Evocation of Site: Design School Lecture Series 2025 X Series - Architectural Encounters Dialogues on Design, Time & Intelligence

On November 14, at the invitation of Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Dong Gong, Founder and Principal Architect of Vector Architects, delivered a lecture titled "Awakening the Site" at the Eslite Bookstore in Suzhou. Centered on how architecture responds to the unique attributes of site, time, and materials, he shared his practical reflections and representative projects from over the years. The lecture attracted nearly a hundred attendees, including university faculty and students, architecture professionals, and design enthusiasts. The venue was packed, with lively exchanges and a vibrant atmosphere.

This lecture was part of the "X Series - Architecture Dialogue" curated by the Department of Architecture of the XJTLU Design School FENG Lei. This lecture series aims to build a communication platform bridging academia, industry, and the public, promoting the dissemination and practice of architectural ideas.

Dong Gong is a Foreign Associate Member of the Académie d'Architecture de France, a Plym Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States, and a design mentor at Tsinghua University and the Central Academy of Fine Arts. His works have been exhibited at international platforms such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Venice Biennale. He has received numerous accolades, including the 2022 ARCASIA Gold Medal, the 2021 RIBA International Prize for Excellence, the 2019 Domus "100+ Best Architecture Firms" award in Italy, and was shortlisted for the 2018 Swiss Architectural Award. His academic and practical influence is widely recognized.

During the lecture, Dong Gong used case studies of representative projects, such as the Seashore Library in Qinhuangdao, the Alila Yangshuo Hotel, and the renovation of the Captain's House, to unveil the logic behind his design approach. He demonstrated how architecture draws inspiration from the geographical features, historical textures, and cultural memories of specific sites, organically integrating spatial creation with the inherent qualities of the location.

The lecture not only showcased Dong Gong's design philosophy in depth but also interpreted a deeper interactive relationship between architecture and site, where architecture serves as a medium, fostering resonance between space and people, and revitalizing the site.