Luke Him Sau, Architect

Luke Him Sau/Lu Qianshou (1904 1991) is best known internationally and in China as the architect of the iconic Bank of China Headquarters in Shanghai. One of the first Chinese students to be trained at the Architectural Association in London in the late 1920s, Luke s long, prolific and highly successful career in China and Hong Kong offers unique insights into an extraordinary period of Chinese political turbulence that scuppered the professional prospects and historical recognition of so many of his colleagues. Global interest in China has risen exponentially in recent times, creating an appetite for the country s history and culture. This book satiates this by providing a highly engaging and visual account of China s 20th-century architecture through the lens of one of the country s most distinguished yet overlooked designers. It features over 250 new colour photographs by Edward Denison of Luke s buildings and original archive material. The book charts Luke s life and work, commencing with his childhood in colonial Hong Kong and his apprenticeship with a British architectural firm before focusing on his education at the Architectural Association (1927 30). In London, Luke was offered the post of Head of the Architecture Department at the newly established Bank of China, where IM Pei s father was a senior figure. Luke spent the next seven years in the inimitable city of Shanghai designing buildings all over China for the Bank before the Japanese invasion in 1937 forced him, and countless others, to flee to the proxy wartime capital of Chongqing. In 1945 he returned to Shanghai where he formed a partnership with four other Chinese graduates of UK universities; but civil war (between the Communists and Nationalists) once again caused him and others to uproot in 1949. Initially intent on fleeing with the Nationalists to Taiwan, Luke was almost convinced to stay in Communist China but decided finally to move to Hong Kong. There, for the third time in his life, he had to establish his career all over again. Despite many challenges, he eventually prospered, becoming a pioneer in the design of private residences, schools, hospitals, chapels and public housing.

Luke Him Sau/Lu Qianshou (1904-1991) is best knowninternationally and in China as the architect of the iconic Bank ofChina Headquarters in Shanghai. One of the first Chinese studentsto be trained at the Architectural Association in London in thelate 1920s, Luke's long, prolific and highly successfulcareer in China and Hong Kong offers unique insights into anextraordinary period of Chinese political turbulence that scupperedthe professional prospects and historical recognition of so many ofhis colleagues.Global interest in China has risen exponentially in recenttimes, creating an appetite for the country's history andculture. This book satiates this by providing a highly engaging andvisual account of China's 20th-century architecture throughthe lens of one of the country's most distinguished yetoverlooked designers. It features over 250 new colour photographsby Edward Denison of Luke's buildings and original archivematerial.The book charts Luke's life and work, commencing with hischildhood in colonial Hong Kong and his apprenticeship with aBritish architectural firm before focusing on his education at theArchitectural Association (1927-30). In London, Luke wasoffered the post of Head of the Architecture Department at thenewly established Bank of China, where IM Pei's father was asenior figure. Luke spent the next seven years in the inimitablecity of Shanghai designing buildings all over China for the Bankbefore the Japanese invasion in 1937 forced him, and countlessothers, to flee to the proxy wartime capital of Chongqing. In 1945he returned to Shanghai where he formed a partnership with fourother Chinese graduates of UK universities; but civil war (betweenthe Communists and Nationalists) once again caused him and othersto uproot in 1949. Initially intent on fleeing with theNationalists to Taiwan, Luke was almost convinced to stay inCommunist China but decided finally to move to Hong Kong. Therefor the third time in his life, he had to establish his career allover again. Despite many challenges, he eventually prosperedbecoming a pioneer in the design of private residences, schoolshospitals, chapels and public housing.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 6A NOTE ON SPELLING 7INTRODUCTION 8A Mirror to ChinaCHAPTER 1 12A Complicated BirthCHAPTER 2 36London CallingCHAPTER 3 86Bank BuildingCHAPTER 4 178Architectural RetreatCHAPTER 5 208Hong KongCHAPTER 6 264Luke's LegacyLIST OF WORKS 270SELECTED READING 276INDEX 282PICTURE CREDITS 288