Ruichen Xu and Yunshi Chen, having completed an eight-year architecture program at the University of Pennsylvania in 2021, embarked on their careers as Architectural Designers in the US, aiming to use classic architectural principles to address societal challenges, especially those related to post-pandemic architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Q1. Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon completing an eight-year program in Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania in 2021, we have embarked on careers as Architectural Designers in the United States. Our primary objective is to apply classic architectural principles to develop solutions for societal challenges, such as those emerging in architecture after the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We focus on pop-art installation, regional topics, adaptive use, and affordable housing development in megacities. Our studies in architecture granted us a unique perspective along with experimental concept designs to explore possibilities and feasible resolutions for such topics. We hope architecture can help designers express both their understanding of the world and their expectations for a better world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q2. What made you become\/why did you choose to become a designer\/artist?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We began our journey in the field of architecture, interpreting this practical industry through a series of continuous architectural tasks. Each of these tasks is dedicated to finding solutions for real social issues and meeting the specific needs of clients, tailored to particular locations, programs, and functions. In our pursuit of feasible and practical solutions, we inadvertently integrated art into architecture. However, we recognise that architectural products, to some extent, differ from other forms of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we advanced in our architectural studies and explored various styles and possibilities in the field, we came to understand that Art and Architecture emerge simultaneously. This realisation led us to focus more on designing spaces that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing. We believe that our role as architectural designers is the most effective way to achieve our goals. Ultimately, this approach culminated in our proud achievement: our project ‘Breach As A Bridge,’ which was designed and honoured at the 2023 London Design Awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q3. Tell us more about your agency\/company, job profile, and what you do.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ruichen<\/strong>: I work as an Architectural Designer at AECOM Technical Services, Inc. in Denver, Colorado. In my capacity as an architectural designer, I work on federal projects and have amassed quite an experience in working on public projects and DoD projects. For this project, I am responsible for programming, design development, construction documents, and other design tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yunshi<\/strong>: I am an Architectural Designer at MENG Architects and in this project, I serve as the designer for all phases from pre-designing through construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q4. What does \u201cdesign\u201d mean to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We have always believed that architecture is an extraordinary and timeless medium for expressing design. In any building, whether it’s a modest shelter or a grand skyscraper, design is inseparable. Every detail lives within the architecture, expressing itself in the world with its unique voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As architects, we translate our thoughts and understanding of the world through the language of architecture. We strive to create a dialogue with both the users and visitors of the buildings, infusing our visions and expectations of the world into our designs. After nearly eight years of studying architecture, this discipline has become our primary mode of communication\u2014not just between us, but also with people from various fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Especially now, working as architects in different cities, our designs have become an integral part of our lives. Through practical architectural projects, we have learned about the power of design and architecture and the responsibility it carries. Architecture serves various purposes \u2013 it can be a functional shelter, a visually appealing structure, or even a symbol of luxury. But more importantly, it offers help to clients, improving their lives with our professional strategies. We have observed buildings contributing to the regeneration of entire communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have also seen a museum aid a country’s recovery from the post-industrial era, generating billions of dollars based on its presence alone. For us, design and architecture are not just professions; they are our entire life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q5. What\u2019s your favorite kind of design and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We prefer designs that can improve the world. Architecture has been a rigid demand for people for thousands of years. Therefore, the purpose of architectural productions, namely buildings, must be habitable and it is the most important aspect for architects to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We hope our design can help users solve some common problems and lead them to live a better life. This is a consistent goal that we strive to achieve in our approach to design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q6. To you, what makes a \u201cgood\u201d design?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Establishing a standard for architectural design is challenging. The evaluation of architecture is inherently subjective, with potentially a thousand different answers coming from a thousand different people. We maintain that everyone should be able to express their opinions on any architectural work, while recognising that good designs are those that provide positive experiences and feelings to their users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, we also believe that the feedback system is an integral part of the design process. Architects and designers do not aim to create a ‘good’ design in isolation; rather, the goal is to develop designs that will ultimately enhance the user’s experience and facilitate a smoother life. The true measure of a design’s success is its interaction with and impact on the users, which only becomes fully apparent after the building is constructed and interacts with the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winning Entry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n We believe that Architecture is an extraordinary and eternal way of understanding the world. Trying to create a dialogue with the user of the building … (Read more at London Design Awards<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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