The perception of craft in Architecture: a reading of the HKIA journal

This research investigates the perception and role of craft within Hong Kong’s architectural profession over the past two decades, addressing the disjunction between craft as a means of heritage preservation and its application in contemporary practice. While traditional craft is gradually replaced by industrialised production, there is also a growing public interest in its cultural value. Using the Hong Kong Institute of Architects Journal (HKIAJ) as the primary source, this study employs correspondence analysis to examine how craft is perceived. It maps the relationship between craft types (material and fabrication) and their application contexts (heritage, regeneration, interior, exhibition, and education). The findings reveal an evolving discourse, shifting from an early focus on traditional techniques for heritage repair to a later embrace of digital fabrication as a new form of craftsmanship. Three primary roles for craft are identified: as a means of repair, as a production of imagery, and as a channel to promote awareness. The study concludes that craft is not declining but transforming, arguing that technology-enabled craft offers a projective path to integrate the mindful processes and material sensitivity of craftsmanship into contemporary architectural production, ensuring its future relevance.