The document outlines an interior design project for a 40-floor, five-star hotel in Hong Kong conceptualized around the theme of different types of tea. Floors would represent different teas through color palettes and programming. The goal was to blend eastern and western cultures into a cosmopolitan space for the city's diverse population passing through daily.

1. PROJECTS
ANNEX
. . . . . . . . Solidity Flow Contrast
Museum as a Sculpture
PreFAB
. . . . . . . . . . . Expanding The Box
From The Werehouse To Any Location
Housing Prototypes
URBAN PLOT
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Suspend
City Market as a Community Garden
INTERIOR DESIGN
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Out
Undergraduate Sample Projects
DIGITAL FABRICATION
MARY TRAN
PORTFOLIO
M . A r c h
2 0 1 3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Skin To Structure
Tectonics
ANALOG
Sketches and Drawings
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hands and Eyes

2. SOLIDITY FLOW CONTRAST
Museum as a Sculpture
ANNEX
10th Avenue & 18th Street NY, New York

3. ANNEX
SOLIDITY
10th Avenue & 18th Street NY, New York
FLOW
CONTRAST
Museum as a sculpture…
Annex means to attach, append, or add, especially to something larger or more important. Our site, located
on 10th Avenue New York City, is known as the meat-packing district. The High Line elevated freight line was
authorized in 1929 as part of the “West Side Improvement Plan”, and the New York Central Railroad completed
construction. Due to the elevated railroad line that were added through the neighborhood along Ninth Avenue
and Greenwich Street, industrialization increased.
Annex is a Kusthal Museum designed to incorporate the industrial history of the site by celebrating materials
such as concrete, metal, and glass. The solidity of the form of the museum serves as a crown monument of New
York City. The skin of the building resembles shards of rocks to represent the historical aesthetics of New York
in American society. The Plinth was design to connect the street level of the museum to the High Line thirty feet
above ground. It serves as an artificially natural circulation for pedestrians to move about the site and on to the
sculptural garden, which circulates around the museum. The Plinth also functions as a stand, in which the museum as a sculpture sits on.
The galleries of the museum are stacked into three concrete towers. The skin is made of glass, steel, and
perforated metal. From the outside, the structure invokes a sense of sublimity with its rigid and rough exterior;
in contrast, when entering the museum, the skin and the gallery are two different entities. The skin engulfs the interior structure, providing an exterior atrium. To enrich the space, the perforated metal allows light to be filtered
into the space and enhances the sculptures that it houses.
1
2
VERTICAL CIRC
3
PUBLIC LOBBIES
4 5 6
RESTAURANT
OFFICE/CLASS RM
7
ENTRANCE

4. ANNEX
10th Avenue & 18th Street NY, New York
R
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5. ANNEX
10th Avenue & 18th Street NY, New York

6. ANNEX
10th Avenue & 18th Street NY, New York

7. EXPANDING THE BOX
Housing Prototypes
PreFAB
From The Werehouse To Any Location

8. PreFab
FLEXIBILITY
Prototype: L-House
Breaking up the box into modular units to be reassemble into
many configuration.
+
Open Space
Private Space
North Elevation
+
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
Moveable Wall Options
East Elevation
South Elevation
West Elevation

9. PreFab
OPENESS
Prototype: L-House
Roof
Drain
Scuppers
Open Space to
Allow Water Flow
RoofEdge
Paver
Pedestal
Prevegetated
LiveRoof Modules
Slip Sheet
Waterproofing
Roof Deck
Roof/ Planter Detail
2nd Floor
Exterior Walls
2nd Floor
Interior Walls
Section B B
2nd Floor
Exterior Walls
1St Floor
Interior Walls
Assembly Diagram
Section A A

10. PreFab
DD
OUTDOOR CONNECTION
Sustainable Features
Prototype: H-House
- Daylight
- Natural Ventilation
- Wall Paneling System are (6’x10’) or (8’x10’)
- SIP or CLT walls are used
- Modular systems allow homes to be custom and affordable
- Prefab construction saves time, building material, and cost
- Modular Planters help shade roof without the structure of having a green roof
- Water collection system stores and reduce water waste
- Solar Water Heating ready.
CC
CC
DD
Handicap Accessible Floor Plan
2% Slope
West Elevation
East Elevation
Section CC
Section DD

11. PreFab
EXPANSION
Prototype: H-House
+
Roof
+
lF dn2
2% Slope
+
+
epolS %2
2nd Fl
fooR
Modular Wall Panel System
SIP Wall Detail
Optional
Addition B
Optional Addition A
View From Courtyard
Main Modular Unit
Expansion Diagram
Floor Connection

12. SUSPEND
Food is essential to life. The more we know about food, the better we are about what we put into our bodies. What better place to
learn and obtain fresh food than a market?
Asheville, North Carolina is an urbanizing city with a population of eighty three thousand people. Last month, the City Council
passed a Food Action Plan in Asheville. Among other efforts, the plan calls for focusing on existing landscaping budgets to
include more edible plants and community gardens. It also calls for using the city’s Unified Development Ordinance to prioritize
urban agriculture. And it aims to give people without reliable transportation safe walkways and public transportation to emergency food providers, grocery stores and farmers markets. Regulations for farmers markets in neighborhoods would be streamlined.
Proposal
I purpose Urban Plot as a centralized urban garden and market located in the heart of downtown Asheville. Urban Plot will be
where farmers, consumers, food enthusiasts are united to promote education, health, participation, and experimentation with the
freshest of foods.
City Market as a Community Garden
URBAN PLOT
Patton Ave and Lexington Ave Asheville, NC

13. URBAN PLOT
Patton Ave and Lexington Ave Asheville, NC
GreenLife Grocery
Pack Square
SITE
Ingles
Grocery Stores in Asheville
Market Goals
· promote education and
health
· promote participation, recreation, and relaxation
· contribute to food security
· contribute to food safety
· decrease food desert
Pritchard
Park
SITE
Public Parks Access
Site Map

14. URBAN PLOT
Patton Ave and Lexington Ave Asheville, NC
Glass
Walls
Framing
Mullions
Administrative Offices
Restaurants
Cafe
Aditorium
Circulation
Second Floor Plan
Market Floor Plan
Auditorium and Class Rooms
Hyroponic Farms
Third Floor Plan
Steel Frames
Flooring
Site
Lexington Street Section
Patton Street Section

15. URBAN PLOT
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Patton Ave and Lexington Ave Asheville, NC
The structure to the market is based on the concept of suspension and tension. Columns are avoided to grade except at the building perimeter to create a open floor plan for people and vendors to move about the market, and to
provide the optimum freedom for different programs and activities. The structural solution was to hang the upper floors from paired beams at the roof, with inch-thick steel ribbons in tension as vertical structure fitted into the
plan module. 4’x 2’ steel columns and beams create the framing structure for the building. The two floors are hung
on tension from the roof structure. Support beams and diagonal cables are use for support against lateral forces.
LOAD DIAGRAM
This model is constructed at an 1/8”=1.0’ scale.
All the columns and beans are connected with a
figure joint and cable were attached to hang the
floors below before it was erected.
Girders were added to support the structure and
roof. The structure was stable but the floor were
swaying and need bracing to react to lateral
forces.

16. URBAN PLOT
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Patton Ave and Lexington Ave Asheville, NC
FINDINGS
After further analysis, lateral support
was needed to make the structure static.
Holes were drilled and cables were added diagonally along sides of the building connecting the structural frame and
the floors to strengthen the structure.
Diagonal cables were also added in the
interior structure connecting the floors.
ANALYSIS
The structure seemed stable but the floors swayed
from side to side when horizontal forces waere directly applied. Lateral bracing is needed to react to the
lateral forces.
CONCLUSION
After adding the diagonal cables
for bracing, the structure was
more static. The top floor was
very stable while the bottom
floor was less static. Because
the cables were imperfectly hand
stretch and tied, caused the
study model to be not as tight as
it should have been. There is not
enough tension for the model to
be static. If machines were used
to build the structure, the structure would be static. This structure could be static and functional if it was built is real scale.

17. Undergraduate Sample Projects
INTERIOR DESIGN

18. INTERIOR DESIGN
cosmopolitan space that hosts the diverse population tha
bustling through this metropolis daily.
HOTEL DESIGN
ARID Studio V
Contributed to:
1st Floor: Lobby, Reception,
HK Tower, Hong Kong
Restaurant, and Back of House
3rd Floor: Retail, Offices, Meeting Rooms,
Conference Rooms, and Cafeteria
6th- 36th Floor: Deluxe Rooms
39thth Floor: Premier Suites
Using the footprint of the building, conceptualize and design the interiors of a
five star hotel with 40 floors.
Design Concept: The design inspiration for this hotel stems from the culture of
tea. Different floors represent different types of tea which are revealed through
the color palette, level changes, as well as programming. The goal of this project is to blur the line between eastern and western cultures, thus creating a
cosmopolitan space that hosts the diverse population that is bustling through
ARID Studio V
this metropolis daily.
Hotel Design
Conceptional Models
Contributed to:
1st Floor: Lobby, Reception,
Restaurant, and Back of House
3rd Floor: Retail, Offices, Meeting Rooms,
Conference Rooms, and Cafeteria
6th- 36th Floor: Deluxe Rooms
39thth Floor: Premier Suites
1st Floor Plan
1st Floor Plan
Contributed to:
Contributed to:
1st Floor: Lobby, Reception,
1st Floor: Lobby, Reception,
Restaurant, and Back of House
Restaurant, and Back of House
3rd Floor: Retail, Offices, Meeting Rooms,
Offices, Meeting Rooms,
3rd Floor: Retail,
Conference Rooms, and Cafeteria
Conference Rooms, and Cafeteria
6th- 36th Floor: Deluxe Rooms
6th- 36th Floor: Deluxe Rooms
39thth Floor: Premier Suites
39thth Floor: Premier Suites
Group Members:
Mary Tran
Tania Ross
Mary Killian
Hotel Design
ARID Studio V

19. INTERIOR DESIGN
rippling affect of water.
HOTEL DESIGN
The design of the restaurant brings forth the element of water. The different levels
and concentric rings radiating out from the bar echo the rippling affect of water.
Hotel Design
Restaurant Reflective Ceiling Plan
HK Tower, Hong Kong
ARID Studio V
Restaurant Perspective
Restaurant Reflective Ceiling Plan
Reflected Ceiling Plan
Restaurant Elevation
Restaurant Reflective Ceiling Plan
Restaurant & Mezzanine Floor Plan
Restaurant & Mezzanine Floor Plan
Restaurant & Mezzanine Floor Plan
Restaurant Elevation
Restaurant Elevation
Restaurant Elevation

20. INTERIOR DESIGN
Sky Tower, Hong Kong
HK Tower, Hong Kong
HOTEL DESIGN
6th - 36th Floor Plan
Premier Suite Perspective
Premier Suite Reflective Ceiling Plan
Hotel Design
ARID Studio
Hotel DesignV
Premier Suite Elevation
ARID Studio V
39th Floor Plan
39th Floor Plan
6th - 36th Floor Plan
Deluxe A & B Perspective
ier Suite Perspective
Deluxe A & B Reflective Ceiling Plan
Premier Suite Floor Plan
Deluxe A & B Reflective Ceiling Plan
Premier Suite Elevation
Premier Suite Floor Plan
9th Floor Plan
Premier Suite Perspective
ARID Studio V
Hotel Design
Premier Suite
Premier Suite Elevation Elevation
Premier Suite Reflective Ceiling Plan
Premier Suite Perspective
Premier Suite Floor Plan
Premier Suite Elevation
Hotel Design
Deluxe A & B Perspective
ARID Studio V
Deluxe A & B RCP
Deluxe
Deluxe A & BDeluxe A A &PlanPlan
Floor B B Floor Plan
& Floor
Deluxe & B Elevation
Deluxe A A & B Elevation
Deluxe A & B Elevation

21. INTERIOR DESIGN
HOSPITALITY DESIGN
ns Zen Studio, Athens Ga
Athens Zen Studio, Athens Ga.
Objective: With the community of Athens in mind, design an alternate facility that will enhance the exercise experience by
creating a warm and relaxing Athens people
hens Zen Studio, atmosphere forGa who enjoy.
Hospitality Design
Design Features: Inspired by Japanese architecture, multi-purpose classroom studios, a therapeutic pool, sauna and
ARID
steam rooms, hourly day care, and a Zen garden and coy pond.
Studio III
Hospitality Design
ARID Studio III
Hospitality Design
Site III
ARID StudioPlan
and Juice Bar
Caf­ and Juice Bar
é
Café and Juice Bar
Therapeutic Pool
South Elevation
South Elevation
Section A.2
Section A.2
Floor Plan
Floor Plan

22. INTERIOR DESIGN
RESIDENTIAL DESIGN
Bluff House, Chattanooga Tn.
Objective: Using sustainable design and vernacular architecture, design a family dwelling that compliments the uprising contemporary art district of “The New Chattanooga” and utilizes the natural landscape.
Design Features: Two story living space and a third story art studio with a roof garden, an indoor and outdoor fireplace, endless balconies, and an infinity pool. The design calls for the use of local materials, green roof, a split heat
pump, photovoltaic panels, and a rainwater harvesting system.
Space Diagram
Site Plan
Sketch of Pool Levels
Master Bedroom
Site
View of the Bluff
Site Surroundings
View From Site

23. INTERIOR DESIGN
RESIDENTIAL DESIGN
Bluff House, Chattanooga Tn.
Concept Sketch of Exterior Staircase
First Floor Plan
Living Space
Second Floor Plan
South Elevation
Roof Floor Plan
West Elevation

24. INTERIOR DESIGN
RESIDENTIAL DESIGN
Bluff House, Chattanooga Tn.
Section A
Entrance and Staircase
Back Exterior Perspective

25. Skin to Structure
DIGITAL FABRICATION

26. Skin To Structure
DIGITAL FABRICATION
ITERATIONS II
MARY TRAN
Project 2
3
The objective to this project was to design a digital model using various tools in
Rhino creating a structure. First, many conceptual digital models were made to analyze the solids and voids of the sculpture. Using the “pipe” command, curves were
extruded into a wire frame structure. Then columns and floors were designed in the
model to create a standing building. Finally, a scaled model was fabricated to illustrate the skin and the structure of the building.
www.issuu.com/marytran marytran86@gmail.com
ITERATIONS I
1
ITERATIONS III

27. DIGITAL FABRICATION
Skin to Structure
Fabrication
The base is a massing made out of chipboards. The
structure consist of columns made with chip and basswood. The windows are framed in wood and layered with
plexy glass. Thick basswood make up the floors of the
structure. The voids and curded glass were fabricated using a 3-D printer.

28. Hand Eye
Sketches and Drawings
ANALOG

29. Hand Eye
ANALOG
Quick Sketches
Under Lee III Bridge
Pencil on Paper
11” x 17”
Grad Tower
Pencil on Paper
4” x 9”
Lee III
Pencil on Paper
4” x 9”
Willis Tower
Pen on Paper
4” x 9”

30. Hand Eye
ANALOG
Drawings
Vase
Charcoal on Paper
24” x 36”
Violin
Charcoal on Paper
24” x 36”
Bird House
Charcoal on Paper
24” x 36”
Magnolia
Charcoal on Paper
24” x 36”
Glass
Charcoal on Paper
24” x 36”