Today we’d like to introduce you to Mengru Wang.
Hi Mengru, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I was born in China in 1993, potentially fell in love with architecture when my dad designed and built our own house in countryside when I was 10, did my 5-year Bachelor of Architecture in China and moved to USA 7 years ago. I lived in St. Louis for 2.5 years to get my master degree in architecture at Washington University in St. Louis in 2019. I had summer internship at Kengo Kuma and LOHA before I graduated from WashU in 2019 and got my first job at I.M Pei’s office in NYC. After living in NYC for 1.5 years I moved to LA because I always dream of the sunshine, beach and mountains here, nothing can be better than California Dream isn’t it.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not
1. I used my accumulated red package money I saved through 20 years for applying schools in the USA and got half scholarship in Washington University in St. Louis. I’m about to finish paying back the loans myself this year and I’m so glad I did in on my own. It’s a tough journey for sure, but everything was so well worth it. My parents are so proud of me, counting on myself not spending their money going abroad and chasing my architecture dream. It definitely takes courage out of your comfort zone, super confidence in yourself, and deep passion for your loved career.
2. Dating culture here has been a big challenge for me (I’m sure it’s for everybody else too), but understanding who I am, what am I looking for has been such a rewarding journey, and it is all shaped by the diverse experience with people from all over the world here. Focusing on myself and developing a sharp sense of judgment are two important lessons I learned, dating different people from different culture really opens my eyes and redefines how many types of relationships that reasonably exist; it definitely is the class we missed from Chinese culture
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Los Angeles-based licensed architect focusing on residential, interior design, and historical renovation. My motivation is to design soulful and interesting places which elevate human experience. I have won many world-wide architecture competitions and has projects experience in LA, NYC, Tokyo, China, Jeruselum, Italy and Spain. Currently I’m working at RIOS on high-end residence project in Belverly Hills and hoping to start my own office soon. This is my personal website: https://mengruwang.com/; let’s design your dream house together 🙂
I traveled a lot, it’s a great way to memorize the beautiful moment and apply it when I design. I especially interested in the vernacular making and history of architecture prototypes, I love hand crafted materials and trace of time in spaces. Here’s where I record most of my traveling and memories to give you a more visual understanding: https://www.instagram.com/m_e_n_g_r_u/?hl=en
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
My story can’t be more dramatic: lost my first job at I.M PEI’s office in the covid summer when everyone thought the big lay-off wave had passed; at the same time, one of my roommate walked away, so I had to find another one immediately otherwise I had to pay the money which I don’t have at all, applied 300 firms/day for a week, found another job in 2 weeks and a new roommate which I barely knew (who did drug at home surprisingly, ok… as long as he shut the door), right before I prepared to move to LA 1 month earlier, another roommate died in her room, and we found out 2 days after… first time called 911, cleaned the whole apartment, sold the furniture during the days, packed all my stuff, rescheduled everything quickly, moved 2 weeks earlier to LA, it can’t be more dramatic covid… so, lesson is, hanging on there, try everything you can, you’ll get through it haha.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mengruwang.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m_e_n_g_r_u/?hl=en
Image Credits
RIOS
