Frank Leung, founder of multidisciplinary design studio via., is recognised as one of Asia’s most influential creatives spanning both the architectural and interior design scene. With over 25 years of experience, the Hong Kong native has contributed significantly to various sectors such as residential, retail, and hospitality.
His designs, known for their worldly sophistication and cultural respect, are a testament to his tenure as a project manager with a leading Hong Kong developer. Leung's ethos of “respect, passion, delight” shapes the culture of via., which he established in 2009.
How did you get into interior design, and what did you do before becoming an interior designer?
Art and creativity started very early for me. My mum, who studied fine arts, is a passionate Chinese ink artist and calligrapher, and my high school art teacher would always say “there’s an artist in every one of us”. I grew up in a very visual environment, and I loved the sensation of drawing a fresh pencil line on a blank page.
My parents instilled in me a desire to be of use to others, so architecture became a natural choice for my university studies as a way to contribute to the world in some concrete way. Upon returning to Hong Kong, I practised as an architect and worked on a variety of projects, including a competition to rebuild the-then Furama Hotel, and the Cyberport from the master plan stage.
I became fascinated by how clients make decisions that would change the course of a design, so after a few years, I shifted gears and joined a real estate developer, managing many creative disciplines from architecture to interior design, and from landscape to wayfinding.
While it was an eye-opening experience that allowed me to see design from different perspectives, eventually the passion to do the work myself led me to becoming independent. My vision has always been to work collaboratively and holistically, with the goal to create great experiences, regardless of the type or scale of the work. That’s the central idea behind the name “via.”, alluding to that shared path towards great design, which was founded in 2009.
How do you integrate local culture, traditions, and aesthetics into your commercial designs while maintaining a consistent “Frank Leung” style?
Every project is unique in its location, its parameters, and its aspirations. It is as though there’s something a project wants to be, and as a designer our work is merely to bring that wish to life. We want every project to be rooted in its place, so we take its locale, history, culture, and heritage into consideration.
We look back to look forward, so to speak. I’m much less concerned in defining our work by way of a “style”, than focusing on designing for everyday life: the work we do should be unobtrusive, intuitive, and delightful. To me, spaces are vessels for memories; we design for comfort and enjoyment, endearing places where people will feel at ease and at home.
Which project(s) are you most proud of this year?
We relocated from our beloved Sheung Wan neighbourhood to Kwun Tong during the midst of the pandemic, and every day, our studio at Contempo Place still feels fresh to me.
The motivation was to double the space with more or less the same staff size, so that each person gets a greater share of non-workspace. We tailored these non-workspaces for us as a community – living room, café, library, gallery, and of course, the terrace – so there can be a greater variety of interaction and life experience beyond the desk and the computer monitor.
We’ve used very basic materials and a simple language to create a calming ambience, a kind of background to creative voices. Since moving here, we’ve held film screenings, classes, town halls, barbecues, countless birthday parties, and intimate dinners. It’s the best home away from home for many of us.
Do you have any secret skills that contribute to the success of your interior design projects?
The building process is often long and complex, with many parties involved, and plenty of opportunities for changes that will compromise the original idea. So going through the process while staying true to the original design vision is very important.
Our studio motto revolves around three key words: respect, passion, delight. We respect different views and contributions from collaborators, clients and users; we maintain the passion from the beginning to create something people can enjoy day in day out; and we stay with the desire to create a delightful experience for our users at the end.
Can you name a book, movie, or music track that has significantly inspired your designs?
I often keep a copy of “For an Architecture of Reality”, by my architecture school professor Michael Benedikt, in my tote bag. It’s a small book with a powerful message: that we relate to architecture in some real, sensual ways.
Especially in this day and age where renderings could look ultra-realistic, and people rush to adapt new technologies in AR and VR, this book keeps my feet firmly on the ground when it comes to what constitutes a sense of reality with buildings and spaces.
As a studio, we like a good photograph and keep an active social media presence, but ultimately, our mission remains making physical, lasting buildings and spaces. If we can touch users and visitors through our designs, on a daily basis, in a timeless manner, then we’ve done a good job as architects and designers.
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