Reflective Summary in Semester 2-What a Fantastic Journey

Abstract

I thought this semester had given me a lot of experiences. Similar to the first semester, we need to finish these blogs in semester 2. Sadly, we have few lectures than previews, but we have mastered the technologies to know how to explore the urban design world. There are many approaches gathering the information, including the website, free university lectures. We can learn a lot in semester 2.

Author: Yihan He (Jason)

What a busy semester 2

Semester is actually full of arrangement because we have two main courses and we need to finish them in a short 2 months. In addition, Design thesis has started as well, we still need to finish the proposal for it. It implies we will not have any downtime, including the easter holiday. How to allocate our energy is a big challenge in this stage. Unluckily I failed in the beginning of this period of time because I just wasted a lot of time. Luckily is I just corrected this by taking additional time. But it’s an error. I need to learn from it.

ARC8069 Exploring the Housing Alternative World

We have a new tutor: Timothy Crawshaw. He is very humorous. When it comes to the lecture, he constantly sent us some fascinating speakers for the lectures, which we are very thoroughly enjoyed. Luckily, we have a journey to take a visit to Cambridge. It’s a co-housing community. In Cambridge, it is amazing that we’ve appreciated so many enriched functional spaces for people to use, including the parent-child activity room, public lounge. Diverse vibrant colors were employed in interior design to bring the new life and vigor in this area. But there’s only one pity that is the neglect of the outdoor spaces. It seems like no one will use the outdoor equipment. I think it’s because of the bad weather in winter and regular maintenance fees. It might be a significant issue in other parts of England. Therefore, it gives me some inspirations about my own site.

Photograph 1: Class photo, in Marmalade Lane, Cambridge, filmed in 7th of March,2023

As I mentioned, the most challenge in this project is the definition of urban design. Because I have confused of urban design since last semester. I got the definition of urban design in last semester is to give some interventions in urban area. For this semester, I summed up a word: connection. It’s a generalized definition. It is not only including regional connectivity, but also the interpersonal relationship. It is different between physical and spiritual. We are not doing architecture, landscape and even interior, we just want to find the connectivity between all of them and find the more possibilities.

Thus, the project’s aim is to find the different feelings in various kinds of houses. I found this key point and found the three types to satisfy the housing requirement. Plus, every community needs the supporting facilities, that’s why I created so many interesting and comfortable public spaces, including waterfront landscape, tea house and shared bicycle parking.

Figure 1:  Mixed Community in ARC8069, Housing Alternative, Axonometric drawing, created by Yihan He (Jason)

APL8014 Designing code and model journey

What I understand of the designing code from this module is that we need to consider about the actual situation in native communities. Try to find the cultural identity and follow the local custom, discover what people really need.

It seems like that my biggest challenge is the site analysis. I didn’t complete enough surveys; therefore, I am not familiar about Ouseburn.I thus decided to investigate this site again, including surrounding functions. Then I found my start of design should be teenager and working people. To be exact, it’s a mixed functional space. People from different ages can use it. They will be attracted together due to their fantastic communications.

Figure 2: A community shared with teenagers and adults, Axonometric drawing in APL8014, by Yihan He(Jason)

By the way, it has been a while since I produced a proper model. It let me feel a little uncomfortable during this process, but eventually I recaptured the feeling of making model. That’s really wonderful.

Figure 3: Physical model in APL8014, made by Yihan He (Jason)

Conclusion

Time passed; this semester is now officially over. It was simply so quick. But I think the meaningful of studying Urban Design is to let us know the design should be related to users. In this human being world, people are the main demand side, so we must consider their requirements, try to give more possibilities and let them choose. Anyhow, it’s a worthwhile excursion for everyone who studies in urban design.