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RS1: The Lithium Triangle

Youlin Cao

Youlin was a designer and material engineer before entering the Royal College of Art in 2019. She got her Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Engineering in Beijing Forestry University in China from 2011-2019. Her background major was Wood Science and Technology – Furniture Design and Material Engineering, focused on low carbon and sustainable design in the field of Chinese traditional mortise and tenon joint structure furniture design.

Publications:

Books: Chinese Traditional Stool Model Tutorial, 2018 and Chinese Traditional Chair Model Tutorial, 2016

Journal Article: Cao Youlin, Wang Tianlong, Poplar LVL strengthen and furniture joint size optimization based on Finite Element Analysis, Journal of Northwest Forestry University, 34.01(2019), p218-223.

Patent:Youlin Cao, A furniture point structure based on optimized Luban mortise and tenon joint, 2018

She was in the MA Environmental Architecture Studio – Lithium Triangle Group during her RCA study in 2019-2021. She researched environmental impacts from mining extraction in Huatacondo and Tulor-Beter in the north of Chile. She participated in a field trip in Salar de Atacama to document negative impacts evidenced through interview and landscape recording. In her individual project, she researched reeds in Baiyangdian wetland in the northeast of China. She directed a film called ‘Hello, Mr. Reed!’ and proposed a new reed-centred life mode for local future sustainable development.

Other Works:

Booklets of environmental impacts based on GIS changing analysis in Huatacondo and Tulor-Beter

Phyto water treatment infrastructure in San Pedro de Atacama

Environmental research film: Hello, Mr. Reed!

New reed-centred life mode design in Baiyangdian wetland in China

Contact

Degree Details

School of Architecture

RS1: The Lithium Triangle

It is a conflict between human, social and science development and natural environment. As a designer, it is responsible for me finding a way in which humans could coexist with nature. I would like to intervene by material research, product design, architectural design and new media to address environmental issues. During my study at the RCA, I used GIS mapping to analyse environmental changes; I used video to show the environmental impacts from a subtle perspective, I focused on vegetation purification in water treatment projects. I developed my individual project through interviews, questionnaires, and video platform feedback. Then I proposed a new life mode that helps restore ecological environments and locals could live in a self-sustainable society.

Hello, Mr. Reed!

Let’s start a dialogue with vegetation, you will see something different!

Medium:

Photography

Size:

A3
Hello, Mr. Reed!
The research film has three parts: natural properties, kinship with humans and relations with the environment. It starts with colour bars which you could feel the reed environment rhythm. In the first part, it shows reed growth process, time, temperature and natural creatures such as birds, insects, vegetation and fish around reeds. The second part starts from reeds’ respiratory organ breathing. It presents human activities and impacts through mapping, sound wave and reed monologue. The final part includes visual data to show the environment changes in the aspects of reed production, reed field area, climate, construction area, wetland area, water situation and biodiversity. This film is the foundation of life mode design.

Medium:

Video, Photography, Mapping, Drawing, Animation, Storytelling, Data graph

Size:

1920*1080, 13min

Axonometric drawing

Section

The reed energy conversion station could generate electricity by reed fermentation through a biogas digester and produce compressed reed solid fuel. Farmers harvest reed, wash reed, smash reed, compress reed and finally transport to pier in the village. The station has a working area and life area, farmers rest and socialize. Fermenter is underground and connects to the gas tank, kitchen, toilet, residues tank. Gas is sent to the electricity engine system.

Medium:

Drawing, 3D model,Storytelling

Reed life at pier

section

Pier is the entrance of the village, farmers could sale reed products by boat marketing here. The 'cubes' could be used as community space or market space. New pier supports boat and wheelbarrow stop, community spaces, boat market space, beautiful landscape and hydrophilic platform.

Medium:

Drawing, 3D model,Storytelling

Village

Home

All the traditional reed building structures are preserved. Local people burn reed solid fuel for cooking and heating at home. The burning waste could be transferred to fertilizers for private vegetable yards.

Medium:

Drawing, 3D model

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