Our team.
At CLOU, we have a team of more than 70 experienced architects and designers, who enjoy working collaboratively and imaginatively on our extensive range of projects.
Led by Jan Clostermann, the CLOU team is a community of talents from all over the world, a new generation of extremely creative yet commercially experienced designers who actively seek to promote architecture’s power to connect people.
Team.
Jan Clostermann is the Founding Director of CLOU and an award-winning architect with 20 years of international experience. Following his architectural studies at the Technical University in Berlin, Jan received his Diploma from the Architectural Association in London.
Before founding CLOU, Jan collaborated with Alsop Architects, later leading their Beijing office, and had the opportunity to realize a broad range of projects worldwide.
Since his move to Beijing in 2005, he has conceptualized and delivered numerous high-profile mixed-use and retail projects, as well as masterplans and interiors. Jan is also a frequent guest speaker at academic and industry forums.
At CLOU he leads a creative team together with directors Li Lin, Zhang Zhi, Tiago Tavares, and Sebastian Loaiza to develop bespoke and integrated design solutions, striving to distil innovative architectural typologies that centre around social value.
Lin Li is Executive Director and Head of CLOU’s Shanghai office. Having collaborated with Jan since 2012, she has been instrumental in conceiving and communicating CLOU’s signature architectures.
Lin has led the design teams on many of CLOU’s serial award-winning projects such as Vanke Shenyang Play Stack, Vanke Hangzhou Cube Gallery, Longfor Chengdu Unifun, Capitaland Chongqing Liangjiang, and Jinmao Sanya FarmLab.
She regularly lectures on CLOU’s current research and projects.
Lin studied art, architecture, and urban planning at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, the China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), and the London School of Economics.
Zhi Zhang is Director at CLOU. As a Class A licensed architect and a LEED BD+C Accredited Professional (USGBC), Zhi combines his extensive technical and statutory knowledge with skillful design and team mentorship.
He has been deeply involved with many of CLOU’s built projects, including China Overseas Jinan Fuhuali, Longfor Wuhan Paradise Walk, and Shanghai NEO Plaza.
Before joining CLOU in 2017, Zhi worked for CRTKL Beijing, realising a variety of commercial mixed-use projects. Zhi holds a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing.
Tiago is Director and Head of CLOU’s Lisbon Office. Having collaborated with Jan since 2014, he has been involved in many of CLOU’s signature projects as Vanke Shokai Daxing Centre, Shaoxing Sky Mall, and the Xiaomeisha Transport Hub.
Before his appointment as Director in January 2023 he worked for Saraiva + Associados from 2020-2022.
Tiago graduated from Faculdade de Arquitectura – Universidade Técnica de Lisboa (FA-UTL), in 2006. Prior appointments include work for Área4 Lisbon, Sou Foujimoto Tokyo, Priestman Architects in Chongqing, and Standard Architecture in Beijing.
Sebastian Loaiza is Director at CLOU. He leads CLOU’s communication strategy and has a particular focus on driving CLOU’s design and branding.
Sebastian has been working with Jan since 2013. He has been involved in several projects and competitions across the region, like Play Stack Shenyang, Capitaland Nuohemule and Super Tent.
Sebastian Loaiza studied at the Universidad de Chile, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture (2012) and a Diploma with Distinction in Architecture (2014). He was awarded the World Young Architect of the Year 2020.