TAO

Born in 1972 in China, HUA Li received his B. Arch. from Tsinghua University in 1994. He then studied at Yale University and received his M. Arch. in 1999. He practiced in New York and Beijing before founding TAO (Trace Architecture Office) In 2009.

HUA Li visions architecture as an evolving organism, being an inseparable whole with its environment, rather than just a formal object. With most projects positioned in particular cultural and natural settings in China, his practice reflect the essence of place; make architecture deeply rooted in its cultural and environmental context with awareness of site history, geography and local condition. The sense of place, climate, topography, geology, local resource, construction method, are crucial factors concerned and explored in every TAO project.

HUA Li’s key works include: Museum of Handcraft Paper (2010), XiaoQuan Elementary School(2010), Wuyishan Bamboo Raft Factory(2013), Forest Building(2014), Split Courtyard House(2015), TiensTiens Café (2016), Lens Office Beijing(2017) and Xinzhai Coffee Manor(2018). HUA Li and TAO has won several important architectural awards including ARCASIA Award, shortlisted in Aga Kahn Award 2013, nominated in BSI Swiss Architectural Award 2016, Architectural Record GDGB Award, China Architecture Media Award and WA Award, and TAO was listed in Design Vanguard 2012 by Architectural Record Magazine. TAO’s works have been exhibited internationally in Venice, Berlin, Vienna and New York. HUA Li also teaches at Tsinghua University as a visiting professor and has been a guest critic for studio reviews at ETH, HKU, CAFA and UdK Berlin. He has given lectures in many universities and conferences in both Asia and Europe.