Ching, Chang Wan Chong is the Design Director at Trust Design. For eight years, the firm has led architectural innovation in Macao, focusing on public spaces and residential housing. With a robust background in architecture, Ching has a deep understanding and appreciation for the complexities of design and space.
I'm Ching, Chang Wan Chong, the Design Director at Trust Design. We've been at the forefront of architectural innovation in Macao for eight years, specializing in public spaces and residential housing. With a solid background in architecture, I have a profound appreciation for the intricacies of design and space.
This expertise allows us to navigate the competitive landscape of Macao's design industry successfully, creating functional, engaging, and visually stunning environments.
We're a comprehensive design firm, offering end-to-end services from design to construction, management, logistics, and furnishings. Our transparent approach builds trust quickly with clients, allowing us to communicate and shape their homes efficiently.
We're dedicated to emphasizing the importance of interior design and our company's ethos in every project.
Our style is diverse, but our guiding principle is always people-centric. We aim for each homeowner, each audience, to achieve the greatest possible change with their limited resources.
In Macao, budget is often a key concern, but even with limited resources and space, we strive to create spaces that cater to their needs for the next decade, making their lives more comfortable and enjoyable.
At the beginning, we start with consultations where we explain how interior design works and talk about any potential problems with design or renovation. We also discuss our services, including what happens after the sale and how we manage projects.
Our objective is to ensure a seamless flow from concept to reality, making certain that our computer-generated visuals perfectly align with the actual furniture in a unified design.
Macao is a compact city, so compared to designs from other countries, we often need to be more resourceful. We find ways to be flexible and creative with limited funds, ensuring that every aspect of their personal space, even for children, contributes to their happiness and comfort.
We believe that a cozy home leads to a joyful childhood and these considerations are at the forefront of our designs.
The project we've chosen has a Bohemian style. Firstly, its vibrant colors are eye-catching and memorable. Secondly, it's a rather intriguing project for us to take on and every moment was memorable for each and every one of us. It involved renovating an old building with numerous challenges. The space was transformed from an open-plan studio, reminiscent of Portuguese culture, to a home for a family of three.
We retained the original features like the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room and terrace while adding our design to ensure a fresh layout and clear delineation for everyone, from parents to children.
The biggest challenge in this project was working within a limited budget for an older building. We had to integrate a striking new style into the existing structure, without major renovations. For instance, we preserved the kitchen, which had distinctive red checkered tiles, dividing the space into a living room and kitchen.
On the other hand, we had to address the owners' desire for privacy and a studio space, transformed the terrace into a functional workspace while dealing with the irregular shape layout and limited space. That was rather challenging but we managed to pull through!
I want to express my gratitude to the 2024 MUSE Design Awards, for this prestigious international award. With this recognition on a global scale, I believe more people will become acquainted with our work and our unique perspective.
Being acknowledged reaffirms our commitment and allows us to earn the trust of our clients. It enables us to share our philosophy with a wider audience.
In Macao, things are often more intricate compared to many other places. Being one of the most densely populated cities in China and beyond, every inch of our space must be utilized effectively. Additionally, in Chinese society, family ties are highly valued. It's common for people to live with their families well into their thirties.
This contrasts with many Western societies where individuals typically have more private space. Therefore, integrating traditional cultural values into interior design while preserving privacy is crucial in Macao as it reflects our unique cultural identity.
I envision our company Trust Design can reshape the design landscape in Macao. Showcasing interior design is about communicating its value, understanding where the design's focus lies, and why someone might need help in reimagining their space.
We take into account their lifestyle, future plans, interests, daily routines, even their pets, and personal philosophies. These are the aspects designers must consider and prioritize. Therefore, I believe that the design industry will take all these into consideration and create spaces that has all the above.
The most crucial thing is to maintain passion because interior design is an area where your enthusiasm can easily wane due to the lack of recognition in Macao.
Only passion can sustain you through these challenges. Through this period of change, I hope you will garner respect and appreciation for this field.
Being a director is actually quite exhausting because you can't just talk casually with people. It's draining at times. The field of interior design is not as easy to navigate as many think.
In Macao, it's a challenging industry with little recognition. We need a significant breakthrough or recognition on an international level to reach a more lucrative income or the standards seen abroad.
Ching, Chang Wan Chong is the Design Director at Trust Design. For eight years, the firm has led architectural innovation in Macao, focusing on public spaces and residential housing. With a robust background in architecture, Ching has a deep understanding and appreciation for the complexities of design and space.
Read more about this interview with Yameng Wang from the United States, the Silver Winner of the 2024 MUSE Design Awards.