2025 was a particularly strong and rewarding year for us, and that success is undoubtedly the result of the collective effort behind each project.
Johnny Li is the principal and managing director of AB Concept, a globally renowned design studio founded in Hong Kong in 1999 by architect Terence Ngan and interior designer Ed Ng. Li studied architecture in Scotland and furthered his education in the Netherlands.
What would you say is your proudest project of 2025?
2025 was a particularly strong and rewarding year for us, and that success is undoubtedly the result of the collective effort behind each project. Every design demands an exceptional level of care, from the initial concept to the refinement of the smallest details, and I am deeply proud of the team’s dedication and discipline in delivering work of such high quality.
Choosing a single project is not easy, but a few milestones stand out. Song at Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou Centre was especially meaningful, having received several international awards recognizing the depth of thinking and craftsmanship involved. We also completed Akira Back in Hong Kong, as well as China’s first Spago by Wolfgang Puck at The St. Regis Shanghai at the Bund – both significant projects in terms of scale, collaboration, and cultural context.
Collectively, these works reflect the strength and versatility of our portfolio and our ability to translate distinct culinary identities into thoughtful, memorable spatial experiences across different cities and cultures.
If your architectural or interior design work were a person, what MBTI type would it be?
I would say ENTJ. Our work is always driven by clarity, strategy, and leadership. I believe our colleagues here share a common mindset: moving with intention toward a clear goal while embracing challenges as opportunities to grow stronger. Driven by ambition and collective effort, we are always pushing forward together for better and better projects and results.
Any interesting projects in your pipeline for 2026?
If 2025 was about momentum, then 2026 is about turning that momentum into adventure. It is a year in which we are channeling the confidence we have built into exploring new territories and taking on more ambitious challenges.
We have several major projects underway, including Rosewood Red Sea and Shangri-La Kyoto, alongside a number of top-tier hospitality and mixed-use developments across key global cities. At the same time, we are intentionally pushing beyond our traditional boundaries, testing new ideas, new scales, and new ways of working.
Many of these initiatives are still unfolding, but they signal an important next chapter for AB Concept. The direction is clear: we are evolving, expanding our creative reach, and redefining what the studio can become.
