Interviews with Shengzhe Shen

I got a master's degree in architecture from the Central Academy of fine arts and have been working for 10 years. My clients include private owners, artists and property developers city investment company.

Maybe it's because I liked studying problems, being quiet, and being curious about all kinds of new things when I was a child. At the same time, it was influenced by the family in terms of aesthetics.

The core of design is the idea, and the sense of form is the final presentation of the idea. Any technology is a tool to solve problems and present a sense of form. It should not be the core of design.

Design work makes me feel complete and safe. Because design is a process of self consistent thinking. Finding appropriate rules can make design work by itself.

Architectural design is an artistic creation after rational reasoning and analysis. The study of science and engineering makes me form the habit of rational thinking. The further study of the Academy of fine arts makes me have the ability of perceptual artistic modeling.

Do every project in a down-to-earth manner. If possible, I want to design a small airport or high-speed railway station in a remote area.

I think architects should be flexible, experience more and be able to transfer knowledge, and transform all kinds of information into the logic of design. A painting, a performance, a popular app and a cold knowledge can trigger the thinking of future design. Future contact owners also come from all walks of life.

At the same time, with a large amount of information and more useless information, we should learn to think rationally. Design is the artistic processing after rational derivation. This is really important. Grasp the essence of the problem, find a main clue to promote the design, and then divergent thinking to collect the material and basis of the design.

My teacher told, "Simple techniques, used to the extreme, are masterpieces".

I have to work every day and get used to combing my thoughts before going to bed.

Design trend is a false proposition, and good design has no effectiveness. Therefore, it is important to stick to your ideas and style

Well design is to solve problems and reflect the formal beauty of the designer's personal tendency on the basis of a complete understanding of the user's intention and making full use of the existing conditions

When it is inappropriate to change a small part of a drawing because every detail is linked and every idea is advanced layer by layer.

Focusing on the integration of local traditional culture and new contemporary art.

Peter Zumthor. His design is deep and focused.

In fact, I am a musician with a certain audience. I think there are similarities between music and architecture creation. There are some simple rules and logic, but there are countless changes at the same time in these two fields. Therefore, different styles have been formed in the exploration of predecessors. I will also find ways to organize and shape architectural space by analyzing great classical music works or contemporary pop music works.

I like a relaxed and open working atmosphere, just like a workshop or classroom. I respect the creative enthusiasm of each partner.

My requirement for my work partner is to be a geek first, which is outstanding in the design process. The second is to understand what others are doing, have a full understanding of the whole work, and put forward unique opinions from their own field.

My projects usually include in some remote villages and underdeveloped areas. My work will bring some contributions to the local economic development and the improvement of people's livelihood, retain and develop the local architectural culture and give people some self-identity. In this case, profitability is no longer the main purpose.

Architect is not a profession widely understood by the public, which needs more opportunities to preach his ideas and show himself.

Localism and Modernism. Sincere and direct.

Focusing on the integration of local traditional culture and new contemporary art. Adapt local traditional culture to contemporary living habits and aesthetics.

This is a new beginning for me.

About 3 months.

I have been engaged in adaptive renovation design of historical cultural blocks, traditional villages and industrial heritage areas, as well as the integrated design of architecture, interior and landscape of boutique hotels，homestay, cultural and artistic spaces. So I decide it.

Sorry. It's an architectural design, which cannot be copied and can only adapt to the established site.

Respect for local traditional culture.

Peter Zumthor.

Mainly private owners.

Telling a simple and profound story is easier to move people.

This is a quiet place for thinking

There is no best design, only the most appropriate design.

Yes, with my team.

It solves many problems in structure and material.

No. I'm dealing with people and environment. I always stay at the scene, even for a few weeks, to understand the actual situation.

There were series of difficulties overcame by folk wisdom and design strategy on the islands far away from the mainland without large construction machinery and vehicles.

Hope to be recognized and exposed.

Every new design task is a new learning.

NO. Thank you.

Architecture MA of Central Academy of Fine Arts.

Follow and promote the relationship between man and environment, man and culture.

Following my heart.

I engaged in adaptive renovation design of historical cultural blocks, traditional villages and industrial heritage areas, as well as the integrated design of architecture, interior and landscape of boutique hotels，homestay, cultural and artistic spaces. That is always what I wish to design.

Focus attention and divergent thinking.

A good designer create the scheme itself, while a great designer make rules and keep schemes working on their own.

There is no best design, only the most appropriate design.

Good design makes rules or system that keep the schemes working and balancing on its own.

I would try to design a little airport or high-speed railway station for a remote town.

Design a little airport or high-speed railway station for a remote town.

Focus attention and divergent thinking.

Every designer who expresses his own views and has consistent logic.

Peter Zumthor's. His design is deep and focused.

An artistic experiment named Mowa, a new application of traditional materials, has been exhibited, on sale and applied to actual projects.

I think architects should be flexible, experience more and be able to transfer knowledge, and transform all kinds of information into the logic of design. A painting, a performance, a popular app and a cold knowledge can trigger the thinking of future design. Future contact owners also come from all walks of life.

At the same time, with a large amount of information and more useless information, we should learn to think rationally. Design is the artistic processing after rational derivation. This is really important. Grasp the essence of the problem, find a main clue to promote the design, and then divergent thinking to collect the material and basis of the design.

Musician. In fact, I am a musician with a certain audience. I think there are similarities between music and architecture creation. There are some simple rules and logic, but there are countless changes at the same time in these two fields. Therefore, different styles have been formed in the exploration of predecessors. I will also find ways to organize and shape architectural space by analyzing great classical music works or contemporary pop music works.

Design is a process of self consistent thinking. Finding appropriate rules can make design work by itself.

My teacher and family.

Rich life experience, not limited to design.

Finding partners to work with.

Step by step, not bluff.

Let's imagine together. Unexpected and reasonable.

Do every project in a down-to-earth manner. Keep going, never stop.

Integrate design into life.

My projects usually include in some remote villages and underdeveloped areas. My work will bring some contributions to the local economic development and the improvement of people's livelihood, retain and develop the local architectural culture and give people some self-identity. In this case, profitability is no longer the main purpose.

During the pandemic, we continued to complete high-quality projects, making eorts for local economic recovery and livelihood improvement.

The design is all regrettable, there is no most satisfactory one.

Get more recognition and due design fee.

Smarter, more caring, and more environmentally friendly.

3 months to 1 year.

Starting by looking at the venue and reading the assignment.

Simple things, to the extreme, are great.

Design trend is a false proposition, and good design has no effectiveness. Therefore, it is important to stick to your ideas and style.

The core of design is the idea, and the sense of form is the final presentation of the idea. Any technology is a tool to solve problems and present a sense of form. It should not be the core of design.

Computer, Cad and Su.

Color and material are costumes, and environment is a congenital condition.

Let people ask no questions and forget the design itself.

What is his internal logic.

I like a relaxed and open working atmosphere, just like a workshop or classroom. I respect the creative enthusiasm of each partner.

My requirement for my work partner is to be a geek first, which is outstanding in the design process. The second is to understand what others are doing, have a full understanding of the whole work, and put forward unique opinions from their own field.

Every designer who expresses his own views and has consistent logic.

Sill comes from practice.

Louis Isadore Kahn.

I'm relieved. I hope it will not hard in the future.

White, home, rice, winter, furniture and Jil sander.

Because of trust, I once helped the government persuade the villagers to adopt the transformation plan.

Maybe it's because I liked studying problems, being quiet, and being curious about all kinds of new things when I was a child. At the same time, it was influenced by the family in terms of aesthetics.

Maybe it's because I liked studying problems, being quiet, and being curious about all kinds of new things when I was a child. At the same time, it was influenced by the family in terms of aesthetics.

In the future, people will find a better way to balance the world.

If possible, please remember my name and nationality. Thank you.

Before I went to university, I tried to be a musician. Because of an accident later, however, my fingers couldn't play the piano smoothly any more. I began to study the "frozen music".

“Zen-in”, it means intervention and concealment in Chinese, just like our attitude to architecture. We focus on the impact of architecture on the environment and living.

Design is to create a multi-level unity.

Traditional and contemporary art.

It's Zenstay hotel at this stage. Please pay attention to the related reports of A-Design Award and Competition.

Concrete.

In dreams.

Function, form, spirit: unified or not.

Exciting.

Investigation and immerse

Function, form, spirit: unified or not.

Society and environment are unity of opposites. Architecture designers should face them at the same time and try to reconcile

The "design field" has been being subdivided inside and crossover outside. There will be more individual designers in the future. Each one will have his excellent points and become the main force together as a whole in the design field.

June 2020, the Opposite House in Beijing.

Coming soon.

Inspiration comes besides architecture，which could be a movie, a painting or a conversation. I'm not sure about the exact sources. But I have to get more information from various aspects and comprehend by analogy.

Regional keeping and artistic intervention. It started from the time I studyed in the Central Academy of Fine Arts. During that time, I often went to remote villages with artists for research and practice. While feeling the local culture and style, I also began to try to improve it through artistic means. And keep the old and new growing together.

Beijing China.

keep calm and sincere.

Every one, no matter a designer or a company boss, should always be calm and sincere.

Architectural design is a complex process. I'm afraid it couldn't be told by a little words even if 500 characters.

IKEA bookshelf, round LED droplight, TOTO automatic toilet, Huge sofa for work, DIY computer.

Every day is a new day.

Sorry, I'm also young.

If you like it, it's all positive and vice versa.

God is in the details.

Skill to deepen.

I have no toolbox. But I think electronic devices and the Internet have become increasingly important and useful for design.

Deal with trivia quickly, then focus on solving key issues.

1 to 2 years.

How can it be deepened?

Follow my supervisor to study and practice in remote villages of China.

Some private owners and publicans.

I enjoy challenging the work which restrictive condition is harsh. Because the difficult point may bacome the bright point usually.

As the old Chinese proverb says, " A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step."

Architectural design is a work that consumes a lot of communication time. At the beginning of contacting proprietors, we usually spent much more time to prove that other methods may not work. With the deepening of our understanding, most proprietors could thank for our patience and responsibility and stick to the right choice.

arch@zen-in.cn

That‘s all. Thank you very much.