2020 RAMSA Fellow Yaxuan Liu will present his Fellowship research, Public/Private: The Taiwanese Qilou as a Site of Social Negotiation, on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. 

Yaxuan, a graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and creative lead at Sosolimited in New Haven, Connecticut, will present findings from his four-week research trip to Taiwan in May 2024. 

Yaxuan's study focused on the historic qilou building type—colonnaded shophouses with projecting eaves found in Taiwan’s western port cities and towns. These structures date back to the arrival of merchants from southern China during the Ming dynasty and remain influential in contemporary construction. 

Through photographic analysis and documentation, Yaxuan explored how qilou have adapted over time to reflect Taiwan’s evolving cultural, political, and economic landscape. He highlights their role in shaping vibrant urban life, offering a blend of public and private space that continues to support community traditions and everyday activity. His research positions qilou as enduring symbols of Taiwan’s dynamic and expressive cultural identity. 

The RAMSA Fellowship is a $15,000 prize awarded annually to graduate students for travel and research. To learn more about the fellowship, visit www.ramsa.com/fellowship. 

Note: This fellowship presentation was postponed due to COVID. 

Register for the Zoom Webinar at this link.