I am an architectural and urban designer based in Rotterdam. I see the role of a designer as not just creating spaces, but thoughtfully addressing the challenges and opportunities within our built environment.
I like analyzing complex topics, and transforming data, policies, and needs into clear, actionable proposals. I effectively manage information exchanges across diverse teams, particularly in cross-cultural contexts, ensuring everyone is aligned and informed. In project management, I excel at setting clear timelines, prioritizing tasks, and efficiently organizing team resources to optimize outcomes.
My experience ranges from interior design, and architectural design to urban design; from China, the Middle East, to Europe. I like to explore and develop designs across different scales and contexts.
Xiaojie HUANG
Next to the Circles
Bookstore design in Chengdu Chengdu, China
July 2018 - competition with Yue Shen
It is an exploration for the inward bookstore and the outward tea house, as to connect with the surroundings.
The site is located next to the Xinglong Lake. according to the urban planning, the site is a green area with open views to the surrounding. It is non-directional that it can easily gain the best landscape views from the surrounding. In this open place, the building itself should be an iconic monument to attract people and suppose to be a place for gathering. We believe that we can use those simple but unique elements to make the building easy to be recongnized, while we would create different attractive space and layers within the building.
Site
视野开阔，无方向性
纪念性标志物吸引人群集聚
Open view, Non-directional Iconic monument for people gathering
Tea house
Function
Idea
户外，外向性空间，无特定入口，交流空间， 展示面需求小
Outdoor, Outward, No defined entrance, Communication, No display surface
Bookstore
竖向划分，最大化两种空间质量，茶馆对景观 及可达性的需求（放置底部）
Vertical division, Maximize the quality of two space, Tea house requires for view and accessibility
Indoor, Inward, Defined entrance, Reading, Display surface
When we juxtaposing these two different spaces, we have to think about how to maximize the spatial quality of them. - The tea house is in the bottom with strong accessibility and openness to the surrounding while the bookstore is in the upper level that it can be placed in the relatively quiet and inward space.
Bookshelf
Bookstore entrance
Atrium / Multifunctional space
BG: Tea house
2F: Bookstore
3F: Bookstore
Xiaojie Huang, Yue Shen
DESIGN IDEAS
Given the uncertain future of privately owned cars, we chose ground parking to meet the building’s requirements, saving 5 million RMB in construction costs and allowing greater flexibility for future development.
The site’s low building density allows for future expansion, supported by modular and extendible structures, while a shared logistics elevator will facilitate the second phase of development.
The Experimental space serves as a platform for industry-academia collaboration, facilitating communication between enterprises and students, and function as exhibition spaces to showcase new technologies and ideas.
Steel structures are more adaptable for future changes, offering a lighter foundation load that allows for easier installation and reduced transportation needs. They enable rapid construction in various climates and can increase usable space by 10%15% compared to traditional buildings.
Sufficient space for ground parking, Future volume
Regulation: Low building density
Workdeck B and library wall
Workdeck A
The second floor serves as the main reception point for the building, and it has shared functional space such as auditorium, exhibition space, and interactive workshop. It reflects the sharing cultural core of the NDU.
Workdeck B
Set up a shared open book wall on Workdeck B to increase its usage. At the same time, it can also partially reduce the noise from the workdeck.
While ensuring independent high-quality office space, we integrate exhibition space, experimental platforms, and conference spaces to the building.
CLIMATE CONCEPT
The workdeck area is working as a buffer zone for the office area, while the roof greening could also help to maintain comfort temperture.
IAP+, as a display space for new technologies and concepts, provides a platform for enterprises and schools to communicate and promote the development of the design industry.
Experimental Space
Experimental space is introduced, together with the flexibility, forming the important part of the concept. Through the cost-effective assembly, prefabricated modular construction and the large space experimental platform, the building provide a shared space as a technical test field for the NDU.
Active Office
In terms of function and structure, the building is considered extendable in future potential development. Its 6 m or 12 m structural modulus can easily adapt to different functions. It is also semi-open on the façade and uses a connectable construction method, retaining the possibilities in the future.
Dynamic building part can be demolished or constructed for future use, to achieve a long-term dynamic relationship between buildings and users.
Building envelop
Solar panels are partially set on the façade to provide part of the energy for the building itself.
Beijing Micropolis
Guangyintang Collective Rental Housing Project
2020-2021
Beijing, China. From concept design to construction drawing design, under construction Team: MLA+ B.V. + CADG, Xiaojie Huang as a designer
This is an affordable rental micro-studio (22m2 or 32m2) project with a large complex with different communal amenities, sports parks, cultural venues, and shops.
Co-living community spaces
Co-living community spaces
Micro-living for everyone
Micro-living for everyone
Female Studio: 21.51m2
Additional + : By the brief, it was asked to dedicated one building with studios for female tenants only. We wanted to provide a different layout and an additional quality for female studios. Bigger and more compact layout allowed us to add an extra walk-in closet that can be also used as a study room and extra storage space.
Micro-living for everyone
Micro-living for everyone
We consider different tenants and their specific needs and create a mixture of vibrant residential atmospheres within the complex of 4,000 units. Efficient and flexible general floorplan layouts allow to provide various types of units for different lifestyles.
Standard Studio: 20.18m2
Additional + : A challenge for designing a 22m2 was how to design a small unit that is comfortable as a normal-size apartment with different zones. A + is gained by adding sliding doors between sleeping area and living room. Depending on scenario it allows bedroom to stay more private or opening it for the feeling of a bigger space.
Emerging Groenewoud
2023
Tilburg, Netherlands
The post-war neighborhood stands as a significant urban typology, it requires vast attention for social improvement but is also a canvas for inspiring transformation. This transformative endeavor aenvisions a universal yet uniquely tailored solution for the post-war neighborhood.
Team: Xiaojie Huang, Yue Shen, Xijie Ma
The post-war neighborhood stands as a significant urban typology, it requires vast attention for social improvement, but is also a canvas for inspiring transformation. With its potential for achieving housing assignment and sustainable development, it deserves the attention of architects and urbanists to shoulder the responsibility of nurturing its built environment after a span of 50 years.
In this endeavor, a crucial starting point stands above all: a mindful commitment to building upon the existing space, rather than resorting to the indiscriminate demolition of structures. The preservation of the neighborhood’s historical fabric becomes paramount, weaving a narrative of resilience and honoring the enduring spirit of its inhabitants. By embracing transformation over demolition, the transformation breathe new life into old edifices, infusing them with contemporary purpose while preserving a tangible link to the past.
“Building
in the green”
Densify and diversify
Emphasizing the values of social cohesion and fostering a vibrant, healthy community, this approach considers the residents’ well-being and needs. Rather than merely displacing individuals and families, the focus shifts to adding inhabitants, forging a sense of belonging and a shared destiny among the diverse tapestry that will call this revitalized neighborhood home.
Integral to this vision is the celebration of green spaces as an identity-defining characteristic. The preservation of existing trees and green areas becomes a priority, recognizing not only their ecological significance but also their positive impact on the physical and mental health of the community.
In essence, this transformative endeavor envisions a universal yet uniquely tailored solution for the post-war neighborhood.
By repositioning and eliminating hard barriers like parking, the project aims to establish connections with the surrounding green, creating an ecological network through parks and green streets.
The project integrates
Berglandweg serves as the main car road, fietsstraats allow shared use of cars for destination traffic. A concentrated parking hub is positioned to promote a car-free green heart.
In the new construction, wooden structures are employed, incorporating solar energy and water recycling systems into daily life. This living style seamlessly merges with the existing natural environment, giving rise to a fresh ecological cycle. The program accommodates diverse target groups, fostering positive interactions: offering additional educational opportunities and playfields to attract new families; makers’ space and urban farming create job prospects to retain young residents; and centralized senior residences are integrated with other age groups, while also generating more caregiving job opportunities. The plan strives to establish a harmonious life-cycle between the natural environment and human living conditions.
The Cross-Disciplinary Experiment Space is introverted so that the audiences and researchers could focus better on the art. The reflective exterior and the folded glass help dissolving the large volume into its surroundings with specular reflection, while forming a futuristic sense of spatial dislocation.
The amphitheatre, circus, shadow play and other traditional performance space prototypes are extracted to form an interactive stage area with the extroverted characteristic. Blending with the surrounding environment, it aims to blurry the boundaries between performance space and common space.
镜面反射的材质 Reflective material to exhibit the landscape
The Cross-Disciplinary Experiment Space is introverted so that the audiences and researchers could focus better on the art. The reflective exterior and the folded glass help dissolving the large volume into its surroundings with specular reflection, while forming a futuristic sense of spatial dislocation.
The amphitheatre, circus, shadow play and other traditional performance space prototypes are extracted to form an interactive stage area with the extroverted characteristic. Blending with the surrounding environment, it aims to blurry the boundaries between performance space and common space.
可变化的剧场空间
Transformable theatre space to facilitate different performance
Work product 2019 Shenzhen Keynode Architecutre Design for Qianhai area involved in design and conceptual ideas expression.
屋顶花园 Rooftop garden
Relevant Work Samples
Canteen Conceptual Design
Work product 2019
Design for a canteen in Amsterdam. Renders from external visualization company. involved in design and conceptual ideas expression.
Transformation
Public Prosecutor's Offce Competition in NOAHH - Finalist 2020
An office transformation design with different phases in Maastricht. Modeling in Rhino, Photoshop post production. Involved in architectural design, visualization.
Art School Conceptual Design
Competition 2017
Conceptual design for an art school in Venice. Modeling in ArchCAD, Photoshop post production. involved in design and conceptual ideas expression.
Wuyi National Park Design Competiton Competition - Special Mention - 2023
Integrating with the existing structure, to explore a new type of industrial-tourism mode. Modeling in Rhino, Photoshop post production. Involved in design, diagram, and visualization.
CHIESA DIRUTA ELLIPTIC THEATER
Competition 2021
Inspired by baroque architecture to create a theatrical atmosphere in a church ruin. Modeling in Rhino, Photoshop post production. Architectural design, diagrams, and visualization.
Buraydah Downtown Urban Design Commission in TEKUMA FRENCHMAN - 2022
A future development plan with its rich agricultural heritage, and royal history. Modeling in Rhino, renders from external CGI company. Involved in architectural design, and diagram.
Temporary Theatre
Design
Competition 2017
Temporary theatre in a community sports center. Modeling in Rhinoceros, rendering in Vray, Photoshop post production. Design concepts, modeling and visualization.
EMERGING GROENEWOUD
Tilburg, Netherlands (2023)
Europan 17 - Special mention
Emphasizing the values of social cohesion and fostering a vibrant, healthy community; this transformative endeavor envisions a universal yet uniquely tailored solution for the postwar neighborhood.
Main designer. Involved in design and analytical diagrams and architectural visualization.
#Urban design #Public space #Architecture #Re-development
WUYI NATIONAL PARK DESIGN COMPETITION
Fujian, China (2023)
Competition - Special mention
The overall spatial design of Autou Village is based on the valley’s topography, closely integrating with the existing village structure. To explore a new type of industial-tourism development.
Project lead, involved in design and analytical diagrams and architectural visualization.
#Urban design #Public space #Architecture #Re-development
RENEWED STATION AREA DEVELOPMENT
Espoo, Finland (2023)
Competition
The new northern downtown area of Leppävaara forms a new functionally high-level overall plan that increases the recognizability, accessibility and attractiveness of the area.
Main designer. Involved in design and analytical diagrams and architectural visualization.
#Urban design #Public space #Architecture #Re-development
RENEWED STATION AREA DEVELOPMENT
Kerava, Finland (2022)
Competition - winning Prize, waiting for follow-up
The goal of creating a connection point between the east and west of the railway line in threefold: The connection of movement, green, program and activity.
Creating an urban environment that offers opportunities for economic vitality as well as a place for everyone to thrive in the growing Kerava.
#Urban design #Public space #Architecture #Re-development
WALL GARDEN - RESORT COMPLEX DESIGN
Kaiping, China (2021-2022)
Competition - 1st Prize, waiting for follow-up
Next to the World Heritage Site of Kaiping Watchtowers, the design includes a group of buildings integrating accommodation, and leisurement which is merging into the unique context of the village.
Main designer. Involved in design and analytical diagrams and architectural visualization.
#Architecture #Public Building #Resort complex
NANJING CITY LIVINGROOM
Nanjing, China (2022)
Competition
The main idea is to perform a light renovation to re-organize the programs for the two floors while also improving its public identity.
The main structure remains and a special viewing corridor is arranged as the main bone of the living room. Re-activating the surrounded public space is the other focus point in this design.
#Architecture #Public Building #Tourist service point
IAP+ HEADQUARTER DESIGN FOR NDU
Tianjin, China (2019)
Competition - Final 30
A building for design union to tackle the low ground coverage condition with flexible and extendable design in the future, and providing and new office model for the future design industry.
Main designer. Involved in design and analytical diagrams and architectural visualization.
#Architecture #Office #Experimental space
NEXT TO THE CIRCLES - BOOKSTORE DESIGN
Chengdu, China (2018)
Competition - Honorable Mention
It is a unique bookstore in the middle of the city park. An exploration for the inward bookstore and the outward tea house, to connect the surrounding landscape with local cultural context.
Main designer. Involved in design and analytical diagrams and architectural visualization.
#Architecture #Public building #Tea house
BA'NAN URBAN PLAN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Chongqing, China (2022)
Competition
An urban plan for the future development of the Health industry and Smart industry. A nice mixture balance between the natural ecosystem and innovation ecosystem.
Designer, involved in architectural design and public space design.
#Urban design #Public building #Market #Development plan
BURAYDAH DOWNTWON URBAN DESIGN
Buraydah, Saudi Arabia (2022)
443,956m2 - Commission
A future development plan for Buraydah Downtown to celebrate its growth, its rich agricultural heritage, and royal history, all sources of national pride. Merging the market environment into the modern residential/ office buildings, making it the city of Festivals.
#Urban design #Public building #Market #Development plan
DONGTAI HEALTH CITY
Dongtai, China (2021)
4,000,000m2 - Competition First Prize
The design forms a comprehensive node of 400 hectares within the masterplan, housing health anchors and healthy residential communities. The environments, lifestyles, economies and communities will be re-shaped by the Health-related design. Involved in design, and communicate with external CGI company.
#Urban design #Public building #Healthy Life Style
GUANYINTANG COLLEXTIVE RENTAL HOUSING
Beijing, China (2020 - 2021)
GFA 173,000m2 - Commission, Construction Phase
This is an affordable rental micro-studio (22m2 or 32m2) project with a large complex with different communal amenities, sports parks, cultural venues, and shops.
As a designer, I am Involved in design from the conceptual design phase, and communicate with LDI and client.
#Architecture #Residential
QIANHAI MORE - UNIT 8 & 10 CONSULTATION
Shenzhen, China (07/2019 - 10/2019)
Plot area 800,000m2 - Competition Third Place
It is a new urban development model for a future creative hub. With a green corridor as the main bone, the plots are connecting the innovation industry with cultural landmarks.
As a designer, I was involved in key node architecture design, and communicate with LDI and external CGI company.
#Urban design #Public building #Cultural building
TRANSFORMATION PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
Maastricht, Netherlands (2019)
22,000m2 - Competition Finalist
The strategy is to design a temporary intervention within the existing building. With the signature 'guest - host' principle, the design aims to leave as many existing elements intact as possible while adding a new type of flexible furniture to reflect the efficiency of renovation.
Involved in design, and visualization.
#Architecture #Office #Renovation
SEASIDE COMMERCIAL AREA DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Qingdao, China (2018)
Plot area
100,000m2 - Commission
It is a tourist zone master plan near the landscape attraction in Qingdao. The waterfront offers space for a large fish market, near the fishing port, there are shops, restaurants, hotels, and business premises.
Designer, involved in planning, architectural design and renderings. Communication with LDI and client.
GFA 21,000m2 - Competition First Place, under construction
As one of the key nodes for the SSCIP. With a hybrid program of sports field, church, market, elder care, and communal activities space, this community center tries to give the urban space back to the public.
Designer, involved in planning, architectural design and visualization.
#Architecture #Community center #Sports
SSCIP SENIOR CARE CENTER
Chengdu, China (12/2016 - )
7,000m2 - Competition First Place, under construction
The design concept derives from the advanced Dutch senior care method and the spatial distribution is based on the traditional Chinese courtyard house typology.
Designer. Involved in design from conceptual design phase to prelimary design phase, and communication with LDI.
