Aspen Cheung
Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture,University of Edinburgh
Aspen Cheung
Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture,University of Edinburgh
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Architecture Design: Tectonics
Tutors: Nicky Thomson, David Bryne
Jan-May 2025
Adaptive Reuse, Higher Education
Shortlisted for the Best 3rd Year Student for the 2025 A&DS+RIAS Student Awards, Nominated by ESALA:
https://www.ads.org.uk/blog/shortlists-announced-ads-rias-scottish-student-awards-architecture-2025
Featured on the 2025 Edinburgh College of Art Graduate Show Website: https://www.graduateshow.eca.ed.ac.uk/portfolio/aspen-cheung
Featured on @edinburghexhibits: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNicqjvsLOt/?igsh=dG9kd2JveW5ibzVq
Featured on Archidiaries: https://archidiaries.com/academic-projects/parallel-construct-adaptive-reuse-as-cultural-architecture-for-interdisciplinary-learning-bachelors-design-thesis/
Parallel Construct is an adaptive reuse project that repurposes Block C of Summerhall - a former veterinary school now functioning as a cultural venue with studios, labs, and performance spaces. Located within a wider creative scene with hacklabs, 3D-printing studios and artist studios, Block C becomes an ideal site for hands-on learning as an interdisciplinary material science facility for the University of Edinburgh.
Sited between University of Edinburgh’s architecture studios and the engineering campus, the project addresses the siloing of knowledge through shared workshops, a material library, and public exhibition spaces. Engineering students can bring expertise in material testing and data analysis, while architecture students explore the application of various materials and prototyping skills.
Design strategies respond to an education agenda to make learning accessible, pragmatic, and communal. The existing load-bearing structure is retained, and a new structural grid overlays one wing of the building, where exposed structural and material junctions would converge and diverge, turning the building into an active learning tool.
Summerhall Elevation (Main Entrance)
Design Proposal
Hand Sketch Plans and Axonometrics
1. Existing Building as a Material Bank
Sustainability begins with the existing building, where it is treated as a material bank. Locations of bricks, stone, slate, terrazzo, and glazing are identified, and they will be carefully dismantled and reassembled. Off-cuts are also considered and will be reused to the maximum extent. This approach minimises the need for new materials, transportation, and hence the embodied carbon. Apart from limiting material waste, it also aims to preserve the character of the original structure, maintaining a visual connection to Summerhall.
Material reuse scheme with dismantling sequences
2. Building as a Learning Tool
The material reuse scheme is visible throughout the proposed building, reinforcing the project’s educational ambition of using the building itself as a learning tool. It invites users to understand the technical, aesthetic, and structural implications of contemporary adaptive reuse construction by drawing attention to joints, layers, and mismatches.
1. New Main Entrance
Due to the rhythmic and filigree character of the two wings, I wanted the new main entrance to be a solid mass for clear indication. It also needs to create a clear visual connection to the internal courtyard. Internally, it will be triple heighted space where visitors will be met with an open space and be able to see the roof structure immediately as they step into the building.
As decided from the access strategy, the original entry point into Block C from the main building will be retained. It features a terrazzo corridor with a generous width to accommodate the previous needs of the transporting animals. Not only is the existing connection between the two buildings is now kept, it also responds to the Synthes Headquarters with the idea of an ‘enfilade of open spaces‘. The selection of machineries are kept general so it can also be used by the public, and part of that selection would also be allocated for the Edinburgh Tool Library as their new pickup and return spot for tools.
3. Dissection Room -> Earth Workshop
The dissection room will be mostly retained for its structure and original characteristic of a lab as it will be converted into a more science-oriented workshop for material testing and prototyping earth-based building materials. As this part of the workshop is more reserved for university students, it is logical to be placed on the first floor, while maintaining the connection to the open plan workshop beneath and the material library next door. While the structure remain intact, the internal surface treatment is proposed to be stripped and allow the structure and metal trusses to be exposed, strengthening the idea that the building itself is a presentation of tectonic junctions.
4. Main Hall -> Material Library (Literature and Material Samples)
Similar to the dissection room next door, the structure will be retained and exposed (including the elephant elevator and mezzanine above), with rafters added in between to replicate the atmoshpere of a dense structure in the Gallery Wing roof.
We were not able to access a lot of spaces in the south-facing wing as they are all currently individual private studios, but due to it being south-facing and do not have any rooms of historical significance, a bolder design intervention can occur on this wing. Making use of the south-facing facade and being able to both look into the courtyard and out the street-facing facade, this wing should be a the civic wing with lots of opportunities for people from different demographics to interact.
Seminar Room and Lounge
A seminar room and lounge/kitchen is added in this wing where the former can host activities such as the briefing room for grouped visits, any public/ university lectures, or just an acivity room in general that is available for booking. Whereas the latter is a space for members of the university to wind down and interact in a less formal and academic setting.
Roof Structure
A roof with very dense structure is proposed to contrast with the triple heighted central open space, as well as offering visual interest as these structures puncture through the rooms, where the puncture can be seen inside or outside of the room. These glimpses also features exposed connections, hence responding to the main design move of ‘building being a manual,‘ allowing visitors to see the connections.
6. Courtyard
The main design change for the courtyard is to raise it’s level to meet the internal floor level and also to ensure and smooth and level external surface. Therefore the damaged materials salvaged (bricks/ stone/ slate) will be crushed and used as a gravel on site. The courtyard should have no permanent structure to accommodate the possibility of an indoor event expanding outdoors, and just be an enjoyable and inviting garden space when it is not used for events or weekend markets.
Final Drawings
Floor Plans (1:100 at A1)
Technical Section (1:50 at A1)
Folded Section (1:100 at A1)
Facade development process with detailed brick bondings
Reorder with reference to Markli’s philosophy of rhythm and grammar for the street-facing facade
Application for the 2025 A+DS RIAS Student Awards
Being able to refine the project after submission, and to reflect on what could have been improved or deserved more attention, was very valuable. At first, it was challenging to condense the project into just 10 spreads while ensuring that viewers unfamiliar with it could still grasp the ideas and focus quickly. However, this process ultimately strengthened my confidence in my design philosophy and showed me that I can truly distill my project to its essence.
Massive thanks to my design tutor Nicky Thomson for her guidance in the submission even after the semester ended.