How seeing I.M. Pei’s Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong changed the life of a Hong Kong artist and architect
- Architect and artist Raymond Fung Wing-kee has been a fan of Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei since he was a child
- He talks about visiting Pei’s buildings all over the world, seeing the Bank of China Tower under construction, and working for Pei
One of Hong Kong’s most instantly recognisable buildings, the Bank of China Tower (completed in 1989), with its dazzling facade of soaring triangles, is the work of legendary Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei.
Raymond Fung Wing-kee, Hong Kong contemporary ink artist and the architect behind projects including Sai Kung Waterfront Park, Hong Kong Wetland Park and City Hall Memorial Garden, tells Richard Lord how it changed his life.
Before I.M. Pei did this building, I was one of his fans, dating back to when I was very young. During my childhood, I read books about his work. It started with a book I read about outstanding Chinese in America. I found him to be a very special person, and I felt very attached to him, even though we didn’t know each other.
Even when I was a kid, I would try to visit all his buildings. I’ve seen them in the United States, Doha, Berlin, mainland China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong. So I was very excited when I found out about his project in Hong Kong – in particular, because I worked nearby, in the Queensway government office, above Pacific Place. I passed by all the time, following its progress.
I had joined the government in the late 1980s. I was assigned to the design development unit as a designer. Maybe because I worked very hard, the director gave me a big gift.
He said, “Raymond, I want to give you the chance to study abroad.” I chose I.M. Pei (the architect’s firm, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, in New York). In those days, he was in his 70s.
