Mr Lam Wo-hei, BBS, JP, joined HKU in 1966 for its 5-year Architecture programme. He graduated in 1971 and has worked at Wong and Ouyang since. Over the past thirty years, he has been involved in many mega-scale projects in Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific region, including the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) Extension, Times Square, Pacific Place, Taikoo Place, and the Wynn Resort in Macau. In 2004, Mr Lam was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the HKSAR Government.
Q: Mr Lam, why did you choose architecture and HKU at that time?
A: When I was at St Joseph’s College, I preferred the arts to science. However, most of the boys at that time made science or engineering subjects their first choice for university. So I made a decision to study architecture, which I felt was somewhere between arts and science. HKU was a natural choice for me as four of my six brothers and sisters also studied there.
Q: What was campus life like then?
A: Hong Kong was in a state of turmoil at that time. My first year examinations were actually held during the 1967 riots. Curfews were frequent and many of my classmates often could not get home after school. Our seniors advised us to either simply quit school or go abroad, as only two graduates had managed to find a job. Despite the unstable political environment, there was a sense of solidarity among those of us in residence at the Halls. I was at Ricci Hall for 4 years and my hallmates included Jack So, Michael Sze and Richard Ho Man Wui.
As for the campus environment, I remember that it was lush with trees and greenery, and there were winding footpaths linking up different parts of the campus. Most buildings were small low-rises, except the Main Building, the Library (now the Library Old Wing) and No.2 University Drive.
Q: Was studying architecture in the 1960s very different from now?
A: The School of Architecture was very small and we were a class of just 25. The whole school had only about 120 students and we were all very close. We shared the Duncan Sloss Building with the engineering students. The building was later demolished to make way for the flyover from the Belcher’s to HKU. But back then, we regarded the studio as our home – very much the same as the students nowadays – often working overnight. We even managed to get the key to the entrance from the caretaker! We also took part in student exchanges and overseas internships, which were very exciting. These took us to Thailand, Malaysia, as well as Osaka, where the 1970 Expo was held. There was a great feeling of fraternity and many in our class remain lifelong friends.
Q: You have designed many iconic architecture, including the HKCEC Extension, Langham Place, Pacific Place, Taikoo Place and Wynn Macau. Are there any memorable moments you can share with us?
A: Well, every project is memorable, as you would work very intensively with a team of people over a certain a period of time. The team would normally include engineers, contractors, clients and end-users. However, every organization has a different working style and we always take that into account.
One of the most challenging projects was the HKCEC extension, which was built between 1993 and 1997. First, the project was very challenging both in terms of design and method of construction. Second, we had to finish it on time for the Handover Ceremony on 1 July 1997. The tight timeline made things all the more difficult as 1997 was one of the wettest years on record. Can you imagine the pressure we faced during the last few months of construction? I was sleepless on the eve of the Handover Ceremony as the roof of the venue was only 80% completed. It would have been a gross embarrassment if rain had ended up dripping onto all those Central Government dignitaries! Fortunately, everything went smoothly during the ceremony.
Another memorable project was Langham Place, developed by the Urban Renewal Authority. It took 15 years to build and a lot of patience to complete.
Q: Having worked on so many huge projects, why are you interested in the Centennial Campus, a relatively small one?
A: Many of my colleagues at Wong and Ouyang are graduates of the HKU Faculty of Architecture, including our founder Mr Jackson Wong. HKU has trained many brilliant architects for Wong and Ouyang and we felt we would like to contribute to our alma mater if there was a chance. We built the K.K. Leung Building and the New Wing of the Library in the past, and we are now honoured to be able to participate in the design of the Centennial Campus. We hope to strengthen the academic atmosphere and enhance the natural campus environment of our alma mater.
Q: As its architect, what impression or memories of the campus would you want to leave with future staff, students and members of the public?
A: As an alumnus, I feel that with the rapid development of the last 20 to 30 years, the integrity of the campus has been undermined and human relationships alienated. With the University Street, the three Academic Courtyards and the three heritage buildings, I hope to revitalize HKU’s campus spirit by creating a unique academic atmosphere and strengthening the links between different parts of the campus. I also hope the green space will be welcomed by staff, students and the community. All in all, this enhanced learning environment will facilitate interaction both among students and between teachers and students.
Q: What is the main difference between this project and the previous ones that you worked on?
A: In the past, most projects involved only three major parties: the architect, the client and the end-users. Clients tended to adopt a top-down approach. In recent years, public engagement has grown in importance and the stakeholders’ views are very diverse. In the case of the Centennial Campus, they may come from within HKU, the neighbourhood, the District Council, the general public and other NGOs. We were a bit taken aback at the beginning, but we gradually realized that this was beneficial, as the diverse views would help us improve our design. We understand that we now have a ‘mandate’ to design the most state-of-the-art campus in the region, particularly in terms of environmental sensitivity and heritage protection. We will certainly do our very best.
As for the detailed design within the campus, the next few months will be quite critical as we will finalise our designs based on the views collected from the engagement process, and submit them for the approval of the government and LegCo.
Q: As an Honorary Professor of the Faculty of Architecture, do you think Hong Kong is a good place for young architects to pursue their careers?
A: Hong Kong has enjoyed a Golden Age of construction in the past 40 years, fuelled in part by continuous economic growth. In the 1960s, HKU’s School of Architecture offered the only internationally recognised programme in Asia and attracted many students from South East Asia. As a developed city, it seems that Hong Kong has now reached a state of saturation in terms of infrastructure development. However, the rapid growth on the Mainland is unprecedented and I think the opportunities for Hong Kong architects exceed their counterparts in the rest of the world. So I certainly encourage young people to ’seize the day’ and study Architecture.
