Zhekun Xiong
Master in City Planning Candidate, MIT Research Assistant, Civic Data Design Lab, MIT STL Fellow, Samuel Tak Lee Real Estate Entrepreneurship Lab, MIT B.Arch / M.Arch, Tsinghua University, China Address: 235 Albany Street, Apt 4121A, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA Tel: +1-617-599-5067 E-mail: xiongzk@mit.edu / xiongzhekun@gmail.com Portfolio: https://issuu.com/zhekunxiong/docs/portfolio_zhekun_xiong Github Account: https://github.com/ZhekunXIONG
Research Interests Urban Spatial Analysis, Spatial Data Mapping and Visualization, Civic Engagement through Data-driven Design, Informal Markets in Urban Forms, Landscape Urbanism
Education Master in City Planning Candidate, MIT / Cambridge, MA, USA / 2018 expected -Concentration: City Design and Development & Urban Information System
Master of Architecture, Tsinghua University / Beijing, China / 2013-2016 -GPA: 90.7/100 (Top 1%) / Excellent Master Dissertation
M.Arch Exchange Program, ENSAParis-Malaquais / Paris, France / 09/2014-01/2015 - ‘A’ level (Top 10%) in professional course ‘PASS’
Bachelor of Architecture, Tsinghua University / Beijing, China / 2009-2013 -GPA: 88.3/100 (Top 15%) / Best Diploma Project
Study Abroad Program, University of Manchester & MSA / Manchester, UK / 09/2011-01/2012
Research Research Assistant, Civic Data Design Lab, MIT -Data processing and management, to data visualization, drone footage and operation, and graphic design Ghost Cities Project (Data Analysis, Graphic Designer, Chinese Liaison): The project creates a methodology for the discovery of granular residential ghost cities on various scales in lower tier cities in China through analysis relative sparsity of amenities using POI data from Baidu (Chinese google) and social media data through Weibo (Chinese Twitter) etc. (Website in progress: http://ghostcities.mit.edu) Digital Moving-Moscow (Data Analysis, Data Visualization): This is a new project starting from May, 2017, and it intends to use 24-hour cellphone data to indicate urban population flow in Moscow, Russia Research Assistant, Samuel Tak Lee Real Estate Entrepreneurship Lab, MIT -STL x MOOCs developing, graphic design, China Talk Series organizing
Practices SHAN Jun Atelier, School of Architecture, THU / 09/2013-06/2016 - Assistant Architect for 10+ projects, including Museum of Traditional Mongolian Medicine (completed) - Effectively led the project team of 8 people and improved analytical problem-solving ability - Demonstrated excellent communication skill with scholars from GSD and project clients Bain & Company, Business Management Consulting / 01/2016-02/2016 -Part-time Consultant for an Australian dairy company on market potential in China -Conducted dairy market survey covering 90% of dairy products in China -Built up 5 slides on price comparison and domestic dairy market analysis for final report to the client China IPPR International Engineering Co., Ltd / 05-08/2013 - Assistant Architect for 4 projects, including Office of Inspection and Quarantine Center in Qingdao - Collaborated with team members during project cycle from concept design to a final client presentation - Enhanced construction design skill, achieved best performance on ‘Design Practice in Institute’ course
Workshops Digital City Design Workshop, 2017 / Melbourne, by Senseable City Lab, MIT - Designed and developed idea of coffee on-wheels by leveraging autonomous vehicle and digital sensors in responding to Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Project in Melbourne Digital Simulation Mechanics in Designing Sustainable Neighborhood Typologies, 2017 / CAU, MIT - Developed sustainable neighborhoods in Abu Dhabi by water simulation with python and grasshopper Medina “Jemma el-Fna” - Mapping Informality, 2015 / Marrakech, Morocco - Conducted on-site mapping by digital recording and observation - Transformed into maps showing cultural space pattern of local market within the informality AIAC (Atelier International d’Architecture Construite) Workshop, 2014 / Bogota, Colombia - Conducted cross-cultural investigation of high-density settlements in Bogota and Medellin [Re_Map] ICU, 2011 / Stoke-on-Trent, UK - Conducted physical and digital research into relationships between infrastructure, urbanism and interstice
Publications & Exhibitions Conference Presentations 1) XIONG Zhekun, HUANG Huaqing. “Ethnography of Space: A Dynamic Approach towards the Interpretation of Architectural Heritage, with Jemaa el-Fna Square as a case study”. (Abstract accepted). Union of International Architect World Congress. Seoul, Korea. 2017. 2) HUANG Huaqing, XIONG Zhekun. “The Making of Distinction: How the Transformation of Traditional Tea Industry Shapes Social Stratification in Tongmu Village in Wuyi Mountains, China”. Annual Congress of Rural Sociological Society. Toronto, Canada. August. 7-10, 2016. 3) SHAN Jun, XIONG Zhekun. “The Significance of Regionality”. Regional Architecture Conference, The Architectural Society of China. Beijing, China. April 4, 2015 Exhibitions BIAD Scholarship Exhibition. Beijing, China. 2015 UIA World Congress Student Competition Exhibition. Durban, South Africa. 2014 UIA-HYP International Student Competition Exhibition. Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, China. 2013/2014 Housing Tomorrow D3 Exhibition. Houston, USA. 2013
Awards & Honors Professional Awards 2016, The 2nd Prize, Student’s Works of Exchange Programs of Architecture Schools, ASC 2016, Excellent Master Dissertation of Tsinghua University 2015, Excellent Design, Student’s Works of Exchange Programs of Architecture Schools, ASC 2014, The 3rd Place, UIA Durban International Student Competition (once every 3 years) 2014, Special Mention, UIA-HYP International Student Competition in Architectural Design 2013, The 3rd Prize, UIA-HYP International Student Competition in Architectural Design 2013, Special Mention, NY D3 Housing Tomorrow 2013, Honorable Mention, BADI-CUP International Green Building Design Competition 2013, The 5th Place, Solar Decathlon China (core member in communications group) Scholarships 2016, MIT Samuel Tak Lee Graduate Fellowship 2015, BIAD Scholarship for Excellent Design Work 2014, National Scholarship for Master Candidates (Top 5%) 2012, National Scholarship for Undergraduate Students (Top 2%) 2011, Tsinghua Alumni - NI Tianzeng Scholarship 2010, Scholarship for Academic Excellence 2009, Freshman Scholarship
Skills Technical Skills Design: Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, Premiere, AfterEffect), Sketchup, Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, AutoCAD, Maxwell, V-ray Languages: Python, Processing (P5js, JavaScript), HTML5/CSS Other: ArcGIS, QGIS, Microsoft Office Languages: Chinese(Excellent), English(Proficient), French(Beginner)
Zhekun Xiong