PRC Magazine #97 ( Architecture | Building | Construction )

2019 Issue 97

Pacific Rim Construction

XIQU CENTRE

Hong Kong / PRC $50

FIRST LANDMARK BUILDING OPENS IN WEST KOWLOON CULTURAL DISTRICT

Inside: Spacebar’s striking modern interiors ignite the senses The Pavilia Bay exudes a life of ocean-going glamour New libraries catering to the needs of their community BuroHappold computational design pushing boundaries Quality of hotel stays influenced by superior interiors ISSN 1684-1956 977168495009

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Discerning designers with clients of such projects specify Schotten & Hansen’s wooden floors as no other timber flooring comes close to being as strong and durable.

Few projects have such high foot traffic as busy hotels and airports. Finest-quality timbers handcrafted into unique, desirable flooring and interior solutions, lovingly handled to transform spaces and age beautifully.

Exclusive Sales Partner of Schotten & Hansen Showroom: 220 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong Phone: +852 2833 6069 Email: info@schotten-hansen.com Made in Germany. Available in Hong Kong.

www.schotten-hansen.com

Wavi Island, Fiji Private island & residences – land and villas for sale

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ

Wavi Island, Fiji - an exclusive lifestyle, resort holiday-holding or a capital growth investment – it’s yours for the choosing.

Wavi Island is a fantasy come true – a private freehold-titled tropical island with only 20 residences – with South Pacific seas views, marina berths and access to resort amenities.

Connected to the Vanua Levu mainland by an exclusiveuse gated bridge, Wavi Island is a 27-acre coral island surrounded by the Koro Seas. The hard work is over after more than a decade of preparation - water, utilities, advanced communication technologies, roads and resort-style amenities are in place. Located 10-minutes from Savusavu, an official port of entry into Fiji with two yacht and superyacht marinas; 15-minutes to the Savusavu Airport (SVU), and a one-hour flight to the Nadi International Airport (NAN).

On offer are limited opportunities to acquire a luxury pavilionstyle villa – only one, 19 residential land blocks - with or without a new villa. Owner financing and rental guarantees are available for qualified individuals or joint venture investors. Asset trades will be considered by the vendor.

◊Residential land/blocks priced from US$500,000 to $985,000 • Land and villa packages priced from US$1 Million

◊ Ocean front 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom pavilion-style villa with infinity edge swimming pool, for sale: US$1.9 Million • 4,000 sqm landscaped grounds (almost one acre) • Prime ocean front position from sunrise to sunset • Fully furnished and equipped as a luxuriously-appointed executive residence • 6% rental guarantee through March 2020 with Wavi Island retaining resort management rights

It’s your life, start living it in style at Wavi Island.

Let’s start the conversation, text, call or email Chester Rendell

+64 21964873

For more information about Wavi Island

chester.rendell@nzsir.com www.fiji-life.com

Apr/May 2019 Issue 97 FACEBOOK

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2019 Issue 97

Pacific Rim Construction

Xiqu centre

Cover photo: Xiqu Centre

Hong Kong / PRC $50

first landmark building opens in West koWloon Cultural

Inside: Spacebar’s striking modern interiors ignite the senses The Pavilia Bay exudes a life of ocean-going glamour New libraries catering to the needs of their community BuroHappold computational design pushing boundaries Quality of hotel stays influenced by superior interiors ISSN 1684-1956 977168495009

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28 www.prc-magazine.com

60 www.rofmedia.com

Let’s Connect to the world of Architecture, Building, Construction and more...

Publisher: Mike Staley, publisher@rofmedia.com Editor: info@rofmedia.com Contributing Editor: Elizabeth Dooley Editorial Team: Bryan Chan • Derek Leung • Jasper Lau • Krista Chan • 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 Designer: Michelle Morkel Photographer: Brian Zhang Digital Media Coordinator: Jeffrey Ng 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

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner, without the written consent of the publishers. All care is taken but accuracy of information rests with the client; the publisher bares no responsibility for any factual errors that may occur. The views expressed herein are not necessarily shared by PRC Magazine or its staff. © Copyright 2019 Ring of Fire Limited

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Introducing

Illuminate Asia HH21 PRC Magazine

8 PRESS

THE ST. REGIS HONG KONG OPENS IN APRIL ESTABLISHING GLOBAL BENCHMARK FOR HOTEL

Photo : ROF Media Reflecting the vision of St. Regis through the eyes of interior designer André Fu, the St. Regis Hong Kong opened in April. Blending architectural creativity, cultural diversity and timeless elegance, the opening of the St. Regis Hong Kong marks a highly significant moment for the St. Regis brand, not only as a landmark opening in Hong Kong, but as an exemplar property setting a new benchmark in luxury hospitality for the next generation of St. Regis hotels globally. Exceptional F&B venues include two restaurants by Michelin starred chefs, L’Envol, a French finedining restaurant and Rùn, a Chinese fine-dining restaurant as well as unique bar programming at The St. Regis Bar. 112 rooms and 17 signature suites range in size from 50 to 240m² with the stylish and contemporary interior design paying homage to Hong Kong’s rich heritage and culture. Located at 1 Harbour Drive within the island’s vibrant Wan Chai district,The St. Regis Hong Kong is in close proximity to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition. www.stregishongkong.com

THINKING AHEAD TO 2050, SOM SAYS CITIES MUST BE GREENER TO BE GREATER

Architectural services firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill has helped National Geographic envision a greener and smarter future for urban dwellers in the magazine’s cities issue. The April issue focuses on urbanisation and draws on SOM’s research and urban planning precedents. The Cities of the Future edition looks at urbanisation in 2050, when the world’s population is predicted to reach 9.8 billion. The magazine looks at several principles including conservation of ecological resources, dense settlement patterns, liveability and social equity. The SOM team focused on what it says is the single most important issue for urbanisation; the need to stabilise and restore ecological systems.The practice says that by assuming a proactive position on ecological issues, clean water, carbon sequestration, human health and habitat loss can be tackled. SOM says its idea of “biomorphic urbanism” places ecological systems and human-centred design as the most important drivers of city form. SOM argues that existing and future cities should adopt these practices. www.som.com

IKEA IT’S NOT, YET EVERYONE FEELS AT HOME ON SWEDEN’S OUTDOOR SOFA

KNIGHT FRANK LAUNCHES ANNUAL HOTEL REPORT ON GREATER CHINA Property consultancy Knight Frank says mainland China’s hotel accommodation sector is healthy enough to provide growth to the country’s tourism industry.

The conclusion is reached in the company’s Greater China Hotel Report 2018.

“With the government’s initiatives to boost domestic consumption, demand for five-star hotels in the country will remain strong and continue to enjoy robust growth in the coming years,” said David Ji, Knight Frank’s head of research and consultancy for Greater China. Benefiting from an increase in the number of visitor arrivals, Beijing’s luxury hotel market improved gradually. Last year, three new luxury hotels opened in Beijing, adding 814 rooms. In the mid- to longterm, the report says the rapid development of domestic tourism will result in increasing hotel demands. The coming year will see a remarkable increase in the supply of five-star hotels in Guangzhou, with more than 1,000 rooms added to the market. That rapid growth in new supply will put pressure on Guangzhou’s hotel market, suppressing both the average daily date and the occupancy rate.

The report says record arrivals in Hong Kong and improved infrastructure in Macau mean both markets have seen strong hotel occupancy rates and show positive signs for the next 12 months. www.knightfrank.com.hk

Uppsala’s Forumtorget square has been revitalised by the creation of a 65-m-long sofa designed by White Arkitekter as the centrepiece of improvements to the 1600-m2 space. Uppsala is the fourth biggest city in Sweden, home to 150,000 people, and the linear sofa is the result of a seven-year development process after a 2011 design competition by the city council.White’s project reflects the practice’s inclusive, people-centred approach to design and a commitment to high-quality work in the public realm. The practice used water-jet cutters to create 3,500 individually contoured, 19-mm bench sections of glass-quartz composite. They were assembled onto a steel substructure off-site, and then bolted together on site.

Chosen with longevity in mind, the robust materials should enable the structure to have a lifespan of at least 30 years. “The sofa is a more homely and welcoming version of traditional outdoor furniture that bolsters a sense of community by creating increased opportunities for social interaction at Forumtorget. The result is an enhanced public realm that revitalises the centre of Uppsala,” said Gustav Jarlöv of White Arkitekter. whitearkitekter.com

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QATAR OPENS ITS NATIONAL MUSEUM WITH NOUVEL’S DESERT ROSE TWIST

RENSON JOINS LIXIL’S LINE-UP TO SELL NEXT-LEVEL OUTDOOR LIVING IN JAPAN

An immersive experience in an architectural masterpiece, the National Museum of Qatar opened in April. Designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel, the museum’s winding, 1.5-km gallery path is a journey through a series of unique environments, each of which tells its part of the story of Qatar through a special combination of architectural space, music, poetry, oral histories, evocative aromas, archaeological and heritage objects, art and monumentally-scaled art films.The 52,000-m2 museum saw Nouvel draw inspiration from the desert rose, a flower-like formation that occurs naturally in the Gulf region when minerals crystallise in the crumbly soil just below the surface of a shallow salt basin. “To imagine a desert rose as a basis for design was a very advanced idea, even a utopian one. To construct a building with great curved disks, intersections, and cantilevered angles – the kind of shapes made by a desert rose – we had to meet enormous technical challenges,” says Nouvel. The museum is the world’s first to receive both LEED Gold certification and a four-star sustainability rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System. https://nmoq.org.qa

IN LONDON, BUROHAPPOLD WINS TWO CIBSE BUILDING PERFORMANCE AWARDS

High-end lifestyle brands Lixil and Renson have announced a partnership to sell to the residential and commercial markets in Japan. Lixil will launch Renson’s designs later this year, including a rebranded version of the Renson Camargue Skye pergola. The Garden Annex, as it will be known in Japan, has a louvered roof to protect consumers from the sun and rain. The pergola can also be equipped with wind-tight screens, speakers, heaters and LED lighting. “Creating and delivering high value for our customers, that’s what this partnership is all about” said Lixil chief executive Satoshi Yoshida. Renson chief executive Paul Renson said the partnership would further his company’s ambition to create healthy living spaces. Renson has operated in Belgium for more than 110 years and is now focused on expanding its horizons internationally. Lixil makes pioneering water and housing products including items under the Inax, Grohe and American Standard brands. www.lixil.com

SNC-LAVALIN SAYS IT EARNED TOP MARKS IN ETHICS FROM ETHISPHERE INSTITUTE

BuroHappold has been honoured with two Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers awards. Now in their 12th year, the awards recognise the teams, products, innovations, initiatives and projects that demonstrate engineering excellence in the built environment. More than 750 industry professionals attended February’s awards dinner in London. BuroHappold retained the award for Building Performance Consultancy of the Year for more than 1,000 employees, and won Project of the Year – Public Use for Newcastle University’s Urban Sciences Building, state-of-the-art teaching facility that sets a new benchmark for campus design by achieving a balance of sustainability, space flexibility and operational efficiency. Dr Sarah Prichard, BuroHappold’s UK Buildings Managing Director, delivered the night’s keynote speech on the importance of building performance. She said the construction industry had neglected the measurement of how buildings perform, and a greater effort had to be directed to tracking energy, measuring well-being and environmental control. www.burohappold.com

SNC-Lavalin has earned Compliance Leader Verification from the Ethisphere Institute, an independent centre for research, best practices and thought leadership.The verification from the United States-based organisation is awarded to companies with industry-leading ethics and compliance programmes. SNCLavalin’s performance was evaluated in six main areas: programme resources and structure, perceptions of ethical culture, written standards, training and communication, risk assessment, monitoring and auditing, enforcement, discipline and incentives. “Ethisphere’s recognition acknowledges the efforts we have made to build a strong ethics and compliance programme,” said Neil Bruce, SNC-Lavalin president and chief executive. “It is by measuring ourself against leading companies that we will continue to improve our programme elements, structure and processes.” SNC-Lavalin’s Tony Lenard, regional integrity head for the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, said: “As a leading engineering end-to-end services provider, we will continue to promote compliance and ethics excellence among our employees and in communities where we operate in Asia Pacific and globally.” Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is a professional services and project management company. www.snclavalin.com

10 PRESS

LEIGH & ORANGE SIGNS OFF ON NEW CRYSTAL-INSPIRED CULINARY INSTITUTE

Leigh & Orange has recently completed a new education building, the International Culinary Institute for the Hong Kong Vocational Training Council. The newest addition to the training council’s campus in Pokfulam was inspired by the shape of a salt crystal, with the design making use of the multifaceted forms, angular planes and juxtaposing lines characteristic of the mineral. The building will become a hub for hospitality training and is the first of its kind in Asia because it offers training and facilities for European, Mediterranean, American, Asian and Middle Eastern cookery. Leigh & Orange acted as the architect and interior designer for the facility. “We are proud to have been a key player in the planning, design and delivery of this new development for VTC.The new ICI building will without doubt enhance Hong Kong as a culinary destination,” says Ivy Lee, Leigh & Orange’s managing director. Founded in Hong Kong in 1874, Leigh & Orange has had a significant influence on the city’s built environment, and the latest work for the culinary institute consolidates the work of the premier trainer for hospitality talent in one location. www.leighorange.com

EIGHT ANNOUNCES TAKE OFF IN A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH HAECO PRIVATE JET

The Eight Partnership and Haeco Private Jet Solutions are collaborating on the design and fit-out of private jets for travellers in Asia and the Middle East. Under the terms of the partnership, the Hong Kong-based design studio will manage a design office for cabin interiors and exteriors, while Haeco undertakes industrial design, engineering, certification, cabin completion and airframe maintenance.“We are very excited about this opportunity to combine our respective strengths in design and technical fulfilment of private jet cabins,” says Summit Chan, Haeco Xiamen’s chief executive.“Eight understands both the luxury market and the needs of private high-net-worth clients well, and has intimate knowledge of global design trends as well as the expectations of these sophisticated decision-makers.” Haeco was founded in 1950 and is a leading aircraft engineering and maintenance group, owned by the same parent company as Cathay Pacific, the Swire Group. With about 17,000 staff and 17 subsidiaries and affiliates.

“We couldn’t have dreamed of a better partner than Haeco”, says Chris Fjelddahl, a partner at Eight. “Their technical capabilities and resources are second-to-none, and they are already trusted by both Airbus and Boeing.” www.eightpartnership.com

INFRASTRUCTURE SURVEYS FEATURE AT ROTORCRAFT ASIA, UNMANNED SYSTEMS ASIA

SWIRE PROPERTIES, LUJIAZUI GROUP RELEASE SHANGHAI RETAIL PROJECTTAIKOO LI QIANTAN

Swire Properties and the Lujiazui Group have launched their Shanghai development in the city’s Pudong area, Taikoo Li Qiantan. Taikoo Li Qiantan has a GFA of about 120,000m2 catering for as many as 250 outlets. The architecture is by 5+Design of the United States and the landscaping by Tierra, a Singaporean firm. The distinct open-plan, lane-driven architectural design by Swire is a component of a bigger mixed-use development called the New Bund Centre by the Lujiazui Group. The project will connect to the Oriental Sports Centre metro station that straddles three metro lines. Swire Properties director retail Han Zhi said the leasing process at Taikoo Li Qiantan had begun and the development would open in phases beginning from the end of next year. The development is part of the Pudong Qiantan International Business District, an emerging hub for art and culture, business, entertainment, residential and worldclass sporting facilities. Shanghai Lujiazui (Group) Co Ltd is one of the firms permitted to develop the area located to the south of the former site of the Shanghai World Expo. www.swireproperties.com

Rotorcraft Asia 2019 and Unmanned Systems Asia 2019, the Asia Pacific region’s first integrated platform for rotorcraft and unmanned systems, saw more than 3,500 trade attendees from 62 countries attend April’s three-day event at the Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore. A theme at this year’s expo was electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) technologies. Highlights included the unveiling of Volocopter’s full eVTOL aircraft that is capable of transporting two passengers for about 30km, as well as the Drone Operations Centre developed by Garuda Robotics and the FutureFlight Consortium to enable drone operations in security and delivery applications. Ten innovative showcases were also presented at What’s Next, a joint strategic platform where start-ups had the opportunity to showcase their capabilities and pitch business ideas and offerings to investors, accelerator and corporate partners. Some of the highlights include multi-fusion sensor proprietary technology for high-precision infrastructure inspection.“There are about 4 million pieces of infrastructure around the world that need inspection, real-time accuracy and speed.What we are very focused on is inventing new ideas and new technologies that can be extremely valuable to very large infrastructure companies,” said Brian Peace, the chief executive of one of the participants, BrashTech. www.rotorcraft-asia.com www.unmannedsystems-asia.com

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COMANSA MAKES MOVES TO REDUCE SET-UP TIME OF THE FLAT-TOP RANGE

SWIRE, WHEELOCK AMONG BIGGEST WINNERS AT THIS YEAR’S RICS AWARDS IN HONG KONG

Leading crane manufacturer Comansa has announced a new model with maximum load capacity of 50t or 66t at the Bauma trade show in Munich, Germany.The new 21LC1400 will be available worldwide from this September 2019 and is expected to find the greatest use in Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) and infrastructure projects. The new model delivers performance in any other site in which it is necessary to lift very heavy loads. Also announced in Germany was Quick Set, an electronic limitation system that will reduce the set-up time of the cranes from three hours to 45 minutes, and will also reduce the number of staff required. Quick Set will be available as an option in all flat-top models in the LC range and will benefit rental companies who have to dismantle their cranes and move them frequently. Comansa also displayed the 50-t flat-top model 21LC1050 at Munch. The appliance was the biggest hammerhead crane at the show. This crane has a maximum radius of 80m and was designed mainly for large industrial, infrastructure and PPVC projects. www.comansa.com

Real estate giants Swire and Wheelock were among the biggest winners at this year’s RICS Awards, Hong Kong 2019 – an annual event celebrating outstanding contributions to Hong Kong’s built environment. The highest individual honour available from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Hong Kong is the RICS Lifetime Achiever award, which this year was awarded to Sir Gordon Wu. The Hopewell Holdings chairman received the award in recognition of his fivedecade career developing property, infrastructure and business projects across Hong Kong, mainland China and elsewhere in Asia. He was among the first Hong Kong businessmen to invest in the mainland during its economic reforms of the 1980s. Some 12 team awards were also given out at the event. Hong Kong-based Wheelock Properties scored a double, winning both Residential Team of the Year and Corporate Social Responsibility Project of the Year. Meanwhile Hong Kong-born brand Swire Properties scored a hat-trick, winning three categories: Swire Properties was victorious in both Construction Project Construction Team of the Year and Sustainability Achievement of the Year, while Office Team of the Year was claimed by Swire Properties Management. www.rics.org

Hospitality Design & Supplies @ HOFEX

Food & Drinks @ HOFEX

Hospitality Technology @ HOFEX

ProWine Asia @ HOFEX

www.HOFEX.com/reg/

12 PRESS

CLP CELEBRATES INITIAL BATCH OF GRADUATES FROM ITS POWER ACADEMY

The CLP Power Academy has turned out its first batch of students with Professional Diplomas in Power Engineering and Certificates for Junior Electricians. The Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of Hong Kong Matthew Cheung Kin-chung officiated at the graduation ceremony at the Tsim Sha Tsui Community Hall in February. He told the audience Hong Kong’s government would continue to invest resources in major infrastructure and public facilities projects, such as housing development, smart city development and hospital development plans, which required reliable electricity. The development of the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau Greater Bay Area would only serve to increase the demand for talent working in electricity supply and construction, he said. An initiative of CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd, the academy partners with the Hong Kong Vocational Training Council to deliver full-time and part-time programmes for engineers and electricians either in the middle of their careers or workers just starting out. CLP Power operates a vertically integrated electricity supply business to 6 million people in Hong Kong. www.clp.com.hk

PMDL’S SENSITIVE SHEUNG WAN UPGRADE IN TUNE WITH 1960s HONG KONG VIBE Architects and interior designers PMDL Architecture and Design have recently completed a renovation of a five-storey walk-up building on one of Hong Kong Island’s busiest thoroughfares. The client, appreciative of the city’s built heritage and recognising the inherent possibilities of adapting, upgrading, and reusing existing buildings, identified a corner building to compliment the built fabric of Sheung Wan. Sheung Wan is located in central Hong Kong and is typified by its low-rise, high-density walk-up buildings in contrast to Hong Kong’s soaring skyline. “The vernacular corner building is iconic in Hong Kong. With a renovation of this nature, the designer is faced with the responsibility of providing a design sympathetic to the distinct urban fabric of the neighbourhood while still meeting the client’s design brief of upgrading the building to modern sensibilities,” says practice director Simon Fallon. Originally built in the 1960s and since fallen into disrepair, PMDL worked closely with the client to revitalise the building by opening the façade, and retaining the building’s beam and post concrete construction. www.pmdl.com.au

ISG CONSTRUCTION SERVICES SAYS ASIAN GROWTH REFLECTED IN RECORD PERFORMANCE

The ISG construction services group has announced a record financial performance for 2018 which it says reflects the organisation’s significant operations in Asia. For the first time in the company’s 30-year history, turnover exceeded £2 billion (US$2.6 billion), with a before-tax profit of £38.5 million, compared to £28.2 million for 2017. The company’s Asia business has made a positive contribution to this record performance with operations in Hong Kong expanding to encompass a major engineering and construction scheme for a world-class university research facility. In Singapore, ISG is currently delivering a fit out scheme for a multi-billion global investment company and a worldclass retail store for a global technology company at Jewel Changi Airport. “Our successful diversification into the technology and biomedical sector positions us well to become a global market leader and we continuously prosper from the strength of our fit out and additions and alterations refurbishment capabilities in the hospitality, commercial office and retail sectors,” said Tim Threlkeld, managing director of ISG Hong Kong. ISG employs more than 3,000 people in 24 countries. www.isgplc.com

P&T GROUP WINDS DOWN ANNIVERSARY OF SHAPING HONG KONG’S SKYLINE Award-winning architecture practice P&T Group is winding down its 150th anniversary celebrations with a series of events at City Gallery.

The events form part of the Hong Kong Response Exhibition, Vertical Fabric: Density in Landscape, a continuation of the 16th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition. The P&T Group exhibition includes city walking tours, public forums and family workshops under the theme Dreams of a City. Available to the public are public sessions that will explain how the engineering and architectural consultancy has shaped the city over its 150-year history. The practice has been behind signature designs in Central and Western District, including the Pedder Building, Jardine House, Exchange Square and Landmark, and has played an otherwise critical role in the development of one of the world’s most important financial districts. As P&T Group’s 150th anniversary celebrations draw to a close, a bound, threepart, limited- edition folio will showcase the group’s most iconic designs. The publication includes nostalgic designs, with images of hand-sketched drawings. The publication is available for sale at selected bookstores. www.p-t-group.com

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MIECF DELIVERS AS PLATFORM FOR FIRMS EXPLORING GREEN BUSINESS PROSPECTS

URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY OPENS LIFT MODERNISATION SUBSIDY SCHEME

The Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition saw 44 business and cooperation agreements signed, and 350 business matching sessions in the Green Matching Area. The three-day event in March attracted more than 4,700 participants. Exhibitors and participants explored green business opportunities under the theme Promoting Ecological Civilization and Green Development. Among the businesses taking part were 10 Brazilian companies engaged in environmental protection services. Their trip to Macau was arranged by the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. The delegation conducted business matching sessions with companies from Macau and mainland China, and fielded inquiries from mainland enterprises interested in investing in agriculture projects in Brazil. Government procurement sessions and networking session with hotel industry were held at this year’s exhibition, which saw many participants expressing higher levels of satisfaction, according to the organisers. This year’s event was organised by the governments in the Pan-Pearl River Delta Region, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute and the Environmental Protection Bureau. www.macaomiecf.com

Hong Kong’s Urban Renewal Authority and Development Bureau are taking applications for the Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme until the end of July. The city’s government has earmarked US$318.7 million to upgrade older elevators in addition to broader plans to improve the city’s building stock under the Operation Building Bright 2.0 Scheme and Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme.

“The URA will arrange consultants to provide free services, including assistance in preparing tender documents, and provision of the electronic tendering platform to appoint qualified registered contractors, as well as works supervision and contract management,” said outgoing URA chairman Victor So Hing-woh.

Successful applicants will receive subsidies of up to 60 percent of the total cost of modernisation works, to a maximum of about US$64,000 a lift. Eligible elderly owner-occupiers aged 60 or above will be granted a full subsidy, capped at about US$6,500, for each domestic unit. Meanwhile, Chow Chung-kong will lead the authority for the next three years. Mr Chow was appointed chairman of the board, effective from May 1, and replaces Mr So who retires after a six-year tenure. www.ura.org.hk

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14 PRESS

HONG KONG’S FIRST CO-WORKING TOWER ‘SPACES SUN HOUSE’ OPENS IN SHEUNG WAN

Spaces is a creative working space that incorporates the unique culture and energy of entrepreneurship, providing a flexible working environment for innovation, creativity, and cooperation. Unlike its fellow establishments, Spaces promotes a culture that pushes the envelope of traditional business culture, builds a uniquely stimulating working community, and encourages like-minded members to communicate and network. In late January, Spaces opened their first co-working tower in Hong Kong, Spaces Sun House, providing international businesses, entrepreneurs, freelancers and freethinkers with over 7,000m² of innovative office space.

Designed to be a homely working environment, the 20-storey building comes with its own rooftop featuring a Business Club area, comprises close to 130 private offices, 800 workstations, several floors of co-working space, indoor and outdoor event venue and a screening room. The former Sun House building was completed in 1977 and after refurbishment has now been transformed into an iconic modern structure. Following Space’s traditional European design concept, Spaces Sun House dusts a graceful coherence across the workspace that is complimented by the placement of handpicked artwork and elegant European furniture and decorations on each floor.

With three exits that lead to Des Voeux Road Central, Connaught Road Central and Wing Wo Street, accessing the building couldn’t be easier. The reception area is located on the ground floor, where three of the side walls are made of floor-to-ceiling windows to attain optimal daylight.The lobby of Spaces Sun House has high celings and a massive chandelier designed by French light couture brand Blackbody comprised of 300 sets of OLED lights.

The 7,000 square feet Business Club located on the ground, mezzanine and first floor is a common area that encourages interaction among members. On the second floor are several meeting rooms, the largest of which can accomadate up to 50 people. An internal staircase connects the floors between mezzanine and the second, making it easy to get around.The third to the nineteenth floors house close to 130 different private working offices that fit from 1 person up to 40 people. Rental periods for these offices are highly flexible as well, ranging from 1 month to 24 months. www.spacesworks.com

DELABIE’S NEW MAGAZINE HIGHLIGHTS THE BEAUTY BEHIND ANY BATHROOM

WINNERS NAMED IN THE QUALITY PROPERTY AND FACILITY MANAGEMENT AWARDS

Trends by Delabie is a new publication from the 90-year-old sanitary ware manufacturer that is designed to showcase the beauty in the design of washrooms in public places. The magazine shows a big selection of projects from around the world, not only in bigger public spaces, such as airports, universities, hospitals and corporate head offices, but also in more intimate public places such as treatment rooms, restaurants, gyms and bars. Trends is intended to appeal to architects and interior designers, as well as those who are passionate about design and the art of the beautiful. The magazine includes specification trends and interviews with prominent designers and architect who describe their projects and passions.

More than a product catalogue, Trends is a real information source for architects in the field of sanitary washrooms.The magazine features some of Delabie’s most stylish products, solutions which are design-led and respect the environment.

Delabie products are installed in more than 90 countries worldwide. www.delabie.com

The winners of the Quality Property and Facility Management Award 2018 were revealed earlier in the year before 300 industry leaders at an annual dinner in Hong Kong. The awards featured 10 categories, with 31 winners recognised from the 118 entries. The winners were selected by a panel of 15 jurors from diverse professional backgrounds, who assessed the projects according to strict criteria, ensuring credibility and professionalism. Among the winners were Yoho Midtown, managed by Kai Shing Management Services; Grand Promenade, by the Henderson Land Group subsidiary Well Born Real Estate Management; and the Mount Nicholson, by Nan Fung Property Management.“The awards encourage and inspires industry professionals and companies to employ innovative technologies and creative ideas to improve property and facilities management while upholding the highest professional standards,” said Kays Wong, the chairman of 2018 awards organising committee. “This year’s theme, Smart Buildings, Smart Management, aims to reinforce the awards vision and to unite professionals in the spirit of pursuing excellence.” The event is jointly organised by The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors and The Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies. www.qpfma.hk

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Complementing the expanded line-up of exhibitors and close-knit visitors from the catering and hospitality industry, the Hospitality Design and Supplies and Hospitality Technology sectors are prominently featured at HOFEX. From Audio, Visual & Lighting, Security & Safety Systems, Fittings, Fixtures & Furniture, Housekeeping, Cleaning Equipment & Supplies to Spa & Resort Facilities, the expo is the best stage to visualise innovative ideas for caterers and hotels to revamp their brands and buildings with the latest and top-class facilities, supplies and designs.

+852 2827 6211/ visit@hofex.com

Innovation is transforming the retail sector, and when it comes to purchases, customers are empowered by the leading-edge technologies more than ever!

To add a brand new diversity to the usual F&B feed, the leading retail exhibition Retail Asia Conference & Expo (RACE) will be co-located with HOFEX in Hall 5BCD. RACE features three focus areas: Retail Technology, Retail Design & InStore Marketing and Internet Retailing, proudly presenting top-notch exhibits ranging from digital signage, POS systems, lighting systems to E-commerce platform and solutions, turning bright ideas into successful businesses.

+852 2827 6211/ visit@retailasiaexpo.com

16 EVENTS

R+T Asia impresses from start to finish 15th edition of the trade fair sets new record with exhibitors from 21 countries presenting products and services to the Asian market R+T Asia once again lived up to its reputation as the most important trade fair for sun protection systems and doors and gates in the Asia/ Pacific region. With attendance records being shattered across the board 2019 consolidated R+T Asia’s status as a must-attend event for the industry.

InnovAction Programme The InnovAction Programme, which offers innovation-focused companies a platform containing an exhibition area, expert talks and an award, proved very popular. In the area of sun protection Burda Worldwide Technologies (Germany) won this year's InnovAction Award for a modular system for climate control of outdoor areas. The company won the R+T Innovation Prize in Stuttgart in 2018.

The 15th edition of the trade fair was the most successful in the history of R+T Asia with a very pronounced increase in the number of exhibitors and visitors as well as the size of the exhibition space which at 65,000m² this year was more than 25% larger than in 2018.This year there were 642 exhibitors and 41,505 visitors, both approximately 20% higher than the previous year.

For 82 international exhibitors R+T Asia is the industry meeting point in Asia. The trade fair enables exhibitors to present their company to the market, often for the first time. The fair also cultivates contacts with customers from China and across the entire Asia Pacific region. In the year following R+T in Stuttgart exhibitors from 21 countries, including Belgium, Germany, France, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, South Korea, Turkey and the USA, presented their products and services.

The trade fair also attracted exhibitors from Europe who now want to become active in China after a break of a few years. New exhibitors at R+T Asia included, Vertilux (USA) and Gaviota (Spain), to name two. Gaviota managing director, Ricardo Ginerwas impressed with his company's participation in the trade fair for the first time: "This was truly a great success! We are very satisfied. We fully attained our objective of getting to know the Asian market and understanding it better. We had customers from Korea and Japan, and from across the entire region visit our stand, also from as far away as South America and India. We will definitely come back again next year.”

A 21% increase in the number of visitors also proves that R+T Asia consistently features the right focal points and topics. The trade fair grew substantially with 28,721 visitors alone from Chinaan increase of almost 15 per cent. Many visitors came from all parts of the world to Shanghai, primarily from ASEAN countries, Europe, the USA and South America.

In the exhibition area for doors and gates ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems (Sweden/China) won first prize for the high-speed gate RR3000 R. Burda Worldwide Technologies took part in the InnovAction Hub in Shanghai for the first time in 2018. This year, the company from Eschborn exhibited in the German Pavilion with Germany having the third highest amount of exhibiting companies this year. Burda Worldwide Technologies managing director, Jiri Burda, was impressed with the outcome of R+T Asia: "My expectations were certainly exceeded, the trade fair went very well!

The German Pavilion was exactly the right way to present our products in Asia and further develop our product portfolio. The visitors were very knowledgeable and I received a large number of order inquiries.

Our product is Made in Germany. That goes down very well and I really see great potential here in future.”

The topic of Smart Homes is also very prevalent in the Chinese market. The special show entitled "Smart 2025 Experience" and the accompanying conference "AIoT Smart Home Summit" attracted large crowds. Specially conceived for Chinese visitors, this integral part of the accompanying programme will be further extended next year.

More information on R+T Asia at www.rtasia.org/en

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7 - 10 may 2019

hofex / Retail Asia Conference & Expo

Visit PRC Magazine's Booths @ 5E-346

HKCEC, Hong Kong

9 - 12 JUNE 2019

Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou

Asia-Pacific’s leading food and hospitality tradeshow, HOFEX is held biannually in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, organised by UBM Asia.

HOFEX is a “must-attend” event if you are passionate about food and beverage. Co-located with ProWine Asia 2019 and Retail Asia Conference & Expo, attending HOFEX and its concurrent shows will also give you a taste of world-class wines and a look at the latest retail innovations.

opportunity to meet and mingle with industry specialists, as to maximize networking potential.

Apart from building face-to-face connections, trade visitors can also immerse themselves in the hottest food trends and will be able to view and sample thousands of offerings including seafood, cured and fresh meats, baked goods, confectionery, ice cream and more at the fair (as well as wine, spirits and sake at ProWine Asia).

74 exhibiting countries and regions and 48 national groups and pavilions make the 2019 edition of HOFEX the most international year yet. Every sector in the F&B industry including hoteliers, restaurateurs, general managers, executive chefs, importers and distributors will attend HOFEX 2019, showcasing their products and services. This is definitely a rare

https://hofex.com

www.retailasiaexpo.com

In 2018 the show featured 220 exhibitors from all over the world and together with the Guangzhou International Lightning Exhibition 2018, 165,998 visitors from 129 countries and regions from around the world attended the events.

This year the16th edition of Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology will cover the sectors of power supply and energy management systems, electrical engineering, building and home automation as well as smart homes, to highlight latest development trends for smart cities, energy saving and building efficient technology. GEBT 2019 will host a series of customised seminars and networking events exploring the development trends of China’s fastgrowing building technology market, contributing to more business opportunities for the industry. https://guangzhou-electrical-building-technology. hk.messefrankfurt.com/

3 - 6 JUL 2019

ARCHIDEX 2019 KLCC, Kuala Lumpur Marking its 20th anniversary, ARCHIDEX (The 20th International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition) is established as the region’s leading annual trade exhibition for the building industry. But what makes it such a not-to-bemissed event? One simple answer: ARCHIDEX is the point of convergence for the architecture, interior design and the building fraternities in Malaysia and the region, attracting more than 33,000 visitors in 2018.

With the chance to meet renowned design professionals and industry experts, ARCHIDEX has earned itself this pivotal position as an ideal networking and knowledge-sharing platform, a gathering place for a fraternity of industry-related professionals including students and academics, urban planners and developers, as well professionals from across the building industry. Aside from being the region’s leading event to keep up-to-date with the latest products, trends and innovation from renowned brands, ARCHIDEX’s appeal also lies in its evergrowing range of concurrently-run professional networking events, conferences, forums, workshops and talks. Under the umbrella of the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF), there will be the International Architecture & Design Conference (DATUM:KL), KL Design Forum (KLDF), Green Building Forum (GBF), ARCHITalent (Architecture Student Design Competition), architectural tours, just to name a few.

ARCHIDEX is also featuring ECO-B (Eco Building & Design Exhibition) with new concurrent exhibitions such as FACIMEX (Facilities Management & Cleaning Exhibition and ENGINEER (Mechanical, Electrical & Civil Engineering Exhibition). www.archidex.com.my

Over 20 years in Hong Kong Over 2,000,000 locks sold to 764 retail shops

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SPACE S WITH

S E N SORY RE S O NANCE The key to shaping an impressive interior design is carefully arranged layouts that are well furnished. Whether the project is for private or commercial purposes, creating a space that is both well received and astounding is the name of the game.

Taking the design of a real estate showroom as an example, the main objective is to convey the architectural concept and lifestyle the housing provides; another focus is to position the company in a way that will attract target customers and impress potential buyers. Even if the space is not intended for the long-term, most developers are still willing to pay for high-end design to highlight the uniqueness of their projects.

Spacebar Limited, however, take a different approach, believing that the design of a space based purely on impressing visitors is unsatisfactory. Rather, its team of interior designers insist on creating an artistic interior with an interactive paradigm that provides a touch point to physically enhance the experience, aimed at humanising a space. Spacebar wants to achieve an outcome to engage audience with a unique and emotional experience of sense and to personalise the space with the end goal of creating a more specific customer brand, identity and value.

Founded in Hong Kong, Spacebar has a wide range of interior design experience in hospitality, retail, commercial and residential projects, having worked for many well-known brands in Hong Kong, China, Macau and Indonesia. Their expertise in designing exhibitions and showrooms, and with a strength in offering a total solution that combines a narrative space with interactive media to create modern and innovative designs.

Text: Elizabeth Dooley

Images: Spacebar

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experience within a space we are able to enhance a brand’s image and strengthen its connection with the audience,” explains Tsang.

“Although we are in the business of interior design, we spend time on studying people everyday.We observe how people interact with a particular space and how to create a positive experience that becomes embedded into the memory,” Tsang adds.

DESIGN STYL E DEV EL OPM EN T As Spacebar’s creative journey enters its tenth year, they have accumulated rich experience that puts them at the forefront of international design culture.

With Tsang’s initial partnership with an established multimedia company in the early days, the team work together along the way, in a trial-and-error approach. Till now, creating multitude experiences within interior design remains at the heart of the firm’s philosophy.

From commercial complexes, office and residential project show suites, to government and public agency development projects, private residential interior design, pop up stores, coffee shops and entertainment art exhibitions, Spacebar is a company that prides itself on creating unique design solutions to satisfy every customer’s needs.

“With any project, large or small, the essence of our creative process always lies in drawing inspiration from everyday life,” says Tsang. “It can be hard at times, but it’s always interesting. Just like haute couture is designed for customers interested in high-end fashion, nobody wants to look the same.We are craftsmen on spaces and we have great respect for other craftsmen. Our clients range from general residential interior design projects to government agencies, Alibaba and even Onepiece (Anime Fair), so every entry point of view is different, just as every client is different.”

MAINTAINING C OMPETITI V EN ES S I N T O THE FUTURE C R E AT I V E A R T “We are ‘spatial-directors’, says Spacebar founder, Popeye Tsang. “Every project is designed to appeal to the senses and we work towards inducing the audience to enter the poetic narrative of the space. With the notions of ‘people’ and ‘story’ at the core of our designs, our philosophy is based on creating meaningful content and playing around with materials, then integrate with multimedia to create a display that impacts the audience’s senses and provides a unique experience of the space.

Our aim in terms of creative art is to make a lasting impression on the audience, which helps to indirectly position the brand. By creating a tactile

Looking forward, Spacebar will continue enhance its reputation by providing innovative and narrative spatial design , while focusing on integrating elements of human culture, urban architecture and artistic expression and creating multiple sensory experiences relating to cultural aesthetics.

“Our goal is for our spaces to resonate with clients and visitors at a deep level,” stresses Tsang. Structure and design disappears when a space is demolished, only the memory lasts. So we develop quality spaces with sensory resonance which last in the memory,” he concludes.

“Journey, landscape and scenery experiences create memories. We are especially excited about Hotel projects, the opportunity represents more stories and experience awaiting to be directed by us.”

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LIBRARIES FOR OUR TIME To think of a library as nothing more than a building that houses books is to entirely underestimate the importance of our access to and understanding of mankind’s journey through civilisation and culture. As George Mercer Dawson, influential geologist, author, teacher, civil servant, geographer, anthropologist, and palaeontologist, once said: “A great library contains the diary of the human race.”

From this perspective, the designers of libraries can be seen as co-custodians of our collective consciousness and our understanding of our own selves. In the following pages we take a look at some of the most unique libraries and their contributions to communities around the world.

Information and images: WAF

Derek Leung

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Beyazıt State Library, Turkey Tabanlıoğlu Architects

“The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man.”

T.S. Eliot

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Underground Forest, Shanghai, China WUtopia Lab

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Librairie Avant-Garde. Chenjiapu Village, Zhejiang Province, China AZL Architects

Mulan Weichang Visitor Centre, Hebei, China Zhang Hai’ao.

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Books and Cubes, Cambodia IX Architects

Sydney’s Green Square Library and Plaza.

Sydney, Australia Stewart Hollenstein

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CUBE. Campus Tilburg University, Netherlands KAAN Architecten

THE PINCH Shuanghe Village, Yunnan Province, China Faculty of Architecture, University of Hong Kong

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PROMOTING & PRESERVING HONG KONG’S CULTURE & ARTS The first core facility in the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) of Hong Kong to be commissioned, the Xiqu Centre, was officially opened in January 2019. Since then an unprecedentedly rich array of Chinese opera performances have since been staged to the awe and applause of many. Positioned as a prestigious performing arts venue, the Xiqu Centre is now host to the best Chinese Opera masterpieces, and is tasked with the mission to preserve, promote and advance Xiqu and other genres of the performing arts.

Bryant Lu, Vice Chairman of RLP recalls working hand in glove with Mr. Thom, at a time when many great ideas bounced off between the pair. "We spent a lot of time discussing whether the Grand Theatre should be on the ground level or elevated." It was finally decided that the 1,073-seat Grand Theatre would be elevated to the 4th floor of the Centre, 30 metres above ground, thereby freeing up the space that would become the current Atrium offering a place to experience art and culture, and also simply sit back and relax.

Located in Tsim Sha Tsui at the junction of Canton Road and Austin Road West, the Xiqu Centre is the first major performing arts venue to be completed in the West Kowloon Cultural District and was incorporated into the blueprint of the cultural precinct as early as 2006.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SPACE

In 2009, Cantonese Opera was added to the World Intangible Cultural Heritage List, with the aim of reintroducing Chinese Opera to people of all ages and to rekindle interest in this art form to serve as a successor of this tradition. In 2012, the design project team made up of a collaboration between Bing Thom Architects (now known as Revery Architecture) and Ronald Lu and Partners (RLP) was chosen at a competition organised by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, with construction of the Xiqu Centre beginning in September 2013. From conception to birth, the journey lasted for more than 12 years.

The eight storey Xiqu Centre houses the Grand Theatre, the Tea House Theatre, the Atrium, a seminar hall, rehearsal studios, retail and food and beverage facilities. Mr. Lu stresses that in addition to a performing arts venue, the Xiqu Centre is also designed to serve as the eastern gateway to WKCD where a public space in form of a passageway is much warranted, justifying the cantilevered design of the Grand Theatre in order to accommodate the Atrium at ground level.

As Mr. Lu explains, if the Grand Theatre is situated at ground level, audiences will leave immediately after finishing the performance, discouraging them from venturing further into the Cultural District. In the future, he hopes when

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people visit the WKCD, they will meet at the Atrium of the Xiqu Centre. In such an event, it is hoped that the Centre will become a gathering point before the visitors decide the day's itinerary at WKCD. While waiting, one can check out the various exhibitions on Chinese Opera or enjoy free small-scale opera performances, boosting the likelihood of the public to experience and appreciate the art of opera performances first hand in order to cultivate new audiences for the art form.

Of the 450 square metre Atrium, Mr. Lu contends the location is an ideal space for a small stage where the public can enjoy outdoor performances, thus making Chinese Opera more popular whilst at the same time facilitating cultural inheritance. He describes the Atrium as being well ventilated and comfortable but resilient against the onslaught of typhoons. “This kind of covered public space is well-suited to Hong Kong and I hope that our design of the Xiqu Centre will inspire other architects to do more in this regard.”The striking

© WKCDA

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© Kevin Mak

façade of Xiqu Centre is in a class of its own. Inspired by traditional Chinese lanterns, the exterior is covered with more than 10,000 pieces of scaled fins that are designed to make the building shimmer under the evening lights. Its fluid and organic interior design is a modern interpretation of the traditional Chinese concept of “Qi” (flow), which as a world class performing venue make a radical departure from the conventional stereotype of Chinese Opera. Indeed, the design, coupled with an entrance shaped to resemble parted stage curtains, is an attempt to welcome audiences of all ages and backgrounds towards appreciating the art form and to entice visitors to venture inside the venue.

The Xiqu Centre was jointly designed by two architect firms. However, Mr. Thom unfortunately passed away in 2016 and did not live to see its completion.

Speaking of this, Mr. Lu is emotional: “His passing was a shock to all of us. I was always thinking we both would be celebrate at the opening ceremony. Mr. Thom’s passing instilled a sense of responsibility in the team to give their very best to this project.”

The white bench in the atrium, he said, was engraved with one of Mr. Thom’s statements: "I like to empower everyone, if you walk here and feel a little taller, I am happy."

SPACE TO SHINE Bryant Lu anticipates the Xiqu Centre will be instrumental in motivating Hong Kong to devote more resources towards cultural arts. He contends the opening of the Centre will serve as “a shot in the arm” for the city’s cultural scene and expedite the nurturing of the next generation of talent.

In addition to catering to audiences and the general public, the Xiqu Centre also provides a dedicated performance venue for Chinese Opera performers.

Previously no one has ever designed an orthodox Chinese Opera performance venue, thus there was no precedent and guidance to follow. Learning from its experience of designing the Ko Shan Theatre New Wing, RLP developed a deeper understanding of the requirements of the Chinese Opera performers. Many renowned Chinese Opera performers shared their needs during the design process, redefining the front and back stage, rehearsal studios and even the © WKCDA

Text: ROF Media Images: RLP, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and Kevin Mak

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“Xiqu Centre’s fluid and organic interior design is a modern interpretation of the traditional Chinese concept of “Qi” (flow), which as a world class performing arts venue makes a radical departure from the conventional design of Chinese opera houses.”

Bryant Lu, Vice-Chairman, Ronald Lu & Partners Tea House Theatre

© WKCDA

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Grand Theatre

orchestral pit, enabling these facilities to better cater to the performers and helping them to deliver their utmost on stage.

“The stage enables a new generation of artists and producers access to more opportunities. Now this serves as a venue for them to hone their craft before embarking on the path to success.”

Mr. Lu hopes the versatility of the Atrium can attract the public to venture into the Xiqu Centre through staging exhibitions, bazaars, workshops and other activities related to traditional Chinese culture, where they will then buy tickets to the Teahouse Theatre and the Grand Theatre, grooming a younger audience in the process.

He believes that the cosmopolitan design of the Xiqu Centre will usher a new era for Cantonese Opera and other Chinese Opera performing arts, and entice the younger generation of audiences: “I want to attract young people to the Centre and to be excited about seeing performances there,” he adds.

© WKCDA

Finally, in addition to actors, Mr. Lu hopes that the Centre will become a venue for all types of performance arts talents, including lighting and costume design.

"It is our hope that young people will be inspired to develop future pathways, and see that one can still prosper by engaging in cultural arts and succeed on their own. Ultimately we believe the venue can play a significant role in transforming Hong Kong from a cultural desert into a cultural mecca.”

© WKCDA

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© Kevin Mak

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Engineering the future

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BuroHappold has long been known for its innovative approach to structural engineering and its work in the world of tensile structures. Its work on landmark developments such as the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1986 was an entrance onto the Asia stage that earned the practice a reputation for being able to deliver ground breaking feats of engineering that remain technologically advanced today.

Fast forward over 30 years and BuroHappold continues to push the boundaries of technology and design. Among the many high profile projects currently being worked on across the region are the Jewel at Singapore’s Changi Airport, the XRL West Kowloon Terminal in Hong Kong, the Morpheus Tower in Macau and the Xiqu Centre for Chinese Opera stands at the heart of Hong Kong’s new West Kowloon Cultural District.

Suspended over a new public square and the tunnels of the long-awaited XRL West Kowloon Terminal, the Xiqu Centre is a new cultural icon for Hong Kong, created to provide the first permanent, contemporary home for Chinese Opera in the city. As the first of 17 arts and cultural venues located in the newly formed West Kowloon Cultural District, it comprises a 1,073-seat Grand Theatre, 200-seat Tea House Theatre, as well as a number of rehearsal and meeting areas, retail and dining venues.

An amalgamation of theatre, art and community spaces, the project is sited above the existing Mass Transit Railway’s (MTR) West Rail tunnels and Austin Station, and directly adjacent to West Kowloon Station, one of the challenges from an engineering perspective was to protect the Grand Theatre against vibration and noise by isolating it from the ground and locating it at the top of the building. For the engineering team at BuroHappold this meant executing a complex structural design that involved lifting into place 6,700 tonnes of steel roof theatre tissues.

Text: ROF Media Images: BuroHappold, RLP, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and Kevin Mak

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“To quickly and safely lift both the roof truss and the theatre truss, our team integrated strand jacking with the overall structural design. The main truss was assembled at ground level before being lifted to its final position 45 metres above street level, with the Grand Theatre suspended below the roof at the top of the building. This method allowed significant savings in time and cost, freeing the site area to allow work to continue concurrently with the construction of the roof,” explains Asia managing director, Richard Marshall.

The result is a building frame supported by six 45m high concrete columns reaching almost to the top of the building. The columns, built using the same jump-form construction that would commonly be used on tall buildings, are arranged along the perimetre of the building plan, measuring approximately 90m x 80m. BuroHappold’s design means that only one column is visible towards the edge of the public space, ensuring that the public area beneath the atrium remains column-free.

Another challenge involved the striking façade, formed from 2.5m long curved aluminium fins and conceived to represent a sense of movement.

“Inspired by traditional Chinese lanterns and shaped to resemble parted stage curtains with a curvature of the form representing the concept of ‘Qi’ or ‘flow’, we needed to think about how to allow light to emanate through the gaps and offer glimpses of the theatre within. The solution was found using 3D modelling software to understand and optimise the performance of the façade up to the end of the schematic design phase. Computational design allows us to approach as set of common problems by assigning a set of rules that in turn allows us to solve those problems much faster than working out the solution to each problem individually,” he adds.

ON SUSTAINABILITY For Marshall and his team at BuroHappold sustainability is more of a value than a challenge, over time having changed from being a specialist offering to something embedded in every project. In the case of the Xiqu Centre, sustainability and passive design were key, with the aim of lowering both energy consumption and the running costs of the building. Indeed, with sustainability and energy efficient features a key design aspiration, the team incorporated a number of strategies to secure a BEAM Plus Gold rating. The high-performance building envelope is designed to reduce the impact of thermal and solar loads on the occupied spaces, while external fins and large overhangs on the highly glazed corners of the building offer shading. The building is also naturally ventilated in the public areas to reduce the need for mechanical air conditioning, and other solutions include high efficiency water cooled centrifugal chillers, solar heated hot water, occupancy sensors and daylight sensors.

Geometrically complex, the stunning seven-storey performance venue that makes up the Xiqu Centre is a true celebration of Hong Kong’s unique cultural identity, and one that provides a striking gateway to the city’s new cultural district.

© WKCDA

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© Kevin Mak

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42 RESIDENTIAL

A Life of Ocean-going Glamour The Pavilia Bay is a large-scale waterfront residential development at Tsuen Wan with 983 apartments across two towers, ranging from studios to four-bedroom units. A large number of units face the sea, commanding panoramic views of Rambler Channel and Ting Kau Bridge.

The 9,000 square metre property is within walking distance to Tsuen Wan West Station on the West Rail Line. It is only three stops away from Austin Station, which will connect to the Guangzhou﹣Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link in the future, allowing efficient shuttling between Hong Kong and mainland China.

Located near a transportation hub, The Pavilia Bay overlooks the Tsuen Wan waterfront promenade at the heart of a largely old, middle-class neighbourhood now undergoing redevelopment.

Inspiration born of naval architecture The Pavilia Bay boasts a contemporary curtain wall design, sleek outline and an Avant-garde façade for its two residential blocks, inspired by the concept of a superyacht in sail. Its larger-than-life appearance comes into view at the entrance, where the podium is constructed from 75 tons of steel, with 650 plates welded together like the hull of a yacht. It connects the two residential towers with a profile that looks like the mast of the vessel in full sail.

The bespoke design concept was to infuse the essence of naval architecture into residential property and bring about their harmonious integration.

Numerous design and decorative details have been incorporated to give the illusion that one is at the helm of a super-opulent yacht, ready to set sail.

Blue Pavilion A globally famous and award-winning superyacht designer from France was commissioned to conceptualise the podium envelope and the “Blue Pavillion” clubhouse, with the aim of making the nautical experience as realistic as possible.

The podium façade’s streamlined shape, the “superyacht” look of the clubhouse and the blue-and-white nautical-inspired colour scheme from building exterior to the resort-style deck and marine-themed swimming pool remain faithful to this vision. Lights surrounding the podium are designed to create the illusion of being lit from underwater, with railings on the upper levels lit up like those on a yacht.

Novel techniques and high-grade materials, commonly sighted in yachts but rarely used for residential development, were applied by artisans at The Pavilia Bay site, marking a first for local real estate. The interiors look every bit as glamorous and fanciful as the boats that inspire its many features.

The clubhouse is flanked by two apartment towers. Inside it is a spacious lobby area with a glass entrance, through which residents can enter to enjoy its facilities or access the lifts that take them home. Residents can also access the clubhouse amenities through the side entrances, without having to step out of their residential blocks to reenter the clubhouse by its main doorway.

This not only gives them convenience and a sense of exclusivity but on bad weather days, also spare them from exposure to rain and strong winds.

On the second level is the “Bridge”, the first of its kind in Hong Kong crafted from carbon-fiber, that links both residential towers. Clubhouse users can freely walk across the structure to enjoy the equipment and amenities on either side.

The philosophy behind the clubhouse is to provide socialising areas for residents to build a sense of camaraderie. Just one level above where the kid’s zone, function room, gym and yoga room are housed is a bright, open foyer area with a vast infinity swimming pool.

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Artisanal Living As a brand-new residential project of the Pavilia series under the developer – New World Development’s Artisanal Movement initiative, the bespoke design blends subtle touches of luxury with a high level of craftsmanship and the display of specially curated artworks and artifacts to echo the essence of the “We create, We Are Artisans” spirit.

Communal areas and shared facilities are abundant at The Pavilia Bay – including a large, open foyer area, an infinity pool overlooking the sea, a luxurious lounge, a gym, children’s play area and a wellness space at the clubhouse - not only to extend residents’ living experience but also facilitate their interactions and engender a sense of community.

Every apartment is built with a sheltered open-air balcony and floor-toceiling windows for occupants to take full advantage of the views offered by their properties. Most apartments face the waterfront, offering occupants the opportunity to soak up panoramic seaviews, from their private balconies at different hours of the day and in the comfort of home.

Adjacent to the property’s main entrance is a greenery patch where a children’s playground stands. As structural construction is legally prohibited on this site, the developer decided to convert it into an openair children’s play area with urban farming space, to reflect the project’s sustainability theme.

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Design and Water savings for public places

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REFLECTING ON HOSPITALITY

BY DESIGN

By Adrian Battisby, Associate Director LW Interiors Hong Kong

L

ike many of us I travel regularly, for both business and pleasure. When it comes to accommodation each trip presents a vast array of choice within a broad range of price points and hospitality offerings. Today’s market is much more than providing the potential guest with a bed, a place to wash, hang clothes and eat.

On reflection, as I write this from my hotel room in Dubai, I have experienced mixed emotions during each of my hotel stays. Some elicit feelings of dread and depression, and even fear of having to endure such gloom away from home. Others have been the opposite. Either way I believe I have developed highly tuned senses and have become acutely aware and conscious of how a hotel makes me feel. As a designer, it makes me wonder what it is in the built environment and interior design of each of these properties that impacts me as a human being.

So what, in this day and age, defines hospitality in hotels? Is it about fancy hotel rooms, the greetings from the smartly dressed doorman, or the effusive ‘hellos’ and ‘good morning, Sir’ from the staff? Is it simply a good bed, peace and quiet and room service after a long day?

As I start to consider the concept of good hospitality I cast my mind back perhaps just thirty years, where the hotel as we know it today was a rare and refined institution reserved for the wealthy. Thinking back to the grand legacy hotels such as London’s Savoy, New York’s Plaza, Hong Kong’s Peninsular or Singapore’s Raffles, these properties were icons in themselves, proudly demonstrating superb hosting, the height of style, wonderfully comfortable rooms, guest services and the epitome of luxury. There were of course, and continue to be, far more cost effective lodging options, such as the bed and breakfast, the guest house, the home stay, the train station/airport hotel or the government rest house.

Then came the international hotel, with the start of the Hilton, Intercontinental and Le Meridien chains, to name a few. This of course marked a major change in the industry, where hotels became standardised across the globe, and rooms as well as the hotel architecture started to look the same. And there in our consciousness was born the modern hotel that we know today.

The more recent shift in so-called ‘hospitality’ has been towards serviced apartments, and budget and micro hotels, the latter of which I experienced on a recent trip to Singapore. Here, I can safely say that my accommodation was practically a cell, and a depressing one at that. My view was onto a wall that was two feet away from the window, the shower was in the bedroom and the wardrobe no more than a metal rail at an angle which was too narrow to hang clothes. Ranting aside, perhaps the biggest revolution in lodging and hospitality we’ve seen is Airbnb, which came out of the blue and exploded into our consciousness. Genius one might say – though a few not ideal experiences lowered the hype.

Text: Adrian Battisby

Images: WAF

Derek Leung

Be that as it may Airbnb proved to be a game changer for the hospitable industry.

How else could one be able to drop in to a new destination and experience living like a local, if only for a few nights? Personally, I have stayed in several Airbnb properties in Miyajima, Kyoto, Florence, Rome and Hong Kong and I truly believe Airbnb shook us all up in a way so radical that it has changed the hospitality industry forever!

What struck me most was that my mindset was in a totally different zone, and it had a sense of adventure into the unknown that hotels cannot, by their very definition, provide. Indeed, what is the unquantifiable promise that a hotel room fails to deliver compared to staying in a stranger’s empty apartment in uptown New York?!

Suffice to say that the design world within the hospitality industry is not what it was. Restaurants are now re-creating the hotel guest experience as a ‘stay-in-ahome” experience.

As I mentioned earlier I am writing this from a hotel room in Dubai. The property will remain nameless. In this usual business travel story I do not have the luxury of spending much time in my room. However, I am struck (yes, my acute senses most defiantly are!) on how I am, genuinely happy to be in this hotel room. Does this mean I am a grateful recipient of good hospitality? Perhaps it is time to ask myself what is making me react in this way?

If I return to the notion that the origin of the hotel and travellers’ lodgings was to provide a place to sleep and wash, surely accommodation becomes secondary to its location. I see an honest humility within the approach and a humility and realness that gives me inner peace. In ‘designer-speak’ it allows me to connect with my environment and provides a space that provides a subtle and informal backdrop to my destination. How hospitality is delivered is, I believe, the key question.

Perhaps we need to ask ourselves what are the elements that make each stay unique, memorable (for good or bad) and ultimately how we, as designers of hotels, can create a space that allows its guests to live, interact and connect, if only for a few hours, in quality and comfort.

Adrian has over twenty year’s hospitality design experience with projects in the UK, Middle East and Asia. Previously based with LW Dubai, Adrian relocated in 2015 to LW Hong Kong as Associate Director, further reinforcing the company’s commitment to deliver design services for the F&B and hospitality sectors across the Asia Pacific and South-East Asia region.

LW has established itself as a multi-disciplinary design studio with a holistic approach, offering architectural and, engineering and interior skills, and now has global staff of over 1140 in threefour studios, in four continents, headquartered in Dubai with offices in Hong Kong, and Sao Paulo. and London.

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50 FEATURE

ZALLINGER - BACK TO THE ORIGINS DOLOMITES, ITALY. NOA NETWORK OF ARCHITECTURE

Information and images: WAF

Derek Leung

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The projects featured on these pages were all finalists in the World Architecture Festival (WAF) held last November. At the heart of the Festival sits a unique awards programme. It is the only architecture awards where architects pitch their work to a panel of expert judges and their peers - all live at the Festival.

Now in its 12th year, the WAF 2019 will take place on the 4 to 6 December at the RAI Amsterdam. www.worldarchitecturefestival.com

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FREYCINET LODGE COASTAL PAVILIONS TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA. LIMINAL ARCHITECTURE

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MIST HOT-SPRING HOTEL XUCHANG PREFECTURE, CHINA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

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PIEDRAS BAYAS BEACHCAMP ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE. CAMILO MORAES

TERMALIJA FAMILY WELLNESS MUNICIPALITY OF PODÄŒETRTEK, SLOVENIA. ENOTA

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58 DESIGN

KERRY CENTRE STORE OF MR.MAIMAI HANGZHOU, CHINA. SHANWEI WENG

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RESTAURANT TAKO STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN. TENGBOM

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AVENUE OF STARS RECEIVES A CONTEMPORARY MAKEOVER

The newly revitalised Avenue of Stars (the Avenue), opened to the public earlier this year - the first waterfront rejuvenation project in Hong Kong developed by New World Development and designed by internationally acclaimed landscape architect James Corner Field Operations (JCFO) The launch of Victoria Dockside (VD) transforms the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront into a world-class showcase of urban planning, setting new standards for the city’s waterfront rejuvenation efforts. Adrian Cheng, Executive Vice-chairman and General Manager of New World Development initiated the “Make Waves” movement and incorporated it in every part of the VD. Adrian worked closely with James Corner to transform the world-famous yet tired TST waterfront area into a 21st century destination for recreation.

James Corner, Founding Partner and CEO of JCFO said: “It was Adrian Cheng’s idea and priority to completely renovate and update the Tsim Tsa Tsui waterfront for the 21st century, to transform the waterfront into an icon for Hong Kong and become one of the most visited waterfronts in the world. I myself have enjoyed a very positive and creative relationship with Adrian. He brings a good deal of vision, aspiration, imagination and leadership to the table, setting this new waterfront to be a special mix of dynamic public features with arts, culture, varied social amenities and the Harbourfront itself, which was Adrian’s original vision – a global landmark.”

Informations and images: New World Development Limited

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JCFO’s design maximises the potential of the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront as a place where visitors can enjoy magnificent views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline, while respecting the heritage of the site and paying tribute to the Hong Kong film industry.

It also presents a holistic solution that responds sensitively to the needs of the community and overcomes the many challenges posed by the waterfront site including the increasingly extreme weather conditions the site is exposed to during the annual typhoon season.

One of the most visited tourist destinations in Hong Kong, the Avenue hosts exhibits of the most famous figures in the local film industry. However, despite its popular appeal, the Avenue was often stiflingly hot and overcrowded. It also lacked basic amenities like seating, shade and greenery. The edge along the harbour was largely inaccessible. It also lacked the kind of clean, contemporary design that a world-class waterfront deserves. Accordingly, JCFO proposed a complete redesign of the Avenue with new paving, custom furniture, extensive planting, generous shade and seating, and an accessible, undulating, sculptured edge.

It’s Hong Kong, It’s retail To support homegrown creative enterprises, the kiosk and mobile carts features local brands including the Mei Lok Store, Ho Cha, POS Talk, Tiny and others. Exclusive limited-edition Avenue products and Bruce Lee souvenirs are also be available for visitors.

Designed by LAAB Architects exclusively for the Avenue, the Harbour Kiosk is a unique piece of robotic architecture that integrates a food kiosk and a mechanical room. The Kiosk reinterprets the architecture of local market stalls. This combined with an E&M machine room nearby maximises public functions and blends in by borrowing the architectural language of several surrounding pieces.

There are seven Mobile Carts near the Avenue. Just like the Harbour Kiosk, these Mobile Carts open during the day and close at night.

Their overhead solar panels turn sunlight into electricity to support their activities. Mobile Carts have a wavy surface made of pleated metal sheets. One side of the metal sheet is painted in wood colours, while the other side maintains the mirror surface that reflects the colours of the harbour. If you walk from one end to the other, you can see the transforming colours of the wavy surface, just like a movie animation.

(Left to right) James Corner, CEO of JCFO and Adrian Cheng, Executive Vice-chairman and General Manager of New World Development Limited

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4 – 6 SEPTEMBER 2019

SANDS EXPO & CONVENTION CENTRE SINGAPORE

TO THE REGION’S LEADING EXHIBITIONS FOR THE ENTIRE BUILT ENVIRONMENT VALUE CHAIN

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR!

First fully integrated exhibitions in the region covering the entire built environment value chain

2 newly launched exhibitions focusing on productivity and smart

Cutting edge sustainability, energy efficiency, construction and smart technologies that are new in the market

Specially curated feature to showcase the future of smart buildings

REGISTER NOW TO MEET YOUR FELLOW BUILT ENVIRONMENT PROFESSIONALS

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