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Architecturally
Speaking
By
Francis Wann
(Francis
Wann wrote the first draft on 24 April and showed it to Gabrielle afterwards,
who then suggested some amendments. This article first appeared largely
in this form in the Members' Only Version on 17 May - Ed.)
It's a bit of a hit and miss trying to arrange a meeting with Gabrielle.
The idea came when last year I read about the award-winning Coastal
Defense Museum in Chai Wan. It would be interesting, to say the least,
to listen to someone in the profession making a more informed opinion.
The meeting didn't materialize and other things took precedence and
the idea was shelved for a while. Then a few months ago I read the news
about the Hongkong Institute of Architects awards and went to the exhibition
in Pacific Place. That rekindled my interest. I sent her an email.
The response was fast and we're supposed to meet at the Mandarin the
same week, which was then changed to the week after at the Excelsior.
When Gabrielle appeared, she began with a string of apologies. It's
all understandable - she was in hospital for a week in November 2001,
and had just moved to a new company and perhaps was still settling in.
Gabrielle was a straight A student in every sense while in school.
She went to Heung Yee Kuk Secondary and then King's College for her
A-levels and then received her BA(Hons) in Architectural Studies at
University of Hong Kong in 1990. This was followed by a string of study
and work commitments spanning almost a decade both here and aboard.
She received her Bachelor of Architecture with distinction at University
of Wales (1993), then MSc(Construction Economics and Management from
University of London (1995) with sponsorship from Sheppard Robson Architects
(London) where she had worked for five years. I was clearly unable to
follow many of her accomplishments and she offered to send me her CV
- perhaps just in case I want to make a reference. A perpetual student?
When did she finish her last course of study? I asked half jokingly.
Well she just received another Masters in 2000 at Cambridge in "Interdisciplinary
Design for the Built Environment" - if you'd imagine its meaning in
simple English. In between it's an array of various qualifications and
awards and sponsorships which is enough to send one's mind reeling...
She was involved in stage 1 work in Disneyland Hong Kong Park, and
was the project architect for the INTEGER Hongkong Pavilion at Tamar
Site which is a project about intelligent and green future housing co-sponsored
by various organizations and government departments when she was with
Leigh & Orange which is "one of the biggest and oldest local firm" where
she had worked for six years.
How does she conceive architecture, which is all about space and visual
manipulation? Architecture is functional art, she assured me. Earlier
I flipped through the pages of Sunday Times Magazine which carried an
article of the 'wizard' architect Daniel Lambskin who is responsible
for the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester, and redesigning London's
V&A. Gab recognized him instantly, "Oh yes, Libeskind". She pointed
to a picture of the Jewish Museum in Berlin (opened late 2001) for which
Libeskind was granted permission to project the building into the street
- "I've been there."
What does she value the most in architecture? Functional art, and a
marriage between arts and science, she said. "Architecture provides
a delightful space for occupants, and contribute to the civic pride
as a civic art in itself. The process of creation and seeing the joy
of people using our creations are wonderful experieces for an architect..."
What about the trend of architectural developments here in Hong Kong?
Gab thinks there's a progressive movement towards sustainable (environmentally
responsive) architecture here in HK which is very important to ensure
a balanced built and natural environment. Architecture is for the next
generation, she insisted.
"In the past, I was responsible for a project from design, construction
to completion. Watching your own design materialise into its functioning
state is the most rewarding." Indeed what can be more demoralising than
having one's ideas fragmented or worse, distorted.
How would she look at "Star" architects who shot to fame as a result
of media coverage? I cited other examples like Pei (the Pyramid) and
Joern Utzon (Sydney Opera House). "It's two fold. No doubt it's a fact
that the public and even the professionals will not know what you're
doing if there's no media coverage. However it's important if what you're
doing is really good, then people understand and approciate it. Or the
design is no good but the general public may just follow the crowd and
say: yes, it's great. Well it's just like the Hollywood blockbusters.
However to me, it has to be as good as those special movies to be genuinely
good with a message for people is appreciation and be part of the civic
art... I hope the public will understand the message of design ideas
besides the design(itself)..."
So who is Gabrielle Tsui Manyuen the person? At first I thought I would
be bombarded with loads of professional jargons, but it didn't happen.
Architect or artist, we speak the same language. Gab was particularly
passionate when the subject of environment was raised. It's certainly
her pet subject, and she now sits on a number of official advisory committees
on environment,and is an adjunct assistant professor at the Chinese
University of Hongkong. I asked what in her professional view have been
achieved - I'm usually not too impressed by government advisory bodies.
"Environment / substanability is an important and complex issue related
to policies, infrastructure, city planning, urban design, energy sources/
mode, natural habitat...Government, professionals and individuals should
try to do their parts. Their concern, care and participation is imminently
needed..."
"Things are beginning to change slowly, and we're achieving an end.
There're people and groups who make a lot of noise, who are out to blame
the Government and others at every possible incident.... Yes I saw the
change" Would she prefer her work to be more high profile? "Yes sometimes
it helps to send a message across.Education is important..." Would that
also apply to the work and image of Rotary?
Gabrielle was introduced to Rotary by President Raymond in 1997 who
were both in St John's while at Hong Kong University. The mention of
HKU also reminded me of student movements. Would she consider herself
a university student with conscience? Did she not want to change the
world? "Yes, I would like to help make this world a better place to
live, to enjoy... I cared about the world when I was at university,
but as architectural student, there's little free time. I couldn't be
active in the student union..." As an architect, Gabrielle has been
inspired by places which are "culturally rich". I asked if the name
Rotary helps in carrying out her charity work. It does, she said. But
she also believes in individual commitments. I asked her about her understanding
of fellowship in Rotary. "At first I didn't understand, but later I
realised it could be an effective way to spread our (Rotary) ideals
and to influence others." Gabrielle was International Services Director
at Kingspark during 2000-2001 and during her term she was involved in
district projects PolioPlus, Artificial limb and Eyecare with a sister
club in Thailand, and Planet Earth. among others.
I remember I met Gabrielle only a few times at meetings. Quite understandably,
I only manage to attend evening meetings on Thursday, when she had evening
lectures at Chinese University. "I went to a lot of makeup meetings,"
she confessed. Her new company Aedas LPT would have a more substantial
international bearing including China, Australia, and the UK. As she
put it - "I like to learn new things. I'm learning them at Aedas LPT
..." And indeed what a learner she is. Only last year she took yet another
examination and now she is an Authorized Person (AP)
Postscript: I went to the Motorola website afterwards and looked
at their headquarters in Swindon, London. Gabrielle was one of the design
architects who started from "a green field site". She offered to send
me her original sketches on which her design concepts were based. I
wondered, what could have been her design message?
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