World-renowned architects expressed admiration for Hong Kong’s striking blend of nature and urbanism but voiced concerns about its dense living environment and safety risks. They shared their thoughts with The Standard during the three-day Business of Design Week summit, which kicked off yesterday.
Among the speakers were Italian design master Michele De Lucchi and Chinese visionary Ma Yansong, joined by around 50 global creative leaders including Carlo Ratti, Ron Arad, Tim Marlow, and designers from Ferragamo and EssilorLuxottica.
Running alongside BODW is the DesignInspire exhibition organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, featuring 260 local and international design brands, talks, workshops, and pavilions from French design authority Maison&Objet in addition to the Business of IP Asia Forum.
In an exclusive interview, Michele De Lucchi described Hong Kong as a city of contrasts – a “combination of the wilderness and jungle.” Now visiting for the third time since 2007, he expressed fascination with the city’s dense urban fabric and natural backdrop.
“I love the jungle because it is behind the skyscrapers,” De Lucchi said. “And this kind of density between nature and humans is astonishing.” While he noted the rise of glass and metal towers, he expressed a desire to see “more small tiny buildings,” suggesting a preference for more human-scale architecture.
However, the conversation turned somber when discussing urban safety. De Lucchi recounted a traumatic experience surviving a forest fire in southern Italy, where he had to jump into the sea to escape the flames. “It was horrible,” he said. “When you don’t have any escape, you feel trapped. When you feel trapped, it is horrible.”
Reflecting on the recent Tai Po fire, he acknowledged the emotional toll such disasters take on survivors. “I don’t have any suggestion [for the building environment],” he admitted, emphasizing that sometimes, shared human experience speaks louder than technical fixes.
Also reflecting on Hong Kong’s urban challenges was Ma Yansong, founder of MAD Architects, who called the city “very interesting” but difficult for innovative design. Despite past efforts – including several competition entries and a major hotel proposal for the Kai Tak site – none materialized. “It’s a bit of a shame … Opportunities in Hong Kong are inherently few,” Ma said.
He pointed to the city’s extreme density as a core issue. “People live too densely. Very tall buildings are right next to each other. This is really … too dense,” Ma said. He praised the surrounding mountains and sea for their beauty but lamented the lack of space for creative architecture. He briefly contrasted Hong Kong with Shenzhen, which created new space through land reclamation. However, he conceded Hong Kong might have “no great solution.”
Citing New York City as a model, Ma suggested zoning reforms that require buildings to “set back” at certain heights to allow sunlight and ventilation. “The key is to have regulations formulated starting from ‘living quality,’ not just because land is scarce,” he said. Such planning, he argued, could improve both safety and livability.
He also noted that innovation in residential design is difficult everywhere, often constrained by economic factors. Still, he offered a hopeful vision: “With today’s advanced AI and technology, should people live in spaces they don’t like? The future should still consider human needs.”
Also presenting at BODW was Brett Wightman, senior architect at global firm Populous and designer of the new Kai Tak Stadium. He described the design as using “simple, strong elements that go beyond language,” aiming for intuitive navigation and a deep understanding of fan culture. The stadium’s facade, which changes with the light throughout the day, was described as “a very elegant kind of form.”
Wightman added: “We spent a lot of time sculpting that form, but it is very simple.”
