Yanci Chen is a Seattle-based architect and designer whose work bridges the boundaries between architecture, art, and technology. She is a Technical Designer at Gensler and co-founder of YCJ Studio, an independent practice dedicated to research-driven design, competitions, and exhibitions. Her work seeks to create meaningful, human-centered spaces that balance innovation, context, and emotion.
Yanci holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Architecture from Dalian University of Technology, with additional study experience at Technische Universität Darmstadt in Germany. At Gensler, she has contributed to global workplace, science, and mixed-use projects across the United States and Asia.
Through YCJ Studio, Yanci explores the intersection of environmental design, materiality, and digital imagination. Her studio’s works, including Silent Currents, Nautical Club Ohrid, and Weihai Art Museum, have been internationally recognized for their conceptual depth and aesthetic innovation. The studio has received multiple honors such as the A' Design Award, Red Dot Design Award, BLT Built Design Awards, French Design Awards (Gold and Silver), London Design Awards (Gold and Silver), A+Awards. Her works have also been showcased at international exhibitions in New York, London, Guangzhou, and the United States, highlighting a continuous pursuit of experimentation and interdisciplinary storytelling.
In addition to her design achievements, Yanci has served as a jury member for international platforms including A’ Design Awards, INSPIRELI Awards, the Architecture and Design Community, Global Architecture Awards, contributing her expertise to support emerging designers and global design dialogue. Her projects often explore how architecture can engage the senses and emotions while addressing broader themes such as ecological resilience, social interaction, and cultural memory.
Yanci’s approach to design emphasizes empathy, precision, and imagination. She believes architecture is not only a physical construction but also a medium for reflection, a language that connects human experience with environmental awareness and technological possibility.

Crevice Art Museum by Yanci Chen Crevice is an art museum in Weihai, China. The design is inspired by the appreciation of mountains and water in the teachings of Confucius. Large triangular forms recall the terraced landscape of Shandong, while fluid paths recall its waterways. The museum stands on a site of 6,000 square meters and has a total building area of 10,000 square meters. Parametric tools were used to refine the roof structure and to improve material economy. Exhibition areas are adaptable and make use of natural light and views of the landscape. The intent is to present local culture in a contemporary way.

Grow Together Microhome by Yanci Chen Grow Together is a modular micro-housing project that addresses homelessness in Seattle. The design places compact off-grid shelters in residential backyards, offering transitional housing close to established neighborhoods. Each unit measures 3,000 by 6,000 millimeters and is built from cross-laminated timber and recycled steel for rapid assembly. Solar panels, rainwater filtration and composting toilets support self-sufficiency. Shared greenhouses and flexible communal spaces host gardening and skill-building programs. The layout protects privacy while encouraging social reintegration.

Pine to Sea Urban Renew by Yanci Chen Pine to Sea is an eco-hotel and landscape masterplan located in the Lignano Pinewood in Italy. The project combines hospitality with the restoration of a fragile coastal environment. Elevated cabins rest on minimal-impact steel foundations, and raised walkways lead visitors across reforested wetlands and observation decks. Lightweight timber, modular prefabrication, bio-based insulation and permeable surfaces limit disturbance to the site. Rainwater harvesting, passive ventilation and solar energy reduce energy use. The masterplan covers 12,000 square meters.

Slient Currents Memorial and Ecological Restoration by Yanci Chen Silent Currents is a memorial and marine restoration project that transforms a former nuclear test site into a marine sanctuary. Artificial reef structures are made of marine grade concrete infused with calcium carbonate to support coral growth and biodiversity. Submerged pathways and floating observation platforms allow visitors to view the recovering ecosystem. Tidal energy generators supply power for the site. The design connects remembrance of the past with long term ecological renewal.

Yanci Chen

Washington

Yanci Chen is ICCI member since 2025, with 8129 ICCI rating.