DIRECTORY 2025

Xena Zhang | Architecture & Design

Xena is an architect and cross-disciplinary visual artist whose work interweaves innovative sustainability practices with culturally immersive experiences. Growing up in a creatively charged family in Beijing, Xena was inspired from a young age by a household devoted to literature, music, and visual arts. Formally trained in interior design and architecture, Xena earned a master’s degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where an interdisciplinary curriculum sparked an exploration of ceramics, photography, and game design.

In recent projects, Xena focuses on creating off-grid environments and interactive installations that celebrate local heritage while championing renewable energy and resource conservation. Agri-Cultural Oasis: Sustainable Living and Dominican Traditions, in collaboration with Yuanhao Zhou, merges off-grid farming, tropical leisure, and vibrant cultural exploration into a holistic, sustainable living experience. A key feature of Agri-Cultural Oasis is its innovative water management strategy. The main house features a circular design surrounding a verdant courtyard, with an inward-sloping roof that optimizes rainwater capture for filtration and reuse. Guest and staff accommodations are similarly equipped with integrated purification systems, further promoting self-sufficiency. By celebrating the Dominican Republic’s rich cultural and agricultural heritage, Agri-Cultural Oasis aspires to be a living prototype for off-grid development—one that unites environmental stewardship, local traditions, and immersive experiences in a single visionary endeavor.

xenazhang.com
@xena_owo