Ron Sang

{{Short description|New Zealand architect (1938–2021)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2014}} {{Infobox person | name = Ron Sang | image = Ron Sang (1991).jpg | alt =  | caption = Ron Sang photographed by Gil Hanly in 1991 | birth_name = Ronald Fong Sang | birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|07|11|df=y}} | birth_place = Fiji | death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|06|11|1938|07|11|df=y}} | death_place = Auckland, New Zealand | occupation = Architect | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = | children = }}

'''Ronald Fong Sang'''( Chinese name: 方勵涵） {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM|JP|size=100%}} (11 July 1938 – 11 June 2021) was a New Zealand architect, art collector, art exhibitor and publisher of New Zealand art books.<ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10544763 Carroll du Chateau, "It is all about the pictures", ''NZ Herald'', 22 November 2008] (Retrieved 22 January 2014)</ref>

==Early life== Sang was born in Fiji in 1938 to parents who had migrated from southern China.<ref name="Sang"/> He received his secondary education at Marist Brothers High School, Fiji, and, having arrived in Auckland in 1957, at St Peter's College, Grafton. He studied architecture at Auckland University College from 1958 to 1961.<ref name="Who's">''New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001'', p. 777.</ref> He became a registered architect in New Zealand in 1965.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzrab.org.nz/Search/ArchitectDetail.aspx?r=939 |title=Architect details |publisher=New Zealand Registered Architects Board |accessdate=26 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20150426014915/https://www.nzrab.org.nz/Search/ArchitectDetail.aspx?r=939 |archivedate=26 April 2015}}</ref> He joined an architectural practice which became Fairhead Sang and Carnachan Architects. In 1968, Sang set up his own practice.<ref>[https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/latest/125451318/architect-ron-sang-patron-of-the-arts-leaves-a-monumental-legacy Colleen Hawkes, "Designer of historic Brake House also had a keen eye for emerging artists", ''The Dominion Post'', 17 June 2021, p. 26.] (retrieved 17 June 2021)</ref>

==Architecture== As an architect, Sang engaged in both commercial and domestic architecture. He is noted for his design of a house for the photographer Brian Brake in Titirangi, West Auckland. The house has a Category 1 rating from Heritage New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brian Brake House (Former)|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/9649|access-date=26 June 2021|website=www.heritage.org.nz}}</ref>

Sang had a special interest in using New Zealand artworks in domestic and commercial interiors. He was a committee member of the Aotea Centre Works of Art Committee from 1988.<ref name="Who's" /> He developed a New Zealand art collection including paintings, prints, sculpture, pottery, and weaving.<ref>[http://sangarchitects.co.nz/Portfolio-artexh.htm Sang Architects and Company] (Retrieved 12 February 2013)</ref> This collection included significant New Zealand artists such as Colin McCahon and Bill Hammond.<ref>[http://www.kellands.co.nz/property/soldview/property-for-sale-auckland-city-remuera-burwood-crescent-2 Ron Sang's Own House, Kelland's] (Retrieved 12 February 2013)</ref> Sang published books on New Zealand artists.<ref>[http://www.ronsangpublications.co.nz/ Ron Sang Publications](Retrieved 12 February 2013)</ref> In 2013, Sang was co-chairman of the Auckland Chinese Garden steering committee.<ref name="Sang">{{cite news |date=22 February 2015 |title=Ron Sang's life amid art |work=Stuff | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/home-property/66500556/ron-sangs-life-amid-art |access-date=23 February 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11176534 Lynley Bilby, "Chuang pays price for affair", ''NZ Herald'', 22 December 2013] (Retrieved 22 January 2014)</ref>

In the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours, Sang was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to architecture and the arts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2000-including-special-list-east-timor |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 2000 (including special list for East Timor) |date=5 June 2000 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |accessdate=4 July 2020}}</ref>

==Later life and death== In March 2015, Sang auctioned off much of his personal art collection to fund his retirement, raising over $1.9 million.<ref>[https://www.tvnz.co.nz/ondemand/sunday/12-04-2015/series-2015-episode-11 Sunday, TV One, 12 April 2015]</ref> Sang died at his home in Auckland on 11 June 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://notices.nzherald.co.nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/obituary.aspx?n=ronald-fong-sang&pid=199041431 |title=Ron Sang death notice |date=14 June 2021 |work=New Zealand Herald |access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery> Flickr - brewbooks - i103005 196.jpg|Sang's former residence in Epsom, Auckland Flickr - brewbooks - i103005 205.jpg|A selection of Sang's personal art collection, including pieces by Ann Robinson and Guy Ngan Chinese Pagoda Skyscraper Auckland.jpg|Choice Plaza, a 1989 building on Wellesley Street designed by Sang </gallery>

==References== {{reflist}}

== Further reading == * Ron Sang and Mei Ling Lee. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1011144662 ''Ron Sang'' ''architect'' (2017) Auckland: Ron Sang Publications.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sang, Ron}} Category:1938 births Category:2021 deaths Category:Fijian people of Chinese descent Category:Fijian emigrants to New Zealand Category:Architects from Auckland Category:People educated at Marist Brothers High School, Fiji Category:People educated at St Peter's College, Auckland Category:University of Auckland alumni Category:New Zealand architects Category:New Zealand art collectors Category:New Zealand publishers (people) Category:Fijian architects Category:Fijian publishers (people) Category:Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit Category:New Zealand justices of the peace