Alvin Li
Raised in the suburbs of LA, my memories were filled with suburbia and freeways as far as the eye could see. The only moments of respite were the annual summer trip I would take to Taiwan, where I was exposed to an eclectic collection of densely packed neighborhoods and remote mountainous architecture. It is oftentimes difficult to foresee in the moment, but the chance to reside at length in such different regions encouraged me to contemplate the variety of architecture around the world and how it relates to its environment.
The ability of design engaging with our physical world and imbuing a place with personality drew me to pursue a BArch at USC. It was here that I discovered the complexities of architecture and its conflicting demands that require the skill of the designer to synthesize. Through this process I have gained a greater understanding of the critical issues challenging our built environment. I continue to reconcile constructibility with the creative process and am always excited to see my ideas come to fruition in completed architectural projects.
I am drawn to the creative process that I am engaged in with the amazing work we are doing at Ward + Blake Architects. It is responsive to the site with an eye toward craft and sustainability. I am finding a lot of excitement developing our designs, seeing them constructed, and appreciating how they are manifested on the site.