Ice Breaker – An Ongoing Pursuit – Edward Fung
An Ongoing Pursuit
Pursuing architecture as a profession is never easy. The path demands dedication, perseverance and rigour. Yet, amidst millions of career choices, I found my greatest passion in architecture design. As I write this blog, I am reminiscing about all the challenges and rewarding experiences throughout my career journey – from entering my first year in an architecture and urban planning course, to transitioning to a bachelor’s degree in architecture, to gaining 2 years of work experience in Hong Kong, to successfully completing the first year of master’s in architecture, and finally cherishing the last year of my master’s degree.
Despite the intense educational process and rigorous training, there wasn’t a moment when I thought about giving up and switching careers. Sketching, model making and problem solving via design integrations are always enjoyable, but most importantly, I am intrigued by how architecture is a balance between art and science – a rare blend of both creativity and technical disciplines.
Architecture retrofitting is a particular subject that I have gained interest in ever since having worked in an architecture practice in Hong Kong. Growing up surrounded by the evolving high-rise cityscape of Hong Kong, where numerous buildings are aging and require immediate renewal and maintenance, retrofitting and renovations projects have become key design skill sets that I would like to be thoroughly proficient in. I am especially keen on the process of exploring the transformation of old into new with respect to the original fabric, in aspects of the social, cultural and historical.
Fortunately, I had hands-on involvement with a campus renewal project during my year-out experience. It was a packed 5-months university classrooms and proximity renovation project, and I partook and followed through from initial design proposals, to tender packaging, to construction phase, and finally client handover. Despite the tough scheduling and gruelling workload, I have learnt a lot in terms of design and technical thinking, presentation and communication, and project management. Moreover, it significantly sparked my interest in architecture retrofitting and restorations, which I have further developed and researched during in last year’s design studio.
Among the elective choices for M.Arch students, the urban design course appears to be the most appealing option for me alongside studying architecture. Apart from juggling between the creative and technical aspects of architecture, I would like to remind myself of the importance of balancing between the ‘macro’ and ‘micro’ scales of design. At times, focusing on designing the specifics, detailing and components within architectural disciple could lead to losing track of the bigger urban picture. This elective helps me to continue thinking from a broader perspective; constantly asking myself critical design questions: How would the structure impact the city landscape? How does the wider public interact and respond to the built environment? How does the design remain context-appropriate. These are matters of professional ethics and code of conduct. This is also a basic standard I have set for myself to become an aspiring and respectable architecture designer.
