Talent Spotlight: Candice Yao
International Women's Day 2023
Name: Candice Yao
Role: Architect
Studio: Shanghai
What can a well-designed building/space not exist without? In my opinion, a well-designed building can’t exist without sustainable features. As we continue to pay more attention to carbon-emissions and the environment, as architects we are responsible for building cities and communities that consider their effect on the environment. Not only can we reduce light pollution in design and material aspects, we can think about sustainable design at the beginning of every project, for example the orientation of the buildings, to get more natural light and ventilation. Indeed, we can use the natural resources of the site to help save energy, such as arranging PV boards on rooftops to produce electricity, or use rivers for cooling systems.
What’s the proudest moment in your professional life? The proudest moment in my professional life would definitely be me standing in front of my first built project in real life. Although I may have been working on the project for years, and have seen it on the screen thousands of times before, I was still impressed by the giant structure built on the ground. It wasn’t the biggest piece of architecture I’ve ever seen, and it wasn’t the most beautiful either. But, seeing it built with my own eyes and feeling the details that I’d considered for days actually being finished – it was such a great satisfaction to me.
What’s your favourite book and why? My favorite book would be The Three-body Problem by Chinese science fiction writer Liu Cixin, the greatest science fiction writer in Chinese history. As a fan of the genre, I’ve also loved many foreign productions such as the movie Interstellar and The Matrix series, but The Three-body Problem impressed me the most with its philosophy about the universe and civilization. The Cosmo sociology in the book was cruel but real, which fascinates me the most. I felt so small while reading the book, as thousands of years were just a glance of the universe but it also made me grateful to be a human to witness this time in the world.
What makes a successful team? I’m not a manager, but from my perspective, the most important part of teamwork is the management of a team leader. A successful team leader needs to get used to the features and working habits of each team member, so that he or she can assign the right tasks to the right people. Communication is also crucial. Work can’t be finished if the vision is off or misunderstood. Indeed, leaders should manage time precisely, so that the work can be finished in an efficient way. With good management, I think efficiency could make a successful team.