PRC Magazine #95 ( Architecture | Building | Construction )

2018 Issue 95

Pacific Rim Construction

MODERN & DIVERSE Spawton Architecture's thrilling reimagining of a 1960s factory

Inside: U K a n d C h i n a p ro j e c t s e a r n p r a i s e f o r B e n o y a t WA F V i s i o n a r y D L N d e s i g n s s h a p i n g c i t i e s a ro u n d t h e g l o b e

Hong Kong / PRC $50

H e n n i n g L a r s e n H o n g Ko n g ’s s c h o o l c a m p u s a s m a s h !

Fruit Design and Build the masters of Adaptive Reuse Investors enticed by ultra-luxur y Bangkok residences A s i a e m b r a c e s C a l i f o r n i a n o p t i m i s m o f J e r d e ’s p l a c e s

ISSN 1684-1956 977168495009

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Plan In’s portfolio of premier interiors is defined by meticulous attention to detail and a superb level of craftsmanship incorporating some of the finest materials to create perfect finishes woven together to create tactile, layered spaces. Plan In has made a specialty of delivering cutting-edge hotel interiors. 在香港，不少新穎而且設計現代化的酒店大堂及住客接待區， 內飾裝潢均由藍圖設計工程有限公司一手包辦。藍圖對內飾細 節注重及精湛工藝水平早已享譽業界，並結合優質選材及豐富 經驗，為酒店項目提升豪華及享受體驗，令住客印象深刻。

"Designed by Nature, Uncovered by Knopp"

Exclusive Sales Partner of Stefan Knopp Showroom: 220 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong Phone: +852 2833 6069 Email: info@hopsze.com

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Region’s largest building industry trade fair 馬來西亞最大的建築貿易展覽會

20 62 25 64 32 Cover photo of Artisan Hub by Denise Hough Artisan Hub, photo by Denise Hough

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Publisher: Mike Staley, publisher@rofmedia.com Editor: editor@rofmedia.com Contributing Editor: Elizabeth Dooley Editorial Team: Bryan Chan • Derek Leung • Elizabeth Kerr • Joe Wyatt • Jasper Lau • Michael Hoare • Norman Yam • Richard Lee Business Development: Bryan Chan, bryan@rofmedia.com Tel: (852) 3150 8912 Sales Director: Mike Staley, mike@rofmedia.com Tel: (852) 3150 8989 Account Manager: Alfred Ng, alfred@rofmedia.com Tel: (852) 3150 8911 Sales Enquiries: yannie@rofmedia.com, sales@rofmedia.com Tel: (852) 3150 8988 Senior Graphic Designer: Ric Sin, studio@rofmedia.com Graphic Designers: Michelle Morkel Photographer: Brian Zhang Digital Publishing Coordinator: Ryan Chan Printing: DG3 Asia Ltd. Distribution: bpost (Asia) Ltd. PRC Magazine is published by Ring of Fire Ltd. 5/F Kong Ling Building, 102 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 3150 8988 info@rofmedia.com www.rofmedia.com

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IN BIG NEWS,THE ENERGY-EFFICIENT PLEATED SKYSCRAPER IS COMPLETE

POSE CELEBRATES FIRST YEAR OF ITALY’S AFRAGOLA STATION

Photo: Hufton + Crow New photography by Hufton+Crow has been commissioned to mark the first year of train services at Napoli Afragola high-speed railway station. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects to meet southern Italy’s emerging demand for rail travel, the station will become a gateway to southern Italy and key interchange station for four inter-city lines, three regional lines and a local commuter line once complete in 2022. The images capture the elevated walkway above the eight platforms that has become a signature of the station. The walkway has become the station’s main passenger concourse, creating an inhabited public bridge. Designed as an extruded trapezoid along its 450-m curved path, the station’s elevated concourse is orientated at an angle from the railway tracks to improve its environmental performance. “Every great country needs great projects that are a leap forward,” said Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni at the 2017 inauguration. “This new station is the foundation of the infrastructure programme that promotes economic development in the south.” www.zaha-hadid.com Shenzhen has a unique new office development, designed to look and feel at home in the cultural, political and business centre of mainland China’s Silicon Alley. The Bjarke Ingels Group has completed its pleated skyscraper for the government-owned Shenzhen Energy Company. The 96,000m2 twin tower development has an undulating building envelope which creates a rippled skin around both towers, moving away from a traditional glass curtain wall to help reduce solar loads and glare. The façade with closed and open parts oscillate between transparency to one side and opacity to the other, delivering highinsulation while blocking direct sunlight and still providing views. From a distance, the towers appear as a classical shape with an organic pattern and have a pleated structure from close-up.“Shenzhen Energy Mansion is our first realised example of engineering without engines, the idea that we can engineer the dependence on machinery out of our buildings and let architecture fulfill the performance,” said Bjarke Ingels, BIG founding partner. www.big.dk

SPORTS EVENTS GENERATED HKD 2.1B IN ECONOMIC IMPACT IN 2017, SAYS KPMG An assessment of 20 major sports events that took place in Hong Kong during 2017 shows the economy benefited by HKD 2.1 billion, according to a joint study

by KPMG and the Business Of Sport Network. Spectators generated HKD 1.1 billion in economic impact last year, with one in five of those dollars contributed by international spectators. The study shows that 85 percent of Hong Kong’s event portfolio are recurring. “Countries and cities compete for major sports events to showcase themselves on an ever more crowded international stage and, at the same time, to secure maximum economic and social benefits,” says Alastair Graham, the director of the global sports network at KPMG China. Melvin Byres, the founder of the Business Of Sport Network, said: “Now is prime time for Hong Kong to compete with the markets such as the US and Europe to host the premier international sports events that will not only appeal to the local market, but also bring in spectators from around the world.” www.businessofsportnetwork.com

DUKES PLACE PROMISES ‘MAGNIFICENCE’ AT NEW PROJECT IN JARDINE’S LOOKOUT A limited release of 16 apartments with saleable areas from about 260 m2 to more than 630 m2 has been revealed to buyers in London. Developers Couture Homes Properties Limited, Grosvenor Asia Pacific and Asia Standard International Group Limited say buyers can expect an “incomparable level of space”, “a sense of exclusivity” and “remarkable magnificence” at Dukes Place. Couture Homes Properties managing director Jimmy Fong said the developers have formed a team of designers from Britain, France, Japan and Hong Kong to jointly inject various fine design elements into the project. Architectural lead PDP London says it has used Italian stone and a glass curtain wall adorned with champagne metallic lines on the exterior surfaces. The designers have taken the project’s location amidst green mountain landscapes as inspiration, using strips of metallic lines running through the building exterior to echo the natural hilly contours and to highlight the integration of people and nature.

Hong Kong newspaper The Standard reports pricing will being at about HK$300 million for the smallest unit in the development.

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TAIWAN REVEALS GREEN SHOOTS IN TRADE CENTRE TOWER, AEDAS SAYS

THE CREATIVE CIRCLE IN XI’AN EXEMPLIFIES OVAL PARTNERSHIP’S OPEN CITY CONCEPT

In completing the National Trade Centre, a 165-m tall, prime office tower in Taichung, Taiwan, Aedas has replicated the silhouette of a bamboo shoot to symbolise prosperity. The building’s faceted façade undulates with horizontal awnings, distinctive rain covers and window-walls that emphasise its unique shape and curves. The tower’s elliptical cross-section allows maximum penetration of light to the office area, while vertical greening with local plantings has helped enhance energy efficiency. Balconies on each floor on the north and east sides offer an outdoor experience with a pleasant view. The tower has a GFA of 52,924 m2 within the emerging central business district and adjacent to the Opera House and City Hall in Taichung. The interior space is designed with reference to traditional ink paintings, together with lights and reflections, to express different feels and create a sense of neutrality and calmness. The design incorporates different shades and tones of grey, together with lights and reflections, to express different feels and create a sense of neutrality and calmness. www.aedas.com

The Oval Partnership has undertaken the masterplan and design of the first-of-its-kind cultural and creative park in Xi’an, a project that is due to open before the end of the year. The Qujiang Creative Circle sees the culmination of years of research into open-air, street-style mixed-use developments. The work in Xi’an captures The Oval Partnership’s Open City planning principles. In the National Cultural Industry District along Yan Xiang Lu, the Qujiang Creative Circle delivers 527,000 m2 of mixeduse space including office, retail, residential, entertainment, recreational and public amenities. The site is a discreet mix of the old and new, with famous historical sites including the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Da Ci’en Temple and Tang Paradise sitting alongside such educational institutes as Xi’an Jiaotong University and Xi’an University of Technology. The result is an inclusive, sustainable urban ecosystem which caters to the live-work-play lifestyle eagerly sought in youthful Xi’an. The Open City concept places experience at the centre of the design. By knocking down the walls and creating a walkable streetscape environment, people are liberated from the confines of indoor malls and encouraged to engage in a neighborhood and enjoy the outdoors. www.theovalpartnership.com

LONG AND LEAN, DECIBEL PLANS TO CREATE MAGIC IN MELBOURNE

SURROUNDED BY CREATURE COMFORT, WATCH THE STAGS RUN FOR THE HILLS

Decibel Architecture have conceived a radical residential tower on a piece of under-utilised land – the size of half a tennis court – at the Royal Society of Victoria, a famed location on the northeastern edge of the city of Melbourne. Magic has been conjured to create a sustainable foundation and endowment fund to deliver science education programmes for the society. If it is approved, Magic will become the tallest building on the city’s skyline, soaring more than 60 storeys and up to 330 m into the sky.

As the tallest possible proposition on such an extremely constrained site, it will become the city’s tallest and skinniest skyscraper as well as the most innovative, most sustainable and tallest possible. Blade-like in appearance, Decibel’s principal Dylan Brady has the backing of Grocon Ltd, a development company that operates on Australia’s eastern seaboard. Each floor of the building would represent a single home. The proposal has been costed at about AUD$150 million and is currently being presented to government and the community for their approval. www.db-a.co

On the market for NZ$3.85 million is this getaway from the everyday near Queenstown, surrounded by the wilderness of New Zealand’s South Island.

The four-bedroom, three-bathrom home lies sympathetically within its environment and is considered at the forefront of sustainable design. Centred around a sweeping courtyard entrance, the architectural timber clad structure promotes open-plan living, with a kitchen and dining areas open seamlessly to the outdoors looking directly to Coronet Peak. Split-levels separate three of the bedrooms from the rest of the house that includes an additional formal lounge or media room, office and secure garage. Placed within an incredible 1.34-ha surrounding block, verdant lawns, maturing landscaping and a pond envelop the home in picturesque privacy. An overwhelming focus on thermal efficiency has led to a home in which comfort is a priority in all weathers.

The stunning eclectic presentation of this home beautifully reflects the current owner’s vast experiences and rich heritage. www.nzsothebysrealty.com

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LWK DELIVERS A NEW LANDMARK, CHONGQING’S DANZISHI OLD STREET

THE SILK ROAD THEME RETURNS TO NEW GRAND HYATT XI’AN BY LTW DESIGNWORKS

Located in Chongqing’s Nanan District, overlooking the Chongqing Grand Theatre and Chaotianmen Wharf, Landmark Riverside Park Phase II Danzishi Old Street is a “comprehensive cultural commercial experience” by LWK and Partners. LWK was responsible for the masterplanning and architectural design of the 21,500-m2 site forming a 1000-m-long street. Many of the city’s older scenic attractions have been preserved, while other historical buildings have been refurbished to be revitalised, such as the former French Navy Barracks Building. The brief was to retain the site’s history in the new development.

To complement these traditional elements, new buildings on Danzishi Old Street adopt a modern Chinese architectural style. Framed viewing windows and patterned grids and screens were installed to direct the line of vision to appreciate the picturesque scenery. The traditional blue brick tiles are renewed with the addition of modern materials, while classical patterns are reiterated as modern geometric shapes. www.lwkp.com

NEW SONG SAA RESERVE IN CAMBODIA FEATURES SUSTAINABILITY AT ITS CORE

The owners of Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia’s first luxury coastal resort, have a new project in Siem Reap province called the Song Saa Reserve. The Song Saa Reserve seeks to fulfil Rory and Melita Hunter’s vision of creating a commercially successful, ethically led integrated resort. The new development has a 35-ha lake as a central feature, set in a 200-ha reserve near the temple of Banteay Srei. The development will see a hotel and villa residences integrated with a comprehensive series of sustainability-based initiatives, including educational centres, a solar farm and restored sections of indigenous rainforest. “This project scales up our ethos and approach and allows Cambodia to show the world how tourism, done right, is a powerful means for lifting people out of poverty and protecting the environment, while delivering experiences of a lifetime to global travellers and attractive returns to our shareholders,” says Rory Hunter, the co-founder of the Song Saa Collective. Landscape design practice Coopers Hill are responsible for masterplanning and CBRE are the sole agents for the project. www.songsaareserve.com

Award-winning interior design studio LTW Designworks has unveiled the design of the Grand Hyatt Xi’an, drawing inspiration from the Silk Road’s rich history, enduring spirit and multi-cultural handicrafts. LTW referenced the Chinese idiom “a great hawk spreads its wings” to create a strong and iconic motif that symbolizes hope, success and new beginnings.This is manifest in the hotel’s dramatic doubleheight reception lobby which is enveloped by a feather-like sculptural white feature wall with patterned timber walls. An iconic sky bridge houses the hotel’s multiple dining options, including the Western all-day dining and the contemporary Chinese restaurant. The all-day Grand Café mimics a bustling and thriving marketplace with open, interactive marble counters.The Chang’an Bridge outlet is a modern interpretation of Shaanxi culture with a palette consisting of geometric metal screens with ruby accents, grid patterned carpets and circular ceiling details resembling traditional Chinese roof construction. LTW was commissioned to design the hotel’s public areas, restaurants, ballroom and meeting facilities, spa and wellness centre, and 396 guestrooms and suites. www.ltwdesignworks.com

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LANDMARK 81 REACHES FULL HEIGHT IN MILESTONE FOR ATKINS-DESIGNED TOWER The Atkins-designed Landmark 81 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has topped out at 461.2 metres, a significant milestone for the tallest building in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. “It’s extremely exciting to see another award-winning design from Atkins become reality and define the emerging skyline of Ho Chi Minh City,” says Bertil de Kleynen, Atkins sector director for the AsiaPacific region. “Landmark 81 also becomes a proud member of the Atkins family of city icons, such as Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, Bahrain’s World Trade Centre, Shenyang’s Pearl of the North and Mumbai’s Namaste Hotel.”

The project includes architecture and landscape design around the 81-storey development, located in Vinhomes Central Park. The prime riverfront location faces the Saigon River. The design features a modern look that symbolises the diversity and fast-emerging city. At the base of this skyscraper is a contemporary shopping centre featuring luxury retailers under one roof for a top-class shopping experience. The 241,000m2 development will feature contemporary landscape design that merges natural beauty into the building. www.atkinsglobal.com

FOUR SEASONS RESHAPES KUALA LUMPUR SKYLINE AND HOSPITALITY SCENE

IT’S A DATE: K11 ARTUS RESIDENCES TO OPEN NEXT YEAR AT VICTORIA DOCKSIDE

The art and design district Victoria Dockside in Hong Kong will feature a luxury hotel residence concept called K11 ARTUS. Located on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, the residences are scheduled to open next summer. Comprising 287 residences and spanning across 14 storeys, ARTUS is an extension of the K11 brand, the global high-end lifestyle brand that embraces art, people and nature.

Boasting the open-air waterfront views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island, ARTUS will be part of Victoria Dockside, a 278,710-m2 development that also includes the K11 Atelier office tower and K11 MUSEA, a new ultra-high-end experiential retail, art, cultural and dining destination. “ARTUS marks a major milestone for the K11 brand with our expansion into the hospitality sector,” said Adrian Cheng, K11 founder and executive vice-chairman of New World Development. “Our intention is to reshape the serviced apartment experience by designing private residences that encourage discerning visitors to reflect on profound ideas and pursue their creative passions.” New York’s Kohn Pedersen Fox designed the building, Bangkok-based P Landscape is responsible for the surrounding greenery and architect Andre Fu will craft the interiors. www.artus.com.hk

FOR START THE SCHOOL YEAR IN CHINA, BROADWAY MALYAN DELIVERS FOUR SCHOOLS

In a glittering new skyscraper next to the Petronas Towers, the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur has opened. Rising 65 storeys above the streets of the Malaysian capital busy streets of the capital, the all-new hotel has welcomed its first guests.

In the heart of the Golden Triangle neighbourhood, the hotel has 209 guest rooms and suites, serviced apartments for extended stays, and Four Seasons Private Residences. Four Seasons Place is part of Kuala Lumpur City Centre, a 40-ha complex with upscale shopping, fine dining and vibrant nightlife next to a 20-ha park.

For the private residences, an address awaits in the country’s third tallest building.

Leisure facilities are highlighted by an outdoor pool oasis with private cabanas and adjacent bar and grill, and an eight-treatment room spa offering a carefully designed menu inspired by Malaysian healing traditions and the latest global therapies.

There’s also a large fitness centre to round out one’s healthy living routine. Directly connected to the Hotel and residential tower is a retail podium,The Shoppes at Four Seasons Place, which includes a selection of luxury retail and dining outlets spread over six floors. www.fourseasons.com/kualalumpur

Four new international schools designed by Broadway Malyan have been readied in time for the new school year in mainland China. The Overseas Chinese Academy of Chiway Suzhou, Nanwei King’s College School Wuxi, ECNU Affiliated Bilingual School Jiading, and Dipont School, Hangzhou combine Chinese and international curriculums. They are the latest in a number of international, bilingual schools that the practice has designed in its 10 years in the country and represent the latest thinking in delivering education. “There are lots of developments in technology, urban planning and pedagogy currently.They all need to be considered as part of any school design, both in terms of what that means now and in the future,” says Harry Hoodless, board director at Broadway Malyan.“Students and teachers want flexible approaches to learning.That means an ability to select their preferred learning tools, adapt spaces to fit the content of a lesson, and enable both individual and groupbased learning. The scale of the schools range from 650 to 3,000 students. Each takes a campus-based approach, with teaching and residential facilities supported by high quality sports, arts and culture buildings. www.broadwaymalyan.com

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PARTY TIME IN SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE FOR MIXED-USED SPECIALISTS BENOY

FIRST DECADE OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL AT BEIJING SOUTH ACCLAIMED BY FARRELLS

Benoy marked their 70th anniversary last year, and this year it was a decade in Shanghai and Singapore.

The twin celebrations took place in August this year. The Shanghai studio has grown from an off-shoot of the Hong Kong office to become a team of 80 people led by Qin Pang, director and head of Shanghai. “I am incredibly proud to have been one of our first founding members and to still be working alongside the same team that joined Benoy Shanghai back in 2008,” said Pang. The team has celebrated a number of project completions this year, including the twin tower development The New Bund World Trade Centre (Phase I) in the Qiantan Central Business District.

In Singapore, Benoy has completed a number of firsts on its way to delivering more than half a million m2 of built projects in Singapore in the last decade. For example, the opening of the Orchard Residences in 2009 saw the first high-rise residential tower completion within Benoy’s portfolio anywhere in the world. www.benoy.com

Photo: Fu Xing Studio

Beijing South Railway Station, the capital’s massive high-speed rail terminus, marked 10 years in service in August. Unveiled a week before the 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing South was the largest rail station in Asia upon opening – eclipsing the Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium in size. The station opened as the terminus of the then-new Beijing–Tianjin intercity link. With a maximum operating speed of 350 kph, the line overtook France’s TGV as the world’s fastest railway and marked the beginning of an explosive period of high-speed rail construction in mainland China. The oval-shaped station was designed by the British architecture firm TFP Farrells in collaboration with the Tianjin Design Institute. It was built from more than 60,000 tons of steel and 490,000 m3 of concrete by 4,000 workers in less than three years. There are 24 platforms at the station which have the capacity to dispatch 30,000 passengers an hour or almost 241 million people each year. www.farrells.com

27-28 NOV. 2018

G R A N D H Y A T T

HONG KONG

mipimasia.com

THE PROPERTY LEADERS’ SUMMIT IN ASIA PACIFIC! 30+ conference sessions 90 speakers 900 participants 36 countries

MIPIM® is a registered trademark of Reed MIDEM. All rights reserved.

Why attend MIPIM Asia Summit?

• Differentiate from your competitors • Conquer new frontiers • Reinforce your leadership • Enlarge your business Contacts

CHINA, EMEA, AMERICA Yue Lian Email: yue.lian@reedmidem.com Tel: +33 (0)1 79 71 99 68

• Expert-led panels and keynotes • Networking events • Prestigious Awards Gala dinner ASIA PACIFIC Christine Lam Email: christine.lam@reedmidem.com Tel: +852 2893 0208

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Record attendance expected at

R+T Asia 2019

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fter setting new attendance records at R+T Asia 2018 and seeing record attendance at R+T in Stuttgart, Germany, R+T Asia 2019 is expected to shatter all previous records for the number of exhibitors and visitors.

The exclusive annual trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates, windows and sun protection systems will be held from 27 February to 1 March 2019, at Shanghai’s New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). The 2018 show filled the more than 50,000 square meters of space across six exhibition halls and attracted more than 500 exhibitors and 34,000 visitors from 92 countries and regions who came seeking abundant business opportunities in the huge Asian market.

Based on the show’s recent success and market growth in the Asia-Pacific region, organisers expect R+T Asia 2019 will set new records in quantity and quality, with a number of prominent businesses committed to exhibiting for the first time. These include Vertilux, the world’s top manufacturer of fabrics and components for the window covering Industry, and Gaviota Simbac, a leading global company in accessory and system business for smart awnings and rolling shutters.

Many areas of the show are expected to grow, such as the Korea Pavilion, which has attracted notable exhibitors such as Dongwon Industry, Daekyeong, Nakyung, Winplus, XERA, and others. The number of international exhibitors has also been increasing at a rapid rate, demonstrating an increasingly positive view of business opportunities in the Asia market.

New co-located exhibition for HD+ Asia With consumption in the soft decoration industry now reaching RMB 200-300 billion annually in mainland China, the potential for growth in the Chinese market and the Asia-Pacific Region generally is expected to be huge. Inspired by this growth, R+T Asia is working diligently to create more opportunities for attendees at the show. In 2018, the Yuhang Pavilion debuted with the Yuhang Home Textile Industry Association, representing leading curtain manufacturers in China. In 2019, the HD+ Home Textile & Decoration Asia show will be featured in a brand-new exhibition hall at E7.

The HD + show, operating under the theme of “Combining Product With Design,” will introduce product application scenarios for the office, hospital, and homestay environments amongst others. HD + will take advantage of R+T Asia’s demonstrated ability to attract foreign business and boost domestic business by bringing buyers and exhibitors together.

Popular educational summits and conferences R+T Asia always brings premium educational opportunities to attendees and 2019 will be no exception. The Smart Home 2025 pavilion will provide a realist demonstration of life in the future home, whilst the Soft Decoration Summit and Cadex Conference will create a channel for insider communication.

More emphasis will be placed on industrial door knowledge at the 2019 Warehouse Construction Equipment Conference and InnovAction Hub and the International Window & Door Summit (IWDS) will both showcase the latest advanced technologies and global trends.

For more information about exhibiting and/or attending R+T Asia 2019, please visit www.rtasia.org/en

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27 - 28 nov 2018

MIPIM ASIA Summit Grand Hyatt, Hong Kong

28 - 30 Nov 2018

World architecture Festival 2018

6 - 8 Dec 2018

DesignInspire HKCEC, Hong Kong

RAI, Ammsterdam

The World Architecture Festival is dedicated to celebrating, sharing and inspiring outstanding architecture. It is the only architecture event where keynote talks from the industry’s most influential figures sit alongside live judging presentations from over 500 award finalists plus global networking and an international product exhibition. www.worldarchitecturefestival.com

DesignInspire is an international creative exhibition to showcase Hong Kong and global innovation and creativity, concurrently held with the Business of Design Week (BODW).

This year, the exhibition partners with Melbourne to present “Think, Collaborate, Create”. An array of interactive installations and design masterpieces will be featured. With the overarching theme of “Co-create A Happy City”, the “Urbanovation” pavilion will showcase how sophisticated technologies and design solutions would help to create a happier city in the future.

MIPIM Asia Summit gathers top-level real estate professionals from all sectors to build partnerships, gain industr y insight and discover the most outstanding projects through a world-class program dedicated to inbound and outbound property investment, regional development opportunities and retail real estate. www.mipim-asia.com

Don’t miss the series of cross-over design installations “RetroInnovations” created by 20 emerging young Hong Kong designers to re-interpret and pay tribute to traditional craftsmanship!

Open to the public free of charge, the 3-day inspirational experience is definitely insta-worthy!

www.designinspire.com.hk

16 EVENTS

33,000 flock to region’s largest building industry trade fair

Information: ARCHIDEX

Photos: ARCHIDEX / ROF Media

Krista Chan

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outheast Asia’s leading business trade event for the architecture, interior design and building industry opened its doors at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) in July.

Over 33,000 delegates and trade and public visitors from 62 countries visited ARCHIDEX 2018 (International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition) which featured over 550 exhibitors occupying at least 1,200 booths displayed across nine halls of the convention centre.

ARCHIDEX is jointly organised by leading Malaysian trade and lifestyle exhibitions organiser C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd (CIS) and Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM, or the Malaysian Institute of Architects) and is held in conjunction with the annual Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF).

2018 marked the 19th edition of the event which has evolved steadily over the years to become a highly recognised platform that has stayed aligned with its aim of promoting industry’s very best. Global brands as well as proudly home-grown Malaysian businesses are showcased side by side in a bustling marketplace which features sophisticated technology and cutting edge innovations many of which are seen for the first time at ARCHIDEX. The event is a magnet for professionals from across the development c o m m u n i t y, i n c l u d i n g a r c h i t e c t s , i n t e r i o r d e s i g n e r s , p r o p e r t y developers, urban planners, engineers, academicians, students and various related industry professionals who return regularly to source the latest materials and innovations, to network, catch up with old friends and revel in the festival like atmosphere which also draws many enthusiastic members of the public.

An interconnected world 550 local and international exhibitors featured this year hailed from M al aysia, A u st ralia, A u s tr i a , C h i n a , H o n g Ko n g , Ind one s ia, Kore a, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Five international pavilions also showcases the ver y best of innovative design and technology from Austria, China, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.

At the Opening Ceremony, Dato’ Vincent Lim, CIS President, spoke on how the emergence of the Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI), known as the world’s largest infrastructure (land and sea) development strategy, presents the potential for a host of thrilling prospects for various industries for over 65 countries along the route, including Malaysia.

“From the exhibitions point of view, initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiatives are exciting. ARCHIDEX is known as the region and Southeast Asia’s gathering place that unites a wide variety of people with common interests and objectives. With the BRI implementation and projects, the spill-over effects such as to the built and design industry will open up new opportunities. Industr y players and professionals must continue to stay relevant and be prepared for opportunities to come. Building and construction materials, engineering and technology will continue to be in demand in a fast-changing industry,” he said.

Planting seeds for the future PAM President, Ar. Ezumi Harzani Ismail, spoke on the significant role that ARCHIDEX and KLAF play in connecting established and emerging architects and designers towards the goal of better architecture for future communities.

“We are deeply honoured to have with us established and emerging architects and designers who have graciously accepted our invitation to share their works with us. It is our hope that their message would uplift and encourage us to delve deeper and go further in designing better buildings, better architecture for future communities,” he said. “ To d ay, a rc h i t e c t u re i s m o re c o m p l e x — n a t u re a n d d e s i g n a re increasingly integrated; there is an incredible growth of megacities, and with it, the need for sustainability is now greater. Modern architecture needs to be relevant, yet it must be informed by the past in solving the challenges of tomorrow,” he added.

2018 highlights A new attraction this year was the exhibit zone for ‘Building Smarter’ with Industrialised Building System (IBS) — aimed at promoting this innovative method of building smarter, leaner and cleaner — which is rapidly gaining momentum across the Malaysian construction industry.

B a c k f o r t h e s e c o n d c o n s e c u t i v e y e a r ‘ A R C H I TA L E N T ’ i s a n architectural student competition in search of talented and inspiring personalities from the schools of architecture in Malaysia. This year entrants submitted their ideas for sustainable design solutions based on the theme ‘Space’ and fifteen finalists presented their creations live on stage to a panel of industry experts. Results can be found on the organiser’s website along with details about the event’s regular conference programme.

In 2019 ARCHIDEX celebrates its 20th Anniversary and will be held in the same great location at KLCC from 3 to 6 July. For more information please visit www.archidex.com.my.

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Schotten & Hansen’s Hong Kong showroom reopens after revamp Text: Norman Yam Images: Brian Zhang - ROF Media Jasper Lau

Torben Hansen Founder of Schotten & Hansen

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Stefan Knopp Founder of By Nature and Knopp

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olz S elec tions , t he wholes aler and ret ailer of timber construction materials in Hong Kong, officially reopened their extensively remodelled Schotten & Hansen showroom with a celebratory event held on a sizzling hot Friday night, co-organised by ROF Media on 3 August.

Located on 220 Gloucester Road in Wanchai, the uber-modern ground floor showroom features a selection of carefully curated brand-specific materials and bespoke surfaces and was designed by award-winning New Zealand architect Eqo Leung of ARCHITECTUREPUBLIC. The minimalist contemporary décor embodies the values integral to the luxury German brand: heritage, craftsmanship, top quality material and attention to detail.

At the front of the space and guiding the view of passers-by directly into and through to the rear of showroom a fully functional acoustic cubeon the inside, is an integral product demonstration and meeting room and the main design feature.

On the exterior the cube is framed in black frame and contains a perfectly square, simple LED light feature which at night can be set on a clear bright white or to flow thrugh a simple palette of shocking pink, deep azure or electric blue, sure to be the talk of the town since opening.

“Meet the Masters” presentation Under the theme “Meet the Masters,” Torben Hansen, founder of Schotten & Hansen, an artisanal manufacturer of wooden floors and interiors, and a long-term collaborator, artist and renowned furniture designer, Stefan Knopp, in Hong Kong for the firt time, presented their unique way of working with wood, watched on by Ewa Leung, owner and proprietor of Holz Selections, and up to 80 selected guests.

Hansen showed how to use pigments to make fine wood structures more visible and how the Schotten & Hansen finish can provide unique protection to these unique pieces during the demonstration.

“Here at our showroom, we are able to show customers that wood is a lasting material, if maintained correctly. In France, Belgium and Germany, there are lots of old hotels and restaurants that still have their original wood floorings intact from over a hundred years ago,” said Hansen.

However, he noted that most customers in Hong Kong are, “timid about using wood, especially in commercial properties, citing concerns over the durability of this material. He clarified that wood can be easily maintained and cleaned simply with water and soap.

High-end timber material brand Ewa Leung also dismissed these concerns about wood materials.

“Especially with Schotten & Hansen products, you don’t have to worry because its manufacturing process and maintenance regime are so special that they make hand- craf ted timber extremely popular in luxurious residences and in this regard Hong Kong’s demand for timber in some of the city’s most expensive properties is in line with Europe and North America where the best timbers are seen as the obvious choice in residential properties at the mid to upper segment of the market.

However Schotten & Hansen’s timber is used in high traffic areas such as airpor ts particularly in Europe and the Middle East , in hotels of every star rating, commercial offices that seek either a highly durable material or equally a luxury product that they can boast to their clients, and exclusive retail outlets in markets such as USA, Scandanavia, Germany, Spain, Italy and in the United Kingdom which has been one of the main markets for almost 20 years,” she boasted proudly.

Holz Selections carries a wide selection of these high-end timberbased materials and Leung encourages customers to visit its newly renovated showroom, “to touch the products and feel their textures,” which she equates to being similar to the experience of“running your fingers across the finest silk.”

The German brand is famous for their highly distinctive wooden floorings, high-quality parquet, custom interior designs and a range of bespoke products from staircases to doors, acoustic applications and Milano tables.

Bringing nature back to homes During the “Meet the Masters” segment, Stefan Knopp, a celebrated Austrian craftsman, showcased an ancient Asian charred treatment and preservation technique for wood never seen before in Hong Kong.

Demonstrating on two bowls and on a small side table, he showed how furniture could be refined with a combustion process.

The wood is charred with a burner to bring out the lifelines of trees.

The wood’s natural grain is not only preserved, but brought out even more through surface finishing. This results in unique pieces to win over customers with their original look, including natural lines, cracks and edges. As a veteran wood artist, Knopp has been experimenting with the creative possibilities of colour and materials for more than two decades.

“I can see the wonderful stories of trees in the wood items I craft,” he said.

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Ewa Leung Director of Holz Selections

Behind the new décor of Schotten & Hansen’s remodelled showroom in Hong Kong is Eqo Leung, an award-winning New Zealand architect.

Although there wasn’t much of a client brief to execute, Leung was determined “not to reproduce another showroom you see on Lockhart Road.”

The newly revamped showroom, which has reopened its doors since early August, stands out with a sleek, minimalist design highlighted by a fully functional acoustic cube, where a centrepiece display is placed. A demonstration area is also housed inside the 105 squaremeter showroom, alongside a range of curated materials and bespoke surfaces that the German luxury brand is so famous for.

He also deemed it important to understand the Schotten & Hansen brand and what it means. That was why he met the brand owner numerous times before the project. “Luckily enough, my design ethos is similar to Schotten & Hansen. We both came together and understand what we wanted to achieve and that was why the project ran very smoothly.”

Leung said: “It’s really about showing the ideas and philosophy of Schotten & Hansen’s products and let visitors understand and appreciate the quality of these items, rather than showing every product of the brand, which is impossible anyway.”

As with good design practice, the refurbished showroom has a distinctive shop front, middle ground and backdrop. But there is more to it, as Leung went on to create layers of space and provided an area of focus, while choreographing how people move in, see and experience.

“Basically, using the old saying ‘less is more’, my belief is simple – don’t try to show everything, don’t use the showroom as a warehouse and be selective about what you want to show,” he added.

Another eye-catching feature is a display space enclosed in a cube and bound by a prominent black frame, visible from the window outside.

Eqo Leung Founder of ARCHITECTUREPUBLIC

“The frame is obviously used to attract people to look at and focus on the shop front. It actually pulls people in from the entrance and engage with the product displays on the wall as they come in,” he said.

Hong Kong-born Leung is the founder of ARCHITECTUREPUBLIC, a NZIA Practice specialising in residential, commercial, interiors and public services architecture. One of his projects – the new Law and Management School Building at The University of Waikato in New Zealand – is a finalist in the prestigious World Architecture Awards.

Holz Selections Ltd. www.hopsze.com

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Memorial Monument and Pavilion of Honour, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

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ommerce and culture combine to create our selection of the best work from last year’s World Architecture Festival. This edit sees some of the best from the shortlists, in this editor’s selection. The work is varied and its purpose always variable, but the common element is the architects’ care for location and the broader environment. From immense emotional statement pieces in the Middle East to low-cost construction in the commercial heart of Hanoi, each piece resonates with its surrounds.

A decade after the WAF’s first edition in Barcelona, the term mixed-use has come to represent a generous form of architecture. This year’s examples are evidence of a benevolence hitherto unseen in construction. But first, before we celebrate this year’s work, a taster of some of the greatest work from the previous event.

This year’s World Architecture Festival takes place at RAI Amsterdam from 28 - 30 November 2018.

Information & Images: WAF 2017

Krista Chan

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CIVIC AND COMMUNITY Memorial Monument and Pavilion of Honour, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Designed by Idris Khan Architecture The Monument is the centrepiece of the Wahat Al Karama park, the “oasis of dignity� for war heroes in Abu Dhabi. The complex structure is comprised of 31 aluminium tablets, the largest soaring 23 metres, arranged vertically. The tablets appear to rest on each other in a symbolic display of the unity among the seven nations of the UAE, its martyrs and peoples. Suitably, poems and quotes invite viewers to stop and reflect on the artwork and its meaning. This architectural device helps create a personal relationship with the memorial.

The Pavilion of Honour is located at the end of the journey for visitors. The circular structure has seven standing glass panels as a centrepiece, surrounded by a water feature, and 2,800 inscribed aluminium plates. This work exemplifies the power in art and architecture that conveys purpose and emotion and creates a place of reflection, serenity and significance for a nation.

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CIVIC AND COMMUNITY Bostanlı Footbridge & Sunset Lounge, İzmir, Turkey Designed by Studio Evren Başbuğ Architects These twin attractions, part of a seaside regeneration project in the Turkish city of Izmir, combine to create a singularly popular coastal attraction. The 2016 project sees the Bostanli Footbridge connect the creek after which it is named, integrating a generous cascade of wooden seating that catches the sun’s last rays each day. The bridge goes beyond infrastructure used solely for conveying pedestrian traffic and defines a public attraction that is sensitive to its environment.

The shoreline abutting the bridge forms the Bostanli Sunset Lounge.

Facing west, the shore is covered in the same thermally modified wood as the bridge. This is an inviting urban surface, stretching between the artificial slope covered with trees and the embankment. Combined, the two elements integrate simple geometry and fluidity, helping the people of Izmir recapture the forgotten ritual of gathering by the water at day’s end.

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A rectilinear structure on a small rectangular block in a typically ramshackle commercial street in old Hanoi helps reinterpret tropical architecture. The perforated terracotta façade of The Lantern harks to an era before airconditioning when it was utilised for passive ventilation and sun shade. The blocks are functional, inexpensive and simply mounted on a support of steel tension bars and C-steel beams.

Beneath is a glass-and-steel construction.

In the ancient Dong Da district of Hanoi, this gallery selling lighting products serves double duty as an ar tists’ centre . The building is modest in size – on a site just 72 square metres – and budget – the work was completed for HK$1.6 million – and incorporates a weighty message; we must all live with nature.

A showroom and meeting rooms fill the first two floors, but the top floor is a free exhibition and event space to create communities among architects, artists and citizens. It is filled with generous filtered sunlight.

CULTURE The Lantern, Nanoco Gallery, Hanoi, Vietnam Designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects CULTURE Vendsyssel Theatre Hjørring, Denmark Designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects

The democratic use of public space and destination creation are at the heart of this building, Denmark’s first newly built theatre in more than a century. The 4,200-square-metre theatre and culture centre in Hjorring, northern Denmark, is based on themes of anchoring the town, transparency, functionality, flexibility and materiality. The approach to the building’s design takes a pragmatic view of culture as an experience for all. The building appears as a composition of cubic blocks, clad in warm cor-ten steel and LEDfrosted glass. Within is a multi-functional complex that includes a music hall, black box, rehearsal hall and a 430-seat hall.

The open-plan format connects the interiors with the back of stage, blurring and emphasising the interaction between artists and spectators. Each of the major halls can be opened to the foyer, the use of glass and windows in different rooms creates visual connections and the performers can get a glimpse of the public from their lounge on the top level.

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CULTURE Zhao Hua Xi Shi Living Museum, Beijing, China Designed by IAPA A resort dedicated to nature, made from shipping containers and conceived at the Great Wall, the Zhao Hua Xi Shi Living Museum emphasises environmental protection and culture.

The modular heart of the design provides the main buildings.

Here, recycled timber decking, locally sourced woven reeds, hemp and stone are blended into a traditional courtyard-style development.

The main facilities of the developments are located in this central space; offices, meeting rooms and back of house support. This hub of the development blends rooflines and heights, ensuring uninterrupted views out across the nearby conservation areas. Fanning out from the central hub, the connecting galleries lead visitors outwards, stopping at platforms that help capture the scenery of the Great Wall.

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CULTURE The Palestinian Museum, Birzeit, Palestine Designed by Heneghan Peng Architects The realisation of two decades’ work for the TaawonWelfare Association, a non-governmental organisation in Ramallah, the museum is intended to be the authoritative source of all things Palestinian. From its location on a hilltop north of Jerusalem, phase one of the work comprises a 3,500-square-metre building set among 40,000 square-metres of landscaped gardens.

The programme is divided into thirds, one part gallery, one part education and one part administrative space.

The building is clad in Palestinian limestone, which is itself wrapped in a skirt of scented gardens. The museum leans heavily on its passive features – thermal mass, controlled daylight, natural ventilation, and an east-west orientation – to ensure it is environmentally robust. The first LEED-certified building in Palestine makes consideration for public transport, water conservation and indigenous materials. The building succeeds in overcoming geographical and political boundaries to reach Palestinians within historic Palestine and beyond.

CULTURE Mleiha Archaeological Centre, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Designed by Dabbagh Architects

The story beneath the Mleiha Archaeological Centre is as significant as the work itself. Seeking to underline sustainable development in the United Arab Emirates, the centre cocoons the immediate ecological and archaeological sites, which help tell the rich and significant story of the archaeology of the Middle East.

The form of the building takes its lead from an ancient tomb, a nearby fossilised rock formation and the Hajar mountain range.

Exterior walls connect the man-made and natural, guiding visitors towards the Bronze Age tomb and then into the main entrance courtyard – a space created to preserve the grand Ghaf tree at the building’s front. The roof over the main exhibit hall is jagged, to mirror the fossil wall, while the imposing external wall continues inside, delivering a path to the 3,500-year-old tomb. The area around the tomb is theatrical in scale and calming, designed as it was for quiet contemplation.

Environmentally responsible materials were used throughout; copper roof cladding, recyclable linoleum flooring, water efficient design and solar power generation.

A festival like no other The only architecture event where keynote talks from the industry’s most influential figures sit alongside live judging presentations from over 500 award finalists plus global networking and an international product exhibition.

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Religion - Completed Buildings Finalist 2018: Chapel Our Lady of Fátima, Portugal by Plano Humano Arquitectos

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T S I N R , E E D C O N M UMSTA OTS O C R R I L C A I R T S U IND A

rchitectural and interior design studio Spawton Architecture has modernised a half-century old industrial building in a working-class neighborhood to enable the possibility of multiple functions – office, F & B, retail, co-working space, art gallery, gym and spa – all under one roof.

Artisan Hub, as this new commercial development is called, sits at the heart of San Po Kong, which was once a manufacturing hub dominated by multi-storey factory buildings built in the 1950s and 60s. But along with Hong Kong’s transition into a service economy, the district has seen a gradual shift in character and the proliferation of office, shops, restaurant, music studios and entertainment spots occupying the existing building stock.

The original building might have been unexceptional in many ways. Utilitarian in aesthetics, many of its redeeming features had been modified or eliminated over the years. Nonetheless the overall building mass and facade composition could be seen as referencing early modernism, displaying a pleasing elegance lacking in many similar buildings.The new design is bold and striking, celebrating the building’s history while unapologetically inserting drama and colour in order to set up a new, vibrant relationship with the street.

EXPANDING THE CLIENT’S BRIEF Alex Jones, the Founding Director of Spawton Architecture, said: “We intended to expand the client’s brief and envisaged a community created around a fusion of work and leisure. The building, as we see it, holds plenty of potential for functional diversity. Our vision for Artisan Hub was that of a semi-public hub for work, play, entertainment and relaxation as well as a place for learning and making.”

Before its makeover into Artisan Hub, the old factory building on 9 Luk Hop Street was no more than a random collection of insular tenant spaces with no connection to each other or the wider urban fabric. The deep floor plates and enclosed façade did not allow an abundance of natural light. After extensive visits to the site to envision what it could become, Jones and his team decided to push the envelope.

Text: Michael Hoare Derek Leung Photography: Denise Hough (unless otherwise stated)

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COMMUNITY OF SHARED EXPERIENCES “Our design intent was to create a flexible space for tenants through a strategy of repair and intervention. We wanted to reinvigorate this old building by taking our design cues from the neighbourhood’s rich history as a manufacturing hub combined with the client’s interest in craftsmanship and the culture of modern living,” he said.

To translate this vision architecturally, his team designed a light-filled atrium that cuts through the podium’s lower four floors. A Piranesian stair in striking red connects the spaces physically, visually and socially and is perhaps the building’s most iconic feature. “The development is immediately a place of action, a place of doing, and through the very act of circulation, the user is treated to a sense of involvement and interaction. A shared, and public space defines the character of the building and invokes a feeling of community” he said.

At the top of the building, openings have been made in the roof and upper floor slabs to create a stepped sky terrace allowing light to penetrate the deep floor plan. This reinforces the notion of cross communication that the project seeks to encourage.

Getting the building users and visitors to engage in shared experiences resonates well with the emphasis on human relationship and community under The Artisanal Movement pioneered by the client, New World Development.

A RETURN TO INDUSTRIAL ROOTS According to Jones, the entire building of Artisan Hub is designed as a “testament to the neighbourhood’s history and heritage.” For this reason, the design team decided to preserve key elements of the original aesthetic such as the the sunshades adorning the old building façade. Before the building’s makeover, the battered wall and ceiling panels of its lifts were dismantled and are now used as decorative pieces displayed on the wall in the lift lobby.

Paying homage to the golden age of manufacturing in Hong Kong back in the 1960s, Spawton Architecture’s work renders a playful interpretation of building elements from the old industrial complex. The supersized terrazzo flooring was inspired by an ad-hoc floor finish from the existing building and reimagined with the use of stone offcuts from one of the developer’s residential projects.

Another reference to the streets of bygone Hong Kong is the neon lift indicator made with horizontal strips of light stacked on each other to resemble the original building.

While most property revitalisation projects in the city end up with the buildings reskinned and made to look like new structures, Jones’ design team made the effort to retain the original character of the building, its structure and components.A case in point is the preservation of the original brickwork in the fire escape stair, which have been exposed and preserved in the reworked building to nostalgic effect.

CRAFTSMANSHIP CELEBRATED At Artisan Hub, the lifts are fitted out with unique stone buttons hand carved in Chinese characters

by Hong Kong seal maker, Kingstone. A tribute to the dying craft of Hong Kong street signage found extensively in San Po Kong, they are based on the calligraphy master Li Hon used by sign writer , preserved as a digital archive by his son.

Li Wai “We sought to celebrate the building’s architectural typology by taking design cues from the neighbourhood’s industrial past. The building’s modernist industrial character also inspired the materials palette we used. The design was executed with a bespoke attention to detail focused on craftsmanship,” said Jones.

RESTORATION OF LIGHT AND LIFE On the outcome of architectural overhaul for the Artisan Hub project, he concluded: “As a whole, the development takes an old, unloved building, previously divided up into small cellular spaces, and fills it with light and the potential for new life.”

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L: Hans Leo Maes – Senior Architect, Spawton Architecture R: Alex Jones – Founding Director, Spawton Architecture

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www.spawton.com

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THE TRANSFORMATION OF FORLORN FACTORY INTO COMMUNITY HUB S

ince the policy of revitalising old industry buildings was introduced locally in 2010, the number of these properties being transformed into offices, hotels and retail spaces has increased. A recent example is the conversion of a 1966 factory building into Artisan Hub, a commercial development at 9 Luk Hop Street, San Po Kong, Kowloon.

Adaptive reuse – changing the function of old industrial buildings but not their forms – is the theme of a revitalisation initiative undertaken across ageing factory districts from Kwai Chung to Lai Chi Kok and Chai Wan. The aim is to provide more floor space for suitable uses to meet the changing economic and social needs of Hong Kong.

One recently completed project is Artisan Hub, a commercial complex with office, F&B and retail spaces, which has become an eye-catching addition to the neighbourhood with its modernist industrial character, made more prominent by a light-filled atrium, a blazing red staircase and other striking details, visible through a glass façade.

CHALLENGING FEAT Compared to constructing a new building from scratch, it is no less challenging to convert a long existing one to different uses. Many of these challenges surfaced during the building conversion process for Artisan Hub, where Spawton Architecture, a local architecture and interior design studio, was behind its design while Fruit Design and Build Limited, a multidisciplinary design practice, was the main contractor.

Billy Li, Project Manager of Fruit Design and Build, revealed that the extent of restoration and reinforcement work required for each of such buildings differ. “As with all the other property conversions we undertook, one of the first things we did was to assess the building’s structural conditions. The former site of Artisan Hub was 51 years old. At this 12-storey building, the conditions turned out to be so decrepit that extensive concrete recasting had to be carried out for a third of its 36 restrooms, some columns and beams and lift shafts,” he said. Strengthening works also covered the design load and ground-floor footing.

Busy traffic around San Po Kong and the neighbourhood’s cramped spatial conditions posed a difficulty for the delivery of building materials to the site and construction debris to be transported to the landfill. “We had to work out the logistics together with neighboring shops, including an automotive store and a recycling shop, so they could make way for our trucks entering and leaving the site according to the mutually-agreed transportation arrangements,” he added.

Text: Michael Hoare Derek Leung Photography: Denise Hough (unless otherwise stated)

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“For instance, permit applications had to be submitted to the Building Department for Design and Build items like our steel staircase, railings and curtain wall. For alteration and addition (A&A) works, another set of statutory requirements had to be met. In addition, Construction Noise Permits and Noise Emission Labels needed to be obtained while permission from Environmental Protection Department must be sought for work outside normal hours,” said Li. “Good project planning and management are instrumental to ensuring that the numerous statutory regulations, with regard to building standards, fire safety, air pollution, noise emission, waste disposal and numerous other concerns, are fully complied with.”

IMPLEMENTING THE DESIGN INTENT HECTIC AND HEAVY WORK SCHEDULES Delays are not uncommon for construction and property conversion projects in Hong Kong, where design and functionality are often juggled under the multiple constraints of limited space and strict regulations. Trial and error are inevitable in the process of finding the best possible combination. Therefore, in many cases, design changes are continually made to projects well in progress.

Due to constant changes undertaken to maximise the quality of the final deliverable, the main challenge was to complete the core building tasks of the Artisan Hub Project within a tight timeframe.

Despite this, Fruit Design and Build, as the main contractor, was contractually obligated to honour the delivery deadline. “In the meantime, we completed all the peripheral chores such as spalling repair, concrete recasting, permits application to the Building Department and placing orders for building materials and lifts. Once the floor layout was confirmed, we could immediately start the main contract works and speed up the progress in those final months.” Despite the hectic and heavy schedule, with the diligent efforts and close collaboration of the onsite management team and workers, the project not only met the timelines for the Fire Service Department and Occupation Permit inspections, it also satisfied all the requirements to obtain clearances upon the initial round of checks.

METICULOUS, MULTIFACETED PROJECT COORDINATION Due to the complex and ever-changing nature of the process, the revitalisation of old industrial buildings calls for tight, multifaceted planning and management. The Artisan Hub project was no exception. On top of technical tasks, the management team found itself performing lots of administrative work, like permit applications to various government departments, and all this had to tie in seamlessly with the project schedule and sequence in order to avert delays and slip-ups.

Realising the design intent is imperative for all construction and building conversion work.This is why regular meetings were held among the main contractor, the designer and developer to sort out problems and review the project progress of Artisan Hub. “Besides meeting the Spawton Architecture team weekly to ensure the project was executed faithfully to its design concept, it was also a must for us to visit the developer’s office on many occasions, where we applied a BIM model reviewing interfacing and other technical details, with the aim of delivering a better built environment,” said Li. It was all this communication – between main contractor, client, design house, consultants and site workers – that made the project a success.

Li is also optimistic that Artisan Hub, now with its makeover fully completed, is likely to fetch a higher rental value and result in a similar rub-off effect on property prices in the neighbourhood.

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Photo: Hans Leo Maes

www.fdbhk.com

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Santa Monica Place, California Central Courtyard

People-Powered Places C

elebrating 40 years of crafting mixed-use developments, some of the key thinkers at Jerde reflect on why sunny Californian optimism works so well in Asia If you need convincing that our environment shapes who we are, look no further than Jerde. For 40 years – happy birthday, Jerde – the architecture practice and masterplanning firm has been a perfect expression of the Southern Californian lifestyle; open, chilled, charming, different, sunny. So sunny they lopped the roof off of an unsuccessful renovation of Frank Gehry’s original Santa Monica Place to create an open-air shopping mall.

It saved the shopping centre, respected the area’s low-rise vibe and has helped inspire another wave of revitalisation in the Santa Monica downtown area.

The mall’s rebirth is an example of the type of projects that Jerde does best. Jerde calls their method “placemaking”; the creation of a commercially driven space that is sensitive to what people actually want, ensuring a mixedused development people actually want to visit, repeatedly.

At the other end of Greater Los Angeles is another take on placemaking.

Pacific City is 1.7 hectares of opportunities to eat, drink and shop, laid out along a seaside promenade at Huntington Beach. “Every public space has multiple uses.You can use it just as a deck or for the tenants to frame and spill out into the space,” says Tammy McKerrow, a Jerde Senior VicePresident and Senior Design Principal.

“People are evolving, social space is evolving, and I think Pacific City is a beautiful place to study how people really do use these types of projects and how they become more than what you designed them to be.”

Jerde layers density, adds light and water features, utilises uneven levels, manipulates light and shade, choreagraphs pedestrian flows to create Text: Michael Hoare

Photos: Jerde

Krista Chan

spaces that people like to explore. When Founder Jon Jerde took control of the design for the Horton Plaza in San Diego, he levied these devices to great effect, throwing the spotlight onto the place and not the product.

In 1985, Horton Plaza was a uniquely designed place that people wanted to visit repeatedly, not just a shopping centre.

Asia’s Finest The practice’s Californian roots run deep. Managing Director of Asia Pacific, Phil Kim helped set up the branch office in Hong Kong more than two decades ago. He’s on record as saying the West Coast experience and sense of sunny optimism is what has driven the development of the placemaking ethos in Asia, though adapted to each local context.

The practice has led some seminal Asian developments, from Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills and the City of Dreams masterplan in Macau to Osaka’s Namba Parks. There’s more recent work in the mainland Chinese city of Xiamen, where the second phase of the Powerlong Xiamen International Centre – otherwise known as Powerlong The One – has been completed. Among the work under construction closer to Hong Kong is the Chang Hua International Centre, a development in the Pearl River Delta powerhouse city of Foshan.

Lessons from Culture The commission at the Chang Hua International Centre includes indoor and outdoor retail, residential, dining, a theatre, library, youth centre and landscaped amenities in a sleek urban hub. The heart of the development is a four-level retail podium that loans some of the spirit of Foshan’s lantern-making and ceramics traditions.

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There’s the trademark density and walkable city-within-the-city idea that will help craft a new town centre woven into the fabric of retail, leisure, entertainment and dining environments. Multi-level bridges and walkways connect people to greenery, to promenades, courtyards and public plazas. The sense of place, space and of discovery are built-in.

Completion is scheduled for the middle of next year.

Elevated Everyday The One Mall in Fujian province opened in October. It’s the second phase of the Powerlong Xiamen International Centre, a three-phase development delivering about 400,000 square metres. Phase one included commercial office buildings, dining and entertainment. When the third phase is completed next year, it will have a showcase W Hotel, office tower, small-home-office high-rise tower and a self-sustaining restaurant.

Santa Monica Place, California Upper Roof Deck view to Pacific Ocean

The One Mall is six decks of leisure and pleasure. Located directly above a transit station that has been integrated deeply into the design of the mall, greenery spills vertically throughout the mall, playing on a sense of tight integration. The upper levels deliver extended entertainment and leisure in a Deck format; dining, entertainment, culture and knowledge.

The remainder offers a world-class shopping experience that mainland China’s middle class has not always been fortunate enough to enjoy.

The luxury mixed-use development is the first of its kind in the area and is designed to be a catalyst for the high-end development to follow. The sentiment of providing a place that people can use and feel they can express a connection to, has been a guiding force at Jerde since the beginning.

“As we see throughout the world, people tend to drift back into the city.

The creation of higher density and more population within the urban fabric makes it more viable for mixed-use development to co-exist. These factors made wonderful opportunities for vibrant places that weren’t there ten years ago,” says John Simones, Chairman of the Board and Design Director.

Thinking for the big stage, while remembering the people and planning for the future, is exactly what makes Jerde’s practice tick.

Pacific City, California Retail Deck

Pacific City, California Viewing Plaza to Pacific Ocean

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Roppongi Hills,Tokyo

Powerlong One Mall, Xiamen

Mixed-use Lifestyle Development, Hengqin

ChangHua International Center, Foshan Lantern Court

Powerlong One Mall, Xiamen

ChangHua International Center, Foshan Expected Grand Opening in 2019

46 FEATURE Nanjing Jiangbei New District Big Data Industrial Park

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Develops Visionary Office Space and Creative Education Facilities

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Founded in 1972, DLN Architects (DLN) is a respected worldrenowned architectural practice with 60K a diversified portfolio, and a leading industry pioneer in Hong Kong and Asia.

in mid-air, the main entrance combines with the tower blocks to constitute a U-shaped skyline.

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DLN’s name is synonymous with many iconic architectural projects, from mixed-used projects to large-scale integrated designs, creating significant value for customers through rendering of its outstanding design services throughout China, Southeast Asia and other regions.

Currently, DLN is involved with several large-scale design and construction projects in China, including those located in more than 30 mainland cities, including large-scale urban construction, conference centres, hospitals, hotels, shopping centres, sports stadiums as well as office spaces and university dormitories highlighted in this article.

Nanjing Jiangbei New District Big Data Industrial Park Located at the southern part of the new district, this project covers an area of about 100,000 square metres, to provide for seven functions including R&D, business, dormitories, exhibition and conference centre, cooling towers and supporting facilities.

With the project is surrounded by roads on all its four sides, the architectural team has set up protective facilities and green space on the eastern and southern sides of the park, to enable its occupants enjoy transport convenience while being close to nature. The western and northern sides of the venue are more impressive visually and therefore designated as a window to the outside world. The park’s two tallest tower blocks are tucked away in the corners, with office space distributed in both of them. Resembling two open fans suspended Information & Images: DLN Architects

The project’s greening ratio exceeds 30%. The architectural team has created and optimised shared space as a dominant design theme, whereby the central waterscape and low-storey green spaces are integrated, while a small but independent office space is designed to provide for a spacious and natural work environment.

A horizontally developed central water feature runs through an ecological garden, with a water platform connecting the main pedestrian flow with the office buildings. The central landscape intersects with the central axis to form an ecological garden, resulting in a multi-layered spatial experience.

As opposed to traditional industrial parks with R&D and office-style buildings, this project’s design emphasises the presence of a largescale green platform with a high lvel of privacy for its single blocks. To enhance the ecological aspects combined with a versatile and fun work environment, every independent office block is designed with a threelevel atrium on the second storey to offer a shared interactive space.

Jiangbei New Area Modern Modern Industry Innovation Centre Located at a biomedical research hub of Jiangbei New District, the innovation centre covers an area of about 300,000 square metres and is scheduled to commence construction in November this year. Based on the "low-carbon energy saving and resources recycling” principle, a balanced proportion of glass and aluminium will be achieved for the building façade to minimise light pollution, while increasing vertical greening to reduce energy consumption.

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Based on modern office trends and needs, DLN is dedicated to creating a highly-efficient work environment to strengthen interaction and invigorate creativity and health. The appearance of this innovation hub draws inspiration from the biomedical concept of genes, to create a streamlined-shaped building with an intertwining façade. The innovation centre project references three major sectors – life and health; smart manufacturing and software technology. While demarcating the different zones, the team has designated a number of concourses to keep each industry involved separate and independent while making for an ecological chain inside the centre.

Jiangbei New Area International School Located at Pukoupian District of Nanjing and Jiangbei New District, the campus covers an area of more than 50,000 square metres with a view of Laoshan National Forest Park to the north and Yangtze River in the south. This intrinsic environmental advantage is harnessed to facilitate student learning in a natural environment.

In line with the master city plan of Jiangbei New District, to build a modern city and one characterised with water and woods, DLN has created a six-metre long “green ribbon” that runs through the entire campus space, releasing as much green shared space as possible and providing a corridor to shelter teaching staff and students from rain.

The academic block, student dormitories, and amenities will be suspended above the "Green Ribbon." All three of them have their own distinctive shapes and forms and this irregular-shaped architectural style alludes to a “treasure box filled with knowledge.” The building blocks look as though they are casually positioned, instead of projecting a sense of order, to denote a liberal learning environment unconfined by space and time. This is attuned to the modern pursuit of free innovations,

sustainable developments and self-rejuvenating, which underline the concept of modern education and a diversified learning environment.

Guangzhou Huamei International School Technology Building DLN’s design takes four factors into consideration: to create an education building and a future landmark, be attuned to state policy, integrate with the future “Internet Plus” trend and attain sustainable development and green building standards.

In order to achieve the building’s visionary look, the team draws on the notion of a “smart browser” as the main design concept, referencing the future development of information technology through the glass boxes of LED screens. Besides transmitting messages and facilitating live telecasts, the building’s central area appears to be surrounded by glass boxes while the screen is in sleep mode, to highlight the ingenuity of the building design.

In terms of overall layout and to avoid making the atrium seem overly vacant, DLN designed a landscape corridor, leveraging on the uneven heights of the staircases, auditorium, stage, green plaza space and connecting them with the corridor to provide easy access for teaching staff and students. The Technology Building is equipped with science, art and learning centres. The three seem independent of each other but are actually interrelated. The team started its design work by having the space reorganised and functional installations replaced. All classrooms are equipped with movable partition walls and can be resized, depending on the number of users on hand. Interspersing the glass boxes with monitor screens, the architectural team ensured privacy for the three building components while making them spatially connected, to foster a learning environment that faces outdoors, creating a natural environment for students and teachers alike.

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Guangzhou Huamei International School Technology Building

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Jiangbei New Area International School

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Masters of the Urban Environment Benoy have distilled their considerable IP in retail and mixed-used developments into two WAFnominated renewal projects on either side of the planet that add texture to our shared urban fabric.

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Central Quay, Cardiff, Wales Commercial mixed-use - Future WAF 2018 Shortlisted Project

B

enoy have a reputation for crafting exemplary retail-led environments. It’s their signature blend of smart design and even smarter science that creates a milieu where consumers feel as if they are royalty. It’s deluxe. First class.

Until now, their lesser-known corporate chops have also included masterplanning. At Central Quay in Cardiff and Gala Avenue Westside in Shanghai’s Lujiazui district, the practice is recreating the urban environment with their sense of “creative commerciality”. Both commissions have been shortlisted at this year’s Amsterdam edition of the World Architecture Festival.

Gala Avenue Westside is one of Benoy’s biggest projects in Asia. The mixed-use commercial space at Lujiazui’s Harbour City was once the Shanghai Shipyard. Pieces of this epic urban regeneration scheme – the area is in the vicinity of 250,000 square metres, about the same footprint as New York’s Grand Central Station – have started to come online. Once completed, there will be an office tower, a walking street, a five-star hotel, cultural and art buildings, residential complexes and a commercial centre. A 100-metre-high office tower and 12 interconnected retail hubs between two and three storeys form the bulk of the programme.

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Benoy faced the challenge of incorporating the area’s riverside aspect, the landscaping and other projects in a masterplanning role. The brief called for an impressive, commercially focused development that was ready for business and yet spoke about the venue’s past.

“For Gala Avenue, we have adapted elements of the shipyard into the riverfront development. Similarly, the Lujiazui area of Pudong is known for its high-rise towers, and so we wanted to provide a juxtaposition to this through our design,” says Benoy Shanghai director Qin Pang.

“The design for Gala Avenue is a concave of sorts along the Huangpu River skyline. The 12 individual boutique buildings and office tower provide a people-scaled haven amongst the tall buildings. The architecture of the buildings references themes such as New and Old, East and West, and Traditional and Modern.”

Meshing the space together are some of these competing ideas. There’s old and new construction, and aged and contemporary materials that help add a layer of richness to the palette. The approach also helped create points of interest throughout the space.

“In our designs we are aiming to respect the site history whilst meeting new consumer demands. That’s the main balance we are trying to achieve,” says Pang.

The design team say they are also mindful of the need to reinforce a sense of community and social responsibility, which could be a catalyst for improvements elsewhere in the community on a grand scale.

Several oceans and dozens of cultures away, Benoy is knuckling down over another urban regeneration job, bringing the same richness to the work.

“In Cardiff, our approach is to balance density and space with activity

and amenity. Consumers are looking more and more towards an integrated lifestyle package that blends places to live, work and socialise and, in this case, an adjacency to research and education,” says Jamie Webb, the head of Benoy’s Europe, Middle East and Africa practice.

The Central Quay masterplan is the biggest urban renewal scheme in Wales. The site of the former Brains Brewery is prime riverside in Cardiff, running along the River Taff. The work here calls for a plaza of food and beverage offerings, around 1,000 apartments, about

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Central Quay, Cardiff, Wales Commercial mixed-use - Future WAF 2018 Shortlisted Project

Retail and food provide the backdrop as people look to ‘experience’ spaces and treat public space as an extension of their living space.

Head of Benoy Europe, Middle East & Africa, Jamie Webb

140,000 square metres of new office space and a local university. The remnants of the 19th century brewhouse will form the backdrop of the riverside plaza when the site opens for business in 2020.

“Retail and food provide the backdrop as people look to ‘experience’ spaces and treat public space as an extension of their living space,” says Webb. “In Cardiff, we worked hard to develop an urban lounge concept that collected Instagram moments that change with the space during the day and across the year.”

Webb has spent some time identifying what it is about a Benoy project that sets it apart. While he admits that the practice’s roots are in retail, they’ve captured the essence of how people move through spaces. “It's our innate ability for user-centric design, understanding the needs of the users of these developments,” he tells PRC Magazine. “This expertise has become highly transferable as the boundaries between sectors blur.

Mixed-use developments are where we live, work and play."

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Gala Avenue Westside, Shanghai Commercial mixed-use - Future WAF 2018 Shortlisted Project

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Gala Avenue Westside, Shanghai Commercial mixed-use - Future WAF 2018 Shortlisted Project

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Competition Entry - Future WAF 2018 Shortlisted Project

The Suzhou Old Town Retail Street Welcome to Water World Suzhou is much loved by Chinese for its romantic waterways and culture. The city speaks to a nostalgic China; the country that was great and is now great again. The city is home to United Nations World heritage attractions, classical pagodas and Insta-worthy ancient stone bridges. It is also a seat of power and its location near Shanghai has helped make Suzhou one of mainland China’s most vibrant economies.

Benoy’s masterplanning credentials were in play again when tasked to refashion Suzhou Old Town Retail Street, “a three-dimensional playground to elevate Old Suzhou”. The Shanghai studio – which celebrated a decade on the ground earlier this year – has a culture-led vision for a new retail and leisure attraction next to the famous City Wall, built in 514 BC. The 30,000 square metre site sees elements of gardens, bridges, wharves and the opera stage, integrated with commercial activity to make a “three-dimensional playground”.

The concept is to elevate the notion of a retail street from commercial precinct to engaging city attraction.

Venues for activities – swimming, skateboarding and rock climbing – are woven together with a museum and opera stage, with landscaping at ground level and the roofline connecting the entire street.

Benoy’s Shanghai director Qin Pang sees the design of the street as being part of the wider precinct. The offering to consumers must be layered, innovative, cultural and, of course, commercial. The city’s history may attract the tourists, but it will be attractions such as Suzhou Old Town Retail Street that encourage them to stay.

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Ultimate Luxury

by Chao Phraya’s riverside

Waterfront properties are considered by many to represent the pinnacle of luxury living.This is undoubtedly so with the Four Seasons Private Residences in Bangkok, a 73-storey riverside condo project developed by Landmark Holdings Company Limited, a subsidiary of Thailand’s Country Group Development PCL, backed by an influential global brand Seasons Resorts and Hotels.

Big names aside, the skyscraper boasts an iconic address and is wedged between two five-star hotels – Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok and Capella Hotel Bangkok – on one of the last remaining large parcels of waterfront land along the iconic Chao Phraya River. It is tucked away near Bangkok’s first paved road, Charoen Krung Road, at the heart of the thriving capital city.

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UNOBSTRUCTED RIVER VIEWS As the residential tower is built on private land next to two low-rise urban resorts with a 200-metre water frontage, homebuyers and investors never have to worry about their river views being blocked by other constructions now or in the future. All 355 apartments offer dual and totally unblocked views of the river and city. Every single unit in the building is a corner suite with a 360-degree view, rather than just a single aspect, made possible by a revolutionary geometric design.

Residents can also take shuttle boats to BTS Saphan Taksin Sky Train station and those with their own transport can head for the Chan expressway in just five minutes.

LAVISH INTERIORS AND AMENITIES Just as stunning inside as it is on the outside, Four Seasons Private Residences boasts an interior décor in a modern contemporary style with touches of opulent luxury. The apartments are designed in an open concept to make them feel extraordinarily spacious. A neutral colour palette is predominant in every unit, so buyers can decorate any suite easily to their preferences. All of this is the masterwork of BAMO, a celebrated San-Francisco interiordesign firm using only imported materials.

Residents will be able to enjoy access to signature Four Seasons services and facilities on their doorstep. These include the Four Seasons Club on the 66th floor, offering majestic river views. Immediate to the Chao Phraya is the exclusive River Lounge, which offers private dining facilities for owners and guests. The Amenities Deck offers an infinity pool, a dedicated children's pool area and private cabanas. Here there is also a state-of-the-art fitness centre with a fully-equipped gym, or a yoga and pilates studio.

Hotel-inspired services, including a concierge who takes care of everything, be it fine dining on a terrace to quick laundry service and supermarket shopping for fresh agricultural produce and meat, are also available.

GOOD INVESTMENT POTENTIAL Priced at USD8,600 per square metre, this ultra-luxury riverside project has drawn attention from international and domestic buyers. For a world-class trophy asset, its prices are said to be a fraction of that comparable in other great cities of Asia, such as Hong Kong, Singapore or Shanghai.

Four Seasons Private Residences come with a 75-year leasehold. Almost 70% of these units have been snapped up, 35 percent of which by Thai citizens and 65 percent by foreigners.

About 35% of foreign buyers are from Hong Kong. The development is also well received by the global investment community due to the value of the Thai currency.

One of its greatest appeals is best summed up by the mantra of property investment – ‘location, location, location.’ The luxury project stands on Bangkok’s last remaining waterfront golden site on Chao Phraya Estate, encompassing 14 acres of prime land along the river that the estate is named after.

The Four Seasons brand, with its reputation for service-rich living, may also prove irresistible to homebuyers craving for uncompromising lifestyle quality and comfort.

For those looking for the definitive residence in Bangkok for themselves and their families, or investors seeking a project with the promise of impressive capital growth potential and high rental demand from the city’s well-heeled tenants, Four Seasons Private Residences may well be worth serious consideration.

Text: Norman Yam Images: Country Group Development

Jasper Lau

www.chaophrayaestate.com

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Tech-savvy hotel opens on Hong Kong Waterfront

THE COMPETITIVE HOTEL MARKET CONTINUES TO GROW WITH THE RECENT DEBUT OF A NEW HOTEL ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

Similarly, every guestroom in Hotel VIC enjoys an elegant harbour view designed in a contemporary style for a refined ambience.

Seated on a waterfront promenade, Hotel VIC on the Harbour offers 671 guestrooms and suites to let travellers experience the panoramic views of Victoria Harbour with smart, contemporary tech-enabled city living. This twin-tower complex is located in North Point, a vibrant neighbourhood brimming with undiscovered fashion, food and culture, and just steps away from an MTR station, ferry pier and other public transport.

Created by AFSO with an “urban reflections” theme, the arrival lobby is decked out with textured glass fittings that refract light like shimmering water and interlocking marble screens. A number of contemporary artworks are strategically displayed across the hotel. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by a sculpture from Mexican artist Aldo Chaparro hovering above water, to reinforce the theme of urban reflections.

Another example is Canadian artist David Sprigg’s modern 3D installation “Epoch” which greets the patrons of Cruise at the entrance.

Hotel VIC has been built to exacting standards with renowned awardwinners Rocco Design Architects Ltd as project architect and Hirsh Bedner Associates as guestroom interior designer. AFSO was designer of other key areas. The luxury establishment is the latest addition to a portfolio of premium hotel properties under Sun Hung Kai Properties.

LOCATION ADVANTAGE The hotel’s unique waterfront location provides it with a competitive edge, promising strong occupancies and premium rates, in the crowded marketplace. Harnessing this advantage fully, it features a series of spaces blending indoor and alfresco living. The outdoor infinity pool merges seamlessly with the horizon, while Cruise, the rooftop restaurant and bar, provides a place for guests to unwind, overlooking the harbour. An atmospheric alfresco terrace and garden area are found at The Farmhouse, an all-day restaurant and deli, with a dramatic cityscape.

Information & Images: Hotel VIC on the Harbour

STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE Drawing on technology for brand differentiation, Hotel VIC is equipped with four self check-in kiosks for tech-savvy travellers who favour convenience and speed over human contact. They only need to scan the confirmation QR code to have their reservations processed and room key cards dispensed immediately.

A customised smartphone app puts a variety of services at their fingertips, from in-room dining to restaurant reservations, multimedia entertainment as well as online check-in and check-out.

At the main lobby area is a massive touch screen offering directions to places of interest. This is part of the hotel’s “VIC Loves” programme, which shows guests the hidden gems in the neighbourhood such as an old Shanghainese barbershop and gourmet havens.

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www.hotelvic.com

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SPACE FOR COLLABORATION, CREATIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

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In the concrete jungle of Hong Kong, the new campus of the French International School stands as a vibrant green oasis in the dense city. Eleven hundred pupils now enjoy a colourful, collaborative multicultural learning space, setting the scene for the working environment of tomorrow.

Just above street level in Hong Kong’s Tseung Kwan O district, sunlight meets the kaleidoscopic façade of the new French International School campus, spilling into the building through windows laid across a grid of 627 multicoloured tiles. From the street, this colourful façade draws the eye to the institution’s new primary and secondary school – a vibrant, sustainable environment supporting a world-class multicultural education.

Completed in September, the 19,600 square metre new campus creates an open and active learning environment that place the school at the forefront of pedagogical innovation in Hong Kong.

“We dissolved the traditional classrooms, and we pushed boundaries on how learning spaces can allow teachers and classes to work together in a more collaborative open space,” said Claude Godefroy, Design Director and partner at Henning Larsen Hong Kong.

In the Primary School section, the traditionally enclosed classrooms with corridors merge together in a series of large open plan spaces called Villas, each with 125 pupils in the same age group. Teachers can open their classes up to each other and share a central space called the Agora, where group activities unfold. Here, classes from both streams of the school (French and International) can collaborate and develop group projects together; preparing for the work environments of tomorrow.

PUSHING A GREEN, SUSTAINABLE AGENDA Green in form and function, the campus sets an example in sustainability. The building form and the façade designs are optimised to respond to the local climate and to decrease energy consumption and increase comfort by passive means.

Claude Godefroy explains: “With its wide array of sustainable measures, ranging from the choice of materials, to the many passive designs to economise energy and ensure great daylight, to the way the school is able to share spaces with the surrounding community, the new campus of FIS offers lessons in sustainable architecture for pupils and local builders.”

Strategic use of daylight also supports the sustainable vision. The campus offers ample daylight in all of its spaces. In the sunny tropics, this means careful orientation of windows and robust sun shading. All the classrooms face North or South to avoid the punitive low sun from East and West, and the deep brisesoleil shades the façade to avoid any direct sunlight streaming into the spaces.

The light is generous and homogenous throughout the day. The brise-soleil entirely removes the need for blinds or curtains and enables a clearer glass to be used, thus providing a more natural color of daylight in interior spaces.

Natural vegetation is crucial to the campus’ green function. Forty-two trees, a plant covered perimeter fence, multi-storey hanging gardens and a 550 square metre botanical garden planted with native vegetation from the south of China are among the green spaces that establish the school as a lush garden within urban Hong Kong. As the vegetation improves air quality within the urban setting, ventilation systems utilise natural breezes to circulate fresh air through the building and reduce reliance on air conditioning. With ample opportunity to study, play among and cultivate these gardens, students are able to gain hands-on experience with the region’s natural vegetation, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship and a practical education in sustainability.

DESIGNED FOR A MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY The multi-coloured ceramic tiles covering the French International School’s distinctive façade are a material representation of the environment within. A spectrum of colours, the tile design gives sustainable form and a multicultural vision to the campus, supporting its mission of a forward-thinking, international education.

Offering five languages to a student body representing 40 nationalities, the French International School is an active cultural crossroad. Outside of school hours the campus also acts as a quiet and green oasis in a city with a scarcity of space. Ground floor facilities, including the gymnasium, exhibition areas, canteen and playground, can be opened to the public - allowing the school to operate on evenings and weekends as a beacon for French culture.

Text: Henning Larsen Architects

Photographer: Philippe Ruault

Jasper Lau

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