Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yibin Yang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Yibin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
My work as an architectural designer is deeply rooted in a rational approach to design, where each decision is driven by logic, research, and a commitment to sustainability. I believe that architecture must be not only aesthetically compelling but also functionally sound and environmentally responsible. I think I can summarize my creative vision by telling you about one of my own thesis projects: Biophilia.
The Biophilia project was a result of an in-depth field study of an urban village in my hometown Guangzhou, China. The site is a relic of an ancient village swallowed by rapid urban expansion. During the economic reformation, people from all over China came to the city of Guangzhou to seek a living, and many of them ended up living in the urban village due to its central location and incredibly affordable rent. As a result, the urban village now houses 60,000 people within merely 0.25 km² of land, resulting in extreme density and substandard living conditions. Having visited many times and many interviews with the residents, I proposed a plan to transform the urban village by stacking the density vertically using high-rise residential towers made with timber, with the aim of preserving the area’s population density while freeing up ground space for green areas and communal activities.
Sustainability is at the core of this project. The redevelopment begins with progressive demolition and forestation of the site, integrating local plant species including nectar source and ornithophilous plants to restore a functional ecosystem. This forest not only rejuvenates the environment but also supplies the timber needed for construction, creating a circular economy on-site.
The choice of timber as the primary construction material was both innovative and rational. Timber’s potential for industrialization allows for an efficient, cost-effective construction process. Moreover, timber fosters a biophilic environment, for access to natural elements is vital in densely urbanized areas where nature is often overshadowed by concrete and steel. The design of the residential towers uses suspended modular structure, which minimizes on-site construction, further enhancing economic efficiency. For the individual living units, the design incorporates shading and passive ventilation strategies tailored to Guangzhou’s subtropical monsoon climate, significantly reducing energy consumption and fostering a sustainable and comfortable living environment.
To me, this is a pivotal project in my design career. Concepts such as circular economy, urban ecology, industrialized construction, and passive design expanded my understanding of the architecture profession. And all the research, field study, and the people I talked to made me more aware of the people we are designing for and how the design of urban spaces influences them. I’m excited to share that the project recently won the Gold prize at the 2024 MUSE Design Awards. This prestigious competition, organized by the International Awards Associate (IAA), celebrates outstanding and innovative designs worldwide. Receiving this award highlights not only my design ability but also the project’s potential influence on the architecture industry.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I didn’t always see myself as a designer. In fact, from primary school through middle school, I was set on pursuing a career in computer science. Growing up during the rapid growth of information technology in China, I spent much of my childhood catching up with the latest tech developments. However, as I grew older, my interests started to shift. My parents, who worked in advertising, likely influenced this change. I began to pay attention to the things that shape our society, culture, and living environment. This led me to explore architecture—a field where creativity meets practicality.
Architecture has been a fulfilling path for me. The blend of art, functionality, and technology is something I find deeply satisfying. My interest in technology has been a valuable asset in this field as well. Working at Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (ASGG), I have been part of a team that constantly pushes the boundaries of design, particularly in structure, sustainability, and smart technologies. We specialize in creating some of the world’s most iconic and sustainable structures, so staying on the cutting edge of design technology is crucial. Whenever I finish a specific design, I always reference existing projects and trade journals to make sure that the design is viable. I would also utilize VR equipments, putting myself virtually into the space to make sure that I made the correct choice of material, and that the design is comfortable in scale. In addition, being proficient in design technologies allows me to develop efficient workflows that aid the design process. For example, on a project involving a large-scale trellis with complex geometry and hundreds of unique structure members, I developed algorithms that approximate primitive forms to the complex geometry with minimal deviation, generate cladding details for every different structure member based on structure consultant’s calculation, and create custom patterns that optimize the trellis’s occlusion of daylight in specific locations. These efforts have allowed the team to push the design forward in a speedy manner while ensuring construction feasibility. Overall, my rational approach to design enabled me to embed intelligence in my work which I am very proud of.
What inspires me more than anything in my day-to-day work is the opportunity to both create and to enhance the creative process. Besides my own work, I am dedicated to helping my peers realize their ideas with my skills, and I am constantly learning from my peers. This drive to improve and innovate really keeps me passionate about my career.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing my work recognized and appreciated by others. One of the most memorable moments in my professional journey was winning first place in a toy design competition organized by the Swiss toy manufacturer Naef Spiele while I was still in design school. That experience was incredibly satisfying—it was the moment I realized I had created something truly special, and it was acknowledged by top experts in the field. That recognition validated my efforts and really fueled my passion for design.
As an architectural designer, there’s an additional layer of fulfillment that comes with seeing a project move from concept to reality. It is one thing to design a building on a computer screen, but witnessing it take shape in the real world is something else entirely. Though I am still relatively young in my career, I am lucky enough to see some of my designs built. The feeling of watching an idea materialize into a physical structure, knowing that it will impact people’s lives and contribute to the built environment, is truly unparalleled.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Sometimes, the most rewarding aspect of being an architectural designer can become the biggest challenge, and that is the fact that not every design gets realized. Architecture, particularly high-profile projects such as skyscrapers and masterplans, requires a delicate balance of factors to come to fruition. Adequate financing, market enthusiasm, a supportive political environment, and the technical expertise of all consultants and contractors involved need to all fall into the right place to make projects like that happen. Without these elements aligning perfectly, even the best designs may never move beyond the drawing board.
In my experience, this is a hard reality to accept. You pour your creativity, knowledge, and effort into a project, only to hear back from the client that the project is stalled due to lack of financing, or worse, that the city mayor prefers another firm’s design over yours. Having that happen a couple of times at the beginning of a designer’s career can really make one ponder their career choice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://archyang.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_yibin_yang/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yibin-yang-15a75318b/
