Interview by Yipai: Why Does A Design Leader of A Top-10 Global Design Firm Come to The Great Bay Area
Nov 14, 2018
Click Image for the Interview Video
"Now is an era of strong-country. What do we take to strengthen it? We must take a culture to achieve it. Under the historical trend of the construction of Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao and the Great Bay, we are fortunate to be part of it. We strive to make better, more unique and culturally meaningful designs."
"I represent a historical generation that has grown up in China's reform, opening up, and prosperity. China's development has enabled me to enjoy a good education. I have the opportunity to study in other countries and learn from other places."
When he graduated from overseas studying architecture design, Chen Zhidong received a letter of appointment from the world's top ten architectural design companies and began to settle in Hong Kong. "As a Cantonese, I chose to stay in Hong Kong because Hong Kong is backed by the motherland, adjacent to Guangdong, and facing the international community. At the same time, Hong Kong seamlessly links to various policies in the Mainland."
On the basis of certain work experience, taking advantage of the construction period of Dawan District, Chen Zhidong resigned from the top ten construction companies in the world at the end of 2017 and started his own business in Hong Kong. "The establishment of the Greater Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, I think it is a trend in history, we must seize this opportunity!
In addition to the opportunity of construction in Dawan District, Chen Zhidong took the team to follow the direction of “One Belt, One Road” and went deep into the southwestern region of China. At the same time, he also opened up overseas markets in Southeast Asia. "China's development has reached an era of a cultural power. The design power of the mainland is becoming stronger and stronger, and its influence on the world is increasing. When we design a report a few years ago, we will ask for a foreigner to speak. English; now, we speak Chinese directly, and foreigners sit next to them."
Due to his professional relationship, Chen Zhidong often travels between the Mainland and Hong Kong to experience and experience the trend of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. "We are fortunate to be part of it. I hope that I can use the various education and work experience I have accepted to realize the opportunities that we have given in this era and to create our own time value."