Chinese national 1st class registered architect. Graduated from Architecture Department at Dongnan University in 1985. Design director of Chaox Architects, Shanghai.

domus: Why do you name your firm “Chaox Architects”?
Luo Siwei: We had prepared dozens of names, but all of them were rejected by the Industry and Commerce Administration. I tried several other names, and they selected ” Free Thinking,” and, in English, “Chaox”. The process of naming isn’t much different from the basic modes of architecture design: being passive, being selected, and being motivated. Of course, we like “Free Thinking” best. Thinking is more impprtant than doing and saying in the context of architecture, because when doing something or saying something, we are often hindered or dissuaded by outside forces. But thinking cannot be, unless you are the one doing the hindering. And the word “chaos”, which “chaox” comes from, I think best describes the original character of our design and our ideas.

domus: You’ve said that real architecture design is the result of interactions of real estate agents, markets, developers, commercial media, cities and other elements. Through these elements, it seems the significance of architecture design itself decreases. Can you explain this to us?
Luo Siwei: For the most part, architects are passive, lazy and insecure. Architecture is less practical than technology, and less fantastic than art. Every day, er seem to be busy, but our hearts and souls are empty. We just play self-indulgent games with ourselves. In this case, why don’t we forget so-called “architecture design” and do it freely? Actually, on a construction site, the architect plays the role of organizer, and initially the act of organization is not about art, technology, or scholarship, but about investment and adventure, politics and achievements, and society and opportunities. In my opinion, a successful project plan is about making a right choice, at the right place at the right time. It doesn’t matter who agrees with it; the point is who controls the power to make the decision? Frankly speaking, we can’t predict or control it. Therefore, let’s come back to human beings, return to the various relationships of mankind, and goback to the society and cultures that are constructed by the public; that all depends upon how we master design, how we research, renovate, and renew it.

domus: Because of your background, you’re drawn to machine aesthetics. How does that influence your architecture design?
Luo Siwei: In my mind, there are only artificial things or natural things. Sometimes, there are just things and me; maybe sometimes I forget both categories. The reason to formulate catgories is to express oneself and communicate with others conveniently. My interests in various things, including mechanisms, only illustrate my particular situation. My love for mechanical design is connected to my curiosity of the relationship between heart and brain. But I’m not sure when and where they encounter each other.

domus: You believe that an architect should approach architecture without dealing specifically with archtiecture. Where does your own design logic often come from?
Luo Siwei: The origin of design has no logic, and the study of original design is not related to architecture. That is to say, original design has nothing to do with logic, architectur, or design. It is about transcendence, experience, and your state of mind at the time of creation. Only after you’ve established some foundation can the logic of design come into being.

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