X_WIP
X_WIP is the research and academic wing of OXO, embodying the same experimental ethos. It explores critical topics such as discrete architecture, monolithic architecture, flat ontology, AI integration, proceduralism, and computational design. Research is conducted through independent investigations and design studios led by Jia Zhou Zhu at the USC School of Architecture.
Architecture and beyond
Recursive Extrusion
For a topic studio taught at the USC School of Architecture, this animation was first made to demonstrate how to code and model recursive behavior.
Synthetic Material in Digital Objects
A series of quick studies in growth algorithm in SideFX Houdini.
The Real Unreal
The Real Unreal is a seminar led by Jia Zhou Zhu at the USC School of Architecture. It challenges the desire to achieve a hyper-realistic environment in architectural visualization. It blends the hyper-realistic with the alien and the impossible. The yellow object is developed in SideFX Houdini and visualized in UE5.
The Real Unreal - Student Work Reel
This reel presents a collection of animations made by students in the seminar the Real Unreal at the USC School of Architecture in 2023. The strange alien-like organisms are developed in SideFX Houdini and visualized in UE5.
Rethinking Monolithic Architecture - Synthetic Chunk(s) -- Student Reel
This reel showcases some selected student projects of design studio led by Jia Zhou Zhu in Fall 2024 at the USC School of Architecture.
Rethinking Monolithic Architecture
- Synthetic Chunk(s)
This Topic Studio (ARCH 405/705) is led by Jia Zhou Zhu in Fall 2024 at the USC School of Architecture, The studio investigates, interrogates, and assigns new meanings to the traditional ‘part-to-whole’ relationship in architecture. While proposing a new tension between part and whole, it challenges the traditional notion of monolithic architecture. The objective of the studio is to produce a novel form of monolithic architecture by integrating highly autonomous chunks (sub-solids) into a network of interior spaces, which forms a synthetic super chunk. To be autonomous, the autonomous chunks (sub-solids) need to meet two conditions simultaneously – 1. Formally, it needs to be unique yet consistent with the other chunks. 2. Programmatically it needs to function autonomously yet in conjunction with the other chunks and their functions. Once these chunks are formed, we will then use various transformation techniques and solid operations to combine them into a synthetic super chunk – the whole in the part-to-whole relationship. The projects are developed by students using AI tools in ComfyUI and 3D development platform, SideFX Houdini.
Variety Instancing with Individualized Transformation
A quick study of various methods of copy and stamp in a procedural setup. VDB is used for creating more advanced solid operations. All modeling and visualization are developed in SideFX Houdini.
Student Work by Asma Aloraifi, Fall 2023, USC School of Architecture
Student Work by Justin Best, Fall 2023, USC School of Architecture
Rethinking Monolithic Architecture - 2023
This Topic Studio (ARCH 405/705) is led by Jia Zhou Zhu in Fall 2023 at the USC School of Architecture, The studio investigates, interrogates, and assigns new meanings to the traditional ‘part-to-whole’ relationship in architecture. While proposing a new tension between part and whole, it challenges the traditional notion of monolithic architecture. The objective of the studio is to produce a novel form of monolithic architecture by integrating highly autonomous chunks (sub-solids) into a network of interior spaces, which forms a synthetic super chunk. To be autonomous, the autonomous chunks (sub-solids) need to meet two conditions simultaneously – 1. Formally, it needs to be unique yet consistent with the other chunks. 2. Programmatically it needs to function autonomously yet in conjunction with the other chunks and their functions. Once these chunks are formed, we will then use various transformation techniques and solid operations to combine them into a synthetic super chunk – the whole in the part-to-whole relationship. The projects are developed by students using AI tools in ComfyUI and 3D development platform, SideFX Houdini.