HONG KONG: Bruce Lee fans and aspiring architectural designers are ready to let loose their imaginations and start draughting the ultimate memorial to the kung fu star.

The open competition to design the Bruce Lee museum at 41 Cumberland Road officially kicked off yesterday. Members of the public are invited to contribute to the creative dialogue aimed at creating a center that says "Bruce Lee" to the late actor's fans all over the world.

It's been 36 years since Lee died. Yesterday was the anniversary. After his death Lee's home became a motel.

The villa's current owner, Yu Pang-lin, is donating the property for the museum. He said he hoped the whole community would actively participate in the project.

He urged designers to optimize the use of space and to incorporate facilities such as an underground exhibition hall, audio-visual room, kung-fu corner, library and souvenir counter.

The competition comprises two categories - the Professional Group for architects, planners, surveyors, engineers and interior designers and the Open Group for everyone else.

Secretary of Commerce and Economic Development Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan said it is important that the two-storey complex where the star spent his last years before his death in 1973 be restored while the home's original appearance should be preserved.

Lau could not give an estimate of the cost of the reconstruction until a design has been selected.

The competition's professional advisor, Raymond Chan Yuk-ming, said the designs will be assessed based on the extent to which they address the objectives of the competition: their creativity, feasibility, practicability and how well they would fit in with the neighborhood.

He said the adjudication panel will be comprised of representatives of the property owner, Lee's family, professional institutions, the Kowloon City District Council and the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Lau added the Tourism Commission would continue to source exhibits from various channels, including Lee's family members and friends, to make the museum a real showcase of the life of the late kung-fu star.

Interested participants should register with the Professional Advisor any time before August 31. Entries must be submitted by October 15. Results of the competition will be announced by the end of the year.

Details of the competition are available on the Web site: www.bruceleeresidence.com.

(HK Edition 07/21/2009 page1)