SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE
MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE I
Los Angeles, CA
323.961.2206
ABOUT ME
xiaoyunzeng5@gmail.com
https://xxxyzeng.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/xiaoyun-zeng-b33981182/
Xiaoyun Zeng born in 1994 in Chongqing, China, and currently based in Los Angeles, she holds a BFA in Art Design and an MFA in Art and Technology. Her academic journey continues with ongoing architectural studies in SCI-Arc’s M.Arch 1 program. Grounded in phenomenological inquiry and tectonic principles, her architectural philosophy investigates how spatial configurations dynamically mediate human experiences. Zeng’s design methodology synthesizes aesthetic sensibility with contextual awareness, thoughtfully addressing cultural, social, and environmental dimensions. This interdisciplinary approach drives her exploration of liminal spaces where artistic practice converges with architectural theory.
Profile
Personal Interests:
Film Photography, Architecture, Bauhaus, Installation Art, Furniture Design, Digital art, Yoga, Cats
Education
Southern California Institute of Architecture (Sci-Arc)
Los Angeles, CA
2022.09 - 2025.09
Master of Architecture I
California Institute of the Arts Valencia, CA 2018.09 - 2021.06
Master of Fine Arts
Central Academy of Fine Arts Beijing, China 2013.09 - 2017.06
Awards
SKills
Digital Design and Production Tools: Rhino
Grasshopper
V-Ray D5
Cinema 4D Octane
Redshift
Zbrush
Blender
Houdini
SolidWorks
AutoCAD
SketchUp
Midjourney Runway
Meshy.AI
Arduino
TouchDesigner
Adobe Creative Suite WMicrosoft 365
Physical Model Making: 3D Printing
Casting Laser Cutting CNC Machining Weaving
Multilingual Skills: English Mandarin
SCI-Arc
Research Assistant
2023.09 - 2023.12 Los Angeles, CA
• Researched and analyzed urban development and architectural trends, gathering company-specific data to inform course content and ensure relevance.
• Created detailed reports and presentations to support sustainable city initiatives, effectively communicating key insights while aligning with teaching objectives.
Institute of Contemporary Arts at NYU Shanghai (ICA) 2022.05 - 2022.08 Shanghai
Summer Internship: Curator assistant
• Designed and planned exhibition spaces, researching venues, testing equipment, and optimizing layouts for a seamless visitor experience. Translated and proofread artist interviews (Chinese to English) for publications and archival use.
• Developed tote bag designs from concept to production, sourcing materials, negotiating with vendors, and coordinating with manufacturers. Assisted artists in finding workshops for fabrication and managed project timelines to ensure smooth execution.
Shanghai GWANTSI 2021.09 - 2022.01 Shanghai
Interactive hardware engineer
• Conducted preliminary research and sketching to explore concepts and guide the direction of art installations.
• Performed technical testing and prototyping, including basic implementation and debugging, to ensure feasibility and refine design concepts.
MD Creation LL C 2020.09 - 2021.03 Los Angeles
Designer/Assistant Design Branding Design
• Designed and optimized brand visuals, including product imagery, website graphics, and marketing materials, ensuring consistency and high visual impact.
• Handled color correction and product selection, refining images for both digital and print platforms to align with brand aesthetics.
PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Exihibition Assistant:
Jennifer Chen: No Evil, Model making / Install Views of Planet City, Model making / Install
Half Bowl Theater, Build projector screen
Individual Works Exhibition Experience:
SCI-Arc Black Space Exhibition
Sci-Arc Spring Show
Time is out of joint post grad show
Daily Vol.18 photography under the epidemic of mid-level GALLERY
Calarts Expo2020 Virtual Gallery
Calarts MFA Group Show
Calarts Art and Techonolog Midres Group Show
Central Academy of Fine Arts Graduation Design Exhibition
Golden Shuan Horse Pile Award College Student Video Art Festival, Award-winning work “Phase Change”, 2019
CONTENTS 2022.09 - 2024.12
Architectural Projects
01. Schematic Design: Institution
02. Advanced Project Deliver: Mixed Use Building
03. Design Studio: Museum
04. Design Development: Theater
Other Works
05. Visualizing Architecture: Modeling, Rendering, Animation
06. Parametric Design
07. Material & Tectonic
SCI-ARC Projects
01. A GRADUATE DESIGN INSTITUTE IN CDMX
This project explores the relationship between architecture and the metropolis, focusing on how buildings interact with and contribute to the urban environment and its culture through strategic transformations of existing structures. Students will study precedents and formal organizations, considering local factors such as urban planning, ecology, politics, transportation, and infrastructure, to propose partial adaptations of civic buildings.
The aim is to design a building addition that integrates context, programs, structure, circulation, and envelope, establishing a new Graduate Design Institute above an existing government office in Mexico City. This approach addresses the challenges of contemporary work and learning conditions, especially post-Covid, and draws inspiration from radical pedagogies of historical design schools like Bauhaus to question the evolving role of design education today.
Instructor: Darin Johnstone Geng Chen, Xiaoyun Zeng, Raymund Vista
Mexico City exhibits a rich variety of urban forms. Some areas are characterized by strict orthogonal layouts from detailed plans, while others have irregular shapes shaped by ancient paths, watercourses, lava fields, and natural features, reflecting complex and multidirectional growth.
In the west, the city spreads over mountains and ravines, occupying previously uninhabitable areas. In the east, extensive alluvial flatlands support successive gridded developments extending beyond the Federal District. The city’s grids vary greatly, with some areas merging into peaks and valleys, while volcanic flatlands in other areas provide an ideal setting for grid formations.
Nineteenth and twentieth-century neighborhoods in Mexico City feature grid layouts within defined spaces, with regular edges resulting from subdivisions of former hacienda lands. Later grids, especially in the low-lying valleys south of the city center, display more variation, with rectilinear grids intersected by large boulevards. Peripheral areas adapt to dramatic topography with contour grids that accommodate slopes and ridges. The city’s landscape is characterized by merging, colliding, and clashing grid types due to its continuous evolution without a central directing plan.
These interactions result in unique urban conditions, such as wavering street lines, irregular parcel shapes, sharp juxtapositions, blended zones, and disintegrating edges.
Centro Histórico - Urban Grid
Santa María La RiberaUrban Grid
Colonia Ampliación Presidente - Urban Grid
Villa CoyoacánUrban Grid
Colonia RomaUrban Grid
Parque JacarandasUrban Grid
XochimilcoUrban Grid
Colonia FederalUrban Grid
Golondrinas - Urban Grid
Grids of Mexico City Grids of Mexico City
The rapid expansion of the city also contributes to the building distance from a viewing perspective. Not only does newer building than eliminate the characteristic of the courtyard, as newer building tends to be higher, but it also blocks off what used to be visible behind the buildings and creates a more claustrophobic experience for humans, even though its physical distance on the map does not change.
The intricacy of building distances in the wider context of Mexico City can be attributed to two factorsthe rapid expansion of the city and the ubiquitousness of the courtyard.
The history of Mexico City begins with Tenochtitlan, a Mexica settlement founded around 1325 A.D. on artificial islands in the Valley of Mexico. Connected by channels and reliant on the Chapultepec aqueduct for fresh water, it laid the foundation for the city’s development. In 1519, Spanish conquerors took control, planning and organizing the city, and managing its major aqueducts. Though these aqueducts have been destroyed, their original paths remain as major roads.
Negotiating between a myriad of urban city grids that define Mexico City, the site fosters a dialogue between the extreme verticality of the Reforma towers, the grid of the existing IMSS building, and the residential scale of the immediate context.
Represented by two distinct masses that appear to delaminate from the existing structure, the school simultaneously alienates itself from the city through the articulation of its materiality while also implicating itself directly in the fabric of the city by reflecting the subtle shifts of the urban grids within.
Massing model
For the conceptual design of the program diagram, we use coordinate axes for representation: the y-axis represents the spectrum from individual units to fully open spaces, and the x-axis represents the range from static to dynamic.
- GRADUATE DEPARTMENTS
- ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS
- MAKING
- PRIVATE STUDIOS
- CAFE
- LIBRARY
- AUDITORIUM
- GALLERY
- EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
TRANSIENT
The diagonal line indicates the continuous extension of our concept, from empirical to experimental. Circles of different sizes represent the varying areas of program spaces. The plan illustrates how the school’s program intervenes in the original IMSS space, while the section focuses on showcasing the program design based on standards and the more dynamic spatial distribution.
These two masses are formally defined within the paradox of being both light and heavy. In terms of volume, one is twice as large as the other. The intervention at the IMSS entails the removal and then reoccupying of interior spaces for educational purposes.
The design concept includes a schematic stacking atop the IMSS, slightly touching one side, which creates an open gesture towards Mexico City. Viewed from the main street, the lighter construction, made with delicate transparency, exemplifies both balance and cohesion with its environment. Beyond this glass facade, the rear building cuts through the IMSS, crafted as a stone exterior wrapped in curving panels, the project is delaminating. This facade’s effect and its cutting-through movement stypify questions about the modern definition of an educational institution. Inside, the layout of the larger building is characterized by dynamic, fluid spaces, encouraging a free and open flow.
The Chunk model selected the overlapping part with IMSS. Based on material research, we 3D printed textures similar to marble facades to restore the heaviness of the stone and used acrylic to represent the transparency of glass.
Chunk Model
Like the Cartier Research Center, the structure of the facade is displayed. Although the front and back of the facade use the same material, the expression methods are different. Facing the main street is a whole piece of acrylic similar to a billboard, while the back is formed by overlapping small pieces of acrylic to block sunlight.
CHUNK
The chunk magnifies the overlapping structures of the interior and exterior, making the interplay of these structures a key design element and highlighting the beauty of the building’s lines. The functional design, especially the top-floor helicopter and garden areas, is represented through laser-cut hatches. Additionally, to enhance ventilation and better integrate the building with the city, the facade pattern uses perforated dots to break the solid state of the glass.
Each identically sized piece of acrylic overlaps vertically, creating gaps that cleverly form terrace spaces within the building. Under sunlight, these overlapping pieces produce varying depths of light and shadow, combining with the interior spaces to present a dynamic scene.
Facade Closeups
The connections between buildings and between floors are all part of a dynamic circulation system. This design not only enhances the overall coherence and flow of the architecture but also makes movement within the building more smooth and natural. Through such dynamic circulation, the various parts of the building are organically connected, forming a complete and vibrant spatial system.
Structural Axon
This design is very radical, showcasing a unique strength in Mexico City. Even amidst the towering skyscrapers and uneven cityscape, this building’s presence consistently maintains a critical reflection on the design institution.
02. ART LAB
Art Lab is a four-story mixed-use building located on an urban lot in Los Angeles, designed to foster a vibrant intersection of creativity, community, and living. The ground floor houses a gallery and retail shop, inviting public engagement and interaction with local artistry. A grand Spanish staircase connects the second floor, which features a café, office spaces, and a rear courtyard—a communal area designed for relaxation and social gatherings for all building occupants.
Advanced Project Delivery
Instructor: Pavel Getov & Kerenza Harris
Group 02: Jia Li, Xintong Zhu, Xiaoyun Zeng, Yingzhe Fan
The third and fourth floors accommodate luxurious shared artist studios, seamlessly blending living and working spaces. These studios provide an inspiring environment for artists to create and collaborate, while also offering a sense of home. The façade features timber panels designed to enhance both aesthetics and privacy, while the extensive use of wood throughout the building creates a welcoming atmosphere and fosters a closer connection to nature. Art Lab exemplifies a thoughtful integration of public and private programs, promoting a dynamic and inclusive urban lifestyle.
03. Helsinki South Harbor Museum of Architecture & Design
When I think about this project, it’s not just about creating a museum—it’s about crafting a living narrative for Finnish and Nordic design on a global stage. To me, this museum isn’t merely a structure; it’s a declaration of Helsinki’s role as a city where creativity thrives, innovation takes root, and cultural heritage is deeply respected. It’s a space where the past informs the future, a crossroads where the legacy of Finnish architecture and design engages with the pressing challenges of today to inspire solutions for tomorrow.
This museum is envisioned as more than a static collection or a showcase of exhibitions—it’s a space brimming with life. It invites curiosity, ignites creativity, and becomes a stage for dialogue and discovery. Born from the union of two iconic institutions—the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Design Museum—it carries their shared histories while boldly reimagining what a cultural landmark can offer. It’s a place where design meets daily life, where visitors and residents alike can gather, connect, and be inspired.
VERTICAL STUDIO FALL 2024
Instructor: Eric Owen Moss Gourp: Jia Li, XiaoyunZeng
We discovered that this museum competition took place years ago, but the winning design was never realized. The main reason? Many in Helsinki felt that an extravagant new museum wasn’t worth the significant government expenditure. Taking this lesson to heart, we focused on designing a museum that seamlessly integrates into everyday life and truly resonates with the local community.
As we moved forward with the design, we noticed how integral walking is to the area’s culture, with a popular coastal path and a large park nearby. This inspired us to shape the museum as more than just a destination—it’s also a place that seamlessly integrates with the walking experience. Whether someone is here specifically to visit the museum or simply out for a casual stroll, the design invites them in. At the same time, recognizing the local climate, we opted for an enclosed structure to provide a comfortable, year-round space that feels welcoming no matter the weather.
Helsinki’s climate, though located in the far north, is surprisingly temperate, with pleasant summers averaging 20°C (70°F) and well-heated spaces ensuring comfort year-round.
The dominant walking culture
The effortless and airy floating quality of art installations
Dynamic and energetic street life
The building techniques of lavvu and goahti
The cohesive atmosphere of seaside
Using the mound as the primary natural design feature
The entrance is positioned strategically on one side, while the entire site is tilted into a giant ramp. This creates multiple pathways, allowing visitors to approach and enter the museum from all directions.
The ramp not only enhances accessibility but also helps organize and control circulation, addressing security concerns by directing movement and managing access points effectively.
The primary circulation culminates at the top level, where the museum is located, offering a clear destination for visitors.
As people move downward, the design introduces a transfer level that connects key programs such as the library, event and conference spaces, and museum logistics. This central hub ensures smooth transitions and a logical flow between different functions.
At the lowest level, the circulation opens into a basement space featuring a large café and amphitheater. These areas are integrated with an open plaza, promoting free movement, gathering, and interaction.
The overall circulation framework not only prioritizes accessibility and spatial clarity but also enhances the visitor experience by creating intuitive pathways and dynamic connections throughout the site.
AMPHITHEATRE
04. DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
In this chapter, we explore the implementation of architectural design, emphasizing the crucial role of group collaboration in integrating technology, materials, and systems. We delve into various analytical strategies such as force, order, and character, and investigate construction methods, building codes, structural and mechanical systems, alongside the development of building materials. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance understanding of how architects communicate and document complex building systems, focusing on environmental stewardship. The chapter features in-depth case studies, including construction photographs, 3D renderings, and technical drawings, to illustrate the transition from architectural concepts to built forms. These case studies, presented by both instructors and visiting professionals, underscore the significance of collab-
Instructors:
Herwig Baumgartner
Richard Horth
Matthew Melnyk
Jamey Lyzun
Group Members:
Huiaho Ma (Mark)
Yeasuh Ha
Jun Han
Ruozheng Wu
Chunjie Wang
Yi Han
Jesus Renteria
Xioyun Zeng
Our approach to design development is not only a technical advancement of the project but will also be a disciplinary one, where we challenge representation and search for relevancy in an era where documentation of design and manufacturing are in flux and are increasingly based on three-dimensional live data. While BIM is an important development in this regard, our aim is to re-think how we can envision and communicate design in innovative ways which exceed the design object itself.
Precedents Structure
STRUCTURE FRAME STRUCTURE FRAME
Pros + Cons Rationale
Pros: Offers high strength with less weight, enabling large open spaces and flexible layouts. Construction is relatively quick due to prefabrication.
Cons: Costlier compared to some materials, especially in areas where steel isn’t readily available. Requires protective measures against corrosion. Poor insulator, necessitating additional insulation for energy efficiency.
Pros: Exceptionally durable, withstanding severe weather, fire, and pests. Provides excellent sound insulation and has high thermal mass, aiding in energy efficiency. Supports heavy loads
Cons: Its weight demands substantial foundation support. Which makes construction slower and more labor-intensive. Limits post-construction changes.
Pros: Efficient for long spans, reducing the need for interior supports and allowing for flexible use of space. Uses materials efficiently, leading to potential cost savings.
Cons: Design and fabrication can be complex. Requires consistent maintenance to prevent corrosion. Sensitive to temperature changes, which must be considered in the design phase.
Pros: Allows for large spans with a lightweight structure, offering flexibility in interior planning and facade design. Modular nature facilitates quick assembly and adaptability to complex geometries.
Cons: Demands precise engineering and fabrication, leading to potential increases in initial costs. Assembly requires skilled labor to ensure structural integrity.
Pros: Provides strength and flexibility for large spans and complex shapes, with a lower environmental impact than steel or concrete. Aesthetic appeal of wood can be a design feature.
Cons: More susceptible to environmental damage without proper treatment. Costs can be higher than standard timber, depending on the project’s specifications.
Pros: Excellent choice for resisting lateral loads such as wind and seismic activity. Acts as a primary structural element, simplifying the overall system. Very durable against fire, weathering, and pests.
Cons: Can restrict architectural design flexibility, particularly with window placement and exterior wall finishes. Difficult to modify once constructed.
Structural Selection: Primary SteeL Frame
The way how we construct things and how we use digital information to build buildings today is undergoing a dramatic change. AR and AI will be playing a key role of how we design, develop and build things in the future.
Acoustic Considerations
05. CINIMATICOBJECT& TEMPORAL AETHETICS
2GA ARCHITECTURAL DEMENSIONS OF THE PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE
In the discipline of architecture, focusing solely on the theoretical side of projective geometry and abstraction while neglecting the entanglements of the real represents not only a cultural limitation but also a social and political disavowal. We recognize that whether it is paint on canvas, pixels on a screen, or any method involving points, lines, planes, mass, or volume, the resulting representation will always fall short of capturing the essence of a project because how things appear and how things are, happen to be totally different and yet, things are never not how they are…
Instructor: James Piccone
Turntable animation view
Model shows floors
Conceptual Scenes
Scene 1: Mystery of Architecture
A mystifying image of a theater with an intriguing exterior, blending into a vibrant cityscape.
Scene 2: The Paradoxical Challenge
Split-screen showing the theater’s luxurious interior on one side and its engaging, lively exterior on the other.
Scene 3: Two Realms of Architecture
Animated transition between the theater’s exterior, showcasing its interaction with the public, and its interior focused on functional design and artistic expression.
Scene 4: The Architectural Envelope
A cross-sectional view of the theater, highlighting its architectural envelope as a mediator between exterior and interior.
Scene 5: Engaging Questions
Dynamic imagery of people interacting with the theater in various ways – as artists, audience, and community members.
Scene 6: Conclusion and Call to Action
The theater, alive with performances and community events, symbolizing the studio’s vision brought to life.
“What does it mean, though, to entangle illusion and causality? What it means is that how a thing appears isn’t just an accidental decorative candy on an extension lump. Appearance as such is where causation lives. Appearance is welded inextricably to what things are, to their essence, but even ‘welded’ is wrong. Appearance and essence are like two different ‘sides’ of a Möbius strip, and so also the ‘same’ side.” —Timothy Morton, “What If Art Were a Kind of Magic?”
“The city is really the edge of the future, because here it’s totally the present. Everyone thinks it’s in 50 years, it’ll affect their grandchildren, but in Miami, it’s completely now.”
-Lars Jan
06. PARAMETRIC DESIGN
The story of measurement is the story of knowledge, reflecting our collective desire to demystify, regulate, and replicate the natural world. We measure everything, from daily steps to carbon footprints, to sort the normal from the anomalous, calibrate, and produce value. Often, measurements control, segregate, and denigrate those not fitting arbitrary standards of power, though more often they maintain networked relations and cultural memory. Keychains With NO Keys and Other Stories of Measurement presents three stories that reveal underlying questions about the standards of measure we take for granted but that control our life narratives. This class examines these ideas through exercises exploring the relationship between technical images and crafted objects. Technical images, as visual artifacts, depict data and ideas, while crafted objects, such as textiles and mosaics, share procedural rigor. The course will consider the objectivity of machines versus the subjectivity of handcraft, focusing on the conceptual act of making through economic and performative lenses. Using Grasshopper for Rhino, students will translate measured inputs into material outputs like woven tapestries, cast milled objects, and printed stacks.
Scaffolding & typestry
Instructor: Matthew Au
1. elevation of slumped and rigidited model tracing drawings
1. elevation of slumped and rigidited model tracing drawings
I made paper straws of varying lengths and connected them with 3D-printed joints, including diagonal ones. This setup allows for the creation of intricate structures and patterns by varying the angles and orientations of the connections.
The use of 3D-printed joints provides a precise and customizable way to link the paper straws, enhancing the overall stability and complexity of the assembled structure.
This method demonstrates the integration of traditional crafting materials with modern digital fabrication techniques, highlighting the potential for innovative design solutions.
I used Grasshopper to create textures, distinguishing elevated areas from recessed ones with different colors. This approach aids in generating textile patterns and enhances the visual and tactile qualities of the design. By varying the colors, we can better understand the depth and intricacies of the textile textures, leading to more refined and detailed outputs.
07. MATERIALS & TECTONICS
Our endeavor endeavors to offer a resolution to the burgeoning need for construction in Los Angeles by introducing mobile modular units for constructors. Our prime objective is to elevate the standard of living for constructors, promoting comfort and livability, while simultaneously addressing the work-life balance.
In order to attain our objectives, we undertook an extensive exploration of the construction potential in Los Angeles. Our study unveiled an escalating demand for constructors in the area, underscoring the necessity for a supportive community. Our project seeks to respond to this demand by establishing a sense of solidarity and support for constructors in the vicinity.
Our project aims to create a sustainable and encouraging habitat for constructors, addressing the hardships they encounter while working in the construction industry. By erecting mobile modular units, we aspire to provide a comfortable and hospitable living space for constructors, thereby enhancing their quality of life.
GROUP PROJECT: ZEN PROJECT
After deliberate contemplation, we have identified the LAX airport as the ideal location for our project. The airport serves as a bustling center of activity with a high demand for construction services. We have found an appropriate plot of land nearby, strategically located to facilitate communication with the urban area. This location offers the best of both worlds, granting easy access to the airport while also ensuring a sense of community and support for the constructors.
GROUP: Yuhang Chen, Salma Osuna Lopez, Harrison Phan,
In building construction, a triangular structure composed of interlocking layers of materials creates a robust and visually striking edifice. The core of this structure consists of steel rods, forming the foundation of the entire construction and providing it with stability and durability.
Ascending the structure, the next layer comprises a wooden frame, which shapes and supports the building. This layer forms the backbone of the building’s structural elements, such as walls, windows, and doors.
The next layer features glass panels, which are precisely fitted into the wooden frame. This layer allows natural light to penetrate the building, providing an inviting and visually stunning exterior.
Another vital layer in building construction is the metal mesh screen, providing privacy and security while permitting ventilation. This layer protects the building’s occupants from external elements while providing a physical barrier.
Finally, foam insulation inserted into the wall cavities completes the building construction. This layer enhances the building’s energy efficiency, reducing thermal loss and providing sound insulation to create a comfortable living space.
Combined, these layers create a resilient and sustainable structure, epitomizing the creativity and innovation of modern building construction.
1. different angles of the interior rendering
3. study structure prototype
4. build-up structure
4.material detail rendering, tectonic close-up
Copyright © 2024 by Xiaoyun Zeng
xiaoyunzeng5@gmail.com 323 961 2206
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