Urban Refuge: Public Spaces of Recovery

Hello, I’m a sophomore in Godwin HS, VA. As a student, I feel like I'm juggling activities every day, and many times I find it hard relax or find a place to recuperate. Mental health issues, such as burnout, depression, work anxiety, social anxiety, are subtle in everyday life. Many times, mental illnesses such as anxiety disorders and depression aren't as widely noticed as physical injuries and diseases, but it can be just as important. The US has credible support to treat people, such as mentalhealth.gov, but there is a need for a place to foster community and to address the underlying socioeconomic issues in communities. From the pandemic, loneliness is at an all time high, and nearly 1 in 6 people reported being lonely.

Another issue is the lack of durable structures to withstand unpredictable forces, such as deterioration from sudden climate change, age, climate, and weather, which, can be highly unpredictable, and simple winds can soon accelerate to 80 mph, turn into a thunderstorm, and create mass panic and disaster. I feel like architecture should coexist with its surroundings, be durable, and solve a much-needed issue within the community.

For this project, I made two sketches of third places emphasizing the local community around the city. The architecture and environment are able to coexist with the surrounding workforce and students and ultimately provide a utilitarian concept (a multipurpose resting center) into mental health recovery centers, with realistic conditions .

Sources: Social divisions are making Americans feel stressed and lonely : NPR

Autodesk forma- for conceptual site planning

Autodesk Fusion 360

AutoCAD

Archicad/Revit

Materials for the conceptual model: foam board, scissors, Xacto knife, cardboard, ruler, hot glue and hot glue gun

RVA is full of vacant buildings, such as along Richmond Highway (Jefferson Davis Hwy) and Commerce Road. There are also more than 3,000 abandoned and blighted vacant properties in the City of Richmond, with Rva recognizing 539 vacant buildings in 2025. The abandoned buildings and vacant land have a lot of potential that could be implemented into.

Family income is highly correlated with student academic performance. Higher income areas usually mean more funding because of taxes, and it allows parents to provide resources for their children, provide superior nutrition, and stable income. The culture also plays a huge part in this economic gap.

There needs to be adequate funding to Richmond Public schools. Similarly, multiple problems need to be considered and addressed alongside, such as the workforce disparity in lower income families, homelessness, domestic abuse, and mental health issues also go hand in hand.

So, building a community school model, facilities that act as both schools during the day and community centers, recreation hubs, or civic access points after hours could repurpose underused schools into adaptable healing centers for historically marginalized neighborhoods.

Currently, examples in progress are Browns Island and Mayo Island projects and Southside community center. Brown island was originally a Confederate Formed by the building of the Haxall Canal. Similarly, the Mayo Island were originally named after the Mayo family, whom were instrumental for devising Richmond’s grid. This was bought by Richmond for 15 million. So, this means the islands could be built as public park and recreation space, and that in the future decrepit historic buildings could be restored and repurposed.

What does the building aim to do?

So, this is a community center placed next to an afterschool. The community center has foldable natural disaster shelters, a safety shelter from trauma and increasing rates of gun violence, facility recovery from teen substance use, and support for economically disadvantaged students.

Sources:

https://rvamag.com/news-headlines/richmond-news/prime-time-mayo-island-sold-to-richmond-for-15-millio

https://www.rva.gov/sites/default/files/2022-04/Old_Historic_District_Guidelines.pdf

https://architecturerichmond.com/

https://www.rva.gov/sites/default/files/20201/InsightsReport_Draft_20230719.pdf

https://education.virginia.edu/news-stories/qa-why-funding-school-buildings-matters-well-beyond-brick-and-mortar

I chose Nora Annex (201 W. Graham Road) as my site, which has been an abandoned school building.

This site is in the Northside of Richmond. Rapid development and population growth in these areas mean community centers and renovated elementary/middle schools will help accommodate the influx of families while elevating historically underserved neighborhoods. Also, investing in mixed-use, dense urban spaces, paired with modern, renovated schools/multipurpose centers, helps reduce urban sprawl and keeps the tax base within the city limits.

Source:

https://www.homes.com/property/201-w-graham-rd-richmond-va/5hhhbwdvy37rw/

Inspiration: The building is inspired by Colonial and Federal architecture, which are formed of bricks, durable against heavy elements and winds. Along the other half of the building is elements of Italian and Queen Anne architecture such as buildings from the fan district.

An example is the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, a postmodern building. This utilizes a forking building as a symbol for parallel times and flexibility to host different exhibits.

Another example is the Georgian and Federal architecture, characterized by uniform brick-layered buildings. Image (2) is an Italianate building (the Masonic Temple).

Sources:

https://berangrouphomes.com/12-common-types-of-residential-architecture-found-in-richmond-virginia/#:~:text=There%20are%20several%20types%20of,an%20overhanging%202nd%20floor.

https://www.archdaily.com/893277/institute-for-contemporary-art-at-vcu-steven-holl-architects

From the sketch I formed a basic parti, and my parent advised using clarity in sketching. In general,

For the CAD model, I used Fusion to build a basic parti and layout the basic shape of the building. In this case, I lacked time to build a prototype.

First, I used mm as the main measurement, then used the Trace tool to draw the basic shapes. Then, I used extrude to fill in the shapes and formed a hole in the inside with dimensions of 1mm for the walls.

This model is a 1:150 scale model.

Zibo, a large prefecture city, has a population size of 4.7 million people. The city has a long and expansive history, as it was the capital of the Qo dynasty for 800 years. Zibo’s scenery is described as "South Mountain, North Water". Zibo specializes in materials manufacturing, the chemical and oil industry, and porcelain manufacturing.

My grandparents currently live in Zibo, China, and I have visited the area for the past few years. Zibo has recently became popular because of their streetside BBQ. From this over-tourism, overcrowding and resource shortages swamped Zibo. Why the sudden craze? China's social media and tourism industry uses BBQ as a coverup and a distraction from the current issues of unemployment, and the "lying flat" movement, state a famous post by an anonymous Weixin user.

The tang ping, 躺平, lying flat movement is the response to post-pandemic societal pressures, high population density in countries such as India, South Korea, Japan, and China, and toxic work styles (the 996 culture). Students and workers are told they are lazy, but endless hustle around the gaokao or corporate jobs cause mental health issues and extreme burnout.

As a major manufacturing and chemical center, Zibo frequently face workplace hazards, industrial accidents, and work strain, which greatly affects worker's physiological well-being. Also, Zibo is famously one of the most polluted cities in China, having VOCS, poor air quality, and smog from coal, ceramic, and steel plants. Zibo also faces extreme temperatures at its highest, 41.6 C, and lowest -18 C. Weather extremes also include hailstorms, dust storms, severe wind bursts, and torrential convective storms (such as tornadoes).

The Zibo government has tried to restrict polluting factories and create local mental health support groups. But, during my stay in China, I noticed that there was few and overcrowded libraries and parks with rusted metal chairs. Many students don't have a place to study and workers, like delivery driver and construction workers don't have places to recover. Indoor malls, shops, and buildings are often crowded and lack AC. So, I decided to work on a model of a library/community center for citizens to recover mentally, study, and recuperate from work/school.

This site is below a hospital/medical area and right above Heping residental residential district.

Coordinates: 36.791784, 118.042403

Sources:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9866749/

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13264826.2018.1516680

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364032125009876

https://www.archdaily.com/994607/the-23-most-anticipated-projects-of-2023/63b596ebea10620171cf9b33-the-23-most-anticipated-projects-of-2023-image?next_project=yes

https://historicrichmond.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/4.6.21-Historic-Richmond-Comment-Letter-re-Gasometer-Demolition.pdf

https://www.whatsonweibo.com/critical-essay-the-hype-surrounding-zibo-bbq-is-a-sign-of-social-wasteland/

The purpose of this building is to serve as multiple layered public/private recovery spaces. The bottom layer is a public gathering space.

The building emphasizes a healing space organized around light, privacy, and greenery.

I drew references from the type of structures displayed in Shandong.

Zibo architecture is organized in simple, raw materials. By using a flat sheathing (like cement boards) and finishing it with either a thick, textured masonry paint (stucco/render) or overlapping clay-like, long-format thin tiles, this capture the modern and primitive northern Chinese architecture.

In image (1), the temple of Confucius in Qufu is built around a single axis and is symmetrical on both sides to emphasize dignity and respect. For example, the Lingxing Gate (棂星门; 欞星門) is an me of the three gates and marks a sense of reverence.

This also is an example of Northern Chinese design, and there’s a lot of portfolios and floor plans to draw concepts from. The buildings mainly use:

Thick walls: Rammed earth improves the durability and stability of the walls.

Inner structure: Brick and earth conceal the wooden skeleton, making northern buildings appear masonry-based.

Trapezoid tapering, as the layers decrease the layers taper off.

For example, in image (3) the oct art center is a public outdoor third space that uses space and the structural design of dynamic stone walls.

And I drew references from the Zhongshuge bookstore, which is mainly a tourist attraction.

I used references from Pinterest, initially and student portfolios. I used the VCU healing space as a reference for the private spaces in the second floor and image (4) shows a Georgia Tech library and workplace with an outdoor terrace to add calming greenery for a walkable area.

So what does this mean?

The building aims to incorporate aspects of Chinese culture, history (through material style), and culture with some western aspects of a library, through postmodern lens, or blending in with the surrounding environment.

What makes it stand out/problem it addresses?

This building aims to provide stability against floods, earthquakes, and the extreme weather patterns. Also, traffic accidents from the crowded roads are common, so the building is placed next to a residential district with a pedestrian walkway. The urban sprawl in homes also often have poor ventilation and air circulation due to a mix of air quality, the layout, and age of homes.

This creates a moment of peace from the city. The first floor has an outdoor walkway, games like mahjong in a recreational room. The second floor has a mental counseling area, a quiet area to meditate, and quiet workrooms, with an outdoor area. The third floor is a library.

Sources:

https://world-architects.com/it/studio-zhu-pei-beijing/project/zibo-oct-art-center

https://archinatour.comic/wooden-chinese-architecture-styles/

http://shandong.chinadaily.com.cn/zibo/2024-02/01/c_620348.htm

1. Start out with a goal, and consider the purpose of the building.
2. Layout a rough sketch of the model and orient pieces of the building based on functionality and if it is practical and flows well with the building.
3. To gauge proportions, I built the model using foam board as a rough estimate of building proportions, such as length/width/scale of the model in millimeters.

Rudderless designing without boundaries and constraints can lead to missed opportunities, so using restrictions and specificity can also help guide a project.

From the constraints, I built a model, which is listed in the tutorial above. This allowed me to change the sketch to fit within proportions of the edges of the building. The model is 1:150, 1 cm=1.5 meters.

Then I drew a concept sketch on Sketchbook.

Constraints include:

Site Related

Soil conditions are unstable and poor in this area because of overabundance of buildings, so the conditions will need more expensive foundation solutions.

From the Köppen–Geiger climate classification, Zibo, on average has a humid subtropical climate , and is known to have significant temperature differences throughout the year ranging from -1 °C to 28 °C, but can increase to 34 C and -4 C. Zibo is often known to have poor air quality, with its worst AQI at 198. Zibo is also predicted to have more meteorological disasters in the future such as, droughts, gale, hail, floods, typhoons and freezing disasters-with droughts occurring the most. Natural disasters can be unpredictable and stir up within a moment's notice, despite weather predictions.

Proximity to other buildings also affect sunlight access and privacy. In the map, the types of buildings, their density, and their orientations, are specified.

From this, a site plan can be developed, which ensures that local services such as roads, water, sewers are added and use for potential lawsuits.

Regulatory and Legal

Building codes : The IBC defines the global codes for the minimum required for the safety and security of buildings. Additionally, the Zibo government has also set standards in constructions.

Environmental Regulations: Water scarcity will have to require an architectural response: leading to a behavioral response to residents to adapt. The GBL code has a set rubric of requirements, and the passive house guidelines can ensure a well-ventilated area.

Economic

Construction/Operating Costs

Functional

Space Requirements

Lighting/Acoustic needs and ergonomics

Functionality and Adaptability : The building may need to be adaptable to future changes and uses, such as a disaster shelter, a more public/private area.

Materials and Technology

Material Availability

Emerging Technologies-

Passive houses are examples and a guideline to adapting around constraints of sustainability, leading to new approaches of material selections.

Sources: What are Opportunities and Constraints in Architecture? — theorangeryblog.com

Architectural Constraints → Term

Architectural Design Constraints: Shaping The Built Environment | Flyriver.com

https://nomadseason.com/climate/china/shandong/zibo.html

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Agrometeorological Disasters in Zibo

https://illustrarch.com/articles/15401-resilient-architecture-for-natural-disasters.html

2024 International Building Code (IBC)

DCP2015_PartB.pdf (site analysis)

After defining constraints, I tried to refine and incorporate elements to be process-oriented, which means each element should have multiple functions and fit well with the building. I included a analysis of the constraints alongside a diagram.

I applied this model on AutoCAD. First, I applied the sketch tool and used a rectangle, plotting in mm. Then, I added the border.

This process is a preliminary to Archicad plotting.

Then, I set the floor to 1.5 m and searched up the basic proportions of a house (40x60 ft to 12.192x18.188 meters). Like many other references, creating a building is usually inspired by a combination of references, which I watched a video to visualize dimensions.

I tried to create curving walls on the first and second floor to emphasize public use, and contrast with a rigid library on the third floor.

Based on the surrounding conditions, I added different materials to counteract the weather.

1. I first implemented a hip (bonnet) roof. The roof provides equal weight on all sides. This creates a unified structure that distributes weight evenly. Hip roofs are resistant to high winds and heavy rainfall.
2. Similar to a pagoda, the walls terrace out, and there is an interlocking wooden support on the bottom.
3. The bottom building must use structural steel, reinforced concrete, or heavy timber to support the weight of the second building above it. There is included internal space for an exterior or enclosed interior staircase to access the upper unit.
4. There is support columns on all four sides of the first floor and second floor.
5. One side of the roof has a rainwater collection system for the bathroom.
6. Bamboo is used in the bookshelves/doors/floor as a structural support material.

Here is the BIMx (model). After, I added the model to Autodesk Forma to analyze how well the model fits with the site.

Besides borrowing only books, heat lamps and wellness kits can be borrowed as a recovery source, and foldable study pods can be added.

Additionally the second floor can serve as a therapy space and a recovery room.

Source: https://privacypod.ai/blogs/blog/quiet-booths-beyond-offices-schools-hospitals-and-libraries?srsltid=AfmBOop0SwRa9hQJ3KeIKstgHAZz1j92Di4-dRFDCsdoJj7kZ1LULWHq

I really enjoyed building this project, despite procrastination, as the process was a steep curve, but taught me a lot about the process.

I honestly think anyone can learn about architecture, as long as they use tutorials, books, and mentors. Many people can even get the basics in a week (how long I spent on this project) with hard work, dedication, and just the ability to start.

I recommend this book: 101 things I learned in architecture school

Additional sources: https://dpla.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1021/2017/06/Changing-Spatial-Form-of-Western-Chinese-Cities.pdf

https://historicrichmond.com/at-risk/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0264275124001136