Stella 陈稳

Ba (Hons) Interior & Environment Design - 2020 Cohort

My Design Philosophy

Hello, my name is Chen Wen, and my English name is Stella. I am a student majoring in Environmental Design at Hebei University's Central Lancashire. Since I was young, I have been passionate about fine arts and design. I find a great sense of achievement in being able to design a place that makes tired people feel relaxed and comfortable. My design inspiration often comes from pleasant music or scents. They guide me into a brand-new space, sometimes a memory, sometimes a story, which can make my creativity explode.

Honours Project - Community Integration

Project Brief

Integration of aging community - Organic Modular Construction

  • Issues to be addressed : key sentence explaining issues addressed 

  • Potentials : Possible potentials in a key sentence 

  • Design scheme : Key design scheme 

  • Structural : Key concept 

  • The final goals : Project goals not just for this project but for further designs

Idea Generation & Design Process

Generation

Bond

Elements

Development

Generation

Bond

Elements

Development

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Generational understanding

This is based on the situation of the increasing work pressure of young people, through the classification of different generations and understanding the behavioral habits of different generations, the elderly can be accompanied and the young can be relaxed. It is also a "bond" that connects the community together.

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The concept of bond

From the concept of bond, many elements are derived, including DNA strand structure, topology structure, knot structure, series structure. The elements are abstracted into the most basic geometric form and utilized. The elements are transformed from abstract to concrete.

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The extension of elements

Through the extension of the elements on the element board, many interesting forms can be obtained, and different elements are "defined" according to the needs of different groups, and elements are reinterpreted from both abstract and concrete perspectives. The design method of modularization is obtained, the community planning method is obtained

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Design development 

In this part, the three-dimensional space to be used in the design is developed based on the elements obtained from the transformation of two-dimensional graphics, and the body is analyzed based on the structure and operation methods (topological structure, Boolean operation method, modularity) obtained in two-dimensional.

Step 1 of 4

Final Design Scheme

Simple subtilite clear to the point 

Simple exploitation of the project 

Final Design Proposal

This community is clearly next to the next community, but it is cut off by a wall. Therefore, my design target is to take this community as the divergence point, radiate the surrounding communities in a planned way, break the "walls" in the community (physical walls and walls in people's minds) 

General Views

It is hoped that the design can change the gap between generations , and at the same time, it is hoped that the community can become a place full of children's laughter. And through the organic architectural form, rich space, break the cold appearance of modern architecture, and awaken people

Video Portfolio

Show the beauty with picturesque video portfolios. It will help people experience every scene.

Context, Site analysis, Design Narratives and Concept

Get to know the thorough design development from the stages listed below.

Community Project - Participant’s Installation

Design Narrative

Students theme  Design for sustainable communities that enhance long-term connections between people encourages people to interact. Design technique: The irregular arrangement of branches and the unstable fold lines of plastic paper are used to express the variability and interleaving of human thought. Analysis result: interactive installation and simultaneous interaction. Element: Cicada (The distance between people is like cicada, but also like cicada is not indestructible). Tree branches (irregular growth and interlacing just shows that each person is an individual, and in the process of branching and colliding with other people and the environment to change the growth form)

Honours Project - Site Research and Representation

Part I: Research and Analysis

The site is located in the abandoned building shared by the Xinhua residential area on Zhaoling Road, Xinhua District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, and the Blue Sky Kindergarten. It is adjacent to residential buildings and the community square. There are supermarkets and barber shops spontaneously opened by residents on the ground floor of the residential building opposite.

Part II: Site Representation

Narrative: 

Shijiazhuang Xinyuan Community is developed by the municipal Housing Reconstruction Office. It has a total of 25 buildings and 1025 households, with a construction area of 336,000 square meters and more than 15,000 residents. It is a typical old community. Xinyuan community is far away from the noise of the city, close to Zhao Tuo Park, there are more emerging communities around the community, the small advertisement in the community is overwhelming, the private building of the community is very common, the downstairs debris accumulation is serious, the fire passage is crowded, the parking order is in disorder, "broken, chaotic, miscellaneous" has become the synonym of this old community. The community was established in the 1980s. At that time, property management services were just emerging in the south, and they were not widely popularized in the north. Since the residential buildings were originally allocated to family members, most of the previous residents living here are middle-aged and elderly people. According to the retirement age, young and middle-aged people with working capacity are mostly working outside to support their families. With the progress of the times and the development of technology, many people have moved into new houses as the surrounding buildings have been updated and iterated. Among the current population of the community, the elderly aged 60 and above account for about 60% of the total population of the community, and their cultural level is generally at the level of junior high school graduation. The lack of property management in the community, the imperfect legal system for the elderly, excessive clutter, and the psychological health issues and social disconnection caused by the inability of community elders to reflect personal social value are the reasons why I am concerned about this location.  

Honours Project

Theoretical Underpinning

Part I: Genz - Flying Over the Thorns

'...insert quote".'

Flying Over the Thorns

In Generation Z, we take flight like birds, our aspirations high, navigating through an environment symbolized by a field of black thorns—representing a world rife with challenges and competition. These thorns, firm and clustered, continually test our mettle and perseverance, urging us to remain alert. Yet, within this thorny landscape, there are also valuable pearls hidden among the thorns, signifying opportunities that sparkle with potential, waiting for those who are ready to seize them. These pearls remind us that hope and possibility can coexist even in the most difficult circumstances. We, the members of Generation Z, are akin to balloons floating above these thorns, skillfully avoiding harm and staying unscathed. This image of the intact balloon embodies our growth, reflecting our adaptability and resilience, as well as our capacity to protect ourselves and chase our dreams despite the adversities we face. However, as time moves on, these balloons slowly deflate, mirroring the swift pace of change and innovation characteristic of our times. This serves as a reminder that in this rapidly evolving era, we must keep advancing, perpetually absorbing new insights, and sustaining our dynamism and competitiveness to prevent becoming obsolete. Generation Z is thus a generation that grows through trials, seeks out opportunities, and adapts to the era's swift transformations. With our hearts filled with dreams and our feet firmly planted on the ground, we craft our narratives with wisdom and courage, shaping our own destinies in a world of contrasts and complexities.

Part II:  No destruction, no establishment

'....insert quote.'

No destruction, no establishment

During the baby boom era following the founding of the People's Republic of China, women could be metaphorically described as "glass wrapped in delicate flowers," embodying both fragility and resilience. This flower is further imagined as the umbilical cord connecting to the unborn child within the womb, symbolizing the transmission of life and the tenderness of motherhood. However, this flower is compressed and distorted by the burden akin to a "grain bag." The grain bag signifies the material pressures under the state's pro-natalist policies, where families, in order to obtain food ration coupons, felt compelled to have more children. Draped over it are cloth strips of various shapes, resembling chains of diverse forms, which metaphorically represent societal constraints over which individuals have no control. These strips symbolize the oppressive feudal ideologies and the traditional preference for male children, which restricted women's choices and subjected them to immense social and cultural pressures regarding childbirth. I wish to portray the image of women facing the pressures and challenges of childbirth under the dual influences of state policies and traditional concepts, yet also demonstrating their tenacity and courage in adversity.

Part III: Self-salvation

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Self-salvation

In my perspective, Generation Z and the Baby Boomers each face the pressures and challenges of life within the context of their unique times. Generation Z has grown up in an environment of digitalization and globalization, with an acute awareness of social issues. However, they also bear the internal stress brought on by social media and information overload. As they reshape their career paths and social patterns, they seek the meaning of their existence and endeavor to break free from the constraints of gender and societal expectations. On the other hand, the Baby Boomers grew up in a society where gender roles and values were more firmly established. Their existence has been impacted by shifts in society and economy. As they adapt to the swiftly changing modern world and reshape their lives, they too confront the challenges of self-exploration and identity formation. Both generations have experienced inevitable internal consumption within their respective eras. Whether under the traditional constraints of the old society or amidst the free exploration of the new internet era, they are both in search of equilibrium between personal growth and social adaptation. Keywords: Pharmaceuticals, Fragments, Tin Foil with a High Ignition Point, Digital, Time.

To Explore, Discover, & Regenerate