最近，我與幾位頂尖香港設計師們碰面，發現了一個有趣的現象。儘管這些設計師名氣響亮，現在的工作量卻大幅減少，發現最主要是因為香港政局和市場環境的變化，特別是中國市場的波動。這些香港設計師朋友的案子有 90% 是來自中國，隨著中國市場的縮減，他們也面臨非常大的生存壓力，不得不裁員和大幅降低設計費用，據說有的設計費已減少 25%。
相反地，許多香港設計公司現在開始轉向台灣市場，這提醒我們：台灣的經濟景氣依然強勁，設計需求也不斷增加，這是我們提升設計能力、利用經濟優勢的好機會。如果我們能展現出色的設計能力，業主會發現台灣已有優秀的設計人才，這有助於將更多的設計機會保留在台灣。
香港設計師與建築師的現況挑戰
香港的情況則有所不同，香港設計師有時扮演地產商的輔助角色，由於房價高昂，業主更關注如何最大化利用空間，而非設計質量。例如，香港的房價已經達到每坪三百萬台幣，等同於台灣豪宅大坪數的等級，但實際上房屋面積卻很小，由於成本高昂，開發商為了讓人們買得起，就創造了小戶型。根據香港法律，新建住宅的最小面積需要有 280 平方英呎，約 7.86 坪，以確保人們至少有一個合適的家。每一坪室內都極為珍貴，使得業主期望所有空間都能得到最大利用，設計因此成為次要考量。這樣的環境對香港的設計師和建築師來說，是一種不同的挑戰。
香港歷史建物的新故事：監獄與法院
不過，有一個好消息是，我跟香港建築媒體聊天時，都注意到香港最近開始重視歷史建築和文化遺產，這是一個新趨勢。過去他們習慣拆除舊建築蓋高樓，但現在開始有一些改變。例如，域多利監獄改造成的 Dragonfly 酒吧，由著名室內設計師 Ashley Sutton 設計，以綠松石和鑄鐵蜻蜓作為主題。當我走進時被驚豔到了，雖然仍受到舊建築的限制，但他們巧妙地將小窗戶改成 DJ 台，使得空間的利用和呈現變得很精彩。
當我從狹小的監獄空間走了幾步路，瞬間置身於兩層樓挑高的寬敞空間，此時發現另一個空間是將最高法院附屬樓及西區裁判法院改造成的 Magistracy Dining Room 餐廳，由著名室內設計師 Joyce Wang 設計，她保留且修復了原有拱門結構以及天花板，突顯這個場所曾經的地位，再加上行政總廚 Alyn Williams 的菜肴，共同慶祝這個地方的歷史故事。
文化資產空間再利用：澡堂與機械房
台灣在保護文化遺產方面的努力也非常值得驕傲，我很常帶朋友去松菸文創園區的「不只是圖書館」以及「ISLAND133」，向他們展示如何將日式澡堂變成圖書館，以及將機械房轉化成餐廳。台灣政府充分理解保存歷史遺產的重要性，這不僅是講述台灣故事的最佳方式，也同時維護了台灣文化。我們的努力讓在地的居民和來訪的遊客都能夠認識和欣賞這些古蹟資產。
無論是香港還是台灣，設計師們都在不斷適應變化的市場環境，探索新的機會與挑戰。這次的香港行再次提醒我們，台灣有機會在設計領域繼續發揮強大的優勢，我們有著強勁的經濟優勢、豐富的文化遺產和具創意的設計人才，這都將是我們創造下一個台灣故事的機會。
*資料來源: LCQ22: Average living space per person
Design Resilience and Cultural Heritage: Challenges for Hong Kong Designers and Opportunities for Taiwan
Recently, I met with a few top Hong Kong designers and noticed an interesting phenomenon. Despite their reputation, the workload of these designers has dropped dramatically. After discussion, we realized that the primary cause was Hong Kong’s shifting political and economic landscape, particularly the volatility of the Chinese market. Ninety percent of the cases my Hong Kong designer friends handle come from China. With the shrinkage of the Chinese market, the pressure on them to survive has become greater than ever. Staff has been laid off, and it is said that some of their design fees have been reduced by 25%.
In contrast, a number of Hong Kong firms are now entering the Taiwanese market, indicating that Taiwan's economy is still solid and the demand for design is growing. This is a good opportunity for us to be in an amicable competition with fellow Hong Kong designers. On a positive note, it is inspiring to welcome international designers to come and showcase their talents. Nonetheless, it also reminds us to continue to showcase Taiwan's design excellence, upgrade our design capabilities, and capitalize on our economic advantage. If we can demonstrate our excellence in design, the opportunities that are native to Taiwanese designers will be retained, allowing us to hold strong to our unique identity.
The 7.86 ping HK home
The Hong Kong designers often play a supporting role to real estate developers. Due to the housing’s high cost, owners are more concerned with maximizing space than design quality. For example, Hong Kong's housing prices have reached NTD$3 million per ping, due to the high cost, the developers create tiny units to make it affordable, according to Hong Kong's law, the minimum size of a newly built home is 7.86ping or 280 square feet to ensure people at least can have a proper home. What we get is every inch of the property is extremely valuable, more than the importance of design. It is not the idea of luxury when thinking of this property price range like in Taiwan, affordability & space maximisation is the number one priority, and making ends meet.
History is the Lesson Forward
This trip, the architectural media I spoke with shared some good news. Hong Kong has recently started to highlight the value of historic buildings and emphasize the importance of cultural heritage—a new trend that differs from the past, where they used to demolish old structures and, BOOM!, came a thin high rise out of human proportion.
The Dragonfly, which I was beautifully surprised upon entering, is located in the converted Victoria Prison, designed by renowned interior designer Ashley Sutton, featuring turquoise and cast iron dragonflies. Despite the constraints of the old building, they cleverly altered the small windows into a DJ station, making the use of space and presentation very exciting.
Another space as I moved from the small quarters of the prison to the few steps that I took, I entered upon the historical Hong Kong's Supreme Court, transformed into the Magistracy Dining Room, designed by acclaimed interior designer Joyce Wang, where she preserves and restores the original structures and details, highlighting the stature this place once has, paired with Executive Chef Alyn Williams’s dishes that celebrate the story of the place.
The Taiwan-Japanese Story
On the same note, Taiwan is very proud of its efforts to preserve cultural heritage. I often take my friends to Not Just Library and ISLAND133 in Taipei’s Songshan Cultural and Creative Park to show them how a Japanese-style bathhouse can be turned into a library and a machine shop into a restaurant. The Taiwanese government fully understands the importance of preserving historical heritage, not only as the best way to tell the story of Taiwan but also as a means of preserving our culture.
Both in Hong Kong and Taiwan, designers are constantly adapting to the changing market environment and exploring new opportunities and challenges. This trip to Hong Kong reminds me, that Taiwan has the opportunity to continue to excel in design. Our resilient economy, rich cultural heritage, and creative design talent will be keys to setting ourselves in creating the next Taiwan story.
*Ref: LCQ22: Average living space per person
