Reflections of a mastermind

For Chinese Canadian architect Peter Guo-hua Fu, his career has always revolved around two passions: designing buildings and promoting the public's understanding of them. Fu has been in charge of design for 100 building projects worldwide since founding KFS Architects Inc Canada in 2001; and in order to promote architecture, he has spent the past decade exploring ways to merge architecture with music, dance, sculpture, painting, and other art forms — creating what he calls "a grand visual art based on architecture design".

This energetic architect is still pushing boundaries to make architecture more accessible. His recent bilingual book, The Stories Behind 100 Designs, and an architecture-themed game titled Image of Space, set to launch later this year, are just the latest examples.

The book, published in July in China, is jointly written by the 62-year-old architect and his son Richard. It depicts the stories behind the architecture of 100 buildings he designed since founding KFS Architects.

"You could say I'm a child of my time. I happened to be working during a period of rapid economic growth in China, and I was fortunate to be involved in the design of many airport terminals and office buildings. Since 2001, I have been in charge of the design for 100 architectural projects. If you count each project as five buildings on average, that's about 500 buildings in total," he says.

Regarding Shanghai as his muse, Fu says nearly half of these projects, involving more than 200 buildings, are scattered across the city.

"Shanghai is my hometown, where I was born and learned my early grounding in architecture. It was in Shanghai that I first developed my passion for the field," he says.

Fu says his connection with architecture began in childhood.

"I would sit by the window, counting the red bricks on the buildings opposite my home. I also fondly remember accompanying my father to meet his business partners near the Bund, where I admired the views both inside and outside those beautiful buildings," he recalls.

It was because of these experiences that, in 1980, he became an undergraduate student at Shanghai's Tongji University, majoring in architectural design and urban planning. After working for two years at Shenzhen University in Guangdong province, he returned to Tongji University as a postgraduate student in 1986, and further pursued a doctorate in architecture in 1989.

"Shanghai is truly my blessed place. I came from Shanghai, and finally I returned. I spend most of my time here, and my greatest achievements have happened here too," he says.

In 2021, Fu received the Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award, given to outstanding foreigners for their significant contributions to the city's development and international exchanges.

"Maybe it's because I've contributed to shaping Shanghai's skyline," he suggests.

In 1990, he was granted a full scholarship by McGill University's School of Architecture, and started his studying and working in Canada. He founded KFS Architects, operating an architectural design business in both China and Canada.

His contribution to architecture was equally recognized in Canada. In September 2017, McGill University permanently named its School of Architecture, with a history of more than 120 years, as the Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture.

"Peter Guo-hua Fu is an outstanding architect, as well as a contributor to the friendship and cooperation between China and Canada," said Peng Jingtao, then consul general of China in Montreal, during the ceremony.

"He received good education in both China and Canada. His Canada-based company grew rapidly in China. Fu's success has fully demonstrated the broad prospects for cooperation in education, business and trade between China and Canada," Peng said.

Asked about his future plans, Fu says he will continue his pursuits in grand visual art.

"The 100 architectural stories are a reflection of my 25-year-long work and a contribution to the idea that cities have warmth. I believed that architecture can be read, and can also be expressed through theater, dance, sculpture and painting. This is the beginning of my journey into grand architecture, grand art, and grand visual storytelling," he wrote in his book's preface.

In the past decade, he has integrated architecture with a variety of art forms. In 2014, 2016, and 2017, he created a series of architecture-themed musicals, including Memories of the Valley, My Albert, and Exchange Students. In 2024, his architectural sculpture Memories of the Valley: Golden Home was displayed at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center.

By the end of this year, he plans to launch an architecture-themed game aimed at reaching a wider audience, especially Generation Z. The game's goal is to popularize architectural design, culture, ideas and creativity.

"Honestly, I've probably never done anything else in my life. I've been dedicated to architecture and sharing it with others — and I'm truly happy to have embraced this path," he says.