We’re delighted that Simon Chua, pictured below, is a member of the judging panel for the WAN Awards 2024. Lead8 is an international design studio with expertise across architecture, interiors and master planning and studios in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and London.
“As designers, our work is really underpinned by three core ideas – people, culture and nature. Creating strong connections to a place, community and the environment are what helps us to deliver buildings and spaces that leave a lasting and positive impact,” Simon says.
Simon is keen to see more entries from China, emphasising the value of the international exposure and recognition winners gain from the WAN Awards.
“As former WAN Award winners, we know this well. China has been a leader in innovative architecture and design for many years and there are many designers and projects there to celebrate on the international stage.”
Lead8 won a silver WAN Award in the 2022 Future Projects – Mixed Use category for Shougang Park Urban Weaving District, (pictured in the main image above) the transformation of a 100-year-old Steel Factory into a vast multi-activity destination in Beijing.
Some of the current projects Simon is working on at Lead8 include Wakayama Urban Regeneration in Japan.
“This year, the Singapore studio and I were appointed as Chief Counsel to guide Wakayama City’s future urban revitalisation efforts in Japan. The area is home to special historical, cultural and natural assets and we are incredibly excited to work alongside public and private partnerships to bring Wakayama to a broader international audience.”
Meanwhile in Shenzhen, the studio is helping to craft a future biophilic multi-forest development, Great City Bay, that will evolve the city’s urban space design and bring forth a new generation of built environments that delight in nature.
Lead8’s 11 SKIES project in Hong Kong is also edging closer to completion and is set to become Hong Kong’s largest retail, dining and entertainment hub and a super-regional connector that will transform the land surrounding Hong Kong International Airport.
Read on to discover Simon’s key past projects
One Bangkok
“Lead8 is part of the design team for One Bangkok, a significant and transformative project for the Thai capital that is due to open later this year. It will establish the country’s largest integrated development, with hotels, offices, residential, retail and more, and become the first LEED-Neighborhood Platinum scheme for Thailand.
Lead8 has been involved in the retail architecture, interior design and retail planning across two major retail components, the Parade and The Storeys. Our vision was to create something unique, by weaving in nature and landscaping as we drew inspiration from Lumpini Park, the city’s largest green space, across the street.”
MixC Nanjing
“MixC Nanjing is a wonderful example of bridging the past and present. We were fortunate to deliver this retail-led development in a 700-year-old district in Nanjing within the historic Qinhuai Tourist Area. At the centre of the site is an original Yuzhang Guild Building, a traditional building office of the city’s silk brocade industry.
Our design focused on reimagining the long-term sustainable protection of the street texture and traditional urban grain of the area. The historic building was carefully preserved and now houses a museum to display the traditional silk craft. The overall planning has created a semi open-air street precinct, rich with placemaking and the identity of Nanjing, and that also balances modern commercial life with local history.”
ITC Shanghai
“ITC Shanghai is currently one of the largest sites under development in Shanghai’s city centre and will integrate a neighbourhood-scale scheme into the well-known and bustling Xujiahui district. Lead8 has a multi-disciplinary scope on the development that really focuses on how the design connects with the urban fabric.
We are delivering the retail architecture and interior design on Lots 3 and 4 as well as the network of elevated footbridges that physically stitch this development into the district. Through our design, we have introduced new streets and brought to life an activated precinct that is highly connective and pedestrianised.”
The Ring
“The Ring completed a few years ago but it catalysed a shift in retail design for us that looked closely at the relationship between the built and natural environments in commercial settings. Lead8 delivered the interior design for the scheme that features one of China’s largest indoor gardens.
Biophilic design and bringing people closer to nature is a driving force behind our developments today. We recently launched a concept called the ‘Fifth Season’ which takes further steps to envision the integration of nature across our cities on a grander scale.”
Site 3 New Central Harbourfront
“Hong Kong is our home city and the harbourfront has been a focus of Lead8’s since our inception ten years ago. This made winning the competition tender for Site 3 of the New Central Harbourfront extremely special. As one of the most important and strategic additions to the city’s Central Business District, Site 3 is set to become a world-class development for Hong Kong.
The site is unique, and the design uses the concept of a ‘Bridge’ to enhance connectivity between the hinterland and the harbourfront in Central. There is a vast amount of green and public spaces and it is immediately recognisable by its integration with the surrounding environment as it aims to revitalise the harbourfront area.”