Balances role at Heatherwick Studio with smaller-scale architecture at his own practice
Architect, Andre Kong Studio and Heatherwick Studio. Part 1: 2011, Part 2: 2014
Fashion designer Virgil Abloh, who combined working for Louis Vuitton with his own label, was one of the inspirations for architect Andre Kong when he sought ways to expand beyond his project leader job at Heatherwick Studio.
With going it alone too risky without a financial safety net, Kong instead negotiated a 50-50 split between his job at Heatherwick, where he works on major commissions such as Google’s London headquarters, and his own fledgling practice.
This combination of roles clearly suits him well, enabling him to continue ‘thinking strategically on a very big stage’ at Heatherwick while his own practice focuses on small-scale public realm and housing projects ‘with a meaningful purpose and brief’. He believes each informs the other, enabling him ‘to grow as a designer’.
So far his own studio has completed 15 projects, including A Cautionary Benchmark, a bench in the Royal Docks built in collaboration with local students using reclaimed metal, which visualises the impact of flooding. Residential extensions include Stepped Loft, with three distinct volumes that pull out of each other like a telescope.
One of the approaches he’s keen to pursue at his own practice is circularity. ‘Most of the resources we need for building are already out of the ground, though many are trapped in landfills,’ he says. ‘Reusing existing structures shouldn’t be conservative – adaptive reuse can be as exciting and expressive as new builds. The industry urgently needs to develop material banks, allowing architects to design more easily with existing materials.’
Designers, he adds, need to think more strategically about how the materials they’re working with could be reused at a later point. ‘A design is only a point in a material’s life,’ he says, arguing’ that architects’ duty of care extends to the planet.
Kong, who is of Portuguese-Chinese descent, is a keen mentor, working with organisations such as Accelerate, POC (People of Colour) in Architecture and Freehold, a forum for LGBTQ+ professionals in the property sector.
It’s a pivotal moment for his studio – he’s about to take on his first member of staff as he sets out to grow the practice.
Judges were impressed with Kong’s ability to make a success of two very different ways of working. ‘We look forward to seeing where it takes him,’ said Peter Laidler.
What piece of architecture or placemaking do you most admire and why?
I greatly admire Neave Brown’s Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate in London for its exceptional combination of form, function, and community spirit. It showcases the best of Brutalist architecture with its bold, geometric shapes and carefully crafted details. The playful, sculptural design isn’t just beautiful but also serves a vital social function, encouraging interaction and fostering a strong sense of community. The thoughtful layout promotes communal living while maintaining privacy.