Social Impact Heroes Helping Our Planet: Why & How Keng-Fu Lo Of Chain10 Architecture & Interior Design Institute Is Helping To Change Our World
An Interview With Martita Mestey
Never give up on yourself and your goals. Those are the very things that help you keep going and allow you to leave a lasting impact anywhere you go. Investing in yourself and believing in what you believe in will get you further in life.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Keng-Fu Lo.
Keng-Fu Lo, one of the most sought-after architects in Taiwan, is the founder and managing director of the Chain10 Architecture & Interior Design Institute. In 1996, he established Chain10 with the purpose of combining cutting-edge design and research. The firm operates in every sector of design, with each project encompassing climate-focused, sustainable design principles that integrate interior and exterior spaces to create harmonious settings. He believes it is important to build connections between people and the environment and strives for consistency in his designs, from architecture to the interiors. Mr. Lo’s degree in clinical psychology from Kaohsiung Medical School and his consciousness of climate change has helped guide his emphasis on the relationship between people, life, and space and allowed his designs to effectively suit the human experience while not interrupting the environment.
While having no formal training in architecture, he has managed to assemble an impressive array of projects that have won over 120 awards, including the World Architecture Festival Award and the IIDA 2020 Global Excellence Award.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I was born in Tainan City in Taiwan’s southern region. Growing up in Taiwan exposed me to the effects of climate change earlier in my lifetime. As I grew up, I experienced another great shift as Taiwan’s economy began to switch from predominantly agriculture-based to prioritizing the lighting industry. Seeing the challenges that came from this evolution, and having grown up with nature as part of my everyday life,, I began to cultivate my philosophy of understanding what exactly climate change was and how I could help aid in reducing its impact on our land and environment.
You are currently leading a social impact organization that is making a difference for our planet. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change in our world today?
When I first established my architecture and design firm Chain10 in 1996, I had the goal to build and design projects with wellbeing, sustainability, and balance in mind. From the beginning, I ensured that our design philosophy would be rooted in and fully committed to sustainability, nature, and the community. We have successfully designed and built many climate-focused and energy-saving buildings in Taiwan that have all been constructed with environmentally friendly materials and recycled materials all sourced locally. Our firm continues to encourage connections between people and the environment and believes that through green building, which conserves water, energy, and building materials, architecture can reduce higher temperatures and their effect on extreme climate conditions like wildfires, floods, heat waves and droughts.
Overall, Chain10 is 100% committed to continuing the design and construction of spaces and architecture with the goal to offset the effects of climate change and preserve our environment for future generations.
Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about this cause?
Growing up in Taiwan and seeing the effects of climate change earlier in life and seeing the way my environments were slowly changing I noticed a need that had to be nurtured. Although I had originally sought to become a psychologist earlier in my career, I stumbled upon the world of architecture and design and saw an opportunity to give back to my community and the environment by merging my knowledge of psychology and design to create an organization that would leave a positive impact on our land and ourselves. This ignited my passion to provide and build buildings that are not only beautiful but also help offset the effects of climate change.
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest them. They don’t get up and just do it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and do it? What was that final trigger?
Looking back on my time as a designer and even before that. There was no specific “Aha Moment” that comes to mind. It was more of a determination inside me to change the landscape at that time in Taiwan. I guess like every generation, you want to upset the norms and that is what I wanted to do.
My inspiration as I have said many times before was growing up in the countryside of Tainan. That final trigger was generally struggling in my 40’s. Not so long ago that finally pushed me to be different as the only way to stand out amongst a swathe of architects here in Taiwan.
Many people don’t know the steps to take to start a new organization. What are some of the things or steps you took to get your project started?
When I founded Chain10, I was faced with many challenges. What helped me and my company grow to where we are today is having a philosophy that we are all passionate about. Knowing that we can help our clients and community with sustainable architecture and create healthy spaces for them to live and work in that not only aid in their wellbeing but also the environment makes every day rewarding.
I think there are different steps to starting an organization. For me, it was a confluence of factors. I was very lucky to have numerous people in my life to help me start the organization as you know it today. Modern companies don’t need to be huge or require a significant amount of space. Chain10 is a boutique company as many people call it. Despite our size, we are still able to produce some stunning and varied projects.
The first step when getting any project started is to ensure there is always passion and care in everything you are doing. Without passion or an understanding of the goal you are aiming to achieve, you can easily lose sight of why you were doing this in the first place.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
14 years ago, I received a phone call from someone who would soon come to be a close friend and adviser. He found out about me from a classmate of mine. After seeing my design, he wanted to represent me and my architecture in China. At that point in time, the residence where I currently lived was still being built. He came by and was amazed at what I had designed and was building. In the anteceding years, his help really made my career what it is today. The most amazing thing is as I got to know him, I always wondered to myself why this famous businessman want to promote my career and projects in China. Looking back on that moment, I realize I really wouldn’t be where I am today without him.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson or take away you learned from that?
When I was first starting out designing. I was really enthusiastic and like most young people, you believe you can accomplish anything. I was about 27 at the time which feels like forever ago. I was given a project by one of the higher-ups at the construction company I was working at. I completed the project with what I thought was an approach that covered everything. My superior at the time looked at my finished design and just laughed. In a good way and I ended up laughing with him too. My biggest takeaway from that experience is that failure and mistakes happen. That particular mistake is what allowed me to achieve the holistic design process I used today.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
My mentor was Mr. Wen Min Zhang. He was and still is the owner of his own architectural firm. I had just graduated from university and had been working as a solo interior designer. I had a few projects under my belt but still hadn’t quite gotten into architecture. I applied to join the company after a very lengthy interview process. 6 interviews if you can believe it. I was finally accepted. The salaries at that time were not great but one of the reasons Mr. Zhang accepted (I think) was that I told him I was chiefly concerned with my future and money was not something I wanted to focus on. The experience working for him in his company really helped create a foundation for the way I view architecture today. After that experience, the main cheerleader in my life at that time was Ms. Yu Yun Tian. I was very close with her family who were running a construction company. Her support helped me understand another facet of the architectural experience. Despite not having a formal education in architecture. Both these experiences more than made up for my missed studies and gave me the perspective on design that I have today.
Are there three things the community, society, or politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
There are a multitude of ways that society and the community can do to help address climate change and sustainability. It is very difficult to pinpoint just 3 things that can help solve a problem this large in scale. Something that can be done is encouraging other architects and architecture firms to pledge to help stop contributing to the problem and instead work to design and build structures that are fully sustainable and help preserve the environment that we currently inhabit.
Architecture is at the forefront of building on the land and if there is an understanding of how our practices contribute to the current climate crisis we can help lower carbon emissions, and the overall effects that come with construction by using renewable resources sourced from local areas rather than importing from other countries.
How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
Something we are currently seeing in the architecture world are clients and consumers prioritizing sustainable practices and buildings for their homes and businesses. Current and new generations have seen firsthand the drastic impact climate change is having on the planet. There is an outcry happening all over the world for businesses and major corporations to prioritize sustainability and reduce the ever-increasing impact of climate change. Understanding what consumers and clients are asking for and having a passion to make a difference will always make your business profitable.
When I was designing the Green Isle, and the other restaurants in that chain. One of the things I wanted to do and encouraged the client to do was to incorporate more of the green environment. Looking at it, there’s plenty of space for greenery and other natural features. These features play into the environmental consciousness of the project. Sustainability in this case involved fewer tables, fewer patrons, and overall fewer everything. The more you try to cram into a space, the less sustainable it ends up being because you end up having to truck in replacement materials every few years. The Green Isle was our most expensive Tan Zuo Mali franchise to date with a rough total cost of 360 million Taiwanese dollars (12 million USD). That being said, we expect the client’s ROI to be 4 years which is better than most high-end franchises globally.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
- The Importance of Observation.
Regardless of who you are, being able to truly understand and observe anything around you is an essential skill. Being conscious of everything especially the surrounding environment, from the smallest details to the largest factors, will allow you to have a stronger grasp on reality and the effects that climate change has on our planet — this principle is essential when it comes to starting your own business or organization.
2. Have Confidence.
It may sound cliche to say this, but if I had been more confident as a young designer, my career would be a lot further than it is. You have to own your opinion and be able to share it without regret. Be your own advocate, especially when it comes to leaving an impact and working towards change.
3. Architects Can Lead the Change in the Environment.
The bases of all structures and structural design begins with Architects. Having an understanding that these builds and projects we are creating and building have a direct impact on the environment is one of the most important factors in our profession. Architects are the ones who select the types of materials that are used and when you have the goal to reduce your carbon footprint prioritizing sustainable and recyclable material can have a positive impact on the place you are constructing. I encourage all architects and future architects to look at each of their designs and find a way to give back to the land that you are building on and incorporate ways to minimize the effects of climate change, so you are not contributing to the problem but rather helping to alleviate it.
4. Communication.
Finding a way to communicate your goals and leave an impact is important when you are first starting out. It’s possible that you may find yourself getting pushed back by others as not everyone will agree with you but communicating what you are doing and staying aligned with your passions and what you find important is effective. Never give up on yourself, even when it seems that the world and everyone else are.
5. Persistence.
Never give up on yourself and your goals. Those are the very things that help you keep going and allow you to leave a lasting impact anywhere you go. Investing in yourself and believing in what you believe in will get you further in life.
If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
I would encourage the current and future generations to experience as many areas of interest as possible. This will allow them to find something they are truly passionate about. This passion will carry over into their effect on society. People who are doing what they are truly passionate about incidentally end up having positive effects. They are also the last line of defense in the climate emergency we are now facing. They need to push the current world leaders, policymakers and other people in power to drastically change the direction of our society. Once they can do this, we can potentially get close to dealing with climate change.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Architect Renzo Piano, without a doubt. Our designs are distinctively unique, but our philosophies surround the same concept: balance. His architectural designs bring harmony to spaces, and his projects are quite artistic and fashionable. In my own work, I look to instill harmony into spaces — particularly between nature and human beings. I have never met him, but I imagine that our personalities and passions are similar.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
When you get to my age, there are so many quotes to draw from but the one that came to mind when I read this question is from E.B White: “Make the work interesting and the discipline will take care of itself.” This could be interpreted a few ways but I feel this is relevant to me in the way that I pursued my current career. I was so passionate about design and architecture that eventually the discipline of this industry came to me without any formal education. I think this goes back to the way we fundamentally learn, if you really enjoy something, you don’t need a degree in it. You will find yourself able to learn everything a student of the discipline would already know.
How can our readers follow you online?
Website- https://www.chain10.com/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/chain10design
Instagram- @kenloarchitect.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Social Impact Heroes Helping Our Planet: Why & How Keng-Fu Lo Of Chain10 Architecture & Interior… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.