Founder of SpyShanghai.com - Editor/Blogger

Born October 15th 1983, Soraya Somarathne is an aspiring architect.

Granddaughter to an established jeweller, and daughter to a successful engineer, Soraya's natural instincts come from a mixture of artistic form coupled with science and logic.

Soraya lived in London, England for 22 years. She completed her high school studies at The Latymer School and went on to study an undergraduate degree at The Bartlett, School of the Built Environment, University College London. Soraya was awarded with a BSc in Architecture in 2005.

Soraya's upbringing has been a hybrid of Asian heritage, Western culture and other international influences. Her father, Sinhalese and born and raised in Sri Lanka and her mother, born in Singapore and raised in Malaysia are true role-models and nurtured her sensitivity for mixed culture and global affairs.

As Soraya finished her studies, she went on to work for architectural and engineering practices in London, Paris and Finland. After obtaining her architectural degree Soraya embarked on a 1 year internship with a leading American architectural company in the UK.

Soraya's passion and commitment to her upbringing, heritage and interests took her across the globe to China, where she is now living and working in the architectural sector in Shanghai, one of the most rapidly changing cities in the world.

Soraya founded www.spyshanghai.com in the summer of 2006 and through writing and photography Soraya's passion for architecture, design, construction and the evolution of the built environment is revealed...