Joining a worldwide tribute to late architect Pei Ieoh-ming, widely known as I.M. Pei, Hong Kong architects close to the Guangzhou-born architect said Pei was a versatile talent, a reliable partner, and an approachable master.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor also expressed deep sorrow over the death of Pei on Friday.

One of the world's most renowned architects, Pei won numerous awards over the years, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize, often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of architecture", in 1983.

Pei lived in Hong Kong for a while when he was young. His works are widely known among Hong Kong people, including the iconic Bank of China Tower in Central, which has become a city landmark and the pride of Hong Kong people, Lam said.

Hong Kong architect Sherman Kung Shu-kai, who worked with Pei on the design of the Bank of China Tower and the since-demolished Sunning Plaza, also said he is deeply saddened by the passing of Pei.

Pei made remarkable achievements and left time-honored legacies with profound influence on communities across the world, he said.

Recalling their cooperation decades ago, Kung said he missed much about Pei, from whom he learned a lot. A detail-oriented person, Pei was always dedicated to ensuring every aspect of the work went well, especially when designing the Bank of China Tower, a project he considered very important.

Kung recalled that Pei once made a last-minute change to the design of the tower's lobby, slightly adjusting the locations of the pillars, to achieve better lighting. After the building was completed, it proved to be the right decision, he said.

Pei's talent also impressed Kung. Pei creatively used geometric shape of lights on the building's glass curtain wall, making it stand out in the concrete jungle of Hong Kong at night. He also insisted on using only white lights to make it more eye-catching than nearby skyscrapers, which were illuminated with colorful lights, Kung revealed.

A versatile architect who designed various commercial buildings and architectures for public use, Pei formed his own style and blended local culture in his design, which is of both aesthetic and business value, Kung said.

Lee Ho-yin, associate professor at the Department of Real Estate and Construction of the University of Hong Kong, said he was impressed and enlightened by Pei when attending two lectures by Pei, one in Hong Kong, the other in Singapore. That was decades ago, before Lee started his career.

"He taught me that architecture should serve the purpose of practical use, not just for show", Lee said. Lee believes that architecture can reflect designers' personalities and ideals. Pei's designs, often with comfortable layouts and details, showed that Pei was much concerned about the functionality of architecture, said Lee, who upholds the same principle after becoming an architect himself.

Lee also described Pei as an "approachable" master who was more like a friend than a teacher. With interesting stories based on his life, Pei's sharing was informative and easy to understand, Lee said.

The Bank of China also expressed sorrow and offered condolences over Pei's passing. In a statement issued on Friday, the bank said Pei's death is a great loss to the international society and Chinese communities.

bingcun@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 05/18/2019 page2)