YAQI LIAO
+358 46-634-4521 Email: yaqi_liao@outlook.com / yaqi.liao@aalto.
Address: Servin Maijan tie 10 F, 02150 Espoo, Finland
Aalto University, Finland
Msc. (Arch), Master of Science (Architecture), with Finland Scholarship
2022/08-
Current
EDUCATION
4 years of architectural study with high academic achievement at the University of Sydney. Exchange program to Denmark (Aarhus
School of Architecture) and travelling studio in Japan; Aalto University with Finland scholarship
12 months full-time internship, assisted in different scale projects including interior design, masterplan, and renovation;
Prociency in Rhino, ArchiCad, Sketchup, AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, Lumion, and Enscape.
2023/01
2019/08
2020/02
LANGUAGES
English Fluent
Mandarin Native
Finnish Learning
Helsinkizurich | Architecture Internship, Helsinki, Finland
Aarhus School of Architecture, Aarhus, Denmark
•Responsible for the visual rendering, volume study and nal producing.
•Proposed concept design of urban design competition and furniture design.
• Assisted in the preparation process of diagrams and communication with client.
Study Abroad Program in Architecture, work selected for exhibition.
WORK EXPERIENCE
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
SOFTWARE PROFICIENCY
Rhino 3D
Sketchup
AutoCAD
ArchiCAD
Lumion
Enscape
Adobe Photoshop/ Illustrator/ InDesign
Basic Revit/Microsoft Ofce Suite
•Member of curating team for University of Sydney Graduation Exhibition 2021
•Works selected for USYD Architecture Graduation Catalogue 2021
•Vice Chancellor’s Global Mobility Scholarship 2019
• ‘Departures’ students’ experience overseas photography 3rd Prize 2019
•Wilkinson Student Graphic design competition 2018 2nd Prize
• Academic Merit Scholarship 2017
•Guided the tourists in the exhibition and introduced the artworks as a volunteer guide bilingually.
•Assist the gallery in recording the information of the artwork and setting up the new exhibitions: World of Lac-
quer: Cycle of Time 2016 Hubei International Triennial.
2016/07
2017/01
SELECTED VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
2017-
2021
Hubei Museum of Art | Museum Volunteer, Wuhan, China
AWARDS, PUBLICATION AND EXHIBITION
2019/03
2019/06
2019/07
Environa Studio | Architecture student, Sydney, Australia
Shibaura Institute of Technology | Honour Intensive Studio, Tokyo, Japan
New terrace dwellings, Sydney, Australia
• Six-month site visit and prepared document the process of the construction.
•Drew plan/section and architectural details using AutoCAD and prepared a research report.
Shibaura Institute of Technology Square Design
•Proposed for the square of Shibaura Institute of Technology in a group of six collaborating with the students
from Shibaura Institute of Technology..
University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
B.Des. (Arch), Bachelor of Design in Architecture, GPA: 83/100 (Top 5%)
2018/03
2022/04
2020/12
2021/06
2020/08
2020/11
Moore Ruble Yudell (Shanghai) | Architecture Internship, Shanghai, China
China Railway Siyuan Survey And Design Group | T O D c e n t r e I n t e r n s h i p , W u h a n , C h i n a
Zhongxiang South Station, Hubei, China
Renovation on Wuhan Railway Station, Wuhan, China
• Participated in the concept of Zhongxiang South Station with 3D modelling in Sketchup.
•Assisted the project manager in developing the site’s design, concept and massing study.
•Assisted in the preparation process of diagrams, visualization and text to the government.
Competition of Fudan University Library, Shanghai, China (4th prize out of 28 companies)
Baoshan District Masterplan, Shanghai, China
•Responsible for the facade design, volume study and nal producing.
•Prepared project deliverable and design proposal with diagrams and visualization.
•Proposed concept design of public spaces including connecting bridges and the social areas.
Rere High-technology Company Headquater, Shanghai, China
•Prepared and detailed architectural drawings with AutoCAD for the construction team.
10 December 2021
School of Architecture, Design and Planning
Wilkinson Building G04
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 Australia
E thomas.stromberg@sydney.edu.au
ABN 15 211 513 464
CRICOS 00026A
Reference for Yaqi Liao
To whom it may concern,
I have had the pleasure and privilege of tutoring Yaqi Liao in the final Design Studio grad
project of her bachelor’s degree in 2021.
Yaqi’s graduation project was a theatre on the water in Sydney Harbour. The initial
contextualisation incorporated studies of the theatre typology and buildings on the water
as well as critically siting their project in the harbour. Yaqi’s project immediately stood out
as she developed a highly intelligent and creative concept around a kinetic semi-
submerged theatre. Through technical analysis of kinetic and submarine structures and
inspired by the form and movement of jellyfish, Yaqi developed a theatre that “creates”
the entrance when needed and later “creates” the stage for underwater performances,
providing a unique experiential suspension and phenomenal transparency for both
audience and performers. The technical and poetic dimensions of this project are
extraordinary and demonstrate a courageous and creative attitude
Yaqi is an ambitious, intelligent, and talented student. Her graphic communication is
sophisticated, detailed, and seductive. Her design talent combines an analytical mindset
with an intuitive eye for the drama of innovative, inspirational, and poetic spaces. She
takes on board tutor feedback with an open-minded attitude and subsequently takes full
ownership and agency over her response to the feedback.
Yaqi has a solid work ethic: she is fully engaged and produces an amazing amount of work to
test ideas and keep the iterative momentum up. Her work shows a methodical, inquisitive and
engaged approach. She has a passionate, critical and inspiring personality and she would
contribute positively to any post-grad programme or workplace.
I recommend Yaqi without hesitation or reservation in her further academic pursuits as well as in
positions of practicing architecture
Kind regards
Thomas Stromberg
Cand.Arch. (The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, 2001)
Arkitektskolen Aarhus I Nørreport 20 | 8000 Aarhus C I +45 8936 0000 I a@aarch.dk | www.aarch.dk
Side 1 af 1
To whom it may concern
Recommendation for Yaqi Liao
Yaqi Liao is currently a 3rd year student at the University of
Sydney, NSW. During the autumn semester 2019 Yaqi was
attending the Bachelor Program at the Aarhus School of
Architecture, Aarhus, Denmark. I was been teacher for Yaqi
during her studies at Unit C at the Aarhus School of
Architecture, and I have as supervisor for Yaqi’s architectural
projects, had the opportunity to follow her fine development as
an architectural student.
I came to know Yaqi as a creative, diligent and ambitious
student who participated enthusiastically in lectures, seminars,
workshops, excursions and the architectural design projects of
the bachelor unit. Yaqi is committed in class and through the
projects and courses she has obtained results on a high
academic level.
Yaqi masters excellent the functional and aesthetic aspects of
the architectural study, and has developed a profound
methodology to work with the different aspects of architecture,
both with his own projects and in teambased projects.
In order to pursue new professional and personal challenges,
and to obtain first-hand experience with the architectural
profession, Yaqi is applying for internship.
I can warmly recommend Yaqi Liao.
Yours sincerely
Peter Mandal Hansen
---
Associate professor, architect M.A.A,
The Aarhus School of Architecture
Nørreport 20,
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
T: +45 8936 0311
E: pmh@aarch.dk
Date: 06.08.20
SANTA MONICA | SHANGHAI www.moorerubleyudell.com
30 December 2021
Admissions Committee
Aalto University
Masters Programme in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Architecture
Architecture Program
Aalto, Finland
To the Admissions Committee:
It is my pleasure to provide this letter of reference on behalf of Yaqi Liao. I worked directly with
Yaqi while she was an intern designer in our Shanghai Studio of which I am the Principal-in-
Charge. Over the period of time she was with our studio in 2021, about half a year, she was staffed
on some of our most important projects. Though an intern, Yaqi very quickly proved herself to be a
valuable and integral member of our design studio well beyond most interns in our firm.
One key aspect is her positive attitude, creative spirit, and thoroughness of delivering the work that
she was responsible. Yaqi also has a strong balance of design ability, artistic technique with
technical intuition. Her focus on learning is clear; she frequently asked good questions and
consistently scribes her findings in her notebook. And Yaqi reliably applies new information and
skills she acquires to whatever work she is immediately engaged.
Yaqi was a member of the team designing new office spaces in a headquarters building we had
designed for a young technology company in Shanghai. The process included understanding the
client’s demanding needs that changed frequently, which is common with headquarters projects.
Yet, Yaqi “never missed a beat” and kept up with the team through all the twists and turns. At each
iteration, maintaining high efficiency and focus on the project goals. From design to technical
documentation, she was a big part of this project’s success. This project is in construction now –
and the smoothness of this phase is a testament to Yaqi’s earlier contributions with the team.
Yaqi also had the opportunity to participate in a demanding competition project; a large, university
library building in Shanghai. Yaqi quickly found a role on the team taking on important work
developing the building facade with myself. I found her ability to contribute highly relevant ideas
impressive given her experience level. Even more importantly, she was highly effective working
with other team members developing one another’s ideas to make meaningful contributions to the
overall project design. I’m always proud to share how many of ideas that she was involved ended
up in the project’s final scheme; a testament to our collaborative working methods.
MOORE RUBLE YUDELL ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS
SANTA MONICA | SHANGHAI www.moorerubleyudell.com
I would rank Yaqi clearly within the top 10% of all the interns I have worked with over a couple
decades leading teams of design professionals. In my opinion, what would rank her even higher
would be for more experience, skills, and knowledge that she is sure to get in due time. Critically,
you will find she will be an incredibly positive contributor to the academic interaction and
collaborative environment of your program.
I am confident in endorsing her candidacy to the Aalto University Master Programme in
Architecture. While Yaqi is inherently a creative person, your school’s rigorous research-centered
program will capitalize on Yaqi’s responsible constitution and diligent discipline. It is here where
further thought-provoking research and rigorous study that your program is renown will instigate
this heightened trajectory in her development as an architect.
If you have any questions about my referral letter, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Christopher Chan, AIA, LEED AP
Principal
