XIANWEN ZHENG
received architecture education from both Aalto University in Finland and the Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO) in Norway. His academic interests started from the experience he participated in a research program about ‘Egypt heritage protection’ led by Prof. Mari Lending and Prof. Tim Anstey. After that, he started a two-years research program which focus on the dynamic relationships between the religious ritual and the corresponding space. In the spring of 2020, this program was ended by his Master thesis: Farming & Meditation- a Zen Buddhist monastery proposal driven by the religious ritual. Now, he pays special attention to the contemporary spiritual crisis caused by the unilateral urbanization strategy, and how should modern people realise a new type of poetic dwelling in the digital era.Degrees
1.9.2014 - 25.5.2020 (Master of Science-Architecture)
The Department of Architecture
School of Art, Design and Architecture
Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland
1.9.2016 - 31.5.2017 (Erasmus programme)
The Institute of Architecture
The Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway
1.9.2006 - 24.6.2010 (Bachelor of Arts-Environmental Art Design)
The Department of Environmental Art Design
School of Art Design
Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
Current employment
Freelancer
Previous work experience
05.10.2020 - Now, Architect & co-founder
Freelab, Shanghai, China
20.9.2018 - 25.5.2020, Architect & co-founder
Lefun Intelligence Home, Changsha, China
14.8.2017 - 30.6.2018, Architect & Coordinator
Niels Torp+ Arkitekter, Oslo, Norway
1.9.2010 - 30.6.2012, Architect & Project manager
Guangdong architectural design & research institute, Guangzhou, China
Skills
AchiCAD, Revit, Rhino, AutoCAD, SU, Vray, Adobe, Office.
Career breaks
1.9.2012 - 15.8.2014, (Live in seclusion on the Yuelu Mountain)
Studied ancient Taoism philosophy & Taoism inner alchemy
7.9.2018 - 20.4.2019, (Fieldwork about Zen Buddhist monastery)
Visited hermits
Investigated the ancient Buddhist Monasteries in the mountainous area of Central China
Learned Zen meditation in the Zhenru Monastery on the Yunju Mountain
Research output
Master thesis: Farming and meditation - A Zen Buddhist monastery proposal driven by the religious ritual (Grade 5/5)
Link: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/43483
Selected Exhibitions
Dec. 2022 // BRAIN CAKE, International Contemporary Art exhibition, Casa Milà, Barcelona, Spain
Jun. 2022 // VISCERAL, International Contemporary Art exhibition, M.A.D.S art gallery, Milan, Italy
Jun. 2022 // Art Nordic 2022, Lokomotivværkstedet, Copenhagen, Denmark
May. 2020 // Farming & Meditation, Väre, Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland
Nov. 2018 // Floating Life, International Prefabricated Building & Construction Technology EXPO 2018, Changsha, China
May. 2017 // Images of Egypt, AHO Gallery, Oslo, Norway
Sep. 2016 // Edited-unreadable books, Habitare Fair, Helsinki, Finland