Alex Ching-Chen Liu

Alex Ching-Chen Liu (he/him) is a Taiwanese architect currently pursuing the Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design at Columbia University GSAPP. His work explores architecture as a continuum bridging past, present, and future, with a focus on adaptive reuse, urban regeneration and climate consciousness. Before joining GSAPP, he was a senior architectural designer at JJP Architects + Planners, one of Taiwan’s leading firms, where he contributed to a wide range of projects, including industrial adaptive reuse, office complexes, and sustainable laboratory designs. Beyond architecture, he is also an passionate photographer, using the lens as another medium to explore space, memory, and everyday life.

Education
Columbia University GSAPP (New York)
Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design, 2025-2026
National Cheng Kung University (Tainan, Taiwan)
Bachelor of Architecture, 2016-2021

Experience
Columbia University GSAPP (New York)
Teaching Assistant for Architectural Drawing and Representation, 2025-
JJP Architects + Planners (Taipei, Taiwan)
Senior Architecture Designer, 2022-2025
Zhaoyang Architects (Dali, China)
Architecture Design Intern, 2019-2020
AMBi Studio (Taichung, Taiwan)
Architecture Design Intern, 2018

License
Registered Architect of Taiwan, 2024-

Contact

Email / cl4735@columbia.edu

LinkedIn / Ching Chen Liu

Instagram / alexdoublechen

© Alex CC Liu 2025

Transient Metropolitan Residence

Year
2024

Project Type
Design Competition (Buildner)

Site Location
Taipei, Taiwan

Collaborator
Ya-Ju Lee

How can architecture help facilitate a better urban renewal process?

For BUILDNER’s Underbridge Affordable Housing competition, the project proposes a movable housing community beneath urban infrastructure—offering temporary homes during urban renewal while transforming the expressway edge into a vibrant neighborhood.

Reclaiming Under-Expressway Space
Taipei’s Civic Boulevard Expressway, built in 1997 as a major east–west route, now sits beside many neighborhoods marked for urban renewal. As residents struggle to find housing in the city’s dense fabric, the project proposes converting the unused space beneath the expressway into temporary apartments—offering both shelter and a new layer of urban life.

Phase 1
Areas ready to be renewed

Phase 2
Residents move out

Phase 3
Old buildings demolished

Phase 4
Residents move into new buildings

Main Section

Main Facade

Housing on wheels
Mobility is achieved through a large structural frame on bogie wheels, carrying apartment units beneath the expressway. Service modules like bathrooms and water tanks are detached during transit to reduce load, then reinstalled once the residence is in place—allowing the entire building to move and resettle along the city’s infrastructure.

Sustainable & Flexible Urban Shelter
The Transient Metropolitan Residence is a mobile housing prototype for urban renewal, reducing carbon emissions by serving multiple families over time. Movable partitions give each unit maximum flexibility—allowing layouts to shift between open living, kitchens, or bedrooms—while semi-outdoor terraces extend daily life into the city.

Prefabricated Living for All
Built with a modular system, all apartment units are prefabricated for easy replacement and maintenance. Drywall partitions and cost-efficient exterior materials keep construction budgets low, ensuring the residences remain affordable for all citizens.

View from Terrace

View from Groundfloor Retail