Interview with PH Alpha Design Limited

Since I was a youngster, I always love all kind of arts. I was motivated by amazing architecture building and surrounding when I was working in Beijing. I’ve enrolled in one of the four best national architecture university in China. Those schools are very difficult to enrol especially in the 90s. I always like to create a masterpiece that could last more than 10 years that also improves the city landscape.

The top three aspects are:-Aesthetics- Functional and economical-Push to boundary for buildability For most of the initial drawing, I prefer handsketch. I ‘ve used that method for over 20 years while I’m also keeping up with the latest computer software. Building physical models is our standard procedures, for the final product we will use computer aided product for fine tune and finishing

All stages matter to me. Concept and schematic let me explore my creativity. Design development stage allows me to put together pieces to create a real product. I like most of my work day, it gives me satisfaction and inspirations, motivates me to improve my creativity. Everyday is a fresh day, and it never get old.

I was born in the stage of China Culture Revolution, after this war, there are lack of building or beautiful city landscape. Since I was a kid I have a strong desire of beauty, love all kind of visual stuff and love drawing.My initial dream it to become an artist, by the year of 80s, I’m very into idealism and heroic idea during that time. By that time, western idea crushes into China, I’m admire the idea of “East Meets West”. It shapes my idea of how to create aesthetic for architecture.

Being an architect, I can combine beauty + technical ideas to my architecture buildings. So I choose to become an architect instead of artists in the mid 80s.My future dream of design building a museum inside a retail mall. In nowadays, especially china, they are lack of aesthetic building and ideas. For me if beauty can merge with lifestyle and create it for the public, that will be excellent!

- Think carefully what they really want to achieve as an architect-Question when needed-Don’t hesitate to express and voice out -See and observe more-Hunger for knowledge-Prepare for solutions-100% devotion

-Treat working as a learning process should be the daily motto for all the designersThe downfall of current designers are they are -too dependent-lack of analytical skills-too short term thinking-young people are generally not responsible, in fact, they should be responsible to all positions.

I start my day with a Chinese traditional breakfast, and then check with my daily project then start designing. Will do a series of sketches then expand ideas on the favourite one.For a boring business day in the studio, I’ll play my favourite music as entertainment. In my studio, I’ve a pool table for my team to provide them a relaxed environment.

I’m hand-drawing on my projects and put realistic objects which can draw by the computer software such as grasshopper. The grasshopper can stretch the design limit. I still stick for the basic style, because hand sketch can do more of what I what/wish.

Good designs should be:-Practical-Innovative-Aesthetically attractive-Best suit for end user, responsive to functionCommon Mistakes to avoid are:-when designing, designer have to avoid too impulsive idea, have to think thoroughly on all design whether they are manageable and buildable.-Avoid “no-brainer”

-Always have room for improvement, but will consider for practical reason, what can be changed/-Modify the project instead of sacrifice the owners/clients interests.-Be a responsible architect not a pure artists-Put wholeheartly to all project no matter it’s successful or not, at least have to satisfy my own standard, be confident all the time.

Starlight Place in Chongqing, China, the media announced it as the “Best Mall in Chongqing”. The challenge is there’s not surrounding retails to bring up the whole ‘Shopping Experience’ atmosphere. Beside there’s 40m height difference, need smart strategy to solve.

-Tom Dixon for industrial design idea-David Adjaye -Shigern DanIf I get a chance to the deceased architect, I’ll ask him to drink and eat with me. We will discuss each other’s’ hobby except work.

My most inspiriting city is Hong Kong, it is a multi-cultural city in which perfectly match with my “East Meets West” personality. Most of my current jobs are retail malls with mix-use purposes. I love to design the retail mall, because it is a necessity to each city or even every part of the world. Especially china people’s shopping behaviour is changed, they are big spender now. I want to create something that can provide a good shopping experience for the public and encourage them spending within the country and lead to prosperity.

My work culture is, I hand on my project to my teams, inspire and motivate them as a mentor. My business philosophy is always be honest to yourself and toward the client. Tell them we can serve them as a client, but on the other hand explain your idea of aesthetic of the architecture.

We have regular donation to Hong Kong Institute of Architects, to fund them mentor the junior architect and help them out on publicity.We are actively particulate as a jury or guest critics to the young architects in the related industry events.

-Increase publicity of my design-Learn from other designers’ work from around the world-Design Award and competition helps the world to recognize of our hard work, to be recognised by the industry in a proud moment-Raise motivation and be able to communicate to the world through designs

PH Alpha Design Ltd is founded for 6 years, 60 people with headquarter in Hong Kong. Branches located in London, Shenzhen and Shanghai.

Express the desire and inspiration through a product that is responsible to the public and the owner.

Architecture and Sculpture

Jewish Museum (Berlin, Germany) and National Vietnam War Museum (Texas, USA). Both design it’s about war and humanity, by looking at those two architecture, it reflects the humanity issue all over the world. These two architecture shows the compassionate and strong feeling of emotional towards human history.

An addition to a mixed-use development in Chongqing.

Material – concrete and cement

Morning after a good breakfast

Aesthetic and practicality

I feel excited when I am doing all my design works.

Emotional and energized

Well perform on the product’s function and express the designers’ inspiration

Expressive/responsive to the original idea

Improve quality of living through what people see and how they use it

Clearly computer and construction technology helps to stretch the design, but need to remember the end-user is always human-beings. The product must be user-friendly.

Co-exhibit in Shenzhen, China in last November. Wait to be here this year!

From everything of the surroundings around me whenever and whatever

My design style has be user-friendly, serving the public in the main aims.I’m a space conscience person, the space I create are very fluid and well connected from place to place.

Hong KongPros: Get to see variation of design; international design are everywhereCons: Limitation of regulations and land, not as creative for architecture

Respect their inputs and co-operate together. To build a good design as a responsible lead-consultant

Listen – always something to absorb from them, design might not be mature but design concept matters

Consider the client needs, analyse what’s best for them and the site, use experience to design.

1.Alvar Aalto Vase2.Art piece3.Japanese Knight figure4.Designer’s shoes

I’ll do yoga every morning for half an hour. While I’m working, I like to turn on my music on. Love going to the classic orchestral concerts. I tried to squeeze some time to visit small design art gallery and jewellery design shop to get inspiration

- Think carefully what they really want to achieve as an architect-Question when needed-Don’t hesitate to express and voice out -See and observe more-Hunger for knowledge-Prepare for solutions-100% devotion

Positive:Be able to unleash ideas and to create a long-lasting artpieceNegative:Income unstable, projects criticize by subjective comments.Thus, need to Learn to embrace negative comments

Provide practical solution using innovative ideas

Stay open-minded

Hand-drawn, get inspirations from magazine and art piece

Stay work-life balance, no matter how busy will still get half hour for yoga

Depends on the scale of project, 1 day to a few months.

What is the idea behind your design and how it works

By the time when I’m having my PHD degree in year 2000, in one of our graduate architecture tour in Europe. I got to see all amazing masterpiece from ancient time to modern time. And we spent a lot of time to attend those interesting conference, that experience is the most unforgettable job!

Renowned developers and listed company in China and Hong Kong. Examples are China Resources Holdings, Hong Kong Land, Henderson, Longfor

Façade and massings, first thing to be seen in perspective

Continue my profession and expand the company going for national and global

Discuss idea with my two teams and put together a concept myself

A mixed-use design consist of a botanical garden. It will the biggest mall in China that consist of an amazing botanical garden within the mall. Media has spread around regarding this project. The public are very looking forward to this huge botanical garden. The challenges of this project is how to facilitate a retail through botanical garden.

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