Haoyu Zou
Hi! I am Haoyu Zou, an undergraduate student at the University of Melbourne.
I was educated in China in my early years and decided to study abroad to broaden my horizons.
I have multiple interests in many aspects, including fine art, music, science, history etc.
Architecture is an omnivorous subject, and I enjoy using knowledge from different aspects to develop concepts and schemes.
Thematic Links
A negotiation between the Chronological Interest Mapping exercise and Non-Hierarchical Subject Mapping excercise, identifying the key aspects of each that
were fundamental to my development as a designer.
Thematic Research
3 Themes selected from the Thematic Links
"Culture Clash"
in Architecture
Differenciation and Integration
Beijing has abundant resources of traditional Chinese architecture, including imperial palaces, royal gardens, and imperial mausoleum gates that survived the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the classic quadrangle dwelling style for civilians called Siheyuan. As a native of Beijing, and a son of an architect, I was exposed to the thoughts of some great Chinese architects in the early years of my life by visiting their masterpieces. This experience had a profound influence on my interest in architecture.
After I decided to study architecture abroad, my father took me to all of the ancient capitals to visit retained ancient architecture around northern China and acquire knowledge that would never be taught in Australian universities. My father told me that these traditional treasures could become my advantage in my future study if I could abstract the strengths, digest the fundamental spirit and thoughts of traditional Chinese architecture, and apply them to my projects and schemes.
The subjects of the global history of architecture and the history of modern architecture provide me with a greater understanding of western architecture and differences between Eastern and Western culture architecture. Although my thoughts about architecture and design skills were still immature as a design student, I started to try and explore possibilities to integrate some spirits of Chinese architecture into my design. In Design Studio Gamma, I developed a scheme called He House. The design of the courtyard and the idea of the contrast between the interior and exterior of the housing are derived from the traditional Siheyuan combined with the concept of urban morphology I learned in the University.
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Due to the traffic ban in early 2020, I had to stay in China gap for one semester, so I continued my journey throughout China, and this time, I visited the southern part of China. Suzhou was full of and famous for the Chinese classical private gardens. The thought that affected me the most from traditional gardens is “移æ¥æ˜“景” which means the scene of the same landscape changes while the visitor moves, which provides diverse and everchanging scenes in a limited space. This is a very classic Chinese thought based on IChing, and I tried to use this strategy to deal with some space problems in Design Studio Delta.
We learn and understand history to imagine and predict future.
I am addicted to the new technologies and cutting-edge concepts in both art and science aspects. Fortunately, architecture is a omnivorous major, so that I got opportunities to get access to see and learn some of the fresh technologies in the university. In Melbourne Uni, I tried to use holographic lenses and robot arms to build blocks, use 3D printing and laser cutting techniques to make models.
In the subject of Building Information Modeling and Building Information Management, I learned the history of the development of design by using computers in AEC industry and how the technology improves the efficiency of design and collaboration.
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In Digital Design, I encountered the fundamental techniques of parametric design for the first time. In this subject I learned to use grasshopper to make form study and finally created an organic formed pavilion which looks like it is grown from the context and make the pavilion harmonious with the surrounding environment. The shape of the pavilion is inspired from the rain cloud with rainwater drop to the ground; it can also be seen reversely as a group of fungus grown from the ground.
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I have also added some futuristic concepts in Design Studio Delta and Epsilon including dynamic roof which follows the solar path designed by using parametric techniques; and modular structured housing with movable modules.
The Nature
Context and Environments
The natural science is a field that architects should also have to dabble in. When I was in primary and middle school, I was really interested in biology and I took part in many scientific investigations with experts and pros which was a precious experience and I learned a lot about climates and ecosystems in China.
But the ecosystem in Australia is totally different, Australia has an unique and fascinating independent ecosystem. That is the reason why I took the subject named Natural History and Environmental Building Systems. The study of natural history made me understand more about the ecosystem in Australia, thus I am able to design architecture located in Australia with considerations about native species and wild lives to further improve the experience for my clients. In Environmental Building Systems, I was introduced about the passive design techniques in relation with the environment in Melbourne, by learning this knowledge, I am able to understand and even use the features of Melbourne climate to make the environment of spaces I designed more comfortable.