Welcome to the Archello Podcast, architecture’s most visual podcast series. Listen as Archello's Paris-based Editor in Chief, Collin Anderson, sits down with architects to discuss their careers and projects. Each audio episode is accompanied by a rich visual storyboard which listeners can use to follow the discussion. This episode is made possible by support from Kingspan Group.
Introducing Chris Hardie - Principal and Design Director of Schmidt Hammer Lassen's Shanghai studio
In this episode, Archello connects with Chris Hardie, Partner and Design Director of Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s China studio in Shanghai.
Schmidt Hammer Lassen (SHL) is known for creating human-centered, innovative designs that balance cultural heritage with contemporary needs. The office’s projects pay a particular attention to sustainability and yielding a reduced embodied carbon content.
Listen and scroll as Hardie reflects on his path to China from Scotland, the founding of the China studio, and leading projects like the Beijing Performing Arts Centre and Shanghai Library East, one of the world’s largest libraries and a vibrant community hub.
On the Shanghai office and its global team
Hardie opens the conversation by describing SHL’s Shanghai studio, located in the historic French Concession area of the city. This charming district, characterized by European-style villas, narrow lane communities, and tree-lined streets, offers a distinctly walkable and livable environment. “Almost all of our studio’s team either walks, cycles, or takes the metro to work,” Hardie notes, emphasizing the sustainable lifestyle embedded in the studio culture.
The team itself is as diverse as the city, comprising around 70 designers from across China and countries such as the UK, Denmark, Chile, and Poland. Many of these architects have been educated internationally, bringing a rich array of perspectives to their projects. SHL’s work spans cultural, educational, and healthcare projects, often carried out in collaboration with its parent company,
Perkins&Will. Notable partnerships include designs for Duke Kunshan University and academic libraries, as well as healthcare and science facilities.
On Scottish beginnings
Hardie’s journey began in Aberdeen, Scotland, where his roots and early architectural inspirations were forged. He initially worked in London for several prominent studios before joining Schmidt Hammer Lassen in 2008. Drawn to the Nordic sensibilities—bold yet calm designs and exceptional craftsmanship—Hardie contributed to their mission to expand beyond Denmark. One early project was the new library building for the University of Aberdeen, a nod to Hardie’s hometown.
However, the 2008 financial crisis shifted the trajectory of his career. As the UK economy plunged into recession, SHL sought opportunities abroad, leading Hardie to explore projects in Canada, the Middle East, and ultimately China. His first visit to Beijing in 2009 revealed a city buzzing with post-Olympic energy and architectural innovation. “It was a surreal time,” Hardie reflects. Inspired by iconic projects like the Bird’s Nest Stadium and the French architect Paul Andreu’s National Center for the Performing Arts, he embraced the challenges and opportunities China offered.
On founding SHL’s China studio
Hardie’s connection to China deepened when he volunteered to spend a month on-site in Beijing to resolve a problematic project. This decision not only propelled the project forward but also led to several new commissions. Upon returning to Denmark, SHL’s founding partners proposed that Hardie move to China to establish a studio. In 2011, he accepted the challenge, becoming an equity partner shortly after. “It wasn’t really my decision,” Hardie laughs, attributing the move to SHL’s founding partners, Martin Schmidt and Bjarne Hammer, who recognized his potential to lead this new venture.
On China’s evolving architectural landscape
Over the past 14 years, Hardie has witnessed significant changes in China’s architectural landscape. “It’s far more mature now than when I began,” he explains. The country’s growing confidence in its architects and designers has fostered a wave of innovation across industries, including architecture. Hardie emphasizes the importance of collaboration and inclusivity in China’s design process, citing projects like the Shanghai Library East, where architects, writers, and artists were invited to critique and contribute to the design vision.
On collaborating with Perkins&WillSince SHL’s integration with
Perkins&Will, the Shanghai studio operates as a combined entity, leveraging expertise from both firms. Hardie highlights the collaborative nature of their projects, which often involve teams from multiple global offices. For instance, a recent Middle Eastern project brought together SHL’s Shanghai team with colleagues from Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago. “Great architecture takes an orchestra of people,” Hardie remarks, emphasizing the collective effort behind their work.
On the Beijing Performing Arts CentreThe
Beijing Performing Arts Centre, a landmark project led by Hardie, represents a harmonious blend of technical rigor and cultural symbolism. Set along the historic Grand Canal in Tongzhou, the project features three elegant volumes designed as "containers of culture," inspired by the region’s historical granary storage buildings. These volumes hold an impressive array of cultural programs, including an opera house, concert hall, playhouse theater, black box, and outdoor theater.
Drawing from Tongzhou’s rich heritage and its evolving identity as a cultural hub, the design honors the city’s legacy while embracing modern functionality. The architectural concept integrates a planted plinth that blends into the parkland, providing an elevated public platform overlooking the Grand Canal. "The idea was to create a poetic combination," Hardie explains, "infusing symbolism from the region’s history with a contemporary theatrical experience."
The façade, initially conceived as ceramic, transitioned to perforated aluminum to balance aesthetics, cost, and sustainability. Through meticulous embodied carbon calculations and digital fabrication, SHL achieved a lighter, cost-effective structure while maintaining a poetic design narrative. Hardie reflects on the process, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with contractors and iterative prototyping to realize the clean yet intricate façade.
On sustainability and embodied carbon
Sustainability is a cornerstone of SHL’s approach. According to Hardie, the firm embeds sustainability throughout the lifecycle of its projects. Highlighting the Beijing Performing Arts Center’s achievement of China’s 3-star green building certification—comparable to, but more rigorous than, LEED Gold—Hardie emphasizes the importance of both operational and embodied carbon in design. “We don't talk about it too much; we just do it,” he explains, noting the studio’s proactive implementation of energy use and carbon reduction guidelines.
Hardie also addresses the nuanced differences between sustainability in China and the West. While private clients in the West often lead green initiatives, Chinese institutions tend to follow government directives. “The moment regulation changes, everyone adopts it immediately,” Hardie remarks, expressing optimism about China’s capacity to become a global leader in sustainability.
Central to SHL’s philosophy is a holistic design framework called “Living Design,” which balances sustainability, beauty, and community. This methodology integrates principles of regeneration, poetics, health, and inclusion to ensure projects are not only environmentally conscious but also meaningful and uplifting. Hardie underscores that great design requires harmony between form, materials, and purpose: "If we're doing these projects, which ultimately are about building community, then we need to do it with compassion....Is a building uplifting? Is it assisting? Is it inspiring us? That's what makes architecture interesting."
On the Shanghai Library EastThe
Shanghai Library East, another signature project, exemplifies SHL’s commitment to cultural and community-focused architecture. It stands as one of the world’s largest libraries and an exemplar of innovative library design. Conceptualized as a modern interpretation of the traditional scholar’s rock found in Chinese gardens, the building embodies a seamless blend of technical rigor and poetic meaning. Its striking stone and glass facades, along with its elevated structure, make it a defining feature of Shanghai's urban landscape, while its location in a green space ensures a serene, contextual harmony.
The library reflects a shift from collection-focused spaces to community-oriented hubs. Hardie explains the vision as a “stack of marketplaces,” interconnected by visually open atriums that create a sense of serendipity and connection. This design philosophy prioritizes accessibility and simplicity, avoiding the institutional complexity often associated with large cultural buildings. It emphasizes duality, linking with its counterpart, Shanghai Library West, to form a “yin-yang” pairing. Together, they manage a vast collection, with Shanghai Library East focusing on public engagement and housing extensive community activities—approximately 80% of its program.
The design draws inspiration from Taihu stones and jade, symbolizing the transformation of raw materials into polished, meaningful forms, mirroring human intellectual growth through knowledge. Inside, the library features bamboo and oak finishes that balance warmth with modernity. The central atrium, clad in bamboo louvers, cleverly conceals mechanical systems and acoustic treatments while maintaining a calm, cathedral-like atmosphere.
Reading rooms, finished with oak flooring and terrazzo surfaces, provide contrasting yet harmonious textures that enhance the sensory experience. Shanghai Library East epitomizes SHL’s philosophy of "Library 5.0," integrating nature, community, and technology to create a holistic space. As Hardie reflects, “If I have a library and a garden, I have everything I need”—a sentiment that underscores the library’s design as a place of connection, reflection, and cultural enrichment.
On the future
As Hardie reflects on his journey, he expresses gratitude for the opportunities he’s had in China. Recognized as a “New Shanghainese” by Harper’s Bazaar China, he views his contributions as part of a collective effort. “Architecture takes an army,” he reiterates, crediting SHL’s team for their shared vision and dedication. While his future in Shanghai remains open-ended, Hardie is committed to continuing SHL’s global impact through thoughtful, sustainable design.