21 Nov 2018

Futurespective: HASSELL marks 80 years of innovative design and architecture with celebratory exhibition

Leading international design practice HASSELL presents Futurespective, an exhibition celebrating the firm’s 80^th anniversary. Opening last Thursday (15 November) in Shanghai today (21 November) in Hong Kong, this celebratory exhibition will serve as a retrospective for the practice’s history, as well as looking to the future to showcase the practice’s commitment to innovation and the compulsion to look beyond what’s possible within the industry to continue designing places people love.

Throughout its 80-year history, the success of HASSELL has been founded upon its multidisciplinary expertise and forward-thinking approach to design built on the central tenet that excellent design is characterised not by the appearance, but the practicality and relevance of a building to its local context. Futurespectives’ invite-only opening events in both cities comprise of interactive presentations and panel discussions featuring key knowledge leaders across the global HASSELL studios who will share their perspectives and insights on what the next 80 years might look like.

At the opening event in Hong Kong, a host of industry leaders will join the celebration through in-depth discussions of diverse topics reflecting HASSELL’s core mission and sharing their personal creative journeys. The event will begin with keynote speeches by HASSELL spokespeople including Steve Coster, Managing Director and Ilma Siksna, Principal – China.

The program of interactive talks hosted by Kirsti Simpson, Global Head of Workplace Design, will feature Head of Urban Design, David Tickle, who will build a dialogue on what the next 80 years hold for urban centres and the importance of building resilient cities. Paul Semple, Global Head of Hospitality, will speak about the convergence of hospitality, residential and workplace design while Tom Herron, Principal – China will discuss the speed at which new technologies are adopted and how predicting future trends can be difficult.

Futurespective will be open to the public with free admission from 22 to 25 November at the HASSELL studio in Hong Kong. More than 80 exhibits will be on display in the form of architectural models, image data, and design sketches showing a wide range of key projects from the practice’s 80-year history. Guests will be provided insight into how HASSELL applies its global perspective and collaborative culture to create projects that are recognised as benchmarks in the architecture and design industry. The exhibition allows architecture and design enthusiasts in both cities to experience and recognise the positive impact HASSELL has had across different cities.

Futurespective Hong Kong, Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 November, 10am to 6pm; HASSELL Hong Kong Office, 22/F, @Convoy Building, 169 Electric Road, North Point, Hong Kong