OPEN is a renowned architecture office collaborating across different disciplines to practice urban design, landscape design, architectural design, and interior design, as well as the research and production of design strategies in the context of new challenges. We believe in the innovative power of architecture to transform people and the way they live, while striking a new balance between the manmade and nature. OPEN was founded by LI Hu and HUANG Wenjing in New York City. It established its Beijing office in 2008. Some major projects by OPEN include: the Sun Tower, Chapel of Sound, Shanghai Qingpu Pinghe International School, Tank Shanghai, Pingshan Performing Arts Center, UCCA Dune Art Museum, Tsinghua Ocean Center, Garden School/Beijing No.4 High School Fangshan Campus, and Gehua Youth and Cultural Center. OPEN has been widely recognized for its innovative work. Recent awards the firm received include the 2021 Arcasia Awards Gold (Asia), 2021 AR Future Project Awards (UK), 2020 Design for Asia Awards, 2020 London Design Museum’s Design of the Year Nomination (UK), 2019 LEAF Awards (EU), 2019 Interior Design Awards Best of Year (USA), 2019 P/A Awards (USA), 2019 AZ Awards (Canada), 2018 AIA Education Facility Design Award of Excellence (USA), 2018 Civic Trust Awards (UK), 2017 Iconic Awards Best of Best (Germany), 2015 AIANY Design Award (USA), and the Winning Prize of the WA Awards for Chinese Architecture, among many others. OPEN has participated in many important international exhibitions, such as the Venice Biennale Chinese pavilion in 2014 and 2021, the inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial in 2015, the “Soul of the City” in Verona, Italy in 2017, and the China House Vision in Beijing in 2018.
