Where it all began, though initially without a book in mind. After eighteen months in London working in the Foster office, I returned to Hongkong looking for new challenges. By chance, the first stages of the Bank’s steel structure were beginning to appear above ground and, knowing the project well, I began to think about making a photographic record of the building’s construction.

I approached the Bank and thankfully they agreed, under the strict proviso that none of the images could be distributed beyond those working on the project. And so began some three years documenting the project as it grew, working closely with many of the contractors based on site. It was hardly a full-time job, rather a matter of taking a day or so each month to walk around the entire site and record what was happening. Even so, as the opening of the building’s first stage approached, I had amassed around 1,500 images.

At the same time, many of the contractors, including many of the individuals who I had began to know well, started approaching me requesting a set of prints of their work. I quickly realised that producing even a modest set of prints was relatively expansive and printing a book would be a far cheaper option. By this time I was sharing an office with a local graphic designer so knew the printing process well.

And so, in May 1985, I produced my first ever book. As mentioned above, the book was printed in time to coincide with the opening of the building’s banking hall and atrium up to level 13, while fit-out of the offices continued on the floors above. The book was a success and agreement was quickly reached to produce and publish a second edition following the building to its full completion and official opening in April 1986.

Copies of both editions are available. See the links below for details.

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