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Hong Kong Architects Go Global
Projects outside Hong Kong constitute half of firms’ work
The increasing internationalised training and backgrounds of Hong Kong’s architects are propelling the expansion of the profession’s business beyond the territory, with the largest ever overseas exhibition to be staged in London on Hong Kong’s architectural achievements in the last 50 years, heralding a new phase in the profession’s entry into the global markets.
Data collected this year by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) has found that out of its current 3,000 members, 50% were locally educated, while a similar percentage of members were educated overseas or holding both local and overseas qualifications.
The international exposure of Hong Kong’s architects translates directly into the business profiles of firms where they work. According to the data, among the 179 firms registering as HKIA corporate members, an estimated 50% of their work is done outside Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s firms have offices in over 13 countries or regions outside the territory. At least 20 firms have offices in three or more cities, with the biggest one covering as many as 25 cities. The biggest footprint of Hong Kong’s architects in Europe is in the UK, with 11 offices, while in Mainland China Shanghai plays host to 14 firms from Hong Kong.
“The credentials of Hong Kong architects are internationalising at an accelerating rate, giving rise to a powerful mix of different outlook and creativity, and placing members in the profession as innovative and flexible collaborators for their overseas counterparts,” said Ms Ada Fung, President of HKIA.
The exhibition in London, entitled ‘’Tall Storeys’’ and organised by HKIA with the support of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), is a major retrospective on how Hong Kong architects have been responding to the rapidly changing post-war environment since the 1960s, and playing a key role in Hong Kong’s transformation into a metropolis where the living
environment is one of the highest density in the world.
“Mastery of the multi-storey and mixed-use model has made our architectural expertise a valuable reference for worldwide high-density challenges while cities are facing similar issues of making use of limited space for competing needs, such as housing, business, leisure and mass transportation. The London Exhibition will showcase several key aspects of our architectural know-how, which is increasingly sought after,” said Mr Tony Tang, chairperson of the London exhibition steering committee.
The London exhibition, from 30 October to 26 November 2014, will showcase selected projects recognised by the HKIA Annual Awards since 1965, the year the Awards were inaugurated. The exhibition presents some of the early projects that dealt with the challenge of population density, such as the Choi Hung Estate which formed the basis for Hong Kong’s unprecedented housing programme, as well as the evolution of a new model in the 1980s for high-rise, high density developments combining mutually supportive uses built in conjunction with Mass Transit Railway stations.
Ms Sarah Lee, Director of Sky-Yutaka Architecture and Design, co-producer of the Exhibition, said London was selected to stage the exhibition because of a variety of reasons: “The United Kingdom is not only a design hub in Europe, and also a major exporter of architectural expertise. Architects of the UK and Hong Kong could be complementary to each other in contributing to the developments in different parts of the world.”
Meanwhile, HKIA will also organise two major regional architecture events – the Cross-Strait Architectural Design Symposium and Awards (CADSA) in March 2015 and the 17th Asian Congress of Architects (ACA17) in the summer of 2016.
Speaking of CADSA 2015, Mr Daniel Chi, Vice-president of the HKIA said, “CADSA is a vital platform for interaction amongst architects and students across the strait, which shall facilitate the elevation of local designs into the international arena.”
ACA17 is a major regional congress held every two years. In 2016, architects from 19 member organisations will exchange views on theme of “Growth and Diversity: The Age of Asia”.
For media enquiries and interviews, please contact:
Ms Norma Lee
A-world Consulting Ltd
+852 2114 4976
norma.lee@a-world.com.hk
ENDS
About the Hong Kong Institute of Architect
The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) is the professional body of architects in Hong Kong with over 3,000 membership and 179 registered Practices. Established in 1956, the HKIA aims to advance architectural education and practices in Hong Kong as well as to promote and facilitate the acquisition of knowledge of the various arts and sciences connected therewith. The Institute is committed to raising the standard of architectural creativity in Hong Kong, maintaining its code of professional conduct among members, providing services to the public and nurturing architectural talents by offering courses and counsel in professional practice and practical experience in architecture. To take Hong Kong to the fore in international circles, HKIA is also actively engaged in various international unions and councils. (Our website: www.hkia.net)
*Remarks: All project details subject to revisions.
