We had the good fortune of connecting with Jiajun Cheng and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jiajun, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Our journey to establish our own venture was driven by a deep desire to push our boundaries and transform lives through our passion for architecture. We sought to challenge ourselves by stepping beyond the familiarity of our comfort zones, embracing the unknown to unlock our full potential. With our expertise in architecture, we aimed to revolutionize users’ living conditions, creating spaces that inspire and elevate everyday experiences. Through meaningful collaboration with our partners, we committed to a path of continuous learning, growing together to achieve our shared vision.

What should our readers know about your business?
Starting with conviction is tough,

We overcome the lack of funding, lack of social recognition, lack of resources, and all the challenges faced by startups, but through everyone’s collective effort, we navigate this low period and earn many awards and recognition.

but it’s amazing how grit and vision lead to big wins like the French Design Award Gold medal for our tree house and the honorable mention in the International Last Nuclear Memorial Competition.

The most distinctive feature of the treehouse titled ““Between Syclla and Charybdis” is its use of a living tree as the core element of the structure. The entire building is designed around the tree, with the trunk passing through the main body, forming a natural “axis of life.” This design not only preserves the original natural landscape but also closely integrates the building with its environment. The treehouse employs large-scale membrane structures and an open design to achieve ample natural lighting and ventilation. The leaves, changing with the seasons, provide shade or allow light to filter through, enabling residents to feel the rhythm of nature in every season.

In the internationally acclaimed Last Nuclear Memorial project, which received an honorable mention, sustainably sourced dry branches and LED lighting are ingeniously combined to create an architectural composition that vividly captures the frozen moment of a nuclear explosion. The memorial, seamlessly integrated with its environment, features an intricate internal maze that stretches beyond sight, reflecting our profound contemplation of contemporary societal realities.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We kick off our trip on Monday morning by visiting the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Historic District, followed by an afternoon exploring the iconic Hollyhock House and Ennis House, and cap the day with stunning night views at Griffith Observatory.

On Tuesday, we explore the Long Beach Historic District in the morning, then take a ferry to Avalon, hike to the hilltop for a panoramic view of Catalina Island, and spend the night there.

Wednesday brings a morning in Downtown LA’s Historic District checking out contemporary architecture, an afternoon savoring Little Tokyo’s cuisine, and an evening at Disney Concert Hall for a performance.

On Thursday, we drive through Sunset Strip, visit Beverly Hills Downtown and the Sheats-Goldstein Residence, spend the afternoon at the Getty Villa in Santa Monica, and watch the sunset in Malibu.

Friday is packed with visits to LACMA, the Academy Museum, and the Automobile Museum in the morning, followed by an afternoon hike from Beachwood Canyon to Mount Lee for a full sunset view.

On Saturday, we drive to Palm Springs to see Frey House II and Neutra’s Kaufmann Desert House, take the tramway to the mountain top for sunset, and stay overnight at The Lautner Compound.

Finally, on Sunday, we spend a beautiful day at Joshua Tree National Park before returning to Los Angeles.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Bentian Wang: wangbentianwork@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hengbobbyc/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-cheng-73a4742b9/

Image Credits
All image credits are @bobby cheng

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