Li Chunqing: made in China, programmed in Britain
By Tom Cunliffe 28 May, 2015
At the age of seventeen, Li said goodbye to his family and came to the UK to study art and design at Eastbourne. Besides working hard at college, Li also worked three jobs to help cover living expenses. His hard working spirit and tenacity would later be the forces that helped Li gain recognition.
The KREOD -- Li's 2012 award-winning project -- formed the centrepiece of Peninsula Square in London. An ambitious project of freestanding pods made from interlocking hexagons, the building of the KREOD met disaster in the early stages when it collapsed due to a mechanical error.
IKREOD – many people walking past would comment enthusiastically about this design as it was being built. [Photo courtesy of Li Chunqing]
Li's architectural and engineering partner Stephen Melville says that Li's refusal to give up saw the KREOD project through to completion. He also stated that Li was the single entrepreneurial factor which made the KREOD project happen
Li's attitude to tackling obstacles is part of his innate character, and arguably the force which has driven his career. This characteristic is evidenced in his attitude towards education, and expensive degree courses.
During his time at Liverpool University, Li focused his efforts on getting hands on experience. He explained that whilst going to a famous school can help as a platform for meeting important architects or entrepreneurs, it doesn't guarantee success.
I said he was desperate to go to the AA (Architectural Association School of Architecture) where the fees are around £25000 ($38000) per year. His wife, who views famous brands like Louis Vuitton as being a waste of money, told Li "if you're good enough, you can make it, don't complain because you didn't go to the best school."
Taking his wife's advice, Li used his work experience as a starting point to gain skills and employment. As a model-maker at his tutor's firm he gained good connections with the city council, architects and developers.
Before finishing his studies, he had job offers from many big architectural firms, and took a job with large architectural firm Foster and Partners.
Summarising his attitude, Li said that when his class went out for drinks after final exams, one of his tutors said; "look, Li is the only one who doesn't give a damn about the marks, and he goes to Fosters."
Li views architecture as helping to shape culture. One main reason for travelling is to see other cities, buildings and cultures, which are defined by architecture to a certain degree. The type of architecture that shapes the environment, inspires people and brings happiness is what Li wants to focus on.
However, architecture and construction is ultimately a business which needs to make profit, so Li wants to find a balance between pushing design and creativity forward while finding new engineering techniques and technology to make the projects financially viable.
Li is organising China Design Week, which will take place in London this October. Bringing people together, and China and Britain together, is the hub of Li's aim for the event.
For a long time Chinese engineers and architects have been known to be technically proficient but not see architecture as an art form. This has recently started to change and there are now some internationally big Chinese architects, such as Ma Yansong.
While there are many design weeks in Beijing and Shanghai these do not tend to have much influence internationally. Li's ambition for China Design Week is to show what China can bring to the world, and demonstrate how Chinese companies can be the best partners to do business with Britain in the creative sectors.
Li says that he wants to build the brand and reputation of China, and to change the current international perception that China is weak creatively.
Li is currently preparing a project for the 2016 Olympics.
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