A world of things: architect William Lim reveals his design inspiration in new show
A new exhibition of the work by Hong Kong-based architect, artist and art collector William Lim offers an intriguing insight into the award-winning designer's fascination with both traditional design and contemporary art. At the core of the retrospective is an eclectic collection of objects – from vintage furniture to a traditional Chinese birdcage – that Lim says have most inspired his 40-year career.
'It is not just about their intrinsic beauty,' he explains. 'The architecture of the traditional birdcage, for example, offers a useful lesson in structural integrity.'
The Cornell University-educated Lim cites American architect Frank Lloyd Wright as a key influence in helping him develop a fresh take on the classic East-meets-West aesthetic. 'He was a very well rounded designer, not just for his architecture, but also furniture and lamps. My exhibition includes two of his autographed books from the 1930s that I found in a bookstore in Tokyo,' says Lim.
Also on show are original sketches, materials, models and documents highlighting 15 of Lim's key projects, including the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore, and his most recent interiors at the Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel in Tokyo, Japan.
Another draw of the show is a video by award-winning experimental film maker Philip Yung Chi-Kwong, offering viewers a glimpse of completed Lim projects such as the interiors of the Icon and East hotels in Hong Kong.
INFORMATION
’William Lim – Fundamental: 40 years of Design Inspiration from the East’ is on show until 27 September
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
ADDRESS
ArtisTree
1/F Cornwall House
Taikoo Place
979 King’s Road
Quarry Bay
Hong Kong
Catherine Shaw is a writer, editor and consultant specialising in architecture and design. She has written and contributed to over ten books, including award-winning monographs on art collector and designer Alan Chan, and on architect William Lim's Asian design philosophy. She has also authored books on architect André Fu, on Turkish interior designer Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu, and on Beijing-based OPEN Architecture's most significant cultural projects across China.
-
Nothing pitches itself into the premium realm with its new flagship Nothing Phone (3)
The Nothing Phone (3) is a serious creative tool that brings fresh design, new features and a commitment to keeping tech fun
-
Nothing takes its first step into high-end audio with the new over-ear wireless Headphone (1)
Created in partnership with KEF, the Nothing Headphone (1) is designed to shake up the sector and present over-ear audio in a wholly new way
-
In Copenhagen, Charlotte Taylor gave us a glimpse into the mess of real life
At 3 Days of Design, Charlotte Taylor staged ‘Home from Home’, a group exhibition in collaboration with Noura Residency, showcasing the chaos of the everyday, from unmade beds to breakfast leftovers
-
A nature-inspired Chinese art centre cuts a crisp figure in a Guiyang park
A new Chinese art centre by Atelier Xi in the country's Guizhou Province is designed to bring together nature, art and community
-
Zaha Hadid Architects’ spaceship-like Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum is now open
Last week, ZHA announced the opening of its latest project: a museum in Shenzhen, China, dedicated to the power of technological advancements. It was only fitting, therefore, that the building design should embrace innovation
-
A Xingfa cement factory’s reimagining breathes new life into an abandoned industrial site
We tour the Xingfa cement factory in China, where a redesign by landscape architecture firm SWA completely transforms an old industrial site into a lush park
-
Bold, geometric minimalism rules at Toteme’s new store by Herzog & de Meuron in China
Toteme launches a bold, monochromatic new store in Beijing – the brand’s first in China – created by Swiss architecture masters Herzog & de Meuron
-
The upcoming Zaha Hadid Architects projects set to transform the horizon
A peek at Zaha Hadid Architects’ future projects, which will comprise some of the most innovative and intriguing structures in the world
-
Liu Jiakun wins 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize: explore the Chinese architect's work
Liu Jiakun, 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate, is celebrated for his 'deep coherence', quality and transcendent architecture
-
Zaha Hadid Architects reveals plans for a futuristic project in Shaoxing, China
The cultural and arts centre looks breathtakingly modern, but takes cues from the ancient history of Shaoxing
-
The Hengqin Culture and Art Complex is China’s newest cultural megastructure
Atelier Apeiron’s Hengqin Culture and Art Complex strides across its waterside site on vast arches, bringing a host of facilities and public spaces to one of China’s most rapidly urbanising areas