Why Hong Kong designer Tommy Wong of LI&Co. plays with paper models

Hong Kong designer Tommy Wong likens himself to a mixologist. “It’s about mixing and combining different elements to create something with its own unique trademark and characteristics,” he says. “It’s similar to a good cocktail.” Wong, managing director of the Hong Kong and Taipei offices of LI&Co., works in tandem with Johnny Li, managing director of the New York head office, to deliver high-end projects across residential, commercial, retail and hotels, as well as its own furniture collection, YILINE. “Johnny and I have a chemistry,” Wong says. “That’s why I’ve worked here for so long.” Wong joined the design firm – launched by Li 20 years ago – in 2000. “It’s so lucky that I met Johnny,” an enthusiastic Wong says. “He’s taught me so many things about materials, concepts and lighting.” It seems Li’s trust was well-founded; he left the Hong Kong and Taipei offices in Wong’s capable hands when he moved to New York in 2018 to head the company’s growing operations on the East Coast and the business has been thriving ever since. L’ÉCOLE - School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels; Blanc de Chine; and PUYI Optical are among the studio’s regular corporate clients, and it is also designing the second homes of clients for whom it initially created residences 10 years ago. [Being a designer] is about mixing and combining different elements to create something with its own unique trademark and characteristics. It’s similar to a good cocktail “We just finished a luxury home in Happy Valley [Hong Kong] for an old client,” Wong says. “For her new home, we totally abandoned the flat’s original layout. We knocked down every wall we could and made this 2,000-square-foot (186-square-metre) flat a two-bedroom home with a huge master suite. “We also did a house in Repulse Bay, [Hong Kong] for a lovely couple we’ve worked with before. In total, with the garden, it’s 20,000 square feet. The husband told me this is the home he wants to retire in.” ‘Home work’ proves new trend Despite the husband’s retirement plans, Wong still created a workspace for him in the property, and he did the same in the Happy Valley apartment. “A new trend we’re seeing is for home offices that give homeowners the freedom to work wherever they want,” he says. “They don’t want to waste time [travelling or in meetings]. They’ll talk directly with colleagues and clients if they need to.” It’s a sentiment Wong echoes in his own life. “I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like to waste time, especially on unnecessary meetings,” he says. Organisation is clearly important to Wong. “Advance planning is crucial,” he says. “One smartphone is all you need to multitask and organise most things you might need in your life. Technology also allows you to declutter and reorganise.” Yet staying organised is no easy task when you’re running a multi-city design company. “Between our three offices we rely heavily on the internet for our daily communications, plus our design and production processes,” Wong says. “Without the internet, we couldn’t possibly have achieved what we’re doing at the moment. “Having said that, our design process is quite organic. Johnny and his assistant manager, Ryan, work on paper models and hand sketches, then the rest of the team and I quickly translate the model into 3D computer sketches, so we can study each design in depth. Sometimes we 3D-print our smaller models, too.” Johnny Li, [the firm’s founder] and I still love paper models. They’re so important when thinking about the structure of a house you’re building … a good designer thinks about space in three-dimensional terms first Tommy Wong Paper models … in the digital age Wong says his clients find it hard to believe the firm still make paper models in this digital age. “Johnny and I still love paper models. They’re so important when you’re thinking about the structure of a house you’re building. And I’ve come to realise that a good designer thinks about space in three-dimensional terms first. This statement is indicative of the approach Wong takes to his work. “As designers, we’re like film editors,” he says. “Good editing is the key to a high quality and complete design,” he says. A new trend we’re seeing is for home offices that give homeowners the freedom to work wherever they want. They don’t want to waste time Tommy Wong There’s certainly no question that Wong is diligent, and – with his constant, engaging smile – that he’s full of zeal and a pleasure to work with. “After being with the office for [nearly 20 years, and learning from all of our clients and collaborators, ‘dedication’ and ‘respect’ are two words that are deeply engraved in my approach towards each project,” he says. Commitment and hard work pays off “Respect is extremely lacking these days, whether you’re talking about politics, trade, the environment, society or individuals. Being committed and working hard always pays off at the end of a long process; it tends to be reflected in the smiles from our team and from our clients. “Clients love our approach and our clean style. For us, the old saying, ‘form follows function’ forever rings true. Practicality and functionality underpin most of our design discipline in the studio, helping us create spaces that are timeless and understated.” Despite the apparent simplicity of the studio’s designs, each of its finished spaces – whether it’s a luxury store, a hip hotel, a home in the Japanese ski resort of Niseko or a whole apartment block in Taipei – is multi-dimensional. Each project subtly draws on novels, cinema and travel, with cleverly layered, refined materials conveying a quiet sense of class. “A client recently said to me, ‘Each of your designs is like fine wine’,” Wong says. “‘You can’t appreciate it in two minutes. You have to sit down, taste it, see how it changes. It takes time to understand.’ “That’s how I feel about design. You can’t just see a space; you have to touch it and really feel it.”

Why Hong Kong designer Tommy Wong of LI&Co. plays with paper models

Managing director of company’s Hong Kong and Taipei offices likes to think of space in 3D terms to help him create good house designs He says job similar to that of mixologist – combining different elements to create something with unique character – ‘like a good cocktail’

Managing director of company’s Hong Kong and Taipei offices likes to think of space in 3D terms to help him create good house designs

He says job similar to that of mixologist – combining different elements to create something with unique character – ‘like a good cocktail’