They called him "The Chinese"; rags-to-success story of architect Chi Wing Lo

"Maybe it's just that my work always has that shyness. It is always waiting to be discovered."

So says Hong Kong-born architect Chi Wing Lo, a fisherman's son whose name will be on everyone's lips when the Regent Hong Kong reopens on the Kowloon waterfront – soon, I hope! – and invites scrutiny of its biggest refurbishment in 30 years.

Lo, the lead designer on the project, spoke to me about his scramble up the ropes, having started his education late because his parents "forgot" to send him to school. He also talked about the importance of avoiding cultural cliches in his multidisciplinary work, which includes his Italian-made furniture, and remembered a time when he was known simply as "The Chinese" within Italy's design establishment.

Lo will discuss the importance of artistic instinct, at Business of Design Week (BODW) on Dec 3, and how, he hopes, his "Angels" sculptures will make you wonder whether the hands responsible for the craftsmanship were formed of flesh.

Meanwhile, here's my article about him, published in SCMP today and, above, a photo I commissioned ages ago of the Regent "wrapped".

I, for one, cannot wait for the Regent's big reveal (inside and out).