QIAOJUE YU
Rhodeside & Harwell
SAY IT LOUD - North Carolina Exhibitor
North Carolina Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
The authenticity and originality of vernacular landscapes inspire me as a designer. I see this as what makes a place unique and beautiful.
QIAOJUE YU
Bio:
The great designer, Qiaojue Yu is a designer who is passionate about crafting tangible, innovative, and purposeful spaces. I strive to transform each place into a contextually sensitive and meaningful venue, through my understanding of a site’s context, ecology, and culture. Furthermore, my designs seek to achieve social connection through interventions grounded in creativity and compassion.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
I started to learn about architecture at the age of 15 or so when building construction started to boom in the late 1990s in China. As a young teenager, I always knew that I wanted to explore art and design. The rest is history!
What do you do?
I am a passionate designer that creates meaningful places. In my view, a pocket park and city plan are both equally significant. As a designer, I strive to translate the will of constituents into a design in an artful, pragmatic, and contextual way.
What excites you in the work you do?
Many things - a new line of sustainable paving products or even seeing thriving plants on a beautiful spring day. What excites me most is being surrounded by a group of talented peers who are committed to creating great places.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
The authenticity and originality of vernacular landscapes inspire me as a designer. I see this as what makes a place unique and beautiful.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
My role as lead landscape architect for Sycamore Hill Gateway. After a community meeting, two stakeholders shook my hand and said, “thank you, this means a lot to us.” This was the most empowering and proudest moment in my career – what I do matters.
Featured Project Name:
Sycamore Hill Gateway
Featured Project Location:
Greenville, NC
Featured Project Completion Date:
Fall 2020
Role in Featured Project:
Landscape Architect
Featured Project Description:
Sycamore Hill Gateway is the rebirth of a local landmark to redress the leveling of a historically black neighborhood in central Greenville. The commemorative space will honor the history of Sycamore Hill Baptist Church and give room for collective healing for neighbors and the congregation. The new memorial plaza also acts as a gateway to the western entrance of Greenville’s Town Common, a large parkscape along the Tar River.
