She is interested in bringing people together through cultural experience. Her practice focuses on creating meaningful spatial experiences for diverse audiences. Trained at the University of Edinburgh and the Architectural Association, she combines storytelling with architecture and innovative design.

Her project Zao Tang (as part of STIGMA), a pop-up gallery on Asian arts and feminism, was supported by Arts Council England. Since 2022, Cong has been working closely with renowned architect Sir Peter Cook, including exhibitions worldwide and recently on the Play Pavilion for the Serpentine Gallery in collaboration with the LEGO Group.

What career did you see yourself in when you were 16? 

Even looking back at my A-Level Art portfolio, I can see that I always knew I wanted to work with the concept of 'living space' (thanks for the help to Mrs Scott and Ms Mortimer!) I wasn't entirely sure what the exact job title would be, but I was deeply drawn to how we interact with and design the environments around us.

Tell us about your professional journey since leaving Downe House. 

I studied Part I Architecture at the University of Edinburgh, where my coursework in design, history, art, and technology - alongside an 8-month internship - introduced me to the real world of the profession. Architecture is truly a field you learn by doing. I then went on to the Architectural Association to complete my RIBA Part II qualification. While studying, I worked on independent exhibition projects and co-founded a collective called 'Stigma Room' with my friend Josette Zhou. Together, we produced 'Zaotang / Bathhouse', a pop-up gallery in a vacant Notting Hill shopfront showcasing Asian art and feminist works, generously funded by Arts Council England and sponsored by Malin+Goetz. After graduation, following the Covid-19 pandemic, I joined Peter Cook Studio as a studio assistant. I worked across various architectural projects while continuing to manage the studio's exhibitions on the side, which eventually led to my current role as the studio's Exhibition Lead.

Can you describe your current role and what a typical day looks like? 

I work as an architectural designer and the Exhibition Lead at Peter Cook Studio. I am in charge of everything related to the studio's exhibition projects, from initial concept right through to final delivery. This involves spatial designing, managing budgets, liaising with contractors, and communicating with host institutions and sponsors. My schedule is heavily project-based. When a delivery deadline is approaching, my day is full of 3D modelling, creating production files and closely coordinating with overseas institutions or working directly on-site to oversee the installation. Alternatively, I could be working on competition projects with my colleagues. 

What skills and personal qualities do you think help someone excel in your field? 

Passion for making a better space, care and curiosity for human beings and sense of self-belief. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Three major projects stand out, as they all represent a composite of architecture, curation and creative production that blurs conventional boundaries. First is the Zaotang project with my collective, Stigma Room, which was a real-world application of my research into 'meanwhile spaces' (vacant urban pockets) and how we can reactivate them for the local community. The second is the Play Pavilion, a collaboration with Serpentine Galleries and the LEGO Group in summer 2025. As the architectural designer of Peter Cook Studio, I explored how to integrate engaging space with playful theatricality to create truly 'cheerful' architecture. Finally, my recent work as the exhibition designer and co-curator at HENI Gallery, where I launched an open call to activate the drawings of established architect Sir Peter Cook, inviting the wider community to respond and exhibit their work side by side with his. 

What has been the biggest professional challenge you have faced, and how did you overcome it? 

Navigating the unknown. Every new project presents unique challenges and technical requirements that I do not necessarily understand at first. However, by actively researching, collaborating and consulting with specialised professionals, the pieces always come together. I have learned to embrace the process of learning on the job. 

Do you have any words of advice for girls thinking of going into architecture? 

It is truly a fascinating subject and career to dip into. My biggest piece of advice is to not limit your idea of what an architect can be. Studying architecture is an incredible way to understand how human civilisation was built, the role of the architect is also rapidly expanding beyond traditional building design.  

What are your hopes and aspirations for the future?

I am working more on the curatorial and exhibition side right now. I want to transform architectural archives and exhibitions into active, public platforms. Architecture is an incredibly cross-disciplinary subject that intersects with social science, history, maths, and physics. I am currently experimenting with how we can use architectural methodologies not just to display the past, but as a source of knowledge production and a reference for building future infrastructure.

If you would like to get in touch with Cong for advice about a career in architecture, you can contact her through our mentoring programme.