Christina Zhou

Christina grew up in Katy, Texas, a suburb of Houston. Her journey took her from Katy to Houston, then to Shanghai, San Francisco, and Paris, with each new location broadening her perspective and deepening her interest for architecture. With a lifelong passion for art, she dedicated herself to learning how to draw, paint, and sculpt, discovering that creative problem-solving and design were both satisfying and enriching processes.

In 2023, Christina was awarded the Wichita Falls Chapter AIA Scholarship, established to support deserving students pursuing professional architecture degrees. Her experience includes working on medical projects and engaging in design development. Notably, she participated in an intercompany competition at HKS in Houston, winning $3,000 to help realize a small-scale local intervention. During her time in Houston’s Fifth Ward, Christina conducted interviews to create character profiles, gaining valuable insights into the community’s diverse needs and aspirations, which she sought to represent through spatial and urban design.

In her free time, Christina enjoys listening to podcasts and radio programs that share fascinating stories, explore new scientific developments, and delve into historical events and interviews.

One of her favorite buildings is La Borda Co-Op Housing, which she visited during her study abroad semester in Spain. She admires the project for challenging conventional norms, promoting new modes of communal living, and emphasizing user participation throughout the design and occupation processes.