Master of Landscape ArchitectureUBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture778-317-7765 | Ychen0524@hotmail.com

Yao Chen

PROJECT 1. Delta 2050: Coastal Landscapes in Transition Landscape Planning Studio for Climate Solutions in Westham Island - Managed Retreat Scenario in Westham Island Bird Sanctuary (Individual Work)

The communities, farms and wetlands of Delta BC are under threat from climate change: the sea wants them back. At the same time, the residents of Delta have some of the higher carbon footprints in Metro Vancouver. How can landscape architects help the community to envision future transformations that will:• Protect against sea level rise and agricultural losses,• Reduce energy use and cut carbon emissions by 80% to meet municipal targets, and• Retain Delta’s unique rural character, livelihoods, and quality of life.

The purpose of this project is to learn how to integrate climate change and carbon management into sustainable land planning and design, integrating issues such as community energy, coastal hazards, food security, habitat, jobs, and aesthetics. The project focused on Westham Island which has not been heavily studied previously.

Birdview of Managed Retreat Scenario in Westham Island Bird Sanctuary

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THE SITE

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The focused area is located in Westham Island within the municipality of Delta. It includes George C. Reiffel Bird Sanctuary and some adjacent farmland. After the 1984 flood in Fraser River, a dyking system was partly constructed around the island. Although the 2.9-m dykes are sufficient to deal with the flood recently, due to the sea level rise and climate change, the height of the dykes will be too low to manage the future high tide and storm surge.

CONCEPT: MIGRATIONThe big idea of the scenario is to allow marshland migrate into wetlands, and wetlands migrate into farmland as sea level rise.

Existing Wetlands Existing FarmlandExisting Dykes

Dyke Breach

Wetlands would turn into marshland

Constructed wetlands would function well

All existing wetlands would become marshland

Phase 1: 2012 Phase 3: 2050Sea Water & Marshland migrate into existing Wetlands Wetlands migrate into existing farmland

Phase 2: 2030Wetlands begin to function well

Constructed wetlands would start to form

Problem 1: River Floods

Mitigation

Adaptation

Problem 2: Sea Level Rise

Problem 3:Carbon Footprints

Riparian Buffers

Keeping Economy

Day in the Farm

Agroforestry

Greenhouses

Horse Riding

Bike Riding

Bed & Breakfast

Bird WatchingShelterbelt

Silvopasture

Solar Panels

Biomass

Biogas

Wind Turbines

Greenhouses

Building Dykes

Problems Solutions Strategies

Tourism

Agriculture

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PROJECT 2. Graduation Project From Stormwater to Rainwater - Rainwater Management in Britannia Community Services Centre (Individual Work)

Our cities are confronting water problems more frequently. These water problems are closely linked with the conventional sewers which drains stormwater to waterways. Stormwater is bringing so much trouble to the city because we let the rainwater run to waste. In fact rainwater is full of richness, and the properties of rainwater redefine the purposes and meanings of rainwater.

The overall goal of this project is to design a future Britannia Community Services Centre which eliminates 95% rainwater running off of the site and creates sustainable, experiential waterscape.

Perspective of gathering promenade9.

CONCEPTTHE SITEBritannia is within Grandview Woodland.The elevation difference is 21 meters. The definition between existing buildings (school and community) is blurry. The outdoor programming space is also limited.The site is not accessible and lacks the integration with surrounding neighbourhood. Britannia is initating a master plan process to deal with the existing problems. Rainwater management will be integrated with the planning process. The principle of the master plan is to create a clear definition between school and community. For circulation, the principle is to connect the site to the street grid with pathways and greenways.

The aim of this project is to create a sustainable and experiential water culture in Britannia.The properties of rainwater I am looking at are nourishing, transformable, reflective, quiet and dynamic.

Catchbasins

Dead ends

School

Community School Community

Overland flow

Rainwater park

NOURISHING

Community Garden

OrchardGreen roof shelter

Demonstration rain garden

TRANSFORMABLE

Water playground

Water fog

Living water map

QUIET & DYNAMIC

Artful downspout

Water sprouts

Water park

Foot-bath pool

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Rainwater park

Community garden

Community garden

Orchard

Green shelter

Gathering lawn

Event plaza Event lawn

Demonstration rain garden

Rainwater promenade

Rainwater playground

Water park

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Secondary school annex

Secondary school heritage building

Elementary school

Community centre

Existing restaurant

Existing restaurant

Existing shop

Existing restaurant

Existing health care

Library

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Secondary school Gym+Cafe

Reading CourtGathering PromenadeRainwater Playground

Secondary School

Water playgroundCommunity Garden

Gathering Lawn

Event Lawn

Community Ctr. Community Ctr. Plaza

Event Plaza Library+ Art Gallery

Demonstration Rain Garden

RAINWATER PROMENADE

DETAILED DESIGN OF DEMONSTRATION RAIN GARDEN

Bioswale

Stage Amphitheatre seating Infiltration terraces

Stepping stones

Bridge

The idea is to collect both rainwater and people. The promenade has a parallel water system: a bioswale to infiltrate rainwater; a series of urban waterscape which is supplied by rainwater. The promenade also aims to promote social interaction by providing different kinds of seating.

The demonstration rain garden is to promote educational and interactive functions of the rainwater. The right section is made of infiltration terraces. It has edge seating, stepping stones, and bridge to let people have close contact with rainwater. The middle section is a multi-functional amphitheatre. When it is wet, this section works like a wetland and infiltrate rainwater. When it is dry, the terraces become amphitheatre seating. People can sit and watch the performance.

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Solidago canadensisCanada Goldenrod

Lupinus polyphyllus Bigleaf lupine

Achillea millefolium Yarrow

Carex obnuptaSlough sedge

Carex testaceaOrange Sedge

Salix purpurea ‘Nana’Dwarf Arctic willow

Juncus acuminatusTaper-tipped rush

Helictotrichon sempervirens Blue oat grass

Juncus ensifoliusDagger-leaf rush

Juncus tenuisSlender rush

Perspective of demonstration rain garden13.

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PROJECT 3. The 9th China (Beijing) International Garden Expo Main Exhibition Hall Landscape Planning and Planting Design (Individual Work)

The 9th China (Beijing) International Garden Expo is located beside Yongding River in Fengtai District, Beijing. The total planning area is 267 hectare. The Main Exhibition Hall, designed by Beijing Architecture Design Company, is a two-storey building with the height of 24m. The peripheral building of the Main Hall is a four-storey five-star restaurant.

The total area of this project is 53990m2 which includes the courtyard of the Main Hall, periphery, entrance axis, and parking area.

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main pedestrian entrance

main hall entrance 2

secondary entrance

main hall entrance

tree plaza

parking zone

water feature

restaurant water feature

summer garden

entrance plaza

Chinese opera plaza

courtyard entrance

restaurant entrance

bignonia garden

logo wall

private resting zone

entrance planting area

planting zone

paeony garden

syringa path

LEGEND

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main pedestrian entrance

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PROJECT 5. Giardino Italiano Planting Design (Individual Work)Hastings Park is one of Vancouver’s largest urban parks. Giardino Italiano, on the west edge of Hastings park, is perhaps the most elaborately detailed garden in the city's entire park system. It celebrates Vancouver’s Italian community and their cultural heritage.

The purpose of this project is to learn to understand the existing program and the implications derived from the site analysis such as how people use the space, views, enclosure, spatial definition and sequence, and horticultural considerations.

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MASSING DIAGRAMGroundcoverBarriersBaffle

CanopyScreen

LEGEND

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PROJECT 6. Nike Beaverton Creek Campus Exteriors Responsibility: Construction Documents Setting Up

Construction Drawings Drafting

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PROJECT 7. 6168 Churchill Landscape Design Responsibility: Site Plan Drafting; Plan View Drafting Permeable Plan Calculation and Drafting Construction Design and Drafting

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PROJECT 8. Ecoschoolground - University Hill Secondary School (Group Work)

WEBBER LN

BIRNEY AVE

ROSS

DRI

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SCALE 1:750

Community garden

Painted asphalt pathway

Play wall

Vertical play animals

Tire climbing wall

Rollicking tightrope

Greening mounds

Wood playground

Magic eggs

Elk slide

Play field

Stepping stones

Building blocks

Recycled rubber mounds

School building

Tire swing

Entrance

Entrance

MASTER PLAN(Responsibilities: Landscape design+ Master plan rendering)

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TIRE CLIMBING WALL SECTION

SCALE 1:50

MOUND 2 SECTION

SCALE 1:50

MOUND 1 SECTION

SCALE 1:50

WOOD POST DETAIL SECTION

SCALE 1:50

WATER CHANNEL EDGE AND BASALT PAVERS

SCALE 1:20

CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS (INDIVIDUAL WORK)

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First Floor Plan 1:300

First Floor Plan 1:300 First Floor Plan 1:300

Second Floor Plan 1:300

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PROJECT 9. Mountain Villa Design (Individual Work)

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