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Selected Articles/ Interviews
Founder

Kris Yao, Hon. FAIA

Kris Yao is the founder of KRIS YAO | ARTECH, an Asia-based architectural firm with office in Taipei and Shanghai.  He obtained a Bachelor of Architecture from Tunghai University, and a Master of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley.  Mr. Yao's projects are mainly located in the Greater China area, and can also be found in the United States, Europe and South Asia.

Throughout his nearly 40 years of practice, Mr. Yao has received numerous awards and recognitions.  In 2007, Mr. Yao was awarded the National Award for Arts, which is the highest honor given by National Culture and Arts Foundation.  In 2014, he received the prestigious Honorary Fellowship from the American Institute of Architects.  The AIA praised him as an architect who "demonstrates his humanity with the development of physical elements that hold true to human emotion and conditions, cultural and historical context, and a sense of scale and place. His architecture has a poetic nature, using his native eastern aesthetic and spirituality with a sense of natural light, interplay of surfaces and forms and executing all with a high level of innovation and professionalism."

Mr. Yao's portfolio presents the richness and variety of his architectural practice.  His works are often published in international architectural magazines and professional journals.  In 2002, he was invited to participate in the 8th Venice Architecture Biennale for the solo exhibition of "NEXT EXIT", following with many other international architectural events since then.  His recent solo exhibition "Within．Without" was held in MoCA, Shanghai in 2016.

Senior Consultant

Willy YungWei Yu, FAIA

Willy YungWei Yu is a Senior Consultant in KRIS YAO | ARTECH. He received a Bachelor of Architecture from Tunghai University in 1975, and a Master of Architecture with a major in Architectural Administration, from the University of California, Berkeley in 1980. He joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH in 1990.

Willy supervises the firm's overall management and contracts. He is also the technical director in detail design, construction documentation and administration. He establishes KRIS YAO | ARTECH's architecture resource platform, where lectures, seminars and construction site visits are offered to colleagues, even to clients or the general public. This program allows for the sharing of information on architecture and construction; giving various professionals more opportunities to learn from each other.

Willy is an AIA member, and is elected as a FAIA in 2017. He is also a registered architect in both California and Taiwan.。

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Senior Partner

Xiang Jen Yao

Xiang Jen Yao was born in Taipei, Taiwan. In 1983 she obtained a Bachelor degree from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising at Los Angeles. Xiang is a Senior Partner in KRIS YAO│ARTECH. She manages the administrative and public relations for the firm. Xiang is also responsible for the Information Technology system and operations in the office. Starting from 2006, she has facilitated the complete data digitization of the firm, both for administrative matters and architectural records. This digital advancement in architectural firm operations has been celebrated for its resonance in environmentally friendly practices.


Xiang also conducts interior, graphic and creative design for the firm's innovative projects. She designs many of KRIS YAO│ARTECH's creative projects, which have been widely and popularly received.
 
For the purpose of community fundraising, Ms. Xiang Jen Yao published a book series "Art of Chinese Living" on August 2010, which was composed of four booklets, namely "Spring", "Summer", "Autumn' and "Winter".  Within the books, she discussed a series of Chinese cultural heritage in response to climatic changes passed down since ancient times, including diet and costume, poem and drama, seasonal health regulation, ecological planting, family management, and family migration.  The whole book series took five years to complete, affirmed by readers globally.  The English version of "Art of Chinese Living" published in December 2021. In July 2020, a new book series "Along the Taipei River" is further published, Its an introduction to the city she was born and raised in, again with a mix of history, storytelling and new imagery about her love for the city she was born and raised in.
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Founder

Kris Yao, Hon. FAIA

Selected Articles/ Interviews

Kris Yao is the founder of KRIS YAO | ARTECH, an Asia-based architectural firm with office in Taipei and Shanghai.  He obtained a Bachelor of Architecture from Tunghai University, and a Master of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley.  Mr. Yao's projects are mainly located in the Greater China area, and can also be found in the United States, Europe and South Asia.

Throughout his nearly 40 years of practice, Mr. Yao has received numerous awards and recognitions.  In 2007, Mr. Yao was awarded the National Award for Arts, which is the highest honor given by National Culture and Arts Foundation.  In 2014, he received the prestigious Honorary Fellowship from the American Institute of Architects.  The AIA praised him as an architect who "demonstrates his humanity with the development of physical elements that hold true to human emotion and conditions, cultural and historical context, and a sense of scale and place. His architecture has a poetic nature, using his native eastern aesthetic and spirituality with a sense of natural light, interplay of surfaces and forms and executing all with a high level of innovation and professionalism."

Mr. Yao's portfolio presents the richness and variety of his architectural practice.  His works are often published in international architectural magazines and professional journals.  In 2002, he was invited to participate in the 8th Venice Architecture Biennale for the solo exhibition of "NEXT EXIT", following with many other international architectural events since then.  His recent solo exhibition "Within．Without" was held in MoCA, Shanghai in 2016.

Senior Consultant

Willy YungWei Yu, FAIA

Willy YungWei Yu is a Senior Consultant in KRIS YAO | ARTECH. He received a Bachelor of Architecture from Tunghai University in 1975, and a Master of Architecture with a major in Architectural Administration, from the University of California, Berkeley in 1980. He joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH in 1990.

Willy supervises the firm's overall management and contracts. He is also the technical director in detail design, construction documentation and administration. He establishes KRIS YAO | ARTECH's architecture resource platform, where lectures, seminars and construction site visits are offered to colleagues, even to clients or the general public. This program allows for the sharing of information on architecture and construction; giving various professionals more opportunities to learn from each other.

Willy is an AIA member, and is elected as a FAIA in 2017. He is also a registered architect in both California and Taiwan.。

Senior Partner

Xiang Jen Yao

Xiang Jen Yao was born in Taipei, Taiwan. In 1983 she obtained a Bachelor degree from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising at Los Angeles. Xiang is a Senior Partner in KRIS YAO│ARTECH. She manages the administrative and public relations for the firm. Xiang is also responsible for the Information Technology system and operations in the office. Starting from 2006, she has facilitated the complete data digitization of the firm, both for administrative matters and architectural records. This digital advancement in architectural firm operations has been celebrated for its resonance in environmentally friendly practices.


Xiang also conducts interior, graphic and creative design for the firm's innovative projects. She designs many of KRIS YAO│ARTECH's creative projects, which have been widely and popularly received.
 
For the purpose of community fundraising, Ms. Xiang Jen Yao published a book series "Art of Chinese Living" on August 2010, which was composed of four booklets, namely "Spring", "Summer", "Autumn' and "Winter".  Within the books, she discussed a series of Chinese cultural heritage in response to climatic changes passed down since ancient times, including diet and costume, poem and drama, seasonal health regulation, ecological planting, family management, and family migration.  The whole book series took five years to complete, affirmed by readers globally.  The English version of "Art of Chinese Living" published in December 2021. In July 2020, a new book series "Along the Taipei River" is further published, Its an introduction to the city she was born and raised in, again with a mix of history, storytelling and new imagery about her love for the city she was born and raised in.

TAIPEI

Managing Partner
Glen Lu
Managing Partner
Glen Lu

Glen Lu is the Managing Partner of KRIS YAO | ARTECH in Taipei and he is a licensed architect. Glen graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture from Tunghai University in 1986, and joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH In 1988. Glen specializes in architectural planning, code analysis and project coordination. With extensive experience in building regulations, he finds solutions to satisfy every client's demands, and to achieve benefits of higher efficiency in architectural projects; he became a Partner in 2000. In recent years Glen is actively involved with the National Architects Association to provide inputs in renewing the building codes, and to share his experience in project execution.

Glen works on a wide range of projects, with his wealth of knowledge to proactively meet the challenges and to integrate clients' needs. His current participating and completed projects include NYCU Hospital, TSMC Hsinchu, New Taipei Museum of Art, Formosa Plastic Group Headquarters and Residential Tower Complex, China Development Financial Tower, Humble House Hotel, Fo Guang Shan Monastery Bussy France, Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, Le Meridien Hotel and Office Complex, HTC Taipei Headquarters, Tongshan Residential Tower, Chiao Tung University Guest House, Silks Palace National Palace Museum and Luminary Buddhist Center.

Partner
Kuo-Chien Shen
Partner
Kuo-Chien Shen

Kuo-Chien Shen is a Partner of KRIS YAO | ARTECH. He received a Master of Arts degree in Applied Arts from the National Chiao-Tung University in 2000. In 2001, Kuo-Chien was awarded the Phillips/NTIO Scholarship to study at the Berlage Institute in the Netherlands, and received the Master of Excellence degree in Architecture in 2003. He joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH in 2004. His works has won the Far Eastern International Digital Architectural Design Award and Honorable Mention for the Italy's Virtual Museum Design Competition. He also taught at the National Chiao-Tung University Graduate School of Architecture and Tunghai University Graduate School of Architecture. He continues to participate in various academic activities, and actively promote the integration of academics and industry, to develop the most advanced architectural possibilities.

Kuo-Chien's creativity and avant-garde approach in architecture has led to many successful projects. His current participating and completed projects are TSMC Arizona, TSMC Hsinchu, Joy City Chongqing, TSMC Nanjing, New Taipei Museum of Art , NTU Cosmology, Palace Museum, Southern Branch, Wuzhen Theater, Museum of Prehistory–Tainan Branch, Pingtung Performing Arts Center, Yunlin High Speed Rail Station , Changhua High Speed Rail Station and Kelti Center . He also has led many international design competitions, including Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts, Taipei Performing Arts Center, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, etc.

Partner
Grace Lin, AIA
Partner
Grace Lin, AIA

Grace Lin is a Partner in KRIS YAO | ARTECH. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture from University of California, Berkeley, and the Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University. She is a registered architect in New York, a member of AIA, and also a LEED Accredited Professional. Grace previously worked as a design architect in New York City and Berkeley. She joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH in 2006. She is experienced in international collaboration projects, and has great design, professional management and communication ability in project execution.

Grace specializes in concept development, initial schemes, facade design, and project management. Her current participating and completed projects are Xiamen Bank Headquarters, Far Eastern Villa Resort, Yankuang Group Haikou Headquarters, Foxconn Shanghai Headquarters, Fubon Tower ( with RPBW ), Nanjing Shangqinhuai Int'l Culture Exchange Center, Cathay Landmark, Taipei Performing Arts Center (with OMA) and Kelti Center. She also participated in many design competitions, including Kaohsiung Port and Cruise Service Center, Beijing Qijiayuan Diplomatic Office, West Kowloon Xiqu Center, Shanghai Expo Parcel A09A-02, etc.

  • Senior Principal
    Jun-Ren Chou
    Senior Principal

    Jun-Ren Chou

    Jun-Ren Chou is a Senior Principal of KRIS YAO | ARTECH. He received an Architectural Construction degree from Hwa Hsia Institute of Technology in 1987, the Bachelor's degree in Architecture from National Taipei University of Technology in 2001, and joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH in the same year. Jun-Ren is responsible for all types of project management. He is good at resolving the conflicts between design and construction. With a great deal of construction experience, he fulfills the design intent and ensures the best quality finish in all Kris Yao | Artech’s works.

    Jun-Ren specializes in construction communication/coordination, budget management, and schedule planning. His current inspecting and participated construction projects include Palace Museum, Southern Branch, Museum of Prehistory–Tainan Branch, Pingtung Performing Arts Center, Asia University Art Museum, Water-Moon Monastery, Shih Chien University Gymnasium & Library, Lanyang Museum, Shih Chien University College of Design and Hsinchu High Speed Rail Station.

  • Senior Principal
    Naiwen Cheng
    Senior Principal

    Naiwen Cheng

    Naiwen Cheng, is a Senior Principal in KRIS YAO | ARTECH and is a licensed architect in Taiwan. She received her Bachelor of Architecture from Cheng Kung University in 1995, the Master of Architecture from Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in 1999, and the Master of Architecture from Berlage Institute, Netherlands in 2006. She taught at Department of Architecture in Ming Chung University, then joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH in 2000. She was stationed in Shanghai during 2010-2015.

    Naiwen has the complete experience with architectural design and construction management. She focuses on schematic design, details, façade, and project execution and specialized on office buildings and cultural facilities. Her major ongoing and completed projects are NYCU Hospital, Radium Life Tech Headquarters, Rich Development Songjiang Headquarters, Luen Mei Group Shanghai TH1 Theater, Nanhai Buddhism Academy, Foxconn Shanghai Headquarters, CRC Shenzheng Arts Center, Han Po-teh Memorial Hall, Dzongsar Museum, Wuzhen Theater, Eslite Tokyo, China Steel Corporation Headquarters, Quanta Research & Development Center, etc.

  • Senior Principal
    Chien-Yi Wu
    Senior Principal

    Chien-Yi Wu

    Chien-Yi Wu is a Senior Principal of KRIS YAO | ARTECH. He joined the firm in 2009, and has solid working experiences in all project executive stages. Chien-Yi has an in-depth knowledge of construction methods and techniques. He has a clear and careful approach towards architectural details, and communicates well with the contractor to ensure the construction follows the design intent. He also assists in the firm’s education training works in relationship with project management.

    Chien-Yi is experienced in public cultural projects. His major ongoing and completed projects include New Taipei City Art Museum, Tong Hsing Electronics, Taoyuan A8 Bus Terminal, Arcadyan Headquarters, Cosmology Center Taiwan University, Museum of Prehistory, Palace Museum Southern Branch, Pingtung Performing Arts Center, Yunlin High Speed Rail Station, Le Meridien Hotel and Office Complex, Luodong Government Center, etc.

  • Principal
    Tien-Yu Lo
    Principal

    Tien-Yu Lo

    Tien-Yu Lo is a Principal in KRIS YAO | ARTECH. He is a graduate of the Nanya Institute of Technology's Department of Architecture. He joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH in 2004 as a construction inspector. Tien-Yu specializes in coordination between construction and design intent, and is always able to successfully execute the original design into reality and completion.

    With focuses on the construction management and construction inspection, Tien-Yu has a strong respect for design and strives to resolve any technical issues. His current participating and complete projects include Taipei Performing Arts Center, New Taipei Museum of Art, Palace Museum, Southern Branch, Pingtung Performing Arts Center, HTC Taipei Headquarters, Lanyang Museum, Ching Shin Elementary & Middle School, The Cypress Court, Shih Chien University Gymnasium and Library, Chiao Tung University Guest House, Guangren Catholic Elementary School and Taipei Banking Center.

  • Principal
    Winnie Wang
    Principal

    Winnie Wang

    Winnie Wang is a Principal in KRIS YAO | ARTECH. She graduated from the Department of Architecture, University of Auckland, New Zealand in 2007 and obtained her Master Degree of Architecture in 2009. She joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH Taipei team at the same year, and through the years, she participated in several outstanding cultural projects. Winnie generates great energy in competition projects, and dedicates on project execution quality through the process; she assists on exhibition execution. She was stationed in Shanghai during the year of 2018~2019. Apart from managing specific projects, she assists in design quality control and education training in the firm.

    Winnie is active and adventurous. Her innovative ideas and enthusiasm impel the design intent to realization. Her major participated and ongoing projects are Hupan Campus, TSMC Nanjing, TSMC Hsinchu, NTU Cosmology Hall, Museum of Prehistory–Tainan Branch, Palace Museum, Southern Branch, and Pingtung Performing Arts Center; exhibition executions include the Ninth Column at Venice Biennale in 2014, “WithIn．WithOut” at MoCA Shanghai in 2016.

  • Principal
    Meng-Fan Yang
    Principal

    Meng-Fan Yang

    Meng-Fan Yang is a Principal in KRIS YAO | ARTECH. After graduating from the Deparment of Architecture, Tamkang University in 2007, she studied sustainable architectural design as an exchange student at the School of Architecture, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden in 2008. She obtained her Master Degree of Architecture from Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in 2009, and joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH Taipei office in 2014. Meng-Fan is responsible for architectural design and project management. She pays great attention to the user needs and executes the projects with innovative thinking. She broadens her knowledge in construction technology by thorough study and research during the design development.

    Meng-Fan establishes effective communication channels through her open and rational coordination ability. She encourages her team members to actively take all challenges in design. She has been involved in various project types ranging from cultural, corporate headquarters, industrial, residential, mixed-use commercial developments, etc. Her major ongoing and completed projects are the New Taipei City Art Museum, Han Po-teh Memorial Hall, Tong Hsing Electronics, Tokyo Electron Limited Tainan Office, Linyuan Building Urban Renewal, and Hua-Chuang Linkou Media Campus. She also participated in the competitions of Shenzhen Natural Science Museum and Nangang C3 Urban Renewal.

SHANGHAI

Managing Partner
Wen-Hong Chu
Managing Partner
Wen-Hong Chu

Wen-Hong Chu is the Managing Partner of KRIS YAO | ARTECH in Shanghai.  He has a Bachelor's degree from National Cheng Kung University School of Architecture in 1987 and received his Master of Architecture from University of California, Berkeley in 1993.  Wen-Hong previously worked at Bobrow, Thomas & Associates in the United States, as an Associate Principal of Environmental Design Services (EDS), and as a Principal of Tongji ES Shanghai Office.  He has taught at Tongji University in Shanghai and at National Taipei University of Technology Graduate School of Urban Design in Taiwan.  Wen-Hong joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH in 2009 as a Partner and is in charge of architectural design in China.

Wen-Hong has broad knowledge of Chinese and Taiwanese market, and is highly experienced.  His previous work had received award from Taiwan Architect Magazine and was nominated for the Far Eastern Architectural Design Award.  He is also experienced in large-scale development projects and cultural, medical and biotechnology research facilities.  The projects he has engaged or taken charge of include Wuzhen Theater, Suzhuo Eslite Bookstore Mall, Beijing Sumatai Great Wall Hotels, Nangjing Wetland Museum, Yangzhou Modern Services District 180-meter High-rise Office Tower, California City of Hope Medical Center, California Natividad Medical Center, National Yang-Ming University Library and Research Center, NTU New Chemistry Building, Academia Sinica Agricultural Science Building etc.

Partner
Fei-Chun Ying
Partner
Fei-Chun Ying

Fei-Chun Ying is a Partner of KRIS YAO | ARTECH.  He has a Bachelor's Degree from Architecture School of National Cheng Kung University in 1991 and received his Master of Architecture degree in Architectural Design at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University of London in 1997.  Fei-Chun is a licensed architect in Taiwan, and taught at Spatial Design Department of Shih Chien University in Taiwan.  He joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH in 2000 as a Project Architect, and became a Partner in 2015 in Artech Shanghai Office. 

Fei-Chun has extensive experience for a diverse range of projects, specializing in architectural design and planning for residential, office, commercial, institutional, art and cultural, and transportation buildings; with highly artistic hand sketches which are often used to convey architectural design intent. Completed projects include Suzhuo Eslite Bookstore Mall, Foxconn Shanghai Headquarters, Huanshan Municipal Planning Exhibition Museum, Wushiyuan Museum, Taiwan High Speed Rail Hsinchu Station, Lanyang Museum. His current key projects include Hupan University, The Nanhai Buddhism Academy, Nanjin Wetland Museum, Hefei Central Library.

Partner
Xiao-Wen Bao
Partner
Xiao-Wen Bao

Xiao-Wen Bao is a Partner in KRIS YAO｜ARTECH in Shanghai. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Tongji University in 2000, and is a licensed architect in China. She had previously worked at Smith Group. Xiao-Wen joined the Shanghai Office of KRIS YAO｜ARTECH in 2003.

Xiao-Wen is specialized in project management and building codes. Her current participating and completed projects include Bai Jia Lake Cultural Sub-Center, The Nanhai Buddhism Academy, Hupan University Phase One, Yangzhou Modem Services District- Complex and 180-meter High-rise Office Tower, Huanshan Exhibition Center, Eslite Bookstore Suzhuo, Greenland Group Shanghai South Station Road House, Shanghai Longhua Airport Lot 1 Complex, Shanghai Haipo Xuhui Commercial and Residence and Huashan Square.

Partner
Albert Liu
Partner
Albert Liu

Albert Liu is a Partner in KRIS YAO | ARTECH, and is a licensed architect in Taiwan. Albert has a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology in 2001. He received the Master degree in Architecture at Tsinghua University in Beijing in 2018. Joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH in 2007, Albert has comprehensive work experience from schematic design to construction coordination. He specializes in project coordination and execution, codes, construction documentations, residential design projects and school campus planning.

With experiences in solving conflicts between design and construction, Albert had executed various major projects. His completed projects and major participated projects include Xiamen Bank Headquarters, LinkSure Network Campus, CCI Holding Shanghai Culture Centre, UDN Group Office and Residential Complex, Formosa Plastic Group Headquarters and Residential Tower Complex, TPKC Cloud Center, TPKD Research & Development Building, Hotel Indigo Taipei, Hotel Resonance Taipei, Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, Hsinchu Bus Terminal, Luodong Government Center, Han Po-the Memorial Hall, Humble House Taipei , Chiaokuo Residential Tower, Ching Shin Elementary & Middle School, Hung-Sheng Fu Lin Condominium, Cathay Tienmu Residential Tower, Tashee Residential Project, Shih Chien University Dorm Phase Ⅲ, Rare Disorders Welfare Home, Chingjia Hsinchu Residential Project, TPKB Headquarters, Hao Ran Shimen Leisure Farm, and Zan Yuan Wushi Port development project.

  • Technical Director
    Chu-Yi Hsu
    Technical Director

    Chu-Yi Hsu

    Chu-Yi Hsu, is a Technical Director of KRIS YAO | ARTECH. He has a Bachelor's Degree from the Dept. of Civil Engineering, Dahan Institute of Technology in 1998 and studied in the Graduate Institute of Architecture and Urban Design, Chinese Culture University in 1999.  He joined KRIS YAO | ARTECH in 1991, specializing in Codes and Construction Engineering.  He returned in 2010 to Artech Shanghai Office.
     
    Chu-Yi specializes in maintaining the design intents throughout the construction via close communication and detail coordination.  The projects that he has been involved with include Wuzhen Theater; the Jiulongcang Hannzou Junxi Project; Suzhuo Eslite Bookstore Mall, Huanshan Municipal Museum, Tenjing Financial District lot 03-14, Taiwan High Speed Rail Hsinchu Station, Core Pacific City.

  • Principal
    Shih-Kuo Yang
    Principal

    Shih-Kuo Yang

    Shi-Guo Yang is a Principal in Shanghai Office of KRIS YAO｜ARTECH. He received his Bachelor of Architecture in 1997 and the Master of Architecture in 2000, both from Tunghai University. He joined KRIS YAO｜ARTECH in 2002.

    Shi-Guo is specialized in project execution and detail design. He has extensive experience in overall planning and architectural design of residential and commercial buildings in China. His current participating and completed projects are Zhonghai Zhabei Commercial and Residential Project Phases 1-3, ZhongHai foshan High-rise Residence Phases 1-3, Shanghai Sino Horizon Anting Residence,Guangren Temple commercial district, Haikou seaside commercial district, Gubei Water Town Hangu Villa Boutique Hotel, Yangzhou MSD Project Phase 1 North District Office Complex, Nanjing Shangqinhuai International Cultural Exchange Center and Qujiang Xian Folk Theatre and Boutique Hotel.