Portfolio of Chan Kwun Kit, Chris- selected works 2017-2023

Portfolio

CHAN KWUN KIT

SELECTED WORKS 2017-2023

CHAN KWUN KIT, CHRIS

E-mail: kkchan.wyk.ca@gmail.com / Tel: +1 (647) 873-2964 / Location: North York, ON

INTRODUCTION

As a Registered Architect in Hong Kong with a background in residential and healthcare projects, I possess a versatile skill set that encompasses both architectural design and project management. I am a proactive learner who readily adapts to new environments and technologies to meet the needs of the team. I am legally eligible to work in Canada as an Open Work Permit Holder.

EDUCATION

All courses were instructed in English:

2019.9 -2021.8 The University of Hong Kong/ Hong Kong Master of Arts (Architectural Studies)

2020.1 -2020.5 Aalto University/ Helsinki, Finland Exchange Program

2014.9 -2018.8 The University of Hong Kong/ Hong Kong Bachelor of Arts (Architectural Studies)

QUALIFICATIONS

2023 - current Registered Architect, HKIA/ARB HK

SKILLS

Language English

Chinese (Cantonese & Mandarin)

Interests

Software

Filmography, photography

3D Modelling

Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, Sketchup

CAD/ BIM

Autodesk AutoCad, Autodesk Revit, Archicad

Rendering

Lumion, Enscape, Vray

Adobe Creative Suite

Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Premier Pro

Microsoft Office

Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Project, Outlook

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Architect

Assistant Architectural Designer / Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd, Hong Kong

Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital Redevelopment / Hong Kong

GFA: 25,000 sq.m. / Stage: Contract Document, Construction Procurement, Construction Administration (Preparatory Works, Demolition, ELS), Post-completion (Preparatory Works) /

Duties: tendering drawing and specification development for door, ironmongery and sanitary fitment; review contractor’s shop drawing, material and technical submission, attend regular site meeting and field review, prepare Architect’s Instruction and EOT assessment; prepare statutory submission

Architectural Assistant (Year-Out) / ARK Associates Ltd, Hong Kong

Henderson Road Mansion, Single Family House / Hong Kong

GFA: 830 sq.m. / Stage: Schematic Design, Design Development /

Duties: 3D modelling, material study and design development on facade & swimming pool, statutory submission

Artique, Low-rise Residential Building / Hong Kong

GFA: 813 sq.m. / Stage: Schematic Design, Design Development /

Duties: 3D modelling, schematic layout development, prepare presentation and tender drawing on facade & interior design

OCT Longan Centre, Shopping Mall / Shenzhen, China

GFA: 26,000 sq.m. / Stage: Design Development /

Duties: 3D modelling, prepare presentation and design development on interior design and facade.

Met Azure, High-rise Residential Tower / Hong Kong

GFA: 8,375 sq.m. / Stage: Schematic Design, Design Development /

Duties: 3D modelling, schematic layout and facade development, material research

2023.5-2023.8

2021.7-2023.4

2018.7-2019.7

01/ OLMH Hospital Redevelopment

WONG TAI SIN, HONG KONG

Project Type: Hospital /

Size: 25,000 sq.m. /

No. of Storey: 12 + 1 basement

Stages Involved

Contract Document, Construction Procurement, Construction Administration (Preparatory Works, Demolition, ELS), Post-completion (Preparatory Works)

Duties

Tendering drawing and specification development for door, ironmongery and sanitary fitment; review contractor’s shop drawing, material and technical submission, attend regular site meeting and field review, prepare Architect’s Instruction and EOT assessment; prepare statutory submission

(Parking/pharmacy)

2/F Plan (Patient catering/resource centre/morgue)

Description

The community hospital, Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital (OLMH), comprises 3 blocks, including the 6-storey North and East Wings built in 1961 and the 3-storey Out-patient Department (OPD) Building built in 1999. The existing buildings are extremely limited in their capacity in terms of ceiling height, configuration, floor area and structural loading condition, impeding the expansion or improvement of hospital facilities to meet growing service demand. The haphazard developments in OLMH over the years have also resulted in functionally interrelated departments scattered over different parts of the hospital. This compromises their operational effectiveness and efficiency.

The redevelopment refurbishes the OPD Building for staff amenities and a dormitory and constructs a new 10-storey non-acute hospital block with 1 basement to increase its capacity for in-patient wards and elective in-patient services.

Project Type: Temporary Office /

Size: 350 sq.m. / No. of Storey: 3

Stages Involved

Construction Administration, Postcompletion

Duties

Review contractor’s shop drawing, material and technical submission, attend regular site meeting and field review, prepare Architect’s Instruction and EOT assessment; prepare statutory submission; prepare defect list, review record documents and drawings

Introduction

One of the challenge of the OLMH redevelopment is to maintain selected clinical services during construction.

A temporary office building is constructed and the existing OPD Building is refurbished to decant clinical services from the existing North and East Wings, which would be demolished before the construction of the new hospital block.

The temporary office building is a steel frame structure enclosed by fiberglass reinforced plastic board and GMS corrugated sheet. Concrete steel deck and gypsum block wall are used as slab and partition. All materials chosen are suitable for fast and easy construction and demolition.

2/F Plan

1/F Plan

Enclosure

Steel Frame Construction in Progress

02/ Henderson Road Mansion

JARDINE’S LOOKOUT, HONG KONG

Project Type: Single Family House /

Size: 830 sq.m. /

No. of Storey: 3

Stages Involved

Schematic Design, Design Development

Duties

3D modelling, material research and design development on facade & swimming pool, statutory submission

Description

The project is a 3-storey single family house at Jardine’s Lookout, one of the most prestigious locations in Hong Kong, surrounded by mountains and villas.

Through stacking and setting back undulating masses, the form vanishes in the picturesque landscape. Bedrooms and living rooms are installed with full height glass sliding doors and curved glass panels to maximize the panoramic view of the surrounding area.

Taking advantage of the high sea level on the mountain, an infinity pool, where water flows over three edges to create an illusion of swimming in the sky, is placed on the rooftop.

Master Bedroom and Mood Board

03/ OCT Longan Centre

SHENZHEN, CHINA

Project Type: Shopping Mall /

Size: 26,000 sq.m. /

No. of Storey: 3

Stages Involved Design Development

Duties

3D modelling, prepare presentation and design development on interior design and facade.

Description

Situated at the core of OCT Business District, the OCT Logan Centre is a large building complex comprising offices, apartments and a shopping mall. ARK Associates Ltd. is commissioned for the interior design of the shopping mall.

The mall resembles the “steam of life” and integrates multitude of disparate retails such as lifestyle store, F&B and luxury flagship store complements the quality of life of the residents and businessmen in the complex as well as tourists in the OCT.

Motifs and patterns with curvy lines echoes the tower facade design and guides circulation between office and the metro station.

Section showing the ensemble of motifs and curvy lines

04/ Artique

Project Type: Residential Building /

Size: 813 sq.m. /

No. of Storey: 6

Stages Involved

Schematic Design, Design Development

Duties

3D modelling, schematic layout development, prepare presentation and tender drawing on facade & interior design

Description

Targeting young people on a budget, a six-story apartment with mostly studio units is designed in Sheung Sui, a district with relatively low property prices.

An iconic building in the neighbourhood is created through the concept of “Industrial Chic”. The curtain wall mullions are articulated to highlight the building corners and to give rhythm to the main facades facing the main streets.

SHEUNG SHUI, HONG KONG

Sketch showing the hierarchy of mullions

Minimalist compact bathroom in studio unit

05/ Met Azure

Project Type: Residential Building /

Size: 8,375 sq.m. /

No. of Storey: 19+1 Basement

Stages Involved

Schematic Design, Design Development

Duties

3D modelling, schematic layout and facade development, material research

Description

The high rise residential development explores an alternative form of compact living environment and challenges the traditional functional zoning in residential units. The building comprises mainly studio units of only 203 sqm to maximize saleable units.

With a floor height of 3.5m, which is 16% higher than the typical floor height of about 3m in residential buildings in Hong Kong, there is more flexibility in planning the functional zoning from both a planar and a sectional viewpoint.

Users can customize their living spaces according to their needs and preferences with tailor-made furniture. For example, a loft can be made to separate the sleeping zone and the living zone vertically by split levels.

TSING YI, HONG KONG

Typical Floor Plan

The concept of “loft” in studio unit with high headroom

06/ Office as a Living Laboratory

TSIM SHA TSUI EAST, HONG KONG

The thesis utilizes the increasing vacancy of office buildings to re-imagine typical forms of housing in Hong Kong. The proposition reviews adaptability in relation to boundaries of private-andpublic, mobile-and-static, and indoor-and-outdoor in the living environment.

The over-prescribed planning in Hong Kong’s housing is efficient but at the same time depriving inhabitants’ control over their homes. It dominates the way we live and fails to consider the divergent household profiles. The flexible open structure of an office building offers an opportunity to generate a new form of housing that is more adaptable to divergent housing configurations and lifestyles.

The project imagines a government-led adaptive reuse project that transforms underused commercial buildings in Tsim Sha Tsui East into public rental housings for a medium term of 5-10 years. The target groups are those who are eligible for public rental housing but are not competitive under the current rationing mechanism. Inhabitants would have the autonomy to decide the degree of co-living and the functions of the common space within different communities. The transformation would keep the interchangeability between residential and commercial uses subject to future needs.

Underused office podium tower in New Mandarin Plaza, Tsim Sha Tsui East

Vacancy timeline of different building types

Urgency for transitional housing

Yau Tsim Wong is facing high housing demand, high office vacancy, and increasing building age. In Tsim Sha Tsui East, there are 15 underused office buildings built in the 1980s. They are having the need for renovation.

At the same time, the waiting time for public housing is 5.8 years. For a single person that is not an elderly, it takes 30 years to get a place.

If all 15 underused office buildings can be transformed into medium term social housing for those on the waiting list, near 7000 can be generated. This is more than double of the number of existing transition housings in Hong Kong.

Private housing vacancy (Districts with over unit stocks in 2019)

Private housing units aged 50+by 2025

Private office vacancy (Districts with over 1M saleable area in 2019)

Vacant office supply & private housing demand in 2019

fabric of Tsim Sha Tsui

The study identifies the household profile, social and environmental attributes of different typical housing types in Hong Kong.

EXISTING URBAN SECTION SHOWING VACANCY

Vacant units are indicated in grey. The most severe case is New Mandarin Plaza, which is facing an overall vacancy of 47%.

MUTATION OF DIFFERENT TYPICAL HOUSING FORMS INTO OFFICE

As a design method, five strategies developed from the case studies are adapted to transform five existing office towers into housing.

New Mandarin Plaza is chosen to examine the atrium corridor strategy inspired by twin tower type (public rental housing). It overcomes the problems of deep building depth and insufficient openable window area in the transformation of office building into housing. Axonometric view showing the intervention

Models

Massing strategy: voids are located at areas with less daylight exposure

Models studying the relationship of the voids with the site and light

Co-living/ independent unit types designed for households that are less competitive in the public housing waiting list (1 person, 2 persons and 4 persons, excluding elderly)

The boundaries of outdoor-and-indoor space; private-and-public space; and static-and-mobile space are blurred by various types of partitions, including sheer curtains, movable glass folding doors, folding windows and bamboo folding screens. Inhabitants can control the type of partitions and degree of opening based on the climate condition and activities.

1990

2020

07/ Housing Metamorphosis

SHEK TONG TSUI, HONG KONG

Hong Kong’s affordable housing crisis is highlighted by the average waiting time for public housing of 5.9 years. While transitional housing is proposed as the emergency housing solution for tenants affected by urban renewal and those who are living in subdivided units (SDUs), high vacancy is observed in the 4 existing transitional housing towers.

Shun Shing Mansion alone has a stunning vacancy of 50% despite the fact that it is renovated lately. Through reflecting the reasons for high vacancy, there is an opportunity to improve transitional housing as an emergency

scheme and tower as a housing type in Hong Kong.

While transitional housing by nature has an urgency for mobile architectural element because of the frequently moving in/out tenants, furniture is not subsidized under current policy for supporting transitional housing. The project argues that furniture can be a powerful tool to address the social and environmental issues found in the existing building.

The proposal comprises three phases. Phase 1 aims to address the immediate

need to improve the living conditions by replacing existing shared unit with a layout that has introduced verandah space. Occupied units with original layout are not relocated. Phase 2 aims to introduce permanent voids to the tower to maximize the environmental and social potential of the building and the site. Tenants are relocated in this phase. Phase 3 imagines a condition that the resident capacity is maximized without compromising the basic environmental and social need. Ultimately, phase 3 represents an exemplar of a tower prototype that adapts to Hong Kong’s subtropical climate and social context.

Permanent Verandah (Shared by Whole Tower)

Vacant

Permanent Verandah (Shared by 6 Floors)

Transformable Verandah

PHASE 2

PHASE 3

PHASE 1

High vacancy in Shun Shing Mansion, Shek Tong Tsui, as people prefer relocation within the same area

The symmetrical plan and straight sectional profile does not address the airflow dynamic in different facing of the building. The design does not take advantage of the prevailing wind from the harbourfront. After the building alteration by Urban Renewal Authority, ventilation, especially at the south, is even worsened.

Perforated for ventilation

Transformable for daily use

Storage

COMBINATIONS OF WARDROBE

EXISTING 2 UNITS CONNECTED 2 UNITS SEPARATED 1 UNIT CONNECTED TO COMMON SPACE

FACADE AS FURNITURE/ AUTONOMOUS FACADE

ASSEMBLY

STRUCTURAL WALL

UTILITY WALL

INDIVIDUAL PART WATERPROOF BARRIER

POROUS FACADE

FRAME LAUNDRY SEATING

DIFFERENT SCENARIOS

INDIVIDUAL PART

IDENTITY

PLAYFUL GLASS (UNITS)

INDIVIDUAL PARTS

WATERPROOF BARRIER

DETAILS

BALUSTRADE (PERMANENT VERANDAH )

BARRIERS

FIXED FACADE

Facade becomes autonomous as users can calibrate it with different parts based on different climatic changes and lifestyles. Facade of a unit becomes an embodiment of identity.

PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3

PODIUM

ROOFTOP

Phase 1 involves minimum renovations;

phase 2 involves optimum social and environmental improvements; phase 3 maximizes resident capacity

ACADEMIC WORK, FALL 2017 (PARTNER: JASON LIU)

ASSEMBLY PROCESS

Bricks are numbered with date stamp. 8 types of bricks can be identified based on their surface printing paths and their locations:

08/ The Sound of Vault

NGONG PING, HONG KONG

numbered with date stamp. 8 types of bricks can be identified based on surface printing paths and their locations:

triangular prism were into the base. The locating and allowing bricks to anchor as the resisting the lateral thrust vault surfaces.

With the advent of the 4th industrial revolution enabled by new technologies, we are now facing a paradigm shift of architect’s role from producing the knowwhat to designing the know-how.

used and laser cut to structure. As with the falsework was in effect double curved surfaces keystone.

allows certain tolerance for the bricks while providing the overall form.

Based on this hypothesis, the studio reinterprets traditional bricks and vault structural systems with the aids of robotically controlled 3d ceramic printing method. The outcome is an application proposal of a prototypical vault produced by 3D ceramic printing. Sound is the driving agent of the design in different scales, from small scale aspects like printing path and brick form, to large scale aspects like vault geometry and site layout.

bricks were protected prevent mortar marks

surfaces were placed outward to inward and bottom.

bricks (Type D) of the were placed first, then similar process to complete

The project aims to create a system of brick construction to be used in arches and vaults with material and structural efficiency and acoustic function. Taking the advantage with 3D clay protrusion, the prototypic brick system is designed with the aid of parametric tools- the individual bricks are produced in various dimensions influenced by the overall structural performance of the vault, and the brick surface is altered based on the performance of acoustic reflection.

Rectangular wood block cut into triangular prism for brick anchor

Construction of 1:5 vault prototype with cardboard falsework and 3D printed bricks

THE SOUND OF VAULTS

Wave

Distance

Amplitude Time TUTOR: CHRISTIAN J. LANGE, THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG PROJECT TYPE: PAVILION

Reverberation time is the time required for the sound to “fade away” or decay in a closed space. The higher it is, the “wetter” the sound is and more echoes there are. In contrast, short reverberation time gives “Drier” sound. (Unit: s)

Reverberation times, sound pressure levels and sound patterns of different vault types are simulated by Pachyderm@Grasshopper. The sound performances are juxtaposed with structural performances and spatial qualities, forming a holistic catalogue of vaults. The vault with the most dynamic sound pattern and flexibility to increment is chosen as a testing form of the vault prototype.

THE SOUND OF SPACE

ANNUAL PREVAILING WIND DIRECTION AND WIND SPEED HONG KONG PLAN 1:150,000

TAI MO SHAN 110/25.2

070/26.7

AIRPORT 100/16.7 Magnitude Direction

3km NorthLantauCountryPark SouthLantauCountryPark FunWalk

Ngong Ping Tree Walk

SYSTEM IN A SPACE OF CONTEMPLATION The contemplation spaces would be scattered at di erent spots around the site based on the di erence in wind speed Di erent programmes require di erent degree of sound isolation. In this case the wind speed is directly correlating with the ambient sound level Programmes that require quieter surroundings (e.g. chamber music, meditation) are placed at spots with lower wind speed, and vice versa. The types of vaults were then derived from the requirement of reveberation time needed by the speci ed programmes, based on the acoustic matrix.

30

>35

TSEUNG KWAN 020/7.1

25

Section showing the flow of sound

Bricks specialized in acoustical performance is envisioned to be used in a pavilion which blend in the experience of sound. The pavilion shall guide its visitors to open up the ears and listen to the sound of the natural surroundings.

A remote site of Ngong Ping, Lantau was chosen based on a few rationales: 1. The site is away from the city’s hustle and bustle; 2. The highest average prevailing wind speed in Hong Kong, which would help amplify the sound of wind within

10

15

20

<<ToPoLinMonastery,TheBigBuddhaand NgongPingCableCarTerminal WIND VELOCITY (KM/H) <5

NorthLantauCountryPark SouthLantauCountryPark NgongPingFunWalk Ngong Ping Tree Walk

LOCATION OF WIND STATION WIND DIRECTION (DEG)/WIND SPEED (KM/H) CONTOUR MAP NGONG PING ISOMETRIC 1:2,000 WIND CHANNEL & SPEECH VAULT PRAYER VAULT

A scattering strategy is used to locate vaults at different spots around the site based on the difference in wind speed. Different programs require different degree of environmental sound level. In this case, the wind speed is directly correlating with

the ambient sound level. Programs that require quieter surroundings (e.g. chamber music, meditation) are placed at spots with lower wind speed, vice versa. The types of vaults were then derived from the requirement of reverberation time needed by the specified programs, based on the acoustic matrix.

09/ Fusing the Grounds

CENTRAL, HONG KONG

The city fabric of Central, Hong Kong, shows her history of radical transformation through land reclamation. Yet, the two major infrastructural corridors of Connaught Road and Lung Wo Road have become an obstacle between core Central and the recently reclaimed harbourfront, which has the potential to become a tourism hub with high accessibility and beautiful scenery of the renowned Victoria Harbour.

The project investigates the urban impact of placing a hostel above an infrastructure as a new type under the context of Central, where there is a discrepancy of pedestrian flow between the densely-packed commercial area and the vacant reclaimed land. Along with the consideration in public space, the program of a hotel is suggested to meet the demand of potential tourism in the reclaimed area in the future.

Through a series of site documentation and structural studies, a prototype intertwining linear buildings and bridges with slanted columns is proposed to program the large parcels of reclaimed lands. The infrastructure becomes a multi-layered network of public space to challenge the typical elevated walkway where pedestrians are segregated from the ground.

Above: the proposing multi-level pedestrian network links the pier and other infrastructures and create dynamic pedestrian flow Below: the existing infrastructure network in Central, where pedestrians commute underground and over the bridge but never the ground

Ergonomic study on the relationship of column span & social activities under existing bridge.

PROJECT TYPE: HOSPITALITY & INFRASTRUCTURE MIXED

PROPOSAL: A VIBRANT JOURNEY BY NODES & LINES

The project reinterprets the concept of a bridge by scattering columns in different densities and offering various routes in a linear space for commuters to choose.

Circular Food Hub

HELSINKI, FINLAND

Description

The Viikki Tropical Garden, which was opened in 2001, includes both a paid indoor, a free outdoor garden and two 2-storey buildings. Owing to high maintenance cost and low income, the major owner, the city government, shut the Garden down in 2015 after only 15 years of erection. In the proposal, the abandoned site is reused into a mixed-use project that will consolidate facilities for the growing, selling, consuming and recycling of food in Helsinki.

After the migration of rural communities to urban cities, citizens have been increasingly isolated from agricultural production sites and have learned less about the origin of their food.

The new proposal reinterprets a linear food chain into a circular food chain with diversified program. The main building becomes a food centre, surrounding by single-use buildings with auxiliary programs. With the collaboration with a research farm, a traditional farm and individual food suppliers, the food hub is an economic and community hearth as well as a new foodscape of public spaces and plazas where producers and consumers meet, building up a new food culture.

Photo of existing building

Insertion of green wall shell

Site plan showing “Circular Food Chain” formed by annex buildings for production of food and former tropical garden for consumption of food

SAI YING PUN, HONG KONG

Description

Sai Ying Pun is a district under rapid urban renewal. Buildings are torn down one by one according to their building ages. The resultant vacant sites create urban pockets among densely packed buildings with diverse building ages. These sites are usually vacant for 5-10 years before redeveloped.

The project proposes a temporary structure prototype that can activate these urban pockets within the limited time frame as public space dedicating to the community. Besides the program of park, bathhouse is chosen as the main program. It was once a popular socializing program for the community when not many houses have individual shower rooms back in the 1950s.

The project reimage bathhouse by shifting its nature from promoting hygiene to providing leisure. The marriage of the vacant site and the eliminated type of bathhouse aims to tailor-make a civic facility that is unique to the district. In the proposal, a gigantic concrete shell structure sews the inactive secondary streets together to create an urban room for the community. Above the concrete landscape are the baths covered by tensile structures. The lightness of fabric and serenity of concrete build up the mood of primitive bath.

The cinematic montage of the public space

The section shows the layers of urban spaces created by the concrete shell and fabric tensile structures