10 Questions with Yang Yang

Yang's journey began in Japan, followed by a move to China as a teenager. Yang holds a Master of Science in Design in Advanced Architectural Design from the University of Pennsylvania and is pursuing a PhD focusing on carbon and energy-reducing design, which deeply informs her artistic approach.

She now divides her time between the UK, the US, Japan, and China. This diverse cultural perspective serves as the foundation of her work, enabling her to draw from the architectural traditions of each region. This cross-cultural approach is embedded in her designs, which she hopes will captivate audiences with their global sensibilities.

With a unique blend of academic and practical architecture experience across four countries, Yang worked as a Design Coordinator in New York and has been conducting sustainable building studies cross-nationally as a young researcher in Shanghai, London, and Tokyo. Her research in sustainable architecture is widely recognized, with publications in leading conferences and journals, including four peer-reviewed papers and conference presentations. In addition to her design expertise, Yang has been a reviewer for several architecture conferences and a jury member for architecture design competitions, bringing a well-rounded and insightful perspective to her field.

yanay2024.framer.website | @yana__dovob

ARTIST STATEMENT

Yang Yang's design philosophy centers on creating buildings that seamlessly integrate with their environment to enhance sustainability and energy efficiency. Morphology, geometry, and performance-based design are core to her approach, as she is inspired by how a building's energy performance can influence its form and how the natural environment interacts with the structure's shape. This dynamic relationship between architecture and its surroundings is fundamental to her work, driving her to craft designs that are efficient yet harmonized with nature.

Through architecture, Yang's creative process deeply addresses societal, human, and environmental needs. She explores these interconnected elements to achieve a balance between human functionality and environmental sustainability, resulting in designs that hold both aesthetic and practical significance. Working primarily with digital simulation and rendering techniques, she brings architectural visions to life while valuing the hands-on insights gained from on-site construction. Her work aims to reflect how architecture and environment can shape human behavior and, in turn, how human behavior could contribute to the environment and transform architecture, creating visually compelling spaces that resonate with the ongoing relationship between people and nature.

Lijia Smart Park, 2021 © Yang Yang - CAP NEW YORK SHANGHAI

INTERVIEW

Can you share how your journey across Japan, China, the UK, and the US has shaped your perspective as an architect? How do these cultural influences appear in your designs?

My journey across Japan, China, the UK, and the US has profoundly shaped my architectural approach, allowing me to integrate international cultural perspectives and sustainability practices into my designs. Growing up in Japan and China instilled a deep appreciation for the harmony of Eastern philosophy between architecture and nature, a principle that remains central to my work. My experiences in the U.S. allowed me to delve into urban analysis and innovative workplace design, exploring how architecture can harmoniously integrate with the environment. These experiences have contributed to forward-thinking projects and inspired me to pursue further research in architecture.
My PhD research centers on the design of sustainable buildings. During my research visit to the UK, I conducted comparative studies on greenhouse gas emissions, gaining valuable insights into sustainable construction practices. I also visited prefabrication factories in Japan, observing advanced prefabricated construction methods and building materials that innovated themselves. These experiences have shaped a design philosophy prioritizing sustainability, energy performance, and a seamless integration of architecture with its cultural and environmental context.

With your background in Advanced Architectural Design and ongoing PhD research, how does your academic work intersect with your practical experience in architecture?

My academic work and practical experience in architecture are deeply intertwined and constantly enrich one another. My design-based master's degree focuses on the interplay between morphology, geometry, and energy considerations. Meanwhile, my research experience deepened my interest in the future of architecture, emphasizing the integration of advanced sustainable technologies and innovative methodologies into design.
This dual academic background has shaped my approach to practical architecture, encouraging me to think critically about seamlessly merging architectural aesthetics with cutting-edge sustainable technologies. It has also sharpened my awareness of the challenges of balancing innovative solutions with the realities of construction. Questions such as, "How can we better integrate aesthetics and sustainability in practice?" and "How can we overcome the difficulties of implementing innovative technologies in real-world projects?" drive my work. I bring this dual perspective into every project, striving to bridge the gap between visionary design and practical application while advancing the future of sustainable architecture.

Having worked in diverse roles, from design coordinator to researcher, how have these experiences influenced your approach to architecture?

As a design coordinator in my previous work, I balance functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability with practical considerations like budget constraints, construction processes, and client demands in real-world projects. As a researcher, I can explore sustainable architecture in greater depth, focusing on methodologies for optimizing energy performance and greenhouse gas emission assessments.
These two roles have complemented and enriched one another, refining my ability to tackle architectural challenges creatively and precisely. Together, they shape my view of architecture as a dynamic process that seamlessly integrates environmental responsibility, advanced technology, and human-centered design to create inspiring and enduring spaces.

Y Project, 2022 © Yang Yang - Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Sustainability is a central theme in your work. What drives your commitment to this area, and how do you actively work on this theme?

My commitment to sustainability stems from a belief in architecture's responsibility to address environmental challenges. I actively pursue this through research on optimizing residential design using lifecycle analysis (LCA), energy simulation, and AI methods. A key focus is balancing operational energy and embodied carbon to reduce emissions throughout a building's lifecycle, creating impactful solutions aligned with sustainability goals. I have collaborated with a leading Chinese construction and design firm and conducted on-site measurements, collected construction data, analyzed building lifecycle carbon emissions, and gathered real-time thermal performance data for their residential projects. This data-driven approach enabled the optimization of key design variables—such as window-to-wall ratios, window types, geometry, and insulation—leading to approximately a 25% reduction in total carbon emission.

Your work emphasizes the connection between a building's form and its energy performance. Could you walk us through your process of incorporating these elements into a project?

Sure. My work on The Y-Project, a zero-energy house, will be a perfect example. By adopting a compact geometry, passive design strategies, advanced materials and Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), the project minimized energy consumption while optimizing thermal performance. I conducted thermal measurements during the final construction phase and installed smart systems to enhance energy efficiency. My contributions also included coordinating with manufacturers and ensuring proper insulation to maximize energy conservation.
This work demonstrated the practical application of sustainable design principles, highlighting the synergy between architectural form, material innovation, and energy performance. Notably, the house achieved 48 hours of zero energy consumption, showcasing its effectiveness in real-world conditions. Considering that residential buildings account for approximately 30% of global energy consumption, this design serves as a prototype and exemplar, offering a scalable solution that could be widely applied to residential architecture. Such adoption has the potential to significantly reduce global carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable future.

How do you see architecture impacting human behavior within the sustainable design? Are there examples where your work has aimed to foster a specific human-environment interaction?

Architecture profoundly impacts human behavior, particularly within sustainable design, by shaping how people interact with their environment. Thoughtfully designed spaces can promote sustainable lifestyles, enhance well-being, and encourage resource-conscious behavior.
For instance, the heating solarium in the Y-Project served as both a passive energy-saving feature and a space that encouraged occupants to engage with natural light and warmth during winter, reducing reliance on artificial heating. Integrating Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) and smart systems also allowed occupants to monitor and optimize their energy use, promoting awareness and active participation in sustainable living. Additionally, the use of greenery on roofs and walls provided insulation and created a biophilic connection, offering occupants a sense of harmony with nature. These design elements highlight how sustainable architecture can influence behavior by fostering energy-conscious habits and enhancing the quality of life through meaningful human-environment interactions.

Sustainability is a key theme these days. What do you think is the role of art and architecture in raising awareness of such themes?

From my perspective, art is an incredibly powerful medium for communication, capable of influencing public opinion and cultural values, thereby shifting perceptions toward more eco-friendly behaviors and mindsets. Artists can raise public awareness about the environment and the future of sustainable development by incorporating more eco-friendly materials and sustainable design into their works.
As for architecture, it serves as a highly tangible medium to demonstrate to the public the extent to which sustainable development can be realized. Thoughtful architecture reshapes urban environments to prioritize green spaces, promote biodiversity, and reduce carbon footprints. In my view, future architecture needs to adopt the latest environmentally friendly construction technologies and facilities as much as possible, adhering to energy efficiency principles and leading by example. From sustainable architecture to creating sustainable cities, the goal is to provide the public with a better environment and a higher quality of healthy living.

In your view, what are the main challenges architects face today in advancing sustainable design, and how do you approach these challenges in your work?

Architects face several challenges in advancing sustainable design, including balancing environmental performance with cost constraints, addressing the complexities of integrating emerging technologies and overcoming resistance to change from clients or stakeholders who may prioritize aesthetics or budget over sustainability. Additionally, designs must be adapted to diverse climates, cultural contexts, and evolving building regulations, all while ensuring functionality and user satisfaction.

Looking to the future, what are some of the new directions or innovations in sustainable architecture that you're most excited to explore?

The future of sustainable architecture is inspiring, particularly with the integration of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and other emerging technologies. AI is revolutionizing how we design, construct, and operate buildings by enabling data-driven decision-making and optimization at every stage of the architectural process.
One area I'm particularly excited about is the use of AI in generative design. AI algorithms can generate optimized building forms that maximize energy efficiency by a prediction model. This allows architects to explore sustainable, functional, innovative, and context-sensitive solutions.

Lastly, what are you working on now? Can you share any new projects or concepts with our readers?

Currently, I am focused on advancing AI-integrated workflows for sustainable building design. My latest project utilizes Rhino-Grasshopper, EvoMass, ClimateStudio, and a steady-state island evolutionary algorithm to optimize architectural design lifecycle energy (LCE). This approach empowers architects to assess various design possibilities, balancing embodied and operational energy impacts to achieve sustainability goals.
A recent case study on a campus building demonstrated my workflow's ability to significantly reduce lifecycle energy through optimized building massing, multi-thermal zones, and window-to-wall ratios (WWRs). By addressing early-stage design choices, this tool helps create energy-efficient, low-impact designs, making it an invaluable resource for architects and developers aiming for sustainability across the building lifecycle.

Artist’s Talk

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