Kris Yao
Encyclopedia
Kris Yao (born December 6, 1951) is a Taiwanese
architect
, and the founder and head architect at Artech Architects in Taipei
and Shanghai
.
, Taiwan
. Yao received his Bachelor of Architecture at Tunghai University
in 1975, and received his Masters in Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley
, in 1978 .
, Taiwan
. In 2001, Artech Architects expanded to Shanghai
. Artech Architects now has over 160 employees, specializing in corporate/industrial, residential, cultural, educational, medical, retail, transportation, and interior architecture. Yao's works can be found in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, India, Europe, and the United States.
in the 8th International Architecture Exhibition
at Venice Biennale of Architecture
(La Biennale di Venezia), in Venice, Italy . Yao was reinvited to the same event in 2008, at the 11th International Architecture Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia . In 2004, Yao was invited to present his project, the THSR Hsinchu Station
, at the 1st International Architecture Biennale in Rotterdam
, the Netherlands. In the same year, he was also invited to present his projects at the 1st International Architecture Biennale in Beijing
, China
. In 2005, Yao was named a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni of the College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley
. In 1997, Kris Yao was awarded the "Chinese Outstanding Architect Award". In 2007, Yao became the first practicing architect in Taiwan
to receive the "Taiwan National Award for Arts and Architecture", the highest honor in cultural and art disciplines in Taiwan
. Yao is also collaborating with architect Rem Koolhaas
in the design of the Taipei Performing Arts Center, scheduled for completion in 2013.
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, and the founder and head architect at Artech Architects in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
and Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
.
Biography
Yao was born and raised in TaipeiTaipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Yao received his Bachelor of Architecture at Tunghai University
Tunghai University
Tunghai University was founded by Methodist missionaries in 1955 as a comprehensive university. It is a top-ranked private school and a leading institution in Taiwan. Moreover, Tunghai University was founded as the first private university making it the second oldest university in Taiwan, which...
in 1975, and received his Masters in Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, in 1978 .
Artech Architects
In 1985, Kris Yao established Artech Architects in TaipeiTaipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. In 2001, Artech Architects expanded to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. Artech Architects now has over 160 employees, specializing in corporate/industrial, residential, cultural, educational, medical, retail, transportation, and interior architecture. Yao's works can be found in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, India, Europe, and the United States.
Notable Works
- THSR Hsinchu StationTHSR Hsinchu StationTHSR Hsinchu Station is an elevated station of Taiwan High Speed Rail located in Zhubei, Hsinchu County, Taiwan. It opened for service in 2006. The THSR Hsinchu Station was designed by Taiwanese architect Kris Yao.-Overview:...
- Langyang Museum
Recognition and Awards
In 2003, Kris Yao represented TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in the 8th International Architecture Exhibition
8th International Architecture Exhibition
The 8th International Architecture Exhibition at the 2002 Venice Biennale of Architecture, titled Next, was directed by Deyan Sudjic. Held at the Arsenale and Giardini exhibition venues, it took place from September 8 to November 3...
at Venice Biennale of Architecture
Venice Biennale of architecture
Mostra di Architettura di Venezia, the Architecture section of the Venice Biennale, was established in 1980, although architecture had been a part of the art biennale since 1968....
(La Biennale di Venezia), in Venice, Italy . Yao was reinvited to the same event in 2008, at the 11th International Architecture Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia . In 2004, Yao was invited to present his project, the THSR Hsinchu Station
THSR Hsinchu Station
THSR Hsinchu Station is an elevated station of Taiwan High Speed Rail located in Zhubei, Hsinchu County, Taiwan. It opened for service in 2006. The THSR Hsinchu Station was designed by Taiwanese architect Kris Yao.-Overview:...
, at the 1st International Architecture Biennale in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, the Netherlands. In the same year, he was also invited to present his projects at the 1st International Architecture Biennale in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. In 2005, Yao was named a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni of the College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. In 1997, Kris Yao was awarded the "Chinese Outstanding Architect Award". In 2007, Yao became the first practicing architect in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
to receive the "Taiwan National Award for Arts and Architecture", the highest honor in cultural and art disciplines in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Yao is also collaborating with architect Rem Koolhaas
Rem Koolhaas
Remment Lucas Koolhaas is a Dutch architect, architectural theorist, urbanist and "Professor in Practice of Architecture and Urban Design" at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, USA. Koolhaas studied at the Netherlands Film and Television Academy in Amsterdam, at the Architectural...
in the design of the Taipei Performing Arts Center, scheduled for completion in 2013.
Monograph
- Yao's first monograph was published in 2001 by the Images Publishing Group Pty Ltd, in Australia .
- Yao's second monograph was published on April 16, 2011 by Images Publishing Group.