Profile
Zoe/
Wanze Cheng
London. China.
zoe_cheng_wanze@163.com
Instagram: @zoecwzz
Zoe (Wanze Cheng) is a multidisciplinary architectural designer whose work spans architecture, art, and digital media, exploring the narrative possibilities of space across physical and virtual dimensions.
With a long-standing focus on âSocial Inclusionâ, she uses architecture and interactive media to reveal the hidden relationships between marginalised groupsâsuch as migrants, women, and vulnerable communitiesâand the spaces they inhabit, addressing their needs through innovative design. Simultaneously, she is committed to the contemporary translation of traditional culture, examining how to balance regional identity with urban development.
Technically, she integrates VR/AR, interactive design, and motion graphics to craft immersive futuristic spatial experiences. Her works serve as both critical reflections on reality and poetic speculations on future ways of living.
Education
2023-2025:
MA Architecture. Royal College of Art (London,UK).
2018-2023:
BEng Architecture. Sichuan Fine Art Institute (Chongqing,China).
01
Cruel Optimism: Domestic Fantasy as Self-Healing
- A Chinese Utopia in the Shadows of Beijingâs Forgotten Spaces
Location: Beijing, China
Year: 2025
This project imagines a "Chinese Utopia" by merging digital and physical spaces in Beijingâs abandoned, soon-to-be-demolished hutongs. It focuses on two groups: homeless day labourers and nostalgic online players.
In the physical world, the project proposes an "occupiable framework" strategy for the homeless. By granting them autonomy to build, using collected materials to continuously reshape abandoned spaces, they gain identity and belonging. This dynamic structure adapts to shifting inhabitants, becoming a medium for resistance and self-expression.
In the virtual world, online players collaboratively collect nostalgic objects to construct a "surreal dreamcore museum" . This collective act serves as both self-healing and romanticised resistance - escaping into virtual dreams to resist harsh realities.
Through âaccumulationâ, the project bridges both physical and virtual worlds, examining belonging and identity reconstruction. Whether through physical construction or digital co-creation, it reflects âcruel optimismâ - persisting in hope despite adversity. Ultimately, this hybrid space becomes a shared shelter for societal outcasts and digital nomads.
02
The Nomadic Pleasure Garden
- A Self-build System for Temporary Structures in Hong Kong
Location:Â Hong Kong, China
Year: 2024
Drawing
Rendering