Ziching Ooi, also known otherwise as Z, is a 2nd Year Undergraduate Architecture student at California College of the Arts, aiming to earn her Bachelor’s Degree. She’s from Penang, Malaysia and came to the United States when she was 15 years old, and has been slowly but surely getting used to life in the States.

Z feels strongly for sustainable designs. To her, architecture needs to have a large consideration for humans, the site, and its sustainability. Addressing the unique needs of each site, the architect needs to carefully consider factors such as topography, climate, and surrounding structures to create a design that harmoniously integrates with its environment. It is essential for an architect to realize that their building is not just about them, but about everyone, and everything.

Z also firmly believes that architecture is a form of storytelling. As her mission statement goes, she strives to “design sustainable spaces that respond to site, engage the senses, tell a compelling story, and inspire a sense of wonder and connection.” Designs should convey a narrative, an experience— and it is up to the architect to tell that story to their clients, and/or for their clients.