Associate Professor, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University

Associate Dean, Office of International Affairs

Deputy Director, China-Italy Design Innovation Hub

Contact Information

Phone: +86-10-62784519

Email: chenjinxi@tsinghua.edu.cn

Research Field

Chinese Local Urban Space Typologies; Contemporary Chinese Urban Design Theory and Practice; Teaching of Architectural Design Basics

Educational Background

B.Arch., M.Arch., Ph.D. in Architecture, Tsinghua University;

Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich;

Visiting Assistant Researcher, Yale School of Architecture

Academic Positions

Member of the Youth Committee, Urban Design Division, Urban Planning Society of China;

Editorial Board Member, Urban Design Journal;

Teaching Committee member at Xiuzhong College, Tsinghua Univ.;

Coordinator of Tsinghua University-Politecnico di Milano Dual Degree in Master of Architecture

Teaching

Teaching <Introduction to Urban Design Elements>, a course selected as one of the first high-quality general education courses at Tsinghua University. Co-Teaching <Introduction to Urban Design>, elective course for School of Architecture majors. Teaching the “Architectural Design” series courses for First-Year students over 10 years, former director of First-Year Design Studio, conducted research on introductory design teaching. Teaching “Comprehensive Thesis Training” for fifth-year students, integrating urban renewal practices of Yongding Road in Haidian District, Beijing, into the graduation projects as a partnership with university-appointed urban planners.

Research Projects

Principal investigator for projects such as “Research on Beijing Urban Street Typology and Element Impact Based on Architectural Typology” funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Participated in over 20 research projects including “Systematic Review of Urban Design: A Study of the Scientific History of Urban Design Manuals at the Initial Stage of the Discipline of Urban Design (1875-1930)”, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

In the area of design practice, involvement includes significant projects such as the "Comprehensive Urban Design and Detailed Design of Key Sites for the Main Urban Area of Chongli District (Xiwanzi Cluster)" for the Beijing Winter Olympics. Also involved in key projects like the "Design of Important Nodes in the Main Urban Area of Chongli District" and the "Urban Design Study for the Main Urban Area of Chongli District (Xiwanzi Cluster)." Participation extends to major urban renewal initiatives, including the "Master Plan for Tianjin Binhai New Area" and the "Conservation, Rehabilitation, and Revitalization Plan for Beijing's Dashilan Area."

In architectural design, work encompasses the office space in Beijing Olympic Forest Park, the Phase I planning and architectural design of Dongyi Photoelectric Industrial Park in Yantai, Shandong, and the expansion and renovation of Honglian Elementary School in Beijing's Xicheng District.

Publications

Authored six academic books, one of which was selected as a “Fourteenth Five-Year Plan” textbook. Published over 20 peer-reviewed articles as first author. Representative works include “Urban Design as Craft,” “America’s Vitruvius: An Architect’s Handbook of Urban Design,” “University Campuses in Beijing,” “Contemporary Urban Design Practice Based on the Typological Combination of Urban Space,” and “Pedagogic Explorations of First-Year Architectural Design Based on the Theory of Embodied Cognition,” among others.

From 2021 to 2023, consecutively organized three Symposiums on "Chinese Local Urban Space and Architecture Research and Teaching" and served as the Academic Convener. Delivered over ten presentations at significant conferences, including the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Geographers and the National Symposium on Fundamental Architectural Design Education.

Awards

Recipient of the “Young Teacher Excellence in Teaching Award” and the “Annual Excellence in Teaching Award” from Tsinghua University. Guided student design assignments winning the “Top 100 New Architects in China” award for two consecutive years. Second prize in the “UIA International Union of Architects City Celebration Concept Design Competition (China Region).” Also received the “Beijing Outstanding Student Award” and the “12`9” Tutor Award.

Frequently received excellent student teaching evaluations, ranking in the top 5% at Tsinghua University ten times.