Date/Time
Date(s) - November 20, 2026
5:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Categories No Categories

We are honored to invite you to attend Forested Senses an exclusive three-part special event presented by AIA Hong Kong in collaboration with the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) at DesignInspire 2026. This event will also be supported by the United Architects of the Philippines, Hong Kong Chapter.

As the architecture and design community continually re-imagines our built environment for a more sustainable tomorrow, this curated evening will include a VIP tour of hardwood artworks created by emerging Hong Kong artists, a dynamic industry panel on the production and use of wood in design, and a special screening of the Forested Future documentary, complemented by networking and a light dinner.

Details

Sign up HERE to reserve a place on or before November 16, 2026, at 3:00 PM.

AIA Hong Kong

About the Seminar Panelists

Tripp Pryor
International Program Manager, AHEC

Tripp joined AHEC as International Program Manager in 2015 and is responsible for identifying emerging markets and for developing marketing strategies with AHEC’s five international offices. Tripp grew up in the hardwood industry – his first job was at a lumberyard in his home town near Asheville, NC, and, over the years, he has travelled extensively to organize AHEC pavilions and marketing events in more than 20 countries.

Before joining the organization, he completed his Master’s Degree in International Business at the University of South Carolina, and as an undergrad, was part of a University of South Carolina program where he spent two years studying at CUHK, where he majored in International Business and Marketing.

David Venables
Director, AHEC Europe

David is a leading advocate for sustainable design and European Director of AHEC. For over 30 years, he has championed the creative use of wood in architecture and design, collaborating with renowned figures like Amanda Levete, Thomas Heatherwick, and Alison Brooks. His landmark projects—Timber Wave, The Smile, MultiPly, and Vert—have redefined how we think about hardwoods and sustainability.

David has a specialist wood background, with a BSc in Timber Technology and more than thirty years’ experience in the international marketing of hardwoods. He is an experienced speaker, frequently making presentations on American hardwoods to trade, manufacturing and design audiences worldwide.

Rebecca Plaza Ti
Managing Partner, WTA Architecture and Design Studio, Manila

Rebecca and her firm are recognised for their innovative and socially responsive approach to architecture and urbanism. She holds an MPhil in Architecture and Urban Design from the University of Cambridge, where she was a Chevening Scholar. Her current work spans civic architecture, urban development, and community-centred design, including Tagaytay City Hall and Emergency Quarantine Facilities. She is also a Co-curator and Director of the Anthology Architecture and Design Festival, a platform advancing discourse and cross-cultural collaboration across Southeast Asia, with an emphasis on the social impact of public architecture.

Evelyn Ting AIA
Co-Founder and Managing Director, New Office Works

Evelyn is a registered architect in the State of Massachusetts and now oversees architecture projects, and research initiatives and publications in Hong Kong. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University, her M. Arch.Degree from MIT, and is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong.

About the Exhibition Tour Lead

Su Chang AIA
Principal, Su Chang Design Research Office
Designer and Curator, Forested Senses Exhibition at DesignInspire 2026
Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong

Su Chang’s current research explores a water-centric perspective for understanding architecture, development, and conservation in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and the Subtropical Asia context. Navigating the shifting dynamics between inland and coastal areas, he has developed design experiments with a material-based approach to rejuvenate public spaces and regenerate social fabrics for communities undergoing transformation.

About the Special Screening

Forested Future is an inspiring documentary that explores our changing relationship with nature through the hardwood forests of the eastern United States. Featuring foresters, artisans, ecologists, and the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, the film shares the personal stories of people whose lives are deeply connected to the forest. As it addresses challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss, Forested Future offers a hopeful perspective on how sustainable forest stewardship and responsible use of wood can help ensure a more resilient future.