Interviews with Li-Yu Cheng

Graduated from the architecture department of Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan in 2007. After military service and 2-year career experience in the spatial design field, Studio X4 was founded in 2010. In 2019, became a national certified architect and started tenure as the lecturer in the interior design department of Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan.

To be an architect (and designer) was a dream since I was little. I remembered that I was fascinated by the possibilities of structural variation while playing Lego, the construction toy, in my childhood. And years by years, I found myself getting interested in analyzing massing and proportion of buildings. Through my upbringing experience, I realized architectural design comprises not only art forms but also practical solutions which helps and betters the surrounding locality. And it’s truly grateful I am what I wanted to become.

Sufficient daylighting, air movement, and textured details.

After the commissioned design contract, the designing is the most exciting and crucial phase of holistic master-planning. It’s not only mattering how functions will be formed, but also examining our capabilities to solve clients' actual requirements.

I love to make friends with people, and luckily, I am quite insightful to know the true, ultimate, need of them. During my career experiences, most of my clients were not able to clearly express their actual needs and desires, either due to unfamiliarity with design theories, or not knowing themselves well enough. Understanding the further connotations of clients requests speeds up the process of design proposals.

Though it might be too realistic to say, I wish to build a community that unites every field of art and design: architecture, spatial design, industrial design, sculpture, photography, multimedia interfaces…etc. To create a communal cultural hub in the city, educate people and better the society.

No pain no gain. Every achievement worths equivalent efforts. Never underestimate the preparation and hard work should pay before any accomplishments.

Some students tend to design public accommodation like airports or train stations. However, they don’t have the whole knowledge of designing a house. In my point of view, this interesting fact can be traced from their eagerness to make a difference in some specific colleges.

Thus, here comes the two extremes of higher education in architecture: A part of graduate students put the theory they learned into practice by learning woodwork, machinery and plasterwork at school. On the other hand, some students do some dramatic drawing of striking structure but not knowing how to build it. It’s like a heritage of the 1980’s crush on outer space exploration in Japan, which was an epitome of time indeed. However, most of the design wasn’t always functional. That’s why so many students join film industries to do scene design. It’s easier for them to carry out fancy shapes and forms in a gravity-free space. Within these two extremes, I prefer to sit on the fence. For me, the priority of design is to solve the problems and resolve complications.

I encourage students to follow in masters’ steps like Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. At the age of 20 to 40, they were designing houses. They engaged in large projects and commercial buildings only when they were mature enough. This way, you can handle different scales in every new case, eventually knowing which one suits you most. Otherwise, we will lose the delicacy of space design if everyone dives into large scale projects.

The winner projects of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in recent years are from local or small studios, which tells us these designs stand out from the rest for their quality rather than in scale. Today’s society needs no heroic individualism, but always lacks unison of designing solutions. I believe if every designer keeps dedicating their strength, and ultimately, work together. Design can make more contributions to all classes of people and influence the society.

On a daily basis, to prioritize tasks and errands in the morning. Maximum 3 meetings or group talks in the afternoon. Treat myself with a few quiet hours for meditation or extra curriculums after work.

Neither latest trends nor personal design styles. Because there is no certain measure that can resolve all spatial requirements. The core value of design shall stick on the best solution package of a project, not blind to trendy styles.

Aesthetic is subjective; on the other hand, judgment is objective. I rarely put hashtags on design projects for whether it's good or not. In my humble opinion, the key factor of a reputable design work is whether it subconsciously resonates with users/observers' emotions and experience. Thus, the definition of a good design varies from times to times.

Most properties, techniques, and style issues can be modified in further discussion with clients. However, daylighting, air movement, and textured details are needed to prioritize at the very initial phase; otherwise the project might seemly good in looking, but lack in functionality. Thus, as long as the mentioned 3 main factors are meticulously planned, the design proposal is nearly to complete.

The Transparency, one of our residential projects in 2020. Notable features of this project are nothing about its scale, but for its minimalist living form. The massing, proportion, and penetration are crucial to be composed of architecture interior space. The wall is considered as a single composition of a three-dimensional framework. After being cladded with bent stainless steel, the wall metamorphoses into a functional carrier, which encompasses lighting, bears kitchen, sanitary, storage, pipes, air-cons…etc, essential fixtures of daily living. While natural light refracts into the curvy wall, its hairline luster adds an enticing touch to spatial forms and expression. It was amazing that the client's audacity to tend an obscure and philosophical habitation.

I. M. Pei. I felt lucky that I made up my mind to be a designer/architect since I was a kid, so there’s no particular outer forces that lead me to become who I am now. However, overviewing my past decade experience, when few extremely hard times, it recalls me to the great architect, I. M. Pei. Despite his phenomenal masterpieces worldwide, his characteristics of resilience before all those great accomplishments, which really encourages me to endure difficulties and become better.

Taiwan is a place with complicated histories. Since the migration of KMT to Taiwan in 1949, people have mixed lives with former Fujian immigrants. After 2 to 3 generations, varied cultures integrated. Due to its complexity, sometimes we’re not sure which one we belong to. We are more like the mirror inherently. We switch between different cultures and eventually develop our own one. This is the most distinctive part of culture in Taiwan, which unconsciously affect our all-embracing aesthetics

Everyone has to know his/her strength and qualities very well, and always be enthusiastic to keep bettering himself/herself. So the team will strive and become powerful day by day.

Design can be obviously seen on physical products, architectures, artworks… etc; furthermore, we can probe into thoughtful connotations of design, such as: science, ergonomics, local culture, historical backdrops...etc. As a designer or architect, we don’t need to give back the community with physical objects. Spreading design notions to everyone around us is definitely bettering the world.

Participating in design awards is not just for self-fulfillment, but also to present newer, innovative creativity to the world. It’s always good to have a platform to share design ideas from multiple fields worldwide, and A’design is definitely one of the authoritative influencers of today’s design.

Project MASTECH Dongguan intends to combine leisure activity, exercising and work, finally making formal office a playground for everyone.

6 months.

"MASTECH Dongguan" is an office for MASTECH, which is one of the world’s largest suppliers of electronic measuring instruments.

The clients and employees of MASTECH.

The flexibility and zoning of the space.

The city which the office is based in.

SketchUp and Layout.

All kinds of meetings and conferences take place here. The formal conference room is thus divided into different kinds of meeting places, so that discussion would take place around every corner. Clients and employees could talk to each other while walking or exercising in the whole area with ease.

Not at all.

There has been a high turnover rate in design industry. Only a quarter of my college classmates still work in this field. Talent is a necessary but insufficient condition for a student to be a good designer. Most people see designers as people who do the drawing with elegance and work out splendid plans in the office. While, the process of spatial design includes so many aspects of professional skills and tasks that we end up utterly exhausted from overworking.

Looking back, the ultimate goal of our education should raise an all-rounder instead of a dreamer unacquainted with construction techniques and practices. How could we change the shape of a column without knowing its construction?

The winner projects of Pritzker Architecture Prize in recent years are from local or small studios, which tells us these designs stand out from the rest for their quality rather than in scale.

Some students tend to design public accommodation like airports or train stations. However, they don’t have the whole knowledge of designing a house. In my point of view, this funny situation was originated from the eager to make a difference in some specific colleges.

Thus, here comes the two extremes of higher education in architecture: A part of graduate students put the theory they learned into practice by learning woodwork, machinery and plasterwork at school. On the other hand, some students do some dramatic drawing of curving structure but not knowing how to build it. It’s like a heritage of the 1980’s crush on outer space exploration in Japan, which was an epitome of time indeed. However, most of the design wasn’t always functional.

That’s why so many students join film industries to do scene design. It’s easier for them to carry out fancy shapes and forms in a gravity-free space.

Within these two extremes, I prefer to sit on the fence. For me, the priority of design is to solve the problems and resolve to complete.

I encourage students to follow in masters’ steps like Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. At the age of 20 to 40, they were designing houses. They engaged in large projects and commercial buildings only when they were mature enough. This way, you can handle different scales in every new case, eventually knowing which one suits you most. We will lose the delicacy of space design if everyone dives into large scale projects.

Constantly solving problems and resolving to practice will make the outcome a good design.

I. M. Pei, Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

Constantly solving problems and resolving to practice will make the outcome a good design.

More interior designs of commercial and domestic space and some product designs including lighting, branding and furniture.

A kit for dentists which helps them with dental implanting.

Technology improves every day. We are not necessary to comprehend the Pythagoras theorem but it affects our daily life. We don’t necessarily know the whole theory but we can “package” it. The field of space design is so large that one can’t master it by him/herself. It’s crucial for us to learn what other people do in UI design: packaging the knowledge and spreading it out. Back then, when we were using software like Maya and 3ds Max, we have to learn 500 commands out of 3300 to draw at will. After the invention of iPhone, the UX design turns simpler and more functional-oriented. However, there’s still a lot in space design that needs to be simplify. Architecture needs time to take form, its development is subsequent to other arts like photography and graphic design, so people in this field should minimize the barriers of it in order to make everyone practice it with ease.

Usually 6 to 8 months.

Site analysis.

Mostly SketchUp and Layout.

As a supporting role to the space.

Studio X4 is a design studio + workshop based in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in 2010, Studio X4 consists of 6 problem solvers engaging in architecture, interior space and product design. They focus on materials and proportion which brings the abstract feeling into solid experience, and engaging in projects that lasts with the passing of time.

Constantly solving problems and resolving to practice will make the outcome a good design.

Interior designs.

Steel, glass, woodwork, concrete.

Mostly in the morning.

The paradigm of UI and graphic design had a radical change and become simpler around these 10 years. Even though space design is far from it. I prefer simplify complicated issues and I think it’s the trend in the future. My principle of design is “less is more”, meaning that to uncover the essence of things to make them less. And I also believe in “form follows function”. Only the style that truly solves problems makes it lasts long. We have to recognize which of them are design techniques and which ones are the style. Authentic styles have their implied meaning.

We try to use model thinking to meet the requests of our clients not only aesthetically but also in everyday experience, including five senses, then the “style” was formed. We are all humans so that these artificials would have our characteristics inscribed. The style between the users’ requests and the way of working it out makes the designer’s style.

Taiwan is a place with complicated histories. Since the migration of KMT to Taiwan in 1949, people mixed lived with former Fujian immigrants. After 2 to 3 generations, varied cultures integrated. Due to its complexity, sometimes we’re not sure which one we belong to. We are more like the mirror inherently. We switch between different cultures and eventually develop our own one. This is the most distinctive part of culture in Taiwan.

Some people would see a project the key in their life, but sometimes it’s only a slightest part of it. We have to reconsider it from a long-term perspective. What we do in the project “MASTECH Workspace” is no more than fix a bug in the machine. The company is like a robot or organs in human body, and our mission is to deal with overlaying issues between RD/PM, and accounting/sales departments. The reformation of the layout could reconnect the people so employees could work more efficiently.

I encourage students to follow in masters’ steps like Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. At the age of 20 to 40, they were designing houses. They engaged in large projects and commercial buildings only when they were mature enough. This way, you can handle different scales in every new case, eventually knowing which one suits you most. We will lose the delicacy of space design if everyone dives into large scale projects.

The comprehension of different scales and proportions.

Mostly SketchUp and Layout.

Make sure five most important things be done every morning.

Usually from 6 to 8 months.

We work as a team, trying to come up with best ideas through discussing.

Right now we are working on a project much different from interior design: A kit for dentists which helps them with dental implanting.

Please go to our website https://www.studiox4.com/