Make Architects was founded by British architect Ken Shuttleworth, who worked on some of the most iconic buildings in the world during his time at highly lauded architecture firm Foster + Partners. Since launching in 2004, Make has created a variety of stunning high-rises, residential and office developments, and interiors. Its most recent project, luxury five-star hotel The Temple House in Chengdu, opened in July 2015. We speak to Roderick Tong, general manager at Make Architects Hong Kong, about The Temple House and Make’s unique approach to design.

What were some of the design inspirations behind The Temple House?
We tried to convey the personality, history, traditions and landscape of Chengdu as much as possible in the design of The Temple House. The materiality of the city-facing brick facades of the hotel and apartment segments were inspired by the local brocade production that Chengdu is famous for, with facade panels formed of brick and woven in brass elements, and certain sections of brick featuring textured or gapped effects. Furthermore, the light wells are not unlike inverted terraced hillsides when seen from beneath. The terracing effect was echoed even more dramatically in the design of the grand staircase that connects the ground floor reception area to the courtyard. We also took inspiration from the timber screens in the Bitieshi entrance building as the anchor and entrance point for the hotel.

How do you root a project within its cultural context?
The history and culture of the place, as well as the tradition and the landscape, are all perfect ingredients from which we take inspiration. While subtly integrating these elements into our design, the emphasis is also on bringing something contemporary – for example, the methods of constructing the buildings – into the project with our international and global experience. For The Temple House, our design aims to harmonise the old and the new, and respect and preserve the site’s historic buildings by integrating them into the hotel. The beautifully restored Qing Dynasty heritage building anchors and forms the entrance point to the hotel, and played a massive role in the overall design.

What would be your dream project?
For any architects originating from or working in Hong Kong, I’m sure that our dream would be to instil a perception in the general public that architecture is not just about the property market – but also about creating better cityscapes, social spaces, culture and values that will enrich the lives of human beings, from bus stops to homeless shelters.

Any new projects in the works?
We have been working on the architecture and interiors for a massive high-end hotel resort complex in Zhuhai. Two projects have also recently started here – a 32-storey residential tower in Wan Chai and a hotel with private training facilities in Lantau, which will be one of the most sustainable buildings in Hong Kong when completed. Both will be finished in 2017.

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