FHKIA RIBA AIA(Hons) JP

Christopher Law is an acknowledged leading expert on sustainable urban regeneration. He advises governments and the corporate sector, frequently speaks in international conferences and in the media on the subject. He is an ardent supporter of community development and encourages this form of engagement across social, ecological, and economic capital aspects in the placemaking process.

Chris founded the Oval Partnership with Patrick Bruce in 1992, and is a director of its subsidiary, the sustainable and smart city action research group INTEGER that develops many ground-breaking initiatives in sustainable development, notably the world’s first in the use of structural laminated bamboo in multi-storey buildings. Under his leadership the Oval Partnership developed the Open City design principle and transmedia narrative methodology, manifested in the award-winning Sanlitun Taikoo Li Beijing and Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu projects. He is member of a number of public sector committees in Hong Kong including the Antiquities Advisory Board, the Urban Design Advisory Group of the Development Bureau, the Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong/Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, and the Development Committee of the West Kowloon Cultural District. He is Chairman of the UNESCO top award-winning heritage conservation and community participatory Viva Blue House in Hong Kong, and the Community Development Committee of the St James' Settlement. He is the chief curator and founder of the public space action research organization Very Hong Kong. The Venice Biennale Hong Kong Pavilion 2012 on urban regeneration of Kowloon East, curated by Chris was selected as the top 5 globally by The Architects’ Journal.  A graduate of Bartlett School of Architecture UCL, Chris' projects have received awards from the Royal Institute of British Architects, The Royal Academy of Arts, The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, The Hong Kong Institute of Planners, The Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design, Urban Land Institute and World Architecture Festival. He was made an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects for his contribution to Architecture. He is a Justice of the Peace of the Hong Kong SAR.

BA(Hons) MBA FCSD

Patrick Bruce is an internationally renowned advisor in lifestyle development strategy and retail design. He has been advising many top global and regional retail brands including Hermes and Salvatore Ferragamo. In addition to his strategic advisory work, he has an innate ability to solve complex issues, and brings an attention to detail and quality.

Patrick Bruce has over 40 years of design experience in the consultancy, industrial manufacturing and education sectors and is a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers. He has substantial experience in the UK and South Africa, and in Asia, where he has lived for 30 years. He was Commercial Director for the Conran Design Group in London in the 1980s and was Managing Director of Conran Design Pacific in Hong Kong from 1988 to 1992. Patrick is a founding member of the Oval Partnership group of companies and is a Founding Director of the Oval Partnership Ltd. He is a director of INTEGER Intelligent and Green Ltd in the UK, a sister company of the Oval Partnership. Patrick has led and implemented projects across the Asia Pacific region, ranging from retail and marketing studies for retail brands such as Harry Winston, Shell, MTRC, to rollout and project management for Hermes, Bally, Salvatore Ferragamo, DAKS, Gucci, Versace, and Fendi, as well as design and development programs for airport retailing, and brand development for retail success stories such as Giada in China, and across a variety of hospitality projects. 

BSSc (Hons) Dip Arch RIBA

Sada Lam has substantial experience in devising development strategy and designing numerous award winning large scale projects at both domestic and international levels and is particularly well known for this ability at handling the complexity of urban regeneration, TOD and mixed-use developments. He has unrivalled track record in interpreting complex urban issues including socio-economics, stakeholder dynamics, innovation, heritage and culture that contribute to creating sustainable and vibrant communities with compelling sense of place and in delivering the project.

Sada has been appointed a member of the board of director since 2006. He studied architecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Cambridge. He is the director-in-charge of Sanlitun Taikoo Li Beijing and the Zhang Yuan urban regeneration project in Shanghai for Swire Properties, and has led the design and execution of over 20 large scale mixed-use and TOD projects in the region. These include high-profile city centre developments in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Nanjing, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuhan, Kunming,  Xi'an, Huizhou, Macau and Hong Kong. He taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong between 2002 and 2003, and was Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong Department of Architecture between 2003 and 2007. He was a co-curator of the Venice Biennale Hong Kong Pavilion in 2012. Father of twins, Sada is studying for a Global Executive MBA at the Hong Kong University, the London Business School and Columbia Business School.

BArch (Hons)  MArch  PhD Arch

Lin Hao’s substantial expertise spans across city revitalisation, public space creation, and sustainable creative design. He specialises in embedding cultural and historical assets in commercial projects, and creating a corresponding sense of space through cultural heritage endeavours, while achieving the objectives of urban sustainability.

Dr. Lin Hao was born in Beijing. He received his Bachelor of Architecture at Tsinghua University, Master of Architecture at the University of California at Berkeley and PhD at the University of Cambridge. He is Adjunct Associate Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, as well as Managing Director of INTEGER and Director of the Oval Partnership. His other roles include Deputy Chief Editor of Eco City and Green Building Magazine, Co-Founder of Rural Community Development Group, member of the WAN Award International Jury and WA Chinese Architecture Award Jury, as well as Founding Member of APA Committee of the Institute of Chinese Architects.

Projects under Lin’s leadership range from: Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu, Innhouse Kunming, 1 Hotel Haitang Bay,  and Xiamen Oceanfront Hyatt Centric, to KPMG-CCTF Community Centre, Swire-CCTF Bamboo Community Centre,  INTEGER bamboo house and 1 Hotel Haitang Bay. His achievements have been awarded many prestigious accolades, including RIBA International Awards, WAF Awards, WAN Awards, ULI Global Awards for Excellence, Design for Asia Grand and Gold Awards, ARCASIA Awards, HKIA Annual Awards, HKIA Cross-Strait Architectural Design Gold Award and the Architectural Society of China Gold Award. Lin’s works are also collected by the Architecture Museum of Tong Ji University and Guan Shan Yue Art Gallery. His latest publication is a book titled, “Green Design for the Future”.

BA (Hons) Dip. Arch RIBA HKIA HKICON

James Pierce has over 27 years of experience in designing and delivering world large scale  integrated development involving urban rail and surrounding land uses. He is also a specialist in the field of architectural conservation. The historic Star Street Urban Regeneration Project for Swire Properties won the highest award of all the entries in the year from the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design.

James Pierce joined the Oval Partnership as project director in 2006. Having graduated from University of Plymouth UK in Architecture, he moved to Hong Kong in 1993 where he pursued post graduate studies in architectural conservation at the University of Hong Kong. James is based in the Hong Kong office and currently responsible for design production, bringing over 25 years’ experience in master planning, architectural and urban design to the table, predominantly within the Asian context. Covering retail, residential, academic, institutional and cultural developments, recent works include the adaptive re-use of heritage buildings and revitalisation of old urban areas of Hong Kong.

In his former role, James amassed a diverse range of experience as design team leader with Anthony Ng Architects Ltd. Those projects include the award winning Tung Chung New Town development encompassing the Citygate development for Swire Properties; property development studies for KCR SCL200; concept designs for the West Kowloon Cultural Centre; Central Ferry Pier development; environmental design and implementation of the award winning Verbena Heights Eco-Housing development; innovative designs for high-rise public housing; and the environmental sciences building at Peking University. His previous project experience with other Hong Kong practices ranges from design and tender packages for the Venetian Hotel, Macau to Qatar Petroleum’s new Corporate Headquarters in Qatar.

Bsc., Dip. Arch. (UCL), RIBA, ARB Reg

Jonathan Pile has extensive experience in leading world class master-planning projects in numerous countries across the globe, from Europe, Africa, to Asia, therefore development-related issues such as urban research and design take prominence in his work. Incorporating sustainable and environmentally protective concepts into his designs is his priority, in order to create greener and more liveable urban environments.

Jonathan Pile is Director of Oval Partnership Architecture Ltd, the London based design studio of Oval Partnership. He graduated from and completed his professional qualifications at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, where he was awarded the Bartlett prize two years in succession. From 1985-1992 he was a director at Conran Roche Architects, where he was responsible for numerous master-planning and urban design proposals across the UK and in Europe, particularly concentrating on the regeneration of former industrial waterfront areas and the planning of new small settlements in ecologically sensitive locations.

Jonathan has been working on sustainability-driven projects in Asia since 1992 and lived in Hong Kong for five years before returning to London where he is now based. He ran his own practice for twelve years before joining Oval full-time in 2010. In 2016, in collaboration with Brock Carmichael Architects, he led the winning team in the RIBA International Competition to devise sustainable strategies for the remote island of Tristan da Cunha. His work has been exhibited at the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Architectural Association and the Royal Academy. His South London House received the RIBA London Award 2019.

AA Inter Grad Dip Arch (Dist) PgDip UK ARB RIBA

Justin Lau is a multiple award-winning architect. He received professional western architectural training in world class practices such as Richard Rogers and Partners, but supported by a profoundly traditional Chinese cultural background, which is often demonstrated in the finest details of his design. He also has a remarkable flair for asset enhancement to create additional value for existing projects.

Justin Lau is a UK registered Architect; he studied architecture at the Architectural Association and the University of Westminster, graduating with distinction. Before joining the Oval Partnership, Justin held lead design roles in multiple international practices in the UK, and has over 17 years’ architectural design and management experience. Justin believes good placemaking can create a positive attribute to bring people together. His notable projects include the award-winning Qujiang Creative Cultural Centre at Xi’an, the Temple House Hotel at Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu, and a series of heritage conservation projects at Harrods.

Justin is currently engaged on a spectrum of cultural mixed-use development projects in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chongqing, Chengdu, Nanning, and the Greater Bay Area, where the scope of work covers retail planning, asset enhancement, hospitality with a complete integrated interior architecture to provide a holistic creative and sustainable framework spanning across all scales — from citywide to the most intricate of human environment. The recently completed Qujiang Creative Cultural Centre in Xi’an has won multiple global highly esteemed design accolades, from the likes of WIN World Interior News Gold Award, DFA Design for Asia Most Influential Design Bronze Award, FX Awards Public Space and Global Project Awards, as well as Frame Awards People’s Choice Award - Cultural Space of the Year, etc.

Justin is a RIBA International validation board member. He is a regular design critic for the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. From 2008 to 2016, he lectured at a number of architectural institutes, including Bartlett School of Architecture, Royal College of Art, Oxford Brookes University, and Ecole Spéciale School of Architecture. Numerous academic research projects under Justin’s supervision have too, received international recognition, including finalist of the RIBA Presidential medal on four consecutive occasions.

BA(Hons) BArch Dip Arch RIBA ARB(UK)

Li Ronghao excels at designing, organizing and managing project teams. He focuses on bringing added value to a wide range of projects, using his expertise to integrate environmental, cultural and economic components into the architectural setting.

Born and raised in Beijing, Ronghao Li studied Architecture at Manchester University where he received a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Bachelor of Architecture. He became a registered architect ARB and Royal Chartered Architect RIBA in the UK.

Ronghao has design, management and field experience in large-scale international commercial projects. He worked in a number of international architectural design firms in the UK for over 10 years and was the key person-in-charge of various challenging and complex projects. He has participated in many large-scale international commercial developments, including Newport Commercial Centre UK, Beijing DongHua International Plaza China, Nottingham Lister Gate Shopping Centre UK, Cambridge Central Library UK and BBC Media City Mixed-Use Development in Manchester. Ronghao was project director for the Swire Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li development, which has won several international awards, including the WAF (World Architecture Festival) Awards, ULI Global Awards for Excellence, DFA Design for Asia Awards Grand Award.

As a project director, Ronghao provides the leadership and design direction of key projects in China. He is also the business development director for Greater China, responsible for driving business growth and managing client liaison.

B.Arch (Cornell) M.S. AAD (Columbia) Registered Architect (New York, US)

Wendy Tsai has an extraordinary talent for penetrating insight of project needs and creating powerful storytelling of project design by drawing on the latest trends and diverse lifestyles. Added value is often underlined through her overall designs, while aiming to create unique user experiences that stand apart from prevailing market norms.

Born in Taiwan and raised in California, Wendy Tsai’s ethos and approach strikes a balance between both her Eastern and Western backgrounds as Project Director at the Oval Partnership. She studied Architecture at Cornell University and then at Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation, before working in New York and Shanghai, during which time she was mentored by Leslie Gills and Rafael de Cardenas. She has over nine years’ experience on projects in China as well as international commissions of various scales, their emphasis largely retail and hospitality oriented. Wendy was a design lead at the multi-disciplinary practice Neri&Hu, where she completed projects that have considerable global influence such as Lane Crawford, MCM, Vanke, Shui On, New World Group and Bloomberg. One of the Bloomberg commissions—Bloomberg Hong Kong Headquarters Staircase and public space—was recognised by ArchDaily as Building of the Year in 2017.

MArch(CUHK), HKIA, ARB(HK), LEED AP+, BEAM Pro 

Ray has a rich architectural portfolio of experience that focuses on retail-led commercial mixed-use projects. He specialises in interpreting customers’ needs, keeping abreast of the latest retail market trends, and applying this knowledge and strategic thinking to his projects.

Ray Wong joined the Oval Partnership in 2008. He has more than 10 years’ experience across a wide range of urban complex projects in Greater China and Hong Kong. He specializes in retail-led mixed-use developments, outdoor retail districts, shopping centre fit-out renovations, and sustainable master planning and building designs. In terms of the latter, Ray is qualified as both LEED AP and BEAM Pro. He has an extensive knowledge of sustainable community design and urbanism strategies and his project Chengdu Sino Ocean Taikoo Li was recently awarded LEED ND Gold Certification, the first project in Southwest China to receive this certification.

Ray has established a Building Information Modelling (BIM) team and as the cluster-in-charge, he leads the team on research and development of the latest BIM technology applicable to urban mixed-use and retail fit-out projects. He is currently appointed as Head of Quality Management and Operation Efficiency as well as ISO Management Representative. He is responsible for the design and implementation of the ISO Quality Management System (QMS) and setup of the IT infrastructure system in the office.

BA(AS), PgDip Arch UK, HKIA, ARB(HK)

Simon Lee joined The Oval Partnership in 2009 and has taken part in a wide array of projects including commercial, mixed-use, residential, master planning, exhibition and interior design.

His major works in the Greater China include Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu (responsible for schematic design, resident site team management, development and implementation of tenancy design guide and subsequent tenancy design control), Dalian Planning and Exhibition Gallery, Shanghai DreamCenter FLM Interior and Beijing Taikoo Li Sanlitun. His Hong Kong projects include the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts Jockey Club Amphitheatre, Citibank Causeway Bay façade refurbishment and 5 Star Street.

Since 2014, he has been deeply involved in BIM development and its application in large scale mixed-use, retail and interior design projects.

MArch (CUHK) HKIA ARB (HK)

Nelson understands the requirements and needs of commercial, office, hospitality and residential developments and has proven his capability in managing challenging projects including mixed-use and TOD urban complexes. He has a talent for architectural design detail and is devoted to creating unique retail and leisure user experiences.

Nelson Huen graduated from the School of Architecture, Chinese University of Hong Kong having also been bestowed with the Best Thesis Project award. He was nominated twice for the RIBA President’s Awards. As a member of the NGO Project Little Dream, he has been involved in designing and building a number of schools in Takeo, Cambodia. The project has earned Nelson and his team numerous accolades including the Best of the Best Perspective Awards, 40 Under 40, and AIA Hong Kong Chapter Citations. Nelson is currently leading a number of prominent mixed-use developments in China. His postgraduate education training, coupled with the experience he garnered from Project Little Dream, has fostered his awareness in socially responsive design and context sensitive planning.

BArch MArch (Bartlett) MArch (Tsinghua)

The complexity of interconnections between cities, buildings and their spatial functions are central to the methodology that Deng Ming applies to planning projects. He understands that this close attention to detail is required to ensure their success, and values the continuation and prosperity that sustains urban life.

Deng Ming received her Bachelor of Architecture from Beijing Jiaotong University, Master of Architecture from Tsinghua University, and Master Degree with Distinction from the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. With 13 years’ architectural experience under her belt, she has worked on a diverse array of projects, including mixed-use commercial developments, master planning schemes, ranging from the institutional to the residential sectors. She was project architect for Beijing Sanlitun Taikoo Li South District development (formerly known as Sanlitun Village) and North District in 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively. Her scope of work covered every major stage of those projects, from initial concept design and concept development, to construction drawings, as well as construction management and coordination. Since 2013, Ming has been the Project Director overseeing a series of asset enhancement strategies at Sanlitun Taikoo Li, including the landscape upgrade in the North District and the renovation of N8 Building. In addition, she has led several large-scale developments in China as chief designer and project leader, amassing many years’ experience in design development plus project management and coordination. Ming is based in Beijing and in charge of the Oval Partnership’s Beijing office.

BArch (Chongqing) Class 1 Registered Architect (China)

Mixed-use developments in the context of urban regeneration is where Zhang Menghua plays an important role. His skills and experience bring energy to the interlaced layers of activities which characterize cities and their component buildings and public spaces.

Zhang Menghua received his Bachelor of Architecture from the Chongqing University. His concerns are centred on cities and public spaces, and he has over 10 years’ planning and architectural design experience working on key projects in Mainland China. He has played an important role in several large-scale mixed-use developments, such as Shanghai DreamCenter, Suzhou Huomao Center Gusuli, Shanghai Longhua Hui, Beijing Sanlitun Taikoo Li North District, and Ribo Headquarters in Shanghai Songjiang. Regarding the Shanghai DreamCenter project, his scope of work encompasses all its major phased processes—from initial concept design to construction management and coordination of the specialised façade design and retail interior detailing.

RIBA Dip.Arch MA

Philip Clarke is passionate about cities and public space. As digital placemaking project director, he applies his critical mindset and forward thinking to big data analytics, and by further integrating this with different projects, he therefore delivers additional value and benefit to both client and end users.

Philip Clarke's architectural career took off in London where he worked for Sir Norman Foster. It was his very first job in 1991, before graduating. After completing his architectural studies at Cambridge University, UK, where he received a First Class Honours and undertaking further studies at Harvard University, USA, he joined Foster Asia and moved to Hong Kong to form part of the site-based fit-out team for Foster’s Hong Kong International Airport project. He later returned to London and worked for a number of prestigious architectural firms including Eric Parry and John McAslan and Partners. His experience covered an array of significant London based architectural projects across a range of sectors as well as work in the Middle East with John McAslan.

In 2013 he relocated to Asia to join Atkins in Shanghai. He was the lead architect and senior designer on a number of prominent projects won through competitions. Since returning to Hong Kong with Farrells he has been working as a senior design lead operating across all design stages, from large mixed-use developments in Mainland China, to Singapore’s Highspeed Rail Terminus, and the M+ Museum in Hong Kong.

BSc (Hons) MPhil MCIHT MTPS

Martin Wedderburn is an independent transport planner and pedestrian expert who excels in analysing and formulating planning strategies to improve pedestrian mobility and transport systems. His input at the preliminary research and design process phase of a project is geared towards enhancing environmental and economic performances.

Martin Wedderburn is an independent transport planner and pedestrian movement expert with 15 years’ experience in that field. Working for a range of public and private sector clients around the world, he has conducted a wide scope of pedestrian movement analysis studies in transport interchange, retail and street environments. He operates as part of multidisciplinary teams with architects, engineers and urban designers at all scales to produce safe, accessible and context-sensitive public realms. Martin has developed a suite of pedestrian movement analysis tools that bridge distinct areas of professional expertise, namely spatial network analyses for masterplanning, transport assessment and demand forecasting, and pedestrian simulation modelling for crowd management strategies.

AA (design) BA Hons FCSD IIDA SBID

With a background in interior design and professional management, Phillip Young brings unique insights into the development trends of the construction industry. Drawing on his extensive network of industry connections and diverse project experience, his flair is for formulating and implementing diversified business models and development packages.

With over 30 years’ interior design and management experience in Hong Kong, China, South East Asia, Australia and the Middle East, Phillip qualified in Environmental Design, Interior Design, and Interior Architecture in the UK. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers UK (FCSD), Professional Member of the Society of British Interior Designers UK (SBID), and a member of the International Interior design Association, USA (IIDA).

Phillip has extensive hospitality, healthcare, and retail professional experience, having completed numerous projects across Asia Pacific, China and the Middle East. His professional acumen reinforces his approach to projects, one founded on team involvement with strong communication and leadership facilitation. Prior to joining the Oval Partnership, Phillip was President of The Good Studio, Philippines; Regional Managing Director, NEA of design worldwide partnership (dwp); and held an additional position as group sustainability leader and Regional Managing Director of Dileonardo, Asia Pacific.

B Bdg Arts BArch

Driven by a professional background in architecture and extensive market experience in real estate, commercial development and hotel management, Taryn Swales is particularly skilled at advancing forward-looking programmes when implementing sustainable development projects, as well as creating and executing challenging business development strategies.

Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Taryn Swales has over 18 years’ international experience working on projects in both private and public sectors, as well as global real estate development companies and architectural consultancies in the UK, Australia and UAE. Taryn’s background in Architecture has been amplified by extensive real estate and business management experience working across various disciplines and delivering sustainable urbanism solutions, including Architecture, Urban Design, Planning, Development Management, Business Development, Sustainability, CSR and Corporate Business Strategy. Taryn’s work has spanned various disciplines within the mixed-use and hospitality sectors with a focus on site acquisitions, feasibility analysis, risk management, budgeting and cash flow, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and marketing positioning, multi-site project management and delivery management. Taryn runs a Mentorship Programme at Venice University on their Masters Course in Urban Heritage and Global Tourism, supported by UNESCO, and designed to develop new sustainable tourism models to address the relationship between urban heritage and tourism and the valorisation of heritage buildings for tourism purposes.

BA MPhil PhD

Dr Chloe Lai is a storyteller, researcher, writer, teacher, documentary producer, urbanist and NGO administrator. A journalist by training, Dr Lai runs a non-profit website titled Urban Diary to promote sustainability (www.urbandiarist.com). The website documents Hongkongers' mundane tales by words, photos, sound and moving images. She believes tales of everyday life is the treasure trove for everyone who wants to understand and improve contemporary urban living. Her journalism background and collected tales contributes to her profound knowledge of the city's past and present. In 2015, Dr Lai’s work online was turned into a bilingual publication titled Urban Diary. The book was named by the Hong Kong Urban Laboratory & Stand News as one of the top 10 books in Urban Studies.

BArch MArch PhD

Jay Liu is expertly skilled at creating stunning yet practical architecture design by merging space, structure, and construction. He is devoted to exploring and applying big-data analysis tools to assist clients in steering a robust decision-making process throughout the project.

Jay studied for his Bachelor and Master degrees at the Southeast University from 2004 to 2012. He completed his Master’s with a research programme analysing open space in office skyscrapers in Europe while studying at the Technology University of Vienna. In 2015 he was awarded his PhD degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research field focused on the interaction between Graphic Statics (structural calculation) and Architecture Space, and the digital exploration of an application that automatically generates structure and space. Jay’s talents lie in merging architectural design, structural design, and construction during the preliminary design phase with the goal of enhancing the practicality and complementary aspects of a project’s outcome.

At present, he devotes any additional time to exploring and applying digital tools like big data, AI learning, DTTS etc. These tools are designed to help client teams scientifically and dynamically understand the potential advantages of their schemes, strengthening their capacity to make robust decisions, and creating commercial value at the very beginning and throughout each project.