View source for 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           = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| 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
| nationality   = New Zealand
| occupation    = Architect
| years_active  =
| known_for     =
| notable_works =
| children      =
}}
'''Ronald Fong Sang''' {{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, Auckland|St Peter's College, Grafton]]. He studied architecture at [[University of Auckland|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, New Zealand|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|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 (website)|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 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|2000 Queen's Birthday Honours]], Sang was appointed an [[New Zealand Order of Merit|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, New Zealand|Epsom]], Auckland
Flickr - brewbooks - i103005 205.jpg|A selection of Sang's personal art collection, including pieces by [[Ann Robinson (artist)|Ann Robinson]] and [[Guy Ngan]]
Chinese Pagoda Skyscraper Auckland.jpg|Choice Plaza, a 1989 building on [[Wellesley Street, Auckland|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.]
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[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Fijian people of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:Fijian emigrants to New Zealand]]
[[Category:People 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]]