Designer André Fu’s eclectic portfolio has won him recognition far beyond the borders of his native Hong Kong. In this exclusive interview for Perspective, CATHERINE SHAW talks to him about the way he views the spaces in which he works, and his penchant for collaborating with innovators
Shortly after returning to Hong Kong in 2004 to focus on developing his design studio, having gained a master’s degree in architecture at Cambridge University in the UK, André Fu was awarded a career-defining project: to create the interiors of Swire Properties’ new The Upper House hotel above the city’s prestigious shopping mall, Pacific Place.
When the 117-room hotel opened in 2009, unveiling Fu’s fresh, bespoke take on relaxed luxury, the thoughtfully curated monochromatic interiors not only set a decidedly elegant new benchmark for contemporary hospitality, but also firmly placed the soft-spoken young designer on the world’s design radar.
Nevertheless, while some designers might have been tempted to continue delivering more of the same winning aesthetic, Fu and his studio AFSO have instead gone on to create an eclectic, evolving portfolio, including a glass teahouse-inspired restaurant and glamorous spa at Villa La Coste in the French countryside, a secret boudoir-style apartment for Louis Vuitton’s VIP clients, and an avantgarde, one-night-only, pop-up urban landscape perched atop a Hong Kong harbour-front pier for fashion house COS.
This summer, Fu completed the interiors and a series of landscaped gardens for Kerry Hotels’ 16-storey, 546-room waterfront resort in Hung Hom, created an intimate, by-invitation members’ lounge, Pavilion, at Pacific Place, and unveiled a gleaming new art gallery in Tokyo.
He has also turned his attention to products, launching his own lifestyle brand in 2015 with a second collection of sophisticated, urban-inspired carpets for Tai Ping; his first range, conceived in 2011, is the brand’s best-selling product line. He’s also developed an intriguing artisanal scent with Argentine cult perfumer Julian Bedel, as well as handmade, modernist, architectural-style lamps in collaboration with Czech glass specialists Lasvit.
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Denne historien er fra September 2017-utgaven av Perspective.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Distinguished Practices
Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors recognises industry’s best.
Cross-Strait Exchange
HKIA Cross-Strait Architectural Design Symposium and Awards 2017 gathers design professionals from across the region.
Driven By Heritage
In 1914, the Maserati brothers opened the Officine Alfieri Maserati in Bologna, Italy. A little over a century on, it has introduced the Ghibli and Ghibli S to Hong Kong.
Vintage Italy, Courtesy Of Bali
Bali’s Da Maria Italian restaurant is bringing a little piece of the Amalfi Coast to the other side of the world.
Set In Stone
Phuket’s Indigo Pearl is now The Slate. Hotelier Prakaikaew Na-Ranong, heir to Thailand’s tin-mining pioneers, reveals her vision for its design.
Altered Egos
Angela Su's exhibition in Hong Kong places the artist squarely in the frame.
Smart And The City
The Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong) returns with multiple exhibitions across the territory showcasing the smartness of the city
Green Is The New Black
Tony Ip, Green Building Faculty member of the Hong Kong Green Building Council, suggests ways to create a healthy, happy and productive work environment
Bentayga: A Lavishly Stylish Spin
British automotive manufacturer Bentley Motors has yet again redefined luxury and style with its foray into the SUV market, bringing a modern touch of class to the all-new, ultra-luxury Bentayga
The House Of Hoppen
After 40 years of designing singular interiors for the world’s most remarkable homes, interior designer Kelly Hoppen is bringing her considerable talents to a new furniture line, a chain of stores – and a cruise liner
