Perspective Monthly August 2010

To dream the impossible dream

To paraphrase Shakespeare's Hamlet, something is rotten in the state of Hong Kong, where the press has been full of stories of tiny apartments (featuring closet-sized bedrooms where, if you stretch out your arms, you can touch the opposing walls) commanding prices that simply boggle the mind. If you were to save HK$20,000 every month for four years, you'd barely have enough for the down payment on an average flat - maybe. And let's bear in mind that, in four years, the price on that property you're eyeing will have soared out of your reach.

People make jokes about the value of the Vietnamese dong, but in Hong Kong, we're not far behind when it comes to the value of our dollar on the property market. In short, it buys very, very little indeed - when you have to fork out HK$2 million just to buy a spot in a carpark, you know something is seriously twisted.

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA), a government-sanctioned taskforce whose mission is ostensibly to renew and regenerate run-down properties and areas in Hong Kong, isn't helping. In fact, it's probably contributing significantly to the problem of over-priced property in the territory - in mid-June, it was revealed that over the last five years, its 'renewal' projects have netted a profit of more than HK$2 billion. This represents a surplus up to 42 times its redevelopment costs.

Making a profit to ensure its work can go on without straining the taxpayer's dollar is important.

But when residents are forced out of their properties under URA jurisdiction - and then find it impossible to find substitute housing in the area, never mind the luxury highrise which replaces their home of many years, because of sky-rocketing prices - that's just plain wrong.

The issue seems to be that the URA, for whatever reasons, acts hand-in-hand with private property developers on its projects. These developers have only one concern: the financial bottom line. That's fine. They're businesses. That's what they do. But the URA? Surely people should be its bottom line. The piecemeal style of redevelopment it has adopted also does nothing for Hong Kong's urban planning.

As for its over-stuffed coffers, the URA's defence is that its vast surpluses will be ploughed back into 'unprofitable' projects, such as the redevelopment of the historic Central Market and the revitalisation of tenements in Mongkok. It's hard not to scoff, given the role the authority has played in driving up property prices in general to astronomical highs - just as it is hard to feel sorry for Henderson Land, now under fierce scrutiny after the high-priced sales of 20 luxury flats at its development in Mid-Levels mysteriously fell through. A recent survey showed a high degree of cynicism among Hong Kongers with regards to the case; many believe Henderson deliberately manipulated the market to drive up prices overall.

Whether this is true has not been determined.

What is undisputable fact, however, is that for the average person, buying property in Hong Kong will remain an impossible dream.

Perspective Monthly July 2010

The definition of 'luxury' differs from one person to the next - and is constantly changing.

Compare, if you will, the flashy opulence of royal palaces such as Versailles, with the understated elegance of an Aman property. The former is all about showing off one's wealth; at the latter, there isn't a gold-plated tap in sight, yet both are eloquent demonstrations of the best that money can buy.

There is a growing trend toward luxury which doesn't cost the Earth - literally. Versailles was built at huge ecological, social and financial cost; in this new millennium, architects and designers are starting to tread more lightly.

The breathtaking Odin House in Niseko, Japan, was constructed with locally-sourced and sustainable materials, while double-glazing and an advanced geothermal pump system providing the heating needs of the property from the ground ensure significant energy requirements and emissions.

In the United Arab Emirates, the ambitious Dubai Pearl is a vast mixed-used development which has already acquired the LEED Gold pre-certification and aims to achieve full certification upon completion in 2013.

At Aman's exquisite resorts in Bali, traditional construction methods and materials were used. Villas feature thatched roofs, furniture is made with local woods and rattan, and community outreach programmes ensure that neighbouring villages benefit from the bounty brought in by well-heeled foreign visitors.

In other words, it's all about quiet luxury, discreet luxury - luxury which has no need to shout out its pedigree or show off.

Perspective Monthly June 2010

Back in the 1950s and '60s, filmmakers envisioned a future in which cars could fly and we all wore silver space-suits. Their flights of fantasy seem modest in light of the leaps and bounds technology has made in the 21st century - like mobile telephones which can take photos, shoot videos, play music and browse an invisible universe called the 'world wide web', all via a screen which responds to the touch of a finger.

A scant 30 years ago, the internet didn't exist. Telex machines, pagers and typewriters still ruled. Few homes could afford the luxury of a vacuum cleaner, and architects and designers still relied on pencils and sketchbooks.

While technology has certainly taken the grind out of certain tasks (thank goodness for electronic calculators), it does increasingly seem that we are all running at a hundred miles an hour, just to stay on the same spot.

Pernilla Johansson, design director for Electrolux Asia-Pacific, pointed out that technology is not so much about time-saving as it is about labour-saving, and she's right. We're certainly busier than we ever were - technology has made it possible for us to do three times as much as we used to, in less than half the time.

And the panellists at this month's Poggenpohl Brain Trust noted that it doesn't matter how clever technology might be or become - it's still human creative input which drives the result.

Is all this new technology really helping, though? Sometimes, as we sit in our shoeboxsized apartments peering out through tiny windows at a grimy cityscape, we have to wonder what we have given up to get where we are today.

Perspective Monthly April 2010

One of the questions which has come up regarding the issue of heritage preservation and the ongoing battle in Hong Kong to save Wing Lee Street is "where are the voices of the architects?"

It seems perplexing that while 'ordinary' people are increasingly vocal about the need to find a better way forward than simply tearing down old buildings, the architectural community is oddly silent. And it is even more perplexing to think that, perhaps, the reason they aren’t speaking up is out of fear of offending potential clients or losing lucrative projects or, possibly, because they agree that to build our future, we do need to destroy our past.

So does hope lie only with the young? If this is true, then maybe we need to turn to the stars who shine in Perspective's annual 40 Under 40. Once again, they demonstrate youthful enthusiasm and the kind of creative daring that often fades as we become older, as boldness gives way to pragmatism or, occasionally, to outright cynicism.

Intriguingly, the panellists who participated in our inaugural Brain Trust session, which focused on creativity and teaching, all agreed that one of the problems of the Hong Kong educational system is that it does not encourage students to speak up, to challenge the status quo, to take that leap of faith to true originality and creativity. Perhaps it is time for practising architects themselves to speak up; to be heard publicly and vocally on important issues such as heritage preservation, or the need for affordable housing, or the critical subject of quality of living space, rather than simply shrugging their collective shoulders and saying "well, that's just the way things are and there’s nothing we can do about it".

Leading by example is surely one of the best ways to teach, isn't it? And who better to learn from than the very people in our community who are responsible for the way our city looks, and how it will look in the future. As Theodore Roosevelt pointed out, with great power comes great responsibility – and we look forward to our local architecture community stepping up to the plate.

Perspective Monthly April 2010

In Macau, public disapproval is rising over what is viewed as wholesale and unnecessary destruction of some of the city's historic architecture. Under the spotlight are the Fai Chi Kei Social Housing Blocks - winning the ARCAsia gold medal for design in 1995 is not enough to save them.

Now, we learn that in Macau's allegedly governmentprotected area and, in fact, inside the Unesco-designated 'Heritage Corridor', old buildings near Lilau Square are in the process of being demolished, as were the Mong Ha Military Barracks last year.

The rising tide of community concern in Macau mirrors that in Hong Kong, where public calls for the protection of the historic Wing Lee Street - targeted for redevelopment by the Urban Renewal Association (URA) - are growing louder. The street, made famous in the award-winning film Echoes of the Rainbow, has provided a focus point for growing anti-URA sentiment.

Meanwhile, at the Copenhagen climate change summit late last year, International Union of Architects president Louise Cox was shocked to discover that the average person on the street had no idea what architects were doing at the conference. "That's scary, because obviously the community doesn't understand that what we do can either reduce all these things - or make them worse," she said in a podcast for World Architecture News.

The annual Perspective Green Roundtable concluded that there is no magic bullet; that a whole range of measures need to be put in place and practices adopted in order to achieve the dream. At the end of the day, it seems inevitable that it is only the big developers and Mammon who will win. How sad, and how ironic, that both our past and our future are determined by them.

Perspective Monthly March 2010

Britains Prince Charles has never been a great fan of modern architecture or modern architects, for that matter. His passion is fuelled in large part by his concern for the environment; he has long urged architects and developers to return to traditional building materials, such as those used in the construction of his model Dorset village, Poundbury. In this months Perspective, we see that some have taken heed of his words. At the Ecolodge in Egypt and the Pearl Fashion Academy in Jaipur, India, construction techniques and materials which have been in use for generations were applied.

The planet has been degraded and destroyed faster and with more long-ranging consequences in just the last 50 years than in the 500 before. As Prince Charles astutely observed, We must act now by using traditional methods and materials to work with Nature, rather than against her.

Perspective Monthly February 2010

When you consider the vast amount of time most of us spend at the office, you do have to wonder why bosses make so little effort to create workspaces which are not just pleasant, but also help boost productivity. How many of us endure drudgy corporate grey or beige décor; tiny, cramped cubicles; insufficient desk space; chairs which are simply uncomfortable to sit on for any length of time; poor lighting… the list goes on.

So it is heartening to see that there are some companies which are prepared to invest in creating an environment in which their employees can be comfortable, which are also aesthetically pleasing. At Facebook’s San Francisco headquarters, for example, the designers asked staff for their input; at fashion label Initial’s premises in a converted yarn factory in Hong Kong, founder and antique enthusiast Eric Fong wanted the new space to be modern, yet infused with a sense of European vintage. Leo Burnett’s Singapore office reflects the creative nature of its business, and gives employees a chance to personalise the space themselves.

On a larger scale, the British Embassy in Warsaw demonstrates that high-security doesn’t have to mean iron bars and window grids; and Philippe Chaix is pushing for the regeneration of La Défense, a dedicated business district in the west of Paris. Arthur Erickson once said vitality is radiated from exceptional art and architecture. Sure it is time for businesses to realise this and act upon it for the benefit not just of their own bottomline, but for their most important resource: their people.

Perspective Monthly January 2010

By 2015, the World Bank forecasts that half of the world’s new building construction will take place in China. The pace which was set in anticipation of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games has continued, but lagging behind, however, is China’s ‘software’ — the knowledge, expertise and skills required at top-flight level in the architecture and design industries. The Beijing National Stadium — popularly known as the Bird’s Nest — was by Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron. The Beijing National Aquatics Centre (‘Water Cube’) was by Sydney-based PTW Architects. In our January 2010 issue, we look at a retail centre (Plaza 353 Shanghai), a luxury resort (Amanfayun, Hangzhou), a fine dining establishment (Capital M Beijing) and a speakeasy/restaurant (Chinatown Shanghai) — all were designed by foreign firms.

Perspective Monthly December 2009

From economic lows to creative highs, the past 12 months have been anything but dull. The full results of our Perspective Awards 2009 are revealed this month and, with the help of our panel of expert judges, we take a look at the topic of urban planning. In a recent lecture at the University of Hong Kong, Rem Koolhaas noted that architecture used to be about articulating and embodying the values of society. Now, it is about expressing the values of an individual, whether a person or a company. And as we look to the future, we are optimistic. If ordinary people can change the course of history and bring down governments, surely we can also affect the way our future cities are built — and how our past is protected.

Perspective Monthly November 2009

This month, Perspective celebrates its 10th anniversary; we focus on the issue of heritage and what it means. Read what the Fringe Club’s Benny Chia, Atria Apartments’ Amil Khan, Benoy’s Simon Blore and Horace Pan, founder of his own company Panorama, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Interior Design Association and an assistant professor at the Hong Kong PolyU, had to say at Perspective’s Heritage Roundtable. We also feature 10 of the best heritage projects from Asia and around the world, including Singapore’s Clifford Pier and St Petersburg’s Grand Hotel to Wanchai’s Blue House and Beijing’s Hutong Bubble 32.

Perspective Monthly October 2009

If variety is the spice of life, then hotel design – whether we’re talking about architecture or interiors – has to be the tastiest sector of the industry. Yes, bland and beige can still be found but, by and large, hotel operators realise they have to offer something special, and it is these visionaries we celebrate and salute in this month’s edition. Like Diesel’s Wilbert Das, for example. In Uxua Casa Hotel, he speaks from his heart and soul with this rustic, one-of-a-kind bolthole, designed to both relax and inspire. In China’s Shangri La, Baima Dorgi drew on ancient Tibetan craftsmanship and building techniques in converting what was once his own home into the Songtsam Retreat. Meanwhile, quirky style abounds at London’s Rough Luxe and the Lalala Arthotel in Poland – proving that in some cases, it is the destination that is more important than the journey.

Perspective Monthly September 2009

This month, Perspective gets real. We’re asking questions and looking for answers. Top of mind at the moment is the issue of the West Kowloon Cultural District. Who should design it? While three globally-renowned architects are currently in the running for the project, a small but growing number of Hong Kongers aren’t convinced that any of them is the right person for the job. There’s more food for thought from Zuni Icosahedron’s Mathias Woo, who’s put together an exhibition called ‘Architecture is Art’. But in the money-driven market of Hong Kong, can art and commerce truly marry to create architecture which isn’t just about profit, but which also exists to inspire the soul?

Perspective Monthly August 2009

This month, Perspective brings you the so-hip-it-hurts Green T House in Beijing, which has just opened a new Bath House Residence with the cutting-edge design we’ve come to associate from owner Jin R. Chanel on Robertson in LA and Hide and Seek in Singapore offer a look at the latest trends in retail interior design, while Elli Popp and Babekühl allow you a glimpse into their creative minds. Frankfurt’s blistering-hot summer played host to the Tendence Fair, where designers from around the world showed off their best and, finally, the über-cool Sir Peter Cook proves that age is no deterrent to either penetrating insight or masterful design. PLUS: Two special supplements highlight all that’s new and fabulous in the worlds of bathrooms and hospitality, focusing on clever designer touches and bespoke elements.

Perspective Monthly July 2009

This month, Perspective salutes the constantly curious, those determined to challenge the status quo and bold enough to try the unexpected, with our annual 40 Under 40 awards. Our editorial team spent many long hours debating, discussing and whittling down the numbers to reach our final 40, who you will see featured in this month’s issue. At the 40 Under 40 presentation and photocall, it was a thrill to meet these faces of the future. For our winners, it was an opportunity not just to have their efforts recognised, but to meet their peers to exchange ideas and thoughts. The design industry — whichever category you happen to work in — is a tough business. Communication and support is vital, particularly in these challenging days of projects being cancelled and budgets being slashed. Opening up avenues of dialogue was perhaps one of the more exciting results of the 40 Under 40 event, and we are confident that we’ll be hearing much more both of and from our winners.

Perspective Monthly June 2009

The future is, quite simply, now. No longer is a sleek, modern, technology-driven lifestyle a thing to look forward to. In the 21st century, we can live the dream: look no further than the minimalistically beautiful Shell Villa in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture, for example, or the startling white polyhedron of the Prada Transformer, which sees past, present and future collide in the grounds of the ancient Gyeonghui Palace in Seoul. Meanwhile, interiors take a futuristic turn at the Aktipis florist in Greece, while in China, Danish designer Johannes Torpe has wowed Beijing with Subu, a new restaurant which blends fusion cooking and a larger-than-life, cutting-edge design. And Milan’s Salone Internazionale del Mobile this year brought together nearly 3,000 designers and companies celebrating the art of what they do, despite the global economic downturn. Indeed, Fendi’s Craft Punk event put together a team of exciting young talent from all over to world for some on-the-spot creation. It was the epitome of everything that architecture and design are today; the future unfolding before our very eyes.

Perspective Monthly May 2009

In the May issue of Perspective, we salute architects, designers and clients who are brave enough to ‘think out of the box’. We feature a children’s bookshop in Shanghai designed purely with kids in mind. Not their parents, not the proprietors, but the very customers it targets, in the hope of instilling a love for reading and the pure joy it can inspire. At the other end of the scale, the Supperclub in Singapore aims to tap into the big kid inside all of us, while architect Shirish Beri draws upon India’s traditions and culture to serve the needs of the community at large. Finally, restaurants Silapa Thai in Chiang Mai and Made in Kitchen in Xuzhou show designers forging new paths while drawing inspiration from their heritage. A wise man once noted that you don’t need to destroy the past in order to build the future; new projects today prove that you don’t need to forget where you came from, either.

Perspective Monthly April 2009

This month, we honour the vernal season by focusing on fresh and dynamic projects and people whose work is redefining our lifestyles and design values. We introduce readers to Hong Kong’s new Nike store and The Factory and check out luxurious Yin serviced apartments in Central. Cutting edge Korean designers Joon&June tell us about themselves, Tokyo-based artist Katsuhito Yamamoto explains his unique style, and the designers of bluarch take us through their latest interior project, a green nightclub in New York. We also explore the long-awaited Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, which marks a new beginning for the Thai capital as a more artistic vision of the city is coming into sight.

Perspective Monthly March 2009

It's once again time for our annual green issue, where we take a look at what's happening in Hong Kong and around the globe in sustainable architecture and design. Including a report on our Green Round Table where experts hailing from a wide range of backgrounds discuss the issues most significant to eco-friendly design and architecture in 2009. We also feature a range of both local and international thought-provoking projects, one of which is the new CSET in Ningbo and a remarkable green showroom by up-and-coming firm Vector Architects in Beijing. From recycled materials and found objects to eco-conscious practices and principles, the issue is a comprehensive reference for all things green.