Partner, Architect and Urban Planner, Wenchian Shi (Shanghai, CN – 1975) is the driving force behind MVRDV’s Asia Studio. Shi joined MVRDV in 2004, and after four years of demonstrated successes, she became a Project Leader overseeing the office’s broad body of work in China, Taiwan, Korea and Singapore, and in 2016, Partner. Prior to joining MVRDV in 2004 and thereafter expanding the office’s portfolio in Asia, Wenchian worked at OMA, contributing to the design of the highly acclaimed CCTV Headquarters in Beijing.

With this extensive experience, combined with an international education, that includes a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Shanghai Tongji University, as well as a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Delft University of Technology, Shi excels at international collaborations with clients and consultants in both Asia and Europe. She has worked at all scales of architecture and urban planning including urban renewal, public space, housing, offices, retail, and cultural institutions, and projects she has lead at MVRDV include the Tianjin Binhai Library (2017), the Seoullo 7017 Skygarden (2017), The Imprint (2018), Tainan Spring (2020) and Idea Factory (2021). Amongst the projects she is currently overseeing are Irwell Hill Residences in Singapore, Women and Children Center in Shenzhen, public library in Wuhan, Tanchoen Waterfront Park in Seoul.

In 2022, Shi received the Spotlight Award of the Female Frontier Awards.

“Working at MVRDV is such a dynamic experience. The culture of the office, the people I work with, and of course the variety and ambition of the projects we create – these things make every day surprising and exciting.” - Wenchian Shi