12+1
SELF-PREFACE of ZHUWENYIONLINE ARCHITECTURE in UK
BY ZHU WENYI
On June 1, 2026, I completed my first design work of online architecture in UK, with the site chosen in Belfast, Norther Ireland, UK; by July 7, within 37 days, I explored all 12 core cities and the Capital London online, completing 13 conceptual design works for architecture, city, and landscape. These form the main content of the book Zhu WenyiOnline Architecture in UK.
Alphabetically, UK's 12 core cities and the capital are: Belfast, Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield and the capital, London. For each city, I explored and experienced the geography, culture, and social conditions online through YouTube videos and Vlogs; I studied the spirit of the places and future planning of major cities through Google Earth, photos, and planning and design websites. Combining these online explorations with my previous in-person visits, I calibrated my spatial imagination of the design sites as accurately as possible. On this basis, I proposed and completed 13 conceptual design proposals, showcasing my potential visions for the future development of urban spaces in UK.
Exploring a country in alphabetical order rather than by popularity or geography, identifying cities and their potential design sites, and simultaneously conceptualizing design plans gave me a completely new sense of vast design possibilities. Each unknown next stop is always a source of continuous surprises: new discoveries, new ideas, and new design proposals. In this way, the design works of the Online Architecture increased by 13.
For each conceptual design work, I conducted editing and layout work, including the work name, location, completion date in English, axonometric or elevation/floor plans, master plans, God's-eye-views, Bird's-eye-views, and Eye-level-views. It is worth noting that on www.zhuwenyi.com, I display each project with one main perspective view, an analysis diagram, an English description, and a 1-minute short video. In this book, the works are presented with the final design drawings, without the before-and-after comparison images featured in the short videos.
The book contains 14 appendices. They demonstrate the process by which I proposed and explored online architectural design and its theories. An endless pursuit. When ZHUWENYIOnline Architecture in UK was completed in layout, I had been retired for three years, yet the exploration of online architecture continues.
Zhu Wenyi
Online Architect
On July 10, 2026
www.zhuwenyi.com