Interviews with Haisheng Xu

My name is Haisheng Xu, and I am an architectural designer based in Los Angeles. I earned my Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis, following a Bachelor of Architecture from South China University of Technology. My practice focuses on architectural form and exterior design, with an emphasis on advanced computational design methodologies, currently in institutional and cultural projects.

I have always believed that design connects our understanding of the world with the reality we live in, while contributing to the cultural development and progress of society. My interest in architecture and art first led me to become a designer, and it continues to shape the way I think and respond to questions.

I am open to all types of architectural design.

Design should reveal and give form to the essential questions and discourse surrounding existing conditions, in ways that inspire further discussion and contribute to their continued development and progress. In a sense, it is an open process of establishing new conditions for further questioning and redefinition.

I believe design can help define the foundation of an organization, or reveal the essential value of a particular process. By responding to principles of function, rationality, science, and other practical requirements, design can give these principles a clear and meaningful form. These principles carry value in themselves, while also creating lasting and tangible returns for those who invest in them. From another perspective, design is the proposal of better use of our resources.

I hope my design can serve more people and reach a broader public, creating value beyond individual users and contributing to society as a whole.

Rem Koolhaas, Oscar Niemeyer, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Jony Ive, SANAA, Michelangelo, among many others.

Staying attentive to the values and trends of the present, learning from the ways previous generations approached and solved problems, and continuously building both fundamental professional knowledge and expertise in emerging technologies.

I might be a part-time writer, which I am not really good at though. I’m still not sure what the other half might be.

An expression and exploration of one's thinking, understanding, and values.

I hope to explore design that extends beyond buildings.

I can create some good designs

I have been experimenting with developing design programs and tools, exploring the potential for innovation in design methodologies themselves and how they may influence the way we engage in design.

Construction technologies and design approaches for design

It depends on the scale and types

I started by analyzing the foundational elements and issues for the project.

Design sets the trends.

It is a critical aspect of design, which would affect the way we explore reality, access information, and express our thinking.

Rhino is the typical one, with the parametric platform that is connected to it. I sketch ideas for quick exploration as well.

The thinking behind and process of it.

The ideas of the design and the way those ideas are expressed through the design.

Steve Jobs，Honoré de Balzac， Mark Twain，Italo Calvino

We may be able to give form to our thoughts with almost no effort at all—provided, of course, that we are still here to have them.

My name is Haisheng Xu, and I am an architectural designer based in Los Angeles. I earned my Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis, following a Bachelor of Architecture from South China University of Technology. My interest in architecture and art first led me to become a designer.

I believe design can help define the foundation of an organization, or reveal the essential value of a particular process. By responding to principles of function, rationality, science, and other practical requirements, design can give these principles a clear and meaningful form.

Architecture, any type.

Building facade and exterior envelope.

Concrete, metal, and wood

I focus on exploring the essence of design topics and the opportunities embedded within them, while seeking forms that embody my understanding, interpretation, and judgment as a designer.

Design should reveal and give form to the essential questions and discourse surrounding existing conditions, in ways that inspire further discussion and contribute to their continued development and progress. In a sense, it is an open process of establishing new conditions for further questioning and redefinition.

I care about whether the logic and thinking behind a design reach the essence of the problem; whether its formal language is clear, concise, and elegant; and whether it can express the designer’s individual character and emotions without becoming overly expressive or exaggerated.

Design should respect and advance the fundamental values of society, including science, openness, and freedom, while exploring ways to foster greater collaboration and continued social progress. In relation to the environment, design should contribute to long-term sustainability and promote a more thoughtful and efficient use of resources across both space and time.

As AI continues to develop, access to information and research will become increasingly efficient. Research-based design approaches may therefore become more important, and research itself may gradually become part of the design process, at least in architecture.

At the same time, designers will have more efficient ways to visualize, test, and validate their ideas and ways of thinking. As it becomes easier to demonstrate the feasibility and credibility of a design idea, the standard for creativity may also rise. Greater value may increasingly lie in the originality of the idea itself, the questions it raises, and the new possibilities it reveals.

It was an exhibition of the Volcano Visitor Center at Dutch Design Week 2025, held at Piet Hein Eek, Halvemaanstraat 30, 5651 BP Eindhoven, the Netherlands. I currently do not have plans for another exhibition.

The form and language of my design often draw inspiration from abstract art and nature. Practicing abstraction is also an important way for me to develop and sustain my creativity.

At this stage, I am drawn to an abstract, simple, and fluid design language. I strongly relate to the idea that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” and always am interesting in abstract painting and eastern calligraphy, where simplicity can carry a great depth of thought, emotion, and imagination.

I usually begin by analyzing the site and project requirements and forming an abstract understanding of them. From there, I develop a formal language while considering the project's functional needs, then look for ways to integrate form, function, site, and atmosphere into a consistent architectural concept that can be expressed in a simple form.

Bookshelves, iPhone, balcony space, a table lamp, and wine glasses.

The positive side is that designers can use design as a way to test and refine their understanding of and ideas about certain issues. The negative side is that, in many cases, designers must rely on commissions and the resources of others to bring their ideas to fruition.

Hypotheses and judgment

I have been using parametric software programs and tools in my design as a way to shape complex form and geometry. As for sources, it depends on projects.

I have been trying to find the best distribution of time and energy throughout the whole design process, which depends on project types and schedules.

Architecture of all types, but cultural and institutional architecture may be the most compelling to me. These projects often involve multiple layers of information, including program, organizational identity, site context, urban connections, and social and community meaning. Together, these elements form a rich and complex system that often creates opportunities for creativity. They also allow design to contribute to the development of certain activities, processes, and shared experiences.

I hope to continue to shape my approach to design, with new ideas, tools and technologies.

I have both designed by myself and work with others.

Through my email: Haishengxu92@gmail.com