We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative QUAD studio ("QS").
QUAD studio is a group of architects, designers, and thinkers operating within the field of architecture, urbanism, interior design, landscape design, product design, research and development. QUAD studio believes there is a resurgence of the Renaissance where people want more from architects than just architecture. People are in search of a holistic design narrative that allows designers to blur the lines between different design disciplines, the Collective Polymath. Innovation also comes from cutting edge technology. QUAD studio is a lab for exploration, a place to experiment different design possibilities, artists are invited to share and bounce their innovative ideas.
QUAD studio Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by QUAD studio.
QUAD studio Design - Chengdu NBD Centre Architecture
QUAD studio Design - Megalopolis X Shenzhen Super Headquarter
QUAD studio Design - Light Portal Future Rail City
QUAD studio Design - Medieval Rethink Cultural Center
Designer Interview of QUAD studio:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
QS : Wai Tang Founding Partner of QUAD Born in Hong Kong in 1970 he moved to the UK in 1972 and at the age of 17 enrolled in the Birmingham School of Architecture before moving to London in 1993 to complete his Masters at the University of Westminster. There he was mentored by RIBA gold medallist, David Greene of Archigram, and was awarded the RIBA Silver Medal Runner Up award for best national diploma project in 1995.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
QS : Their entire ethos of QUAD studio is based on the belief that humanity is at the crossroads of change and that clients today demand more from architects than just architecture. As such, QUAD describes itself as a collective polymath of designers working together to create a holistic design narrative that blurs the lines between what were once considered separate disciplines. From architecture through to interiors, furniture design and branding, QUAD brings together a group of like-minded individuals, intent on sharing ideas and bringing them to reality for the betterment of the society.
DI: What is "design" for you?
QS : For me, to see his ideals and design philosophy being executed to perfection and being able to influence the lives of future generations, is truly what being a designer is all about.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
QS : As a brand we don’t promise anything specific, but we have created a platform to explore ideas, experiment and discuss. In that sense we see ourselves as a laboratory for design, where innovation is like poetry and design is derived from the principles of dogma and context, where dogma is a series of beliefs and context is how they are implemented.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
QS : In the past few year, we were fortunate to work on projects and many different scales, from the small 8000m2 Cultural Centre in Shantou to the 5,000,000m2 Super Headquarter Base in Shenzhen bay. Do I have a favourite? Not really, all my project is somewhat special in their own way.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
QS : My favourite material is glass and the different ways you can use glass in architecture
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
QS : In the morning when there is no one in the office
DI: What makes a design successful?
QS : When your design is appreciated and enjoyed by others
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
QS : All designs must be environmentally focused, our world is dying, if we don’t do our part, we will not have a world to live in anymore. That’s what in our project Megalopolis X, we strive to create a world that relieves stress on our infrastructure as well as ideas to deal with the rubbish generated in our cities. Gasification of our rubbish to run turbines to power public lighting and district cooling is definitely one of many sustainable items in the strive towards a zero-carbon city
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
QS : Architecture is in the forefront of change and like the great artist in the renaissance period, I want QUAD to be one of the many pioneers of the new age of renaissance happening in Greater China or even in this world.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
QS : Our last exhibition was in March 2020, held simultaneously at The Mills, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong and Futien in Shenzhen, PRC for the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Bi-city Biennale for Architecture and Urbanism. Hopefully our next exhibition would be held this Summer in Shenzhen
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
QS : I feel the most creative when there is no one in the office
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
QS : I have always enjoyed the birth of a concept where us designer create from zero to one
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
QS : I have great aspirations for QUAD. In 5 years, I want some of our designs to get recognised in the world stage with some of our project getting realized. In 10 years, I hope QUAD will be a well-known architectural practice for its ability achieve cutting edge design and in the forefront of innovation.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
QS : Working as a team is the only way to work. I still truly believe in the collective polymath where a group of creative individuals come together for social intervention
DI: How can people contact you?
QS : Look up @thequadstudio and you will find us