Tony Luk is a gentleman-architect from Hong Kong, a professional who over 20 years ago was able to propose an innovative style of design in an area firmly mired in its own traditions. With a background of classical music and the images of a ballet (photography and dance are his passions), Tony Luk told his story to IFDM, focusing on his collaboration with Minotti and the Andante flagship store.
How did you get started in the furniture and design sector?
I began working with furniture in the 1990s. I am an architect by training, I practiced for years in London and then in Hong Kong, which is my city. I have worked on buildings and airports, including that of Hong Kong. In those years I began to be interested in interior design as well. In Hong Kong there were many buildings, but they were relatively similar to one another, also in terms of interior design. Hong Kong is a cosmocentric city, everything grows vertically. To stay in the Asia Pacific area, I can say that Hong Kong resembles Japan and Singapore: I had the clear sensation that there were big margins to offer different, innovative interior solutions, for residential, office and hospitality projects.
A designer but also a trader: your first furniture showroom dates back to 1997.
Yes, it was called Galleria and handled multiple brands, but already with the idea of offering quality at the highest levels, choosing Cappellini, De Padova and other very interesting brands. Working with various brands is very useful, because it has allowed me to develop my eclectic spirit and to have a very wide range of different experiences.
How did the adventure with Minotti begin?
It was in 2004, I met Roberto and Renato, and I immediately perceived great energy and a strong interest in the Asian market. I worked with them to construct a model affiliate, and it was very exciting. In that period I worked closely with developers on turnkey projects, but I was seriously considering the idea of importing high-quality furniture. With Minotti it took six months to reach an agreement. We became closely acquainted, and I was able to understand the company’s DNA, and their design vision: I need to understand people as a part of doing business. The result was Andante.
What sort of company is Minotti?
Minotti is a so-called “steamroller,” but it does this with a smile and with style. In those days the company was already growing fast, and we were building the furniture market in Asia. This was 18 years ago. China, with respect to the present situation, was rather slow to absorb foreign cultures, especially when it came to understanding European design and Italian culture. Perhaps here in Hong Kong we had the advantage of being a bit closer to Europe, because our city was a western colony. So we offered Minotti extensive information on how to approach Asia. The collaboration worked well right from the start, with mutual trust and enthusiasm, and the results soon began to arrive. Today our collaboration is stronger than ever.
Meeting Tony Luk, with his spontaneous, friendly personality, means taking a trip to the other side of the world of design and décor, accompanied by his music and images. A man who opens his doors and enables you to perceive his mood and his thinking, with direct simplicity. In music “brio” is a parameter of reference, and it also exists in the world of furniture.
