16 INSIGHTS
PRACTICE PROFILE All images © Lead8 Lead8
Multidisciplinary practice Lead8 has ascended quickly to global status since founding in 2014, picking up numerous accolades along the way. ADF’s Tom Boddy speaks to co-founders Christine Hau and David Buffonge
D
espite being among the 100 top international firms, Lead8 was only established relatively recently – in Hong Kong in 2014. The practice was formed when its co-founders, who had been working together for a number of years, decided to pool their various expertise and begin their own journey. Christine Hau, one of the firm’s co-founders and executive directors, explains to ADF how this decision was driven by the group’s aspiration of creating their own vision and “build a portfolio of projects in their own way.” Since its foundation, the practice has boomed internationally, with design studios opening up in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, London, and most recently, Shenzhen. From just a small group of architects and designers, Lead8 now has around 250 employees, and a host of completed projects, particularly in Asia. This rapid business expansion over a few years would usually be a challenging task for any company to manage. However, as the practice has adopted a strategy in which they only “expand in line with their portfolio,” only physically growing in the territories that their work takes them to, as Hau explains, they
have managed to stay on top of it.
The co-founding team also had previous experience working in large global design firms, and this experience was invaluable during key decision making in Lead8’s early years. But it’s not just the practice’s growth that’s been impressive, they’ve also picked up a variety of awards over the last few years. In 2021 alone, Lead8 won more than 30 accolades, including five Asia Pacific Property Awards, as well as six PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards.
Multi-disciplinary Lead8’s portfolio over the seven years since founding has mainly consisted of retail-led, mixed-use and transport-oriented developments, and they expect this mix to continue moving forward. The staff’s remit crosses several disciplines, often on single projects – regularly delivering the architecture, as well as masterplanning, interior design, and specific areas such as signage design. “At Lead8, we are skilled at delivering multiple design scopes
Hubei Coordination Urban Renewal Scheme, Shenzhen
Shougang Park Urban Weaving District, Urban Regeneration, Beijing
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ADF JANUARY 2022
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