This month's Dezeen In Depth newsletter looks at Chinese architects' nightmare working conditions and features an interview with the first Black president of the RIBA. Subscribe to Dezeen in Depth now.

Chinese architects told Dezeen they are regularly working through the night while their pay plummets as the country's property industry deals with a severe crisis.

Dezeen spoke to more than 10 architects based in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen who reported widespread layoffs, pay cuts and wage arrears in the industry in the past year.

"You are having a good day if you leave work before 10:00pm," said Shuchun Yi (not her real name), a young architect and a former employee of state-owned firm Shenzhen General Institute of Architecture Design & Research (SZAD).

September's Dezeen in Depth also features an exclusive interview with RIBA president Muyiwa Oki and an opinion piece from Reinier de Graaf, who takes aim at so-called "placemaking".

Dezeen In Depth

Dezeen In Depth is sent on the last Friday of every month and delves deeper into the major stories shaping architecture and design. Each edition includes an original feature article on a key topic or trend, an interview with a prominent industry figure and an opinion piece from a leading critic. Read the latest edition of Dezeen In Depth or subscribe here.

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