final thesis book_jiaqi zhou

J IAQI ZHOU 034 8524 8 I AC ADEMY OF ART UNIVERS I T Y GR ADUATE SCHOOL INTER IOR ARCHITEC TURE & DES IGN

F INAL THES IS PRESENTAT ION I DECEMBER 9, 2014

TAOBAO HEADQUARTERS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

144 36

THESIS SUMMARY ANALYSIS PRECEDENT STUDIES

ABSTRACT

INSPIRATION

DESIGN CONCEPT

SITE INTRODUCTION

CLIMATE

TRANSPORTATION

BUILDING LOCATION

NEIGHBOURHOODS

BUILDING EXISTING CONDITIONS

CLIENT

USER PROFILE

D' ESPRESSO

SKYPE HQ

SINGTEL CALL CENTER

44 80 136

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT FOCUS SPACES ABOUT

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

PROGRAMMING

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

FLOOR PLAN

PUBLIC AREA - 1ST FLOOR

CAFÉ - 2ND FLOOR

OFFICE FLOOR - 3RD FLOOR

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

RESUME

BIBLIOGRAPHY

THESIS SUMMARY

CHAPTER 1 I THESIS SUMMARY

ABSTRACT

Nowadays, most of us work in standard and conventional workspaces. The

traditional white or beige-colored work environment with its predictable

decoration is boring, unexciting and, even more importantly, uninspiring.

Based on the concept of “Inverted Perspective and Perception”, this

project focuses on working environments with more collaborative and

communicative spaces, and utilizes interesting visual perspectives and

sensuous perception as a design strategy.

The main goal of this project is to create a new commercial office

space that enhances the culture of a company, improves the performance

of people who have highly inventive minds and inspirs users to live and

rethink things in different ways.

Abstract Head Illusion

06 07


INSPIRATION

Handstands

The CEO of the Alibaba Group - Ma Yun, he established Taobao and

changed the way for Chinese people to shop from onsite to online.

Ma Yun is always asking his employees to do handstands everyday if

they could, because he believes to do handstands would help people

to develop new ideas of thinking when they get chanllenges during the

work, and to exercise bodies for health.

Ma Yun would like to use the way to tell all the employees who are

working in Taobao that everything will be different if you see the world

upside down.


Inception

I saw Inception about two years ago and felt incredibly stunning after all

the hype, about the architecture. Four characters in the film are architects,

physics doesn't exist and the best Nolan who is the director of the movie

could come up with was Paris bending back in on itself. Everything you

saw in the film is flipped and inverted. You would never think that buildings

are on the top of your head and the roads are connected to the sky. The

visual effects are really stunning and amazing. It inspired me with a lot of

ideas about interior design.

Artist

A Taiwanese performance artist Huang Ming-cheng who spent the past

years triped around the world and took pictures of himself when he doing

handstands. Every location on which Huang did handstands carried a

degree of physical risk — whether it was on a cliff, a rock in the middle of

the ocean, the back of an old scooter, and the ridgepole of a steel roof.

Huang named his travel picture series, “Mr. Candle,” because he once

drew the outline of a person doing a handstand. He thought people will

see a lot things when they do handstands.7

1. Scene of Movie INCEPTION2. Poster of Movie INCEPTION

3. Photo#1 of Ming4. Photo#2 of Ming

10 11

1 3

2 4

DESIGN CONCEPT


The concept for the commercial office design is “Inverted Perspective &

Perception", and I was inspired by the culture of the Taobao company.

Ma Yun, the main founder of the Taobao Company, always encourages

people who are working in his company to do handstands, because he

believes everything will be changed if they use another perspective to

view the world and rethink things. Today he is one of the most successful

people in China, but he has experienced failure in the past. He was full

of confidence and ability to start a business, but, his first attempt was

ultimately frustrating. At that time, he tried to do handstands when his

brain was not working well and he saw things completely differently than

usual. In this way, he refreshed his ways of thinking and got many new

ideas to develop his business which brought him his first success. From

then on, Mr. Ma has believed doing handstands is the best way to look for

new ideas, and he has made it part of the culture of the Taobao Company

to encourage employees.

I would like to utilize the concept of “Inverted Perspective and Perception”

from the culture of the company to design the office spaces. This concept

will be realized using specific strategies including: horizontal and vertical

views through structure at random angles, materials and colors that have

strong contrasts, and interesting, forced and illusionary perspectives in

order to challenge people’s eyes and senses. This approach will provide

fresh and unique perspectives for the users working in the environment.

The purpose of this project is to encourage and inspire people to

rethink ideas and to spark their creativity and see things from another

perspective. Looking at the world from an inverted point of view is not flips

objects and your body 180 degrees, but it also puts yourself in a situation

that you are not used to living and working in.

12 13

The Quiet Mind #3, Photoed By: Kamin Jaroensuk

ANALYSIS

SITE INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 2 I ANALYSIS

Hangzhou is located on the southeast coast of China. It is the capital of

Zhejiang Province, and it is the political, economic, scientific, educational,

and cultural center of the province. The total area of the city covers

16,596 Km2 with a population of 6,776,400. Hangzhou is a historical

city and is a key center of tourism in China. It is known as “Paradise on

Earth”, “the Center of Culture”, “the Home of Silk”, “the Capital of Tea”,

and “the Town of Fish and Rice”.

Hangzhou has eight districts within it including Shangcheng, Xiacheng,

Gongshu, Xihu, Jianggan, Binjiang, Xiaoshan, and Yuhang, and five

counties surrounding it including Fuyang, Lin’an, Jiande, Tonglu, and

Chun’an. All of these countries are under the governance of the city of

Hangzhou.

16 17

1. Map of China2. Outline Map of Zhejiang Province

3. Outline Map of Hangzhou with Main Districts4. Map of Hangzhou with All Districts

1 2 3

4

CLIMATE


Hangzhou has a subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons.

It is warm and humid with sufficient sunshine and plentiful rainfall. The

spring starts from late March to middle June. It is warm and moist in

the spring, when green willows and pink peach blossoms appear around

West Lake. Spring is one of the best seasons for people go on walking

tours. Summer is very hot and wet. Hangzhou has typhoons which bring

heavy wind and rains. Fall runs from October to early December, during

which time the temperature is really comfortable, and this is the second

best time to visit the city after the spring. This is a great time to admire the

beautiful maples in the scenic areas of the city. The winter in Hangzhou

is the coldest period of the year. It snows occasionally at this time and

people enjoy celebrating the New Year’s Festival. The spring and fall

are short, and the winter and summer are long. The average annual

temperature is 18.0 degree celsius, so the city is good for people to live

comfortably.

1/2/3/4: Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter of Hangzhou5. Average Temperature of Hangzhou

6. Average Rainfall of Hangzhou

18 19

1 2 3 4

5 6

TRANSPORTATION


Hangzhou has an efficient public transportation network consisting of a

bus and metro system and many taxis. The city is known for its extensive

Bus Rapid Transit network expanding from downtown to many suburban

areas through dedicated bus lanes on some of the busiest streets in the

city. It helps a lot in daily transportation during the traffic jam. Additionally,

Hangzhou has an extensive free public bike rental system that have rental

centers convenient to bus stations in the city and in the suburbs. This

enables people to rent a bike and travel everywhere. Moreover, the first

metro line opened in 2012, and it connects downtown with suburban

areas of the city from Xianghu to Wenze Road. The other 8 lines are still

under construction, and they will be expected to be completed in a few

years.

1/2/3. Bus/Rental Bike/Metro System in Hangzhou4/5/6. Bus/ Rental Bike/ Metro Map of Hangzhou

20 21

1

4

2 3

5 6

BUILDING LOCATION


Male - 60%

District Demographics: 51,000 People

Gender

Female - 40%

Xintiandi Innovation & Entrepreneurial Core Area

Northern Sport Park Ecological Leisure Circles

Wulin CBD Core Area

North & South Trde & BusinessLandscape Zone

Stone Bridge Trde & BusinessEconomics Circles

Municipal Goverment

Provincial Goverment

Grand Canal Leisure Landscape

Zone

Peace Conference & Exhibitions

Business Circles

DistrictGovermentThe Dong Xin Rd is located in north of downtown, which is in Xia-cheng

District. This area has been become a haven for innovative and developing

business, and also is a new seat of a high-tech industrial base of the city.

The size of this area is 18.8 square miles. Following a sounder economic

policy, the Xia-cheng District has imported advanced technology,

strengthening the research and development sector, manpower training,

and pollution control, and reinforcement of economic development.

Age Monthly Incoming Level of Educaiton

No colloge - 24% $250 - $550 - 19% 0 - 18 - 15%

$551 - $1000 - 42% 19 - 30 - 35%

$1001 - $1500 - 25% 31 - 55 - 36%

$1501 - $2000 - 14% 56 - 90 - 14%

College - 39%

High School- 13%

Grad School - 24%

Site

1/2/3/4. Charts of Demographics5. Zoning Map of Xiacheng District

6. Building Loacation Map

1 2

5

3

6

4

22 23

NEIBOURHOODS

Si te

River

Educat ion

Business & Commercial


The Xia-cheng District is a residential neighborhood conveniently located

nearly colleges of institute, medical care centers, shopping malls,

restaurants and banks. This area enjoys a superb geographic location,

with a flow of 46,000 people visiting the area every day. People who live

here are middle class and foreign people who are working here. There

are many corporations and shopping malls there as well as residential

buildings.

BUILDING EXISTING CONDITIONS


Location: 462 Dongxin Rd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

Total Square Footage: 100,440 sq. ft

Building Size: 18,892 sq. ft (1-2 Level), 12,470 sq. ft (3-8 Level)

Building Height: 124 ft 81/16in

Story: 9 Stories

Building Construction: Reinforced Concrete

This building is located on Dongxin Road in Xia-cheng District. This

area of Hangzhou is gradually changing from a manufacturing zone to

a center of the information-based economy. The building used to be a

hotel, but it has been abandoned for 10 years. In 2004, the owner of this

building wanted to redesign the hotel, but the project was suspended due

to some internal factors.

1. West Direction of the Building2. South Direction of the Building

3. East Direction of the Building4. Part B, 2 Story - Building

12 3

4

26 27


Parking Area

The building is located at the bend of a river. A bridge connects the

building to an open space on the other side of the river. This open area

used to be a parking lot for the hotel. The Desheng Expressway runs

along the south side of the site, and a major city street runs under the

expressway, and serves as a convenient transportation connection.

1. Parking Area of the The Map2. Desheng Expressway

3. River 4. Parking Area

1

3

2

4

28 29


Building Plans

The building has 9 stories including a penthouse, and totals 100,440

sq.ft. It is composed of two parts. Part A is the main 9-story building and

Part B is a 2-story building which is extended from the main building.

There is a garden in front of the building, but it has been neglected and is

currently covered by long grass and overgrown trees. From the third floor

to eighth floor, a rectangular mass extends from the main building. This

building offers a lot of design potential.

1. 1st & 2nd Floor Plan2. Typical Floor Plan

3. Elevation Plan

1

3

2

30 31

CLIENT


Taobao is an IT Company that is one of the largest (c2c) multinational

internet electronic commerce companies in China, and it has been

headquartered in Hangzhou since its founding in 2003.

Taobao manages an online auction and shopping website, and

provides a platform to people and businesses to buy and sell a broad

variety of goods and services nationwide. According to the Alexa.com,

Taobao was the third most visited website in China in October 2013.

1. Logo of Taobao Mobile App2. Logo of Taobao Website

3. Enterprise Image of Taobao4. Poster of Taobao

1

2

3

4

32 33

USER PROFILE


The main target users are 275 employees who are working in the Taobao

Company. The employees are classified by four levels. First, Middle-

aged employees, they are older than 45 years old, occupied 18% of

all staffs. They are working for management in the company. Employees

are range from 30-40 years old, occupied 40% of all staffs. They are

working for technological development. Employees are range from 25-

30 years old, occupied 28% of all staffs. They are working for creative

development. Trainee are younger than 25 years old, occupied 14% of all

staffs. They are working for both technological development and creative

development.

45% of the employees are foreign people and students who are moving

from other cities from China.

Ma Yun is a Chinese Internet entrepreneur. He

is an executive Chairman of Alibaba Group,

a family of highly successful Internet-based

businesses. He founded Taobao.com in May

2003 based on the investment of the Alibaba

Group.

Ma Yun

CEO of Alibaba Group

Founder of Taobao Company

Zhang Yong



Qiu Changheng



Zhang Yong is currently the chief operating

officer of Alibaba Group and the vice CEO &

CFO of Taobao. Basically, after T-Mall (Taobao

Mall) was independented from Taobao in June

2011, he was appointed as the CEO of T-Mall.

Qiu Changheng is currently the manager of

Taobao Wireless Business and the vice CEO of

Alipay. He manages the development of mobile

terminal, which is create apps for people who

could buy and sell things by smart phones.

34 35

PRECEDENT STUDIES

CHAPTER 3 I PRECEDENT STUDIES

D'ESPRESSO

Designer took the idea of a library and flipped the usual space. Making

good business sense and just might become a recognizable branding

signature in that area.

The "books" are actually tiles printed with photos of bookshelves at a

local travel bookstore that around the room, including the floor, walls and

ceiling. It makes you feel like standing on books. It gives an an amazing

visual impact to custom-ers. The "floor" is the left-hand wall with a dark

hardwood flooring. The ban-quette almost looks like a couch that could

be resting on that floor.

When you look to the right, you'll see the globe lighting is actually came

out horizontally, looking as if gravity is having its way with the room. The

glowing glass panels were looks as the ceiling. It makes people feel like

one gets after one too many espressos on an empty stomach.

Category: Food Retailer Location: NY, USA

38 39


SKYPE HQ

Skype’s main goal was to design a world-class office that would different

from companies of Bay Area. Their new space not only had to be a design

statement that reflected their modern but fun personality, but it also had

to meet very specific acoustic requirements to support the company’s

extensive use. All of the casual meeting areas are unique, and there are

three distinct phone booth types: light and bright for active thought;

medium col-ored for meditative thought; and dark cave-like rooms for

introspective thought.

Skype needed three distinct types of spaces: collaboration,

contemplation and concentration spaces. Designer believes that

people, not conference rooms, deserve natural light, the archi-tects took

advantage of the exterior windows and located all workstations at the

concentration space. Meeting rooms and phone booths were priori-tized

as no member of staff had a private office (an open floor plan with a

benching workstation system was implemented). Contemplation spaces

were interspersed in the form of over-lapping casual lounges.

Category: Office Location: Palo Alto, USA

40 41


S INGTEL CALL CENTER

In redesigning SingTel’s existing call centre in Singapore, SCA Design

have gone well out of the box to create multiple ways for staff to

collaborate, and unwind. With this project, SCA Design (a member of the

ONG&ONG Group) have deliberately eschewed all traditional notions

of what a call centre should look like, while seamlessly integrating the

concept of communication – SingTel’s core business – into both the

functional and aesthetic aspects of the design.

Given the challenges typically faced by call centre employees, the

design team wanted to create a workspace where excellent customer

service could be delivered, and where the wellbeing of all staff was

considered. With that in mind, the design incorporates huddle areas

following the themes of Park and Playground, Home, Sports and Beach –

which were chosen to convey the message that SingTel is an indispensible

part of the lives of Singaporeans; these huddle areas serve as places for

collaboration and special events, as well as for rest and relaxation.

Category: Office Location: Singapore

42 43

DESIGNDEVELOPMENT

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER 4 I DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

When we talk about “Inverted Perspective”, we would imagine everything

upside down in the brain, because this is the most directly way to think

about the inverted views. However, “Inverted” is not represents to put

something upside down, it also stands for transposing position, order and

arrangement.

By reading the explanation of “Inverted”, I developed this concept as

six elements including: solids and voids, scale and proportion, rhythm

& chaos, flatness and irregularity, light and shade and color and white

and black. To sum up these six elements, then to design the project

with specific strategies including: horizontal and vertical views through

structure at random angles (solids and voids, rhythm & chaos), materials

and colors that have strong contrasts (flatness and irregularrity, color

& white and black), and interesting, forced and illusionary perspectives

(scales and proportions, light and shade) in order to challenge people’s

eyes and senses.

1. Solids & Voids2. Scale &Proportion3. Rhythm & Chaos

4. Flatness & Irregularity5. Light & Shade

6. Color & White and Black

1

4

2

5

3

6

46 47


Concept Sketches

Based on the six elements including: solids and voids, scale and

proportion, rhythm and chaos, flatness and irregularity, light and shade

and color and white and black, I transformed the original ideas to some

sketches that would represent my concept into the project clearly.

1. Strategy#1: Structure at Random Angles2. Strategy#2: Strong Contrast

3. Strategy#3: Forced and Illusionary Perspectives1 2 3

48 49

PROGRAMMING


The 9-story building is in a unique location at the bend of a river, with

a bridge connecting the building to a parking area on the other side of

the river. Therefore, I designed two different entrances for the building,

visitors and will come from the main entrance, and employees will come

from the other one, and I separated the first floor into a public zone and

a private zone. The public zone includes a reception area, a gift shop,

a small gallery and a waiting area. These functional spaces have to be

easily accessible and also have nice views, so I located the main entrance

where it would be face to the main road and open to the courtyard. The

main entrance serves the public who use the outdoor spaces or visit the

indoor public spaces, and also those employees who come to work by

public transportation. The private zone includes a secondary reception

area, a yoga room and a child care center. The private entrance provides

convenient access for employees who come to work by car. It helps to

separate the flow of people during office hours and ensures the security of

the building. I divided this project into five parts: A Landscape area at the

front side of the building, lobby area (1st Floor), café (2nd Floor), offices

(3rd-8th Floor) and penthouse. All but the penthouse are my design.

ELEVATOROPENKITCHEN

CAFE

RESTROOMKITCHEN

&STORAGE

GYM&

THEATER

ELEVATOR

ELEVATOR

CAUSUALMEETING

ROOM

OPEN OFFCE

BRAINSTORMINGROOM

OFFICE

MEETINGROOM

RESTROOM&

STORAGE

ELEVATOR

OPEN OFFCE

LANDSCAPE

COURTYARD

LANDSCAPERECEPTION

AREA

SECONDRECEPTION

AREA

GALLERY

MAIN ENTRANCE

SECONDARY ENTRANCE

BACK OF HOUSE

PARKING

ELEVATOR

ELEVATOR

OFFICE

GIFTSHOP

WAITINGAREA

YOGAROOM

CHILD CARECENTER

LOBBY

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3-8

BACK OF HOUSE

BACK OF HOUSE

EMPLOYEES' ELEVATOR EMPLOYEES' ROUTE

FUNCTIONAL SPACES

BRIDGE

RIVER

GUESTS' ROUTE

OFFICE FLOOR

GYM

PENTHOUSE (NO DESIGN)

YOGA ROOMV

LOBBY & WAITING AREA

CAFÉ

CHILD CARE CENTER

50 51

LANDSCAPE DESIGN


MAIN ENTRANCE

GATHERING SPACE

SEMI-PRIVATE SPACE

COURTYARD

PRIVATE SPACE

PARKING SPACE

REFLECTING POOL

FOLLY

Following the concept of “Inverted Perspective and Perception”, I designed

the landscape zone with a series pf structured elements of different heights

representing mountains to create various layers to provide for privacy

and to frame views. These “mountains” will block some of the views

where privacy is needed, but they will still provide great perspectives from

specific points of views.

The landscape is be separated into three parts, including a gathering

space, a semi-public space and a private space. Based on the functions

of the first floor, I placed the gathering space near the small gallery,

so people can have a rest after touring the gallery. A reflecting pool is

placed at the front of the building in order to let people see the inverted

perspectives from the reflection in the water. Then I extended the water

element to the courtyard, so people can both see and hear the water. It

gives a unique experience for the users. At the same time, people can see

these design elements when they sit in the waiting area.

In the semi-public area, I put a pergola upon one of the “mountains”

near the child care center. It offers a good place for children and child

care workers to have some activities in the shades. Some osmenthus

fragrance trees and ginko tress are planted in the courtyard because

these kinds of trees show different colors and flowers during the four

seasons, and they will provide a changing view of nature. The private

area is designed as a low-lying bowl at the private side of the building,

and the height becomes gradually higher as it extends from the building

to the river. A water feature will flow from the edge of the bowl into the

river and a wood deck will face it and will be used for outdoor exercise.

This landscape design not only provides a relaxing atmosphere, and also

provides several different perspectives to the users including views of the

river as well as a folly which will be built at the parking area.

0' -

1"

251' - 9"

47' -

8"

5' -

5 3/

4"

1

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

2

3

4 57

0' -

6"

52 53

68

12 3

4 5

6

7

8

DIAGRAMS


LAWN

HIGH STRUCTURE4'

CONCRETE

RIVER ROCKS

The semi-public landscape is composed of different heights of “mountains”

structures. Each “mountain” is made of three materials including

concrete, grass, and river rocks that cover the different sides, ensuring a

differently appearance from each direction. The process diagram shows

the situation of the site, the plantings, water and materials. It represents

all functions and elements in the landscape clearly and arrangement.

1

2

3

4

4’ HIGH STUCTURE

LAWN

CONCRETE

RIVER ROCKS

1

2

3

3

4

SITE

PLANTING

WATER

MATERIAL

CONCRETE FROUND

PERGOLA

RIVER ROCKS

UNDERGROUNDPOND

RIVER

PARKINGBRIDGE FOLLY

DOCK

ENTRANCEGATHERING SPACE

LAWN

TRESS

WOOD DOCK

1. Detail Diagram of Mountain Structure2. Process Diagram of The Landscape Design1 2

54 55

Wild Specturum & Planting Pallete


The two diagrams represent the wild specturum and plantings in the

landscape design. Several kinds of plantings give different perpectives of

nature in this area of four distinct seasons.

FAUNALIGHTINNG BUG

SWALLOWS OWLS

YOGAJOGGING WALKING FITNESS COURSE PLAYING DATING

DOVES

CICADAS DRAGONFLIES

SOCIALACTIVITIES

MOSQUITO BUTTERFLIES BEE

PASSER MONTANUS TURDUS MERULA PYCNONOTUS SINENSIS

56 57

SEASON

GINKO GROVE

HONEY LOCUST

OSMANTHUS FRANGRANS

WIILLOW

LOTUS

WILDGRASS

SPRING SUMMER AUTUMN WINTER

J A N F E B M A R A P R M A Y J U N J U L A U G S E P O C T N O V D E C

SOUTH SECTION


WILD GRASS

3’ HIGHLAWN

GINKO GROVE

The south section shows the structures of the "mountains" and several

kinds of trees.

WILD GRASS

GINKO GROVE

HIGH LAWN3'

HONEY LOCUST

WILLOW FOLLY

OSMANTHUS FRAGRANCEOSMANTHUS FRANGRANCE TREES

HONEY LOCUST

WILLOW TREES

FOLLY

58 59

EAST SECTION


The east section shows the seating area of the "mountain" and pergola

near the child care center.

HIGH LAWN1' 6"

HIGH LAWN4'

PERGOLA

LIGHTING POSTSTAIRS

POOL

HIGH LAWN4'

60 61

EAST SECTION


The east section shows the views of the employees' entrance and the

outside space of the yoga room.

HONEY LOCUST TREES

WILLOW TRESS

RIVER

YOGA DECK

LOTUS

FLUSH BOWL LAWN

WATERFALL

POOL

62 63

FLOOR PLAN


Focus Areas

1st Floor 10,719 sf

Reception Area 1,090 sf

Gift Shop 871 sf

Guest Waiting Area 900 sf

1 Entry

2 Lobby 830 sf

3 Reception Area 1,090 sf

4 Gift Shop 871 sf

5 Guest Waiting Area 900 sf

6 Gallery 1,686 sf

7 Office 1,403 sf

8 Elevator 240 sf

9 Yoga Room 611 sf

10 Child Care Center 1,685 sf

11 Men's Restroom 187 sf

12 Women's Restroom 184 sf

13 Locker Room 81 sf

14 Restroom 121 sf

15 Shower Room 60 sf

16 Storage 80 sf

17 Mechanical Room 150 sf

18 Service Elevator 80 sf

19 Stairway 410 sf

20 Janitor's Room 50 sf

6

18

19

7

16 17

7 7

ELV

64 65

UP

1 1

1

2

2

9

10

13

14

1415 15

7 88

11

20

1219

19

7

3

3

4 55

1

ELV ELVELV

0 1 2 4 8 16


Café 1,790 sf

Focus Areas

2nd Floor 9,150 sf

1 Open Kitchen Queue Area 720 sf

2 Café 1,790 sf

3 Gym 790 sf

4 Theater 2,030 sf

5 Outdoor Deck 720 sf

6 Open Kitchen 700 sf

7 Kitchen (Storage Included) 1,000 sf

8 Elevator 240 sf




12 Restroom 72 sf


14 Stairway 455 sf


13

OPEN TO BELOW

14 11

7

ELV

DN

3

4

5 12

8

OPEN TO BELOW

89 10

1415

14

6 1

2

ELV ELVELV

0 1 2 4 8 16

66 67


Communication Stairways 1,000 sf

Open Office 2,566 sf

Perspective Hall 1,060 sf

Corridor 615 sf

Casual Meeting Room 400 sf

Reception Area 151sf

Focus Areas

3rd Floor 10,206 sf

1 Reception Desk 151 sf

2 Casual Meeting Room 400 sf

3 Open Office 2,566 sf

4 Perspective Hall 1,060 sf

5 Communication Stairway 1,000 sf

6 Multi-Media Meeting Room 375 sf

7 Office 1,360 sf

8 Pantry 450 sf

9 Meeting Room 320 sf

10 Entertainment Room 330 sf

11 Fitness Room 230 sf



14 Elevator 240 sf

15 Stairway 455 sf




19 Corridor 615 sf

45

6

12 13

16

17 1815

3

ELV

OPEN TO BELOW

68 69

0 1 2 4 8 16

1

2

33

19

7 7 7 7 78

9

10

14

15

14

11

ELV ELVELV

OPEN TO BELOW



Brainstorming Room 450 sf

Focus Areas

4th Floor 8,152 sf

1 Reception Desk 151sf




5 Brainstorming Room 450 sf

6 Data Room 507 sf

7 Office 1,120 sf

8 Pantry 450 sf

9 Corridor 615 sf




13 Elevator 240 sf

14 Stairway 455 sf




83

4

10

11 12

15

ELV 17 1614

OPEN TO BELOW

70 71

1

2

3 3

3

5 6

9

77 7 7

8

13

ELV ELVELV14

13

0 1 2 4 8 16


Perspective Hall 1,060sf

Focus Areas

5th Floor 8,355 sf






6 Multimedia Meeting Room 375 sf

7 Office 1,360 sf

8 Pantry 450 sf

9 Corridor 615 sf


11 Fitness Room 230 sf




15 Stairway 455 sf



4

5

6

12 13

16

14 1715

3

ELV

OPEN TO BELOW

72 73

1

2

33

9

7 7 7 7 78

9

10

14

15

14

11

ELV ELVELV

0 1 2 4 8 16

OPEN TO BELOW



Focus Areas

6th Floor 8,585 sf






6 Data Room 500 sf

7 Office 1,120 sf

8 Pantry 450 sf

9 Corridor 615 sf




13 Elevator 240 sf

14 Stairway 455 sf




83

OPEN TO BELOW

ELV

4

10

12 11

15

17 1614

74 75

0 1 2 4 8 16

ELV ELVELV

1

2

33

3

6

9

5

77 7 78 13

14

13



Focus Areas

7th Floor 10,296 sf






6 Multimedia Meeting Room 375 sf

7 Office 1,360 sf

8 Pantry 450 sf

9 Corridor 615 sf



12 Storage 230 sf



15 Elevator 240 sf

16 Stairway 455 sf




OPEN TO BELOW

45

6

13 14

17

18 1916

3

ELV

OPEN TO BELOW

1

2

33

9

7 7 7 7 78

10

11

15

16

15

12

ELV ELVELV

0 1 2 4 8 16

76 77



Focus Areas

8th Floor 8,467 sf






6 Data Room 500 sf

7 Office 1,120 sf

8 Pantry 450 sf

9 Corridor 615 sf




13 Elevator 240 sf

14 Stairway 455 sf




83

OPEN TO BELOW4

10

12 11

15

17 1614 ELV

0 1 2 4 8 16

1

2

33

3

6

9

5

77 7 78 13

14

13

ELVELVELV

78 79

FOCUSSPACES

PUBLIC AREA - 1ST FLOOR

CHAPTER 5 I FOCUS SPACES

The public area includes lobby, reception area, gift shop, guest waiting

area and gallery.

The office lobby is the first area to represent the concept to users.

The strategy that is utilized in the space is “Structure at random angles”,

and two design elements “flatness and irregularity” and “scales and

proportions” are used to represent the strategy. The ceiling is composed

of series of triangular masses with outlined LED lighting, and this structure

enriches the plain ceiling by adding many layers. In addition, the structure

of the reception area plays a key role in separating the gallery and guest

waiting area, and it has been transformed from a rectangular box to an

irregular mass which changes in form when viewed from different angles.

In order to give contrast, two kinds of wood are used in this area, which

contrast in pattern and color. The reception desk is painted with high gloss

paint, and this reflective quality creates contrast with the wood surfaces

even they have a similar color range. The reception area plays with scale

and proportion and flatness and irregularity through the use of material

and patterns.

The gift shop and guest waiting area are designed with the same

strategy as the lobby/reception area including the use of the same. Wood

is also the primary material in this area, because these two areas are

close to the reception area, and this use of the same material could make

some connections between the spaces. In order to make strong contrast,

the colors and patterns of the wood will be different from the lobby ceiling

and reception structure.

1. Strategy#1: Structure at Random Angles2. Element#4: Flatness & Irregularity

3. Element#2: Scale & Proportion1

2

3

82 83


F lat Sur faces

Irregular Structure

The Quiet Mind #3, Photoed By: Kamin Jaroensuk

86 87

CAFÉ - 2ND FLOOR


The café is located on the second floor and is only open for employees.

The strategy that is applied in the space is “Structure at random angles”,

and two design elements “solids and voids” and “rhythm and chaos”

are used to represent the strategy. The café is divided into two sections

including a recessed seating area and a long table area. The structure

of the recessed seating area was designed with the element of “solids

and voids”, and each room shows the rhythm of the structure. However,

each room is still different in terms of the use of material. Every other

room has a triangular opening in the wall intergrade with LED lighting,

with an additional pendant light hanging from the ceiling. The alternating

rooms are designed with a living wall and with the pendant light extended

from the living wall. Each room highlights different design elements. The

columns of the recessed seating area represent the design element of

rhythm, and it gives strong contrast with the ceiling upon the long table

area.

The ceiling on the long table area uses faceted and triangular masses to

design the structure to represent chaos. The long table can be separated

to allow for multiple seating configurations. The floor is covered with an

organic shaped pattern, and it contrasts with the white chairs. The café

shows contrasting colors, structures and materials, but these elements

combined perfectly and harmoniously.

1. Element#4 Flatness & Irregularity2. Element#1: Solids & Voids

3. Element#3: Rhythm & Chaos1 2 3

96 97

100 101

102 103


The typical office floor includes several collaborative and communicative

spaces which are Casual Meeting Room, Communication Stairway and

Perpectvie Hall. The purpose of this design is trying to let employees to live

and think in a fresh office space.

OFFICE FLOOR - 3RD FLOOR

1. Strategy#3: Foced Illusionary Perspective2. Element#2: Color & White and Black

3. Element#3: Light & Shade1 2 3

104 105


The structure of the reception area on the third level is similar to the

lobby ceiling on the first floor but at a smaller scale and using different

materials and lighting. In this way, it shows some connection with the main

entrance. Black high gloss painted panels are chosen for the structure in

order to make a faceted structure with various reflections. The reflections

show inverted views of the reception area and create many angled views.

RECEPTION AREA

CORRIDOR


The corridor is designed like a tunnel covered with dark wood panels and

lit with artificial lighting. The doors of the managers’ offices are hidden by

the wood panels. The LED light strips show the outline of the location of

doors, and the big numbers represent the room numbers of each office.

Moreover, the placement of the LED lighting strips create illusionary

perspectives in the corridor.


CORRIDOR

The strategies that are utilized in open office are “material & colors

with strong contrasts” and “forced & illusionary perpectives”, and three

elements are used which are “light and shade”, “color and black and

white” and “solids and voids” to represent these strategies. The open

office is parallel to the corridor, and this area is full of natural light.

Compared with the corridor, these two areas represent the elements of

“light and shade”.

110 111

112 113

PERSPECTIVE HALL


The Perspective Hall is the most important area to show the concept of

“Inverted Perspectives and Perceptions” completely on the office floors,

and it is open from the third level to the top. At each level the location

of the staircase staggered to ensure that people will view different

perspectives when they walk up and down on the stairs.


The surfaces on the bottom of the staircase repeat the design of the

“structures at random angles”, but these surfaces are less fractured and

faceted than those in the lobby. The black high gloss material painted

on the structure reflect the open office area and outside views. The

staircase is like a huge and beautiful sculpture standing in the center of

the Perspective Hall to show off its beauty.

118 119

OPEN OFFICE


This open office is serving for another department. Bright colors are used

in this space to represent the element of "color".


Then open office separates the Communication Stairway and Perspective

Hall.

COMMUNICATION STAIRWAY


The Communication Stairway is one of the communicative and

collaborative areas. It is designed for users who would like to relax. The

staircase is composed of bookshelves, so it is like a small library.


In this area, employees can enjoy sunshine to lie on the wide staircase,

and chat with peers. In addition, people can peruse books when they

want to relax or research a topic. The living wall is a good elements for

office people to relax their eyes. In addition, sky planters hang from the

ceiling represent the inverted views in this area.


CASUSAL MEETING ROOM








128 129

130 131


BRAINSTORMING ROOM








132 133

134 135

CHAPTER 6 I ABOUT

I was raised in Hangzhou, in the eastern part of China. Hangzhou is a city

full of outstanding natural beauty and valuable art. I am really honored

to be influenced by these treasures. However, I never touched art before

studying in high school, because my father thought I was just looking for

excuses to escape from studying. It took a long time to persuade my father

to let me start art in my last year of high school, but finally he gave in.

I entered the University of Technology where is in Hangzhou in 2007,

majoring in Interior Design. During the first two years of my undergraduate

study, I participated in lots of activities through the student union. Because

of my experiences there, I had the opportunity to get involved in a variety

of design projects for my school department. In the last two years of

university, I had an internship to work in the field. I got a large amount of

practical experience during that time. In 2011, I obtained a BFA degree

in Interior Design from the university.

In the Fall of 2011, all alone, I stepped foot on the land of my dreams,

the United States of America. San Francisco has become the place where

I am continuing to grow up. Because of the language problems, my first

semester at AAU was challenging, but over time I have overcome a lot of

my difficulties. In my third semester, I had a class in sustainable design.

This class really opened my eyes, and I got lots of interests from there.

At the same time, I began talking with my former classmate who is

still studying in China, and is also interested in sustainable design. We

worked together by phone and email on the proposal and concept for a

sustainable project for her MFA final review. I researched many successful

projects for her, and helped her to improve her concept.

This summer I helped her final design process in her design group in

China. Currently, her final essay and project have been approved and

have received good feedback. Because I helped her, I feel this shows I

have potential in this area, and that I can be successful too. I would like

to learn more about sustainable design and give the best of what I learn

through my experience at AAU to the people who need my advice.

In the future, I hope to be an Interior Designer and work in San

Francisco. No matter where I am, I will appreciate the valuable experience

that I received at AAU.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

JIAQI ZHOU

500 King Dr. Apt 515, Daly City, CA 94015 I I C: 415-794-9334 E: [email protected]

Summary

Education

Experience

Highlights

Skills

Languages

Master of Fine Arts, Interior Architecture & Design 2011 - 2014

Academy of Art University - San Francisco, CA, United States

[3.5]GPA

Bachelor of Arts, Interior Design 2008 - 2011

Zhejiang University of Technology - Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

[3.3]GPA

Volunteering

Cornerstone Church Children’s Ministry 2012 - 2014

Participating to look after children each two weeks in the children’s ministry. Teaching and

leading children to experience an exciting and active environment filled with songs, games, and

activities that teach Godly values.

Internship

Sen Zhao Design Studio - Hangzhou, Zhejiang Winter 2010

Visited clients’ home sites when necessary to assess and fulfill their needs. Programmed

clients’needs from schematic design to the construction document phases and installation.

Internship

Shengdu Decoration Company - Hangzhou, Zhejiang Summer 2010

Designed floor plans, elevations, and perspective views for clients. Participated in furniture

selection and documentation of the specifications. Developed interior design concepts and

prepared interior systems and finishes.

Designer’s successful at listening to the needs of the clients and collaborating on a creative

vision. Brings a diverse knowledge base of design styles and techniques. My goal is to design

creative and satisfying spaces for the people who needs me.

Freshmen Scolarship, Zhejiang University of Technology 2008

Excellent Student Cadre, Propaganda Department of Student Union 2009

Excellent Student Cadre, Students’ Psychological Association 2009

Autodesk Revit (BIM)

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

English

Adobe Indesign

Autodesk 3ds Max

Hand Drawing/ Drafting

Chinese Mandarine

MS Office·· ·

·

·· ·

·

·

CHAPTER 6 I ABOUT

WEBSITES

BOOK

MAGAZINE

http://www.archdaily.com/497617/american-standard-space/

http://interiordesignclass101.blogspot.com/2011/08/interior-design-concept-development.html

http://gazette-ic.com/post/35194123141/gilbertgarcin

http://www.wepik.com/detalle_nota.aspx?id=193

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/337910778264635367/



http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/09/17/alibaba-jack-ma-profile/15406641/

http://taobaofocus.com/

Program Diagrams

Process

Space 2014.2

Space 2013.11

BIBLIOGRAPHY

140 141

final thesis book_jiaqi zhou

Documents

performance of people

handstands everyday

floor office floor

thesis summaryinceptioni

thesis summaryabstractnowadays

chinese people

interior design

floor caf