House of the Future 2024/25 competition 3rd Prize winners - GN Architects

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 3rd Prize winners of our House of the Future 2024/25 competition – Lijiang Shen and Yaoyao Yuan from China – GN Architects!

GN Architects

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

GN Architects, established in 2003, is an internationally recognized practice located in shanghai. GN believes that design is generate nexus, which is as a strategy and as a goal. It aims to perceptively respond to social relationships and the environment, presenting their works in harmony with the city. In various fields, the designers from GN often take on the role of experts or pioneers, collaborating with clients to tackle challenging projects. They have achieved remarkable success in industrial offices, healthy residential areas and communities, urban regeneration, and cultural tourism planning. GN is also recognized as one of China’s finest wellness design firms, actively promoting and implementing the concepts of "Age-Friendly Environments" and "Design For All".

As a firm venturing into the international market, our design practice has extended to several countries, including Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. It has been characterized by keenly professional insights, a more diverse and expansive problem-solving approach, and solutions that merge technology and aesthetics, is enriching the lives of people from different cultural backgrounds, providing them with a better quality of life. 

About EXIT team: Founded in 2020, GN EXIT Studio is a pioneering design team committed to addressing complex social realities through a clear and recognizable design language. The studio has positioned itself as a bridge between diverse perspectives, embracing the belief that design is fundamentally about building relationships. This approach serves both as a guiding method and as an ultimate goal, allowing the team to respond thoughtfully to social dynamics and environments and to ensure their work integrates seamlessly and meaningfully into its surroundings.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been Involved?

Some projects experience:

Tencent (Wuhan) R&D Center, Wuhan, China;
Tencent Building, ChengDu, China;
Flying carpet, Qingdao, China;
Atour Village Public Restroom, Qingdao, China;
The Jushi Tower, Tongxiang, China;
SINOPOWER project, Nanjin, China;
Taikang Community Shen Garden, Shenyang, China;
Joyful Healthcare Community Center, Shanghai, China;
Daxin Tourist Center, Guangxi, China;
XY Community, Qianhai, Shenzhen, China;
Taopu Retirement Community, Shanghai, China;
West District Of Chongqing Lijia Smart Park, Chongqing, China.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

Architecture is the lens through which I perceive and engage with the world. As an architect, I derive a sense of purpose, pride, and self-identity, while also embracing the role of a pragmatic observer and a problem solver for urban challenges.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Many exceptional designs, for various reasons, never make it to construction. Yet compared to built structures, these unbuilt works often possess a unique vitality and deeper sense of inspiration. We aspire to provide a platform that brings these creations to light and affirms their significance.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

 Competitions test your ability to be an effective problem solver and a creator of better living environments. They also play a pivotal role in elevating your professional standing.