Alvin Zhu sitting on an orange sofa, smiling and making a peace sign

A bit about me

Trained in architecture. Now I film it.

I studied at the University of Queensland and then at UNSW, and I still think the training is one of the best ways to learn how to look at the world. What I found missing was the people. Who asked for this building, who argued about it and who lives with it afterwards.

I spent nearly two years as a content creator at The Local Project, shooting, interviewing, flying drones and editing for design and architecture clients in Italy, Denmark, New Zealand and across Australia. Now I work independently, and I'm learning in public through projects like People's Textbook, which asks what cities can teach us that university never did.

Recognition
  • Australian Design Review 30 Under 30, 2023
  • Kay Leaf-Milham Prize, 2018
  • AIA National Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture, 2021
  • Vice President of Member Engagement, SONA, 2022
Education
  • Master of Architecture, UNSW Sydney, 2021–2024
  • Bachelor of Architectural Design, University of Queensland, 2016–2018