Ronald Fong Sang was born in Fiji, 1938 to Southern China immigrant parents. They lived near the Nausori Airport in an upstairs attic.
ARCHITECT
Ron knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue architecture as a career. After finishing high school at Auckland’s St. Peter’s College, he studied architecture at the University of Auckland 1960-1964. He began work straight after, and joined what later became Fairhead Sang & Carnachan Architects.
Ron set up his own practice, Sang Architects, in 1998, which continues to this day under the auspices of his son Darryl Sang.
Ron was an accomplished architect, winning multiple awards. His most notable work was the house designed for world-renowned photographer and director Brian Brake. Designed in 1976, it is a beautiful home that is nestled among the Titirangi bush and draws on Asian influence to suspend above the treetops.
Over his 54-year career, Ron claims over 400 buildings as part of his legacy.
At the 2000 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Ron was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to architecture and art.
COLLECTOR AND AUTHOR
Ron was well known for his extensive love and collection of art. Ron published 12 high-end art books, two of which received awards: Len Castle Potter (winner of the 2003 Montana Book Awards) and Pat Hanly (winner of the 2013 New Zealand Post Book Awards).
Ron’s houses were a testament to his passion for the arts. His last house, located in Epsom, Auckland, was his eighth and largest house. It held his entire collection of art pieces, including the largest Len Castle pottery collection in New Zealand as well as sculptures, paintings, and prints. Over the course of two auctions in 2015 and 2023, some 435 lots were sold for a total of $4,445,000.
GARDENING
As of the late 2000’s, Ron was the co-chair of the Chinese Garden Steering Committee. The committee was working towards implementing a new Chinese garden in Auckland. He was also a trustee of the Chinese New Zealanders Millennium Trust which erected Wellington artist Guy Ngan’s Millenium Tree sculpture in the Auckland Domain. It was a gift from Chinese New Zealanders to the city.
In June 2021 at the age of 82, Ron passed away peacefully at home.
Ronald Fong Sang
Died 2021
