Zhe Rui is an architectural designer based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His focus lies on nature sites and community driven projects. Zhe Rui has been actively involved in volunteerism and relief works, helping underserved communities by contributing his building knowledge and passion. His skill sets have been made useful in community libraries, community canteens, cafes, tree houses, toilets, schools, and multipurpose halls in rural villages. He strongly believes that in his practice, it is important to get his own hands dirty so that he can fully grasp what it is like to get every nail and nut working in place for a functional building, be it physically or in a wider significance of public realm. Getting out of his comfort zone and engaging with the real world give him chances to implement locally relevant, real-world, collaborative projects in diverse disciplinary contexts.

Zhe Rui is currently pursuing Master of Architecture in University of Malaya. In addition, he is an artist who paints, makes art installations and sustainable related fabrications. His artworks have been exhibited in local and international exhibitions including in Italy, France, Macedonia, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, China, and Thailand. He aims to find dynamic relationships between architecture and art, in which the former is attentive to the needs of present and the latter challenges its imaginative alternate future.

Video: Discussion with local villager on façade design of school that fits the surrounding context.
Image 1: The build and repair of a bamboo homestay for indigenous people.
Image 2: A completed community library cum canteen transformed from an old timber warehouse.
Image 3: The build of toilet and sanitary piping system for rural indigenous village.