Mu Qu Jennifer Liu graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2023 with a Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture.

The portfolio images below showcase work that won her acceptance to both of the master’s programs for which she applied, the University of Manitoba and Carleton University.

“I like to work in a hybrid mode, transitioning between analog and digital processes,” says Liu, who is currently in her first year of the three-year Master of Architecture program at Carleton University.

“As a true believer in thinking through making and drawing, I engage extensively in hands-on work,” she says. “My approach involves translating research into architectural expressions, with a primary focus on eliciting emotions and experiences for the users. Collages and mapping exercises allow me to address smaller moments and broader contexts, so I get to consider and integrate various scales into my design.”

In preparation for her portfolio, Liu studied portfolio precedents to understand how they organized layouts, selected drawings, and maintained consistent project styles. “I wanted to achieve a clean and polished aesthetic with my portfolio so I opted for a more minimalistic style. This choice was made with the intention of directing the reader’s attention squarely to the drawings themselves, ensuring a focused and uncluttered viewing experience.” 

Liu completed the three featured projects during her undergraduate program. Museum of Floods and Shield Follies: Pinawa Dam Model formed part of her portfolio submission to Carleton. She has since updated her portfolio with Porous Aquatecture: Living with Porosity.

All Images: Courtesy of Mu Qu Jennifer Liu

Porous Aquatecture: Living with Porosity (8 images) — The project is situated in the 2200 climate future in Churchill, Manitoba. It aims to design an aquatecture that fosters a sustainable approach to aquafarming while promoting interactions between the human and non-human world.

2023, University of Manitoba, Academic Design Instructor: Associate Professor Lancelot Coar

Museum of Floods (5 images)— Set in the abandoned Canadian Pacific Railway Bergen Cutoff Bridge on Winnipeg, MB, the Museum of Floods uses the site as a spolia and translates local historical and current water level data into a spatial experience.

2022, University of Manitoba, Academic Design Instructor: Chad Connery

Shield Follies: Pinawa Dam Model (5 images) — Using aerial photos and point cloud data as reference, a 1:200 group model of the Pinawa Dam in Manitoba was modelled after a field trip.

2021, University of Manitoba, Academic Studio Collaborative Design Instructor: Chad Connery