ZENDO Atelier, is an architectural and design practice based in Hong Kong, established by Yufan Zhang and Rafael Pardo. Both have extensive international experiences, specialized in residential design, hospitality, work place, food and beverages, mixed-use programs, installations and sustainable development.
Our vision is to re-create humanistic space from a contemporary vernacular approach, while being attuned to modern living in the digital age, re-thinking the meaning of wellness, re-shaping lifestyles and re-defining user experiences through the process of research and the of realization multi-scaled designs. We celebrate the genius loci, formal expression and materiality.
In the age of globalization, ZENDO believes that provenance and the sense of place, originating from contextual narratives, are the best characteristics to identify and differentiate oneself in an ever-changing world. We are skillful and trustworthy in our design aesthetics and in the choices that we develop from one dedicated concept throughout the design process. We are driven by feeling and experiences to create innovative humanistic spaces that evolving from the urban and local environment.
ABOUT ZENDO ATELIER
Yufan ZHANG
Founder
AIA, RIBA, LEED AP, MArch UPenn
Born in Foshan, Yufan Zhang received his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania under renowned architect/engineer Cecil Balmond. Yufan is a New York State licensed architect, a full member of the American Institute of Architects, a RIBA chartered architect, and a LEED AP.
While studying in Shanghai, he was greatly inspired by the narrow but lively streets, and working in Chicago at Mies van der Rohe-inherited firm Goettsch Partners, he became influenced by the grandeur of modern architectural history. After moving to Hong Kong, he worked at TETRA, where Yufan worked closely with Colin Fournier, former Archigram associate member, and Emeritus Professor at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. Later on, he moved on to work at the Australian leading design practice HASSELL. He has worked on large scale mixed-use planning, commercial projects, five star hotels such as Rosewood, Shangri-la and Marriott, private residential villas, and high-end interior designs. He also has experience in exhibition and installation before co-founding ZENDO, among which the installation of 'Footprints' was shortlisted in both the Australia IDEA award and Australian Interior Design Award.
Rafael PARDO GONZALEZ
Founder
BSArch CUHK
Rafael Pardo was born in Mexico City. Influenced by the contrast between the vernacular historical architecture of Mexico and the contemporary monumental urban grid of Manhattan while living in New York City, he decided to pursue architecture and studied at Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education in Mexico, and later on at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
His talents in detail design and formal composition lead him through working experience at prestigious interior design firms. At HBA, he worked on hospitality projects, including Mandarin Oriental in Beijing, New World Hotel. At Steve Leung Design Group, he worked on luxury residential, commercial, work space, in Hong Kong, Qatar and Dubai. As a senior designer at NCDA, he worked on bespoke high-end F&Bs, including the first WeWork Restaurant, and large-scale residential projects. He co-founded ZENDO in Hong Kong to continue his cross-cultural practice.
CONTACT US
