Current Team:

Max Stith is the Co-Editor-in-Chief for PLAT 14, pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture and Art History at Rice University. His interests lie in fabrication, art, and tectonics. He was born in Houston, Texas, and has worked as a bike mechanic and canoe guide. 

Jayden Yan is the Co-Editor-in-Chief for PLAT 14 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in Anthropology at Rice University. He recently worked for UltraBarrio, focusing on urban analysis and community engagement. Originally from Shanghai, his interest lies in the methodology and representation of architecture, along with their implications for shifting societal relationships.

Abby Chen is the Managing Editor for PLAT 14 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in Art History at Rice University. Born in Beijing and raised in Boston, she is interested in art, woodworking, and fabrication. Abby recently completed an internship at HOK in Houston, working on an Education, Research, and Innovation Campus

Sean Choi is an editor for PLAT 14, pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture degree at Rice University. Originally from South Korea, his work and research explore contemporary debates about architecture’s capacity to inspire transformative visions.

Prea Davis is a Copy Editor for PLAT 14. She is a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Art History candidate at Rice University. In the summer of 2024, she traveled to Taiwan with her colleagues to research Night Market typologies in Taipei and Taichung for the Mary Ellen Hale Lovett Travel Fellowship. While she is currently based in Houston, Prea had lived overseas in Bangkok, Thailand, before residing in Northern Virginia in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. Her curiosity lies in uncovering various perspectives within architectural pedagogy and questioning historical art and architecture narratives and theories.

Tianai Duan is the Designer for PLAT 14 and a Bachelor of Architecture student at Rice University with a minor in French Studies. Raised in Shanghai, China, before moving to Toronto, Canada, she particularly enjoys model making and has developed a strong interest in sustainable and green building design.

Mingru Han is the Lead Copy Editor for PLAT 14 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture at Rice University. Originally from Guangdong, China, his research interests span urbanism, political economy, and architectural history. He has worked with the China Development Institute, focusing on political analysis and urban development. His essay, Kowloon Walled City and Hong Kong’s Spatial Hegemony was published in PLAT 13.

Yousif Giyo is a designer for PLAT 14 and an Option 2 graduate student pursuing a Master of Architecture (MArch) Degree at Rice University. Born in Iraq and raised in Chicago, he studied architecture at the University of Illinois in Chicago, where he developed his interest in conceptually driven architecture and theoretical design. His work focuses on constructing speculative narratives and exploring notions of character and adaptability in the built environment.

Deniz Kantar is the Design Director for PLAT 14, pursuing a Master of Architecture at Rice University. She was born in Denver, Colorado. She studied architecture in İstanbul and Budapest. She is a creative writer who loves to travel the world and listen to new life stories across borders. Deniz subscribes to the idea of "Vita Activa" which is life devoted to public and environmental matters.

William Yiming Liu is the Co-Editor for PLAT 14. He has already obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Kean University and is pursuing a Master of Architecture at Rice University. As an architectural and urbanism researcher, he is interdisciplinarily involved with urbanization, housing, spatial context, sociology, and political science. Initially from China, his previous research mainly analyzed and criticized Chinese social housing from 1949 to now, focused on seeking a sustainable path for Chinese contemporary collective and social housing. 

Kirstie Qian is the Social Media Manager for Plat 14 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture at Rice University. From New York, she is interested in the intersection of architecture and media.

Musab Salah is a designer for PLAT and is pursuing the intersection of fine arts, architecture, and anthropology at Rice University. He serves as the co-head of the Rice Architecture Anti-Racism Collective and is a designer and assistant at the Rice Cinema and Art Department. Originally from Palestine, his academic pursuits focus on exploring territorial and structural entanglements through a visual framework of the commons.

Osvaldo Salgado is a Copy Editor for PLAT 14, pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture at Rice University. He recently shadowed Richard Beard Architects, learning more about high-end residential design. He is interested in applying psychology and neuroscience to architectural practice.

Ghazal Torkamaniha is a designer for PLAT 14 and is pursuing a Master of Architecture at Rice University. With a Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urbanism, her interest lies in passive and sustainable designs and vernacular materials.

Whitney Walden is a copy editor for PLAT 14, pursuing a Master of Architecture at Rice University. She is from Bend, Oregon, treasures all things outdoors, and is most interested in the cross-disciplinary opportunities between nature and the arts and representational techniques across media.

Sophie Valbrune is on the design team for PLAT 14 and is a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in Business. Originally from Washington, D.C., Sophie is interested in construction management and integrating cultural context in design work. When not formatting layouts, she enjoys trying new foods and reading.

Moxuan (Grace) Xu is the Copy Editor for PLAT 14 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture at Rice University. She is originally from Harbin, China, and is passionate about tectonics, digital tools, data science, and enhancing public engagement through design.

Zhan (Michael) Zhong is a designer for PLAT 14 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture student at Rice University. Originally from Kunming, Yunnan, China, he recently completed an internship at O-Office Architects in Guangzhou, China. His interests center on the intersection of architectural contextualization and agency, tectonics, and civic engagement.



FORMER TEAM MEMBERS + Contributors