About

Wei Jian is an architect and designer based in Kuala Lumpur, with professional experience across Malaysia, China, and Singapore. His practice spans contemporary architecture, large-scale residential and urban developments, heritage conservation, restoration, adaptive reuse, and alternative design exploration. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture (B.Sc. Arch) from the University of Malaya (2018) and a Master of Architecture (M.Arch) from the same institution (2021).

Wei Jian began his professional career with Absolute X, an independent design practice where he was exposed to experimental approaches to architecture and interior design. During this period, the studio received recognition at the Singapore Interior Design Awards (SIDA) 2023, including Gold for Best Residential Concept Design for Adaptive Apartment. He was also part of the team recognised in the URA & SLA Power-Up Pasir Panjang Ideas Competition for Recreate the Lights of Red-Brick Power, a proposal exploring the adaptive reuse of Singapore's former Pasir Panjang Power Station through light-touch and people-centric interventions. He subsequently joined 3PA, where his professional experience expanded significantly in scale and complexity. He contributed to major residential and urban projects in Singapore, including Tampines GreenQuartz, a 1,613-unit public housing development recognised through the 2020 Design Award (Competition) and subsequently awarded an Award of Excellence at the IFLA AAPME Awards 2022. He was also involved in the design development of Pearl's Hill BTO, a high-density public housing development within Singapore's central urban context.

Prior to and during his early professional career, Wei Jian also gained experience in China, contributing to projects including a large-scale master planning proposal in Fujian and interior architecture projects in Shanghai. These experiences across China and Singapore exposed him to different scales of development, cultural contexts, and approaches to architectural practice. His longstanding interest in heritage, community, and culture developed through both academic research and professional experience. During his studies, he participated in the Field School Publication Project in Ban Panthom, Bangkok, examining the relationship between community and architecture. He later presented his research on historic shophouse architecture at the CABE Conference in 2021, further developing his interest in cultural identity, architectural character, and the existing urban fabric.

Upon returning to Malaysia, Wei Jian joined Arkitek LLA, where his practice has increasingly focused on architectural conservation, heritage restoration, and adaptive reuse. His experience includes the conservation and restoration of Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad and multiple heritage projects within Kuala Lumpur, including the Medan Pasar precinct. His work encompasses historical investigation, conservation methodology, material assessment, restoration detailing, technical coordination, contract administration, and site implementation.

Alongside his professional practice, Wei Jian is the founder and principal of Alter-Zero, an independent design studio established with a team of talents to explore alternative approaches to architecture and the built environment. The name combines “alter”, representing change, and “zero”, representing origin and the absence of variation. It reflects the studio's belief that even a small alteration in thinking can create meaningful impact.

Alter-Zero explores architecture beyond monumental buildings, focusing on smaller interventions, spaces, objects, and everyday experiences. The studio seeks to understand how thoughtful changes to the built environment can strengthen the relationship between people, culture, and place. Across his professional and independent practices, Wei Jian is interested in the balance between preservation and transformation—understanding what should remain, what can change, and how architecture can create meaningful connections between existing places and contemporary life. He believes architecture is ultimately a dialogue between people, culture, structure, and place.