YAPEI RAVEN ZHANG


Columbia University, Master of Science in Critical, Curatorial & Conceptual Practices
2023-Present

Tsinghua University, Bachelor of Architecture
2017-2023

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Lingering in the Lingering Garden

Graphic Design, Personal Project
2022/11/01-2022/11/25


[Lingering in the Lingering Garden]

Graphic Design, Personal Project
Beijing, China
2022/11/01-2022/11/25
The project seeks to analyze the spatial experience in the Lingering Garden (留園) and display its spatial characteristics in the form of a handmade book. An old verse precisely captures the source of the beauty of Chinese gardens: The courtyard is deep, yet how deep is the deep courtyard (庭院深深深几许)? What makes a courtyard deep is not its physical length but its complicated layers formed by endless walls, columns, corridors, and windows.

These layers are generally two-dimensional, which makes the paper a suitable medium to demonstrate them. Therefore, I selected five design elements of the Lingering Garden, each representing one spatial form. Using different bookbinding methods, I expect to encourage readers to explore the possibilities of those layers' combinations.


I The Zigzag Path. The Zigzag Path is a winding roofed corridor that connects the entry hall, residence, and Old Intertwined Trees Court. There are two layers in this element: the path and its background.

II Small House by the Flowery Path. The path is a complex structure composed of a covered passage that reflects the courtyard’s depth with numerous windows facing different angles, inviting tourists to explore the space behind.

III Hanbi Mountain Villa & Pellucid Tower. Hanbi Mountain Villa and Pellucid Tower are two adjacent buildings designed to resemble a boat launching into a pond. Tourists’ vision is divided into four parts: the two buildings, the central wall, and their reflections.

IV Corridor and Pavilions Around the Pond. The corridor connects the Refreshing Breeze Pavilion and the Osmanthus Fragrans Pavilion, allowing visitors to pause, converse, and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

V Celestial Hall of Five Peaks. Li Bai’s verse, “There are five peaks to the south of Mount Lu which seem to be the golden lotus flowers cut out by nature (廬山東南五老峰，青天削出金芙蓉),” inspired the hall’s design of horizontal spatial structure and carefully arranged elements.
001Master Plan of the Lingering Garden
002Different Foldings to Display Different Spaces. The book uses accordion binding for its main part. The contents are printed on sulfuric acid papers and bound by saddle-sewn binding. Each scene uses different folding to coincide with the garden’s element it represe
003The final outcome, top view.
004aThe entrance.




004bThe Zigzag Path.






004cLayers through the Windows.


004dThe Pavilions on the water.




004eThe Corridors around the Pond


004fThe Celestial Hall of Five Peaks.