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Roderick Tong, Director of HBA Hong Kong, on the Future of Architecture & Design in Asia
INTERVIEW
With 13 years of experience in the UK before returning to Asia, Roderick Tong has helped establish and grow design practices across the region, including Make’s Beijing office and Conran and Partners’ first Asia office in Hong Kong. At HBA Hong Kong, he oversees architecture, façade design, master planning and large-scale lifestyle developments, bringing together strategic leadership and a people-focused approach to design.
In this interview, Roderick shares his perspective on creating meaningful spaces, navigating the opportunities and challenges of regional growth, and Hong Kong’s role in shaping the future of architecture and hospitality design in Asia.
HBA Hong Kong has a long history in the region, but the hospitality and design landscape has changed significantly in recent years. What opportunities do you see for the studio as Hong Kong continues to evolve as a regional design hub?
Having worked in the region, I’ve seen how Hong Kong brings cultures, markets and ideas together. That makes it a natural base for developing hospitality design across Asia. What excites me is the opportunity to combine HBA Hong Kong’s regional knowledge with the perspectives and expertise of our global network. Collaboration across different HBA studios helps us create experiences that feel internationally informed, while responding authentically to the character of each place.
You have worked across the UK and Asia for more than two decades. How has working across these different markets influenced your approach to architecture, hospitality and design?
Over more than two decades working across the UK and Asia, I’ve learned that good design begins with understanding the people, culture and context of each place. The UK’s rich architectural heritage and tradition of adaptive reuse have shaped my appreciation for working thoughtfully with what already exists. In Asia, the pace of development, urban density and diversity of guest expectations often bring different opportunities and challenges.
Moving between these markets has taught me not to rely on a single design approach. In hospitality, that means looking beyond aesthetics to understand how guests and staff experience a space, and how design can create a genuine sense of place. It has also made me value listening and collaboration – bringing clients, local teams and different disciplines together to develop solutions that are distinctive, practical and relevant.
You’ve been involved in establishing design practices in both Beijing and Hong Kong. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities when building and scaling a design business in Asia today?
Having helped establish design practices in both Beijing and Hong Kong, I’ve seen first-hand how varied and fast-moving the markets in Asia can be. One of the biggest challenges is growing a practice while maintaining consistent design quality.
We cannot just copy and paste a model from one place to another, as success depends on understanding the local cultures and client expectations. For me, building the right team is essential: attracting and developing both local and international talent, and fostering a collaborative culture. That combination helps us bring different perspectives together and create solutions tailored to each project and place.
What are some of the most interesting shifts you’re seeing in hospitality design across Asia right now? Are travellers’ expectations changing the way hotels are being conceived?
In the projects we’ve worked on across Asia, we’ve seen travellers increasingly seek experiences that feel distinctive and connected to the destination, rather than a standardised hotel stay. Hotels are encouraged to express a stronger sense of local identity and culture through the design. Hotels are also being conceived as more than places to sleep. They’re becoming places to gather, dine and spend time, with stronger connections to the surrounding community with more flexible public spaces that can serve different people and purposes throughout the day. Wellbeing is another important shift. Guests are placing greater emphasis on how a space makes them feel, so restorative spaces are becoming an increasingly meaningful part of the hotel experience.
What makes Hong Kong particularly well positioned to serve as a design hub for projects across Asia?
Hong Kong is particularly well positioned because it brings global perspectives together with a strong understanding of the region. That helps us navigate different cultures, client needs and project contexts. The city has a deep pool of talent and well-established business networks, creating a strong foundation for collaboration.
Many hotel operators have regional headquarters or offices in Hong Kong, which can make communication more direct and support close collaboration with clients. A lot of Hong Kong developers have an international outlook and engage with markets in Europe, the US and beyond. This creates opportunities to bring global ideas into projects while adapting them thoughtfully to local needs.
Looking ahead, which markets or types of hospitality and lifestyle projects across Asia do you think offer the most interesting opportunities for designers?
Two areas I find especially interesting are wellness-led design and lifestyle hotels. Guests are placing greater emphasis on wellbeing, so there is an opportunity to make it part of the entire hotel experience – not just something offered in a spa or gym. Thoughtful, restorative spaces can support guests’ wellbeing in ways that feel natural and connected to the destination.
I’m also excited by the growth of lifestyle hotels. Major hotel groups are increasingly prioritising lifestyle brands as part of their long-term strategies, creating demand for distinctive, experience-led concepts. For designers, the opportunity is to give each hotel a strong sense of place and character, while creating spaces that reflect how people want to stay, gather and spend time.
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