Pengfei He

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Pengfei He ("PH") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

PH : He Pengfei Design Director of Shanghai L&A Design Group Co., Ltd. Chief Architect of Simer Architectural Engineering Design Co., Ltd. National First-Class Registered Architect of China Senior Member of the Architectural Society of China Senior Engineer Mr. He Pengfei graduated from the School of Architecture of Zhengzhou University. As a professional who has been deeply engaged in the architectural design industry for 17 years, he possesses profound professional knowledge and keen industry insights. He has always adhered to the pursuit of excellent design and is committed to promoting the in-depth integration of architecture and art.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

PH : When I was a child, I watched an interview with the renowned Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei. I was deeply impressed by the Louvre Pyramid designed by Mr. Pei, and since then, I have been fascinated by architectural design. I hope to become a great architect like him in the future.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

PH : I am an architect, mainly engaged in architectural design. I prefer to design public buildings on challenging sites.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

PH : If young designers want to become design legends, they need to cultivate innovative thinking, break through conventions and propose unique solutions; improve their aesthetic standards to create visual beauty; exercise their communication and collaboration skills to ensure the smooth progress of projects; adhere to the pursuit of excellent design; and maintain the exploration of and passion for the integration of architecture and art.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

PH : A good designer can skillfully apply professional skills, meet the basic functional and aesthetic requirements of a project, and design good works. However, a great designer is not only highly proficient in professional skills but also possesses a strong innovative spirit. They can break through conventions, create pioneering and far-reaching influential works, and lead the industry trend. They have a profound understanding and persistent pursuit of design, attach great importance to humanistic care, and can enable their design works to coexist harmoniously with society and the environment.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

PH : Architectural design, on the one hand, involves issues related to factual judgments such as technology, usage, construction, and budget. On the other hand, it involves issues related to value judgments such as human thoughts, emotions, philosophy, and aesthetics. For the former issues, there are right and wrong answers, while for the latter issues, there is no standard answer. A good building should not only be a correct building but also a building that touches people's hearts.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

PH : Utilize innovative thinking to solve practical problems, persistently pursue excellence, explore the integration of architecture and art, and pay attention to the social environment as well as humanistic care.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

PH : My favorite work is the Louvre Pyramid designed by I.M. Pei. It has a modern appearance, combining glass and metal, with smooth lines and transparent light. Although its style contrasts with the ancient Louvre, it is magically integrated, setting off the elegance of the historical building. As the main entrance, it optimizes the flow of people. The underground space creates rich light and shadow effects through the light. It is extremely charming both during the day and at night, and it is a model in terms of aesthetics, functionality, and cultural integration, having a profound influence.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

PH : I personally think that my greatest design is the Dongtou Passenger Port project. It fully reflects my design philosophy: the integration of tradition and modernity, as well as the symbiosis of nature and architecture. Situated at Tantou Mountain Bay in Dongtou, this site serves as a link between the urban area and the scenic zone. Under the guidance of the concept of "Symbiosis of Mountain and Sea", the terraced setback buildings and vegetated slopes combine the mountain and the sea, creating a three-dimensional space. It connects the mountains and the coastline longitudinally, integrates an 800-meter commercial-waterfront belt transversely, and zones the transport, commercial, and ecological corridors vertically, thus shaping a low-carbon symbiotic entity.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

PH : I have a deep love for painting, maybe I will become a painter.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

PH : It stems from the love for design and the persistent attitude of pursuing excellence, with an emphasis on exploring the integration of architecture and art, and paying attention to the social environment as well as humanistic care.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

PH : Design can contribute to creating a better society in many ways. Through reasonable space planning, design can create a livable environment, integrate nature and humanity, and enhance the quality of life. Design can also pay attention to the needs of vulnerable groups, promote social equity, and drive sustainable development.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

PH : Social welfare projects: Projects such as barrier-free facilities or community centers designed for vulnerable groups. When seeing that the design can effectively improve the living environment of disabled people, the elderly and other groups, meet their special needs, and enhance their living convenience and happiness, one will deeply feel the social value of the design and thus obtain a strong sense of satisfaction.

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

PH : Firstly, in terms of technology, technologies such as AI should be deeply integrated with design and applied in a standardized manner, assisting designers in creating better works and ensuring originality. Secondly, in terms of concepts, more emphasis should be placed on sustainable development, integrating the concepts of environmental protection and low carbon throughout the entire design process. At the same time, it is necessary to deeply explore cultural connotations to promote cultural inheritance and innovation. Thirdly, in terms of talent cultivation, attention should be paid to the cultivation of interdisciplinary abilities, enabling designers to possess knowledge in multiple fields and enhancing their comprehensive qualities.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

PH : AI will be deeply integrated into design tools, shifting from being an assistant to an end output provider. This will greatly enhance the efficiency of designers.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

PH : Always maintain a curiosity about the world and a keen sense of insight.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

PH : Design and trends influence and promote each other, and it is difficult to simply determine which one leads the other. On the one hand, with innovative concepts, unique styles, and a forward-looking insight into future trends, excellent designs are able to create brand-new aesthetic paradigms and ways of life, thus leading the trends. On the other hand, trends can also provide inspiration and direction for design. The trend tendencies formed by factors such as social culture, economic development, and technological progress prompt designers to create in line with these changes.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

PH : Colors can create an atmosphere and convey emotions; materials determine the texture, performance, and sustainability; the environment affects the suitability of the design. The three elements jointly shape the function and experience of the design.

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

PH : When seeing a new great design or product, I will think about its innovative points, aesthetic value, the practical problems it solves, and the possible impacts on the industry and people's lifestyles.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

PH : In the next thousand years, technology will lead to earth-shaking changes in human society. In the field of technology, artificial intelligence will be deeply integrated with humans and become an important partner in both life and work. Quantum computing technology will mature, providing powerful computing power for scientific research and solving complex problems. In terms of lifestyle, cities will be built with new materials and become more intelligent and ecological. There will be a transformation in transportation methods. High-speed maglev trains, flying cars, etc. will become popular, making travel convenient and efficient. In education, with the help of virtual reality and augmented reality technologies, personalized and immersive learning will be achieved. Entertainment methods will become more diverse, and immersive games, space tourism, etc. will become the norm. The social structure will also change. The degree of global integration will be higher, national boundaries will become blurred, and a close global community will be formed.