Accepting the award, Principal Christopher Lye reflected on the seven-year journey to realise Cangjie, a 140,000-square-meter experiential retail and lifestyle centre in Suzhou’s historic Pingjiang district. “This recognition celebrates our unwavering belief in innovation over replication,” said Lye. “Our core ambition was to design a project with a city relevance that belongs uniquely to Suzhou.”

Cangjie reinterprets Suzhou’s cultural DNA, transforming classical gardens into a dynamic three-dimensional vertical landscape and weaving historic streetscape motifs into a contemporary luxury retail environment. As Lye noted, the project was designed not just as a commercial destination but as a catalyst for urban rejuvenation, actively merging cultural heritage with modern commerce to revitalise the historic core.

“We aimed to create a cultural nexus for the entire neighbourhood,” Lye stated. The project introduces over 200 brands, with 70% new to Suzhou or China, alongside a vibrant, evolving program of art installations, markets, and music events, fostering a new urban community. 

Prior to the award ceremony, Lye joined fellow industry leaders on the IPAX Talks panel for a discussion titled “Local Roots, Global Vision: Incorporating Context into Impactful Design.” Fellow panelists included Taha Alandejani, Senior Director of the Qubaa’ Mosque Expansion, and Alex Athanassoulas, President and CEO of STIRIXIS Group.

The panel explored the fundamental challenges and shifts facing the built environment. Lye’s key insights are distilled below: 

On project failure: it’s a planning problem 

Failure often stems from a misaligned brief that prioritises architectural vision over long-term function and operations. A building must support its business model and community role from day one to avoid becoming functionally obsolete at opening. 

On building lifespan: two scales, two timelines 

Successful projects operate on dual timelines: long-term placemaking for districts (25+ years, like Canary Wharf) and shorter-term community relevance for plots (8-10 year cycles, like Westfield), requiring regular strategic updates. 

On design trends: beyond the ‘glass box’ 

Lye cautioned against generic, globalised architecture. Respecting local context and culture must be essential for all buildings, not just civic landmarks, to create authentic identity. 

On the future: the essential ‘third place’ 

The shift is toward local culture over signature styles. To attract people, a project must become a vital “third place” beyond work and home by weaving local context into daily life. Without this genuine connection, spaces are quickly replaced. This is “design with relevance.”