Hong Kong Design Centre

O STUDIO ARCHITECTS is an architectural practice devoted to the contemplation, research and design of the contemporary built environment. The practice works internationally on cultural, institutional, commercial and residential projects, providing full architecture, master planning, urban design and interior design services.

O Studio Architects has recently focused on projects at the Pearl River Delta, China. The practice is currently developing design for eco-city, high-end residential projects, Chinese opera house, artist village, elderly housing, hotel and museums in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Dongguan and more.

PEOPLE

Born in Guangzhou China, FAI AU is the founder and principal of O Studio Architects. He received his Master in Design Studies from Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Master of Art in Philosophy from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is a registered architect in Hong Kong and a member of Hong Kong Institute of Architects. He is the champion of 2007 Hong Kong Young Architects Award, the nominee of 2010 China Architecture Media Award, Young Architect Prize and the winner of 2012 Perspective 40 under 40 award.

Fai Au previously practiced as senior designer at the world’s renowned architectural practice, Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in Rotterdam. He was also the founding director of ADARC Associates Limited from 2005 to 2008. In 2009 Fai Au found O Studio Architects and led his design team to deliver various award-winning projects including: Church of Seed (Medal of the Year outside Hong Kong, 2011 HKIA Annual Award; winner of 2011 World Architecture Community Award); San Diego East Village Art District Development (Runner-up of 2010 ULI/Gerald D. Hines Urban Design Competition); Fanling Classic Car Museum (Winner of 2007 Hong Kong Young Architects Award Design Competition).

Fai Au previously taught Master of Architecture design studio in the Chinese university of Hong Kong. He sits frequently as guest critics for design reviews in University of Hong Kong and Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is currently teaching design studio for HKUSPACE program.

DESIGN APPROACH

Our design approach evolves constantly during the process of our self reflection and criticism. Our current thoughts on design can be summarized by three key words: Research, Resilience, and Resistance.

Research The contemporary built environment has become fast, complex and vivacious. Whilst we emphasize on fulfilling clients' needs and the efficient way of project delivery, we do treasure the discreet and detailed research activities in the design process of every project. We believe there are latent factors in every unique project which could bring additional values to the client. For instance, cultural elements could bring branding value to commercial projects, or vice versa, commercial elements could bring self sustainability to cultural projects. Research activities being conducted during early design stage could help us to find out these latent values and incorporate them into our design consideration. During these research activities, we also intensely question on various conventional concepts of planning, function, form and space in order to find out innovative yet pragmatic solutions for our clients.

Resilience We do not favor a rigid and personal design style or methodology for our clients, and we do not see it as marketing strategy. In fact this is ignorance to the various cultures regarding living, construction, communication and design. We seek for resilience in terms of design strategies, working methodologies and team collaborations. We consider different types of spatial logics and usages for different cultures of living; develop different design methodologies and detailing techniques for different cultures of construction; test different modes of team collaboration for different cultures of communication; gain multi-dimensional inspiration from different cultures of design.

Resistance We maintain resistance to the two hottest topics in the field of architecture today - computational form making and green building design. We are proficient in computational design and interested in formal expression, but we resist the over-exuberant production of architectural forms by the fast and convenient computational tools. We favor environmental friendly design, but we resist the over-produced green roofs and sky gardens born under the slogan of green design, and the over-complicated technology being developed for energy - saving purpose. We intend to pursuit form - making and sustainable design with a primitive and fundamental approach.

Besides the importance of accomplishing basic design tasks and problem-solving in the design stage, we emphasize on the high quality of realized built works. We seek for the well balance between the rationality of construction and the poetic expression of form, space and material.

AWARD

Merit Award, 2012 HKIA Annual Award for Projects outside Hong Kong - Luofu Mountain Museum (ADARC Associates Ltd. with Fai Au) Certificate of Excellence, 2012 Perspective Awards - Church of Seed Short-listed, 2012 WKCD Xiqu Center Design Competition - Foster + Partners with O Studio Architects Medal of the Year, 2011 HKIA Annual Award for Projects outside Hong Kong - Church of Seed Winner, 2011 World Architecture Community Award - Church of Seed Short-listed, 2011 HKIA Annual Award, Merit Award of Project outside Hong Kong - Church of Seed Short-listed, 2011 World Architecture Community Award - Fanling Classic Car Museum Nomiee, 2010 China Media Architecture award, Young Architect Prize - Fai Au Runner-Up, 2010 ULI/Gerald D. Hines Urban Design Competition - East Village Art District Champion, 2007 Hong Kong Young Architect Award - Fai Au First Prize, 2007 HKYAA Design Competition - Fanling Classic Car Museum Honorable Mention, 2006 East Asian Game Thematic Venue Design Competition
- EAG Thematic Venue Design