Liwen is currently a Masters in Architecture candidate with advanced placement at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. She will be receiving her degree in May 2013.
Born in China and raised in both England and Hong Kong under the British education system, Liwen received her B.A in Architecture with a minor in City and Regional Planning from UC Berkeley and has since worked in Paris on projects in North Africa for several years before coming to the GSD. She has also lived, worked and studied in Copenhagen, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Shanghai.
With a background in architecture, digital fabrication and applied arts, coupled with a strong interest in landscape architecture and urban design, Liwen is committed to collaborations across disciplines and scales. She believes that strategies for problem solving and design thinking ultimately occur at the intersection of interdisciplinarity.
Liwen considers that successful, innovative and socially responsible architecture is a result of ongoing discourse and negotiation between theory and practice. Her teaching experience at the GSD as a Career Discovery instructor, a teaching assistant for a graduate architecture studio and an ongoing research assistant for Rahul Mehrotra's Urban India Lab has established her commitment to the role of education in the development of her professional career aspirations.
Her current interests involve exploring how institutions play a role in defining viable civic and cultural spaces in cities.
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, US, Research Assistant - Department of Urban Planning and Design
Member of the GSD's Urban India Lab
Work involved putting together publications and exhibitions on urbanism in India.
Responsibilities included brain storming sessions on the content of upcoming seminars, grant writing and the contents of upcoming publications/exhibitions.
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, US, GSD Career Discovery Instructor
Teaching an introduction to design representation at Harvard GSD for four sections of architecture students over a course of six weeks.
Work involved conducting lectures, seminars and workshops on the various forms and techniques of representation in architecture.
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, US, Teaching Assistant - Department of Architecture
Teaching Assistant for 2nd Year Masters of Architecture Core Studio
Kilo Architectures, Paris, France, Designer
Competitions:
CasArts, Casablanca Morocco, in collaboration with OMA, Rotterdam (finalist)
Montabo, a hotel in French Guiana (winner)
Led design for a private residence in Rabat and a social housing project in Casablanca, Morocco
Developed conceptual design strategies for W hotel in Marrakech and various other private housing projects in Morocco.
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, US, MArch, Masters of Architecture I with Advanced Placement
Expected graduation date: May 2013
University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, US, Bachelors, Architecture
Graduated with a Minor in City and Regional Planning
Study Abroad with Denmark International Studies, Copenhagen
Activities and Societies: Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco
Araldo A. Cosutta Prize for Design Excellence, Nomination
Faculty nominated finalist, Harvard Graduate School of Design.
UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design Alumni Association Professional Promise Award, Award
Given in recognition of accomplishments, skills and talent demonstrating great potential for future contributions to the environmental design profession.
Awarded upon graduation to three undergraduates out of a year of one hundred seventy
