MSA Stage 3 School of Architecture
Jiadong Zhou
Hello, my name is Jiadong Zhou. I’m an Architectural Designer with hands-on experience in both large-scale public building projects and smaller, culturally resonant designs. I’ve had the privilege of working with renowned firms like 2PORTZAMPARC and Woods Bagot, where I honed my skills in 3D modeling, CAD drawings, and sustainable design.
I hold a B.Arch from the Glasgow School of Art, where I explored innovative architectural solutions to social and environmental challenges. My work on the Iceland Volcano Lookout Point competition allowed me to specialize in zero-carbon emission designs, leveraging advanced software like Grasshopper, Revit, and Rhino.
I’m passionate about creating designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally responsible, and I’m excited about the opportunity to bring my skills and creativity to new architectural challenges.
Stonemason’s Alter
The project fully investigates the cultural, historical and environmental information of the site and responds to the long history of local stonemasonry with a lifelong learning centre for stonemasons. The architectural form references Celtic knots that represent the artistic achievements of local stonemasons, and weaves a modern expression of stonemasonry with the spirit of solidarity and mutual help at its core. At the same time, the building responds to the surrounding churches and communities, as an extended altar that inherits and conveys the spirit of tolerance and fraternity of the churches, and the proportions of the building refer to the classical golden section, responding to the churches while taking into account various aesthetic perspectives.
Watchman on the Hilltop
The project carries on the original observatory’s tradition of serving the local community and respecting science by providing temporary resting places for visitors and study areas for researchers. At the same time, a sustainable strategy is at the centre of the project, with the building responding in a sustainable way to the windy and cold mountain environment. I want it to be able to observe the weather from the top of the mountain like a dutiful watchman and kindly provide shelter for people.
