https://www.scmp.com/rss/508464/feed Dennis Lee is a Hong Kong-born, America-licensed architect with years of design experience in the US and China. Dennis earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture at UC Berkeley and Columbia University, and worked for Frank Gehry and Swire Properties prior to founding ARCHITECTURE:INNOVATIV in Hong Kong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Dennis Lee Dennis Lee I often wonder whether my architectural career peaked in 2006 – not because I had already accomplished a lot or designed my masterpiece – but because that was the year I resigned from Gehry Partners. As exciting as it was to return to Hong Kong, I left the world’s most famous architectural practice wondering if I would ever collaborate on projects as high-profile, emotionally striking and complicated as those I had worked on in my five formative years there. Considered by some the original... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3335809/frank-gehrys-vision-hong-kongs-arts-hub-was-opportunity-lost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3335809/frank-gehrys-vision-hong-kongs-arts-hub-was-opportunity-lost?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:30:10 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee With over 12,000 registered yachts but only around 4,300 berths, Hong Kong plans to boost its yacht tourism by adding about 1,100 berths at several locations: the proposed Airport Bay Marina, the Hung Hom harbourfront, the former Lamma Quarry and the expanded Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter. The projects are part of the city’s waterfront developments. Airport Bay Marina, for instance, was revealed in the Skytopia master plan, which includes an expanded AsiaWorld-Expo, a “jet fresh market” designed to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3330818/hong-kongs-superyacht-economy-must-not-leave-citys-poor-its-wake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3330818/hong-kongs-superyacht-economy-must-not-leave-citys-poor-its-wake?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee As it recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, Hong Kong desperately needs new trading partners and new markets. The government has been building bridges to the Arab world, and in particular, Saudi Arabia. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and West Kowloon Cultural District CEO Betty Fung Ching Suk-yee have led delegations to Riyadh, promoting commercial and cultural exchange. Lee is pushing for the creation of an economic and trade office in Riyadh. Meanwhile,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3326691/hong-kong-must-tread-cautiously-its-saudi-business-dealings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3326691/hong-kong-must-tread-cautiously-its-saudi-business-dealings?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 08:30:09 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee This summer, the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) opened in Bentonville, Arkansas, attracting attention both for its striking architecture and revolutionary ideas about medicine. The four-storey building with its angular facade is clad in earth-tone precast concrete and brass panels, reflecting the geology of the surrounding landscape and the Ozark Mountains. Unusually for such a grand project – it has a rooftop garden, reflection pond, wellness studio and gym – a local architectural... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3323507/how-hong-kongs-third-medical-school-can-reach-new-healthcare-heights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3323507/how-hong-kongs-third-medical-school-can-reach-new-healthcare-heights?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:30:07 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee Does globalisation have a future, given US President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies and the rise of the far-right in Europe? According to US economist and political analyst Jeffrey Sachs, globalisation did not occur only in recent decades, but began as early as when humans started migrating out of Africa tens of thousands of years ago. Like it or not, globalisation will soldier on unfazed and is merely entering a new phase. As history has shown, its reach and character will evolve with... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3319290/are-we-globalising-ourselves-out-community?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3319290/are-we-globalising-ourselves-out-community?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Jul 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee How do we “future-proof” Hong Kong’s built environment? For the design and construction industry in particular, this could be the most relevant question amid today’s grave challenges. In the global environment, military and tariff wars interrupt supply chains and the uncertain economic outlook hinders project investment and financing. These issues are complicated locally by a suspension of commercial land sales, a property market slump and escalating construction costs. If the worst of times can... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3315697/no-better-time-property-slump-future-proof-urban-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3315697/no-better-time-property-slump-future-proof-urban-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 21:30:07 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee I have been trying to discover Hong Kong’s “hidden gems”, as seen through the eyes of a budget traveller. Out of curiosity, I downloaded and explored mobile apps such as Meituan and RedNote (also known as Xiaohongshu), to see what a local might be missing out on. Some of the recommended spots seem debatable, including the alleyways between Tai Wai’s village houses that have been dubbed “Little Kyoto”, an ordinary street sign on the corner of New Praya in Kennedy Town and the Hong Kong Cemetery... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3311998/forget-tourist-fads-lets-better-preserve-promote-hong-kong-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3311998/forget-tourist-fads-lets-better-preserve-promote-hong-kong-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 May 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee Richard Serra once said in an interview with Charlie Rose, “Art is purposely useless”. What the artist known for his colossal sculptures meant was that, unlike architecture, art can escape from all constraints and restrictions and be free. Well, Serra would eat his words if he had a chance to see what museum visitors are like these days. At the recent “Picasso for Asia – A Conversation ” exhibition at M+, most people were either busy taking photos of the art or taking selfies with the art behind... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3309373/can-hong-kong-museum-goers-put-away-phones-and-see-art?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3309373/can-hong-kong-museum-goers-put-away-phones-and-see-art?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 May 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Hong Kong’s “Super March” has come and gone. According to Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, mega-events such as Art Basel, LIV Golf and the Hong Kong Sevens significantly boosted tourism and the city’s economy. I happened to work on a temporary project at Art Basel – a VIP Lounge for a major host partner and property developer. Having witnessed the art enthusiasts coming and going from the fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, I knew March would end on a high note. The VIP... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3304887/green-design-daunting-challenge-thats-well-worth-effort?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3304887/green-design-daunting-challenge-thats-well-worth-effort?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Apr 2025 08:30:08 +0000 Japanese novelist and marathon runner Haruki Murakami once wrote: “Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest.” More than an exercise, running is a means to know yourself, your limits and capability, and develop your mental and physical strengths. Whether at home or abroad, running is also one of the best ways to learn about our environment. If you want to dive deeply into a city beyond the advertised landmarks and tourist... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3301812/hong-kong-needs-more-inspiring-and-engaging-marathon-route?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3301812/hong-kong-needs-more-inspiring-and-engaging-marathon-route?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Mar 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Undersecretary for Development David Lam Chi-man recently called for a fresh “facilitator” mindset to streamline the project vetting and approval process, while the Buildings, Fire Services, Highways and Water Supplies Departments all committed to cutting excessive red tape. Such initiatives are a small step in saving resources and time, and a giant leap in inspiring new development interests. The message shines a welcome light, showing that even bureaucracy can change and adapt to the current... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3300308/when-will-hong-kong-stop-building-skyscraping-boxes-bay-windows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3300308/when-will-hong-kong-stop-building-skyscraping-boxes-bay-windows?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Mar 2025 01:30:10 +0000 Expotainment, edutainment, sportainment – one has to use all sorts of hybrid words these days to heighten the excitement for a development project, just in case a good idea with good design is not sufficient. Airport Authority Hong Kong promised to deliver a world-class and premium experience when unveiling its “Skytopia” airport city development plan on January 16. The plan encompasses a variety of sectors; it includes an art hub and stand-alone art storage facility, a gourmet market, a marine... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3295811/vision-hong-kongs-airport-city-must-rise-above-buzzwords?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3295811/vision-hong-kongs-airport-city-must-rise-above-buzzwords?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Jan 2025 01:30:09 +0000 When living in Milan, Leonardo da Vinci envisioned the utopian city as one with two levels. The upper level would be where noble people lived, breathed and relaxed; the lower level – hidden below the streets – would have a knitted network of canals and routes for delivery, services, utilities and logistics. While conventional by today’s urban planning standards, his idea was visionary in the Milan of his time. The lack of sanitary awareness helped perpetuate the bubonic plague which killed more... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3290271/hong-kong-should-look-it-leaps-low-altitude-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3290271/hong-kong-should-look-it-leaps-low-altitude-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Dec 2024 01:30:08 +0000 Kai Tak Sports Park is undeniably the most anticipated infrastructure project in Hong Kong. Ahead of its opening next year, hype has been built up around its hosting of the Hong Kong Sevens and Coldplay concerts, and the economic and social benefits to the surrounding area. A world-class venue for sports and entertainment is long overdue, especially if Hong Kong is to live up to its brand as “Asia’s World City”. While some of us are sentimental about Hong Kong Stadium, the ageing facility in So... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3285286/kai-tak-sports-park-missing-piece-football-home-team?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3285286/kai-tak-sports-park-missing-piece-football-home-team?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Nov 2024 01:30:07 +0000 Subdivided flats and cage homes are Hong Kong’s shame. With our financial discipline, land sale premiums, tax revenue and sound investments, the government has built up substantial fiscal reserves over the years and invested in expensive infrastructure. This includes a world-class international airport, an expanding mass transit and high-speed rail system, the world’s longest sea bridge, a cultural district, a cruise terminal, theme parks, a new sports park and stadium, a third airport runway... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3281392/hongkongers-living-squalor-crisis-its-time-treat-it-such?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3281392/hongkongers-living-squalor-crisis-its-time-treat-it-such?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Oct 2024 01:30:09 +0000 With more courage (or naivety) than fear, I left a well-paid job 16 years ago to found my design practice. Since then, work has never been just a job with regular hours. From a lone warrior in the beginning to a team of 10 at our peak, the struggle never ended. The company has always operated in a survival mode. Someone who wants to pursue an MBA degree should consider the alternative of starting a small and medium-sized enterprise – they will immediately learn what it means to sink or swim. An... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3279127/how-hong-kong-can-help-its-smes-make-difference?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3279127/how-hong-kong-can-help-its-smes-make-difference?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Sep 2024 21:30:09 +0000 Born and raised in colonial Hong Kong, I was used to our currency featuring the queen’s face, school holidays on the queen’s birthday and Commonwealth Day, and having white men with phonetically translated Chinese names as our governors. I would proudly don my Manchester United “home-team” jersey while my brother, in his Liverpool gear, played football in the living room, blissfully unaware that both cities are 10,000km away. Only when I came of age did I understand that Hong Kong had been ceded... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3276434/how-i-transcended-my-hong-kong-identity-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3276434/how-i-transcended-my-hong-kong-identity-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Aug 2024 01:30:10 +0000 Imagine a high-end hotel in a top-tier Chinese city winning all sorts of awards and accolades, including “best hotel” and “best restaurants” in the past. One would think the hotel would outperform its competitors and survive through the most challenging times because of its sophisticated hardware and software. Unfortunately, the reality is often more cruel and complicated. The Opposite House, a luxury lifestyle hotel in Beijing, closed its doors in June after 16 years in operation. Many reasons... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3273827/hong-kong-tourism-must-level-draw-quality-travellers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3273827/hong-kong-tourism-must-level-draw-quality-travellers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Aug 2024 01:30:10 +0000 Born in Guangzhou in 1917, Ieoh Ming Pei – better known as I.M. Pei – moved to Hong Kong with his parents a year later. He attended St Paul’s College before relocating to Shanghai at the age of 10. Although he lived in Hong Kong briefly, we would very much like to claim him as one of our own. Most of us are familiar with him because of the Bank of China Tower, whose iconic facade has become part of the face of Hong Kong, appearing on our bank notes and various memorabilia. It stands proudly in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3268756/humanist-first-architect-second-im-pei-retrospective-dose-optimism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3268756/humanist-first-architect-second-im-pei-retrospective-dose-optimism?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jul 2024 01:30:09 +0000 Why do people pay a premium to hail an Uber ride instead of a taxi? The difference is not insignificant: an Uber can easily cost up to 15-20 per cent more. Uber is not perfect. In my experience, there were times when the app could not find a driver, confirmed rides were cancelled without explanation or took much longer than indicated. Sometimes the ride itself was a poor experience although, for me, this happened rarely. But people continue to pay more to use Uber, citing cleaner vehicles, more... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3264472/smart-hong-kong-would-embrace-uber?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3264472/smart-hong-kong-would-embrace-uber?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Jun 2024 01:30:09 +0000 Some problems seem too big to solve, especially those that have been inherited from the past. Over a long period of time, buildings and structures that were once new start to deteriorate and require continuous upkeep. However, it’s impossible to tear down all the ageing buildings in dilapidated neighbourhoods and start afresh. Meanwhile, the construction sector evolves and introduces new materials and standards; often, building codes also become more stringent to ensure users’ health and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3261699/how-fix-fire-safety-hong-kongs-ageing-buildings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3261699/how-fix-fire-safety-hong-kongs-ageing-buildings?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 May 2024 01:30:11 +0000 So many acronyms, so little time. In design and construction, more standards and programmes have surfaced in the evolving call for green and sustainable design. With some catchy acronyms, it can feel like the name was reverse-engineered to fit. Popular acronyms include LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and BREEAM, for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. In Hong Kong, we have abbreviations such as BEAM Plus (Building Environmental... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3257469/instead-labels-esg-lets-prioritise-good-old-integrity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3257469/instead-labels-esg-lets-prioritise-good-old-integrity?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Apr 2024 08:30:09 +0000 Who is hurting in Hong Kong’s weak property market? The government? Yes, because land premiums and stamp duties historically make up a significant part of government revenue. Last week, Finance Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po revealed revenues of HK$19.4 billion (US$2.5 billion) from land premiums in the current financial year and HK$50 billion from stamp duty. These were, respectively, just 30 per cent and 60 per cent of the estimated HK$65.6 billion and HK$85 billion. This shortfall is equivalent to... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3254266/why-hong-kongs-property-slump-may-be-best-time-focus-public-housing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3254266/why-hong-kongs-property-slump-may-be-best-time-focus-public-housing?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Mar 2024 01:30:09 +0000 In 1929, French master architect Le Corbusier published The City of To-morrow and Its Planning, his revolutionary urbanisation concept. His manifesto was in defiance of how most European cities had organically developed since the Industrial Revolution, their uncontrolled growth often lacking order or any thorough planning. While we appreciate the unique character of many former medieval cities today, at the time, they were often chaotic, unhygienic and congested. Le Corbusier provided a much... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3251183/see-beauty-hong-kongs-boring-housing-estates-dont-tear-them-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3251183/see-beauty-hong-kongs-boring-housing-estates-dont-tear-them-down?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Feb 2024 21:30:10 +0000 The story goes that the king of Siam would punish those who displeased him by giving them a white elephant, dooming them to the expensive upkeep of the sacred animal. Nowadays, the white elephant is a metaphor for a big, money-draining project, often an eyesore and a reminder of the time and resources wasted. White elephants happen when projects are poorly conceived without much cost-benefit analysis or poorly designed without satisfying basic functional needs, or both. It is not uncommon for... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3248270/belt-tightening-hong-kong-needs-learn-avoid-white-elephant-projects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3248270/belt-tightening-hong-kong-needs-learn-avoid-white-elephant-projects?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jan 2024 01:30:13 +0000 Recently I had the honour of joining a design review of student work at the University of Hong Kong. Invited to be a critic by Alain Chiaradia, deputy head of the Department of Urban Planning and Design, and Francis Sootoo, director of Systra MVA and a world-leading traffic engineering and planning consultant, I learned that the student projects were part of one of the first interdisciplinary Master of Science in Urban Design and Transport (MUDT) programmes in Asia. That was a surprise, to say... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3246353/why-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-plan-must-look-both-past-and-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3246353/why-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-plan-must-look-both-past-and-future?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Dec 2023 01:30:13 +0000 Hong Kong’s plastic ban from next year is a statement of the city’s seriousness about building a responsible and forward-thinking society. From Earth Day on April 22, the sale and free distribution of disposable plastic will be banned, including dine-in styrofoam and plastic tableware, umbrella bags, and hotel bottled water and toiletries. A second phase in 2025 will extend the ban to takeaway containers, table covers and even dental floss with plastic handles. The decision comes after it... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3241396/beyond-plastic-ban-hong-kong-should-take-earthshot-zero-waste?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3241396/beyond-plastic-ban-hong-kong-should-take-earthshot-zero-waste?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Nov 2023 01:30:27 +0000 Some 25 years after the West Kowloon Cultural District was proposed, we are still struggling with how best to use the 40 hectares of land at the southwest corner of Kowloon and establish a sustainable financial model for it. According to Henry Tang Ying-yen, chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, different means have been explored to staunch the operating costs that were draining like “rivers of blood”. Funds, including the one-off HK$21.6 billion granted in 2008 and HK$4... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3238245/true-hong-kong-ingenuity-needed-rescue-west-kowloon-cultural-district?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3238245/true-hong-kong-ingenuity-needed-rescue-west-kowloon-cultural-district?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Oct 2023 01:30:08 +0000 In an architectural history class, my professor noted that architecture was anything but creating artificial built environments, and that our creativity would always submit to the power of nature. This is why the best works that stand the test of time are vernacular architecture that draws from the native context and serves local needs. In an urban environment that demands density and efficiency, rarely do we come across this kind of architecture in cities. Instead, most modern buildings are... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3234225/hong-kong-must-repair-its-decaying-buildings-public-funds-if-necessary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3234225/hong-kong-must-repair-its-decaying-buildings-public-funds-if-necessary?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Sep 2023 01:30:19 +0000 I still recall when Jardine House – formerly known as Connaught Centre – opened as the tallest building in Hong Kong in the 1970s with 52 storeys. In some ways, the iconic gable roof and round windows inspired the boy in me to study architecture. Several years later, the 66-storey Hopewell Centre, with its signature revolving restaurant sitting atop the unique round tower, unseated Connaught Centre as the tallest building in Hong Kong. The rest is history. Records have been broken one after... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3233063/hong-kong-doesnt-need-more-trophy-skyscrapers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3233063/hong-kong-doesnt-need-more-trophy-skyscrapers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Sep 2023 00:15:11 +0000 More than a hundred years ago, Chinese scholar and educator Hu Shih wrote “The Legend of Mr Close Enough”, which Hong Kong students would likely have read as part of the Chinese language curriculum. At that young age, I did not fully comprehend the story’s underlying meaning. At best, I knew Hu was portraying a lazy person satisfied with his lack of effort in doing anything. He was ridiculing a widespread cultural mentality at a time when the mindset of “almost is good enough” and “do the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3228324/close-enough-isnt-good-enough-hong-kong-when-it-comes-construction-safety-standards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3228324/close-enough-isnt-good-enough-hong-kong-when-it-comes-construction-safety-standards?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Jul 2023 00:15:09 +0000 I do not play golf and have not even taken a swing at a driving range. I have made golf jokes about how I did not want to spend my time hitting a small ball into a small hole very far away, or how golf commentators are always soft-spoken as they do not want to wake the television audience. However, real knowledge is knowing the extent of one’s ignorance. Golf must be a great sport, given that so many people embrace it, and a great place to conduct business, with so many deals struck on the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3224997/preserving-fanling-golf-course-or-building-public-housing-not-binary-choice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3224997/preserving-fanling-golf-course-or-building-public-housing-not-binary-choice?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jun 2023 23:30:14 +0000 Perhaps out of respect for people’s homes and privacy, the Buildings Department rarely carries out inspections for illegal construction, unless there are reasonable grounds to do so. Yet, illegal construction is a common practice in the city and the department tends to investigate only when illegal conditions are reported. Unless, that is, one is foolish enough to share self-incriminating footage on social media showboating unauthorised renovations – which was what happened with one flat at The... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3223298/why-cant-hongkongers-resist-illegal-home-improvements?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3223298/why-cant-hongkongers-resist-illegal-home-improvements?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jun 2023 08:15:13 +0000 Delays and going over budget are the twin evils that haunt almost every Hong Kong government construction project. From the Sha Tin-Central rail link to the West Kowloon Cultural District and the Kai Tak Sports Park, we are accustomed to postponed openings, additional funding requests or cost overruns. Rarely has a project finished on time and within budget. Covid-19 delivered the perfect storm but there is only so much that we can blame the virus for. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3220765/what-hong-kong-can-learn-frank-gehry-delivering-mega-projects-time-and-within-budget?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3220765/what-hong-kong-can-learn-frank-gehry-delivering-mega-projects-time-and-within-budget?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 May 2023 22:15:08 +0000 In a hotel refurbishment project we have been working on since 2019, there has been a steady flow of top staff from consultancy and contracting companies resigning. And, they have not just left the job – they have left Hong Kong. “Nobody is indispensable”, the old saying goes, but the project has suffered whenever knowledge and time were lost. Design and construction is a field that demands deep technical know-how and industry experience, and every project is unique. Nobody, regardless of their... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3216694/forget-singapore-and-shenzhen-hong-kongs-only-competition-beating-brain-drain-its-past-self?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3216694/forget-singapore-and-shenzhen-hong-kongs-only-competition-beating-brain-drain-its-past-self?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Apr 2023 00:15:15 +0000 This is a pivotal year for creative professionals: technology experts have declared it a breakout year for generative artificial intelligence. Computers already outperform humans in solving complex problems, albeit limited to narrow tasks. We had a Sputnik moment when IBM’s Deep Blue defeated then-world chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997, and again in 2016 when Google DeepMind’s AlphaGo defeated champion Lee Sedol in a Go match. We were not worried. Because while supercomputers might foresee... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3212794/can-art-generated-unfeeling-ai-ever-hope-move-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3212794/can-art-generated-unfeeling-ai-ever-hope-move-us?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Mar 2023 00:15:09 +0000 Twenty-five years after the last flight took off from Kai Tak, the area is again generating the noisiest sound bite in town. The arguments against locating 10,700 “light public housing” units at the Olympic Avenue plot are many and varied. Local residents have protested against the lack of public consultation, the potential delays in opening the city’s second central business district, the obstruction of views from other low-level residential buildings in surrounding complexes, the significant... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3210317/whats-point-temporary-housing-if-it-still-takes-years-and-millions-build?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3210317/whats-point-temporary-housing-if-it-still-takes-years-and-millions-build?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Feb 2023 23:15:09 +0000 When Russia invaded Ukraine last February, who would have thought that the fighting would still be going on today? Working in a profession that is all about being constructive and providing comfort and safety, architects are inherently against war, which only brings destruction and despair. The stance disregards whether it is a just or unjust war. As Ron Hunter – a character in the 1995 film Crimson Tide – said, “the true enemy is war itself”. Meanwhile, George Orwell wrote in 1984, “the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3206323/evolving-world-must-reject-war-look-fearless-architects-keep-building-better-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3206323/evolving-world-must-reject-war-look-fearless-architects-keep-building-better-life?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jan 2023 17:30:07 +0000 “Less is more!” This is how Ludwig Mies van der Rohe – “Mies” in the architectural world – described the essence of the International Style he pioneered in the 1920s. Even if they were unfamiliar with the architectural icon and stylistic jargon, most people would have heard of this catchphrase, used in the minimalist movement or pop culture. Mies’ buildings, whether in Chicago, Barcelona or Berlin, stand the test of time; decades later, they are still more contemporary than many new projects.... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3201434/crowded-consumerist-hong-kong-can-we-learn-build-and-live-less?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3201434/crowded-consumerist-hong-kong-can-we-learn-build-and-live-less?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Dec 2022 00:15:12 +0000 Weather records are dropping one after another. We had the hottest Chung Yeung Festival since records began in 1884 with the mercury climbing to 33.5 degrees Celsius. We had the hottest September day at 35.9 degrees. In July, we had 25 “hot nights” – defined as a minimum temperature of 28 degrees or above – the highest number in a month ever. This extreme heat phenomenon was not limited to Hong Kong but affected the world at large. China logged its hottest summer since 1961, with cities in... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3196601/how-green-design-can-aid-hong-kongs-climate-change-fight-taking-heat-buildings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3196601/how-green-design-can-aid-hong-kongs-climate-change-fight-taking-heat-buildings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Oct 2022 05:30:09 +0000 Mark Twain is quoted as saying, “Buy land, they’re not making it any more.” If only Twain could have lived until the Web3 era, because they are now. If you buy into the concept of the metaverse, there are endless supplies of “land” in the virtual world that are selling like hot cakes. For example, a parcel in Decentraland that is 16m x 16m – if one believes measurement units apply to the virtual world – could fetch up to US$5,800 at the time of writing. In the physical world, real estate is... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3192425/metaverse-must-offer-more-escapism-being-called-true-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3192425/metaverse-must-offer-more-escapism-being-called-true-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Sep 2022 19:30:22 +0000 There is a saying that if one day you walk out the front door and everybody in the world seems crazy, perhaps you are the crazy one. That is how I have felt lately to some degree as people are bidding top dollar for digital collectibles and joining virtual memberships to buy ape icons. I wonder if I am missing out. That was until Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey’s first tweet went up for auction in April. After being bought by crypto entrepreneur Sina Estavi as an NTF (non-fungible token) for... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3189446/are-nft-artworks-and-collectibles-worthy-all-hype?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3189446/are-nft-artworks-and-collectibles-worthy-all-hype?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Aug 2022 03:45:17 +0000 If a city is a living organism, roads and rail are the arteries, and vehicles are the red blood cells that carry oxygen to every tissue. From New York’s gridiron to Paris’ radial concentric city plan, traffic infrastructure is synonymous with urban planning. Streets, bridges, tunnels and subways not only connect different areas within a city, but also define district sizes, neighbourhood blocks and building plots, as well as how we travel and relate to our surroundings. Out of all the mobility... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3186781/build-hong-kong-green-low-traffic-city-think-beyond-technology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3186781/build-hong-kong-green-low-traffic-city-think-beyond-technology?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Jul 2022 22:00:14 +0000 When asked about “organic architecture”, the general public – as well as some architects – might have the false impression it involves structures built in organic shapes or resembling natural forms such as a flower, a seashell, an icicle or an animal. Frank Lloyd Wright, the master of organic architecture in the last century, saw it as a phenomenon in which the native character of the built structure seamlessly integrated with the environment and surrounding context. Architecture did not impose... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3182531/how-hong-kongs-redevelopment-projects-can-be-showcases-organic-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3182531/how-hong-kongs-redevelopment-projects-can-be-showcases-organic-city?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jun 2022 00:15:13 +0000 Is the Jumbo Floating Restaurant worth saving? It is a difficult question with no simple answer. Often we rely on government departments such as the Antiquities and Monuments Office and Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB) or non-governmental organisations such as the Conservancy Association to conduct a heritage impact assessment and prepare recommendations for stakeholders to consider. However, whether intentionally dodging the matter or not, AAB member Vincent Ho Kui-yip said on a recent radio... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3180719/look-beyond-dollar-signs-see-jumbo-floating-restaurants-true-value?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3180719/look-beyond-dollar-signs-see-jumbo-floating-restaurants-true-value?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jun 2022 23:45:21 +0000 In 1968, IBM commissioned American architects Charles and Ray Eames to make a film called Powers of Ten. The nine-minute short film took the viewers through a stunning visual journey in which the camera zoomed out from an outdoor picnic by the Chicago lakeside to the universe 100 million light years away, and then zoomed back in, to within 0.000001 angstroms of the picnicker’s hand. Other than showcasing the processing power of the cutting-edge computer at the time, its creators introduced it as... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3177512/why-hongkongers-arent-wild-about-moving-greater-bay-area-yet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3177512/why-hongkongers-arent-wild-about-moving-greater-bay-area-yet?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 May 2022 02:15:16 +0000 About 75 years ago, when Le Corbusier sketched out a “plug-in concept” for the Unite d’Habitation residential project in Marseilles, the French master architect already envisioned prefabricated apartments being hoisted and inserted into a concrete structural frame. His vision was limited only by the technology available at the time. In recent decades, architects from Europe to North America have been adopting various forms of modular integrated construction (MiC), from retrofitting... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3172621/dont-let-hong-kongs-construction-innovation-stop-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3172621/dont-let-hong-kongs-construction-innovation-stop-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Apr 2022 01:15:10 +0000 As we patiently wait for the chief executive election, potential candidates now have more time to offer the Election Committee and the general public their vision of Hong Kong’s rebirth. The most pressing issue on any policy platform is to rebuild social harmony, in particular by providing the opportunities and means to improve people’s quality of life and instilling a sense of belonging among our youth. Home ownership, being our city’s yardstick in defining the “haves” and “have-nots”, is... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3168222/lantau-tomorrow-and-northern-metropolis-are-not-what-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3168222/lantau-tomorrow-and-northern-metropolis-are-not-what-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Feb 2022 01:45:24 +0000 It is good civic behaviour to use fewer plastic bags or recycle used cans and bottles, as producing less plastic waste and recycling is the right thing to do. But is such responsible behaviour helping to “save the environment”, as some slogans suggest, or is it just a feel-good deed with limited positive impact? The idea of environmental consciousness has been around for the past four decades since the World Commission on Environment and Development introduced the concept of “sustainability” in... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3166349/how-hong-kong-can-become-environmentally-responsible-carbon-neutral?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3166349/how-hong-kong-can-become-environmentally-responsible-carbon-neutral?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Feb 2022 22:45:15 +0000 When working on a residential project on Stubbs Road, Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry came to Hong Kong in 2005 and spoke of our city as a place with not much architecture, as most buildings resemble “products from the same cookie cutter”. If buildings are hardware, architecture is hardware with a soul. Hong Kong’s magical transformation from a fishing village and salt production fields to a major logistics hub and global financial centre is legendary. However, the scarcity of... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3147348/tale-two-museums-how-hong-kongs-arts-hub-design-could-have-been?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3147348/tale-two-museums-how-hong-kongs-arts-hub-design-could-have-been?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Sep 2021 00:30:09 +0000