ESP Biography



KENNETH HUO, Kenneth Huo, Architect/Naturalist/Educator




Major: Design/Innovation/Architecture

College/Employer: Architect/Educator/Naturalist

Year of Graduation: Not available.

Picture of Kenneth Huo

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Kenneth Huo Architect
Licensed architect & builder (California, Guam, USA). Bachelor of Architecture & Urban Planning. (Tamkang University, Taiwan), Master of Architecture (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI), M. Arch II (UCLA/UC Berkeley). Studied Social & Cultural Anthropology, East Asian Studies at Stanford University, theatrical design at Rutgers University Taught interior/architecture (S.F. Academy of University, Shih-Chien University, Taiwan); Construction Mgr for 5 Star Urban Boutique Hotel, resort hotels (Guam, Taipei). Former bldg. inspector, plan checker, permits tech. (City of San Mateo, City of Millbrae. Foster City Arts & Culture Committee member since 1996. Volunteer (San Mateo County Parks Foundation, Outdoors California (V.O.CAL)), Arts & Culture Committee Ex-Chairperson, current Public Art Committee Chair, Resident of Foster City, California.



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

L4496: Design 4 Refugee : Service 4 Civic Engagement in Splash Fall 2015 (Nov. 07 - 08, 2015)
ref·u·gee: refyo͝oˈjē / noun - a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. synonyms: émigré, fugitive, exile, displaced person, asylum seeker; boat people. e.g. "collecting blankets for the refugees". Design is the creation of a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system (as in architectural blueprints, engineering drawings, business processes, circuit diagrams and sewing patterns). Design 4 Refugee is trying to identify, prototype, and scale technologies and practices, create innovative design ideas, thinking that strengthen humanitarian work. We like to build and scale innovations that improve children’s lives around the world. Let's practice for generating fresh ideas, new vision, clearly defining a compelling opportunity for idea innovation, exploring your intelligence as an social innovator!


L4497: Radio 4 Everyone: Sports 4 Social Change in Splash Fall 2015 (Nov. 07 - 08, 2015)
Radio 4 Everyone : You are going to record your own voice, your story, with your compassion, concerns, as other world’s most famous musicians, cultural leaders and communicators, and share with each others in class, then, who will create brilliant and unique programming may further share with the other 7 billions. Create your own special ‘goals’ content tailor made for your audience and platforms. We will use radio’s unique position & technique as the most accessible medium to communicate to people across the world, globally. Let's practice for generating fresh ideas, new vision, clearly defining a compelling opportunity for idea/voice/story innovation, exploring your intelligence as an social innovator!


L4498: Hack 4 Youth - Technology 4 Creative Innovation in Splash Fall 2015 (Nov. 07 - 08, 2015)
Hack means to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture. This seeks to facilitate the sharing of ideas and resources to foster synergies in an innovative way. It will be a place for social innovation and cooperation. The hacker culture is a subculture of individuals who enjoy the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming and circumventing limitations of systems to achieve novel and clever outcomes. The act of engaging in activities (such as programming or other media) in a spirit of playfulness and exploration is termed "hacking". One option for Hack 4 Youth is for students who want to create apps, build websites, and make games. Definitely, we don’t have enough time to do that in 45 minutes, but, if participants will like to show case and share whatever he or she developed, i.e.mobile app solutions that make changes. We'll welcome you to come and share your experience in fundamental web development skills transferable to game and app development. We welcome anybody, no prior experience necessary. Anyone with some experience are welcome as well, of course.


L4499: Hack 4 Earth – Action 4 Environmental Justice / Let’s talk Geoengineering! in Splash Fall 2015 (Nov. 07 - 08, 2015)
Geoengineering projects represent examples of thinking big. This seeks to facilitate the sharing of ideas and resources to foster synergies in a natural way. A place for social innovation and cooperation. Some problems have easy solutions. If we feel sweaty, we’ll head for the shade. If our soup’s too hot, we’ll blow on it. If a room’s too stuffy, we’ll open a window. But what are the options when the planet grows too warm?That is the problem — and an enormous one — that Earth and its dwellers now face. In recent decades, the planet has begun developing a fever. It’s caused by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases polluting the atmosphere. The safest treatment should be to stop polluting, except that people show no signs of cutting back substantially on burning the fossil fuels that release this pollution. So some scientists have begun seriously considering a backup plan. It involves hacking the Earth. They propose altering natural processes at work in some of Earth’s most extreme but pivotal environments, from the deepest ocean to the upper atmosphere. Let's practice for generating fresh ideas, new vision, clearly defining a compelling opportunity for idea/voice/story innovation, exploring your intelligence as a hacker 4 planet!


S4116: Pitch 4 Ideation in Splash Spring 2015 (Apr. 11 - 12, 2015)
i·de·a·tion : ˌīdēˈāSHən/ noun - PSYCHOLOGY : the formation of ideas or concepts. ** Let's practice for generating fresh ideas, new vision, clearly defining a compelling opportunity for innovation, exploring your intelligence as an entrepreneur, innovator!


H4117: Radio 4 Sports in Splash Spring 2015 (Apr. 11 - 12, 2015)
ra·di·o :ˈrādēˌō - verb : communicate or send a message by radio. Do You Want to Be a Sports Radio Personality? A sports radio personality will provide commentary during games or talk sports on a radio show. Some of these professionals are former athletes who have several years of playing experience. On the other hand, those who are not former players or coaches will need to have a strong knowledge of sports and broadcasting experience. Those who have their own shows will interview athletes and coaches and give their opinions about player performance and personnel moves. Some live shows take place early in the morning or late at night. Looming deadlines can make this occupation stressful at times. While these announcers will have a vast knowledge about sports in general, they may also focus their attention on a specific sport, such as baseball, basketball or football.


S4118: Game 4 Innovation in Splash Spring 2015 (Apr. 11 - 12, 2015)
game : ɡām/ noun - a type of activity or business, especially when regarded as a game. in·no·va·tion: inəˈvāSH(ə)n/ noun : a new method, idea, product, etc. Arming with talent, technology, organizational skill, we learn to identify uncertainties, while developing strategies to build a promising future, based on a fresh and new idea, like PayPal, YouTube, Twitter... (This is NOT a computer Gaming class, but, it is about Innovation, etc.)


L4119: TED 4 TEENS in Splash Spring 2015 (Apr. 11 - 12, 2015)
TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design): Ideas worth spreading teens: tēnz/noun : the years of a person's age from 13 to 19. ** TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an invitation-only event where the world's leading thinkers and doers gather to find inspiration. Is there Unbreakable Laws of Communication? Depending on your perspective, 2006 was either a really bad year for public speaking or the start of a world-changing transformation. In that year the famous TED conference began streaming 18-minute presentations from the world’s top minds for free. Today TED talks are viewed more than two million times a day and, they have become the gold standard in public speaking and presentation skills. It also means that, like it or your not, your next presentation will be compared to a TED talk.


S3786: Taiwan 4 Youth/T-Pop Culture & Its Natural History in Splash Fall 2014 (Nov. 08 - 09, 2014)
Taiwan 4 Youth If you have never been to Taiwan or know anything about Taiwan, this is a great way to jump into (NOT Thailand, or China-Mainland, but TAIWAN!) We will like to share with you the Pop Cultures, namely T-POP, Natural History of Taiwan -We will share and talk about Formosa, the beautiful island, its cultural history (from indigenous, KMT to today), its location (geopolitical), we will hear some nice pop songs, Jay Chou, JJ Line, we will get a chance to share Where, When, How, Who, What about your next summer’s travel destination, Taiwan!


V3787: Architecture 4 Humanity/Passion 4 Future in Splash Fall 2014 (Nov. 08 - 09, 2014)
Architecture 4 Humanity: If you like architecture, like me, we will talk and share about world architecture or architecture world, we will be sharing about the architects in the world, that we love or envy, from Kenneth Huo to Yung Ho Chang, from Shigeru Ban, to Daniel Libeskind, from Cooper Union to Cranbrook Academy, from refugee camps to World Trade Center, from your house to Bauhaus!


S3788: Taiwan 4 Youth/T-Pop Culture & Its Natural History in Splash Fall 2014 (Nov. 08 - 09, 2014)
Taiwan 4 Youth If you have never been to Taiwan or know anything about Taiwan, this is a great way to jump into (NOT Thailand, or China-Mainland, but TAIWAN!) We will like to share with you the Pop Cultures, namely T-POP, Natural History of Taiwan -We will share and talk about Formosa, the beautiful island, its cultural history (from indigenous, KMT to today), its location (geopolitical), we will hear some nice pop songs, Jay Chou, JJ Line, we will get a chance to share Where, When, How, Who, What about your next summer’s travel destination, Taiwan!


P3789: Hoops 4 Hope - Dribble Like a PRO in Splash Fall 2014 (Nov. 08 - 09, 2014)
Sports 4 Humanity/Sports 4 Social Change - Dribble Like a PRO! If you enjoy mingling with other students and dribbling your basketball like a PRO, joining us for some fun! Bring your own basketballs!


B3790: Action 4 Nature - Hawkwatching in Splash Fall 2014 (Nov. 08 - 09, 2014)
Action 4 Nature - From Angry Bird to the now extinct passenger pigeon, we will be talking about Hawkwatching, birding and The Biology of Birds of Prey and all on Stanford Campus! Bring your binoculars, scopes, your sketch books and your stories of birds/hawk watching!


S3791: Music 4 Social Change/Music Sharing in Splash Fall 2014 (Nov. 08 - 09, 2014)
Music 4 Social Change: Music Sharing - Rock, Pop, Urban, Folk, Soul, Country, Opera, etc... Bring your iPod, iPhone, iPad, your mobile devices, and share with us your favorite music, songs, music videos, you can sing, dance and perform for us and teach and sing along with us! You can bring the music you’re created, and share with us!


H3399: Action 4 Nature - Hawkwatching in Splash! Spring 2014 (Apr. 12 - 13, 2014)
Action 4 Nature - We will be talking about Hawkwatching, The Biology of Birds of Prey on Stanford Campus! Bring your binoculars, scopes, your sketch books and your stories of birds/hawkwatching!


H3400: Hoops 4 Hope - Dribble Like a PRO in Splash! Spring 2014 (Apr. 12 - 13, 2014)
Sports 4 Humanity/Sports 4 Social Change - Dribble Like a PRO! If you enjoy mingling with other students and dribbling your basketball like a PRO, joining us for some fun! Bring your own basketballs!


H3401: Music 4 Social Change/Music Sharing in Splash! Spring 2014 (Apr. 12 - 13, 2014)
Music 4 Social Change: Music Sharing - Rock, Pop, Urban, Folk, Soul, Country, Opera, etc... Bring your iPod, iPhone, iPad, your mobile devices, and share with us your favorite music, songs, music videos, you can sing, dance and perform for us and teach and sing along with us! You can bring the music your created, and share with us!


H3402: Architecture 4 Humanity/Passion 4 Future in Splash! Spring 2014 (Apr. 12 - 13, 2014)
Architecture 4 Humanity: If you like architecture, we will talk and share about world architecture, we will be sharing about the architects in the world, that we love, from Frank Gehry, to Daniel Libeskind, from refugee camps to Crystal Palace, from your house to Bauhaus!


S3074: Music Sharing / Rock Pop Urban in Splash! Fall 2013 (Nov. 02 - 03, 2013)
We will be sharing and talking about the new music that you love. Bring your iPod, MP3, and boom box, let's talk and share music! Any music that you love!


S3075: Hawk Watching / Being a Naturalist in Splash! Fall 2013 (Nov. 02 - 03, 2013)
We will be talking about Birds, Hawks, Eagles, do some drawing and will be walking out in the woods on the campus to enjoy the Stanford natural environment, poetically, physically, ecologically.


S3076: Shelter / Architecture in Splash! Fall 2013 (Nov. 02 - 03, 2013)
We will be building, and talking about building, architecture, built environment, poetically, physically, ecologically.


P3077: Sports / Dribble Like Pro in Splash! Fall 2013 (Nov. 02 - 03, 2013)
We will be gathering in the courtyard and practice dribble, passing and some fun and basic basketball skills!


V2708: Building A Duplex In Palo Alto in Splash! Spring 2013 (Apr. 13 - 14, 2013)
As an architect, builder, I will like to share with you my story and experience of building a duplex residence from the ground up, a duplex dwelling in Palo Alto. It is a journey of a few years of engaging, contemplating, negotiating with a lot of people, and some money, and time, talents, tales.


H2709: Being A Naturalist/Hawkwatcher on Stanford Campus in Splash! Spring 2013 (Apr. 13 - 14, 2013)
You will miss a lot of 'Stanford', if you ONLY come here to sit in the classroom and listen to lectures, talks, and read books. Let's go outside, being a naturalist, hawkwatcher, birder, and get a chance to observe and enjoy the natural beauty of Stanford Campus.


H2710: Spin ball in hands? Dribble in Unison? Synchronize Your Offense in Splash! Spring 2013 (Apr. 13 - 14, 2013)
We will be having fun to dribble, pass, and synchronize as a team, and share our act of basketball together! "The strength of the wolf is the pack." Bring your own basketball.


H2475: Dribble Like PRO in Splash! Fall 2012 (Nov. 03 - 04, 2012)
If you like basketball, or just like playing balls, and enjoy NCAA, NBA game, and you will like to Dribble Like PRO with us, come join us! We are planning to just have fun, since, this will not be a NJB or AAU type of boot camp. Show and share your ball skill with us!


H2477: Hawk Watching / Raptors Conservation in Splash! Fall 2012 (Nov. 03 - 04, 2012)
Will you be able to tell the difference of Red-tailoed Hawk, Turkey Vulture or Peregrine Falcon from afar? Come and discover the Wildlife in the California Sky with us!


L2480: Can Buildings Be Made Safer? in Splash! Fall 2012 (Nov. 03 - 04, 2012)
Earthquake causes damage to buildings! How buildings can be made better able to withstand this shaking? We will be reading, studying and talking about blueprints of houses/buildings, and general ideas of how buildings are built. We will be talking about architecture, engineering and earthquake.


V1953: Birds, Hawks, Wildlife in the Human Dominated Landscape/Built Environment (on Stanford Campus) in Splash! Spring 2012 (Apr. 21 - 22, 2012)
As architect, artist, environmentalist, hawkwatcher, wildlife conservationist, ecologist, we are fascinated by the experience and encounter with birds and wildlife around us, on trees, in the parks, courtyards, campus, on top of buildings, along the freeway, in the Bay Area. By observing, studying the birds, wildlife, their behaviors, habitats, and learn to appreciate their co-existence in the wider daily experience, no matter how wild, natural the environment that we are in, would be something tremendous for us to enjoy. We are going to talk about the wildlife encounter experience, we will draw birds, trees, and we will talk about green building and the landscape that accommodate such experience.


V1900: Architecture 101 - Design Your Dream House (green, cool, modern) in Splash! Fall 2011 (Oct. 29 - 30, 2011)
Leave your Auto-Cad and computer drafting tool at the doorway, come in with your pencil and paper, we will lead you into crafting, designing, conjouring up your dream home within 45 minutes, including elevations, floor plans, roof plans, site plan, sections, with or without scale, realistic or fantastic, buildable or purely conceptual. Architecture 101, taught by architect, green, cool, modern.