Editor’s Note: With the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the growing number of cross-border construction programs, and architectural and interior design projects in the region have brought hope and opportunities to the sector’s stakeholders. What trends and the industry’s prospects do industry insiders see? Here are some views China Daily gathered.
Patrick Choi Cheong-wa, a Hong Kong architectural and interior designer
Patrick Choi Cheong-wa, a Hong Kong architectural and interior designer, on Friday shared his insights.
There have been many exchanges between Hong Kong and other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in architectural design in recent years. What has impressed you most?
Cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, such as Zhuhai, Foshan, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, have invited Hong Kong architects and designers to participate in some design and city-planning projects on the Chinese mainland. Those residential buildings and commercial complexes are now local landmarks. This shows Hong Kong’s strength.
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What impressed me most is that many mainland authorities and enterprises would like to use a “Hong Kong standard”, or regulations, as their benchmark, which shows their recognition of Hong Kong’s design level and the city’s well-established legal system.
I once worked on a luxury apartment project in Qianhai, Shenzhen. The client spent four years finding a suitable and innovative interior design team with global vision. From this case, I can see clients in the mainland cities now have a higher demand for high-quality life and they are willing to pursue aesthetics in their lives.
What opportunities on the Chinese mainland do you think practitioners in the architectural design industry should keep an eye on?
The rapid development of 5G in China and leading technology, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, will bring great opportunities to the construction industry, including architectural designers. For instance, I think AI can automatically help designers search for information on the internet with given keywords, saving manpower on repetitive and simple work.
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What role do you think Hong Kong can play in the architectural design industry of the Greater Bay Area?
Hong Kong receives global recognition in specific areas, such as green construction and engineering management. I believe Hong Kong talent in these fields can play a more prominent role in the architectural design industry in the Bay Area.
What is your latest plan in the Greater Bay Area?
My team is working on a clubhouse project in Foshan, Guangdong province. I think the demands for architectural and interior design will grow rapidly, as new residential buildings, restaurants and shopping malls are springing up like mushrooms. Therefore, I have set up an office in Foshan, and hope to find more clients on the Chinese mainland in the future.