This month, rising star Ma Yansong tells us why China's architecture needs more 'unrealistic' thinking... and we look at the controversy over Hong Kong's unbuilt Xiqu Centre at the West Kowloon Cultural District

In late May, Perspective travelled to the Venice Biennale of Architecture. This year’s curators – two female Irish architects, Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara – invited architects from around the world to interpret Freespace, the quality, freedom and future of space. Renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma (featured on this month’s cover), once told Perspective “there’s no freedom in architecture”. This statement now seems more pertinent than ever.

Hong Kong architects have always had a love-hate relationship with space. Often restricted by the city’s limited offerings, they are at the same time often inspired by them. Hong Kong’s Venice Biennale exhibition, Vertical Fabric: Density in Landscape, paints an enthralling portrait of our vertical city and its crowded spaces. Comprising more than 100 model towers, the show makes a powerful statement about the progress of Hong Kong’s architecture. Yet, what impressed me most is the deconstruction of the city’s architectural frailties and the poignancy behind high-rise pride, which is both honest and human. And have we done our best to make the most of what nature and geology have given us? Arguably, Hong Kong is one of the most remarkable blends of natural landscape and urbanisation on the globe.

The much-feted exhibition was organised by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, supported by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects and the government’s Create Hong Kong. The Venice team included the curatorial team spearheaded by Professor Wang Weijen of The University of Hong Kong, and exhibitors invited from the city, mainland China and overseas. Though the towers are experimental models, Wang, emotional during the exhibition’s opening ceremony, believes all can be realised. 

Recently a Hong Kong property tycoon mentioned to me that real estate is a very local business. Professionals in the building industry need to travel to the construction site to personally carry out the projects, even company executives and owners. Quite often, we think of architecture as international: the world’s tallest towers, global practices, overseas projects, cross-continental collaborations and so on.

But today, localisation impacts design to a significant degree. Eminent architects often insist on using local materials and craftsmanship for their projects. The same thing happens in interior design. Though varying in style and levels of luxury, one thing today’s hoteliers and hospitality brands – and especially boutique hotels – have agreed upon, is that properties in different cities are expected to embrace and reflect the local culture. This has quite often become a crucial point in the design brief. After all, travellers appreciate experiencing the uniqueness of a destination they fly for hours to reach, rather than be greeted by a uniform decor that could appear in any city. It can be achieved through a garden, a roof style, and right down to subtle details.

As a Hong Kong-based publication, Perspective aims to put Hong Kong and Asia’s creative scene under the spotlight and this was how the 40 Under 40 Awards were born. Marking its 12th edition this year, the programme is dedicated to promoting young Hong Kong and Asian talents in the architecture, art and design world. We’re proud to see that many alumni have taken off from Asia to the international stage with tremendous success in their careers. Congratulations to the 2018 winners and we wish you all even more success!


Milan in April is a magic place. Where else can you run into Olivier Rousteing, creative director of French fashion house Balmain, and then Marcel Wanders, the Dutch designer who created the Knotted Chair? Milan Design Week is that sort of event.

Known for its fashion influence, the city has established itself as a wider design capital with design week, encompassing the acclaimed Salone del Mobile. The international furniture fair dates to 1961 and is now a must-attend on the global design calendar. Originally, Italian furniture brands showcased their house collections, but the fair has evolved into the world’s design party where global creatives from the fields of architecture, interior design and product design gather to exhibit and exchange ideas. André Fu arrived from Hong Kong to officially unveil his Ribbon Dance chair, designed for Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomade collection. In early April he created a space – or an “abstract scenography”, according to the designer himself – in Hong Kong’s Central to showcase the brand’s furniture collection that is created by a group of some of the world’s most sought-after designers, including Milan-based Patricia Urquiola.

Beijing’s CCTV headquarters has been taunted by locals as the Big Trousers for its singular shape, to the extent that people rarely refer to the building with its real name. Conceived by Dutch firm OMA, the building - love it or hate it - has become one of the most iconic symbols of the Chinese capital. Bear in mind that other architectural projects that were slammed on completion include Paris’s Eiffel tower, the Egyptian pyramids and Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
One of CCTV’s two lead architects, alongside OMA founder Rem Koolhaas, German Ole Scheeren now calls China his adopted home, and has just debuted another unusual take on an architectural typology, the Guardian Art Center, which I visited when it was unveiled officially this year. Sitting peacefully in Beijing’s Wangfujing neighborhood and dominated by imperial architecture, hutongs and courtyards, the structure is impressive but not intrusive. China seems ready for it, a design that would have been deemed radical in 2012 when CCTV was completed.
The nation’s speedy urbanisation has offered imaginative architects and interior designers fertile ground to play with, in ways that Perspective has been tracking. We’re proud to move that further forward by announcing that in 2018, Perspective will bring the prestigious A&D Trophy Awards to China. Led by a group of prominent judges from China and overseas, the programme aims to put the country’s design advances under the international spotlight. Whether you’re a global organisation master-planning architecture or a local studio designing interiors or products, we will judge you on your creativity.

Art Affair

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) are two of the world’s most important art institutions and, for me, must-sees on any trip to the city. In addition to showing the remarkable works of Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse and David Hockney among many others, the museums themselves are impressive architectural works of art. Art and architecture; artists and architects: all are historically associated. 

Take MoMA for example. Built in a contemporary style, the structure has gone through several renewals, from respected architect Philip Johnson and Japanese designer Yoshio Taniguchi to the newest development proposed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler. Pritzker Prize-winner Jean Nouvel has also joined the party with schemes for the residential building 53W53 – on top of the museum.

Hong Kong, one of the world’s fasting-growing cities, is Asia’s counterpart to New York. Its urban landscape is ever-changing – buildings are constructed, renovated, expanded and sometimes demolished. The city faces the dilemma of pursuing the new while preserving the old. For that reason, The Murray hotel has become one of the city’s most anticipated developments. The structure’s original architect Ron Phillips, whose innovative energy-efficient designs were drawn up half a century ago, has assisted a younger generation of architects from Foster + Partners to breathe new life into this Hong Kong landmark. 

Art is in the city’s air this month. Led by Art Basel and Art Central, Hong Kong will host world-class exhibitions and leading talents from the fields of art, architecture and design. At Perspective, we have been recognising Asia’s young creatives since 2007 with the 40 Under 40 Awards. The response to this year’s event has been particularly enthusiastic. Stay tuned to find out who this year’s winners will be.

Winning personalities

Last year saw some monumental developments. Here in Asia, the topping-out of Shenzhen’s Ping An Finance Centre has altered the city’s skyline and redefined the world map of tall buildings. Further afield, there’s the recently opened Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, while the spaceship-like Apple Park imagined by Norman Foster in California lifted off in April. Closer to home, The Murray opened at the end of the year in Hong Kong; what was once a government office building is now an upscale hotel. 

There have been some other surprises: the small Spanish studio RCR Arquitectes’ winning of the Pritzker Prize, for instance. The practice, which is not well known, has challenged the organisation’s tradition of celebrating reputed designers, and Carme Pigem of the winning trio is only the third woman to receive the accolade. Is the architectural world finally giving more credit to creativity, not just popularity, and will this provide more momentum for women designers? Of course, the bigger question is who will win this year. We talk to Martha Thorne, the executive director of the prize, about the process of nomination. We also gaze into our crystal ball and suggest some winners. The announcement will be made in March.

What’s perhaps more important is that the profession of architecture should be all about creativity and fun, especially when it comes to the stories of the people behind all that concrete and steel. Take Perspective’s recent event, the A&D Trophy Awards. Three hundred industry professionals and business leaders made the night one of the most memorable of the year. As a token of our appreciation, this year’s first issue is dedicated to you – the men and women behind the stories. Within these pages are conversations with inspirational creatives and entrepreneurs.

DECONSTRUCTING THE GLASS CEILING

Seven years ago, I began my career at a company where the majority of staff are women – only two, at that time, were men. That was Vogue China. Helmed by the Chinese version of Meryl Streep’s character in The Devil Wears Prada, the editor-in-chief is leading a female crusade that publishes the quintessential fashion bible – one that men in the country look up to. The women at Vogue China are stylish, confident and powerful, but chief among all, harder working than many others in the industry. Starting in an office like that was empowering and, fortunately, I’m still working with a cluster of forwardthinking people. But women’s issues have not been on the wider agenda until recently. Professor Nasrine Seraji, head of Hong Kong University’s Faculty of Architecture and student judge of this year’s A&D Trophy awards, told me that half of architectural students are women, but the percentage who actively practice is less than a third – and much less when it comes to women who are partners in architectural firms. What prevents female graduates and professionals from reaching their full potential? Clearly, something, somewhere is falling short.

REVISITING HISTORY

The Italian city Bologna has long been celebrated as a gastronomic capital. Most recently, it has also become the principal showcase for state-of-the-art ceramics. Each year, the best of Italian bathroom and tile-makers gather in the terracotta-hued city of Cersaie to discuss trends, and advances in design and manufacturing. 

Perspective took a day away from the 2017 fair and headed north-east to another Italian capital, Modena, la capitale dei motori. It’s a small town yet the birthplace of the world’s most dazzling supercars. It is the headquarters of Maserati, Ferrari and Lamborghini, and home to their factories and museums. This issue scrutinises the interiors of these luxury cars and considers whether what’s inside has evolved as fast and furiously as the engines. 

Still in Europe, another centre of design excellence, Berlin, is where the 10th edition of the World Architectural Festival is held this month. The city has incubated innovative architecture movements from Bauhaus to Futurism, and a wide variety of cutting-edge designs continue to keep it on the design map. Here, we study Germany’s former Parliament building, the Reichstag, reimagined by British architect Sir Norman Foster with glass and steel conjuring notions of transparency and democracy.

There’s also the freedom-expressing East Side Gallery, where worldwide artists painted on the east side of the Berlin Wall when it came down in 1989 to protest the stormy political climate that divided the now-German capital. Picasso said, “Painting is not made to decorate apartments. It’s an offensive and defensive weapon against the enemy.” That point is made silently but eloquently on the 1.3 kilometres of German concrete by more than 100 artists from 21 countries. Now, new developments are endangering the historic wall and the artworks, even though dismantling it was a triumph worth celebrating. 


Past, present, future

London’s Victoria and Albert Museum – known by all as the V&A – has long been in the vanguard of international art and design exhibitions, constantly pushing the boundaries of interpretation and understanding. In addition to its countless galleries displaying paintings, sculptures and ceramics, it has staged special exhibitions on subjects as diverse as the fashion of Yves Saint Laurent and the music, artwork and stage shows of Pink Floyd.

More recently, it has attracted attention for its reimagining of its premises. The newly opened Exhibition Road Quarter is a stunning addition to the building, and one that includes the world’s first porcelain courtyard. The work of architect Amanda Levete, the concept marries visitor needs and expectations with contemporary design aesthetics, while maintaining the integrity of the museum’s historic facade. 

The strive for change, while learning from the past, is something we aim to emulate with our redesign of Perspective. With a focus on architecture, design and, in particular, people active in those disciplines, we look forward to developing the publication further as a digest of industry developments in Hong Kong, the region and across the world.

In this issue, we take a neck-bending look at South Korea’s tallest skyscraper, Lotte World Tower, recently completed by KPF. On home turf, we interview Hong Kong design virtuoso Alan Chan who curated the Very Hong Kong Very Hong Kong exhibition showcasing the city’s spirit across different disciplines. Chan talks about the importance of education and how young Hong Kong creatives must seize the opportunity to explore their roots and establish an identity.

Just what sort of future these young designers will find themselves in is another question. As artificial intelligence has an increasing impact on our professional lives, almost certainly threatening jobs, we invite two designers to share their views on how it will transform the design sector.

We live in a world of constant and rapid change. New technology, new materials and young talent, among other factors, make our environments dynamic yet demanding. How, when and where we get news, information and inspiration continues to develop at a seemingly relentless pace. This is certainly happening in the spheres of architecture and interior design. Curating genuine quality and useful information among the clutter of data that confronts us daily is a role media can fulfil, but too often does not.

Recognising this and the role Perspective can play are challenges we have considered as a publisher across multiple communication platforms, and will address further over the coming months, beginning with print.

So, welcome to a new look for Perspective! This issue sees an evolution in both design and content. In recent months, we have had many conversations with architects and interior designers in Hong Kong with the objective of gaining a deeper insight into what content we can provide that is of most value to you, our audience. As a result, we are shaping detail that will become a reference point as well as a showcase for outstanding projects, selecting new developments and delivering insights into what inspires leading architects and other industry professionals in Hong Kong, the region and worldwide. 

This global view from a Hong Kong vantage point is illustrated in this issue through the words of André Fu – whose understated yet hugely impactful design vision is garnering acclaim at home and abroad – and through studies of the urban planning-versus-budget challenges faced by landmark projects from the world’s tallest tower-to-be in Jeddah to the multi-billion-dollar development of the West Kowloon Cultural District.

Over the coming months we will continue our conversations and welcome feedback as Perspective continually strives to provide the most informative and informed content as part of this exciting industry.

Rising stars

There’s no doubt that the architecture and design scene in China has matured greatly of late, and that some of the projects underway there, or recently completed, are not only world class, but also breathtaking in both scale and execution. Such endeavours are not restricted to high-rise, show-stopping developments in first- and second-tier cities, but also include projects that both celebrate and preserve China’s remarkable natural beauty and historical heritage. In this issue, we take a look at the innovative structure built to protect centuries-old rock carvings at Qianfoya Cliffs in Sichuan. We also visit Guilin Wanda Cultural Tourism Exhibition Center in Guangxi, our cover story. And as part of our focus on China, we feature seven leading design talents in the country, and showcase some of their recent works. 

But we’re not solely concerned with developments north of the border. We include some exciting developments in 

Thailand, Bali, London, Tokyo and Paris. We chat to a rug designer based in Kuala Lumpur whose creations are works of art in themselves, and to an interior designer in Hong Kong responsible for a particularly innovative office space, one that draws heavily on popular culture for inspiration. 

In May, Perspective presented the 11th edition of its annual 40 Under 40 Awards, where 40 young talents from the fields of architecture, interior design, art and product design were recognised for their outstanding contributions to their respective professions. The awards were presented on an evening that generated lively debate during the forum session; it was also a chance for industry professionals to chat about developments in the sector. Perspective is committed to supporting young talent, and we look forward to many such events in the future. 

Enjoy reading.

Design & Dine

In Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, food is at the bottom of the pyramid, as a basic requirement for the survival of all creatures. That means us, too. Today, our demands for sustenance have become more sophisticated. Not only do we require delicious fare, we also expect restaurants to offer interiors as innovative as their cuisine. People feed Instagram before feeding themselves, capturing plates, cutlery, furniture and fixtures, before turning to the more immediate need of fuelling themselves.

Cooking has long been a blend of art and science, but now more than ever those disciplines are being applied to where food is served. 

In Perspective’s June issue, we take a look at a handful of restaurants and bars around the globe where design tops the menu, from the smallest of details to the grand schemes of big-name architects. The venues include Ashley Sutton’s quirky Iron Fairies in Hong Kong, the newly renovated Grand Café at Hong Kong’s Grand Hyatt, Lazy Cats Café in Bali, Brasserie at Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto, and Chinese restaurant Kitaika in Kiev.

In our cover story, internationally renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma talks about his plans for the new Olympic stadium in Tokyo, his views on how architecture and nature can complement each other, and how Hong Kong can be a model for future cities.

In our Architecture section, you’ll discover that two developments — Quebec’s cultural hub Amphithéâter Cogeco and Amsterdam’s Smiley Zeeburgereiland Apartments — are nothing short of astonishing.

Bon Appétit!

On the road again

Thanks to things such as advances in aviation and technology, the world is now a whole lot more connected than it has ever been before. Being based in Hong Kong means that we here at Perspective can get over to Taiwan, China or Korea at the drop of a hat and without too much pre-planning or hassle — and we love it. 

Indeed, many people now see themselves as global citizens, as their careers take them abroad multiple times per year, vacation options become more diverse and perhaps they are even living in a country outside their homeland.

For this very reason, we are focusing on all things travel this month. We take a look at Sandibe Okavango Lodge in Botswana (page 54) and discover a superyacht masquerading as a traditional Indonesian phinisi (page 64). You can take a peek inside the new Eurostar business lounge in Paris Gare du Nord (page 67), and also revel in the beauty that is Amandayan in Lijiang, China (page 70).

In our architecture section, we discover how technology and visualisation are playing pivotal roles in the development of the industry (page 32), while over on page 88, we chat with the recently-appointed executive director of Design Trust in Hong Kong, Marisa Yiu.

AND in celebration of our 40 Under 40 Awards programme that will take place at The Annex later this month, we chatted with some prior winners about their most memorable travel experiences, be they heart-warming or hilarious! (page 52)

Climes, they are a changing

An agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, The Paris Agreement, went into effect on 4 November 2016 in a bid to deal with greenhouse gas emission mitigation, adaptation and finance, and remains open for signature until 21 April 2017. 
So far, it has been signed by 194 countries, including China, which has decided that the agreement applies to both Hong Kong and Macau as well.
We take sustainability very seriously here at Perspective, and we believe that architects and designers play a pivotal role in helping to change infrastructure and development strategies for future generations. 
There is no longer an argument for excessive prices making eco-friendly concepts impossible, as advances in technology, materials and social awareness all mean that ‘green’ features can be incorporated in to buildings, spaces and products, and that’s why this month’s focus is on all things ‘green’!
In Hong Kong, we spoke with a number of people working on urban farming projects in the region (page 66), and found out more about Gustafson Porter + Bowman’s ambitious greening project in Tai Koo (page 62). New Zealand-based designer David Trubridge told us about his ultra-eco-sensitive lighting and furniture (page 58), and we discovered more about the Taj Ganj urban redevelopment project by Archohm Consult in India (page 72)
We learn the ins and outs of the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool by Farrells ahead of its opening of both indoor and outdoor facilities later this month (page 20), and also discuss the changing face of product design with Luca Alessi on (page 80)

+ The call for entries for this year’s A&D Trophy Awards opens with an ‘early bird’ offer running for the month of April — find out more at www.adt-awards.com

The art of the matter

Once upon a time, art and artworks were afterthoughts when it came to architecture and interior design. Today, art is rightfully acknowledged as playing an integral role in the process — form and function are closely intertwined, and aesthetics are every bit as important as the structural design of a building and how its internal spaces are laid out.
This month’s issue reflects that, as Hong Kong sees three major art fairs taking place: Art Basel, Asia Contemporary Art Show and Art Central (page 46), and we also give you a roundup of some of Hong Kong’s most interesting contemporary art galleries (page 62). We talk to Vivian Chau, the general manager of Jplus by Yoo hotel in Causeway Bay, where art plays a prominent role both inside and out (page 51), as well as Dev Suj, founder of Papinee (page 57) and Sarah Gordon of Hirsh Bedner Associates’ specialist art division, Canvas (page 54).
Elsewhere, we’ve got interviews with Younjin Jeong and Jiwon Baik of South Korea’s URBANTAINER, speakers at BODW last December (page 73); LAVA directors Chris Bosse, Tobias Wallisser and Alexander Rieck, who won the 2016 European Prize for Architecture (page 79); Jim Thompson’s Ou Baholyodhin (page 76), industrial designer extraordinaire Jake Dyson (page 85) and Ben McCarthy of Hong Kong’s Charlie & Rose (page 82).

+ Hunan province’s Angdong Hospital won the first RIBA International Emerging Architect prize in late 2016 for architects John Lin and Joshua Bolchover of Rural Urban Framework, based at the University of Hong Kong’s faculty of architecture — read all about the project on page 20.

Rousing the Year of the Rooster

The Year of the Monkey is drawing to a close and, for many around the world, it can’t happen soon enough. Most would agree that, broadly speaking, 2016 was a year of upheaval and chaos, from the death of seminal music artist David Bowie 12 months ago, through Brexit, Trump and the human tragedies throughout the Middle East.

But as the cockerel prepares to crow and usher in a new year, let us cast our eyes towards the dawn with optimism and hope for a better tomorrow. 2016 wasn’t a total washout, of course — just ask any of the winners at our A&D Trophy Awards last November, who included Pinnacle Award winner Steve Leung (who’s featured on page 110 as well) and a raft of outstanding talent, whose award-scoring projects can be found in our Winners Report section from pages 13 to 102.

We’ve also shone the light on other star designers, such as Christine Lam and David Clayton from Aedas (page 116), John Pauline (page 132), Mike DeFrino (page 134) and Paola Navone (page 126) to self-made success stories Ashley Sutton (page 138) and Rob Wall of JEB (page 129).

And if you’re looking for more stars, stand by as we begin our search for this year’s 40 Under 40 young design talents in earnest. You can nominate an upcoming hopeful in the fields of architecture, art, fashion graphic design & new media, interiors and product design — or nominate yourself! 

The only rule is that the nominee must be aged 40 or under in 2017, and must be Asia-based. Head over to www.perspectiveglobal.com and click on the link there for more details.

Our cup runneth over

We’ve plenty to keep you occupied this month, starting with a stunning makeover at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong (page 36), and art galore at J Plus by YOO, an innovative hotel in Causeway Bay which has turned itself over to Chinese artist Fansack for his Rupa exhibition (page 32). 

Our focus this month is on residential architecture and design, and we travel around the world from Shenzhen (page 52) and South Africa (page 40) to Taipei (page 66), Seoul (page 74), Kyoto (page 79) and Yangon (page 87).

And don’t miss our report on the wonderful, jam-packed celebration that was World Design Capital Taipei 2016 (page 96) — and take a sneak peek at one possible future for the central business district of Hong Kong (page 100)!

Meanwhile, what do a restaurant in Hong Kong, a barber shop in Wuxi, a lighting collection designed in Singapore and the flagship store for a Korean skincare brand in Seoul have in common? … That’s right — they’re all winners of a coveted Best of the Best Trophy at Perspective’s recent A&D Trophy Awards 2016, held last month in Hong Kong.

The full report on these and the rest of the winners is coming up in our bumper January-February combo issue, which is also our dedicated Design Issue… Don’t miss it!

• We’re opening the call for nominations for the 2017 edition of our annual 40 Under 40 young talent awards in mid-December! Nominate a rising star in the fields of architecture, art, fashion, graphic design and new media, interior design and product design — or nominate yourself! The only rule is that the nominee must be aged 40 or under in 2017, and must be Asia-based. Head over to www.perspectiveglobal.com and click on the link there for more details.


It takes all sorts

In this issue of Perspective, we shine the spotlight on curves and angles in architecture and design. We’ve got both covered, as does the Casal Belaguer Cultural Centre in Spain, by Flores & Prat (page 54). A studied renovation of an ancient building, the architects preserved the old curves while bringing in new angles in a surprisingly happy marriage of contrasts.
Over in West Flanders, a similar yet entirely different type of intervention into an old barn was necessitated by chemistry, of all things (page 77). 
No coverage of curves would be complete with a mention of Zaha Hadid, and we in fact feature her work twice: the Port House in Antwerp (page 26) and the Salerno Maritime Terminal in Italy (page 74).
And don’t miss our great interviews this issue, including Ajax Law and Virginia Lung of One Plus Partnership (page 82) and Calvin Tsao of New York City-based TsAO & McKOWN (page 90).

• Have you got your tickets for our A&D Trophy Awards gala night on 9 November? Head over to www.perspectiveglobal.com and click on the link there for more details!


Asia & beyond

One of our taglines here at Perspective is ‘Asia & beyond’, to denote our area of coverage, and this month’s issue is a perfect example of this ethos: we’ve got a special focus on Taiwan, partly in honour of 2016 being World Design Capital Taipei year, and partly because the nation is rapidly catching up with its neighbours on the design scene — see pages 55-77 for our special report.

Elsewhere in Asia, we’ve got a story on the forthcoming Skywalk for the benefit of worshippers at Kolkata’s Dakshineswar Kali temple in India (page 30); the renovation of a rundown shopping centre in Hong Kong to become Temple Mall (page 33); the Olympia 66 in Dalian (page 36); Cinemaxx Junior in Jakarta (page 42), and The Reverie in Saigon (page 47) — to name but a few.

As well as all that, 2016 also marks the 60th anniversary of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, and we’ve been partnering with them since the beginning of the year, covering various events and interviewing key architects. In this issue, we look at the REVEAL 2 Exhibition (page 26), chat with Beijing-born architect Cui Kai at an HKIA event (page 24) and ask Kenneth Tse and Aden Chan about their conceptual design and art for their exhibits at the Venice Biennale (page 20).

A flight of fancy
If you haven’t been lucky enough to take a holiday yet this year, we’ll whet your appetite with some of the most striking new travel and leisure developments in Asia and beyond — like the jaw-dropping Keemala resort in Phuket (page 80), hôtel vagabond in Singapore (page 53), the Henry Hotel in Manila (page 85) and Paris’ sublime Hotel du Ministere (page 48).
We also sat down with one of architecture’s senior statesmen, Sir Terry Farrell (page 90), and one of its new young stars, Stanley Siu (page 98). We got news on the latest batch of winners of Ma Yansong’s innovative scholarship programme at MAD (page 27), and take a closer look at OMA’s Timmerhuis project in Rotterdam (page 24).
And finally, in a region where conservation of the built environment is rarely a priority, the Don’t Move, Improve! competition winners in London (page 16) may offer much-needed inspiration to keep, rather than crush, what we already have.

So much to celebrate

2016 marks the 10th anniversary of our ground-breaking 40 Under 40 young talent recognition programme, which we celebrated in late May with a party and presentation event (see pages 54-80) attended by honourees past and present, and a whole host of VIP guests.

Many of our young talents have gone on to achieve bigger and better things, covered regularly in the magazine as 2010 alumnus Sou Fujimoto’s Forest of Light at Salone del Mobile shows (page 138).

We also shine the spotlight on the subject of colour in all its wonderful hues, tones, tints and shades (pages 81-127), looking at projects from all over the world in which architects and designers demonstrate that colour can be the difference between ‘blah’ and ‘bravo’!

And if you’re a fan of TV’s award-winning Grand Designs, we’ve got a special treat for you, with an exclusive interview with host Kevin McCloud (page 128).

• We’re online with up-to-the-minute news and regular design updates at www.perspectiveglobal.com and www.facebook.com/PerspectiveGlobal — and look for us on Instagram at  @perspective_mag (don’t forget to click ‘Follow’) as well!

The rise of the skyscraper — pardon the pun — has happened relatively recently, and with what looks like blinding speed. Take Shenzhen, for example. As our story on KPF’s Ping An Finance Centre (PAFC) on page 48 notes, the city’s vertical growth began in earnest just three decades ago: back in 1979, the tallest building there was a mere five storeys high. 

Over the ensuing decade, a staggering 300 highrises were erected, and from 1996 to 2006, 18 buildings taller than 200m were completed. Soon, PAFC will soar 600 metres into the sky, changing Shenzhen’s skyline forever — just as London’s own is set to alter as well, as more new skyscrapers thrust upwards (page 58).

Meanwhile, there are those who are working to reduce the amount of space we take up on this planet: architect Clara da Cruz Almeida’s Pod-Idladla (page 50) and Wohnwagon’s eponymous compact home (page 60) demonstrate that tiny homes can still be big on style. 

• Early warning notice! The Call for Entries for our A&D Trophy Awards 2016 closes on 30 June 2016 — go to www.adt-awards.com and submit your entries now.


Farewell to one of architecture’s greatest innovators

The world of architecture and design lost another one of its greats in late March, when the shock news of Dame Zaha Hadid’s death broke. 

Love her or loathe her, there was no denying she was one of the industry’s most colourful, controversial and — as her friends will testify — charming characters. She had a wicked sense of humour and great compassion, but she often rubbed people up the wrong way because she also had no time for fools. She was also fearless in speaking her mind, and speaking up whenever she felt she was being marginalised, trivialised and discounted because she was a woman.

In our special tribute to her on page 16, Hong Kong architects share their memories and thoughts on one of the greatest architects the world has ever seen.

We also talk to Matthew Clifford of Jones Lang Lasalle (page 74) on sustainability, while our Material Matters section (pages 45-73) reveals fascinating new ways in which traditional materials are being used.

+ BREAKING NEWS: The Call for Entries for our A&D Trophy Awards 2016 is officially open — go to www.adt-awards.com for more information. 


Two steps forward, one step back

This month, as we take a look at green design and architecture — from buildings and interiors to street furniture, products and even wall paint — we are heartened to see that being green is increasingly becoming part of the industry’s DNA.

At Make, for example, sustainability has driven its work from the start, and the architecture firm demonstrates that it practices what it preaches in the design of its new studio in London (page 78). 

The same can be said of Moira Moser, founder of her eponymous firm M Moser in Hong Kong (page 46) and Braams De Villiers and Andre Eksteen of South African practice Earthworld Architects (page 70), who told Perspective why being green drives them.

But there is still progress to be made. As Joakim Cimmerbeck, owner of eicó Hong Kong, notes (page 58), convincing people about the benefits of being eco-friendly can be challenging, especially in Asia: “We’ve had discussions with some really big companies [in Hong Kong] who have sustainability policies, and they totally buy the concept and agree with the concept, but are largely reluctant to change.”

• BREAKING NEWS: The Call for Entries for our A&D Trophy  Awards 2016 is officially open as of 1 April 2016! Go to  www.adt-awards.com for more information. 

THE FINAL FRONTIERS
In our interview with Vincent Ng, president of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (see page 84), he lists space as one of the biggest challenges facing architects in Hong Kong today. 
Forced to design within a very tight environment, the inevitable result is more vertical than horizontal buildings — and compounding the complexity of the situation are the territory’s extremely stringent regulations, which he says often put limitations on creativity.
Patience is also a key virtue, as sagely noted by Chi Wing Lo, architect, designer and past judge for Perspective’s A&D Trophy Awards in 2013, who observes that good work doesn’t just happen in a vacuum (see page 96).
Of course, necessity is the mother of invention, and working in Hong Kong’s highly challenging design and architecture sectors means only the most clever, the most ingenious, the most determined will succeed — Darwin’s theory of evolution in action.

• Are you a past 40 Under 40 winner? Please get in touch with us at editorial@perspectiveglobal.com with your contact details — we’ve got exciting news for the 10th anniversary this year, and you’re included! 


Ringing in the new

When we launched Perspective in 1999, we set out to reflect the energy and the creativity of Hong Kong, one of the world’s greatest and most exciting cities, as well as the region and the rest of the world. This year, we’re upping our pace with renewed determination to give you nothing less than our best.

We will be strengthening the distribution of Perspective to ensure that copies go out to every organisation in Hong Kong which is involved in architecture, property development and interior design — and this year, Perspective also becomes one of the few magazines in Hong Kong to be audited.

We’ve revamped our design, from the cover (with a more functional and stylish layout which clearly highlights our top features) through to the paper stock (matt art paper for a super-white, high-end look to match the people and the projects we feature) and even the bodytext font, which is now san serif for a cleaner, more ‘open’ look that’s also easier to read.

Images are more judiciously selected than ever before — only the best will do! — and an artistic use of white space ensures ‘breathing room’ and visual impact.

Last but not least, we aim to bring the industry to life through its most important resource: the people. So we want to hear from you — so please let us know what you’re up to by emailing us at editorial@perspectiveglobal.com.

In short, 2016 sees us rejuvenated and dedicated to producing a magazine that reflects what our readers want from an architecture and design title.

• We’ve got exciting news lined up for our 40 Under 40 young talent recognition programme, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. If you are a past winner from our previous 40 Under 40s, please get in touch with us so we can keep you posted!

The last month of the year is always an exciting time, not just because there is so much going on, but also because it holds the promise of a brand new year and all its possibilities.
We have great plans which will be set in motion in 2016, so stay tuned for further updates (now's the time to sign up for our biweekly e-newsletter if you haven't already). In the meantime, this December issue is packed with homes from all around the world — if you've ever wondered how the other half lives, we've not only got Steve Leung's Nanjing Mandarin Palace mansion in Beijing (page 36), but also a new London townhouse styled by none other than the 'Queen of Cream' herself, Kelly Hoppen (page 40).
Giancarlo Zema's WaterNest (page 58) and the Activhaus in Stuttgart (page 54) set the eco bar high, while conceptual proposals offer a fascinating glimpse into what could be — Spark's Homefarm for Singapore seniors, for example (page 62), or Dror Benshetrit's trio of highrises for New York City (page 79).
All that and more just goes to prove the saying that there really is no place like home, no matter where it might be or what it might look like.

• We're online with up-to-the-minute news and regular design updates at www.perspectiveglobal.com and www.facebook.com/PerspectiveGlobal — and look for  us on Instagram at @perspective_mag (don't forget to click 'Follow') as well!

All the colours of the wind

Fighting the tide of today's trendy neutrals and too-often drab beiges and greiges, we focus on colour this month, with a variety of projects and people celebrating the notion that there are 50 shades of every colour possible, not just grey.
From the shimmering tiles of davidclover's Butterfly House (page 64) to the solid surfaces of the Boris Vian Library (page 62), designers explore the full spectrum of the rainbow. Have a drink at Joe's Bar (page 66), bed down for the night at Generator Paris (page 72), or have a bite to eat the Lemongrass restaurant (page 50) — life can be a rainbow.

Now, amid the 21st century's consumerist frenzy, it is a brave man who ventures the opinion that perhaps we need to stop… Well, perhaps pretty much everything. Aaron Betsky, dean of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin and one of the curators of the 2015 Bi-City Biennale of UrbanismArchitecture (see page 88) cuts straight to the chase: "This Biennale makes a simple argument: we have enough stuff. We have enough buildings, enough objects, and enough images. We certainly have enough cities and built-up areas. We do not need to make or build any more. What we need to do is to reuse, rethink, and reimagine what we already have."

Will next month's Biennale effect the change he hopes for? Maybe not immediately, but it may well be that circumstance, passion or fashion will swing the pendulum his way.

• Find us on Instagram at @perspective_mag and click ‘Follow'. PLUS: we're online with up-to-the-minute news and regular design updates at www.perspectiveglobal.com and www.facebook.com/PerspectiveGlobal as well!

Seeing the wood and the trees

Mood-shifts happen all too often in the world of design; where once something was ‘in’, the next minute (as Heidi Klum might say), it’s ‘out’. Glass, marble and chrome are still massively popular interiors choices, but coming quietly back into vogue in a big way is wood… Warm and tactile, it appeals to our senses in a way which ‘cold’ stone, glass and metal can’t.

At PCube, a brand new brasserie and cocktail bar located in the Bergamo area of Milan, for example, renovations revealed the beautiful wooden ‘bones’ of the building (page 79), while at the Care Implant dentistry clinic in Sydney, a stubborn (and ugly!) structural column is disguised with a striking installation of oversized wooden ‘blades’ (page 82). 

Hong Kong-born British furniture designer Samuel Chan celebrates 20 years with limited edition releases of his most iconic wooden designs (page 76), Alexander Diem encases an entire Austrian villa in beautifully carved wooden panels (page 86) and in Delhi, Architecture Discipline transforms a tiny space into the captivating Paper Store with a clever use of wood (page 64).
And don’t miss our interviews with thought leaders Ian Carr of Hirsch Bedner Associates (page 94) and Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston (page 90)!

• Find us on Instagram at @perspective_mag and click ‘Follow’. PLUS: we’re online with up-to-the-minute news and regular design updates at www.perspectiveglobal.com and www.facebook.com/PerspectiveGlobal as well!

Instinctively indigenous

Francisco Mañosa, the ‘father of contemporary tropical Filipino architecture’ (page 54), is a sprightly 84 years old, and his thoughts on architecture are long-held beliefs that have little to do with trends or pendulum swings. “We must always design based on our local culture,” he says. “Architecture must reflect a sense of place. In a nutshell, architecture must be true to itself, its land, and its people.”
So, in this month’s issue, we look at a number of projects which do precisely this: in Hong Kong, for example, Campus HK (page 32) was designed specifically for the residential needs of local students. Architect Gregory Phillips’ Muswell Hill home in London reflects the changing needs of his family over the eight years he has been working on it (page 36)… And at the Shangri-La in London, the iconic building in which it sits — The Shard — is symbolic of the British capital’s soaring enterprise, while the hotel’s new Signature Suites (page 99) are the perfect expression of its ambition and aspirations.
 
• Find us on Instagram at @perspective_mag and click ‘Follow’. PLUS: we’re online with up-to-the-minute news and regular design updates at www.perspectiveglobal.com and www.facebook.com/PerspectiveGlobal as well!

July - August 2018

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March 2018

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December 2017

November 2017

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June 2017

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April 2017

March 2017

January - February 2017

Perspective is a visually rich, monthly publication focused on contemporary design from architecture and interiors, to graphics and product design. Providing a penetrating look at trends, recent projects, and the latest innovative designs from around the globe, every issue features coverage of cutting-edge concepts and interviews with influential regional and International industry figures. For more than a decade, Perspective has been a vital source of information for architects and design professionals, and continues to maintain its edge by focusing on the new and the breakthrough; by looking at both established, well-known success stories as well as Asia’s young, upcoming talent. Perspective is Hong Kong’s premier English design title and 2012 #1 Interior Design - Hong Kong magazine.

January / February 2015 (中文版)

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