Steve Leung, the founder of his eponymous design studio, is known for his work in a luxurious, contemporary style featuring subtle expressions of Chinese culture. Starting his career at Wong & Ouyang, he worked for the Hong Kong government’s Buildings Ordinance Office (now the Buildings Department) before setting up his own architecture practice in 1987.

Leung split the firm into two in 1997, focusing on architecture and design respectively, but has since worked mostly in the latter field. He first became known for hotels, and has worked on the Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard in London, the Crowne Plaza Sanya, the Holiday Inn Nanjing and the St Regis Bar in Macau, as well as the YOO 8 serviced apartments in Kuala Lumpur; but he’s since diversified into disciplines covering every industry, from F&B to retail and furniture design.

Leung’s work appears in more than 100 cities, and his company employs more than 600 staff across Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. He is also the founder and chairman of restaurant group 1957 & Co, which counts Ta-Ke, Mango Tree and 10 Shanghai among its outlets. He is also the former president of professional organisation the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers.