URBANUS: ARCHITECTURE IS PIVOTAL TO A
BETTER LIFE

Urbanization is one of the core issues today’s architects have to deal with. That is why Liu Xiaodu, Meng Yan and Wang Hui called their office Urbanus, derived from Latin word for ‘city dweller’. The architecture office provides new strategies for urbanism. ‘A healthy city must offer diversity to absorb others and reserve space for itself.’

Urbanus, based in Beijing and Shenzhen, is recognized as one of the leading forces among China’s young design firms. The partners, trained in both China and the USA, are very much committed to the Modernist belief that architecture is a pivotal force for a better life. One of their projects involved the creation of dignified housing for migrant workers who move in large numbers to Chinese cities. Liu: ‘Our design has the capacity to accommodate 1800 people, but now that all the units have been rented, there are fewer than 600 people living in the building. They are not rich, but they can afford not to share.’

Liu Xiaodu received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Tsinghua University, and Master of Architecture degree from Miami University. Prior to establishing Urbanus, Liu taught at Tsinghua University and worked as a project architect in American design firms. He has also been a guest professor at Shenzhen University, Hong Kong University and Hong Kong Chinese University.