Design Trust Feature Grant research publication “Recollection: Tao Ho – The Multi-Disciplinary Visions of a Hong Kong Architect” by Charles Lai was launched on October 23rd with a research showcase in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong until February 1st 2026. The publication provides insights into Sir Tao Ho's intricate life, interwoven with the development of Hong Kong's architecture, art, and cultural scene, documenting a pivotal chapter in the city's history. A feature exhibition on Tao Ho’s legacy will be presented at Hong Kong Arts Centre in 2026.
Design Trust Grant Recipient | Charles Lai’s research publication “Recollection: Tao Ho – The Multi-Disciplinary Visions of a Hong Kong Architect” launched on October 23rd 2025
16. 12. 2025
Charles has been researching a vast collection of the late Sir Tao Ho's previously unpublished design manuscripts, photographs, and archival materials. This publication is written based on newly available archival materials including Tao Ho’s essays, private correspondence, poetry, artworks, and media interviews, offers a glimpse into Tao Ho's intricate life, interwoven with the development of Hong Kong's architecture, art, and cultural scene, documenting a pivotal chapter in the city's history, and a comprehensive understanding of Tao Ho for the general audience, young architects and designers.
Tao Ho (1936-2019) was a renowned Hong Kong architect and cultural practitioner, who grew up among the pioneers of the Modern Architectural Movement and was heavily influenced by the principles and spirit of the Bauhaus. His endeavors spanned urban planning, architecture, graphic design, painting, sculpture, philosophy, and cosmic science. He was the architect and co-founder of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, and his influence can be seen throughout Hong Kong's urban development, from the West Kowloon Cultural District to the Hong Kong Island waterfront. He excelled in multiple roles as an architect, graphic designer, and artist, and was one of the designers of the emblem of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He was also among the first to establish a practice in mainland China after the economic reforms. In 2021 the late Sir Tao Ho was honoured with Design Trust Legacy Award to celebrate his prolific contribution to the architectural and cultural landscape of Hong Kong.
Rather than a conventional, chronological biography, the project portrays Tao Ho's persona and philosophies by studying these diverse materials while further enriching the academic discourse surrounding his intellectual contributions and architectural oeuvre, exploring under-researched connections with regional and international architectural movements. A feature exhibition on Tao Ho’s legacy will be presented at Hong Kong Arts Centre in 2026.