In honour of International Women's Day, we had the privilege of speaking with a few of Hong Kong's accomplished female founders and designers in the field of interior design.
These inspiring women shared their stories of success a profession typically dominated by men and shared with us a look at some projects that exemplify their remarkable skill, originality and distinct viewpoints.
Joyce Wang Studio: Joyce Wang
Joyce Wang is the founder and principal of distinguished interior design firm Joyce Wang Studio. Based in both Hong Kong and London, the Studio boasts a dynamic team of international professionals, each contributing unique cultural insights and creative abilities who imbue every project with a universal global spirit and unique flair. An MIT graduate in architecture and materials science, and a Master’s recipient from the RCA, Wang upholds the belief that the built environment has a profound impact on the human experience.
When asked to name projects she's proud of recently, a few came to mind. One of which is Carna, a restaurant helmed by the legendary butcher Dario Cecchini, and also Joyce Wang Studio's first project with The Mondrian Hotel. "We reinterpreted the space taking forms and materials reminiscent of Italian architecture seen in churches; drawing parallels of craftsmanship and precision denoting sacred cuts of meat by Dario's artisanal approach," she shares. "The restaurant unveils layers of surprises; featuring a custom-illustrated stained glass design inspired by cathedral glass telling a story of God’s feast, a glowing back bar, atmospheric light fittings and polished plaster throughout infuse the space with vibrant colours."
Another one is The Magistracy, a former Supreme Court dating back to the late 1980s and stood empty until Black Sheep hospitality decided to take over the space. "For me, it is an honour to work on such a rare gem of a site in Hong Kong. The historical significance will be preserved through design whilst giving relevance to future generations to enjoy and be proud of their heritage. The first phase was launched early this year. It is an evocative homage to heritage colonial architecture, with two main dining areas taking cues from English eccentricity and the botanical garden inspired by the verdant greenery of English gardens," said Joyce. "Each area tells a unique story; materials such as rich hues of oxblood leather that are often found on Chesterfield armchairs inside the old institutional buildings across Europe; and verdure scenic wall-covering based upon various gardens depicted throughout history adorned with antiques to add old- world charm transports guests back in time. Early next year, we will be unveiling two restaurants, three bars and four private dining rooms with an elevated sports room."
One Plus: Virginia Lung
One Plus Partnership was founded in 2004 by directors Ajax Law and Virginia Lung. It designs a variety of commercial venues, including cinemas, retail stores, clubhouses, sales offices, F&B, and commercial offices. Every project that One Plus designs must be theme-driven, which means the designers will search for a theme that matches the project and incorporate related elements into every detail. Its goal is to improve on the previous project it designed, and to be as unique as possible.
Virginia has been honored with 660 international awards for her designs of cinemas, restaurants, retail stores, club houses and sales offices. Among her many accomplishments, she has won 10 Iconic Design Awards, the most Best of Best Awards in history, and the prestigious Frame Awards - Cinema of the Year Award. Her projects have been showcased globally, including at the Venice Biennale 2016. In addition to her impressive design work, Virginia is a columnist for JESSICA Magazine and has previously written for Hong Kong Standard and Sing Tao Daily.
Virginia's team took on three remarkable projects last year that she holds in high esteem. Speaking about the first project, Exploded Cinema, she said, "This cinema project was a very successful case of final completion. The overall design and presentation of the final space was very mature and scores the highest in our minds and can be considered our masterpiece."
Turning to the Novo Land Sales Gallery, Virginia stated, "We adopted an innovative approach to realise this project which is very different from the previous sales centres in Hong Kong, whose feeling is always luxurious because of the high price of the property. The client wanted to present the Scandinavian lifestyle in the space and we involved R&D and artistic approaches into the design process to bring people a natural feeling and the possibility of imagination. In the end, both we and the client were very satisfied with the spatial effect presented."
Lastly, Virginia talked about the Chow Tai Fook Hong Kong Yoho Mall Shop, saying, "This jewellery store was a huge breakthrough in this type of interior design as it’s different from traditional jewellery store designs. Thus, it brought out the follow-up of almost 40 distinguished jewellery store designs for the same brand Chow Tai Fook. We also suggested the concept of “one city, one story” for the brand."
Liquid Interiors: Rowena Gonzales
Under the leadership of designer Rowena Gonzales, Liquid Interiors' core mission is to infuse sustainability and wellness into urban living spaces. The company showcases a rich portfolio spanning bespoke residential, residential development, workplaces, education, community, and wellness spaces located in Hong Kong, China and Europe.
Canadian-born Gonzales draws inspiration from her father's upbringing on a rice farm in the Philippines, where sustainability and the consequences of harmful practices were woven into the fabric of daily life. This eco-conscious foundation has acted as a guiding light throughout Gonzales's professional path, particularly when she established her business over a decade and a half ago. A profound moment of introspection arose when Gonzales witnessed her nephew's battle with cancer, igniting a transformative chapter in her personal journey and kindling a fervent desire to unravel the intricate relationship between our surroundings and well-being. This pivotal experience propelled her into the realm of interior design studies, where she immersed herself in the scientific intricacies of the built environment and its profound influence on human health. Becoming a mother herself also further solidified Gonzales' dedication to her design ethos.
Gonzales and her team at Liquid Interiors are immensely proud of several remarkable projects completed last year. Notably, "Urban Hytte: Nordic Haven" and "Organic Minimalism", two luxurious residential homes, highlight their design expertise and unwavering commitment to excellence.
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