Design & Build 2021

85 Design & Build 2021 BUILD 39 Q2 Jan21157 Architectural Inspiration from Everyday Life O&O Studio is a Hong Kong based award-winning design studio with an “out-and-outer” approach, providing architecture, interior, art installation and furniture design services. It’s safe to say that they are one to watch when it comes to design. uzanne Li and Eric Chan have been designing award-winning buildings for over 13 years and in 2018, co-founded O&O, a professional design studio that encompasses a diverse range of international experience in the building industry, and has delivered projects across different scales and sectors for a variety of stakeholders and clients. Inspired by Suzanne and Eric’s vibrant home city of Hong Kong, the design studio has a passion for architecture and aim to create spectacular buildings that can be enjoyed for generations to come, with major design focuses being on aesthetic, practicality, sustainability and the end user experience. For O&O’s first completed project, Mooncraft Bar in Shanghai, it took a bold step by providing a complete design strategy, firstly initialising an appealing branding idea which was integrated with the architectural and interior design as a single identity. It is uncommon for an architectural/interior design studio to provide such a complete design service. However, it is the design studio’s strong belief that this helps in creating an even better design; it led to the completion of a unique bar that stands out among competitors while attracting new and returning customers, as well as tourists. With our Director, Katt Chung Yap, who joined O&O in 2020 to help strengthening the studio’s portfolio, O&O has also been completing several other projects in China and Hong Kong, including the Atelier Intimo Flagship, a lingerie store at a very prominent location in Shanghai, as well as a coffee roasting workshop in Hong Kong. S O&O’s work has indeed gained a lot of positive attention; in fact, it has been widely acknowledged and featured on international press, including Wallpaper, Archdaily, gooood, World Architecture, Architizer, Archinect, and more. Both the Mooncraft Bar and the Atelier Intimo Flagship projects received A’Design Awards, and the design studio has also been recently selected for The Fourth China New Power Interior Design Award and China Interior Design 40under40 Award. Ultimately, O&O’s focus is establishing close relationships with clients and designing buildings that satisfy their requirements. The architects distil client briefs and create unique and articulated resolutions for each specific circumstance, with dedication to the project from start to finish. “Originate” is O&O’s key design philosophy; the design proposal should be originated from a critical and cohesive process of strategic and visual thinking right through to the end users’ evaluation. And it doesn’t offer a standardised formula; it is recognised for nurturing influential design morphology that delivers fresh values to each commission. Additionally, the architects’ experience in photography comes into play as they utilise photographic essence to inspire the crafting of spaces and identities. They take inspiration from everyday life; taking a camera out onto public transport and capturing how people live. There is always something inspiring happening. Another important element to O&O’s design process is collaboration and inspiring each other to create new ideas. What it finds most interesting is working with kids; they are surprising, pure and have an exciting way of thinking. That’s why the design studio plans to focus on kids-related placemaking among its upcoming projects. It’s about creating a beautiful space that will make others feel happy, as well as look great within its surroundings. Contact: Suzanne Li and Eric Chan Website: https://www.oandostudio.com/