Interview with Paul Bo Peng

Paul Bo Peng ("PBP") interviewed on Thursday, 26 March.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

PBP : I have over 30 years of experience in architecture design, urban planning, construction management and property development. I received my Master of Architecture from the University of New South Wales in 1995. During my studies at UNSW, I won the first prize out of a total of 100 international entries in the VR Une Architecture ArchiCAD/Quick Time ideas competition. I also won second Prize in ANTAC/PLEA with my work "Home Stay for Homeless". After graduating from the UNSW, I have worked in both smaller architecture firms in Australia as well as large and renowned firms like HBO+EMTB & CRONE PARTNERS. I founded IAPA in 1998, and a few years later, in 2002, I established IAPA Guangzhou office in China. Over the years, my team and I have completed quite a number of large scale projects for both private and public sector clients. My cultural background advanced my ability of reinterpret oriental traditional culture into the modern design context.

How did you become a designer?

PBP : After completing my Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, I soon realized that architecture and design is my true passion. I was always the creative type and I always loved music, drawing and playing the cello. I guess arts and design was always my thing.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

PBP : I like to reinterpret oriental traditional culture into the modern and contemporary design context. I believe this combination is one of the central themes in our design. I also integrate and rely on Physical working models, computer 3D models, and VR tools.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

PBP : I love to see a project go from conception to completion. For example, visiting beautiful site of a project to be, I feel the creativity within and I imagine how the finished projects will look like. I truly enjoy the whole design process and see my concept design turn in to something real that the client is happy with and can enjoy for many years to come.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

PBP : Migrating from China to Australia in the early 1990s and then returning to China to open an office in Guangzhou ten years later, in the middle of the big construction boom made me eager and brought me perspective and a sense of urgency of endless opportunity. Being a naturally creative and curious person definitely helped overcome many of the challenges of completing complex design projects in China. I believe growing up in China when it was still a closed country to the western world, and seeing China’s rapid economic change and progress, is one of the major reasons I have the ability of reinterpret oriental traditional culture into the modern design context.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

PBP : I hope I will be remembered as an architect who dared to take on projects that seemed impossible to complete. My design portfolio is also very varied in terms of types of buildings and surroundings and I hope I will be remembered as a versatile designer. Over the years, My team and I have completed quite numbers of public culture buildings, and it is my dream and ambition to design a church before I retire.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

PBP : It may sound very cliché but in order to become a successful designer you truly have to be passionate about your work and really enjoy what you do. Design is a hard work with many challenges, ever changing client needs and projects are often run with a very tight deadline. I recommend young designers to work in different firms with different strengths and disciplines early in their career in order to get a broad training and really find out what type of design and projects they enjoy.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

PBP : Do not be afraid to make mistakes or to challenge traditional mindsets. Keep up with personal development and constantly learn and evolve. I have been in the design field for over 30 years and I am still learning new things. Keep up with the design trend, and be in the front line of the development of where design is going.

What is your day to day look like?

PBP : I normally start my day by meeting with my different design teams making sure we are on track on the different projects. I also try to have brain storming sessions with my designers to get different views and ideas how we can make the project even better. I love to get great feedback from clients and colleagues when we have achieved different milestones of challenging projects.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

PBP : Even though I have developed my won design style during my career, I regularly read architecture magazines and I travel regularly to different sites to seek inspiration from designers all over the world. I also try to attend design exhibitions when time allows.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

PBP : From the moment I see the project I know immediately if it is well designed. It is hard to describe the feeling but it has become intuition over many years in the design field.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

PBP : You try to make your design as perfect as you can but ultimately you are working for a client and against a deadline so you do everything in your power to make your work as good as you can within the given parameters.

What is your biggest design work?

PBP : My biggest design work and the one I am the most proud of is the National Relics Park of Tang DaMing Gong. In 2008, IAPA won first prize in an international competition for the design of a cultural heritage park in Xi’an, China. The park’s design represents the remembrance and celebration of Chinese history through the dynasties of ancient China. Our captivating design, incorporating a modern interpretation of Chinese history, awarded IAPA first prize in the international design competition for this project. IAPA won against 29 other entries from countries all over the world, including America, Italy, Japan and Norway. The park, named ‘National Relics Park of Tang DaMing Gong was completed and open to the public in 2010. Furthermore, the architectural model of his winning design were selected for permanent display in the prominent Guan Shanyue Art Museum in Shenzhen, China. This project has a total value of 20 billion RMB.

Who is your favourite designer?

PBP : The designer I admire the most is Thom Mayne who inspired me and changed my design direction when I was a student at the University of New South Wales. Another architect I am impressed with is Renzo Piano. I flew to Shanghai just to attend his design exhibition recently.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

PBP : Design is my lifestyle. I enjoy my job and it is all I want to do with my life. My designs are strongly influenced by my cultural background.

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

PBP : I have a strong vision of what I want the project to look like from the start. I support my team to move towards that vision whilst listening to their feedback. My business philosophy is do good work, chase opportunities and be patient. Work will come to you.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

PBP : I teach at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts during my spare time, and IAPA has an internship program for outstanding design students.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

PBP : A design Award provided a platform for us to share our work with the peer architect from all over the world. A design Award provided an opportunity for us to learn from the best of the industry. A design Award set up the professional bars for young architect to pursuit and to perfect their design. I feel extremely honoured to be the Designer of the Day.

Paul Bo Peng Profile