China Portrait: Andre Jekel
As a warm up to Creative Industries Update Januari 31st in Amsterdam, DutchDFA interviewed designers that participated at Canton Fair and Beijing Design Week last fall. China portrait: André Jekel (architect-partner IAA Architecten).
Why were you interested in doing business in China? What were your initial expectations before going?
We were hopeful to find a way to share our knowledge in the field of housing for the elderly. And especially designing for elderly who are physically or intellectually handicapped.
We would like to design in China, taking their own culture and possibilities as a starting point.
In what way are your expectations now different from before visiting?
Our expectations before and after were not different, they did not change. We expected to find a possible market and after visiting China we concluded that there are real possibilities. But ……, it will take time, in fact it will take a lot of time to find work in this field. We need more contacts, a bigger network, and matchmakingin order to realise our goal.
Something astonishing you learned or experienced?
We experienced that at the moment, the elderly with a handicap are cared for by their own children. So, for instance, we saw mother and daughter on Sunday in a park using the children playground for physical exercises.
Exercises for which in our country one goes to a physiotherapist (see photo). We expect, that this will change over time.
What cliché is not true?
I do not know any important cliché concerning the Chinese people, we like to be open minded to the people and to their culture.
What is, according to you, the most challenging part of doing business in China? Worries? Things Dutch professionals have to conquer?
The most challenging part is the way to become, in an honest way, a member “of the family”.
What advice can you give Dutch colleagues who have ambitions in China? Tips? Lessons?
Be open minded, start from the people and their culture. Try to design and make what is really needed, what is the real task. Do not try to make your own architectural “thing”.
What are your plans for China in 2012?
We expect to participate in more matchmaking, build a network, increase the number of contacts, so that we can make an estimation if our goal can be successful.
IAA architects were part of the buisness delegation during Beijing Design Week 2011. They had several matchmaking sessions and presented their work at the Dutch Design Generator.
Creative Amsterdam Update China
Where: Pakhuis De Zwijger
When: 31 January 2012, 14:00 - 22:15
Tickets: for sale at Creative Amsterdam website
Read previous interviews with participants here:
- China Portrait Daan Roosegaarde (Studio Roosegaarde)
