SCARLETT HUNG
Portrait courtesy of Scarlett Hung.
Scarlett is a first-year master’s student in the History of Art & Architecture Department at Boston University. Her research focuses on modern architectural history and the design theory, art, culture, and material that are intertwined within. Her interest in modern architecture is grounded in the exploration of how materials, technologies, and social advancement have influenced the development of the architecture industry, and also how modern architects had adopted architecture to unfold dialogues, engage with social issues, and empower voices. Before coming to Boston, Scarlett received another master’s degree in architecture from National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan and worked as an architectural designer in Megalith Architects. Outside of academia, she enjoys outdoor activities, music, making coffee, and taking photos with her old film camera.
Where are you from?
Tainan, Taiwan
What is your favorite dish?
Bubble Tea, noodle soup, and hot pot
Three additional fun facts
Taiwanese culture is very diverse since we’ve been colonized by many different authorities, including Holland, Japan, Portugal.
The official language in Taiwan is Mandarin, but our native tongue is Taiwanese.
We use traditional Chinese characters.
Building a Better Future: Exploring Architecture that Engages Social Issues and Empowers Voices
What inspired you to study architecture?
I’ve always been fascinated by buildings and architectural history even before I started my architectural studies. Growing up, my family would travel to different places domestically and abroad. Architecture is what attracted me the most among different other things during the trips. However, it was not when I enrolled in the architecture department and became an architectural designer did I realize the power of architecture and how it would shape our society towards a better end collectively through architectural aesthetics. Therefore, I was motivated to continue my studies through the exploration of architecture and curatorship that I could eventually share with a broader audience with my experience and architectural knowledge.
World Trade Center, design by Santiago Calatrava. Film photo taking by Scarlett on the trip to New York. Image courtesty of Scarlett Hung.
Graduation picture of Scarlett in front of Department of Architecture, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. Image courtesy of Scarlett Hung.
Name a woman architect (preferably Asian or Pacific Islander) who most influenced you? Why or How did they?
During my time in studio sky Associative in my master’s study of architecture, we studied parametric design, CAM technologies, and the potentials of computation and digital fabrication in architecture. In the beginning, when I started to encounter digitization in architecture with different scales, I was mostly influenced by Zaha Hadid. From the readings and discussions with my professor and classmates, I came to realize the thinking and ideology of these pioneers in digital architecture, exploring the emergence of parametric design with advanced materials and technologies. I was also drawn to the emphasis of revisiting hands-on craftsmanship prior to conducting parametric design and digital manufacturing processes. It was the preoccupation of hands-on skills and a thorough understanding of the digital manufacturing process that could ultimately prevent back-and-forth design revision regarding the inappropriateness of design thought processes or manufacturing tools. This led to the development of my thesis project with the topic, Towards a New Architectural Pedagogy: Developing a Digital Craftsmanship Adoption Model in Architecture Education Using Grounded Theory, proposing a new approach in the architecture design education to include and stress the adoption of hands-on experience for the contemporary generation studying architecture.
Exploring hands-on craftsmanship skills and manufacturing methods in sKY_Associative studio. Image courtesy of Scarlett Hung.
What is your favorite memory in architecture school or work? Why?
The most memorable experience in architecture school was the sKY_Associative-Chimei | Modex project sponsored in part through a collaborative effort with the Institute of Information industry. The sKY_Associative studio also collaborated with a local 3D printer manufacturer to design pendant lights for participation in the 2018 Taipei Maker Faire Exhibition. I was given the opportunity to experiment thin-shell design called The FLOW. This work studies arcs and gradations by first creating patterns with similar rules in a 2D environment, controlling the curved gradations, and finally flowing onto the 3D environment to form an overlapping oval-shaped structure. To experiment with the idea of digital craftsmanship, this project involves the fabrication process using the idea of additive manufacturing and the 3D printing method. This experience helped me to discover possibilities of digital design and CAM technologies that are rooted in architectural ideology.
The pedant light design, The FLOW, in 2018 Taipei Maker Faire Exhibition. Image courtesy of Scarlett Hung.
The 3D printing process of the exploration of thin-shell experiment. Image courtesy of Scarlett Hung.
One of the 27 distinguished 3D printed parts before installation. Image courtesy of Scarlett Hung.
If you were able to talk to your younger self, what would you say?
I would tell my younger self to never be afraid of challenges and believe in yourself. Studying in the design and architecture industry is interesting and exciting but at the same time stressful. I was fortunate to have constant support from my professor and friends along the way of my studies in architecture. Even today, we could still discuss different topics and issues in architecture freely. It helps me to see things on my blind side and continue to grow as a young passionate professional.
In the process of presenting my graduation thesis, elaborating the ideas of adopting hands-on craftsmanship skills in the architecture education system. Image courtesy of Scarlett Hung.
Me, my advisor (Professor Kane Yanagawa on the left), and two oral defense committee members (Professor Kwang-tyng, Wu and Professor Yu-Chih, Hsiao). Image courtesy of Scarlett Hung.
What would you want to say to the next generation of aspiring Asian and Pacific Islander women architects/designers?
Never underestimate the power of architecture. Asia is developing and progressing rapidly in recent years, and I definitely see how architecture could be at the forefront of engaging with the advancement of society. “Trust in yourself and keep doing things that motivate you and the surroundings” is also what I would tell myself in the coming few years
Exploring local culture in Tainan. Image courtesy of Scarlett Hung.
In terms of rising concerns and problems (in the architectural profession) over the past year, what is one change that you wish would happen and it did not? This can be in an educational or work atmosphere.
I would wish there would be more practical implementation about the issues of equity and inclusion in both academic and working environments. The diversity of voices and design thinking are what make the future of the architecture industry promising.
Exploring local architectural history in Tainan. Image courtesy of Scarlett Hung.
