Interview with Xudong Zhu
Xudong Zhu, RIBA, Assoc.AIA, is an architect and urban designer with over eight years of experience specializing in integrating architectural design with urban functionality.
Designer of the Day Interview
15 March 2026
I am an architect and urban designer currently based in Boston. I received my Master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and have been working in architecture and urban design for over a decade. My work focuses on urban design, architecture, landscape, and public space. I am currently working at Sasaki, an international design firm known for large-scale urban and landscape projects around the world. In addition to my professional work, I founded T.E.N, which explores architecture, cultural space, and experimental design projects. I am also involved in developing Brick Gelato, a hybrid creative space in Hangzhou that combines a gelato shop, exhibition space, and design studio.
My interest in design began very early through my fascination with cities and public spaces. Growing up in China, I was always curious about why certain streets and public spaces felt vibrant and memorable while others felt empty or uncomfortable. This curiosity led me to architecture and urban design. Studying architecture and later urban design allowed me to explore how spatial design influences human behavior, culture, and community life. Over time, design became not only a profession but also a way of observing and understanding the world.
There are three aspects I prioritize most when designing:
Context – understanding the cultural, environmental, and urban context of a project.
Spatial Experience – designing spaces that people can truly experience and enjoy.
Adaptability – creating designs that can evolve and remain meaningful over time.
Technically, I combine digital tools such as Rhino, Grasshopper, and AI-assisted design tools with conceptual sketching and spatial modeling. I believe both analytical tools and intuitive thinking are important in the design process.
Context – understanding the cultural, environmental, and urban context of a project.
Spatial Experience – designing spaces that people can truly experience and enjoy.
Adaptability – creating designs that can evolve and remain meaningful over time.
Technically, I combine digital tools such as Rhino, Grasshopper, and AI-assisted design tools with conceptual sketching and spatial modeling. I believe both analytical tools and intuitive thinking are important in the design process.
Designing is both exciting and challenging. The most exciting moment is usually the early conceptual stage when ideas start to emerge and possibilities feel endless. At the same time, the process also requires patience, iteration, and problem solving. What I enjoy most is the moment when a concept becomes spatially clear and begins to form a coherent design vision.
Living and studying in different cultural contexts has shaped my design thinking significantly. Experiencing both Chinese and Western cities gave me a broader perspective on urban space and public life. Chinese cities often have a strong sense of density and social energy, while Western cities often emphasize public space and urban structure. Another important influence has been working on international projects, where design must respond to different cultures, climates, and social contexts.
My professional growth has moved gradually from architecture toward urban-scale design. In the future, I hope to continue exploring the intersection of urban design, culture, and emerging technologies. My dream project would be designing a large-scale cultural waterfront district where architecture, landscape, public space, and cultural programs interact to create a vibrant urban environment.
My advice to young designers is to stay curious and patient. Design is not something that can be mastered quickly. It requires years of observation, learning, and practice. Travel, observe cities, read widely, and learn from disciplines beyond architecture. The broader your perspective, the stronger your design thinking becomes.
One important principle is to balance creativity with responsibility. Design is not only about creating visually impressive projects. It also involves understanding social, environmental, and cultural impacts. Designers should remain open to collaboration and continuously learn from other disciplines.
A typical day includes design work, meetings with collaborators, and research. I usually start the day reviewing project updates and design materials. Much of the day involves sketching ideas, developing models, or discussing design strategies with colleagues. I also spend time reading about urban development, technology, and culture to keep expanding my perspective.
I pay attention to design trends, but I do not design purely based on trends. Trends can reflect broader cultural or technological changes, which can be useful references. However, good design should primarily respond to context and long-term value, rather than temporary trends.
Good design creates a strong relationship between people, place, and function. A well-designed project should be clear in concept, appropriate to its context, and able to improve the experience of those who use it. Often the best designs feel natural and effortless, even though they require careful thinking and refinement.
A design is ready when its core concept is clear and all major elements support that concept. Of course, no design is ever absolutely perfect. There will always be possibilities for improvement. However, when the design logic becomes coherent and the project communicates its intentions clearly, it is usually the right moment to move forward.
One project that is particularly meaningful to me is Flexible Landscape, a public plaza design in Shanghai. The project explores how a landscape can adapt to different uses over time. Instead of a fixed spatial arrangement, the design allows the plaza to host markets, exhibitions, and community events. This project reflects my interest in flexible public spaces and received the Shanghai Creative Design Recommendation Award.
There are many designers I admire. In architecture and urban design, figures such as Aldo Rossi and Rem Koolhaas have greatly influenced how we think about cities and architecture. I appreciate designers who are able to combine strong conceptual thinking with real spatial impact.
I currently live in Boston but work internationally. Experiencing different cities and cultures is very important for my design thinking. Travel often provides new perspectives on urban space, culture, and social life. Music, photography, and observing everyday city life are also important parts of my creative process.
Design is always collaborative. Successful projects require cooperation between architects, planners, engineers, clients, and communities. My approach is to create an open and constructive design environment where ideas can evolve through dialogue. Respect, curiosity, and clarity of communication are very important in this process.
I believe designers should contribute to public culture and knowledge. Through exhibitions, lectures, and experimental projects, I try to connect design with broader audiences. Spaces like our exhibition programs in Hangzhou aim to make design more accessible to the public. Supporting younger designers and sharing knowledge is also an important responsibility.
Participating in the A’ Design Award has been a very positive experience. Design competitions offer three important benefits: First, they provide international visibility for design ideas. Second, they encourage designers to reflect critically on their own work. Third, they create a global community where designers can exchange ideas and inspiration. Being selected as Designer of the Day is an honor and also a motivation to continue exploring meaningful design.
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Designer Interview
15 March 2026
I am an architect and urban designer currently based in Boston. I studied architecture and urban design and received my Master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. My work focuses on the intersection of architecture, urbanism, landscape, and culture. I have always been interested in how design can shape human experiences at different scales — from a small public space to an entire city district. Growing up in China, I was fascinated by cities, streets, and public spaces. I often wondered why some places feel alive and memorable while others do not. That curiosity gradually led me to architecture and urban design.
I founded T.E.N, which focuses on architecture, urban design, and cultural projects. The studio explores how design can connect people, place, and local culture. Our work ranges from urban master planning and architecture to small-scale spatial experiments, exhibitions, and cultural installations. Recently we also launched Brick Gelato, a hybrid space that combines a gelato shop, design studio, and exhibition space in Hangzhou. It is an experiment in how design can activate everyday life and create new forms of public cultural spaces.
For me, design is a way of thinking about the relationship between people, space, and time. Good design is not only about aesthetics. It is about understanding context, culture, environment, and human behavior, and transforming these elements into meaningful spatial experiences. Design is both analytical and poetic at the same time.
I particularly enjoy projects that combine urban design, landscape, and public life. Projects such as waterfronts, cultural districts, public parks, and experimental public spaces are especially interesting to me because they allow design to interact directly with everyday life. I also enjoy working on projects that integrate culture, tourism, and community life.
One project that is particularly meaningful to me is Flexible Landscape, a public plaza installation design in Shanghai. The project explores how a public space can adapt to different social activities over time. Instead of creating a fixed landscape, we designed a flexible system that allows the space to host markets, exhibitions, and community events. The project received the Shanghai Creative Design Recommendation Award, and it represents my interest in adaptable and socially active public spaces.
One of my early professional experiences involved working on urban public space design projects. It was a plaza project where I learned how design decisions must respond not only to spatial qualities but also to budget, regulations, and construction realities. That experience helped me understand how ideas can be translated into real built environments.
I am very interested in digital design tools and emerging technologies, especially how they influence spatial design. Tools such as Rhino, Grasshopper, and AI-assisted design platforms are expanding the possibilities of architectural thinking. At the same time, I also appreciate traditional materials such as stone, concrete, and wood, which carry strong tactile and cultural qualities.
Often when I am traveling or walking in cities. Observing streets, buildings, and everyday urban life often triggers new ideas. Many design inspirations come from simply watching how people interact with space.
I usually focus on three aspects: Spatial experience, Cultural context, Long-term adaptability. A good design should not only look good when it is completed, but also remain meaningful and functional over time.
Designing is a mixture of curiosity, excitement, and sometimes uncertainty. The process often involves exploring many possibilities before discovering the right solution.
When a design is finally built, it is very rewarding to see people actually using the space. Architecture and urban design only truly come alive when people interact with them.
A successful design creates a meaningful relationship between people and place. It should respond to its context while also generating new experiences.
I usually look at clarity of concept, response to context, spatial quality, long-term impact.
Designers have a responsibility to consider the social and environmental impact of their work. Cities and landscapes are long-lasting systems, so our design decisions affect many generations.
The design field is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary. Architecture, urban design, technology, environmental science, and digital tools are becoming more interconnected. AI and data will likely transform how we understand and design cities.
Recently we have organized several design-related exhibitions in the X Exhibition Space within Brick Gelato in Hangzhou. These exhibitions focus on architecture, urban culture, and creative experimentation. We hope to organize more exhibitions in the future that connect design with the public.
My inspiration often comes from cities and public spaces, travel experiences, cultural history, everyday urban life. I also find inspiration from art, photography, and literature.
I would describe my design approach as contextual, experimental, and urban-oriented. Rather than imposing a fixed style, I prefer to let the project context shape the design language.
I currently live in Boston but work internationally. Experiencing both Eastern and Western cultural contexts has influenced my design thinking significantly. Chinese urban culture, historical cities, and contemporary global urbanism all shape my perspective.
Working with companies usually involves a collaborative process. Designers translate ideas, goals, and constraints into spatial strategies and design solutions.
Companies should look for designers who understand both creativity and real-world constraints. The best design collaborations are based on trust and open communication.
1. Research and context analysis
2. Concept exploration
3. Spatial strategy development
4. Design refinement
5. Implementation
2. Concept exploration
3. Spatial strategy development
4. Design refinement
5. Implementation
1. Architectural books
2. Design sketches
3. Minimal furniture pieces
4. Handmade ceramics
5. Travel photographs
2. Design sketches
3. Minimal furniture pieces
4. Handmade ceramics
5. Travel photographs
A typical day usually involves design work, meetings, research, and sometimes sketching ideas. I also spend time reading, observing cities, and exploring new design tools.
Stay curious. Travel, observe cities, and learn from different disciplines. Design is not only about drawing — it is about understanding the world.
The positive aspect is the opportunity to shape environments and influence people's experiences. The challenge is that design projects often take many years to realize.
Design should always respect people, place, and time.
1. Observation
2. Critical thinking
3. Creativity
4. Communication
2. Critical thinking
3. Creativity
4. Communication
I use a combination of tools including: Rhino, Grasshopper, CAD, Adobe tools, and increasingly AI-assisted design tools.
I try to divide time between focused design work and broader research. Balancing creativity and productivity is very important.
It depends on the project scale. Some design ideas appear quickly, but the process of refining and realizing them can take months or even years.
Many people ask how designers come up with ideas. In reality, ideas often emerge from careful observation and analysis rather than sudden inspiration.
Working on international urban design projects has been very important for my development as a designer.
My work involves collaboration with cities, developers, cultural institutions, and design organizations.
Public space and urban-scale projects.
I hope to continue exploring the intersection of design, culture, and technology, especially how emerging tools such as AI can influence spatial design.
Design is always collaborative. Most projects involve teams of architects, planners, engineers, and clients.
Yes, I am currently involved in several urban design and architecture projects internationally. But most of them are confidential.
xudong.zhu.dong@gmail.com
Just want to emphasize that design is a continuous exploration. Every project is an opportunity to learn something new about cities, culture, and human experience.
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