Hong Kong architect William Lim's all-embracing aesthetic on show

To call William Lim an eclectic collector would be an understatement. The Hong Kong-based architect has amassed a diverse and somewhat quirky collection of objects that defy easy categorisation, ranging from an enormous wall-mounted reindeer in military camouflage, by Chinese artist Jiao Xingtao, and vintage mid-century chairs discovered in Tokyo's backstreets, to a two-metre-tall traditional Chinese birdcage he found discarded on a Wong Chuk Hang pavement.

The rescued birdcage, along with an intriguing selection of 20 other pieces that have most inspired Lim over his 40-year career, are to be exhibited at Hong Kong's ArtisTree. There will also be a presentation of sketches, materials, models and documents showing the design process for 10 of Lim's award-winning architectural and interior projects.

The idea for a fusion of project work and creative inspiration came naturally, says Lim, who eschews the notion of "artificial" boundaries separating art, architecture and design.

"I wear all these different hats as a designer, architect, art collector and as an artist. In life they are all interwoven so I wanted to focus the exhibition on how the different inspirations for my work weave their way into this career that I have."

The birdcage, for example, caught Lim's eye not just for its intrinsic beauty but also for its structural integrity.

"The traditional form of cages made using ultra-fine bamboo strips looks incredibly fragile and yet it's structurally very robust. It is just naturally beautiful and functional."