PEIYIN CHOU
Peiyin Chou
Education & Awards
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Master of Architecture, 2022-2025
∙ Graduated with Distinction (Top 10%)
∙ Recipient of AUD Best Final Project Award (Class of 2025)
∙ UCLA AUD Fellowship (2022-2025)
∙ Wendell Scholarship (2024)
∙ John V. Mutlow Scholarship (2023)
Shih Chien University
Bachelor of Architecture, 2014-2019
∙ Judges Award, International Exhibition of Architecture Graduation Design (2019) Published in Taiwan Architect (TA) Magazine, Vol.290, November 2019
∙ Academic Excellence Scholarship (2014-2019)
∙ First Place, Architecture Student Competition (2015)
Skills
• Design & BIM: Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, AutoCAD, SketchUp, BricsCAD
• Visualization: V-Ray, Enscape, D5 Render, Blender, Maya, Lumion
• Graphics: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere)
• Fabrication: 3D Printing, CNC, Laser Cutting
• Technical: SD / DD / CD Phases, Site Analysis, Physical Modeling
• Sustainability: LEED Green Associate, Ladybug
Languages
• Mandarin Chinese: Native
• English: Advanced
• Japanese: Intermediate
Architectural Designer
Taipei, Taiwan | LinkedIn
+886 958700688 | Portfolio
LEED Green Associate pzxcv0204@gmail.com
Work Experience
MNOffice
Architectural Intern
Los Angeles, CA
Aug 2023 - Dec 2023
∙ Collaborated on the GORIS Smart Center competition, developing design strategies to compete against top-tier firms.
∙ Spearheaded early-stage massing explorations through rigorous site analysis, climate studies, and iterative 3D modeling.
∙ Produced high-fidelity renderings and schematic design sets to effectively communicate complex spatial logic to the design jury.
IMO Architecture + Design
Junior Architectural Designer
Taipei, Taiwan
Feb 2022 - Aug 2022
∙ Led schematic design (SD) and interior planning for “Hidden Light” residential project, translating concepts into constructible layouts.
∙ Developed comprehensive construction documents (CD) and coordinated exterior material selection (stone/metal cladding), conducting mock-up reviews to ensure constructability.
∙ Optimized complex basement parking layouts and circulation efficiency for mixed-use developments, ensuring zoning code compliance.
C.T.Chen & Partners Architects Office
Junior Designer
Taipei, Taiwan
Mar 2020 - Dec 2021
∙ Developed detailed BIM models (Revit) and facade details for the Wenzhou Institute project (a 19-story luxury high-rise).
∙ Managed legal permit packages and authored urban design review reports, facilitating communication with government authorities.
∙ Conducted on-site inspections and vendor coordination, resolving RFI (Request for Information) issues to maintain design fidelity.
∙ Delivered design and documentation support for 10+ large-scale housing projects, ensuring strict adherence to project timelines.
Atmospheric Design Consultants
Project Exhibition Designer
Taipei, Taiwan
Jul 2019 - Sep 2019
∙ Designed custom fabrication details for exhibition furniture (“Lost and Found in the Machine Age”), overseeing manufacturing to ensure installation quality.
SUEP Hirokazu + Yoko Suemitsu Architects
Architectural Intern
Tokyo, Japan
Jul 2016 - Sep 2016
∙ Assisted in environmental strategies and physical modeling for Fukosha Apartment, testing natural ventilation and lighting.
THERMAL SPIRALS
Climate-responsive retrofit system reducing solar gain through material intelligence.
HOUSE OF FEATHERED EDGE
Interlocking housing system redefining urban density.
DUAL SEASON DYNAMIC AXES
Adaptive reuse strategy transforming industrial structure into educational space.
Dual-use housing system adapting between living and economic modes.
PROFESSIONAL WORKS
Selected works demonstrating built experience and technical delivery.
10/2024-06/2025 10/2023-03/2024 09/2025-12/2025 2020-2023
10/2024-12/2024
THERMAL SPIRALS
Climate-responsive retrofit system reducing solar gain through material intelligence.
Overview
A parametric façade retrofit inspired by the Nautilus shell — translating solar data into spatial performance through thermochromic 3D-printed lamellas. Applied to LA's Trust Building, the system reduces solar heat gain by 45% while transforming environmental data into a dynamic visual interface. FDM-printed without support material, the selfsupporting geometry achieves zero-waste fabrication. Thermochromic PLA shifts from blue to white at 88°F, making thermal response visible in real-time.
Individual Work
Julia Koerner | UCLA M.Arch Research Studio
Rhino, Grasshopper (Ladybug), FDM 3D print, Adobe Suite
Facade Prototype & Building Retrofit
Los Angeles, CA (Trust Building Retrofit) Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
Winner of the AUD Best Final Project Award (Class of 2025)
Digital Catalog: Rhythm & Depth Studies
Typology: Vertical Lamella Systems
Material Research: Thermochromic PLA Response
Material-driven façade system exploring parametric variations of depth and rhythm, informed by the Nautilus shell’s chambered geometry. From digital catalog to full-scale fabrication, printed prototypes visibly respond to solar exposure — shifting color at 88°F to regulate heat gain while visualizing environmental data.
Low Efficiency
Solar exposure mapped to façade performance
Climate-Responsive Retrofit
Targeting the high-gain southeast corner, the facade autonomously undergoes chromatic shift to visualize thermal response — reducing solar heat gain by 45% while preserving views.
Efficiency
Programmatic Interface
The ground floor is reorganized as a public-facing innovation hub integrating 3D Print Studio, Gallery, and Reception. The facade acts as a porous threshold between the urban street and interior workspace — inviting public engagement through visual transparency.
Tectonic Assembly
Cable Tension System — A standardized cable tension system anchors lightweight 3D-printed panels directly to existing floor slabs, reducing load on the original structure while accommodating construction tolerances.
Dry-Joint Assembly — Rapid on-site installation without wet trades. Designed for Disassembly (DfD), components can be individually unmounted for maintenance or recycling — aligning with circular economy principles.
GROT JOINT
STONE TILE
BOND COAT
CBU
AIR BARRIER / GAP
SHEATING
BRICK WALL
SHEATING
CONCRETE WALL
FLOOR SURFACE MATERIAL
CONCRETE SLAB
STEEL DECK
STEEL BEAMS
GYPSUM BOARD
Wall Section Detail
3D PRINT PANEL
CABLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE
WALL FIXTURE
WALL FIXTURE
Assembly Detail: Cable Structure and Wall Fixture
STRUCTURE
CABLE STRUCTURE TO
STRUCTURE
Geometry & Efficiency
Lamella depth tapers vertically with structural load, eliminating printing supports and reducing filament waste by 30% while maintaining lateral stability.
3D PRINT PANEL
Material:
Thermochromic Blue | Nozzle: 0.8mm | Layer Height: 0.4mm
Fabrication Logic
FDM-printed without support material, the tapered geometry is self-supporting during fabrication — achieving zero-waste manufacturing.
Material Behavior
The thermochromic PLA skin acts as a tactile interface, visually shifting from blue to white at 88°F (31°C). This passive reaction visualizes thermal transfer in real-time.
HOUSE OF FEATHERED EDGES
Interlocking housing system redefining urban density.
Overview
Reimagining the LA row house, this project replaces rigid boundaries with "feathered edges" — soft, layered thresholds mediating between urban density and domestic retreat. Interlocking vertical units increase density fivefold while expanding open space from 45% to 65%. Unit A and Unit B weave in section to create double-height volumes and shared light wells, ensuring higher density never compromises spatial quality or natural light.
Contributed to concept development, massing strategy, spatial planning, and drawing production.
Type Instructor
Tools
Scale Site Term
Group Work with Fengqian, Xing
Miroslava Brooks | UCLA M.Arch Advanced Topic Studio
Rhino, D5 render, Adobe Suite
Multi-unit housing, High Density Row-House Prototype
Los Angeles, CA
Winter 2025
FAR: 0.55 | Open Space: 45%
Proposed Prototype
FAR: 0.35 | Open Space: 65%
Urban Density Strategy: Density Without Bulk
Massing Evolution
EXTRUSION: Defining Buildable Envelope
This proposal increases density fivefold — from 1 to 5 units — while expanding open space from 45% to 65% with a lower FAR (0.35 vs 0.55). Fragmenting the singular backyard into a network of courtyards creates a porous fabric that is greener and more breathable than the original.
FIGURE GROUND DIAGRAM
MODULATION: Varying Roof Heights for Rhythm
DUPLICATION: Mirror Units to Form a Cluster
EROSION: Curving Edges to Soften Boundaries
CARVING: Deep Recesses for Solar Access & Privacy
PROTOTYPE: Final Interlocking Form
Vertical Assembly Logic
Moving beyond simple stacking, Unit A and Unit B interlock in section — creating dynamic double-height volumes and shared light wells. This structural weaving ensures higher density does not compromise spatial quality or access to natural light.
2FUnitA
1FStudio
1FUnitA
1FUnitB
2FUnitB
THRESHOLDS IN MOTION
Circulation acts as the connective tissue of the housing system, weaving through interlocked units to create transitions and encounters. Beyond access, it operates as a threshold — where public and private begin to overlap, transforming movement into a catalyst for exchange.
Unit A_Kitchen
Unit A_Living Room
Unit A_Powder Room
Unit B_Dining Space
Unit B_Kitchen
Unit B_Living Room
Unit B_Courtyard
Studio_Kitchen
Studio_Living Room
Studio_Bathroom
Studio_Bedroom
Unit B_Master Bedroom
Unit B_Bedroom
Unit B_Bathroom
Unit A_Master Bedroom 01
Unit A_Workspace
Unit A_Belcony Unit A_Master Bedroom 02
DYNAMIC AXES
Adaptive reuse strategy transforming industrial structure into educational space.
Overview
An adaptive reuse strategy transforming a former industrial site into a High School for Design and Innovation. Retaining the historic north facade and structural trusses, the design introduces a rotational massing that mediates between the orthogonal city grid and a fluid, student-centered interior — reducing embodied carbon while generating a sun-filled central courtyard as the social heart of the school.
Contributed to massing strategy, spatial planning, and drawing production across plans, sections, and tectonic details.
Art District, Downtown LA Winter 2024 - Spring 2024 Type
Group Work with Soe Naing Win
Miroslava Brooks | UCLA M.Arch Major Building Design Studio Rhino, D5 render, V-Ray, Adobe Suite
Specialized High School for Design & Technology / Adaptive Reuse
Truss Diagram
PRESERVATION AS FRAMEWORK
Instead of demolition, the design treats the existing industrial shell as a protective wrapper. The historic north facade and rhythm of the steel trusses are preserved — reducing embodied carbon while maintaining the site’s industrial memory.
Massing Diagram
CENTRIPETAL ORGANIZATION
The new massing rotates to mediate between the orthogonal city grid and a focused learning environment, breaking the linearity of the warehouse and generating a sun-filled central courtyard as the social heart of the school.
Massing Diagram Roof Line Diagram
Truss Diagram
Section Detail
SELF-DRILING SCREW POHL BRACKET POHL CLIP F-CHANNEL FLOOR
EXISITING BRICK WALL 3 COAT PLASTER FINISHING STEEL COLUMN MINERAL WOOL INSULATION THERMAL SKIN STEEL BEAMS STEEL DECK CONCRETE SLAB
GYPSUM
Section
Front Elevation
DUAL SEASON
Dual-use housing system adapting between living and economic modes.
Overview
Type Tools
Addressing the housing crisis for over 400,000 migrant farmworkers in California's Central Valley, this project proposes a dignified off-grid microhome. A transformable "L-Module" shifts between seasonal residential and commercial use, ensuring viability for farm owners while providing resilient conditions for workers. Integrated solar, rainwater harvesting, and skylights support full off-grid operation.
Contributed to overall architectural planning, massing exploration, interior layout development, 3D modeling, and structural and MEP system configuration.
Design Competition Entry
Group with Emalee Davidson, Pan Nga Chan, Weihan Zheng Rhino, D5 render, V-Ray, Adobe Suite
400 sq.ft. Prototype & Site Planning Fresno, California’s Central Valley Sep 2025 - Nov2025
Proto-typical Site Plan
Kinetic Infrastructure: The L-Module
Central Valley Rural From Isolation to Community
A transformable “L-Module” consolidates all domestic utilities — sleeping, hygiene, and storage — allowing the interior to expand for habitation or compress for commerce. No heavy machinery required; users reconfigure their environment entirely based on seasonal needs.
Replacing scattered seasonal cottages with a proto-typical cluster model, the proposal minimizes infrastructure sprawl while fostering the community network essential for migrant worker resilience.
The Seasonal Paradox
California’s Central Valley feeds a nation, yet 400,000 farmworkers lack adequate housing. This dual-use typology bridges the seasonal gap — dignified housing during harvest, commercial space in the off-season — ensuring economic viability for owners and resilient conditions for workers.
Prefabrication & Logistics
Components are prefabricated and designed to fit within a single standard shipping container. This flat-pack strategy reduces transport costs and enables rapid assembly on sites.
On-Season: Private Dwelling / Residential Mode
Transformation: Community Gathering Space
Off-Season: Farmer’s Office / Storage
Transportation:
Flat-Pack System for Rapid Site Deployment
Cast-in-place concrete foundation
Foldable casework core
Moisture barrier
Timber framing with wood fiber insulation
Sheathing
Timber rafters
Metal roof panel with gutter
Skylight system (north-facing)
Perforated aluminum panel
Exterior wall assembly with insulation
Corrugated metal panel
Windows and doors
Rainwater storage tank
Rainwater Harvesting System: Integrated into roof geometry
Renewable Energy System:
System:
HIDDEN LIGHT
Residential Exterior Design & Construction Coordination
Role
Overview
Scale
Firm
Year
Tools
Exterior + Interior Design & Construction Admin
Led exterior and interior design for a high-end residential complex, emphasizing the tactile quality of space — translating conceptual atmospheres into built form through precise material selection (stone/metal cladding) and on-site mock-up reviews. Coordinated between design drawings and site execution throughout construction administration.
High-end residential tower, 14 storeys
IMO Architecture + Design | Taipei, Taiwan 2022 (Construction Finished in 2025) Rhino, AutoCAD, D5 Render
WENZHOU INSTITUTE
High-Rise Residential Facade & Detailing
Role
Overview
Scale
Firm Year
Tools
Facade Development & BIM Coordination
Managed facade development and BIM coordination for a 19-storey luxury residential tower — delivering constructionready detailing through rigorous Revit modelling and detailed wall sections. Key contributions included resolving complex wall assemblies, coordinating with structural engineers, and managing permit documentation for code compliance.
Luxury high-rise residential tower, 19 storeys
C.T. Chen & Partners | Taipei, Taiwan
2020-2022
Revit (BIM), AutoCAD
TATUNG UNIVERSITY
Campus Planning & Concept Design
Role Overview
Concept Development & Visualization
Developed spatial strategies, floor plans, and high-quality renderings for the Tatung University campus competition — defining the firm's design vision through a balance of spatial efficiency and aesthetic integration with the existing campus context.
Scale Firm Year Tools
Campus Masterplan Competition, 5 storeys
IMO Architecture + Design | Taipei, Taiwan 2022 Rhino, D5 Render, Adobe Suite
COAF SMART CENTER
International Competition & Visualization
Role
Overview
Visualization & Schematic Design
Developed the visualization strategy for the COAF Smart Center competition in Goris, Armenia — translating design concepts into clear architectural narratives through advanced 3D modeling, diagrammatic storytelling, and high-fidelity renderings that defined the project's visual identity.
MNOffice | Los Angeles, CA, USA 2023 Rhino, V-Ray, Adobe Suite Scale Firm Year Tools
Cultural and Educational Campus, International Design Competition
Aerial
Aerial
Elevation - West View
Interior - Reception & Auditorium
Interior - Library & Culture Corner
Floor Plan - Lower and Upper Ground Floor
Interior - Library & Culture Corner
FLoor Plan - Lower and Upper Ground Floor
Elevation - West View
Longitudinal Section
Flow Diagram
Interior - Study Wing
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/pei-yin-chou
Email: pzxcv0204@gmail.com