Wei-Yu Hsiao

Lead Designer @ ZHA

About

WEI-YU HSIAO is a London-based architectural designer who has dedicated his life to his passion and focal interest in architectural design methods and technologies related to computational design and digital fabrication. Wei-Yu received his bachelor degree in Architecture from Tunghai University in 2013. His thesis research focused on rethinking the eroding coastline of Taiwan as a vehicle to revive a waning traditional fishing village. His approach used parametric methods for analyzing environmental conditions which he then transformed into ecological landscapes. This project received many international competition prizes such as Top 20 AECOM UrbanSOS international award, Achiprix international thesis design 2015 and Young Talent Architectural Design Award 2013. During his studies, in 2012, Wei-Yu interned at SANAA, the world-renowned Japanese design firm of Pritzker winners where he joined their design team to participate on many of their projects, including local residential research and international competitions. Shortly after his studies, he joined Ho+Hou Studio Architects as an Architectural Assistant in Taiwan. Whilst there, he participated on architectural design projects, gaining further expertise in construction drawing packages and detailed design drawing. In 2016, Wei-Yu pursued a Master’s Degree in Architecture and Digital Fabrication (Gramazio & Kohler Research) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich (ETH Zurich), where he worked with NCCR Digital Fabrication Research on Robotic Fabrication, experimenting with alternate materials as well as large scale timber structure. In addition, his master thesis focused on robotic arm glass bending which in particular exhibits the approach of a systematic researcher with interest in traditional fabrication techniques and material properties. In 2017, Wei-Yu relocated to London where he has, thus far, worked as an architect for two of the UK’s leading architectural companies, including WilkinsonEyre Architects and Zaha Hadid Architects as part of their Computational Design Research Group (ZHCODE) team.

Country

United Kingdom

City

London

Industry

Architecture & Planning

Skill

Prametric design, Architectural Design, Design Research, Computational Design, Robotic Fabrication, Digital Fabrication, Rhino, Interior Design, Urban Design, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, Revit, Grasshopper, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, 6-Axis UR Robotic Arm, 6-Axis Kuka Robotic Arm, Python

Experience

Lead Designer

ZHA

2024-12 - Present · 1 yr 10 mos

London Area, United Kingdom

Senior Designer

ZHA

2022-8 - 2024-12 · 2 yrs 5 mos

London, England, United Kingdom

Technical / Software Tutor

Tunghai University

2024-3 - 2024-9 · 7 mos

Facade Consultant

Front

2020-2 - 2022-8 · 2 yrs 7 mos

Architectural Assistant

ZHA

2018-11 - 2020-2 · 1 yr 4 mos

London, United Kingdom

ZHCODE | Computation and Design Group

Architectural Assistant

WilkinsonEyre

2017 - 2018-11 · 1 yr

London, United Kingdom

WilkinsonEyre is one of the world's leading architectural practices with a portfolio of bold, beautiful and intelligent award-winning projects.

Architectural Assistant

Ho + Hou Studio Architect

2013-6 - 2014-6 · 1 yr 1 mo

Taipei

Power Source Energy Office | Jiangxi, China Jun 2013 – Jun 2014 • Architectural assistant on the schematic design, design development, detail drawing and construction documentation preparation. • Integrated industrial park's gate design into the whole architectural and landscape planing. The Ho-Bi high rise residential building - Building Facade Design | Taipei, Taiwan Jan 2014 – Jun 2014 • Architectural assistant on the schematic design, design development and detail drawing preparation with one co-worker. Australia, City of Gold Coast China Town Competition Mar 2014 – Apr 2014 • Responsible for working under tight deadline on concept design, design research, presentation preparation, 3D modeling and physical modeling.

Architectural Intern

Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA

2012-6 - 2012-9 · 4 mos

Tokyo

• Responsible for working under tight deadline on concept design, design research, presentation preparation, 3D modeling and physical modeling. - Competition of Toyohashi Museum - T House - Fukutake house - Residential in Tokyo - Additional of Teshima art museum - Taichung Culture Center, Taiwan

Education

ETH Zürich

Architecture and Digital Fabrication (MAS ETH DFAB)

2015 - 2016 · 1 yr

Master Research Thesis: "Robotic Spatial Bending of Glass Rods", supervised by Prof. Fabio Gramazio, Prof. Matthias Kohler, Philipp Eversmann and Luka Piškorec. Curriculum modules: Programming/Computational Design Geometry Structures Material processing Envelopes Sensing and Control Experience with advanced fabrication equipment, robotics, and design innovation technologies will position participants as cutting-edge practitioners in the field. The MAS programme in Digital Fabrication have regular interactions with representatives from industry and practice, giving participants insight and a network to prepare them for practice. Graduates will be capable of working in the following professions: architecture, construction, innovation, production management, and advanced academic research or teaching.

Tunghai University

Architecture

2008 - 2013 · 5 yrs

Thesis Research: "Floating Terrain", supervised by Prof. Chaur-Shiahn Yeh. • Listed In , Archiprix Madrid International Thesis Design • Top 20 short list, AECOM UrbanSOS International Competition Award • Honorable Mention, National Golden Award for Architecture • Honorable Mention, RE-THINKING THE FUTURE International Architectural Thesis Award - Sustainable Classification • Second Prize, Young Talent Architectural Design Award Among Taiwan, Hong Kong and China • Honorable Mention, Taichung City Regeneration Competition Award 2011 • Top Prize, W.S.HUNG Annual Memorial Award 2010