Travel, observe, think & write.
As a traveler, I explore how different cultures narrate the story of nature, studying and documenting these insights through newspaper columns and online publications.
By merging research and design, I translate these findings into fresh and impactful experiences using a cross-disciplinary, research-driven approach. I have collaborated with zoos and architects on case studies globally, bringing an international perspective to my work.
Travel & Write for the zoos.
I have a strong passion for conducting research at zoos, as I believe they serve as an excellent environment for studying design. When visiting the zoos, I don't just go to see the animals; I spend most of my time examining how zoos establish connections between nature and their guests; from the barriers to the descriptions of the animals on the interpretations, these mediums honestly show how zoos want their guests to view the nature, and I firmly believe that zoos accurately reflect the culture of the cities they belong to.
Explore the world and visit zoos globally.
Since university, I have visited as many zoos as possible to broaden my horizons, traveling globally alone from Northeastern Asia to Tropical Micronesia, from Scandinavia to Tenerife in North Africa. I have visited 100 zoos to enhance my design skills with comparative insights.
111 zoos in 24 countries on 4 continents.
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Ahtari Zoo, Finland
Antwerpen Zoo, Belgium
Atlanta Zoo, US
Basel Zoo, Switzerland
Berlin Zoo, Germany
Bioparc Fuengirola, Spain
Brevard Zoo, US
Bronx Zoo, US
Budapest Zoo, Hungary
Burgers' Zoo, Netherlands
Butterfly Pavilion, US
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, US
Central Park Zoo, US
Chester Zoo, UK
Denver Zoo, US
Duisburg Zoo, Germany
Frankfurt Zoo, Germany
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, US
Hsinchu Zoo, Taiwan
Jurong Bird Park, Singapore
Koln Zoo, Germany
Kobe Animal Kingdom, Japan
Kobe Oji Zoo, Japan
Kyoto City Zoo, Japan
Leipzig Zoo, Germany
London Zoo, UK
Loro Park, Spain
Miami Zoo, US
Nowe Zoo Poznan, Poland
Opole Zoo, Poland
Paris Menagerie, France
Paris Zoo, France
Pata Zoo, Thailand
Philadelphia Zoo, US
Prague Zoo, Czech Republic
Prospect Park Zoo, US
Queens Zoo, US
Seoul Grand Park Zoo, South Korea
Shanghai Zoo, Mainland China
Shou Shan Zoo, Taiwan
Singapore Night Safari, Singapore
Singapore River Safari, Singapore
Singapore Zoo, Singapore
Stare Zoo Poznan, Poland
Suzhou Zoo, Mainland China
Taipei Zoo, Taiwan
Taiwan Insect Museum, Taiwan
Tennoji Zoo, Japan
Tiergarten Nuremberg, Germany
Tierpark Hagenbeck, Germany
Ueno Zoo, Japan
Vienna Zoo, Austria
Wangpi World, Taiwan
Warsaw Zoo, Poland
Whipsnade Zoo, UK
Wroclaw Zoo, Poland
Zagreb Zoo, Croatia
Zurich Zoo, Switzerland -
Adventure Aquarium, US
Aquarium Berlin, Germany
Aquarium Tropical, France
atoa, Japan
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, US
Coex Aquarium, South Korea
COS Museum, US
Daytona Aquarium & Rainforest Adventure, US
Downtown Aquarium, US
Fazi River Center, Taiwan
Florida Aquarium, US
Frost Science Museum, US
Georgia Aquarium, US
Kaiyukan, Japan
Kyoto Aquarium, Japan
National Aquarium Denmark, Denmark
National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium, Taiwan
New England Aquarium, US
New York Aquarium, US
NIFREL, Japan
Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium, Japan
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Japan
Penghu Aquarium, Taiwan
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, US
Sealife London, UK
Smart Aquarium Shizuoka, Japan
Taipei Aquarium, Taiwan
Tennessee Aquarium, US
The Deep, UK
Tropen-Aquarium Hagenbeck, Germany
Xpark, Taiwan
Yehliu Ocean World, Taiwan -
Butterfly Encounter, US
Butterfly Rainforest, US
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, US
Choufeng Farm, Taiwan
CosmoCaixa Barcelona, Spain
Disney Animal Kingdom, US
Green World Ecological Farm, Taiwan
Kongni Clownfish Museum, Taiwan
Lake Biwa Museum, Japan
London Wetland Center, UK
Marine Science Center, US
National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, Taiwan
National Science Museum, Taiwan
Nishinomiya City Shellfish Museum, Japan
Ocean Park, Hong Kong
Orlando Science Center, US
Pattaya Elephant Village, Thailand
SeaWorld Orlando, US
Tiger Park Pattaya, Thailand
New Book Published
《Taiwan: A Global History》
Co-authored with
〈The Elephants That Walked East: From Hamburg to the Empire of the Rising Sun〉
How did Hagenbeck’s revolution reach Japan’s first colony?
│ Buy this book │
Featured Research-Based Design Projects:
BEFORE THE SIGHT
This project explores the potential of the mediums in aquariums. Beyond visual elements, can sound also serve as a bridge between humans and animals?
THE WORSHIP OF A FOREST
Redesigning a Japanese Shinto shrine without using cultural vocabularies.
ZOO BARRIERS EXHIBITION
In one of Poland’s oldest zoos, I witnessed the evolution of enclosures—prompting a reflection: Have these changes truly been for the animals, or have they been shaped by human morality?
Research-Based Writings
Monthly articles for
’Mandarin Daily News’
(2017 - Present)
Contributing monthly newspaper articles on zoos and history, exploring the cultural elements that reflect the relationship between humans and wildlife.
During an interview with Formosa Television in October 2022, I was given the title "The Zoo Observer" for pioneering this subject within the Sinophone community, in which we discussed the history of zoos and Carl Hagenbeck's impact on the industry.
Newspaper
Sharing how St. Augustine Alligator Farm prevented the damage of Hurricane Milton to Chinese readers in 2024.
TV Interview
Me in an interview with Formosa Television (FTV) about the history of zoos and Carl Hagenbeck in Oct 2022.
Speeches
Share my stories via speeches and give lectures about the history and design of zoos.
Online publications:
“NOT ONLY A ZOO”
Monthly newspaper column:
“Mandarin Daily News”
"Green Houses in Zoos"
"Coexistence of Zoos and History"
"Mangrove Forest in Netherlands"
"The Horticultural Zoos"
"Placemaking for Storytelling"
"Exhibiting Small Animals"
"Designing Jellyfish Tanks"
"New Media and Zoos"
"The Future of Aquariums"
"The Indoor Rainforest"