Adam Brillhart PhD

Assistant Professor

Adam Brillhart is Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture at XJTLU and founding member of Atelier HAY. His work as an architect and writer focuses on material processes, tectonics, and instrumentality. In 2012 he was awarded a scholarship from Chinese Government and became the first non-Chinese PhD candidate of Wang Shu at China Academy of Art. His research in the Chinese context dissects the pragmatic and conceptual formulations of traditional carpentry, particularly in terms of the means of representation and the lexicon through which house construction became articulated. Since coming to China he has served as a tutor in design studios at China Academy of Art and as an assistant to Wang Shu in Amateur Architecture Studio. Prior to coming to China, Adam practiced in New York City at the offices of David Adjaye, Robert Stern, and Davis Brody Bond. He studied architecture at Columbia University and New Jersey Institute of Technology. His writing and typological research on hotels was published internationally in Domus. More recently, several projects have been realized in China including, Z-house and Experience Mathematics Center.

Seeking Research Assistant for "Paperless Drawing and Vernacular Tectonic" Government-Funded Research Project


  • PhD, Architecture and Art, China Academy of Art, Zhejiang, Hangzhou - 2018
  • MSc, Advanced Architectural Design, Columbia University, New York, NY - 2009
  • BArch, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Albert Dorman Honors College, Newark, NJ - 2008


  • Assistant to Wang Shu, Amateur Architecture Studio - 2013 to 2015
  • Design Director, Atelier HAY - 2012 to Present
  • Design Consultant, Robert A.M. Stern Associates - 2012 to 2012
  • Architectural Designer, Davis Brody Bond - 2010 to 2011
  • Architectural Designer, Adjaye Associates - 2009 to 2010
  • Architectural Designer, Davis Brody Bond - 2007 to 2008


  • Tectonic Typologies
  • Drawing and Notation
  • Construction Methodologies


  • Brillhart, Adam. 2023. "Repairing Forests and Vernacular Heritage: In the Carbon Deluge of Southern China." Future Anterior, Vol. 20: (peer reviewed) ISSN: 1934-6026; In-Press.
  • Brillhart, Adam. 2023. "Observations on the Extensionality of Jiangnan Traditional Timber Structure." Time + Architecture: (peer reviewed) ISSN: 1005-684X CN: 31-1359; Print Version Published, 08-Sep-2023.
  • Brillhart, Adam. 2018. "The Boundless Workshop." Journal of the National Academy of Art, Vol. 39: 57–63 (peer reviewed; published: ISSN: 1674-2249, CN 33-1068/J; Print Version Published 01-Aug-2018.
  • Brillhart, Adam & Brown, Barrett. "Manuale Boutique Hotel." Domus, Vol. 949 Special Report: Hotels, p. 1-11 (published: ISSN: 0012-5377]); Print Version Published, 01-Aug-2011


  • Brillhart, Adam & Yeung, Ken, (2023) 'Organic Industrialization and Architecture of Forests', Proceedings of Sixth National Fir Academic Symposium. China Forestry Society. (In Press)
  • Brillhart, Adam & Yeung, Ken, (2019) 'Co-Operating with Notational Language: Full-Scale Drawing Practices of Traditional Carpentry in Southern China', 107th ACSA Annual Meeting | BLACK BOX: Articulating Architecture's Core in the Post-Digital Era. ACSA Press, pp. 547-554; ISBN: 978-1-944214-21-0


  • Wang, Shu (editor); Brillhart, Adam; Jiang, Weihua; Partida, Mara & Mendoza, Hector, 2019. Emotional Structures [Open Experimental Workshop]. Experimental Architecture Education Series. China Academy of Art Publishing House, ISBN 978-7-5503-1966-0. Jun-2019.


  • Brillhart, Adam. "Dunqian Village: Experimentation on Rural Dwellings Creates a Vibrant Community." Home in Jiangsu Research Group. Xinhua News. 24-Mar-2023
  • Brillhart, Adam. "Nanjing Xiaoxihu: Micro-renewal Brings Historical Block Back to Vitality." Home in Jiangsu Research Group. Xinhua News. 15-Oct-2022
  • Brillhart, Adam. "Bridge School and Urban Tulou." Academic Consultant of short film commissioned by the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. 30-Sep-2021
  • Brillhart, Adam. "Longshang Museum of Handicraft Paper." Academic Consultant of short film commissioned by the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. 30-Sep-2021


  • Brillhart, Adam, with Ken Yeung 2023. "Organic Industrialization and Architecture of Forests", Sixth National Fir Academic Symposium held by China Forestry Society. 07-Dec-2023.
  • Brillhart, Adam, 2023. "Vernacular Carpentry: Experimental and Contemporary Practices", Invited online talk presented for China GSD at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. 11-Apr-2023
  • Brillhart, Adam (Organizer) with Farrokh Derakhshani, Gisela Loehlein, Soumyen Bandyopadhyay, G.D. Jayalakshmi, Jiawen Han. “The Changing Rural Habitat: Screening of Two Short Films” Public Event with Aga Khan Trust for Culture. 01-Apr-2022
  • Brillhart, Adam with Garrabost Jayalakshmi, "Changing Chinese Rural Habitats: A Filmic Exploration." Presented at Besides the Screen: Geographies, Spaces, and Places Outside the Screen. University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 10-Jun-2021
  • Brillhart, Adam, 2020. "In Search of an Authentic Boutique Hotel for Suzhou: Speculation on Intellect of the Typology." Presented at Shuangta Yingyuan Conference Center, Suzhou. 17-Jan-2021.
  • Brillhart, Adam with Claudia Westermann and Yiping Dong, "Seats for Seeing", presented at Public Space Forum, international symposium, Department of Architecture, Xi'an-Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 8-Jan-2021.
  • Brillhart, Adam and Igea Troiani, 2019. ‘Surveying the Contextual and Projective Contingencies of Building’ Co-Chair of Roundtable Discussion at ‘Architecture across Boundaries' International Conference, XJTLU, Suzhou, 21-Jun-2019.
  • Brillhart, Adam and Ken Yeung, 2019. “Co-Operating with Notational Language: Full-Scale Drawing Practices of Traditional Carpentry in Southern China.” Presented at: ACSA Black Box: Articulating Architecture's Core in the Post-digital Era. 107th Annual Meeting, 27-Mar-2019.


  • Brillhart, Adam (PI), Dong Yiping, Zhang Yuyu. "Conservation Practice of the Wooden Gaochi Instrument, An Exploration in Architectural Tools and Design Inheritance". Xi’An Jiatong-Liverpool University SURF. Jul-Aug-2021.
  • Brillhart, Adam (PI), Dong Yiping, Thomas Fischer, and Gu Shuigen. Paperless Drawing Method and Vernacular Tectonic. Xi’An Jiatong-Liverpool University Key Program Special Fund. Jan-2019 – Mar-2023


  • Presenter at Free Architecture Education Salon, NextMixing, Shanghai 19-Dec-2021
  • Member of Editorial Advisory Board, Architecture and Culture. Feb-2021
  • External Examiner, Graduation Design. China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China. 26-Jun-2020 – 27-Jun-2020
  • Exhibition Curator, RIBA Accreditation and Validation Exhibition, with Richard Hay. Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China, 17–24-Oct-2019
  • Member of the Scientific Committee, Architecture Across Boundaries International Conference, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China, 19-Jun-2019.


  • 2020 Drury University, Hammonds School of Architecture, Guest Critic
  • 2018 Hong Kong University, Shanghai Study Center, Co-Organizer and Instructor of Architecture/Urban Micro-Renewal Workshop
  • 2013 - 2015 China Academy of Art, Instructor of Natural Construction Workshop
  • 2010 Pratt University, Invited guest critic
  • 2009 New Jersey Institute of Technology, Co-Tutor with Brooks Atwood


  • ARC205 DESIGN AND BUILDING TYPOLOGY
  • ARC204 SMALL URBAN BUILDINGS
  • ARC203 HISTORY OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE
  • ARC110 HUMANITIES AND ARCHITECTURE


  • Brillhart, Adam. "Home Story in Jiangsu" - Host of documentary which won First Prize in International Communications Sector, China News Award, China Journalist Association, 2023.
  • Brillhart, Adam, and Zhao Deli. Second Prize - Z3 Spatial Art Competition, China Australia Urban Forum, Shanghai, 2016.
Adam Brillhart