Kerry Phelan: All Roads Lead To China
Published
The first international office for this leading Australian practice is indicative of the region’s focus on Greater China.
Kerry Phelan (formerly a director of Hecker Phelan & Guthrie) and Stephen Javens founded K.P.D.O. in 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. With a broad portfolio, K.P.D.O. boasts the expertise that delivered some of the region’s most notable hospitality and residential designs: The Ivy and The Beresford Upstairs in Sydney, Bistro Guillaume in Melbourne, and JIA Boutique in Shanghai.
The Ivy – Sydney, Australia (Hecker Phelan & Guthrie)
On setting up an office in Asia, Phelan says, “K.P.D.O. has seen phenomenal success in Australia over the last three years and a thrilling increase in interest from Hong Kong and Greater China clients looking to expand their interior design horizons. We have been working on projects in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing for some time, so it felt like a natural progression for us to open an office in Hong Kong to fully launch our services in the market.”
Jia Hotel – Shanghai, China
According to Phelan, the firm “favours a ‘hands on’ approach to all aspects of the design process” and aims to create projects that are bespoke and unique to each client.
Guillaume – Melbourne, Australia (Hecker Phelan & Guthrie)
“We have a very conversational approach to design. We try to find the best ‘fit’ for our clients… each project is tailored specifically for the client. We don’t have a single aesthetic we are pushing. It’s all about exploring our client’s brief and surprising them with the outcome,” says Phelan.
Middle Park – Melbourne, Australia
In Hong Kong, the firm will be adapting its bespoke approach to an upcoming tong lau (tenement building from the early 19th century to 1960s) project in Kennedy Town.
The Beresford Upstairs – Sydney, Australia
“We are very excited to be working to save a small part of Kennedy Town heritage. Out aim is to make this project an example of what can be done with older buildings, and hopefully encourage more restoration projects [in Hong Kong],” says Phelan. “The apartments will be flexible and spacious, and space is a luxury, especially in Hong Kong!”
Chronicle – Beijing, China
Kerry Phelan
K.P.D.O.’s Hong Kong office is set to officially open its doors this August, but the firm’s interior design and architectural services are already fully available for Hong Kong and PRC clients for residential, hospitality and retail projects.
K.P.D.O.
kpdo.com.au
Hong Kong Indesign 2013
Hero Image: The Ivy – Sydney (Hecker Phelan & Guthrie)
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