Silent Currents reimagines a former nuclear test site as a marine sanctuary and memorial, weaving together ecological healing and collective memory. The design introduces marine grade concrete reef structures to catalyze coral growth and support biodiversity. Submerged pathways and floating observation platforms invite visitors to engage with the underwater landscape, bearing witness to nature’s quiet resurgence. Harnessing tidal energy, the project embodies a symbolic and functional shift toward sustainability, establishing a powerful dialogue between past devastation and future renewal.

Yanci Chen is an architect and designer whose work explores the intersection of architecture, ecology, and cultural narratives. She is a Technical Designer at Gensler Seattle. Her experience spans workspace, science, cultural, and public projects with a focus on adaptive reuse, spatial storytelling, and digital methodologies. Chen’s work has been recognized in international exhibitions and design competitions, and she regularly contributes to the field as a juror, mentor, and advocate for inclusive, environmentally responsive design.

YCJ Studio is a multidisciplinary design practice founded by Yanci Chen and Jing Chen, rooted in a shared belief that architecture is both a spatial experience and a cultural dialogue. With a focus on public projects, competitions, and conceptual explorations, the studio bridges the poetic and the practical. Our work spans from architecture and landscape to installations and research driven design. Each project is approached with curiosity, clarity, and care, blending computational precision with material sensitivity to create spaces that resonate deeply with people and place.