Lafayette 148 Shantou, China
Tsz Yan Ng (MArch ’98, BPS ’96) + Christopher Romano (MArch ‘05, BS Arch ‘03)
Photo Credit: But-Sou Lai
Tsz Yan Ng, assistant professor, University of Michigan, pursues material-based research and design primarily that focuses on experimental concrete forming (hard) and textile manipulation (soft), oftentimes in direct exchange and incorporating contemporary technologies to develop novel designs for building and manufacturing. She was the Reyner Banham Fellow at the University at Buffalo from 2001-2002. She joined Taubman College, University of Michigan, as the Walter B. Sanders Fellow (2007-2008), and is currently an assistant professor.
Christopher Romano is an assistant professor of architecture at the University at Buffalo. His research, practice and teaching are focused on the theoretical and pragmatic bridges that connect material and architectural experience. This work explores the poetics of construction and assembly through both traditional and new materials, processes, and technologies. As a methodology – he pursues material inquiry through hands-on investigation, installation, architectural fabrication and one-to-one production.
Front elevation of Lafayette 148, Shantou, China. Lafayette 148 is an 11-story building (226,257 square feet) in Shantou, China, for a New York-based fashion label. The program calls for roughly 75% textile manufacturing, 15% offices, 5% showroom and 5% services. Focus of the project was to critically experiment with concrete construction of post-tensioning and an engineered twisted brise-soleil fin structure as a ‘textile’ wrap for the building. The double-layered skin is designed to modulate light and air for the various activities inside the factory.
Project Credits: Oversea support and managing partner: The Shantou Building Consortium; Design Team: Mehrdad Hadighi, Tsz Yan Ng and Christopher Romano; Project Team: Adesh Michael Singh, Michael O’Hara, Jose Chang, Maciej Kaczynski David Nardozzi
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