Lu loves that architecture asks practitioners to think as artists, scientists, historians, and futurists all at once. Buildings are products of their time and place, and when designed thoughtfully, they become snapshots of the conditions that shaped them — reflecting the regional qualities, economy, politics, culture, and history of a particular moment.

But for Lu, understanding a place is only part of architecture's responsibility. The other is enriching the experience of the people who inhabit it. That is why he believes architecture should also be playful, and looks for opportunities to bring delight and curiosity into the work. This openness to experimentation is something he continues to learn from his young son.; watching a child experience the world without fixed assumptions reminds Lu that architecture, too, should resist unnecessary conventions. A window does not have to be square simply because that is what we expect. There is always room to question, reimagine, and discover new possibilities.

Born in Nanjing and shaped by moves across different geographic and cultural contexts, Lu developed an early awareness of how profoundly place shapes perception. Those transitions taught him to pay attention to the physical and cultural differences that define environments, and how architecture mediates between them.

For Lu, the ideal architect is both maker and idealist: someone with dirty boots and a suit jacket, equally comfortable in the field and in concept. Someone grounded enough to build responsibly, but imaginative enough to keep pushing for what architecture can become.