About
I am a PhD candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), working under the supervision of Prof. Marilyne Andersen. My research focuses on the intersection of biophilic design, light patterns, view quality, and human responses to built environments.
My doctoral thesis, "From Komorebi to Shading: View and Light Patterns Through Shading Systems with Spatial and Temporal Dynamics," explores how dynamic light and shadow patterns, combined with view filtering strategies, can enhance human well-being in built environments. I am particularly interested in developing comprehensive metrics for better understanding natural phenomena such as Komorebi, and investigating the design integration of nature-based features that enhance human well-being through empirical study of their relationship to human psychological and physiological responses.
Contact Information
Email: zhujing.zhang@epfl.ch
Institution: EPFL - École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Laboratory: Laboratory of Integrated Performance in Design (LIPID)
Education
Research Experience
- Developing spatio-temporal metrics for Komorebi light patterns and exploring their relation to human responses
- Investigating shading systems for view filtering and indoor well-being
- Researched neighborhood peak load and thermal comfort optimization
- Developed machine learning models as surrogates for physics-based simulations
- Developed robotic manipulation methods for fabric-formed architectural modeling
Professional Experience
- Contributed to residential and commercial design development
Key Skills
Research
Light simulation, EnergyPlus, Climate Studio, Machine learning, Statistical analysis, Image processing, Optimization, Human response assessment
Design
Rhino, Grasshopper, Digital fabrication, Adobe Creative Suite, Physical prototyping, Parametric design
Academic Publications
Journal Articles
Conference Articles
Thesis
Design Projects
Komorebi: Embedding Dappled Sunlight
2020
Master's thesis developing a daylight-filtering system to bring the phenomenon of Komorebi into built environments.
Bamboo Pavilion 山水田村
2018
First Prize in China Wang Shu Workshop, exploring mountain, water, farmland, and village relationships through bamboo construction.
Shelter for People and Plants
2018
Post-disaster school renovation in Puerto Rico merging education, agriculture, and disaster relief shelter functions.
RECÍPROCO: Winery in Baja
2017
Sustainable winery design using passive thermal strategies and gravity-fed operations in Baja's extreme climate conditions.
Play in Circle: YMCA Proposal
2017
YMCA design proposal using circular forms to create intergenerational play spaces and community connections.
意境·意思 Chinese Landscape Painting
2015-2019
5-meter horizontal scroll exploring space, atmosphere, and imagination through traditional Chinese landscape painting techniques.
RoboPinch
2014-2015
Robotic manipulation of fabric formwork for creating plaster architectural models, exploring digital-physical translation.
Curving
2017
Precision in robotic hot-wire cutting, generating curved forms through optimized tool paths and intersection algorithms.
Tracing the Walk
2016
Responsive temporal installation registering subtle walking motion through delicate surface materials and unified wave motion.