Ye Xinyi: Seven years of grinding and building, love can withdraw the long years

“WKU architecture department is like a warm family.” Two years ago, Ye Xinyi, who graduated from the architecture department of WKU with a bachelor's degree, decided to continue studying for a master’s degree in architecture. During the seven years, she not only followed the professors to delve deeper into professional knowledge and actively participated in practical projects, but also established emotional bonds with the architecture department as deep as family.

Time flies, and seven years pass in a blink of an eye. This girl who is deeply attached to WKU graduated last month. Looking back, Ye deeply felt that she had made the wisest choice. Tireless professors, generous scholarship support, a strong academic atmosphere, and a beautiful campus environment are all important considerations for her.

Debut at the forefront and stand out in competitions

“I really like the professors at WKU. They really gave me great help.” Since her freshman year, Ye has been participating in various architectural competitions under the encouragement and guidance of her professors.

As early as 2018, during the Thinking Creativity Conference and Let's Charter competition held by the college, Ye and her teammates jointly designed a tea house with a blend of Chinese and Western styles. The appearance of its half courtyard and half cafe was refreshing, and as a result, she won first place.

In 2019, David Mohney, the dean of the Michael Graves College of Architecture and Design, launched the project “Designing Public Spaces: Utilizing Infrastructure to Improve Public Spaces”, aimed at encouraging students from WKU to pay attention to and renovate the abandoned areas around the Wenruitang River.

Ye and her schoolmates responded positively and formed a competition team. They conducted in-depth research on the geographical environment of Shangen Village and proposed a modern bridge design scheme that integrates commercial functions and sewage treatment. The bridge cleverly integrates sewage treatment and green plant planting functions, effectively improving water pollution problems. Meanwhile, the construction of a shopping mall across the bridge aims to promote the development of the leisure and entertainment industry.

At the postgraduate stage, Ye began to think about how to contribute her strength to WKU with a more mature perspective and skills. She proposed the design plan for the “WKU No.3 Dining Hall” which won the gold medal scholarship in the college. This plan draws inspiration from the new vegetable market and the Twin Towers Market, envisioning a vegetarian restaurant located next to the experimental building. The design emphasizes sustainable development and uses wooden building materials and recyclable solar panel roofs to reduce carbon emissions and achieve environmental protection goals. 

Constant Improvement: Steadily Advancing Toward Professionalism

During her graduate studies, Ye has taken on dual roles as a research assistant and teaching assistant while participating in various professional competitions. As a research assistant in the architecture department, she has contributed to several projects led by architecture faculty, with papers published or projects successfully implemented each semester. Additionally, she has attended several academic forums alongside her professors, engaging in direct exchanges with seasoned architects, continuously broadening her academic horizons.

Together with Prof. Vincent Peu Duvallon, Ye has conducted extensive research on the interaction between infrastructure and landscapes in the urban-rural fringe of southern Wenzhou. This study, grounded in the theories of Latour and Lynch, focuses on how changes in Wenzhou's infrastructure network and transportation affect the landscape. She believes that future urban planning and architectural design should strive for a harmonious coexistence between infrastructure and the natural environment to promote sustainable development. The findings of this project have been successfully published on the internationally renowned academic platform, AMPS Research, garnering widespread attention in the industry.

As a teaching assistant, she plays a crucial supportive role in the independent courses of graduate students. Whenever classmates encounter difficulties in their coursework, ask her for help. Furthermore, Ye Xinyi patiently checks their assignments, actively shares her insights during discussions, and attentively listens to others' viewpoints, fostering collective progress with her peers.

Setting Sail Toward a Movie Dream

Beyond her rich experiences on campus, Ye has also excelled in her internships outside of school. Her internships at TOPOS DESIGN Architectural Design Company in Shanghai, Ningbo University Architectural Design Research Institute Co., Ltd., and Zhejiang Tongfang Architectural Design Co., Ltd. have provided her with a deep understanding of the architectural design workflow. She had the opportunity to participate in various civil and government projects, such as the design of the Zhenhai Gas Station and the Fenghua Popular Bridge. Throughout her internships, she contributed to over ten architectural projects, significantly honing her professional skills.

"The architecture industry is full of opportunities, and finding a job is relatively easy," Ye smiled. She noted that most of her peers in architecture are doing well, which fills her with optimism for her own future. Regarding her career plans, she expressed her desire to join a company that allows for independent design work. She aspires to engage in creative design projects, such as those seen in Hollywood movies, Disney fantasy scenes, or video game environments. Through such work, she hopes to fully unleash her imagination and continuously enhance her professional skills, ensuring that her passion remains undiminished.

For Ye, every design, from simple floor plans to complex three-dimensional structures, is an explosion of a small universe in her heart. In this universe, she relentlessly pursues the pinnacle of architectural artistry, striving to polish every creative idea to perfection. She believes that in the near future, her talents will be recognized and appreciated on a larger stage, adding a brilliant touch to the world of architectural art.