Haobo teaches architecture at Chongqing, Tiangong and Guizhou universities. He established West-line Studio, a previous Architecture Practice of the Year WAN Award winner based in Guiyang, Guizhou province in southwest China, over a decade ago.
Why should people enter the WAN Awards APAC?
Through WAN's extensive global reach, it will convey and draw the world's attention to contemporary processes in the Asia-Pacific region, which has a long and rich history of local distinctiveness. It will also showcase the practices and innovations of environmentally sensitive architects in the preservation of the region's regional distinctiveness and contemporary symbiotic and integrated development.
What attracted you to becoming a judge for the WAN Awards APAC?
It facilitates my observation of architects' thoughts on the existence of the Asia-Pacific region's long and rich multiculturalism. I hope to learn about the coexistence and development of contemporary multicultural circles brought about by the complexity, geographic characteristics and high population density of Asia-Pacific civilisations. Hopefully these awards will help to establish design paradigms that will lead to the future sustainable development of the region.
What sort of scheme will you be hoping to see among the entries?
I hope to see works that are innovative and diverse, that emphasise Asia-Pacific local identities and a sincere spirit of place, and that implement the concept of sustainable coexistence with the present day.
What in your view are the biggest (region specific) challenges for architects operating in the APAC region today?
The Asia-Pacific region, with its deep historical and religious heritage, geographic and cultural diversity, and high-density multi-positioned background, is facing the impact of globalisation. Asia-Pacific architects are faced with the challenge of finding effective ways of sustainable symbiotic development and exploring innovative development modes in the game between the protection of local identity and contemporary development.
Could you pick three of the most notable (in your opinion) architectural projects in the APAC region from the last 12 months?
• Nisarga art centre in Ernakulam, India by Wallmakers
• Ukhia Schools in Bangladesh by Kashef Chowdhury at URBANA
• NANA Coffee Shop in Thailand by IDIN Architects