Macao News

António Bruno Soares

António Bilrero — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 15:47:56 +0800

Look around at Macao’s most unique and memorable buildings, and you will see the mark of António Bruno Soares. Yet, it was only by serendipitous slips of fate that Soares became one of the city’s most prolific contemporary architects. Born in February 1947, in Oeiras, Portugal, Soares spent his childhood in and around Lisbon with his four brothers. He fondly recalls memories of sketching, admiring buildings and exploring construction sites as a young boy with two of his brothers. He attended Passos Manuel High School in 1964 but when it came to applying for university, the school required applicants to submit paperwork in person. Since Soares was vacationing in northern Portugal at the time, his mother filed on his behalf. Despite Soares’ careful instructions, she signed him up for a degree in civil engineering, certain it would open more doors than architecture. And so it was that Soares attended the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon for two years. He then transferred to the University’s Fine Arts School – the oldest art school in Portugal – where he completed a degree in architecture. "University was six extraordinary years with good colleagues and friends for life,” he recalls. “We had great camaraderie.” For Soares, it was a period of personal development, within the greater context of political and artistic upheaval in Europe. "In May 1968, university students in France went on strike and protested in the streets. The echoes of that movement arrived a year later in Portugal, and in 1969, there was a climate of permanent revolution in the fine arts,” says Soares. “[The Fine Arts School of Lisbon] closed several times and there was a general assembly of students practically every day, since the changes were constant." In 1969, a new influence came into Soares’ life. Teacher and architect Tomás Taveira arrived at the school, bringing “new ideas, a different relationship with architecture and a new dynamic to the classes,” he recalls. “At the time, using slides in the classroom was a very new experience – it was a new system of teaching – and he showed us architecture from all around the world." Soares came to appreciate some modern architects, such as German-American architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. In particular, he says the German Bauhaus school and its concept of functionalism touched him deeply. But for Soares, perhaps the most inspiring development was meeting his wife, Irene Ó, whom he describes as “the One”. The pair met during class in the second year of university, often heading into the city centre where they would sketch together, dine at little cafes and frequent libraries. In 1972, they married while they were both in graduate school. They attained their degrees in 1972, but Soares and Ó had already started working by then in Lisbon. Soares joined architect Maurício Vasconcelos in 1970, while Ó worked with architect Raúl Chorão Ramalho, who was already somewhat established in Macao, in 1972. The following year, on 25 April 1974, The Carnation Revolution swept across Portugal, upending the government and ultimately paving the way for a democratic regime. With little demand for architects during the political turmoil, Soares worked as a teaching assistant in the architecture department of his alma mater for a year. The job was not particularly interesting, but as Soares points out, "leaving Lisbon was not an option. It was what it was." Little did he know, life was about to change in a big way. Soares’ father-in-law, Ó U Chi, who owned the first Chinese restaurant in Portugal, was a Macao citizen of Chinese descent who immigrated to Lisbon in 1954 following the Communist takeover with 7-year-old Irene Ó in tow. And 22 years later, Irene and her father visited their homeland for a month-long tour. When they returned to Lisbon, Soares recalls his father-in-law's prophetic words: "The global economy is going to move to the East. You should both take advantage and go to Macao." A seed was planted, and that seed took root in 1974, when Colonel Garcia Leandro became the first governor of Macao. As luck would have it, Soares' older brother had served in Timor-Leste alongside Leandro. Soares secured a meeting with the new governor during one of his visits to Lisbon, and asked a simple question: Are there any openings for architects in the local administration? The answer was a resounding yes. And thus began a new adventure. In January 1978, Soares and Ó arrived in Macao with their two children, 3-year-old Maria and 8-month-old João, who would eventually follow in their parents' footsteps to become well-known architects in Macao. To this day, Soares vividly recalls the experience of approaching Macao by ferry. "One could see the lighthouse and Guia Hill very well. The embankment on the way to the outer harbour terminal was full of zinc huts,” he remembers. “We docked at an old pier and all got into a cab and headed for the Praia Grande Palace, where we lived for a month. I arrived without a contract, only a verbal agreement to work in the Public Works Department." After about a month, Soares started working with two other architects in the administration’s Public Works Department. The family also exchanged their rooms at the Palace for their first residence in Macao: a fifth-floor apartment without an elevator. "That martyrdom – walking up and down, carrying two children – lasted almost a year. But I was the only one working in the family, with a salary of 5,000 patacas a month," he recalls. A year later, the family moved to a three-bedroom apartment on Xavier Pereira Avenue, where they still live, more than 40 years later. In February 1980, nearly two years after Soares arrived in Macao, he left Public Works, and the family pondered a return to Portugal. “In the end, we chose to stay and build a life in Macao,” says Soares. "We opened O.BS [which later became O.BS Architects] and started to take on more projects.” As O.BS flourished, it became apparent that they had made the right decision. "In the 1990s, after the announcement about [the handover] in 1999, there was a lot of work in Macao. Portugal wanted to leave a mark. The ‘90s were fantastic for work." Today, the studio's catalogue includes over "150 buildings of all kinds", he says. So where does Soares draw inspiration? One could certainly argue that some comes naturally. After all, architecture and design run in his blood – his father, a pilot who worked for Portugal’s flagship airline TAP, loved engineering and construction, while two of his brothers are also architects. He also soaks up inspiration from his surroundings. “We observe the area, the local feeling, the first impression of the site and what it is asking for,” he says. “That can impact how we design the space and what types of materials we work with.” While their work varies widely, heritage requalification projects are one of the hallmarks of O.BS Architects. As an example, he points to the Finance Department building, an 18-storey tower with a dramatic five-storey podium which the duo completed in 1987. While the client did not want to reconstruct the old Portuguese building, they kept the original facade at Soares and Ó’s recommendation. Then there’s the renovation of the Bela Vista Hotel, now the Portuguese Consul General’s residence; the renovation of the old São Rafael Hospital, where the Consulate General of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong now stands; the construction of BNU headquarters; the Military Club and the Silva Mendes house for the United Nations University. All are part of their wide-ranging portfolio. He prefers to create modern, simple structures in expansive spaces, using mostly steel, aluminum and glass. Of all the duo’s past projects, it’s the Macao Cultural Center, completed in 1999, which brings a “smile to his face.” "I spend a lot of time at the Macao Cultural Center. I like the building, the architecture, the place. It wasn't, and still isn't, enclosed in the middle of buildings. Instead, it's a vast, open space yet still part of the city." His professional achievements don’t end there. Soares served as president of the Architects Association of Macau from 1992-1998, former Portuguese President Mário Soares awarded him the Commendation of the Order of Professional Merit in 1995 following the inauguration of the Military Club, and in 1999, the Macao government awarded Soares and Ó the Medal of Professional Merit. In his spare time, Soares indulges his love of swimming and sailing – a hobby he took up at the age of 40 – at the Cheoc Van Nautical Club. He is immensely proud of his "Millennium Adventure", where he and his brother-in-law, Vicente Ó, sailed his 14-metre-long boat, named “Macau” from Macao to Portugal between November 1999 and August 2000. In November 1999, Soares and five crewmates – his brother João, Ó, daughter Maria, a navigator from Hong Kong and an assistant from Portugal – spent nine months sailing across the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Red Sea and the Mediterranean to the Vilamoura Marina, which Soares had designed prior to moving to Macao, on the southern coast of Portugal. After 40 years in Macao, Soares is as busy and forward-thinking as ever, with no desire to retire. For years, he has hoped to design a gaming museum for Macao. "Since Macao is the gambling capital of the world, it would make sense to have a dedicated museum for children’s games and casino games alike,” he says. “We proposed the idea many years ago to Chief Executive Edmund Ho. So far no one has gotten on board, but maybe one day, someone will embrace this idea.”

Rui Leão

Macao News — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 19:57:46 +0800

Rui Leão is a Portuguese architect and co-founder of LBA, Arquitectura e Planeamento Lda, with Francesca Carlotta Bruni. He is also President of the International Council of Portuguese Speaking Architects (CIALP). The architect speaks fluent Portuguese, English and Italian and also understands Cantonese and French. Born 22 May 1969, Leão is from Sao Tome and Principe, although his family is originally from Goa in southern India. His parents moved first to Lisbon and then to Sao Tome and Principe because of his father’s job as a doctor specialising in tropical medicine. They eventually settled on São Jorge Island in Portugal’s Azorean archipelago until Leão was seven years old, at which point they moved to Macao. “We were in Azores during the Carnation Revolution, and my dad was the one who brought the news to the [local] population because he was always up-to-date, listening to daily BBC news,” the architect recounts. The family arrived in Macao in 1977. “It was not that different from S. Jorge. We lived on Coronel Mesquita Avenue, which at that time was almost countryside,” Leão recalls. He remembers being able to throw marbles with some neighbours in the middle of the street as there were virtually no cars on the roads back then. “Growing up in Macao was awesome and incredible. During the 70s and 80s, this was a hybrid place: similar to a village where we felt comfortable but also having that Orient-like mystique.” Leão, who sees a child’s vulnerability to information as a positive trait, treasures his childhood memories not simply for nostalgic purposes but for the imprint they left on his development: “[Children] feed on contexts in a very instinctive way.” In addition to his childhood, Portuguese architect Manuel Vicente—who left a professional legacy in the Macao—strongly influenced Leão. The two first met in 1994, after Leão finished his bachelor’s degree in Architecture at Portugal’s Faculty of Architecture, Oporto University, in 1993. “Interacting and working with Manuel Vicente also taught me to look at Macao in a critical and professional way, but also with instinct and no prejudice. This was very interesting, because I mixed my past memories with this experience.” Before completing his degree, Leão did his year-six internship at Vítor Figueiredo’s atelier from 1992 to 1993. “Professionally speaking, this was a very important experience for me, because I was truly interested in acquiring the knowledge university does not provide us with.” Leão believes experience and long-term work are crucial in his field of expertise. The architect worked for some other ateliers in Lisbon before embarking on a unique project: Leão founded the company Humor Vítreo with two friends and started programme directing for cinema screenings. “It was a fantastic experience. We signed a contract with Cine Estúdio 222 [Lisbon], which had an agreement with Castello Lopes Cinemas. We proposed an alternative plan to solve the independent cinema directors’ crisis of not having movie theatres to exhibit their films due to Lusomundo’s monopoly.” At the time, lesser-known directors and production houses had their hands tied and were shut out by stronger companies such as Lusomundo. Leão was dedicated to Humor Vítreo for many months but eventually left the project to work at Vicente’s atelier in Lisbon. There, he was assigned the Expo 98 project for which Vicente had a “visionary” idea for the Maritime Industries’ Pavilion. “It would take the exhibition into the [Tagus] River and revitalise that part of the city,” recalls Leão. Rather than build a whole new pavilion, the team wanted to restore an old oil tanker. “Manuel Vicente believed we had to celebrate the end of the 20th century by showcasing the end of the mechanical era.” Vicente’s project ultimately did not become reality, but Leão kept working with him, eventually locating to Macao in 1996. “It made sense to stay here,” he recalls, as two years later, the architect started applying for local project tenders on his own. It wasn’t until 2000 that Leão ventured into a joint partnership with Vicente and Bruni in opening their own atelier. In 2002, Vicente landed a professorship at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, so Leão and Bruni now manage the atelier’s operations in Macao. Leão’s many prominent works include Nam Van Square (2000–2001) which won an ARCASIA award, the Portuguese School’s Reading Room (2009–2010), the Fai Chi Kei neighbourhood (2014), and a CEM substation (2016) which received an Excellence award. Asked about his hobbies, the architect playfully states he wished he had “time to have them.” Besides chairing the CIALP, Leão has also been a member of the MSAR’s Urban Planning Council since its creation in 2014. He was Vice-President of the Macau Architects Association’s Board of Directors until 2015. He is also Docomomo’s representative in Macao. This international organisation, which Leão introduced to the region in 2013, aims to preserve and document modern architecture around the world.

Carlos Marreiros

Macao News — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 17:59:19 +0800

Carlos Alberto dos Santos Marreiros is the founder of MAA Marreiros Architectural Atelier Ltd. — located in the St. Lazarus district. The architect and city planner is also a university professor, painter, writer, poet, and government consultant for the city’s heritage preservation and urban planning committees. He is proficient in Portuguese, English and Cantonese and also understands French, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin. The Marreiros family has over 200 years of history in Macao. Born in 1957 in Macao to a Eurasian Portuguese mother and a European Portuguese father, the architect has a close relationship with the city by way of his Macanese roots through his maternal grandparents. He has always remained close to this side of the family who supported and fostered his artistic side, which manifested at an early age, inspiring him to participate in painting and drawing exhibitions and workshops. Marreiro's passion for becoming an architect developed over time. Upon completing high school in 1974 at Macao’s former Liceu Nacional Infante D. Henrique, he was undecided whether to study Law or Architecture, but his artistic talents had been explored throughout high school: “I was invited to decorate all the venues for our parties which was a true honour since those were important events.” He worked two jobs before travelling to Portugal to start his bachelor’s degree: public worker at Macao Post by day and instructor of Portuguese as a foreign language at Sir Robert Ho Tung school by night. Marreiros is certain that for him, timing was everything: if he had gone to Portugal earlier, he would have lived difficult times during the aftermath of the Carnation Revolution. But in Macao, “People were still getting used to freedom; universities [in Portugal] were temporarily closed, and those who went before me had some troubles,” Marreiros explained. Those were golden times for him: “I had my motorbike, drove my aunt’s car and earned quite well for a teenager in Macao during the 70s. Those were sweet times.” However, he admits that working in the MSAR as a teen can be misleading, as many of his friends chose to no follow university studies. The 70s fashion and music trends strongly influenced Marreiros’ lifestyle who remembers sporting handmade necklaces and headbands, long hair and flared trousers. Marreiros graduated with a degree in Architecture from ESBAL (Escola Superior de Belas Artes de Lisboa – Department of Architecture) in Lisbon following the revolution. During his university years, he was quite active in student-led movements for political change. Although Marreiros completed his degree with merit, his father was afraid he would lose his way. “My dad asked why I wanted to study in Portugal and I told him I wanted to witness the revolution.” But returning to Macao was always his major goal. “I travelled a lot across Europe while living in Lisbon, a city which I love, but I always wanted to come back.” Marreiros believed the city was in need of young, qualified and hard-working people with a desire to improve Macao. After graduating in 1981, he studied and worked in Germany and Sweden before landing a job with the local government from 1983 to 1986 as a public servant in the Architecture, Urban and Cultural Preservation Committee (ICM). He was also President of the government’s Cultural Institute from 1989 to 1992. He took on his first architectural project upon his return at the age of 26. Marreiros is now a trustee of the Macao Foundation, a member of the Fund for Cultural Industries, president of the Fellowship Members Council of the Macau Architects Association and a member of the Macao SAR Government Consultative Council of Culture. He also presided over the Board of Members and the General Assembly of the Macau Architects Association and was a delegate for the Council of ARCASIA (Architects Regional Council of Asia) from 1999 to 2002. The architect was decorated with numerous distinctions over the years, including the Medal of Cultural Merit in 1987, the Medal of Value in 1999 (both by Portuguese governors) and the Medal of Professional Merit in 2002, by the MSAR’s Chief Executive. Also in 1999, he was given the title of Great Official of the Order of Prince Henry by Jorge Sampaio, former President of Portugal. MAA Marreiros Architectural Atelier Ltd. has been designing buildings in Macao since the 80s. The pedestrianisation of Tap Seac (2003-2007) and Senado squares (mid 90s), Coloane’s Public Security Force School (1989-1991), the renewal of Macao Portuguese School building (1998 and 1999) and Tennis Stadium, Academy and Bowling Complex (2003-2005) are among his most well-known projects. Marreiros is also responsible for the urban renewal project of Tap Seac’s area and square. With more than 250 completed and ongoing projects in Macao and abroad, Marreiros still does what he loves most. In 2010, he won the competition for Macao’s pavilion at the Shanghai Universal Exhibition. Constructed with environmentally friendly materials and full of colours and high-tech special effects, was named “The Little Rabbit Lantern” after the traditional animal-shaped festival lanterns typical of Macao. This pavilion was awarded with national and international prizes. He currently has many projects in China, including residential complexes and hospitals. Although the architect does not have much free time, he enjoys good food and travelling. He adores cats and has six of his own, all named after writers with the Marreiros surname, of course. Marreiros also enjoys smoking: as with drinking coffee or tea, “it is a way to enjoy solitude.” Art and architecture are both constants in his life; even when he travels, Marreiros sketches and takes notes about his journeys. He believes intellectual disciplines such as medicine, architecture or law must serve the community above all and should also be the fundamental mean to provide happiness to people.

Eddie Yue Kai Wong

Macao News — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 17:51:26 +0800

Eddie Yue Kai Wong is a prominent architect in Macao. He is a member of the Executive Council of the Macao government and president of the Macau Red Cross. Currently, he is also president of the supervisory Board of the Architects Association of Macau (AAM). He is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English.

Born in Macao in 1952, Wong was greatly influenced by his father who was one of Macao's earliest property developers. Wong was exposed to architecture at a young age accompanying his father to job sites.

He received his bachelor's degree in Architecture with honours from the University of Texas, Austin, in 1975. Wong has been a registered architect in Macao since 1978 and has been practising locally ever since.

For the past 38 years, his firm, Eddie Wong & Associates Limited, has been involved with a wide range of city planning initiatives as well as architectural and interior design projects, including Meng Tak Building of the Macau Polytechnic Institute, The International School of Macao (TIS), the Macau Science and Technology University campus, the La Baie Du Noble residential building, as well as the Macau Olympic Complex which was completed for the 2005 East Asian Games.

Wong designed the interior of Fat Siu Lau Restaurant, the Chinese restaurant “Estoril Mandarin” at the Casino Estoril, Portugal, the Office of the Macao Special Administrative Region in Beijing, the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau's Moral Education Centre, the Office the Chief Executive, the ‘Green Hall’ at the Macao Government Headquarters and the new banquet hall at Santa Sancha (Macao Government Home). He is also the local architect for One Oasis, Nova Park, MGM, MGM Cotai, City of Dreams, and Macau Studio City projects.

From 2001 to 2007, Wong served three consecutive terms as President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Architects of Macau (AAM). Between 2007 and 2015, he was President of the General Assembly of the Architects Association of Macau (AAM). He is also President of the World Association of Chinese Architects and a member of the Public Prosecutor's Council of Macao SAR government as well as a member of the Consultative Council of Cultural Affairs.

In 1999, he received the "Medal of Professional Merit" from the former Portuguese administration and was again awarded it in 2003 by the government of Macao SAR.

Wong is an avid collector of Chinese porcelain and ceramics from the Sung (960-1279) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties as well as a connoisseur of French wine. He also owns a number of works by George Chinnery and Augusto Borget.

Wong, like his father, is a long-time member of the Macau Red Cross, becoming its president in 2001. As a senior member of the Red Cross, he participated in the Sichuan Earthquake relief effort in 2008. He has been part of countless other fulfilling and meaningful humanitarian initiatives which he intends to continue even upon retiring from architecture.