Design Anthology - Asia Pacific Edition
Creative Space, Hong Kong
We take a look inside the characteristically refined new office of André Fu’s Hong Kong-based studio AFSO
Onentering design studio AFSO’s new Hong Kong office space, a circular window in the lift lobby affords a precursory glimpse both of the physical space and the world of the studio’s founder, renowned architect and designer André Fu. A milkygreen onyx tabletop shimmers under the soft glow of a custom pendant; on it sits a contemporary flower arrangement by local florist and frequent collaborator Gary Kwok. Japanese in inspiration, the foliage balances delicately atop a ceramic vessel. Directly behind, a floor-to-ceiling shelving unit displays a number of product prototypes, from ceramic dinnerware to bronze vessels and glassware. The artfully arranged mise en scène is not only a welcoming display for visitors but also a canvas onto which Fu can curate the products AFSO has designed for his new eponymous brand, André Fu Living.
A harmonious melody of materials continues throughout the space, from the textured wool floor covering in the conference room to the customised hardware and cast-glass light fixtures, all set against a backdrop of serene and supremely elegant smoked-oak tones. The space is punctuated by gallery-worthy art pieces that the designer has purchased himself — a signature touch. But aesthetics aside, there’s more going on here than meets the eye, and Fu would be disappointed to be typecast as simply the designer or decorator of a given hotel.
Fu recognised that the layout and design of a workspace can affect both a team’s working style and culture, so it became a priority to find a space with high ceilings and an open view, both rarities in Hong Kong. The Cambridge-trained Fu approached the new space as he does every project: by rationalising the available space. In his new studio, that meant creating a series of more interactive spaces — from the casual meeting hub at the reception and the more formal conference space to the pantry that doubles as the material board production area. These more regularly animated spaces facilitate the kind of teamwork required to realise the multiple projects and products, of varying scales and geographic locations, on which AFSO is working at any given time.
Reflecting the nature and calibre of AFSO’s work, Fu has eschewed predictable office decor and has instead incorporated elements and details that either feel more like a luxury residence or wouldn’t look out of place in one of his five-star hotel projects. As a result, the team can enjoy the benefits of working in a truly inspiring space that’s also an exemplar of the studio’s holistic vision.
Top and bottom left
Artworks from Fu’s collection, such as the one by New York-based
Mika Tajima (above) and a timber sculpture by South Korean artist
Jae Hyo Lee (below), add other inspiring touches to the more formal working spaces
Bottom right
Copies of Fu’s new book Crossing Cultures with Design line one of the shelves