The Apple Park Observatory is a newly unveiled events venue at Apple’s California campus, designed to harmonize with the natural landscape while offering a serene space for contemplation and product showcases. Built into the hillside, The Observatory embodies Apple’s commitment to sustainability and innovative design. Drawing inspiration from the surrounding meadows and mountain views, the building uses natural stone, terrazzo, and timber to complement the adjacent Steve Jobs Theater and main campus. Entered through a domed hall with a sky-facing oculus, The Observatory’s main events space opens onto a large terrace, framing panoramic views of the landscape and inviting visitors to experience Apple’s latest innovations in a thoughtfully crafted environment.

The Observatory

CONTEXT. COMMUNITY. CO-OP. CORE. is a housing project centered on community engagement and neighborhood cohesion across four scales: neighborhood, site, building, and program details. Drawing inspiration from the functionality and pre-engineered systems of agricultural and produce structures, this project embraces low-cost, customizable design. The prefabricated, flexible system facilitates high-design moments, open floor plans, and a crafted yet low-tech aesthetic, aligning with the light-industrial character of Detroit’s Eastern Market.

This design combines an economical shell with a detailed, collaborative interior layout, using farmhouse typology as a modern take on the Quonset hut. The project meets the demand for small-scale, multi-family housing that blends with the evolving warehouse district, supporting flexibility and customization to meet diverse community needs.

Outdoor spaces are categorized as public, semi-public/semi-private, and private, defining shared and individual areas based on site ownership and community engagement. This approach supports casual, community-driven living for residents within Detroit's light-industrial landscape.

Context. Community. Co-op. Core

Cocoon explores creating concrete structures using robotic 3D-printed clay formwork, which reduces labor and material demands typical in complex formwork processes. By leveraging clay as a sustainable, recyclable material, this approach facilitates the production of intricate geometries that are challenging with other methods, with minimal labor for demolding.This project investigates clay’s potential benefits as formwork, given its plasticity when wet, easy recyclability, and self-demolding capabilities due to shrinkage upon drying. The continuous bead extrusion process in 3D printing, inspired by traditional clay coil techniques, enables complex branching structures and supports for handling concrete’s hydrostatic pressure.
We explored various clay types, investigated a glass fiber concrete mixture with adjusted water content, and added an accelerator to establish a robust process for deformation control and incremental clay 3D printing and concrete casting. Our fabrication setup includes a 6-axis industrial robotic arm(KUKA KR120) mounted on a linear track, equipped with a clay extrusion end effector.Using the custom computational design tool Super Matter Tool (SMT), developed by Prof. McGee Wesley, we programmed and simulated the robotic deposition process offline. This allowed precise control over the incremental printing and casting workflow, where layers of clay were printed to form the structure and concrete was poured into the printed form in stages.To ensure accuracy, we used photogrammetry to validate the geometry and monitor any deformation during the process. Initial test prints revealed challenges, including failures caused by hydrostatic pressure from the wet concrete, which cracked the clay formwork. These setbacks pushed us to design more robust geometrical support systems, improving the stability and performance of the workflow.
The presented technique enabled using a low-cost material with low environmental impact as formwork for creating concrete elements of bespoke shapes. Using clay reduces the carbon footprint of creating complex forms by minimizing material waste and providing recycling opportunities. The developed incremental printing and casting process allowed previously unachievable scales by having the clay and concrete work together. The technique also enabled the integration of openings and overhangs, which was made easier through the effortless demolding 
Overall, the technique sought to challenge conventional methods and materials for 3D-printed formworks, demonstrating the ability to reduce the environmental impacts of concrete construction without compromising the complexity and time efficiency of bespoke elements. The following section will present the limitations and suggest potential areas for further investigation.

Cocoon

Large-scale knitting requires a robust yet lightweight structural system. Professor Sean Ahlquist’s previous research demonstrated the success of using GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer) rods for structural integrity and ease of installation. However, as installations increased in scale and transitioned to outdoor environments, structural components needed retesting, and material changes became necessary. This became my primary focus during the research period. My role involved testing alternative materials, refining structural systems, and ensuring feasibility for outdoor applications.That period laid a strong foundation for material exploration, critical inquiry, and idea development. Most importantly, it was a time for hands-on creation. Working with Professor Ahlquist taught me to view architecture through a sensory lens, supported by scientific experimentation, precise machining, and all the other hands-on processes that bridge design concepts with tangible outcomes—from prototyping and material testing to full-scale fabrication and assembly.

Social Equilibria

Longlisted in the small building category of Dezeen Awards 2022

RFS is a robotically fabricated timber pavilion that explores responsible and precise methods contributing to sustainable and low-carbon construction outlooks. This structure is designed with the help of custom algorithms developed specifically for this project and built through state-of-the-art human-robot collaborative construction. RFS employs bespoke prefabricated timber sub-assemblies manufactured from regionally sourced short 2x4 dimensional lumber and utilizes industrial robotic arms to process and assemble elements into intricately layered modules. After fabrication, modules are transported to the site, where human workers move each sub-assembly into place and attach them together to form the pavilion. The integrated digital design and construction process for RFS is a novel approach to considering issues of material use, labor, and the environment to create intelligent and resourceful architecture with striking expressive qualities. RFS is situated in the Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor, Michigan; it is designed for public engagement, acting as a defined gathering point located within the framework of a public conservatory while still maintaining an open-air condition.

Robotically Fabricated Structure

Collaborative research in sensory-rich, inclusive environments at the University of Michigan. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other special needs can have a unique hyper-awareness of their surroundings. While this can cause anxiety and inhibit their engagement in social spaces, certain sensory experiences can spur enthusiasm, focus, and excitement for social interaction.
Research led by Sean Ahlquist seeks to create responsive, sensory-rich architectural spaces that satisfy these individuals’ myriad unique, preferred environmental factors. By placing such environments within complete social settings, Ahlquist is exploring how an architectural space can create moments for inclusive experiences between neurotypical and neurodiverse children. Additionally, satisfying an individual’s sensory preferences in visual, tactile, and spatial stimulation could give neurodiverse children the confidence to explore other, more normative architectural spaces and social activities.
In order to generate customized floor patterns, we developed the grasshopper definition for laser-cut customized foam tiles in our school. After few rounds of testing different tolerance, we finally got to the tightly combined flooring system.

Playscape

Using an exquisite corpse compositional strategy, this Fabrication section introduces three distinct making strategies and detailing logics, each resulting in a triad of utilitarian objects. Independently, these strategies yield objects functioning as desk lamps, coat racks, and stools. Alternatively, they can be assembled to form the anatomical components of a floor lamp: the desk lamp as the head, the coat rack as the stem, and the stool as the base.

Fabrication tools employed include a 3-Axis CNC Router, Rhinoceros 5 with Mastercam 2017, a woodshop, laser cutter, Zünd cutter, water jet, metal brake, spot welder, and various metalworking hand tools.

Exquisite Lamp

Imagine a fabric that starts as soft and pliable as your favorite sweater but transforms, once inflated, into a rigid, self-supporting structure. This independent study takes that leap, blending computational design, advanced knitting techniques, and engineering insights to explore constrained knits—textiles designed to resist deformation under specific forces—as the backbone for innovative pneumatic forms and systems.
At the heart of this independent study with Prof. Sean Ahlquist, engineering students, and industry partners lies the CNC knitting machine, an unassuming yet pivotal tool! Learning to program and operate this machine was just the beginning. From there, I got into material testing alongside mechanical engineering students, experimenting with ways to make knits not just functional but also structurally robust. Polyester yarn, chosen for its ability to create flatter seams, offered better sealing potential. TPU sheets emerged as the great material for binding, delivering both reliability and durability, while silicone casting preserved the tactile essence of the fabric, hinting at aesthetic possibilities.
Knits, traditionally soft and flexible, behaved unexpectedly when enclosed and inflated, revealing an exciting duality. Two topologies emerged from this exploration: one using spacer layers to add volume and stiffness, and another connecting panels with tubular openings that locked into strength upon inflation. The potential of bistable structures—those that stabilize in two distinct shapes under opposing forces—emerged as a particularly exciting avenue for adaptive systems and lightweight designs.
By marrying the tactile craft of knitting with engineering precision, this study doesn't just push boundaries; it weaves a new narrative for textiles in architectural and structural applications. The findings suggest a future where constrained knits aren’t just materials but transformative systems—capable of adapting, supporting, and even inspiring.

Knitted Inflatables

Topology Optimization (TO) redefines efficiency by guiding material along force paths, creating lightweight, recyclable structures with minimal waste. This project applies TO to design a branching building envelope system using robotic 3D printing and PETG pellets, a durable, recyclable material. By integrating wind and gravity loads into the optimization process and drawing inspiration from minimal surfaces like soap bubbles, the design achieves both structural integrity and aesthetic elegance.
Fabricating this complex geometry required precise control of extrusion, particularly at branch intersections. Using a KR120 robotic arm and custom tool paths developed with Super Matter Tool, we resolved challenges in extrusion timing, ensuring consistent material flow and high-quality prints. The result is a system that demonstrates how computational design and robotic fabrication can create efficient, visually dynamic architectural solutions.

Topology Optimized Building Envelope

Engage is a course project focused on creating tactile interfaces and environments that integrate multisensory elements, including visual, auditory, resistive, and haptic feedback. The project addresses movement and social challenges for children, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), while also benefiting individuals with a range of sensory needs.
For individuals with heightened sensory experiences, environmental factors can act as either barriers or supports. Our design and testing process examined how sensorially-responsive, textile-based prototypes could serve as physical “interventions,” helping users navigate and manage sensory sensitivities.
In partnership with Ann Arbor Haisley Elementary School and Science Central, we tested these prototypes during events designed for children with diverse sensory needs.
In Course 509, we used springFORM to design the form of our first fabric-related project. The goal was to make a “journey-through” space that let users explore and engage. We also worked to design a “canvas” so the interactivity team could project animations for kids to poke and interact with.The design had an enclosed “inner world” with a large projection surface as the central interactive hub. Two cylindrical structures came from this hub and connected to a flexible mesh frame. After we developed the initial model, we added anchor points to make the textile stronger, stop tearing, and keep the mesh on the ground. These changes made the structure more stable and durable while meeting its visual and functional goals.

Engage

This independent study explores advanced volumetric knitting techniques using the STOLL CMS 822 3D knitting machine. Unlike traditional planar knitting, volumetric knitting enables the creation of three-dimensional forms with integrated structural and aesthetic qualities. The project focuses on two main objectives: (a) developing programming and operational expertise with CNC knitting, and (b) designing and testing tensile knits to produce complex volumetric forms.
Through structured experimentation and collaboration with industry partners, this study pushes the boundaries of knitting-centered design. The work aims to refine techniques for creating lightweight, adaptive structures with potential applications in architecture and other industrial fields. 
This independent study was not just about mastering the operation of an industrial knitting machine but about exploring the potential of volumetric knitting—fabric that can stretch and form three-dimensionally under tension. Unlike rigid materials, the behavior of knit structures cannot be fully simulated, making hands-on prototyping critical. Each prototype became an opportunity to refine techniques, pushing the limits of material behavior and structural integrity.
Testing involved iterative adjustments to stitch patterns, aperture placements, and tension levels. These experiments sought to achieve a geometry that balanced functionality with aesthetics, responding to complex forms like the curvature of the human back. The goal was to create tubular structures capable of bearing weight while maintaining flexibility and stretch in multiple dimensions.
The prototyping process revealed how slight adjustments to parameters like edge shortening and anchoring could transform a soft knit into a structure with measurable stiffness and defined volumetric properties. 
The various 1:20 prototypes demonstrated significant potential, but plans for a full-scale 1:1 model were interrupted in March 2020 due to the pandemic. Despite this pause, the process underscored the value of iterative prototyping in uncovering the untapped potential of volumetric knitting.

Volumetric Knitting

This project explores the themes of "Concept and Symbol," moving beyond conventional architectural paradigms to create a fresh design language. It reimagines abstract ideas as visual expressions that gradually take shape as a unified "building language" and physical construction.

The design captures the nuanced relationship between folk beliefs and Christianity in Huian County through the geometric clarity of a bridge. Its sequence—entrance, corridor, and exit—symbolizes the intertwined yet distinct identities of these traditions. Connecting two villages, the bridge balances tension and harmony, merging modern materials with traditional forms to reflect their shared and contrasting narratives.

Can architecture stand on its own—telling a story, conveying intent, and embodying meaning without explanation? This project answers that question through a structure that is more than form or function: it is an idea given life, a symbol made tangible.

Bridge Church

In a hands-on course, I took my first steps into generative design with Autodesk Fusion 360. By simulating real-world forces, I optimized the geometry of a bookshelf prototype through 32 iterations. Each pass unveiled a more refined design, evolving into a structure uniquely shaped by the forces it would face. And tada! This experience laid a solid foundation for my journey into the world of generative design.

Generative Deisign

We created a unique mold and casting process that enables the production of multiple plaster blocks from a single mold. To achieve both material efficiency and geometric continuity, we selected Schoen's Manta Surface of Genus 19 as the foundation for our modular system. Using a silicone rubber mold paired with tetrahedron-shaped acrylic boxes, we cast each intricate Manta surface in plaster, transforming mathematical elegance into tangible, repeatable forms.

Manta

How much material can we save by working smartly with PETG sheets? This personal project set out to answer that question. By creating an innovative interlocking system, I achieved 98% efficiency from two sheets, minimizing waste while keeping the design compact at just 8 cm³ with no extra structure required. To add an interactive element, I incorporated circuit board scripting to adjust lighting based on gravity and acceleration. The project even inspired my lecturer, Mark, who has since continued to develop it, transforming this technique into beautiful, responsive lighting installations. Check out his amazing creation https://www.instagram.com/p/CcYlBzZuNSp/?hl=en&img_index=1

Light Leak

"TriBytes" is a ceramic modular wall system crafted with the KUKA KR60 robot, marking my first steps into the world of clay, robotic 3D printing, and sustainable materials. This project delves into robotic clay printing, modular wall structure, and intricate pattern design, all while examining ceramic properties like shrinkage, porosity, plasticity, and strength. 
Through "TriBytes," I learned the intricacies of ceramics and discovered how material behavior shapes both design and functionality. This experience laid the foundation for my future exploration of sustainable materials and innovative fabrication methods.

TriByte

To many, Burning Man conjures an image of a utopian garden, where thousands gather in the desert to create their own city. This ten-day festival opens its "gates" each year over Labor Day weekend in Black Rock City, a temporary oasis in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada. Participants, affectionately known as "burners," come together to live, create art, and engage in various activities. The experience culminates in the dramatic burning of "The Man," a towering wooden sculpture reaching around 100 feet tall. At its core, Burning Man embodies a spirit of anti-consumerism and radical self-expression.

In this fleeting city, which rises and vanishes in just ten days, a non-profit organization oversees its operations. The festival's camps are organized around diverse themes, while the city hall features various departments, each with its own character and hierarchy. As part of this exploration, I am designing a city hall that reflects this vibrant community spirit, embodying the interplay of structure and wildness, where the essence of collaboration and creativity can thrive.

Like a vibrant animal kingdom, each department showcases unique traits and systems, fostering a sense of community and connection. While there is a structured system in place, it resembles the wild, free-spirited nature of life itself. The hierarchy reflects the distinct characteristics of each department, creating a dynamic ecosystem where everyone plays a role in the celebration of love and peace. To support volunteers, some areas of the city hall can move, allowing them to engage directly with citizens and share in the festival's spirit.

Though each "animal" within this city hall may have its own shape and color, when viewed from above, this lively gathering reveals a harmonious mosaic, where the joy of wild life prevails.

In this space, within the city hall and beyond, system is just a part of the dance of life.

Fantastic Beasts And Here They Are

This project marks my first foray into the world of CNC machining, where I teamed up with a refurbished 3-axis CNC machine to explore the quirks of walnut wood. Throughout the prototype development, I discovered all sorts of fascinating insights into wood properties, machining techniques, and the ever-important tolerance considerations. Of course, I also learned to brace myself for the unexpected—like when the power goes out! This experience reinforced the necessity of always having a Plan B (and maybe a flashlight) at the ready!

PreciseFit, almost

Poly-Fractal Packing is my exciting introduction to learning Rhino and Python. While we’re all familiar with 2D fractal patterns, why stop there? Let’s explore the possibilities of 3D fractals and see what fascinating shapes and forms await us in this three-dimensional realm!

Poly-Fractal Packing

Hourstell is an exciting exploration into waterjet cutting and the properties of soft gauge metal. This project focuses on studying various materials, including their color, bendability, and fabrication efficiency. Through this research, I developed a unique workflow that integrates machine cutting with hand crafting.

Starting with an array of metal strips, I manually twisted them into intricate patterns, carefully constrained by geometry to ensure a cohesive form that aligns with my initial design vision. To enhance the project, I added in playful lighting elements, creating an engaging interplay of light and material that brings the installation to life.

Hoursteel

As all-glass envelopes with very high efficiency (R-20) become technologically feasible, this project investigates the implications for existing building typologies and the new design possibilities that emerge. We explore the significant decision-making drivers, paradigm shifts, and transformations within the ecology of design, delivery, and real estate that will shape the future of building envelopes and typologies.

Design Research Problem:
Developing scenarios requires a flexible design methodology that allows for the rapid visualization and evaluation of multiple options based on the differential prioritization of design drivers.

Methodology:
The approach combines parametric modeling with evolutionary solvers. Conventional digital modeling tools often rely on destructive processes, where changes to model geometry cannot be easily revisited or updated. In contrast, a parametric modeling tool is non-destructive, enabling decisions made at one stage of the design to remain open for revision later, with subsequent design characteristics updating accordingly.

An evolutionary solver employs a problem-solving method that mimics biological evolution, achieving a “fitness” objective by testing numerous iterations. While early solvers typically optimized a single fitness goal, a multi-objective solver balances the fitness of two or more goals simultaneously.

Optimization Objectives:

Fitness 1: Total Annual Solar Exposure, measured in total kWh during the month of August.
Fitness 2: Interior Daylight Quality, assessed as a proportion of spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) versus Annual Sun Exposure (ASE).
Fitness 3: Cross Ventilation, quantified in hours of thermal comfort without mechanical heating or cooling during August.
This project aims to redefine our understanding of building envelopes, pushing the boundaries of design through innovative methodologies and optimization strategies.

Design Ecologies of Glass

What are the animated qualities in architecture, and how are they produced?

Through a variety of exercises, we explored a specific set of tools to generate, analyze, communicate, and visualize architectural artifacts along with their effects and affects.

Animation and Architecture

This thesis project explores the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the architectural profession under the guidance of Matias del Campo and Sandra Manninger. It examines how AI challenges traditional architectural practices and whether it can foster unique creative sensibilities.

Drawing on Leon Battista Alberti’s paradigm, which positions the architect as the sole author through standard orthographic drawings, this project critiques the notion of architectural agency in light of emerging digital technologies. By integrating AI applications, it seeks to redefine how architects convey their intentions through visual abstraction and prototype reconstruction.

The selected AI technique, neural style transfer, merges content and style images to create new 2D outputs that maintain the original content while adopting artistic styles. This process allows for a collaboration between the designer's sensibilities and the AI's capabilities. The project uses a painting by Croatian artist Ivan Generalić to explore volumetric geometry and branching patterns, reflecting architectural influences throughout history.

The main software tools include ZBrush and its ShadowBox feature, which reconstructs 3D forms based on shadow projections. Users can create complex branching patterns through a masking technique, where black areas represent voids and white areas remain solid. This approach enables the generation of a new style-transferred 3D building while preserving original design intentions. After testing various styles, a specific branching pattern was chosen for its application to the building development in Xiong'an City, utilizing diagrammatic building drawings as the final input.

Architecture {AI}

Waterloo at Crossroads: The Street-corner Urbanism’ International Competition, 2018, Honourable Mentions

After centuries of development, Sydney has reached numerous milestones in its history. Population growth brings economic opportunities, creativity, and a labor force, but it also presents challenges such as housing and employment shortages. Green Square is an area targeted for renewal by the Sydney government to enhance the surrounding neighborhoods. In this new wave of urban revitalization, how can Waterloo and its residents effectively respond?

Urban Sponge Strategy
Just as sponges absorb water and release it under pressure, we can think of water as representing people, ideas, and resources, with sponges symbolizing the systems that manage these elements. By strategically distributing "sponges" throughout the city, we can create an invisible network of points and surfaces that regulate urban development and maintain stability under various conditions.

At the crossroads of Waterloo, this urban renewal offers an opportunity for the area to adapt to regional development and changing regulatory environments. The sponge strategy can help manage the pressures of population density, capital influx, and new ideas, allowing the city to slow its growth rate and maintain a balanced urban ecosystem. Additionally, these "sponges" can provide residents with spaces to contemplate their future amidst the complexities of social change.

Sponge at Crossroad

Red Beach in Dawa County, Panjin, Liaoning, China, is renowned for its stunning landscape featuring the vibrant red Suaeda salsa, a plant from the Chenopodiaceae family. Nestled within the world's largest wetland and reed marsh, this area is a sanctuary for over 260 bird species and 399 wild animal species. It’s particularly significant as a breeding ground for the endangered black-mouth gull and the iconic red-crowned crane. The semi-circular "Moon Island" serves as a focal point for tourism, offering visitors the chance to marvel at Suaeda salsa, observe diverse birdlife, and explore the coastal ecosystem. Tourism has become a vital contributor to the region's economy, with the government investing heavily in eco-friendly development initiatives.

The design emphasizes sustainability while enhancing the visitor experience. By carefully analyzing the area's tourism potential, the structure integrates seamlessly with the island's natural form, catering to the needs of diverse visitors. Its elevated design minimizes ground contact, preserving the delicate wetland vegetation. Visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the wetlands and observe birds from multiple vantage points, blending immersive experiences with environmental conservation. This approach balances tourism growth with ecological responsibility, ensuring the Red Beach remains a vibrant and protected haven.

Flying Cages

Pneumatic Origami Self Folding explores the intriguing possibilities of lightweight structures that can self-fold using pneumatic joints. This innovative approach leverages the principles of origami and pneumatics to create dynamic, adaptable forms that can respond to environmental stimuli. The project emphasizes not only the engineering challenges involved in developing such structures but also their practical applications, particularly as emergency shelters.

By utilizing lightweight materials and self-folding mechanisms, these structures can be easily transported and deployed in disaster-stricken areas, providing immediate shelter and protection. This exploration aims to redefine traditional notions of architecture and expand the potential for responsive design in emergency situations, highlighting the intersection of creativity, functionality, and sustainability. Through this research, we seek to demonstrate how advanced technologies can lead to innovative solutions for urgent humanitarian needs.

Pneumatic Origami Self Folding

Cat Lamp

"Treehouse" is a confidential tech campus project that envisions a vibrant urban context featuring four office complexes, one amenity building, and two garages. The design draws inspiration from the concept of a "village" node, honoring the rich history of the site while fostering a sense of community.

In response to the evolving work landscape post-COVID, this project emphasizes the creation of collaborative areas that invite people back to the office. By integrating these dynamic spaces, "Treehouse" aims to cultivate interaction and innovation, transforming the traditional workplace into a hub of creativity and connection.

Treehouse

Google Store

The Cyber-Sanctuary is a student report that envisions a transformative approach to disaster relief, addressing the urgent need for deployable, resilient shelter communities that seamlessly transition from immediate recovery to long-term resilience. By integrating cutting-edge digital fabrication, modular design, and mixed reality technologies, the initiative aims to provide not only sustainable and scalable shelters but also enhance the mental well-being of affected individuals. Anchored in community engagement, the project empowers local residents through training programs and economic revitalization efforts, creating a blueprint for rebuilding stronger, more connected communities. Using the 2020 Midland, Michigan flood as a test case, Cyber-Sanctuary explores innovative, technology-driven solutions to redefine disaster recovery as a pathway to sustainable development and social cohesion.

Ruxin Xie