Li Shaokang, Polyark 4 - XJTLU, Framing Indeterminacy, 2017

FRAMING INDETERMINACY
-- A PALIMPSEST OF
CHARACTERS AND STORIES
By Li Shaokang

ARC304
FYP Studio
BEng Architecture Level 3
2016/2017 1st and 2nd Semester
Framing Indeterminacy
Polyark 4/Fun Palace Futures
Li Shaokang
ID: 1301846
Tutors: Claudia Westermann
Aleksandra Raonic

CONTENT
1. Introduction
1. Introduction
2. Site Stories
3. Case Study: the Art work
4. Concept Development
5. Final Proposal
6. Archtecture Renderings
7. Photo of models
pp.1
pp.2-3
pp.4-6
pp.7-12
pp.13-23
pp.24-28
pp.29-31
Shanghai as possibly the most cosmopolitan of all Chinese cities with its history of the foreign
settlements and its present that is marked by migrants from all over China, provides a compelling
scenery for thinking a new architecture for culture, and exchange as an incubator for participation
that reconfigures spaces to places. Located on the West bank of the river Huangpu in Shanghai,
China, just 800 meters South of the historical Bund, the proposal suggests a new type of
architecture for cultural exchange as a contemporary solution for an architecture of indeterminacy.
While Cedric Price’s Fun Palace – a model for an architecture of indeterminacy - has served
as a reference and as a point of departure, questions arose whether a proposal that suggests flexibility
in a mostly mechanical manner can still be a relevant answer today. Likewise, the shift in
context from Britain to China seemed to demand a new approach to an architecture of indeterminacy.
In an attempt to capture an understanding of indeterminacy in China, a Chinese shadow
play – prototype of a Chinese form of art that relates strongly to notions of indeterminacy – was
chosen as basis for a series of models that translate indeterminacy into space.
The Chinese shadow play recomposes characters and stories. In a similar manner, story
fragments overlap and interlace in the multi-universe of the proposed architecture. It blurs the
boundary between time and space and generates new stories. As an homage to Cedric Price -
some of the fragments have been developed as mobile units of exchange. They can disconnect
and reconnect, and are destined to travel around the world,
The proposal provides a framework for various activities, such as reading, meditating, performing,
exercising, and communicating with nature and art. The spaces are mixed and intersected.
They contradict prediction. Improbable combinations of activities initiate novelty. Users and
inhabitants create their own palimpsests of stories and characters. In the infinite mirror of the
proposed architecture, past, present and future become one. It is a fun palace.
1

HUANG PU RIVER
2. Site Stories
The Cool Dock
Shanghai as possibly the most cosmopolitan
of all Chinese cities with its history of
the foreign settlements and its present
that is marked by migrants from all over
China, provides a compelling scenery for
thinking a new architecture for culture,
and exchange as an incubator for participation
that reconfigures spaces to places.
Located on the West bank of the river
Huangpu in Shanghai, China, just 800
meters South of the historical Bund, the
proposal suggests a new type of architecture
for cultural exchange as a contemporary
solution for an architecture of indeterminacy.
2

Story Fragments of the Site
Northern Song (1023) Shanghaipu
Shoreside settlement for gathering
and commodity exchange among
fisherman, farmer and workers.
1736
Qing Qianlong Period(1736)
1023 1850 1949 2017 2067
It became the largest dock in
Eastern Asia after Qianlong Period.
Qing (1850) Shiliupu
Shanghai was divided into 16 “Pu” for
mutual defene organization agianst
the Taiping Army. Shiliupu” was the
largest one.
From the Opium War to 1949
It was the center of shipping of Shanghai,
which played an vital role of the Shanghai hub.
It was the most flourishing part in Shanghai
during that period.
20th century to Present
The waterway transport was
declined with the development of
highway.It gradually disapapeared
from the view of people.
Future
The future story of site is waiting for
writing....
The Past
The Present
The Future
East Fuxing
Road Dock
Yangjiadu
Dock
The Cool Dock
Site Location
HUANG PU RIVER
Dongjiadu
Dock
The Cool Dock
Wofu Warehouse
Site Location
HUANG PU RIVER
Captain Dock
Site Location
In the past, the shiliupu started to develop as water transportation spot since Qing Dynasty. It
became the center of shipping of Shanghai in 19 century, which played an vital role of Shanghai hub.
It has its flourishing period until 1949. In the Republic of China ear, shuiliupu was the most
flourishng part along the bund. Large amount of shipping and steamship gathered here. There were
lots of docks along the bank. The land near river was almost took for industrial factories. The cool
dock used to be oil factory in Shanghai.
At the present, due to the decline of waterway transportation, the site became commercial area instead of
shiliupu docks. The old Shanghai oil factory became the Cool Dock as leisure and entertainment place.
The warehouses near bank became shopping malls. The site is no longer a transportation spot. The old
buildings were kept and rebuilt while entitle new functions. The planning of site surrounding area will
also be entertainment place as well. However, several docks were kept including one near site and two
across the Huangpu river as passenger ship marinas.
For the future, high-rise buildings will be main role of the city. Based on several data, the water level
of Huangpu River arises ever year; the tide influence of water becomes higher year by year. The
height differences between flood tide and ebb tide reaches 4.3 meters in 2016. Additionally, the
corrosive effect makes sediment accumulation decreased every year; the bank and sea bed will lose
their guarder and face corrosive effect. Nobody could predict the future, but we could make a
assumption. What if the city will be flooded?
3

3. Case Study: the Art work-- Chinese Shadow Play
Shadow play or shadow puppetry is a folk drama in China, in which players hold human figures that are made of animal hides or paperboards,
and reflected on the curtain through the light, playing stories accompanied by the string and drums music with local popular
tunes. It enjoys a wide popularity and has various forms owing to different local styles.
This kind of art form is very popular in rural areas of Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces etc.
“Píyǐng” is the general name of shadow play and involved characters. And shadow play is a kind of drama in which audiences watch
performances of planar silhouettes of human figures projected onto a white screen. The planar silhouettes and other objects are leather
goods hand made by folk artists, which is the reason for the name of “píyǐng”. In the past, shadow play was one of the most popular
entertainment activities before the birth of movies and televisions.
4

3. Case Study: the Art work
Chinese Shadow Play
Paper Cutting Experiment
Facing Typology
Eyes
Face
Headwear
The figure of each character is a
collection of faces, eyes, noses,
hear, headwears, ect. While differ
ent elements represent different
characteristics. For instance, the
crescent eyes indicate crafty and
cattiness. After recombining
these elements, a new character
will be created.
Recombination
Facing Recompositions
5

Selected Shadow Play -- “NeZha Conquers the Dragon King”
NeZha Conquers the Dragon King,
Modern China, 20th century
NeZha Conquers the Dragon King,
Contemporatay China, 21th century
Recomposes of characters and stories
Chinese Shadow Plays tell stories for audience. The version of a
story was always changing in different period. Each version has its
own specialty based on history and cultural context. With the
recomposition of characters and stories, the clues of culture and
time interweave with each other, which creates new stories.
6

4. Concept Development
The Chinese shadow play recomposes characters and stories. In a similar manner, story fragments overlap and interlace in the
multi-universe of the proposed architecture. It blurs the boundary between time and space and generates new stories. As an
homage to Cedric Price - some of the fragments have been developed as mobile units of exchange. They can disconnect and
reconnect, and are destined to travel around the world.
Stories
Interweave
Overlap
7

4. Concept Development
Translation from Inderterminacy into Space
Model I (Slaughter House) :
Recomposition of the shadow (elements)
Based on the researches on the Shadow Play in China, the idea of
indeterminacy happens in the recomposing of elements, characters
and stories. The idea of this model were from facing typology.
In this model, the pupet was divided into parts while they were hanging
on a frame and all parts are moveable in different directions. Then
the shadow or projection will be shown on the black screen. When
changing the direction of the light source or moving the mobile parts,
the figuration from the screen will be altered. The indeterminacy
happens in refigurating elements.
elements
refigure the elements
Model II (Mirror Box) :
Recomposition of stories-- an indeterminated world
Mirror
The idea of this model are from different story visions of choosed
shadow play.
In this model, each plane presents one narrative or one world.
When combining them as a triangular pyramid, a new narrative or
world was shown in the mirror. Additionally, people see various
figures in the mirror with different angles and directions. The
indeterminacy happens in refigurating stories and characters.
Recombined Stories
8

Translation from Inderterminacy into Multi-dimensional Space
Model III : A Palimpsest of time and stories
(Single dimension)
This model was the translation from the concept models while it was more
related with space and void. It contains single elements which are two-dimensional
pieces representing stories or worlds. When the pieces were plug into
the transparent box that emphasizes perspective view, it will create three-dimensional
sense of the void. Through the perspective view, these two-dimensional
elements overlapping, intersect and regroup in one dimensions. While
their shadows and reflections also create unbalanced and disordered space or
void. If we see each pieces as one world, then they are parallel universe and
this box contains multi-universe. The overlap and intersection happens in this
multi-universe and generate the other world. Hence, it could be called as a
palimpsest of time and sstories, which are disordered and unbalanced.
Two-dimensional pieces
(Stories or worlds)
Plug into a perspective three-dimensional box
(Multi-dimensional space)
A Palimpsest of time and stories
(When we are seeing time pieces in one volume,
it creates the chaos in this volume that we see something
beyond time and space.)
Model IV : Chaos between time and space
(Multiple dimension)
This model was the translation from the last one, which is a container with story
fragments. In the new model, four spaces are put together that indicates relationship
among different worlds. The two-dimensional fragments present various stories, while
these story fragments intermix and shuttle through different worlds beyond time and
space. Compared with the last model, this one create multi-dimensional space and void
while these story fragments not only interweave and overlapping in vision but also in
space.
Two-dimensional fragments
(Stories or worlds)
Story fragments in
Multi-dimensional space Story interweave and overlapping
(There is no determinate orientation of this model, it can be
seen in different directions.)
9

Model V : Chaos between time and space
(Another dimension)
Being through simplex dimension to multiple dimension, the experiment of dimension is still forward. In this model, four different
volume are in various orientations and they are overlapping in real space, which increase complexity of the whole universe. The
narrative fragments evolve into three-dimensional container. The dimensionality rises in every parts of this universe. Then it can
be called as “another” dimension. The another dimensional space provide large potentiality engaging narratives that connect the
past, present and future.
Three-dimensional fragments
(Stories or worlds)
Story fragments in
Another dimensional space
Stories interweave and overlapping
(There is no determinate orientation of this model, it can be
seen in different directions.)
Potentiality of space and activity
10

Concept Drawings
When
When
When
intersection and overlap happens in multi-world,
space transcends time,
unbalance and disorder happens,
We seem to be through
the past, present and future...
Three independent story fragments were somehow linked.
They are influenced by each other,
They have Coherence...
11

Fiction and Space
Story fragments become various separate voids,
Memories recall scene by scene,
People seem to experience their past, present and future...
IV : I keep running, trying to
transcend others. Even
they are bicycle riding .
V : I have been lost, regretful.
I need be strong.
So I read, exercising...
III : I keep running, trying to
transcend others. Even
they are bicycle riding .
III : I was tring to imagine how
it feels like when falling down
from somewhere higher.
V I : Imagining I am old, sitting on
a wheelchair. I see kids, I see myself.
II : I grew up. I prefer stay alone
in a small and closed room.
I : When I was a kid, I felt to be
different from others. I often
stay away from other kids.
V : Imagining I am old, sitting on
a wheelchair. I see kids, I see myself.
Fictional Continuity
Narrative fragments become various separate voids,
Memories recall scene by scene,
People seem to experience their past, present and future...
IV : I have been lost, regretful.
I need be strong.
So I read, exercising...
I : When I was a kid, I felt to be
different from others. I often
stay away from other kids.
II : I grew up. I prefer stay alone
in a small and closed room.
12
The result of composition: Non-linear relations among Story fragments

5. Final Proposal
The proposal provides a framework for various activities, such as reading, meditating, performing, exercising, and
communicating with nature and art. The spaces are mixed and intersected. They contradict prediction. Improbable
combinations of activities initiate novelty. Users and inhabitants create their own palimpsests of stories and characters.
In the infinite mirror of the proposed architecture, past, present and future become one. It is a fun palace.
13

+0.5m
5. Final Proposal
Design Process
Exploded Axonometric Drawing
Mobile Part 2: SWIMMING POOL
Mobile Part 1: TERRACE
Four Volume in different
directions (Multi-dimension)
Above water: This part has
plenty of half-open space,
which blurs the boundary
between inside and outside.
With the shift of space, the
activities are shifting as well.
6%
The volumes are divided by water level
Main Circulations: most of
circulations are ramps,
which also allow cycling around the
architecture.
+0.7m
6%
-0.7m
6%
4%
+0.0m
Story fragments are plug- in to the building
Structure: The structure
system is based
on four space frames, they
are dependent.
+1.5m
6%
+0.0m
Underwater parts: This part is
most closed space,
it contains pray room and a
performing space, which
do not require too much natural
light
+0.0m
ROOF PLAN
+1.2m
0 5 10 15m
14

15

4
5
Involved Activities
1. cycling, running
2. sitting, painting
3. reading, walking, exhibiting
4. cycling, skateboarding
5. exercising, lying, basking, diving
3
2
1
PLAN
Level -1.4m to + 5.8m
0 2 4 6m
16

Involved Activities
1. cycling, running
2. lying, resting, wandering
3. skateboarding, roller skating
4. communicating, drinking
5. crawling, playing (kids)
8
9
6. painting, playing chess, chatting
7
7. lying, climbing
3
8. lying, diving
9. swimming
4
6
5
2
PLAN
Level -3.0m to + 2.8mm
1
0 2 4 6m
17

Involved Activities
1. playing instrument, performing, listening, watching
2. exhibiting, wandering
5
3. lying, creeping, rolling
4. praying, resting, reading
5. dancing, jumping, hanging
4
3
2
1
PLAN
Level -10.5m to - 6.5mm
0 2 4 6m
18

A
SECTION AA
A
0 2 4 6m
19

B
SECTION BB
B
0 2 4 6m
20

SOUTH ELEVATION
0 4 8 12m
21

EAST ELEVATION
0 4 8 12m
22

CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS
3 double-glazing
glass clamp
cavity
steel frame
4 Swisspearl panel
steel support section
ventilation cavity
150mm insulation blanket
water barrier
250mm reinforced concrete
cladding
column
Facade material
swisspearl panel
5 window profile
double-glazing
Swisspearl panel
steel support section
ventilation cavity
150mm insulation blanket
250mm reinforced concrete
2 50mm laminated timber strip
reinforced concrete
50mm laminated timber strip
1 30mm parquet
steel support section
ventilation cavity
100mm sound insulation
250mm reinforced concrete
steel beam
steel beam
Axonometric Drawing
Detail Section
0 0.4 0.8 1.6m
23

6. Archtecture Renderings
Different activities are intersected and overlapping with each other. Every functional spaces break the common
understanding of people. A library will not look like a ordinary one, a performing space without specific auditorium...
Every space will create novelty that people can create their own palimpsests based on their own life experiences
and their memories. People could also see the reflection of himself from others, which probably arises feeling of
uncanny that leads to indeterminate understanding of one-self.
24

Are we looking for some books?
There is no distinction of inside and outside.
Last second I was reading a book, next second I am enjoy the sight of the shoreline.
25

26
Lalalalala....
How beautiful to eat with company of songs and night views....

Everyone is a performer, everyone is an audience,
you can perform everywhere,
choose your own way to communicate with audience.
27

28
A carrier ship is coming with its crane,
It seems it is going to take some parts of the architecture...

7. Photo of models
The architecture not only provides a space for fun, it also help people to better understand themselves and find
their meaning of life. What a life could be? What are our attitudes towards life?
29

30
Final Sectional Model

Final Architectural Model Preliminary design Model Tectonic Model
Final Architectural Model
Final Sectional Model
31