent how a nervous system-like structure could be visualized in elevation. There’s a central point from which everything radiates outward, resembling an electric or biological nervous system. Each point connects back to the central hub and is responsible for a specific aspect of the building—such as HVAC, plumbing, learning, and more—showcasing how all systems interconnect and function cohesively.

2025 A.D.

2100 A.D.

Final form

This section presents three façade variations, all conceptualized for the same years as before—2025 A.D., 2050 A.D., and 2100 A.D. Each façade explores how the building’s external appearance adapts over time while reflecting the evolving programs and spatial transformations within. These views showcase the dynamic relationship between time, form, and function in the conceptual design.

[OVERVIEW]

AXONOMETRIC

AERIAL AXONOMETRIC

ELEVATION

WEST FACE ELEVATION

ELEVATION

NORTH FACE ELCVATION

FLOOR PLAN

FLOOR ONE

(preliminary exploration)

FLOOR PLAN

FLOOR TWO

(preliminary exploration)

[construction/structural]

what am i looking at?

This final section focuses on the construction concept, where the zigzag patterns on the floor represent an expandable mechanism. As the floors press downward, the zigzags straighten, creating additional structural stability and adaptability. The entire system is connected to a flying mechanical buttress, which anchors to the façade. The façade itself is supported by pin-hinge beams that allow for movement, enabling both the flooring and façade to shift dynamically in response to spatial and structural needs. This system highlights the integration of motion and flexibility in the building’s design.