1. Nigel Reading RIBA LEED GA
16B, 16FL Glamour Court, Hillgrove Village, Discovery Bay, Lantau, Hong Kong SAR, PRC
Phone: +852 9370 1841 +86 132 9610 9218 +61 (0)476 302 516 E-Mail: asynsis.nar@me.com Web: asynsis.com
Hong Kong + Australia raised, Anglo-Australian nationality, London educated, ARB-UK-registered Eurasian
bilingual Senior Architect and Interior Designer with substantial Masterplanning and Landscape design
expertise. Over a decade's experience in the Asia-Pacific including 2 years in Australia, 8 years in China,
Hong Kong-Macau (5 years in Shanghai), after 10 earlier years studying and working in Europe, with
numerous consultant, industry and stakeholder network contacts. Design, construction optimisation method
advocate and sustainable design, glocal-savvy, thought-leader, as shared via TEDx and supported by UKTI
GREAT Creativity campaign. Chartered member of the RIBA, founder member of RIBA-HK chapter, UCL Built
Environment Club HK+SH, member Lighthouse Club HK and US Green Building Council LEED GA
accredited.
Recent projects: Disney Shanghai Resort Hotels 1&2, InterIKEA Wuhan, Ritz Carlton Ho Chi Minh City, GDH
ZhuJiang Plaza, Parkway Private Hospital Pudong, Tianjin Eco-City-Keppel Land Gaia/Seasons City Mall,
Kerry Parkside Shanghai, Galaxy Cotai Macau – Phase Three, Grand Hyatt, City of Dreams Macau, Hongqiao
Shanghai VIP Villa, Nantong River Walk Mall, Sportscity-Xujiahui Boutique, Shanghai, Bali-Lombok Eco
Resort, Khmer Condominiums, Pacific Science Institute - Maui
Experience
n Design Director - Asynsis Architecture + Design: 2009 – 2016 (present) – team: varies from 2 to 20 people
Shanghai World Exposition 2010 – China Pavilion – Hebei (Beijing) and Xinjiang Pavilions – 2009
Shanghai Qingpu – Jinbo Construction Group Corporate HQ + Industrial Park: Lead Concept Designer –
2009 – 2012 Design Development and Coordination of Green Field Industrial Park in Qingpu, Shanghai, China.
Themed on the manufacturing processes, tools and materials employed with references to the Shanghai Art
Deco vernacular. Facilities: Office/R+D, Curtain Wall, LED, Photovoltaic Processing and Assembly, Stone
processing, Senior/Junior dorms/VIP suites and hospitality amenities, Clinic, Retail, Gymnasium, Multi- purpose
Hall. Managing in-house delivery team, sub-consultants (Budget: 120m Rmb – GFA: 80 000msq)
Shanghai Gaudong – Gaudong Deep Water Port Business Hotel - Jinbo Design +
Construct Group Alliance partners: Lead Concept Design Architect – 2012 Concept Design,
Design Development of 4-star Business Hotel, Meeting, Conference and Serviced Offices facility in Gaudong,
Shanghai, China.
Developed from two initial concepts: Modernist Art Deco or Containers + Factory Gates.
Facilities: 150 guestrooms, 20 cellular offices/4 floors of open-plan office floor, meeting room suites,
fine-dining restaurant, lobby opening to water garden, multi-purpose hall.
Supervising delivery team, sub-consultants and contractor under concept design consultant contract.
(On site May 2011. Budget: 250m Rmb – GFA: 25 000msq)
SPORTCITY Shanghai Grand Gateway Designer Sports Fashion Concept Store – 2012
Hong Kong client - Goldkate Holdings: Lead Concept Design Architect – Concept Design,
Design Development of flagship SPAUTE designer sports fashion store.
Grand Gateway, Xujiahui, Shanghai.($HK0.5m – total GFA: 500msq
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Shanghai Xijiao State Guest Hotel environs, Hongqiao – VIP Corporate Guest Villa for
Jinbo Design + Construct Group: Lead Concept Design Architect – 2009 – 2011 Concept Design,
Design Development of exclusive corporate hospitality villa in the environs of Xijiao State Hotel, preferred
residence of numerous heads of state such as US President Barack Obama, Queen Elisabeth II,
Emperor Akihito, Chairmans Mao and Deng. Developed from fusion of two initial concepts:
Modernist Asian minimalism (referencing Scarpa) and Mannerist Renaissance Architecture.
Facilities: 3 guestrooms, 4 bathrooms, study, walk-in robe, dining + ensuite, kitchen, salon, atrium,
fountain, wine cellar, games room; over 4 floors with extensive use of alabaster, onyx, granite,
quartz, exotic marbles and delicate stone-inlay/mosaic flooring.
Supervising delivery team, sub-consultants and contractor under concept design consultant
contract right through to completion on site in April, 2011.
(Opening May 2011. Budget: 2.5m Rmb – GFA: 1200msq)
Wanzhou City Lakeside Masterplan – Sichuan - 2011
Phoenix Island Leisure City Masterplan – Qingdao, Shandong - 2011
Emperors Palace Residential Gardens – Hebei, 2011,
Qingdao Jiaozhou Riverside VIP Corporate – Hospitality Pavilions - 2011
Shanghai Disneyland – Resort Hotels H1 – Cinderella & H2 – Woody & Buzz - 2012
Wuhan InterIKEA LiveAt– Integrated IKEA Flagship Store, Hypermarket and Shopping Mall themed on
the climate, lakes landscapes and culture of Wuhan - 2012-13
Nantong River Walk – Mixed Use Retail Commercial Centre - 2013
Parkway Private General Hospital – Pudong, Shanghai - 2013
Tianjin Eco City Phase 2 – Seasons City Mixed Use Commercial Retail Centre – Gaia Mall
(Lead Transcultural Sustainable Design Concept Architect) – 2013
Galaxy Cotai Macau, Phase Three – Concept Architectural Masterplan with Biome-Botanical theme –
2013-14
GDH – Zhu Jiang Pearl River Plaza – Retail Village & Commercial Towers – 2015
Ritz Carlton at The One – Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam – 2015
Bali-Lombok Net Zero, Renewables-powered EcoResort – PSI Concept Architectural Masterplan – 2016
Khmer Condominiums – Angkor-inspired Modernist Riverside Apartments – Phnom Penh - 2016
asynsis.com
n Lead Design Manager - Grand Hyatt, City of Dreams Macau – Melco - 2008 – 2009 – team: 50-120 people
Design Development/Coordination of AFT-AFC documentation for mixed use Hotel, Casino, Entertainment and
Retail urban resort on the Macau Cotai strip: introduced to project via concept-design facade design and lighting
proposal for W-Square in HK, which was ultimately used in its complete, "form follows flow" conceptual form on
the entire CoD development. https://segd.org/city-dreams-media-facades
Designing & Managing Arch+ID delivery of 30-Storey Twin Towers and Podium of GHM - public areas
(Grand/Junior Ballrooms, Main Entrance Lobby, Spa, Bar-Restaurants, 800 guestrooms including Executive,
Diplomatic and Presidential suites) plus facade, MEP & ELV, Security services and structure to approved for
construction stage. Entailed guestrooms design, prototyping, sign-off, shop drawing review, work-shopping
clashes to expedite coordination and construction to tight deadlines & budgets, defects-snagging and
workmanship.
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This involved leading, extensively supplementing and managing the input of all consultants including
Arquitectonica, HBA and Super Potato, amongst others - all whilst liaising as the principal client representative
with the senior Hyatt design, development and operations teams and the main contractor on site: Leighton Asia’s
JV - LCJ (CoD: $US 2.1b – GHM total GFA: 120 000msq, with Arquitectonica, HBA, Super Potato)
http://www.cityofdreamsmacau.com
n Senior Associate - Kerry Parkside - Hong Kong Spin - Aedas - 2006 – 2008 – team: 20-50 people (between
Hong Kong, Shanghai, New York & London/Bali)
W-Square - Hennessey road Wanchai – BD, MCT and Curtain Wall Tender Packages : construction
documentation delivery and detail design of refurbishment of spectacular colour-morphing 30 storey office tower
($HK30m – total GFA: 50 000msq, with Arquitectonica, leading directly to City of Dreams, Grand Hyatt)
Shanghai Kerry Parkside – Shangri–La Hotels: Lead Consultant: Design/Coordination/MCT
documentation delivery of new build mixed use Hotel, Serviced Apartment, Office and Retail centre in the
Shanghai New International Exhibition Centre, Metro Line 7, Bus Terminus & Maglev complex: resulting in
December 2007 invitation to pitch to Edward Kuok of Kerry Properties for new build full Architectural service
projects for Aedas - KPS: LEED Gold ($USD235m – total GFA: 250 000msq, with KPF)
http://www.kerryparkside.com
http://www.sniec.net
It's also a Metro/Pudong Airport MagLev/Coach Transport Hub by the SNIEC - so it serves as the dedicated
Business Hotel and Grade A Offices for it, plus as Serviced Apartments and Retail Mall for the local community.
LEED Gold Certified (Core and Core + New Construction: following my initiative and guidance to the Kerry group,
winner of the following awards:
Best Homes Shanghai 2012 - Kerry Apartments by Shangri-La, Kerry Parkside Shanghai
Mixed-Use Buildings Category - Bronze MIPIM Asia Awards 2012,
Award: Best Office Building-Second Place - Times Magazine Kinpan Award 2012
Asia Pacific Property Awards (MIPIM 2013), Sugar Godown meets Exhibition Hall-Loft Retail Interior - Highly
Commended
2013 Shanghai City Excellent Design Award – First Prize: Kerry Parkside
Wuxi Times Square – Marco Polo Hotels: Lead Consultant: Coordination/MCT documentation delivery mixed
use Super-Highrise Hotel, SA , Office and Retail centre, Fang An Approval December 2007 ($HK280m – total
GFA: 270 000msq, with SOM)
Hong Kong Spin – Observation Tower Concept Design Proposal for the end of the Kai Tak runway, Hong Kong
http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2007/12/18/introducingthe-hong-kong-spin.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWa757m2_nI
Associate for W-Square, then promoted to Senior Associate in early 2007 for performance on that and the Kerry
Parkside project – then further developed the original 1997 concept design for HKS, performing consultant liaison
(Arup – London, Pat Dallard, Fellow and Director). CAD, Graphics and Web design development leader and
coordinator.
Initiated and lead all Government Department liaison and consultation, presentations to Legco Member Patrick
Lau, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Frederck Ma and also to potential developer partners).
Resulted in Press Conference on Tuesday December 18, 2007 and subsequent positive global publicity for
Aedas and for the project. ($HK1.5b – total GFA: 50 000msq)
n Design + Project Architect - East London Line-London Overground + Hong Kong Spin – ARUP
2004 + 2007 (& present cooperation with ARUP Foresight & Innovation since 2013) – team: 10-15 people
East London Line, London Overground: Architectural Vision Concept and Scheme Design (2004)
http://www.asynsis.com/archives/4138
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Project architect on first seventeen new metro stations on the extensions to the existing line spanning the
Thames. Station architect for Crystal Palace, Shoreditch High Street (Bishopsgate) and Dalston,
producing the Architectual Vision report using four stations as exemplars – existing (Crystal Palace), new build
(Surrey Canal road), underground (Shadwell) and on Victorian brick-arched viaducts (Hoxton), Scheme design on
four further stations plus three planning consents packages, all whilst liaising with internal Arup civil/structural
engineering teams. Now integral to the London Overground network.
Result: sign-off by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and successful facilitation of the London 2012 Olympiad bid
to the IOC. (architectural package – £250m approx)
Hong Kong Spin – Observation Tower Concept Design Proposal for the end of the Kai Tak runway,
Hong Kong (2007)
Developed the original 1997 concept design for HKS, co-operating on the engineering design development,
performing consultant liaison (Arup – London, Pat Dallard, Fellow and Director). CAD, Graphics and Web design
development leader and coordinator.
Initiated and lead all Government Department liaison and consultation, presentations to HK SAR Secretary for
Commerce and Economic Development Frederick Ma, Legco Member Patrick Lau and also to potential developer
partners). Resulted in Excelsior Hotel Press Conference on Tuesday December 18, 2007 and subsequent
positive global publicity for Arup and the project. ($HK1.5b – total GFA: 50 000msq)
n Design + Documentation Manager - Chermside Shopping Centre – Westfield - 2004 – 2006 – team: 20
people (between Sydney & Brisbane)
Chermside Shopping Centre – Stage 5 : construction documentation delivery of new extension to first shopping
centre in Australia, associated with integrated public transport node (c. 1957)
Documentation manager of the costing, tender and construction packages for the extension of the existing centre
in post-tensioned + precast concrete, steel and performance glazing: which comprises 2-3 major stores, 6 mini-
major and numerous specialist and smaller shops, mall kiosks and pavilions. Supervision of a team of 12, whilst
also liaising with senior project managers, consultants and clients. through to practical completion on site
($AU135m – total GLA: 52 000msq)
n Project Architect – Sub-consulting Project Director - Maitreya Project + Tianjin Binhai – Woods Bagot
London 2003 + 2008 – team: 5 -20 people
Maitreya Buddha Project, Bodhi Gaya, India - World's largest 155m statue-throne building in Bronze and
Granite with 1000 year design life (2003).
Consulting on Tianjin Binhai Marina Yacht Club, Retail and 5-Star Hotel integrated resort (2008).
n Team Leader - BBC Broadcast Centre - White City Media Village - Paddington - Eden Project –
Allies & Morrison/Grimshaws - 2000 – 2003 – team: 10-15 people
Paddington Station Redevelopment (2000) including Heathrow Express, London Underground with
Commercial Tower Scheme including new platforms and canopies while preserving the original listed Brunel rail
canopies and filigree screens.
Eden Project (2000) - Cornwall, England - Biomes-Visitor Centre Link for visionary geodesic domed, ETFE
greenhouses in former quarry: housing major terrestrial climate zones and biospheres.
BBC Broadcast Centre (2001-2003) - Senior Architectural, Urban Planning and Services Team Leader - of up to
12 strong: British Broadcasting Corporation - BBC White City Media Village - Lead the concept, planning through
schematic design stages of the Broadcast Centre, the 1000-server-bay facilitated International BBC World, BBC
Online, BBC Mobile Global production and broadcasting HQ and dedicated CHP Energy Centre. Masterplanned
the campus including the BBC Office Building, Media Incubators, Amenity-Leisure buildings and the urban realm
along Wood Lane, interfaced with two London Underground stations, including the original BBC Television Centre
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environs, referencing the previous use of the site for the 1908 London Olympics. Entire complex gained BREEAM
Excellent Certification, (LEED Gold equivalent).
n Team Leader - Team Leader - NM Rothschild & Sons – Harper Macaky - 1998 – 2000 – team: 3-5 people
Team Leader of Grade II listed King William Street, Corporate Finance and Asset Management department base-
build conversion and new-build design, running several design and documentation packages with a team of 8.
From concept stage right through to on-site construction supervision and defects period.
n Architectural Designer - Project Architect – Haworth Tomkins/Coleman - 1996 – 1998 – team: 1-3 people
Regents Park Theatre - New Shakespeare Company
Hendon Art Deco Cinema - Virgin Gyms
The Terraces Brighton: Pier-Esplanade Retail & F&B Centre above Brighton Aquarium.
Conceptual design and Job Architect Roles for A&A and New Build on Theatre Front of House Lobby,
Bar/Restaurant, Gallery and Landscaped Areas, Cinema Conversion to state of the art London gymnasium-
leisure centre and Brighton visitor attraction respectively.
n Year Out-Architecture Internship – Sheppard Robson/Alsop & Lyall - 1988 – 1991
Chelsea Westminster Hospital: Atrium, ETFE Roof, Atrium Chapel & National Gallery Sainsbury wing with
Robert Venturi of Venturi Scott-Brown, Trafalgar Square, London
Sheringham Public Pool Glulam Roof Truss and Column Design & Detailing, Norfolk
Education
Donghua University – Certificate in Mandarin – Spoken Putonghua, with Pinyin & Hanzi characters 2015
US Green Building Council – LEED Green Associate – Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design 2013
Green Building and Environmentally Sustainable Design holistic qualification applicable to all aspects of fully
integrated interiors, architectural, landscape and urban design.
Accredited by the United States Green Building Council-GBCI as delivering the Triple Bottom Line of People, Profit,
Planet for all types of design, construction and operations optimisation within the built environment.
Bartlett School – University College London - Certificate of Professional Practice in Architecture 2001
Attended units in Msc in Environmental Design and Engineering course and CPPA lectures from 1997 before
transferring to full time employment and completing CPPA course in 1999-2000. Several BREEAM and LEED rated
projects delivered subsequently including BBC White City, Maitreya Project and Kerry Parkside, Shanghai in 2011.
CPPA awarded in 2001, leading to registration as an architect with the UK Architects Registration Board and
chartered membership of the Royal Institute of British Architects in London in 2001.
Westminster University - Diploma of Architecture 1995
Architecture and Design, Computer Science, Dynamical systems, Fractals and Complex Systems
Geometry over Time: Exploring Design in Nature & Culture as a Dynamic, Synergising, Optimising
process using a computer science research method - under David Green of Archigram
Diploma Thesis led to publication of research in Architectural Design magazine in November 1994. Dynamical
Symmetries is an exploration of the relationship between classical proportion ratios and energy/matter/information
optimisation in nature as modeled in various fields of Complexity science, fractal geometry and mathematics.
Advent of the Constructal law of design in nature and culture suggests that this line of research is a potential
geometric signature of a new sustainable design principle of nature and culture, leading to a compelling argument
and method for optimally integrated design, delivery and development – for design construction and operations
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optimisation. In other words, Ecomimesis: to best represent and preserve nature in our cultural production and built
environment, we must strive to better emulate her. Ongoing personal-interest design research programme.
Kingston University – BA in Architecture: Architecture and Design, History of Architecture 1991
BA Thesis exploring potential relationships between historical cultural tropes across various eastern and western
civilizational design traditions (and memes such as the aesthetic expression of the Phi ratio in design and the arts: is
the golden ratio a strange attractor?), on the one side and the potential relationships with complex dynamical systems
and fractal geometry on the other.
Skills
GLOCAL-Savvy Architecture+Design Practice
Contemporary yet Contextual, Functional and Glocal: Architecture, Interior Design and Landscape, Urban
Design, Masterplans
Design | Delivery | Development | Discourse | Diversity
Languages
English, Conversational French, Greek & Mandarin Chinese Certificate, Donghua University, Shanghai 2015
Skills + Sectors
All rounder Design and Delivery-led Architect, Interior Designer and Masterplanner – with majority (2/3) of
experience as a project architect and team leader, and now also recent consultant experience (1/3) as a lead
concept designer & BD-Design Thought leader. Comfortable in either role, at any project stage and in most
major sectors.
Design, Delivery & Coordination, Business Development, Team Leadership, Thought-leadership and Discourse,
Transcultural Glocal-savvy Design, Innovation, Environmentally Sustainable Design in: 5 and 6-Star Hotels, Resorts,
Hospitality, Retail, F&B, Residential, Health, Rail and Transport, Cultural, Education + Civic, Religious, Commercial
Office, Workplace + Banking, Media, Leisure, Gaming, Theatre, Landmark Observation Towers, Bridges, Industrial,
Renewable Energy-powered, E+A-vehicle serviced, Science and R&D, Biome, Landscape, Urban design and Master
planning.
Design Philosophy: Form follows Flow, More for Less, Synergising Simplexity - toward SynPlexity.
Realising ideas most easily by melding the pragmatic with the poetic
