Zhang Di, an architect registered with the Royal Institute of British Architects, worked for Foster + Partners (2007-2010) and RHWL Architects (2004-2005) before founding her own practice waa in Beijing. The origin of the name waa (we architech anonymous) expresses the architect's desire to make creations freely and simply by focusing on the characteristics of the building rather than any associated symbols or labels. Each building’s own stories are used as the dominant design idea. In 2015, MOCA Yinchuan, the first large-scale contemporary art gallery in China’s northwest region, was opened. It was designed by Di’s team and met with acclaim, receiving a nomination for Architect of the Year at the BD (Building Design) Architect of the Year Awards 2013. Di was nominated for the Emerging Woman in Architecture 2016 Award by Architectural Review UK.