2015 China Prize
Research of Urban Public Space

Xin Ji’s research is presented in five parts, in the sequence of travel: from New York City to Washington, DC, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Each city is presented in a series of photographs, with Ji’s overall impression of each city visited described by three characteristics: New York City—Density, Void, and Memory; Washington, DC—Order, Nature, and Majesty; Chicago—Time, Space, and Vitality; San Francisco—Hill, Water, and Life; and Los Angeles—Car, Event, and Flat City.

Xin Ji
Southeast University
School of Architecture

View Portfolio
View Final Report

Somf china prize xin ji 01 2015

The top of the Rockefeller Center, New York City. © Xin Ji.

Jury
Dong Gong
Peter J. Kindel (Chair)
Zhang Lei
Zhu Wenyi

My initial plan was to study the relationship between public urban space and economic urban diversity. This would go deep into the research of only two cities, Boston and New York City, focusing on the community public spaces in Boston in comparison to the High Line in New York City. However, the plan required a lot of knowledge about the Boston neighborhoods and their history. It became apparent that a more suitable focus for a short-term research effort would be to visit public urban spaces in more cities to provide a broader picture about the urban situation.

My final report includes five parts organized in the sequence of travel: New York City, Washington, DC, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Each part consists of a series of photographs along with a written record of my personal experience and overall impression of the city.

The top of the World Trade Center, New York City. © Xin Ji.

Somf china prize xin ji 02 2015

National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, Arlington, Virginia. © Xin Ji.

Somf china prize xin ji 03 2015

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Washington, DC. © Xin Ji.

Somf china prize xin ji 04 2015

Millennium Park, Chicago. © Xin Ji.

Somf china prize xin ji 05 2015

On top of the de Young Museum, San Francisco. © Xin Ji.

Somf china prize xin ji 06 2015

View from the Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles. © Xin Ji.

Somf china prize xin ji 07 2015
Boston
New York City
Washington DC
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Chicago
Somf china prize xin ji 2015 03

Xin Ji
Southeast University
School of Architecture

Xin Ji

received his master’s degree in Architecture in January 2015 from Southeast University in his hometown of Nanjing. Ji also holds a BArch degree in Architecture, received in June 2013, from Southeast University. Currently enrolled at Harvard University Graduate School of Design (MArch II 2017), Ji’s focus of study is how to stimulate public participation by presenting valuable stories and experiences in public spaces. It is a multidisciplinary design effort which combines digital media, physical environment design, and literature research. He believes that creating memorable moments in public space is the way to enhance people’s awareness of the importance of public space to all of us. Following completion of his architectural studies, Ji aspires to join an architectural firm in Boston or New York City, and eventually set up his own firm.