asynsis nar profilelong

asynsis nigel anthony reading BA Dip Arch ARB RIBA :: architect principal Kingston :: Westminster :: University College London

Asynsis Architecture + Design +86 159 0040 4248 | +852 9370 1841 | [email protected] | www.asynsis.com

Asynsis Architecture + Design ideas realised by synthesising the pragmatic and poetic Shanghai | Hong Kong | London :: incorporated in the UK All images copyright originating consultant or client

PROFILE - Architect Principal: Nigel Anthony READING BA Dip Arch CPPA-UCL ARB-UK RIBA ARCHITECTURE | INTERIOR DESIGN | MASTERPLANNING




Nigel Anthony Reading Architect | Interior Designer | Masterplanner

Ideas realised in 3D

Design | Delivery | Development

Design The last 3 years has seen Nigel initiating concept designs for an iconic, landmark Observation Tower by the harbour in Hong Kong (The Hong Kong Spin), Shanghai World Expo 2010 China pavilions (Hebei and Xinjiang), Shanghai Swirl Huangpu river proposal and a Site Masterplan, Art Museum, Temple and Client Reception building for a large new cemetery for Shanghai. He is also designing a dockside Shopping Centre for an urban regeneration scheme in Dalian, a new Corporate Head Office/R+D and Construction Manufacturing facility, Business Hotel and a VIP Villa in Shanghai plus exclusive apartments and residential developments in Beijing and Shanxi. These various projects reflect the range of a multicultural, versatile designer raised in a dynamic, diverse Hong Kong, efficient, proactive Australia and who trained, lived and worked in historically and culturally rich London. He is registered with the UK Architects Registration Board and is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Delivery Nigel has over 15 years of UK, Australian and Hong Kong professional experience of which the last 10 years has been as a Project Architect, Design Team Leader and lately, Lead Designer on several large scale complex projects in both the public and private sectors: ranging through civic, arts, theatre, commercial, merchant banking, broadcast, multimedia, transport, health, religious, residential, hotel, restaurant, retail and leisure developments. This experience includes producing the initial concepts, competitions and bids, project inception and implementation right through to site supervision and completion. Several of his key senior colleagues from previous projects are now integrated into the Asynsis new projects delivery team, which is capable of handling projects of varying complexity and scale. Nigel has also worked on both the Client and Consultant side of the design and construction process, giving him unique insights into both roles. He is experienced across the full range of architectural services from conceptual design and consultancy, feasibility studies to project and contract administration, client and authority liaison, detailed consultant coordination to full documentation management and site supervision through to full project completion. Several of his recent projects have also been mixed-use developments integrated with transport nodes.




This has enabled him to develop a full understanding of all the complex and competing design, detailing, interfacing, programming and logistical issues through all stages of the construction process, whilst servicing clients, managing consultants and delivering across a variety of diverse sectors. He has previously worked with such leading firms as Arup (twice), Aedas, Allies and Morrison, Grimshaws, Howarth Tompkins, Woods Bagot (twice) and in association with Arquitectonica (twice), KPF, SOM and HBA. This gives him exceptional versatility thanks to the broad scope and depth of his experience acquired by careful selection of all his key previous projects and consultancies whilst working with some of the best global consultancies. Development Many recent Design and Delivery projects entailed his presentation and/or business development pitching to stakeholders including clients, government ministers, statutory authorities and in the case of Hong Kong Spin, the international media. Furthermore, he could also make JV introductions to several leading Hong Kong developers with high profiles in China and the wider region as a result of the presentations on Hong Kong Spin, including Kerry Properties, Wharf, Wheelock, Sun Hung Kai, Nan Fung and USI, amongst others. Besides some of the above developers, he also pitched HKS to the HK SAR government at senior ministerial level, to the statutory authorities, tourism commission and board, members of Legco and to the international media at the press conference held at the Excelsior Hotel, Causeway Bay. Business development and government liaison for HK and the China/East Asia region is now second-nature. He has also recently completed a UKTI Architect’s Trade mission to Chongqing and Changsha. He has several important high level statutory and academic contacts in Shanghai and HK as well, including Tongji University, ECADI and Hong Kong University at Dean and Professor level. These contacts routinely lead to new project developments, often via intitial masterplanning commissions or invited bids. Form fulfils Function – Fusion Modernism, Environmentally Sustainable Design and Construction via Design + Construct Partner Team Nigel believes in adding value through quality (geometry and engineering-led) Formal design. Functionally, this requires delivering full life-cycle performance and energy efficiency whilst mixing the contemporary with the contextual, (fusions of old and new for example - but always in original ways). This results in a client and site-specific, culturally and temporally vernacular approach with real cultural depth that always creates a point of difference. Something unique or exceptional results that usually works on several levels of meaning at once. Surprise, humour and unexpected fusions or lateral references can also be expected in his work. Close collaboration with the client and consultant team to tease out the unique qualities of each brief has therefore been a major constant in the successful delivery of all his projects to date. Cost effective but elegant solutions can therefore result from this “outside the box,” creative approach (also combining common sense and strong background experience). Call it international modernism with strong local and where appropriate, historical, cultural and client branding references. A designer “fusion cuisine”. Green Culture Machine: combining new global technologies and established local strategies to create strong identities: A Neo Vernacular contemporary style Nigel’s method provides for both initial capital investment optimisation and operational energy savings via environmentally sustainable design (ESD), as benchmarked by international LEED and BREEAM ratings. Many green building designs involve using local strategies that have often long been in use. This is also Nigel’s approach because for example, employing Feng Shui and other local references in a modern Chinese building immediately creates a unique, project-specific cultural identity, a bespoke design that’s also very much of its time and place, as well as often being inherently green. The best design tends to be both fit for purpose and to have a strong sense of identity, a site-specific design like a building or interior will always benefit from this approach.




Buildings also account for 30-40% of all Greenhouse Gas emissions, with 70% of that production being over the building’s operational life. Substantial client operational cost savings and commercial advantage over competitors can result from this whole life-cycle approach, should the client wish to take this route (particulalry if they remain as the operator or retain responsibilities for all fixed costs, including energy/utilities), Asynsis has the capability and commitment. Nigel’s Formal approach is therefore derived from his extensive expertise in the initiation and functional application of ESD (with notable examples being: BBC Broadcast Centre White City, Eden, Maitreya Project, Shanghai Pudong Kerry Parkside Centre and his landmark renewables-powered, zero carbon offsetting observation wheel, Hong Kong Spin). All represent the compelling logic of people, profit, planet. Kerry Parkside was recently awarded LEED–Gold status, which is the direct result of his advice to the Kerry Group as their lead consultant representative. The typical result of the LEED rating is: operational life-cycle utility bill cost savings, increased sales and letting rates by up to 10%, not to mention marketing and corporate social responsibility benefits that usually also generate additional revenue due to the enhanced positive consumer perceptions of the client brand. So all this can be achieved, whilst Nigel also fulfills each unique client brief, thereby deriving a true and distinctive sense of “functional” place and time for each project, reminiscent of the way an architect can be like an artist/curator coordinating a group, themed exhibition. Delivering a contemporary, client, cultural and climatic vernacular (a Genius Loci), for each and every individual project, creating a timely and unique cost-optimised design product, bespoke-tailored to the client’s brand and vision is thereby both the key Asynsis priority - and our ultimate fulfilment. In China and the region, we can now offer the full range of Design, Construction and Management services with his Shanghai JV partners, including: Fang An/Concept Design, Bao Gui/Planning Submissions, Design Development/Schematic, Tender to Construction Drawings, Shop-drawing review, right through On-site Supervision, Construction Management stages to Completion, Interior Design FF+E/Propping, Handover and through partners, Facilities Management.




asyn(op)sis Since his graduation in London in 1995, Nigel has initiated, designed or managed the following major civic, health, banking, religious, transport, mixed-use, hospitality, retail + leisure, residential and commercial projects:

Chelsea and Westminster Teaching Hospital: 700 bed teaching hospital, Chelsea, London Two consecutive year’s-out on a wide variety of packages; from design to tender (RIBA stages b to j) – focused on the hospital atrium: cladding, ETFE (cushion) – roof, walkways, freestanding lifts, bridges and environmental services, liaising with Buro Haphold/Watermans engineers, culminating in concept design and job running role/design studies, design team coordination – on the hospital atrium Chapel . (£120m) – London. www.chelwest.nhs.uk/aboutus/

Church Road NHS Medical and Diagnostic Centre: flagship East London LIFT-PFI group-doctors surgery Project Architect - first private finance initiative health clinics in the UK, multiple storey landmark buildings contributing to the urban regeneration of London borough of Newham. Facilities included primary GP care, clinical cardiology suites, x-ray, administration, district nurses, group and ancillary rooms – all arrayed around several full-height inverted conic light wells set in a rectangular plan. From sketch through planning to scheme design stages, (£6m and £4m respectively), London.




NM Rothschild and Sons Merchant Bank: Corporate Finance/Asset Management HQ: City of London - www.rothschild.com Team Leader + package runner - high specification merchant banking office fit-out for corporate finance and asset management departments, producing specialist and general joinery packages (riba stages d to j), information coordination with design team, correspondence, reviewing/commenting on trade contractor and design team/consultant drawings, meeting with the above, NBS specification writing, supervision/drawing markups of consultant team, fire strategy report/fire stopping strategy/drawings, schedules, answering RFI’s, site observations, and onsite supervision and defects rectification/snagging of all packages, ( £25m) – London.




BBC White City Development: new Broadcast Centre at Wood Lane Media Village - concept design, planning application to RIBA stages d+e, scheme and detail design stages for White city Campus – www.bbc.co.uk Senior Team Leader coordinating the planning and stage d reports for the new broadcast centre and support buildings in a new media village. Was jointly responsible for team of 12 producing the above and directly responsible for designing and coordinating master-planning, site, landscaping, IT server floor, basement, services, enabling works and survey information production with the client, design team and consultants, buildings include the broadcast centre (digital tv, bbc world, online and mobile), dedicated offices, energy (chp), leisure, music centres and media units set in landscaped scheme, RIBA stages a to e. Brief requirement was for a BREEAM “excellent” rating (£240m): part 3 professional practice course at UCL completed followed by registration as an architect in March 2001 – London.




Maitreya Buddha Project: Bodh Gaya, India – www.maitreyaproject.org Project Architect of scheme + detail design stage on 50 storey, 155 metre bronze statue and stone throne building (primary structure/skin design life: 1000 years), set in landscaped vernacular parkland – incorporating several packages – as with a conventional building: organic temple and shrine volumes within the concrete/steel structure and bronze skin, roof terrace water gardens, stainless steel roof, stone parapets, exterior stone cladding/interior finishes, shear rc lift and stair cores plus the monastic, educational , health , visitor, hotel and ancillary buildings beyond. Role was to lead a team of six, delivering the largely bespoke detail design package for the project, which was to achieve the highest possible (BREEAM or equivalent) sustainability rating by incorporating passive climate control wherever possible (an example being the use of the bronze statue core as a solar chimney). Coordinating all other consultants and the international design team. All drawing and documentary information posted on 4projects website: dedicated intranet (£100m) – London.




East London Line, London Underground: Architectural Vision and scheme design – Project Architect on first seventeen new metro stations on the extensions to the existing line spanning the Thames. Station architect for Crystal Palace, Shoreditch High Street (Bishopsgate) and Dalston. Produced the Architectural Vision report using four stations as exemplars – existing (Crystal Palace), new build (Surrey Canal road), underground (Shadwell) and on Victorian brick-arched viaducts (Hoxton). Scheme design on four further stations plus three planning consents packages, all whilst liaising with internal Arup civil/structural engineering teams. Result: sign off by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and successful facilitation of the London 2012 Olympiad bid. www.ellp.co.uk and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_London_line_extension




Paddington Station Redevelopment: refurbishment and transformation of London Paddington station including new departure hall for the Heathrow Express and integration with the London Underground Bakerloo and Royal Mail Lines running below the main rail station. Involved sensitive interventions plus conservation of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s original listed Victorian station. New modernist towers over non-listed rail sheds and new platforms. Planning application, 2000.




New Shakespeare Company Regents Park Theatre: Design Team Architect – Architecture + Landscaping tender drawing design and production. (£2m - 2000msq)




Eden Project, Cornwall: Design Team Architect - detailed “for construction” drawing production of the Visitor Centre and Biome link, 2000.




·Narellan Library: Sydney - flagship Camden council library and community centre Project Architect - first stand alone signature public library and community centre in Camden, two storey landmark building contributing to the urban regeneration of town centre of Narellan, facilities include library, community offices, youth centre, sound and darkrooms, multifunction lecture/exhibition spaces, cafe and public plaza. Developed from competition win to scheme design, DA, CC and tender stages. ($6.5m-3045msq)




Fiji Beach Spa resort by Hilton: Fiji – 5-star luxury beachside resort in Fiji Consultant Design Architect – Hilton resort in Fiji consisting of scores of beachside villas set in tropical landscaping, with stand-alone spa, reception and dining buildings, with extensive meeting and poolside facilities. ($8.5m-10000msq) www.fijibeachresortbyhilton.com




·Wuxi Public Teaching Hospital and Medical Research campus: invited competition, China Project Architect - master-planning of modernisation and extensions to Wuxi Peoples Hospital No.5, entailing the provision of new signature modernist design research and teaching facilities along with new operating theatre suites, wards and outpatients clinic within a landscaped urban park.




Westfield Chermside Shopping Centre:

Project Architect – detail design + construction documentation delivery of new extension to first shopping centre in Australia (c. 1957). documentation manager of the costing, tender and construction architectural and interior design fitout packages for the extension of the existing centre in post-tensioned + precast concrete, steel and performance glazing: which comprises skylit malls, 2-3 major stores, 6 mini-major and numerous specialist and smaller shops, mall kiosks and pavilions. Supervision of a team of 12, whilst also liaising with senior project managers, consultants and clients.($AU135m – total GLA: 52 000msq) – Sydney and Brisbane.




W-Square - Hennessey road Wanchai – Project Architect - BD, MCT and Curtain Wall Tender Packages : curtain wall and undulating aluminum fin detail design and construction documentation delivery for spectacular colour-morphing 30 storey office tower and restaurant podium. Effectively developed the curtain wall façade prototype for all towers of the City of Dreams project, including Nigel's own: the twin towers of the Grand Hyatt Macau, which he subsequently went on to lead as the principal Lead Design Manager ($HK30m – total GFA: 50 000msq) with Arquitectonica – Hong Kong.




Shanghai Kerry Parkside Centre – Shangri–La Hotels: Senior Associate in charge - Project Architect - Lead Consultant Representative: Design/Coordination/MCT documentation delivery of new build mixed use Hotel, Serviced Apartment, Office and Retail

centre by the Shanghai New Exposition Centre and Pudong Maglev: management of all consultants and client liaison whilst ensuring original concept designs were enhanced and modified as required, to be seamlessly integrated into the ongoing development of the project.

Initiated major design improvements such as Office Tower relocation to over Metro Station, extension of basement carparking to directly service the retail levels above and persuading the client to adopt an environmentally sustainable design LEED-rating for the development,

ensuring lowered utility bills and optimised performance for this highly serviced, 24/7-operation building type. LEED-Gold rating has now been achieved. The client/operator is thereby able to make substantial savings in operational energy costs, attract positive publicity by showing market leadership and to attract higher rentals and sale prices by up to 10% over market rates. These enhancements resulted in a December 2007 personal invitation to present to Edward Kuok of Kerry Properties for new projects, including full architectural design services. Worked very closely with the Kerry Senior Project Management team to jointly initiate enhancements and deliver the project which fully opens over summer, 2011. ($US235m – total GFA: 250 000msq) for Aedas/with ARA Design (London/Bali), Woods Bagot + KPF – Shanghai. www.kerryparkside.com




Wuxi Times Square Super Highrise– Marco Polo Hotels: Project and Lead Design Architect Lead Consultant: Coordination/MCT documentation delivery and lead designer of two towers (serviced apartments and offices) of new build

Super Highrise mixed use Hotel, Serviced Apartment, Office and Major Retail complex, Fang An/Bao Gui approval December 2007. Currently on site, as of May 2011. ($US280m – total GFA: 270 000msq), Super Highrise tower with SOM – Wuxi.




Hong Kong Spin – Landmark Observation Tower: Nigel Reading: Concept Design Initiator, Lead Architectural/Structural Designer with engineering by Pat Dallard, Arup director and fellow whose previous projects include the London Eye, Millennium Bridge and Singapore Flyer Concept Design Proposal for the end of the Kai Tak runway or potentially, West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong. $HK1.5b – total GFA + basement: 50 000msq. HKS weblinks: www.asynsis.com www.china-briefing.com/news/2007/12/18/introducingthe-hong-kong-spin.html www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWa757m2_nI Senior Associate: W-Square, Kerry Parkside, Wuxi Times Square, Hong Kong Spin project. Nigel initiated, proposed and lead the concept design for Hong Kong Spin, managing the architectural and engineering design development and consultant liaison with Arup – London whilst managing several other projects in succession. Acted as the CAD, Graphics, Web design and business development teams' leader and coordinator. Initiated and lead all Government Department liaison and consultation, presentations to Legco Member Patrick Lau, the Tourism Commission, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Frederic Ma and also to potential developer partners. Resulted in Press Conference at the Excelsior Hotel, Hong Kong on Tuesday December 18, 2007 and subsequent global media exposure and publicity for the project. (Hong Kong)




City of Dreams – Grand Hyatt Macau Twin Towers and Podium:

Lead Design Manager - Design Development of "Phases of Water" theme and Coordination of AFT-AFC architecture and interior design packages. Delivery of new build mixed use Hotel, Casino, Entertainment and Retail resort on the Cotai strip: leading the design + delivery of all major public areas (Grand/Junior Ballrooms, Main Entrance Lobby, Spa, Bar/Restaurants plus 800 guestrooms including the Executive, Diplomatic and Presidential Suites), facade, services and structure to approved for construction stage, guestroom prototyping, sign-off, shop drawing review, defects and workmanship. The role included actively lead designing in all FoH areas, chairing design and coordination meetings and workshops, creating deliverables programmes, contract administration responsibilities, guidance and liaison with contractors, consultants, operators and client top management on a routine basis. The role also included detail concept designing the main ballroom and lobby ceilings, decorative lighting, guest room corridors, various suites, FF+E selection (including Palazzo bathtubs) and lobby fountain art works, amongst others. Initial responsibilities were on interiors only but rapidly expanded to all structure and services (including encountering and rectifying significant design defects in several key areas. Role further developed to Façade curtain walling/LED lighting integration with Aluminum fins (that I had previously prototyped with ARQ in HK), and key Hyatt signage design and coordination, plus BMU integration with roof parapets. Results included having Hyatt branding signage in place before the other Crown and Hard Rock Hotel towers, despite their being several months ahead in the project phasing. Design managers from the other towers thereafter sought our team’s advice on all project tower signage matters as well as for general façade/canopy -services-lighting integration works. The role also involved directly design managing and developing upon the input of Arquitectonica, Hirsch Birdner and Super Potato, amongst others – all whilst liaising with the Hyatt design, development and operations teams and the main contractor on site: Leighton China State John Holland (a Leighton Asia JV). (CoD: $US 2.1b – GHM total GFA: 120 000msq) with ARQ, HBA, Super Potato. www.cityofdreamsmacau.com




Shanghai Qingpu – Jinbo Design + Construct Group Corporate HQ + Industrial Park:

Lead Concept Design Architect – Concept Design, Design Development and Coordination of Green Field Industrial Park in Qingpu, Shanghai, China. Themed on the manufacturing processes, tools and materials employed. Facilities: Office/R+D, Curtain Wall/LED/Photovoltaic Processing and Assembly, Stone processing, Senior/Junior dorms/VIP suites and hospitality amenities, Clinic, Retail, Gymnasium, Multi-purpose Hall. Managing in-house delivery team, sub-consultants and contractor under full service design + construct contract. (On site December 2009. Budget: 120m Rmb – GFA: 80 000msq) www.jinbocg.com




Shanghai Gaudong – Guadong Deep Water Port Business Hotel - Jinbo Design + Construct Group Alliance partners:

Lead Concept Design Architect – Concept Design, Design Development of 4-star Business Hotel, Meeting, Conference and Serviced Offices facility in Gaudong, Shanghai, China. Developed from two initial concepts: Modernist Art Deco or Containers + Factory Gates. Facilities: 150 guestrooms, 20 cellular offices/4 floors of open-plan office floor, meeting room suites, fine-dining restaurant, lobby opening to water garden, multi-purpose hal Supervising delivery team, sub-consultants and contractor under concept design consultant contract. (On site May 2011. Budget: 250m Rmb – GFA: 25 000msq)




SPORTCITY Shanghai Grand Gateway Designer Sports Fashion Concept Store - Hong Kong client - Goldkate Holdings: Lead Concept Design Architect – Concept Design, Design Development of flagship SPAUTE designer sports fashion store. Grand Gateway, Xujiahui, Shanghai. ($HK0.5m – total GFA: 500msq)




Shanghai Xijiao State Guest Hotel environs, Hongqiao – VIP Corporate Guest Villa for Jinbo Design + Construct Group:

Lead Concept Design Architect – Concept Design, Design Development of exclusive corporate hospitality villa in the environs of Xijiao State Hotel, preferred residence of numerous heads of state such as US President Barack Obama, Queen Elisabeth II, Emperor Akihito, Chairmans Mao and Deng. Developed from fusion of two initial concepts: Modernist Asian minimalism (referencing Scarpa) and Mannerist Renaissance Architecture. Facilities: 3 guestrooms, 4 bathrooms, study, walk-in robe, dining + ensuite, kitchen, salon, atrium, fountain, wine cellar, games room; over 4 floors with extensive use of alabaster, onyx, granite, quartz, exotic marbles and delicate stone-inlay/mosaic flooring. Supervising delivery team, sub-consultants and contractor under concept design consultant contract right through to completion on site in April, 2011. (Opening May 2011. Budget: 2.5m Rmb – GFA: 1200msq)