Work
About
Hyperlocal was co-founded by Zhicheng Xu and Mengqi He. The office offers a broad range of design services, including architecture, interior design, master planning, graphic design, and product design.
Zhicheng and Mengqi first met while studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and since then, they have collaborated on numerous architectural and research projects. Drawing from their diverse cultural backgrounds, they critically explore the relationship between architecture, society, and nature. Their design work spans from installations to large-scale urban projects, envisioning the future of cities.
In addition to their professional practice, Zhicheng and Mengqi are deeply involved in architectural education and exhibition curation. Their work has been showcased in prestigious exhibitions, including the Venice Architecture Biennale (2023) and the Lisbon Architecture Triennale (2022).
Zhicheng Xu is a co-founder of Hyperlocal and an architectural and landscape architectural designer and educator based in Boston and Houston. He has expertise in multiple disciplines, including architecture, urban design, and landscape architecture. Currently, he is a 2023-2025 Wortham Fellow at Rice School of Architecture, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate design studios and research seminars.
Zhicheng's work largely explores the role of architecture and design within the greater ecological and cultural context through the lens of material ecology and our relationship with the land and other species. His work has been exhibited at the Venice Architecture Biennale, Lisbon Architecture Triennale, RMIT Design Hub, Latrobe Regional Gallery, and the Center for Architecture in New York. He has received awards from the Urban Land Institute, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the National Landscape Architecture Foundation, ASLA-Indiana, and ASLA-Boston.
Prior to founding Hyperlocal, Zhicheng practiced at Kennedy & Violich Architecture and Sasaki Associates in Boston, and Ecosistema Urbano in Madrid. He holds a Master's degree in architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from Purdue University.
Mengqi Moon He is the co-founder of Hyperlocal, an architectural designer, and a licensed city planner in the United States. Born and raised in Guangzhou, China, Mengqi has long focused on critically analyzing the development trajectories and cultural foundations of cities, shaped by her upbringing in a rapidly evolving urban environment. She earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California and a Master of Science in Architecture from MIT.
Mengqi’s work centers on public engagement and design in large-scale public projects. She has extensive experience representing government agencies in engaging with local communities, facilitating public outreach, and leading urban development and community rebuilding efforts.
Before professional practice, Mengqi held academic positions at MIT. She co-initiated the Urban Innovation Program, guiding graduate students through academic exchanges in Shanghai and Chengdu, while also conducting joint courses in Chengdu and Hong Kong. At Hyperlocal, Mengqi draws on her deep understanding of culture, urban development, and community building to collaborate on projects that foster meaningful connections between nature and society.
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