Ho, Tao, 1936-2019

Tao Ho (1936–2019) was born in Shanghai and moved to Hong Kong with his parents in 1949. From 1950 to 1956, he attended Pui Ching Middle School in Hong Kong. He earned his first degree in Art History with a minor in Music and Theology at Williams College in Massachusetts, and later received a Master of Architecture from Harvard University in 1964.

He worked as a personal assistant to Walter Gropius and Sigfried Giedion before returning to Hong Kong in late 1964. As a lecturer at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1965, Tao Ho was the first to introduce Bauhaus "Basic Design" courses to the city. In 1968, TAOHO Design practice was established, combining architecture, urban design, interior and graphic design. He received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (LHD) from Williams College in 1979 in recognition of his energetic efforts to promote cultural activities in Hong Kong. In 1984, he co-founded Great Earth Architects and Engineers International (大地建築務所（國際）) in Beijing. Subsequently, in 1996, he became the first chairman of the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Society, and from 1997 to 1998, he served as the president of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects.

In 1996, he was awarded the Bicentennial Medal For Career Distinction from Williams College. In 1997, he was awarded the Crystal Award from the World Economic Forum. Tao Ho had been debilitated since a stroke in April 2002. He passed away on March 29th, 2019 in Hong Kong.