In the course of almost half a century of hard work mingled with ingenuity, Ir Prof Naeemullah Hussain has secured his reputation, through an illustrious career with Arup, of being one of the world’s leading bridge designers. His role has been decisive in transfiguring Arup into a renowned multinational organisation, offering engineering, design and consulting services for building systems across the globe.

Coming into his own as a bridge designer

The desire to build something was kindled in Ir Prof Hussain very early on. “My father was a civil engineer,” he reminisced, “and I often accompanied him on site visits, which probably was the greatest influence on my subsequent interest in the built environment.”

After graduating with a civil engineering degree in 1962 in Pakistan, he worked on the structural design of buildings as diverse as factories, hospitals, and tall buildings. Aspiring to a wider range of expertise and experience, he began a course of study in architectural design. “I discovered I was being taught subjects I was already familiar with as an engineer,” he said of his studies. “I decided instead to go on site to gain the experience needed for engineering chartership. I worked on the M5 Midland Links viaducts in Birmingham, which sparked my interest in bridges as I saw the possibility of synthesising my engineering and architectural training.”

Ir Prof Hussain (rear) in 1964 London with his (front L to R) eldest brother Yusuf, an
electrical and electronics engineer and researcher; his mother, a Persian studies
graduate; his father, a civil engineer first for the Great India Peninsular Railway and
then for Pakistan Railways; and his brother Faheem, a renowned theoretical physicist and professor

A partnership beyond the wildest dreams

It was 1969, London. He was given an interview in Arup, and pleasantly surprised that, Jorgen Nissen, the bridge engineer who was his interviewer, was more interested in bridge aesthetics than structure. “I felt I had found my soulmates,” Ir Prof Hussain enthused, “and immediately joined the Arup Bridge Group, with whom I have been working since then except for a couple of years out.”

Naturally, he thrived at Arup. Working there empowered him to turn his dream into reality—to combine his engineering and architectural knowledge in bridge designs. “I don’t consider engineering and architecture as two distinct disciplines,” he reflected. “To me they are one and the same thing: the creation of an object for a specific purpose. I consider myself a bridge designer with background in both disciplines. I try and design bridges which are both functionable and hopefully, visually appealing to the public.”

Between 1969 and 1997, Ir Prof Hussain worked in London, Malaysia, Nigeria and Hong Kong on numerous bridge projects. He elaborated: “I helped to design bridges in Arup’s spirit—that is, creating aesthetically pleasing bridges by combining form and function. The most memorable bridges that I helped design include River Ouse Bridge with parabolic soffits, the bridges on the east coast of Malaysia, Hulme Arch Bridge with the world’s first diagonal arch, Medway Crossing on UK’s first high speed railway, and Oresund Link between Denmark and Sweden.”

Oresund Bridge (Denmark – Sweden), which Ir Prof Hussain helped design

Home in Hong Kong

It was through pure chance that Hong Kong became Ir Prof Hussain’s home base and has remained so for over 25 years. “In late 1997,” he explained, “I helped on the bid for the design contract on the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) West Rail Yuen Long Section project. Arup won the contract and I was asked to come to Hong Kong to oversee the design, which involved 7 km of viaducts and three overhead stations.”

“This was a lucky break,” he continued. “Since 1998, when I based myself in Hong Kong for the second time, I have been fortunate to work on large bridge projects like Stonecutters Bridge, Shenzhen Bay Bridge and Incheon Bridge in South Korea. During this time, the most memorable event was to have won the design commission of Scotland’s Queensferry Crossing. Just like taking coals to Newcastle, it was a reverse export of our Hong Kong talents to the UK! We progressed to being able to work on large-scale overseas projects like Gerald Desmond Bridge in Los Angeles, Champlain Bridge in Canada and the 30-km Temburong Bridge in Brunei.”

Ir Prof Hussain proudly proclaims Hong Kong is his home. It is for this sentimental reason, perhaps, that he singled out the HKIE Gold Medal as the one accolade most cherished by him—among all those he has deservedly received for his numerous international achievements.

Ir Prof Hussain (L) with Peter Lowther (R), Chief Resident Engineer at Arup, with
Stonecutters Bridge in background

On a visit to Incheon Bridge Korea

Designing bridges—and the future of the profession

Ir Prof Hussain harbours a justified sense of pride in his meritorious involvement in the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering. “The Association,” he explained, “is the premier bridge-related organisation globally, with members from over 40 countries, analogous to a club. There, one can meet consultants and contracting peers, teaming up with them for worldwide projects. It is of tremendous help to those of us in Hong Kong seeking to export our talent abroad.”

Within the Association, he served as the Chair of its Outstanding Structures Committee and is acting as the Hong Kong delegate to its Permanent Committee. A contributor to the Association’s Extradosed Bridges State-of-the-Art Report, he is also, proudly, the Chair and main author of its Guidelines for Design Competitions for Bridges, which has been translated into several languages.

A few words distilled from decades of wisdom

Ir Prof Hussain’s long and distinguished career—spanning decades—has afforded him opportunities to amass insights by the dozen. “Do what you really want to do,” he replied on being asked his advice to the young. “Take the opportunity when offered.” He cited himself as an example. “In 1973, at the age of 30, I was asked to go to Malaysia to head the bridge team working on the Jerangau-Jabor Highway. I took up the challenge, which turned out a boon to both Arup and my career. Such an attitude helps. Go where the work is and devote yourself wholeheartedly to whatever you are working on. Don’t be arrogant—be humble, take advice, listen to and learn from site personnel, your juniors and peers. You cannot know everything.”

Speaking at the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony

Building a life outside work

Given how eventful his work life seems to be, it comes as something of a surprise that Ir Prof Hussain has managed to fashion an equally active life outside of work. “I have always been sporty,” he explained. “I was the captain of my university cricket team, played cricket in the Middlesex League and Hong Kong League. I play squash, go hiking and regularly go skiing. I have a private pilot’s license and piloted planes for work in Nigeria. There is life outside work. Sport enables sportsmanship and fairness, qualities that help with fair dealings at work with colleagues and external organisations.”

Ir Prof Hussain (1st right) at the Royal Selangor Club in 1974 with his cricket team after
winning the cricket 6-a-side championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia