Design Workshop with OMA

Halfway through our process, we presented our studies to Lead8, an international architecture and design firm based in Hong Kong. We spoke directly with two of the company’s esteemed retail design leaders, Lead8 Co-Founder & Executive Director Simon Chua and Project Leader Kenji Wong, about the role of architects and developers in building large retail spaces in China.

Simon Chua, Co-Founder of Lead8

“Physical needs of humans will never change” - SC

“Seasonality in Hong Kong means more turnover of clothing collections, and is critical to the mall’s capital in society” - SC Kenji Wong, Project Leader at Lead8

“China is increasing services at a trememndous rate” - KW

“It is because of the mixed zoning practice in Asia that cities promote an overlap of shopping, living and working.” - SC

“Malls employ air conditioning to set visitors at ease - once you’re comfotable then you can be enticed to spend money on other things” - SC

Benjamin Li, Hong Kong Design Trust

“10 years ago malls were engineered to sell... Today malls focus more on the comfort of customers, much more focus on high quality experience.” - SC