Jess Chen
Urban Designer 
Architectural Designer
Photographer 
Every building has its own story, encompassing its historical context and cultural impacts, just like human beings. When experiencing places, I’m always attracted and curious about the significant differences and similarities among them and how they came to be. It’s the thing that has formed the places we live and been a part of ourselves. 
I have a passion for photography. Through the limited frame, the lens captures things in a way that differs from our perspective, reminding me that as urban designers, we need to narrow our focus at times instead of always striving for an overly broad or unrealistic vision. We all envision a better future for our living environment, but it’s also essential to focus on the present moment. 


+ Urban Design Works 



Thresholds of Mobility
Urban Connection by Integrated Public Transport


Foaming by Earth—Wet Island Effect
Urban sprawl, land use, open space and soil in Taipei


Downtown Data Commons
Mobilizing Education and Technology as Social Infrastructure


Changing Ratios
Canton-Westward


+ Architecture Design Works



NTSEC Renovation
B1 Science Theater Renovation


Foaming by Earth—Wet Island Effect
Urban sprawl, land use, open space and soil in Taipei


Between Alarm and Ease—
From Emergency to Everyday

A Civic Landscape in Motion and Rest


Impression in Dajia
Regrowth of the Coast Line Rail Station


+ Research Projects



The Disaggregated City
Book Proposal in 5 Detroit Neighborhoods


Telling Places! Marks, Signs, and Echoes to Share Our Stories
Community Engagement in Detroit


Peripheral Centralities
Community Engagement in São Paulo


When Climate Becomes Form
Research on climates, territory, and topography in Taiwan


+ Inspirations



Summer Workshop in Rome
Roman Architecture and Urban History & Design Workshop


Roaming in Cities
Photography and sketches