ALEX CHAO

Five minutes with Alex…

What led you to an architecture and construction career?

Since childhood, I have always been fascinated by all kinds of famous buildings around the world. Driven by this strong interest in architecture and building, I chose to do a degree in construction management and then continued learning architectural design and relevant software skills after graduation. Funnily enough, my hobby as a Microsoft Flight Simulator enthusiast also enabled me to improve my building modelling and texture-making skills, so now add iconic buildings to the original flight simulator library, which were previously missing.

Where does your creative and design inspiration come from?

I love watching YouTube walk-through tours of other well-designed projects, understanding their design philosophy, appreciating the details of materials and finishes, and acknowledging the satisfaction of happy clients enjoying every moment of living in their dream homes.

My clients are also a great source of inspiration. Listening to why they want to change their living space, and their ideas and vision about what could be done helps guide me towards a creative solution that is all about them and their needs.  

Where did you live and work prior to moving to Australia, and how was the industry different?

I used to study and work in Shenzhen, a city in southern China. It’s separated from Hong Kong by a river. To describe how the industry is different, I think the history of Shenzhen itself is a good example. It only took 20 years to build the city, from a typical village dependent on fishing as its primary source of income, to a major economic hub of China, bustling with international businesses setting up offices.

China’s construction industry had to be very innovative in order to achieve high efficiency. I used to work at a Tier 1 construction company (China State Construction Engineering Corporation) as a Project Engineer, which utilised advanced scheduling and programming techniques, and cost monitoring/control methods to keep track of large-scale projects. Although the projects I’m working on now are on a much smaller scale, many of the same principles still apply.   

What’s your favourite building or public space in Sydney that exemplifies outstanding design?

Central Park near Broadway is an outstanding example of urban renewal. I’m fascinated by the way the formerly abandoned Carlton United Brewery site has been transformed with residential and commercial towers fitted around the busy streets, alongside green spaces, dining and retail precincts, seamless connections to the city, a spectacular giant cantilevered section, and a magnificent vertical garden. The designers had a lot to consider in order to make it an iconic, sustainable, and socially economical project for many years to come.

How do you think construction will change in the next 5 years?

I think in the next 5 years, climate responsibility will drive an increasing awareness and adoption of sustainable design and construction through the use of new and recyclable materials (with better thermal performance). Greater use of pre-fabrication may also become more popular to reduce installation time and costs, contributing to a more affordable housing market.  

Which local or global brand best represents your personality, and why?

I describe myself as a doer so I like Nike’s slogan, ‘Just do it’. It’s a great attitude to test new ideas and enhance workflow. I like periodically reviewing the effectiveness of my actions, and making improvements accordingly.

Career highlight to date?

My first design project on the Northern Beaches was a real highlight. The project was a 3-storey, split-level, ocean front house on steep terrain in Collaroy. The scope included internal and external alterations and the addition of an elevator. I managed to get the DA approved within 30 days from lodgement which brought great excitement to my client.

You already have a Master of Construction Management. Do you have any plans for additional study or qualifications?

I’m interested to explore sustainable design and construction further. I think it would be revolutionary to combine the sustainability elements and considerations of design and construction together, especially to have these processes certified and be able to offer these credentials to my clients and their projects.

What’s the most unusual project you’ve personally worked on?

A heritage project located in Roseville Chase, Ku-Ring-Gai Council. The main component of the dwelling was built during the Victorian era in the late-1800s, with a church-style sandstone façade and Welsh slate roof finish. The rear addition, however, was an ultra-modern, two-storey pavilion with a floor-to-ceiling glass façade, connecting to the existing heritage house via a glass bridge in the air. The glass pavilion is surrounded by mature trees near the natural watercourse, creating a great sense of serenity and privacy. Site access was extremely difficult, and we encountered lots of obstacles along the way – having to relocate sewerage lines, ground instability reinforcements, and tackling tree root issues. Despite the challenges, it was a very satisfying project to complete.

This or That?

• Modern or traditional? Modern

• Wooden floors or stone tiles? Stone tiles

• Sustainable design or high-end luxury? Sustainable design

• Open floor plans or defined spaces? Open floor plan

• Summer or Winter? Summer