THOM HUIHAO SHEN
Plus Architecture, Melbourne
SAY IT LOUD - Naarm Melbourne Exhibitor
MELBOURNE/AUSTRALIA Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
What inspires me is Wang Shu’s work, which has a profound interpretation of the Chinese Classical Garden and context of urbanization in China and SANAA’s practice dealing with space, which re-defines how architecture interacts with its surroundings.
THOM HUIHAO SHEN
Bio:
With an Australian-educated background, I have five years of working experience on various projects of different scales for international design companies. Apart from a strong desire to welcome challenges, my aesthetic sensibility in design and insightful expression of creation has been recognized across different companies in Australia and China. Through this accumulated experience and knowledge, I aim to practice as an Australian registered architect at management level across nations.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
My initial understanding of architecture started with sketch as a child. After a visit to my cousin’s architecture studio during a summer vacation at the age of 13. I was then fascinated by architecture and longed to start my career as an architect
What do you do?
Before working in Australia, I had 5 years of experience designing commercial, residential and healthcare facilities. In the last couple of years, I was involved in a few hospital projects and worked on a maternity hospital across all design stages.
What excites you in the work you do?
What excites me the most is that I believe the essence of architectural design is the space that helps people increase their perception of self-consciousness and the connection between them and their surroundings physically and socially.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
What inspires me is Wang Shu’s work, which has a profound interpretation of the Chinese Classical Garden and context of urbanization in China and SANAA’s practice dealing with space, which re-defines how architecture interacts with its surroundings.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
It is Jiahe Maternity Hospital, where I took part in developing the project from preliminary design concepts through to detailed documentation. Along the way, I sharpened my design skills and coordination abilities as I played a leading role.
Featured Project Name:
voco® South Melbourne and Vivere Apartments
Featured Project Location:
10-16 Dorcas Street, Southbank
Featured Project Completion Date:
Estimated 2025
Role in Featured Project:
Graduate Architect – 2IC
Featured Project Description:
Inspired by Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens and Port Phillip Bay, this 19 storey mixed used building will house offices, hotel and apartments with separation of each use expressed in the vertical and horizontal stacking within each segment. Distinguished by its bold curved and segmented sculptural façade, Plus Architecture’s desire to make the best use of sightlines to the east and west displays a finely tuned craftsmanship supported by a thorough analysis of site context and design brief.
