What Vector Architects does

Vector Architects (直向建筑) is a Beijing-based, privately-held architectural design practice founded in 2008 by Dong Gong. The firm offers comprehensive design services across architecture, interior design, and landscape design, operating on a direct-commission basis with private clients, developers, educational institutions, cultural bodies, and government agencies. Its portfolio spans hospitality (Yangshuo Sugarhouse Hotel, Wulingshan Eye Stone Spring, Xirang Boutique Hotel, Jingyang Camphor Court), cultural and educational facilities (Haibing Center at Nankai University, Changjiang Art Museum, Liyuan Foreign Language Primary School), residential renovations (Captain's House, Courtyard Hybrid), and installations/exhibitions (Connecting Vessel at the Venice Architecture Biennale).

The practice is organized around three stated principles — Site, Light, and Making — and is differentiated by a hands-on 'site architect' model in which architects are embedded through material research, prototyping, and full on-site construction supervision. Proprietary design methodologies include site-specific spatial tactics, tree-preservation massing (e.g., preserving camphor and banyan groves on building footprints), natural-light manipulation as a spatial medium, and vertically layered massing to minimize footprint while maximizing landscape engagement. The firm generates revenue exclusively through professional design fees on commissioned projects; pricing is project-specific with no publicly disclosed fee schedule. Distribution is sales-led and reputation-driven, relying on awards (Marcus Prize, ARCASIA Gold Medal, RIBA International Excellence), international exhibitions (MoMA 2021, Venice Biennale 2018 and 2025), and architectural publications (Rizzoli 2024, a+u 2026, AV Monographs) to generate inbound premium commissions, while long-term developer relationships (notably the Aranya community) provide recurring work. The firm maintains a single Beijing headquarters with 11–50 employees and operates a horizontal segmentation across cultural, hospitality, residential, and educational clients.

Name

Vector Architects

Legal name

Vector Architects

Website

https://vectorarchitects.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vector Architects (直向建筑) is a Beijing-based, privately-held architectural design practice founded in 2008 by Dong Gong, providing commissioned architecture, interior, and landscape design for cultural, educational, hospitality, and residential clients across China and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC), Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Heritage renovation projects
• Cultural facility architecture
• Hospitality building design
• Landscape and interior design

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Commissioned architectural design fees for projects including residential renovations, hospitality buildings, educational facilities, cultural institutions, and public spaces. Projects commissioned by private clients, developers, educational institutions, and government bodies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vector Architects is a Beijing-based architecture firm that provides commissioned architectural design services including architecture, interior design, and landscape design for projects such as heritage renovations, hospitality buildings, educational facilities, cultural institutions, residential projects, and public spaces. The practice emphasizes three core principles: Site, Light, and Making, sending site architects to participate throughout the entire construction process from material research to on-site supervision.

Product overview

Vector Architects (直向建筑) is a Beijing-based architectural design firm founded by Dong Gong in 2008. The firm offers comprehensive architectural services including architecture, interior design, and landscape design. Their portfolio spans diverse project types including cultural institutions, educational facilities, hospitality projects, residential renovations, and spatial installations. Key projects include the Seashore Library, Yangshuo Sugarhouse Hotel, Jingyang Camphor Court, and various public buildings across China. The firm is recognized for their approach to site responsiveness, natural light manipulation, and craft-based making. Vector Architects does not operate as a software or technology product company but rather as a traditional architecture practice delivering physical built projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services
• Seashore Library
• Yangshuo Sugarhouse Hotel
• Renovation of the Captain's House
• Jingyang Camphor Court
• Wulingshan Eye Stone Spring
• Haibing Center of Nankai University
• Seashore Chapel
• Chapel of Music
• Liyuan Foreign Language Primary School
• Changjiang Art Museum
• Xirang Boutique Hotel
• Courtyard Hybrid
• Restaurant Y Sea
• Connecting Vessel
• M Woods Entrance Revitalization

Quantifiable outcome

• Haibing Center serves as multi-functional cultural space with 1000-capacity auditorium and grand hall for Nankai University
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tsinghua UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDONG Gong teaches design studios at Tsinghua University. Zhang Jie professor from Tsinghua led Taoxi Valley protection and renewal planning. Tsinghua's Zhang昕 studio provides lighting consultancy on projects. Long-standing academic partnership generating project opportunities and research collaboration.
• Central Academy of Fine ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDONG Gong teaches design studios at Central Academy of Fine Arts. Partnership for academic research and design education alongside professional practice.
• University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDONG Gong appointed as Plym Distinguished Visiting Professor at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2019). Academic exchange and teaching collaboration.
• Polytechnic University of Turin, ItalyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDONG Gong appointed as Visiting Professor at Polytechnic University of Turin. Multiple lectures delivered including 'Working with Condition' and 'Evocation of Site' themes.
• Centre PompidouminorOthersModels and sketches of Alila Yangshuo and Captain's House permanently collected by Centre Pompidou (2019). Works exhibited at Centre Pompidou Malaga.
• MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)coreOthersFirst-ever Chinese architecture exhibition at MoMA in New York (2021) featured Alila Yangshuo in 'Reuse, Renew, Recycle: Recent Architecture From China' exhibition.
• Venice Architecture BiennalecoreOthersMain pavilion exhibitions at 16th (2018) and 19th (2025) Venice Architecture Biennale. 2018 'Connecting Vessel' installation in Arsenale main pavilion. 2025 'Revival of Ordinary Trees' exhibition in Arsenale.
• RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects)coreOthersRIBA International Awards for Excellence (2021) for Yangshuo Sugarhouse Hotel and Renovation of the Captain's House. Part of RIBA China Architect exhibition.
• Aranya Community DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple projects completed for Aranya communities including Seashore Library, Seashore Chapel, Restaurant Y Sea, Chapel of Music, Wulingshan Eye Stone Spring. Ongoing collaborative relationship across hospitality and community projects.
• Rizzoli Book PublishersminorOthersRizzoli published 'Vector Architects: Gong Dong and the Art of Building' (2024). Major international publishing partnership for firm monograph.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Snøhetta: Norwegian-headquartered firm with comparable size, cultural and library portfolio, craft-led design philosophy, and similar global museum and exhibition presence.
• Neri&Hu Design and Research Office: Shanghai-based architectural and interior design practice with comparable multi-disciplinary hospitality, cultural, and adaptive reuse portfolio and similar premium brand positioning in China.
• Steven Holl Architects: New York-based firm with similar size, light-driven design philosophy, cultural and educational building portfolio, and academic affiliation model (Columbia, Penn).
• David Chipperfield Architects: London-based firm with strong cultural and adaptive reuse portfolio (Neues Museum, James-Simon-Galerie), comparable in heritage renovation emphasis, museum-quality cultural commissions, and global award profile.
• Atelier Bow-Wow: Tokyo-based research-and-design practice with similar small-firm scale, academic affiliation, site-specific residential and cultural commissions, and exhibition-driven international visibility.
• Amateur Architecture Studio (Wang Shu / Lu Wenyu): Hangzhou-based practice led by Pritzker Prize-winning Wang Shu, directly comparable as a Chinese architecture firm focused on craft, heritage, and site-specific design with similar academic positioning and international recognition.
• Kengo Kuma & Associates: Tokyo-based practice with comparable size, craft and material-driven hospitality and cultural building portfolio, and similar international exhibition and award profile across Asia.
• MAD Architects: Beijing-based architecture firm founded by Ma Yansong, comparable as a leading Chinese architecture practice with international museum presence, signature cultural and hospitality projects, and similar scale and prestige.
• Atelier Deshaus (Liu Yichun, Chen Yifeng): Shanghai-based Chinese architecture firm with similar practice scale and approach to material, light, and site-responsive cultural and hospitality commissions.

Broad incumbents

• Zaha Hadid Architects: Global architecture firm with comparable international award profile and cultural building portfolio, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader typology range than Vector's focused boutique practice.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vectorarchi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vector-architects

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vector Architects