Ruxin Xie

Ruxin (pronounced as Ru-shin) is a researcher, designer, and lifelong maker. Her work lies at the intersection of art, architecture, mechanics, and robotics.  
She lives with a tabby cat named TT — Tiny Tiger. ᓚᘏᗢ

Curriculum vitae
Publications
Contact

2025
XXXBuildfest 2024Bethel, NY, USAXXIXRobotic SetupsPrinceton, NJ, USA
2023
XXVIIIThe ObservatoryCupertino, CA, USA XXVIITree House[Concept]XXVIGoogle StoreSanta Monica, CA, USAXXVCat LampCupertino, CA, USA
2022
XXIVSystems EngagementAnn Arbor, MI, USA
2021
XXIIICocoonAnn Arbor, MI, USAXXIISocial EquilibriaVenice, ItalyXXITopology Optimized Building Envelope Ann Arbor, MI, USAXXPoly-Fractal PackingAnn Arbor, MI, USAXIXPneumatic Origami Self FoldingAnn Arbor, MI, USA
2020
XVIIIDesign Ecologies of Glass[Concept]XVIIArchitecture {AI}[Concept]XVIVolumetric KnittingAnn Arbor, MI, USAXVShelf - Generative DeisignAnn Arbor, MI, USAXIVLight LeakAnn Arbor, MI, USAXIIITriByteAnn Arbor, MI, USAXIIMantaAnn Arbor, MI, USAXIHoursteelAnn Arbor, MI, USA
2019
XContext. Community. Co-op. Core[Concept]IXPlayscapeAnn Arbor, MI, USAVIIIExquisite LampAnn Arbor, MI, USAVIIKnitted InflatablesAnn Arbor, MI, USA
2018
VIEngageAnn Arbor, MI, USAVFantastic Beasts And Here They Are[Concept]IVAnimation and Architecture[Concept]
2017 and Earlier
IIISponge at Crossroad[Concept]IIBridge Church[Concept]IBirdwatching Pavilion[Concept]
Life

Drawings
Photography
Cooking




© 2017–2025 Ruxin Xie
Fantastic Beasts And Here They Are
Year
2018
Location
Black Rock City, NV, USA
Status
Concept
Course
ARCH 552 Institution Studio
Affiliation
Taubman College, University of Michigan
Instructors
Neal Robinson
Students
Ruxin Xie   
Tool Box
Sketches, Rhino, Model Making, Adobe Suite



To many, Burning Man conjures an image of a utopian garden, where thousands gather in the desert to create their own city. This ten-day festival opens its "gates" each year over Labor Day weekend in Black Rock City, a temporary oasis in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada. 

Participants, affectionately known as "burners," come together to live, create art, and engage in various activities. The experience culminates in the dramatic burning of "The Man," a towering wooden sculpture reaching around 100 feet tall. At its core, Burning Man embodies a spirit of anti-consumerism and radical self-expression.


 In this fleeting city, which rises and vanishes in just ten days, a non-profit organization oversees its operations. The festival's camps are organized around diverse themes, while the city hall features various departments, each with its own character and hierarchy. 

As part of this exploration, I am designing a city hall that reflects this vibrant community spirit, embodying the interplay of structure and wildness, where the essence of collaboration and creativity can thrive.




Like a vibrant animal kingdom, each department showcases unique traits and systems, fostering a sense of community and connection. 

While there is a structured system in place, it resembles the wild, free-spirited nature of life itself. The hierarchy reflects the distinct characteristics of each department, creating a dynamic ecosystem where everyone plays a role in the celebration of love and peace. 

To support volunteers, some areas of the city hall can move, allowing them to engage directly with citizens and share in the festival's spirit.
Though each "animal" within this city hall may have its own shape and color, when viewed from above, this lively gathering reveals a harmonious mosaic, where the joy of wild life prevails.

In this space, within the city hall and beyond, system is just a part of the dance of life.