Sands Corporation have been shortlist in 2 Categories in The International Hotel and Property Awards 2021.

Name: Steve Leung
Company: Steve Leung Design Group Position within company: Founder
Website:www.sldgroup.com

Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)
I decided to become an architect around the young age of ten. I grew up watching my uncle, a professional architect, working late at night on his drawings: I was so fascinated and motivated that I could not resist but follow his footsteps.

Fast forward few years, I graduated from The University of Hong Kong (HKU)’s Architectural Studies in 1978, and obtained my Master degree in Urban Planning also from HKU in 1986. After working as assistant architect, building surveyor and project manager, I felt like I gained an all-rounded understanding of the industry, and I decided to establish my own architectural and urban planning consultancy in 1987. In 1997, I restructured the company into Steve Leung Architects Ltd. (SLA) & Steve Leung Designers Ltd. (SLD), focusing more on interior design projects. I have been working as an architect, interior and product designer for over 30 years now, and I still enjoy and explore design with new, exciting projects.

How would you describe your personal interior design style?
“Enjoy Life, Enjoy Design” is my motto.
I believe a designer must enjoy life and aspire to achieve excellent living standards. To me, quality of life is not synonymous with extravagance: it is, instead, a specific attitude to life, a constant drive to improve yourself, your community and the surrounding environment. This is why my design approach is always human-centred: I see good design as a balanced mix of aesthetics and functionality, and a powerful tool to serve people in the best way possible.

Many people would describe my style as minimalist, but I do not like this label. In fact, I do not really stick to any particular design style, as I feel this would affect and constrain my creativity. I would however say I am an advocate of contemporary style and clean lines: I prefer minimal, elegant, and functional designs, which incorporate unique cultural and artistic elements relevant to each particular project, with a subtle Asian touch reflecting my roots. My design approach is also a mirror of my own way of living: simple, but refined; practical, yet with an accentuated artistic feel.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
Creativity is my way of living.
I think it is possible to always find great source of inspiration even in the smallest detail, if you are keen to look at the so-called “ordinary” from new angles. Everyday life constantly inspires me: what I see, what I hear, whom I meet, are all precious connections of life, art and design. I also treasure my travelling experiences that allowed me to reflect, discover and be content: nothing makes me more grateful than sharing happiness with others through my design.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
I believe that the interior design industry is increasingly embracing the rising trend of eco-friendly lifestyles, encouraging holistic and sustainable practices. Design is playing a more defined role in tackling with environmental challenges, with green building standards like LEED and WELL growingly considered and adopted.

Smart technologies are also becoming widespread, with IoT providing a higher degree of customization deeply connecting interior design and technology to create more personalized and functional spaces.

Lastly, increased space flexibility will also set a new trend in the industry. For instance, in the post-COVID-19 era, houses will definitely rely on a space designed to be extra-flexible and multi-functional, blurring the lines of traditional dynamics between our homes and traditional workplaces.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2020 and beyond.
Sustainability, Biophilia, Wellness, Smart-Technology, Flexibility

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to interior design schemes, what would it be?
I would definitely suggest to always keep in mind the final user’s needs and how the design outcome would be able to meet client’s expectations and improve their living experience.  

Interior design, unlike pure art, is all about creating beautiful and functional spaces to serve a specific purpose, be that a residence or an entertaining space. Therefore, I always adopt a human-centred approach that helps me to achieve a design with a balanced mix of aesthetics and functionality, able to improve user’s experience and living standards. In a broader sense, design is also a powerful tool to tackle today’s societal and environmental issues for the greatest good of our community.

How important are The International Hotel & Property Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?
Throughout the ten years since its inception, The International Hotel & Property Awards has always been supporting the growth of the global design community, looking for ground breaking and visionary designs that could shuffle our traditional way of living and working.

What projects are you currently working on?
At the moment, I am involved in a number of exciting projects overseas – such as luxury serviced apartments and hotel rooms for The Address Harbour Point in Dubai Creek, a major development area for Dubai; eco-friendly residences for a Smart and Sustainable Ecocity in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and an elegant Chinese restaurant for the Mandarin Oriental in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.

I am also working on some personal projects, where I can enjoy complete creative freedom. Last year, for example, I personally designed OOAK Lamma and OOAK Niseko: the former being a private leisure space on Lamma island in Hong Kong, and the latter a private resort in my favourite Japanese skiing town. The design of these two projects is very personal: a clear reflection of my life philosophy expressed through simple and functional lines paired with a touch of lively artworks. In the next years, I am planning to further develop OOAK (which stands for One-Of-A-Kind) into a boutique hotel, embodying my motto “Enjoy Life, Enjoy Design” as a signature brand to offer a quick glimpse of Steve Leung’s lifestyle to all design enthusiasts.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
I do not really have a favourite project in mind, as I see all of them like my own babies! However, if I would really need to pick one, I would probably say my most memorable project is the show flat designed for Symphony Bay (Hong Kong) in 1997, which was also my very first show flat design challenge.

At that time, more than 90% of luxury show flats were designed in Western classical style. Nonetheless, I thought a sense of luxury could have also be expressed in a different way: when designing for Symphony Bay, I decided to take the risk in breaking traditional conventions by employing a more contemporary design approach and a generous use of natural elements and materials. It definitely was a gamble for both client and my own reputation, but it was incredibly well received, becoming a ground-breaking moment for Hong Kong’s highly competitive residential market.

Having said so, I am an optimistic and positive person, and I love challenges of all sorts! This is why I see every project as truly unique, a great source of inspiration to overcome difficulties and strive to always do better.  

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?
My pen and sketchbook.
Unlike younger designers who prefer to use their laptops or iPad, I am quite traditional and, to be honest, not too much into “technology”. I like jotting down my inspirations on a sketch note: this tangible process helps me to expand my creative ideas and visualize the final design outcome.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
Apart from some important international and personal projects, I am slowly stepping down from a full-time regime at SLD, allowing more freedom to my design teams in terms of projects’ creativity and management.

Regarding my future plans, I definitely want to focus more on giving back to society. I desire to share my own experience, knowledge and, most importantly, passion with the rest of the design community. I also hope to bring some sort of inspiration for the next generation of designers, passing on the spirit and making our industry flourish. For example, this year I will be engaged as one of the juries for DFA Awards (Design for Asia Awards) and IFI GAP (Global Awards Program) to recognize and encourage design excellence at both regional and world-scale level.

Final thoughts: tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:
Your most treasured possession/s? Health and time.
Your favourite holiday destination? Italy: I am a true admirer of the Roman architecture, and I absolutely love Italian cuisine!
Niseko in Japan is also one of my most favourite holiday destinations. For many years, I have been visiting the town on a ski trip with my family, enjoying its stunning natural landscape and quality time. Since I go there so often, I decided to work with a local architect and build my own “holiday dream house” there.
Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar? Bulgari Hotels: I admire the exquisite architecture and interiors curated by some of my favourite architects and interior designers, the Italian duo Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel. I am also always impressed by the hotel’s impeccable service every time I pay a visit. Ta-ke, Hong Kong: this biophilic Japanese restaurant is my debut collaboration with acclaimed Japanese master Kengo Kuma, serving some of the freshest Japanese cuisine in Hong Kong! The St. Regis Bar, Macao: every time I go there for a drink, I always spoilt by its exquisite and bespoke design touches.
Your favourite book, film & song? Favourite book: Le Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscapes, by Jean-Louis Cohen and Le Corbusier. Favourite song:The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel
Your favourite food and drink? Favourite food: Italian and Japanese cuisine. Favourite drink: Hong Kong-style milk tea
Your favourite way to spend an afternoon? As a true nature lover and keen boater, the perfect way to spend an afternoon would definitely be yachting around Hong Kong with my family and closest friends. If I need some “me” time, I also love playing with my dog and reading design magazines sipping a good cup of coffee.

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
Movie director.

Anything else interesting?
I would like to quickly talk about C Foundation, a personal initiative very close to my heart.
Back in 2014, I founded C Foundation together with nine designers from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan: our aim was to nurture young designers and design education within the region. Me and my fellow peers all believe in the tremendous potential of the next creative leaders: as senior designers, it is our moral obligation to unleash their potential by inspiring them to bring a positive impact to our communities.