Tom 张海宁

Ba (Hons) Interior & Environment Design - 2019 Cohort

My Design Philosophy

"We spend most of our lives indoors, and the design of our interiors profoundly impacts how we feel and behave. Design is not just a visual aspect; it is a thought process, a skill. Fundamentally, design is a tool for enhancing humanity". Over the last decade, interior design has received increasing attention. The ultimate aim of the design is to make life better. I believe that the beauty of simplicity often promotes human civilisation more than anything else and is about the future of humanity. This makes the space feel good emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. Design is the framework for living, and the whole environment is not just about valuing the aesthetics of the exterior; the focus is on how to make people feel welcome in this environment and create an atmosphere of well-being.

Honours Project - Community Integration

Project Brief

Latent Observation

  • Public Space  

  • Railroad Bridge Renovation  

  • Spatial Reshaping  

  • Spatial Vitality Regeneration  

  • Suitable for the Elderly

Idea Generation & Design Process

Inspire

Connection

Layers

Consider

Inspire

Connection

Layers

Consider

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Inspired by the arch of the bridge

The design is derived mainly from the element of bridge arch. The curved steel structure opens up a clear view of the shape, the circular arc enclosed platform provides a wider space, and the intermittent disc serves as the handrail, chair and sunshade.

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Strengthening the moving line and the connection

Increase the ramp, strengthen the moving line, strengthen the connection, drive the vitality, increase the supporting green, act as the activator of the whole village, create a unique green space, provide services with the elderly sun platform and fishing fully integrated.

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Creating layers in the structure

First of all, the arch element is used to superposition and melt the cube into a large platform, so that the building has layers. Secondly, the trestle road is built on the river, sometimes on the river, sometimes on the land. And plant collocation.

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Consideration for the elderly

The renovation needs to consider the elderly, ramps are more suitable for the elderly than ladders, and the top floor needs to consider shading. I found that the peasants could only rest under the arch of the bridge. Therefore, it is also believed that farmers should provide a resting place that can combine the function of indoor greenhouses to create economic benefits for the elderly.

Step 1 of 4

Final Design Scheme

Design directions and proposed design drawings

As a product of the rural area, the railway bridge can be fully integrated with the public space. Elderly people need to be taken into account, ramps are more suitable for elderly people than ladders, and sun shading on the top floor needs to be taken into account. Therefore, a wooden pavilion in the form of a mountain will be built in the middle area of the bridge. In addition, through my research, I found that farmers could only rest under the arch of the bridge. Therefore, it is also believed that farmers should provide a resting place that can combine the function of indoor greenhouses to create economic benefits for the elderly. Also need to build a curve plank road in the river, using the area of the curve plank road division for plant collocation.

Final Design Proposal

1. The lower floor is an indoor greenhouse, and the upper floor is a place for cleaning and disposing of harvested crops, and a place for people to rest and chat. Provide more employment opportunities and increase the attractiveness of the village. 2. The Curved form walkway with many entrances and exits is built on the river, and the divided space is planted with plants to make the surrounding environment more beautiful. 3. This viewing platform is designed to place the installation in the future of life, the main purpose of which is to make the experience call attention to the elderly and reflect on themselves through the changing shape of the body.

General Views

The reuse of railway bridge not only improves the relationship between villagers and the outside world, but also improves the relationship between village residents and the outside world. It also changes the relationship between people and society in the village; It allows villagers to feel a strong connection between themselves and the village, thus gaining a sense of belonging and identity.

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

The purpose of Potential Watch is twofold: firstly, to enable the reuse of derelict and obsolete buildings to their maximum potential value; secondly, to facilitate the interaction between people and architectural sites from recent decades, allowing them to experience the memories of that generation and form unique encounters. Additionally, the project aims to contribute to the sustainable development of the community. The primary focus of the project revolves around two key aspects: generating interest and demand through the interactive nature of the installation, and raising social awareness about the needs of the community and its residents. The objective is to stimulate people's reflections on aging and their own lives by prompting them to consider changes in posture through an interactive approach. This demonstrates the importance of caring for one's community and its people. Regarding materials, the railway bridge predominantly employs concrete, which exhibits a strong and structured appearance on the surface. Concrete is also planned for the mounting surfaces. The interior of the installation will be adorned with red frosted material, providing tactile, visual, and sensory experiences. In terms of design details, individuals gradually enter the installation and engage with the outside world through the interplay of light and shadow cast by several arched screens, framed openings, and mirrored reflections. On one hand, the concrete surface creates a sense of familiarity, while on the other hand, it seamlessly integrates with the surrounding environment and architecture. The red frosted walls, on one hand, transition through various materials and colours to establish a concave and convex order within the space, and on the other hand, the visually striking red remains prominent even in extraordinary settings.     

Honours Project - Site Research and Representation

Part I: Research and Analysis

The site I have chosen is located between two villages in Baihe Town, Tang County, Baoding City, Hebei Province. It is an abandoned railway bridge built in the 1970s, approximately 400 metres long and 18 metres high, with a 3-metre deck and 10 large arches. It is a spiritual pillar for the local villagers, a symbol of the relationship between the surrounding villages, and an emotional bridge between them. From the pictures, it is clear that there are very few public places around the village, resulting in no space for people to gather. The bridge is fully enclosed and illuminated by the sun throughout the day. The climate is characterised by short autumns and long winters with plenty of light, little rain, hot summers and cold winters. This community includes middle-aged people, the elderly, and children, all of whom are part of this community. The middle-aged people have a stressful life as most of them work outside the village and also have to accompany their children to other places to receive a good education. The remaining elderly people live in the village and do not have a public place to gather. This place should be used to attract the attention of the middle-aged people to the elderly and to provoke them to think about their old age and needs.

Part II: Site Representation

It is a bridge with a rich history, carrying the spirit of hard work carried out under difficult conditions, carried on the shoulders, pushed by hand, and carried by stone. Together, they built this magnificent bridge. It brought economic development to the area and a higher quality of life to the people. It is a spiritual home, a pillar of strength for the villagers, and a local landmark. However, after the reform and opening up, transportation boomed and this railway, which had little transport capacity, gradually faded out of sight. Despite this situation, I think it has great value in its own right. By highlighting the role of the arch bridge, it promotes the role of the main rural groups in society and calls society's attention to the real needs of different groups, forming the design concept of "not being ignored inside." This is also to facilitate communication between people and this construction site of the recent decades, improving the quality of life of the rural population, and being an important factor in promoting a beautiful countryside. The next experiments were conducted in terms of mechanics, shape patterns, and structural restructuring, respectively.

Honours Project

Theoretical Underpinning

Part I: Generation Z and Self Identification

'...a shift from "catching up with the times" to "leading the times", Generation Z consumers tend to have personalised interests and consumption propositions compared to the post-80s and post-90s...'

Generation Z is leading the tide in the art of design

As a shift from "catching up with the times" to "leading the times", Generation Z consumers tend to have personalised interests and consumption propositions compared to the post-80s and post-90s. They are active in the forefront of trendy culture, love to travel on social media platforms and are willing to share their ideas and opinions with their peers. Their diverse knowledge structure allows them to switch freely between multiple cultural backgrounds. I wanted to use the discs to express the technological information age of Generation Z as a background vehicle for my work. The dazzling colours on the back of the discs express how colourful trendy culture is, and from another perspective visualise the diversity of the art market, which is no longer limited to traditional artworks, but is more in tune with contemporary culture and trends. Through the most direct way of strong visual effects, all kinds of artistic creations have become the best way for Generation Z to express themselves. At the same time, the strong landing of the new generation has led to the inevitable influence of modern art and contemporary artists trying to find the best way to 'cater' to them.

Part II:  Pre-generation Z and Self Identification

'The independent and irregular paper shell with English on the outside shows that Gen Y can live independently and have an independent personality in this wave of unfettered and Western-influenced modernity.'

Independent Generation Y with diverse values

Through my research, with the development of China's market economy and globalization, Generation Y is exposed to more cultural beliefs, values, ways of thinking and ways of life of people from different countries than previous generations. Generation Y faces a more diversified world with more cultural exchanges. Generation Y has a strong sense of independence and diversified values. Generation Y's artistic expression is inextricably linked to social life. The independent and irregular paper shell with English on the outside shows that Gen Y can live independently and have an independent personality in this wave of unfettered and Western-influenced modernity. The big bubble balls and the small bubble balls indicate that there are different personalities in this generation. I used sticks to represent various cultural forms and styles, and paper shells to represent society. The foam balls and paper shells were interspersed together to represent various cultural forms and styles penetrating into all aspects of their lives, indicating that their generation was closely connected with society at any stage.

Part III: Generations and Community

'....Generation Y and Generation Z should not be confused. It is not only the influence of history that determines the mentality of generation after generation, but also the influence of the previous generation on the next.'

It's not just historical reasons that affect each generation

As a result of my research, Generation Y and Generation Z should not be confused. It is not only the influence of history that determines the mentality of generation after generation, but also the influence of the previous generation on the next. The paper tape in the middle represents the long history from Generation Y to Generation Z, for whom technology is more ingrained. The oddly shaped paper products in the middle express Generation Y, whose different ways of thinking have led them in different directions. Also, Generation Y grew up with the development of science and technology, so they put it on a disc. These plastics represent what is to come, and Gen Z and Gen Y will move in that direction. As for the Golden Flower, the Alpha Generation, the sons and daughters of Generation Y, will be influenced by their parents to pursue careers in emerging fields such as network security, app development and cryptocurrency. They will be lifelong learners, doing multiple jobs in multiple careers. They will also need to adapt, constantly upgrading their skills and retraining to remain relevant to the anticipated changes in their working lives.

To Explore, Discover, & Regenerate