Computational Design through Materiality

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I investigate materiality as an active dimension of computational design alongside morphology and topology. Through material composition, spatial distribution, and transitions, I explore how material behavior can shape form, tune performance, and realize connections.

Cylindrical and triply periodic surface concrete specimens

Research2025

3D Printing Biomineral-Infused Concrete for Enhanced Carbon Capture

After Chinatown prototype showing the historical map of Detroit and the original Chinatown area

Research2026–ongoing

After Chinatown

A UR5 robot paints a layered portrait using a sponge end effector

Teaching2023

AI, Robotics & Critical Making

Layered surface and openings of a 3D-printed concrete component

Research2022–2025

Automated Toolpath Design for 3D Concrete Printing

A desktop robotic arm assembled from individual mechanical parts and servos

Teaching2021–2024

Building Robots: From Assembly to Fabrication and Interaction

Printed porous cells with purple, orange, and yellow material gradients and separate wiping units

Research2026

As-Continuous-As-Possible Multi-Material Extrusion with Gradient Composition and Transition

Layered concrete surfaces of the Diamanti canopy

Research2024

Diamanti: Printed Concrete Assembly

Fabricated student model of a woven surface

Teaching2016

Computational Geometry and Digital Fabrication

Student pavilions exhibited at SIVA

Teaching

Digital Practice International Workshop

Completed Dragon Light International Shopping Mall with the curved triangulated retail podium facing the city

Design2014–2015

Dragon Light International Shopping Mall

FANA Mixed-Use Complex Development

Design2015–2016

FANA Mixed-Use Complex Development

Floralis timber and ETFE shelter in the snow at Florissant

Design2022–2025

Floralis: an ETFE-Clad, Multilaminar Timber Structure

A digital wireframe appears above the user’s hand in the InSpire display

Research2014

INSPIRE: Gesture-Based 3D Modeling

Gradient-material wall prototype installed outdoors

Research2024

Gradient Thermal Insulation

TeachingFall 2026

Integrated Design Studio III

Built Kaisa Center, with its curved retail podium and office tower

Design2010–2011

Kaisa Center Mixed-Use

A compact robot spraying polyurethane inside an inflated architectural enclosure

Research2026

Minimum Device, Maximum Space

Printed truss with distinct materials along tension and compression regions

Research2022–2023

Multi-material 3D Printing for Tension-Compression Structure

Completed self-morphing lattice canopy on four branching supports

Research2026

Multi-Material Deployable Structures

Student research and design board for the Myco-Shell Pavilion

TeachingSpring 2024

New Materials and Methods Research

Flat 3D-printed fabric-fitter frame with flexible patterned arms before forming around the face

Design2020

OPERATION PPE

PICA six-axis robotic arm with its controller

Research2019–2020

PICA: Personal Robotic Fabrication

Pinbed prototype beside the robotic arm, supporting an initial printed component

Research2020

Pinbed

Three-quarter view of the printed sneaker, with material gradients from the pale upper to the blue sole and toe

Research2026

Embodied Material Gradients: 3D-Printed Footwear

RIBO Central Club entrance with a projecting white upper room beside the tree-lined campus path

Design2009–2012

RIBO Central Club

CERA III depositing a clay prototype with a robot-mounted auger extruder

Research2025

Robosense 3.0

Scaled fabrication model of a funicular floor structure

Research2024

Scaled Fabrication Models

Scutoid shell architectural visualization on the Cornell campus in autumn

Research2019–2021

Scutoid

SERIES: Free-Form Façade Optimization design visualization

Design2010–2012

SERIES: Facade Design Toolkit

Competition rendering of Shanghai Museum Phase II with a planted public route between exhibition volumes

Design2016

Shanghai Museum – Phase II

Single-nozzle printed object with a continuous material gradient

Research2021–2025

Multi-Material 3D Printing with Active Mixing

StressPath material preview and the corresponding 3D-printed truss specimen.

Research2026

StressPath

Structure Lab showing the Wood Building Project as a coordinated 3D structural system

Teaching2026

Structural Systems I

Completed main courtyard entrance of Tang Courtyard Promenade with brick façades, vertical timber screens, glass storefronts, trees, cafés, and active retail frontage

Design2017–2018

Tang Courtyard Promenade

CuBe physical building models with projected height, floor count, and floor-area information

Research2015

Transformable Physical Design Media

Completed TRI-ARC pavilion with branching timber arches, blue and white textile panels, and triangular seating on the campus lawn

ResearchSummer 2026

TRI-ARC

PLA panels printed on fabric, shown flat and folded into a shell formwork model

Research2026

Tuck-Folding: A Computational Method for the Flattening and Fabrication of Compression-Dominant Shell Structures

Lifestyle retail street proposal by Yanyu Chen

Teaching2015–2021

Undergraduate Architecture Thesis

Power Walker concept by Mingyuan Li

Teaching2015–2021

Undergraduate Product Design Thesis

W. Newton St Rowhouse at the corner of W Newton Street and 14th Avenue W.

Design2021

W. Newton St Rowhouse

Schematic rendering of Pier 62/63 and the proposed pool barge

Design2013–2014

Waterfront Seattle

WFJ Waterfront Development

Design2014

WFJ Waterfront Development

Built Yintai Centre in Chengdu, with curved glass towers above the retail podium

Design2010–2011

Yintai Centre Mixed-Use