PRC Magazine #99 ( Architecture | Building | Construction )

2019 Issue 99

Pacific Rim Construction

DOW PERFORMANCE SILICONES PROTECT WORLD’S FINEST BUILDING FAÇADES

Inside:

Hong Kong / PRC $60

L e i g h & O r a n g e b u i l d u p o n n o t e d 1 4 5 ye a r l e g a c y H K FA s e r v i n g a n i n d u s t r y o f c r i t i c a l p ro p o r t i o n s BuroHappold computational façade engineering V S - A f a ç a d e e n g i n e e r s w i t h a rc h i t e c t u r a l e m p a t hy ArtLane brings an explosion of urban art to SYP

ISSN 1684-1956 977168495009

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Cover photo: Tianjin CTF Finance Centre Image courtesy of Ronald Lu & Partners Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre

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PRC Magazine Centenary 100 Issue 100 Most Iconic Asian Buildings 2000 to 2020 Online voting opens on 18 October, 2019

Publisher: Mike Staley, publisher@rofmedia.com Editor: info@rofmedia.com Contributing Editor: Elizabeth Dooley, elizabeth@rofmedia.com 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

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8 PRESS

MORI BUILDING CREATING RURAL IDYLL IN THE HEART OF TOYKO METROPOLIS

MAKING SPORT SUSTAINABLE THE GOAL OF POMEROY STUDIO’S KALLANG PLAN

Design firm Pomeroy Studio and Sport Singapore, with Arup engineers, are envisaging one of the most sustainable sport and recreation precincts in the world in drawing up the masterplan for the Kallang Alive precinct, covering 89ha of the Kallang area of Singapore. The masterplan will provide for football pitches, tennis courts and ancillary facilities suitable for all, whether locals or competitors in international tournaments. The planners are considering a velodrome and facilities for speed-climbing and BMX. They intend to turn the Kallang Theatre into a centre for sport, entertainment and other purposes. They imagine a green park on the waterfront, and a walking and cycling path connecting the main features of the precinct, where technology would be applied to keep the walkers and cyclists cool and dry.

Electricity may be generated from sunlight and by kinetic pressure pads set into the surface where the walkers and cyclists pass. www.pomeroystudio.sg

CULTURAL CENTRE IN TUNE WITH XI’AN, OWING TO OVAL PARTNERSHIP FLUTES

Urban landscape developer Mori Building Co has begun building work on an urban regeneration project meant to revitalise a large area of central Tokyo.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the Toranomon-Azabudai District Category 1 Urban Redevelopment Project was held in August, and the work is due to be finished in March 2023. At the core of the development will be a modern urban village, combining the sophistication of a megalopolis with the intimacy of a rural settlement. The village will occupy about 8.1ha. The site will yield 860,400m2 of floor area. It will have 213,900m2 of office space for 20,000 workers and about 1,400 homes for 3,500 residents. The development will also have a hotel, an international school, shops, restaurants and cultural facilities.

Its novel features will include a rural-type village plaza, surrounded by greenery.

The central square, covering 6,000m2, will be a place for people to gather. It will take up part of the 2ha of green space envisaged for the development, which will make it a seamless urban oasis filled with trees, flowers and waterscapes.

Mori Building will play the pivotal role in the project. The public realm and lower-level architecture is in the hands of Heatherwick Studio of Britain, guided

by Thomas Heatherwick. The three skyscrapers have been designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects of the United States, under the direction of the late César Pelli and Fred Clarke.

The shop space has been designed by Sou Fujimoto Architects of Japan, led by Sou Fujimoto. www.mori.co.jp

Photo credit: Boris Shiu

The Qujiang Creative Cultural Centre opened to the public in July, giving the central Chinese city of Xi’an an unusual subterranean cultural complex. The architects, The Oval Partnership, designed the 2,000m2 complex for Xi’an Vanke and Xi’an Qujiang Cultural Industry Investment (Group).The complex is designed to reflect its surroundings, using elements and materials that re-interpret older characteristics of the city. The Qujiang Creative Cultural Centre sits beneath the central plaza of the Qujiang Creative Circle, also designed by The Oval Partnership. A prominent pavilion at the surface level gives access to an elevated vestibule leading to the main theatre and performance space. Here, 8,000 bronze flutes are arranged vertically all around a veil draped in the centre, giving the visitor a feeling of weightlessness. The complex contains a 400-seat theatre, a performance and rehearsal room, a multipurpose gallery, exhibition spaces, workshops, a café and a bar. www.ovalpartnership.com

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PULSA BUILDING BY AEDAS CAPITALISES ON ITS GLAMOROUS REPULSE BAY VIEWS

Backed by mountains, Repulse Bay is among the most luxurious residential areas in Hong Kong. The Pulsa makes the most of the spectacular sea view, with the eight buildings in the complex arranged in two tiers to capture the view and reduce disturbing the slope. The design is inspired by sea waves with the facades creating diffractions and reflections. “Integrating nature into architecture is just the beginning,” says Aedas executive director Cary Lau. “We should focus on its long term impact, to make our design meaningful.” The project achieved BEAM plus GOLD in a provisional assessment for its environmentally friendly design and materials. Different Low-E coatings not only control glare, but also reduce heat transfer across building envelops. The design applies cross-ventilation to enhance thermal comfort, while outdoor swimming pools are set on roof floor and the floor system raised on roof, to enable an effective energy-saving architecture. www.aedas.com

SOM DESIGNS A NOVEL STRUCTURE FOR 100 MOUNT STREET, SYDNEY

ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS HOTEL TOWERS SET POST-OLYMPIC RECORD IN NANJING

The Nanjing International Youth Cultural Centre in eastern China has matured graciously since it accommodated athletes competing in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. The centre now comprises two hotel towers, a cultural centre with conference facilities, a plaza, offices and mixed-use areas. It has fostered investment in the vicinity, integrating extra infrastructure, including the hotels and a venue for conferences. The conference hall, auditorium, shops and guest zones surround an open courtyard. The conference hall seats 2,100 and has a proscenium stage.

The auditorium seats 500.The heights of the tapering hotel towers are 255m and 315m, making them the tallest completed buildings that Zaha Hadid Architects has yet designed. The centre is the first place in mainland China where tower construction work above ground proceeded at the same time as work below ground, even while design work was still in progress, cutting the time taken to design and build the centre to just 34 months. ww.zaha-hadid.com

AFTER 35 YEARS IN ASIA, HOK CELEBRATES A LEADING PORTFOLIO Global design, architecture, engineering and planning practice HOK is celebrating 35 years of doing business in Asia. HOK opened its first office outside the United States in 1984, in Hong Kong.

It opened offices in Beijing in 2003 and in Shanghai in 2006.

Projects that HOK is working on or has recently finished include the InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun at Topwin Center (123,000m2), Jinan China Resources Center (116,000m2), China Construction Bank Shandong Headquarters (90,000m2), Shanghai China Overseas International Center (98,000m2), Jiangxi Commerce Union Center (350,000m2), Chengdu Forte Financial Island (Phase II, 220,000m2; Phase IV, 258,545m2), Fosun Lintong Resort Master Plan (1.7km2), Peninsula Hotel Shanghai (56,000m2), Atlantis Hotel Sanya (237,000m2), Sanya Tianya Haijiao Hyatt Regency Resort (198,000m2), Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in Singapore (171,872m2), Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore, (72,371m2) and Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru (134,000m2). www.hok.com Photo Credit: Owen Raggett

The Skidmore, Owings and Merrill collective of architects, designers, engineers and planners, and the Architectus architecture and design studio celebrated in June the opening of 100 Mount Street, a 39-storey glass-enclosed mixed-use building in the North Sydney business district, owned by Dexus and Dexus Wholesale Property Fund. The SOM design gives 100 Mount Street a novel cross-braced exoskeleton structure.The building is anchored by an offset core and clad in a glass curtain wall.

The interiors are designed to make the most of natural light, and to allow as much open space as possible.The offset core gives space for a commercial lobby, café and restaurant behind a glass wall 8-m high. From the landscaped public plaza, steps and sloping paths give access to new shops at street level. A footpath cuts across the site, connecting the building to public transport.

The International WELL Building Institute has awarded 100 Mount Street the WELL Core and Shell Gold Precertification. www.som.com

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TOM DIXON CONTRIBUTES IN EVERY SENSE TO APPEAL OF LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL

HKUST TO GAIN ADAPTABLE AUDITORIUM THANKS TO HENNING LARSEN INGENUITY Concert and Conference Mode

Exhibition Mode

For the 2019 London Design Festival, British designer Tom Dixon is filling the Coal Office, his place in the King’s Cross area of the city, with the flavours, fragrances, sounds, colours and textures of the future. He is turning the entire place – the studio, shop, factory and trade counters, bar, restaurant and all – into a multisensory lab with interactive installations, workshops and talks, all inspired by the six senses and how they shape the future of design.We wanted to explore the role that all our other, often lesser-recognised senses contribute to our experiences of design: the smell and the taste of a place, the textures and tone of a space, the sound of an interior, or the weight of an object, or even the sixth sense,” says Dixon. “Hence why we have called this season TouchySmellyFeelyNoisyTasty because, after all, we are multisensory animals.” The London Design Festival runs from 14 to 22 September. https://www.tomdixon.net/en_hk

HKIA EXHIBITION COMPARES CITIES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PACIFIC An exhibition in Los Angeles, entitled Island__Peninsula, compared the urban fabric of Los Angeles with that of Hong Kong and showed the singularity of Hong Kong architecture.

The exhibition looked at the core values underlying the unique Hong Kong style of architecture: glamour, efficiency, orderliness and constant change. The show comprised 16 exhibits illustrating the Hong Kong style of architecture with the help of literature and new media art.

An interactive display linked the urban forms of Hong Kong and Los Angeles. The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) staged the exhibition. An arm of the Hong Kong government, Create Hong Kong, was the lead sponsor and the show was supported by Chinachem Group. The exhibition opened in Los Angeles on 19 September. Two days later, a panel of eight architects and academics from Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States attended a public forum at the University of California, Los Angeles. They discussed the various architectural features of Hong Kong and Los Angeles and the future of urban development, taking as their theme extreme verticality versus endless horizontality. Island__Peninsula was open in Los Angeles until 2 October, the show then moves to Hong Kong where it opens later this year. www.hkia.net

Congregation Mode

Construction of the Shaw Auditorium has begun on the campus of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Henning Larsen has designed the building in collaboration with Wong Tung and Partners, WSP Hong Kong, Theatreplan, Marshall Day Acoustics, URBIS, Inhabit, CTA and RLB. The Shaw Auditorium will take the form of three layered white rings, sitting on a hilltop. It will be a place for lectures, musical or dramatic performances and other cultural or artistic functions. The auditorium will have modular seating which can be arranged in various ways to seat any number of people between 850 and 1,300. The hall can be given a level floor to accommodate events such as conferences or exhibitions.

The curved interior walls can serve as an all-round projection screen.The building is poised to become the first of its type in Hong Kong to be given a BEAM Platinum sustainability rating. Construction is due to be completed in 2021. https://henninglarsen.com

IN SHOW OF SOLIDARITY WITH NATURE, FOREST RECLAIMS EUROPEAN STADIUM

Swiss curator Klaus Littmann has planted a small forest, typical of the native forests of Central Europe, in a football stadium in the Austrian city of Klagenfurt, bringing to life a drawing he discovered 30 years ago. The purpose of Littmann’s art installation is to draw attention to climate change and deforestation, by giving a warning that nature may one day be preserved only in artificial places, much as some animals are preserved today only in zoos. With the help of Enea Landscape Architecture, Littmann has installed almost 300 trees, some weighing up to 6t each, on the pitch in the Wörthersee stadium, bringing to life The Unending Attraction of Nature, a dystopian drawing in pencil by Austrian artist and architect Max Peintner. The trees will remain in the stadium until 27 October, after which they will be replanted nearby to serve as a public, living sculpture. https://forforest.net

12 PRESS

LEAD8 JOINS INTERNATIONAL TEAM FORMED TO DESIGN ONE BANGKOK

WOODS BAGOT PLANTS TREE OF LIFE IN MIDDLE OF FUNAN DEVELOPMENT

Design firm Lead8 has become a member of the international team designing One Bangkok. One Bangkok is being developed jointly by TCC Assets and Frasers Property Holdings. The 16ha site, next to Lumphini Park in the heart of Bangkok, will yield 1.83 million m2 of mixed-use space once work is finished in 2026. The development will contain offices, hotels, homes, shops, facilities for the arts and culture, and public spaces. It is meant to accommodate up to 200,000 people each day. The designers intend One Bangkok to be the first LEED-Neighbourhood Development Platinum development in Thailand. Green and open spaces will make up 8ha of the development.

It will have a green park, sky parks, plazas, and streets and alleys meant for pedestrians only. www.lead8.com

Woods Bagot Hong Kong has finished its masterplan and plans for the architecture and interior design of Funan, the redevelopment of the Funan DigitaLife Mall in Singapore, which belongs to CapitaLand. Funan is designed to be a civic hub for work and play, with offices, serviced residences, shops, places to eat and drink, leisure and entertainment facilities, and wellness facilities. The tropical landscape of Singapore is reflected throughout the development. The podium has a façade in earth tones that gives the appearance of tree roots wrapped round the exterior of the building. A six-storey steel-and timber representation of the Tree of Life is the centrepiece of Funan, surrounded by shops. On top of the building is the largest rooftop urban farm in the central business district of Singapore, occupying 464m2. A food court occupies another 1672m2. The site covers 11,612m2 and will yield a gross floor area of 82,404m2. www.woodsbagot.com

UWE BRÜCKNER PUTS PEN TO PAPER TO TEACH US ABOUT SCENOGRAPHY In his new book, Atelier Brückner founding partner Uwe Brückner gives a helpful description of scenography: “It instrumentalises the tools of architecture such as graphic design, light, sound, and media to form a ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’,” he writes. All is explained in the book, which is entitled Scenography and published by Birkhäuser. The book gives insights into the working methods of Atelier Brückner, and gives examples of the use of those methods in over 60 projects.At the heart of Brückner’s methodology is the Creative Structure CS, developed for the Expedition Titanic exhibition in the Speicherstadt in Hamburg in 1997, in which visitors were invited to feel like passengers on the ill-fated ocean liner. Other examples in the book are the trading floor of the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt, the BMW Museum in Munich and the European Parliament visitor centre in Brussels. www.birkhauser.com

JAMES CHEW LEADS JERDE PARTNERSHIP ADVANCE INTO SOUTHEAST ASIAN MARKET

SEOUL BIENNALE ASKS BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT CITIES AS COLLECTIVE SPACES The collective city is the theme of the 2019 Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, which opened at the DDP in Seoul on 7 September and will run until 10 November. The Seoul Biennale is an occasion for experts on architecture and urbanism to relate national experiences of trying to solve the problems cities encounter today, and an opportunity for the public to have their say. This year the aim of the Seoul Biennale is to redefine architecture and urbanism to align them with the role of a collective city model that the public, acting together, can create and benefit from. At a time of growing inequality and segregation in cities, the event asks if cities can continue to be perceived as collective spaces, and goes on to ask what can be done to transform cities into collective spaces. The Seoul Biennale encompasses four exhibitions, entitled respectively the Thematic Exhibition, the Cities Exhibition, Global Studios and On-site Projects. www.seoulbiennale.org/2019/index.html

The Jerde Partnership has appointed James Chew as its director of business development for Southeast Asia, giving the firm of architects and urban planners a presence in the region. Jerde has offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Chew has more than 30 years’ experience in the real estate industry in Southeast Asia. From his base in Singapore, he will lead the effort by Jerde to find new business in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia. Jerde design principal Ken Ho, a Singaporean, will move to Singapore from Los Angeles early next year to reinforce the effort. Jerde is particularly interested in projects in Southeast Asia to do with transport, and in mixed-use development projects. Jerde chief executive Paul Martinkovic said: “We see Southeast Asia as a region holding great potential to expand our brand of architecture”. www.jerde.com

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LAKESIDE SCENE BROUGHT TO BIG SCREEN AT 4N’S PREMIERE CINEMA WUXI COMPLEX

GORDON CLOCKS ON AT BUROHAPPOLD HONG KONG AS NEW REGIONAL DIRECTOR BuroHappold Hong Kong have named a new regional director, appointing Robert Gordon.

Gordon has more than 24 years’ experience and has been on the job in Hong Kong since 2012. “It is a pleasure and a privilege to come into the business in computational engineering, at such an exciting time, with the continued growth of the Greater Bay Area and growing strength of regional economies and rapid urbanisation,” says Gordon. He is a graduate of the University of Leeds and has worked in Britain and Taiwan, aside from Hong Kong. For the past seven years he has led teams building structures, façades, civil, civil structures, MEPF and environmental disciplines. “Hong Kong is of strategic importance to us. Robert’s appointment strengthens our senior leadership in the region,” says chief operating and financial officer James Bruce. www.burohappold.com

Inspiration was near at hand when the 4N design studio dreamed up its vision of the Premiere Cinema Wuxi complex for the Broadway entertainment group.

Visitors are drawn to the eastern Chinese city of Wuxi by its scenic lake, so the 4N architects, in designing the cinema complex, imagined a journey along the lake shore. The lobby is dominated by a giant sculpture representing the Moon, lit like a full moon. The most striking feature of the space containing the escalators connecting the two floors of the complex are timber structures reminiscent of Chinese temples. Each of the theatres is treated as if it were a separate lakeside retreat. Inside, each is like an open-air theatre under a starry sky, with rippling water on each side – the effect being achieved by the LED and fibre optic lighting. The cinema complex occupies about 6,500m2 of the Centre 66 building in Wuxi and has eight theatres together containing 807 seats.

4N design. www.4n.com.hk

四目 設計

PRIVATE LIVES, PUBLIC LIVES LIVEABLE IN MANDARIN ORIENTAL RESIDENCES

AUB INTRODUCES TYPHOON-PROOF INSULATED ROLLER SHUTTERS Swiss made air-lux Typhoon Grade Insulated Roller Shutter has been specially designed to suit customer requirements for applications under extreme weather conditions.

They provide an ideal choice for distribution centres, warehouses or any facility with large openings in weather exposed locations. Assembled from continuously interlocking stainless-steel twin skinned steel laths incorporating 3 ribs for extra strength, in-filled with CFC-free insulated strips, held securely in place by end-locks at each end of alternate laths. Special wind-locks are fitted to each end of every sixth lath to provide additional strength. Extra high-strength guide-stiffeners ensure the structural integrity of the system under high-wind-loads. Customised internal straps ensure smooth rolling up. The bottom lath of the shutter is terminated with a purpose-designed weather seal and security sensor strip. Resistance to wind load Class 5 up to 10,000mm. www.aub.com

HONG KONG HARILELA HOTEL ON COURSE, BUILDING WORK DUE TO FINISH IN 2020

Joyce Wang Studio has melded the public and private aspects of people’s lives in designing the interiors of The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. The residential development is the first in Southeast Asia bearing the brand of the Mandarin Oriental hotel chain. In the lobby, an embroidered representation of the Chao Phraya River holds pride of place among the works of art. The apartments contain two, three or four bedrooms. The penthouse dwellings are on two levels. All are designed with the privacy of the residents in mind, while the design of the public spaces is meant to foster a sense of community. The ground floor has a communal pantry and lounges that look out onto lush greenery, the fourth floor has a light-filled lounge, an open kitchen and a dining room, while the 36th floor has a common area divided into intimate alcoves, where refreshments can be taken, and a library complete with books. www.joycewang.com

The Atkins technical director for architecture, Wilton Wong, has said he expects construction of The Hari, an Atkins-designed hotel in Wan Chai in Hong Kong, to be completed in 2020. Wong was speaking after the topping out, earlier this year. Building work began in 2015.The Hari is meant to build on the success of the Harilela family’s signature hotel in London.

The Hari will be the first hotel in Asia bearing the Harilela brand. Arriving visitors will pass from a covered dropoff through a luxurious podium lobby to the reception desk. All the guest rooms look out over lively Lockhart Road. The penthouses have wider views of the Hong Kong cityscape.

Throughout, the windows are floorto-ceiling. The Atkins project and programme management business, Faithful+Gould, is managing the hotel project. www.atkinsglobal.com

14 EVENTS

ARCHIDEX 2019

20 Years of Building Together

(From left) Dato’Vincent Lim (C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd president); Datuk Zulkifli Hj Sharif (Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau CEO); Yang Berhormat Tuan Baru Bian (Minister of Works, Malaysia); Ar Lillian Tay (Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia president); and Ar Dr Tan Loke Mun (Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival director)

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uly witnessed the successful staging of the 20th edition of the annual International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition (ARCHIDEX). Occupying 20% more exhibition space than a year earlier, to accommodate the largest number of exhibitors in the show’s history, the four-day exhibition occupied all 10 halls of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Before declaring the 20th International ARCHIDEX officially open, in his opening remarks Guest of Honour, Yang Berhormat Tuan Baru Bian, Minister of Works, Malaysia, stated, “Architecture, interior design and construction are among the pillars of a nation’s progress towards greater prosperity — physically and figuratively. Think of the buildings and infrastructure around us — these are the tangible testaments to how far our nation has grown from its agricultural roots. It pleases me to be here to witness the 20th year of ARCHIDEX, an event that strongly supports the growth and progress of our country.”

“ARCHIDEX — as a part of the annual Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF) — can play a pivotal role in advancing the architectural and building industries as it is an important regional event on the calendar for architects, urban planners, designers, developers, academics and students,” he continued. “It helps to serve as a bridge for the cross-exchange of technical and technological know-how, the expansion of trade beyond the borders of our country and exposure to the latest innovation and technologies. All these will support the change that needs to be embraced by the architectural fraternity and relevant industries as we move towards the future.”

Information & Images: ARCHIDEX2019

Michelle Chow

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ARCHIDEX is jointly organised by C.I.S Network Sdn Bhd (C.I.S) and Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM or the Malaysian Institute of Architects).

Building bridges between the 35,000 industry professionals and trade visitors from some 70 countries who attended this year and hundreds of manufactures and suppliers of high-quality materials from Malaysia and the world, delegates were also able to explore exhibits from more than twenty countries as well as country pavilions from China, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.

ROF Media Business Development Director, Bryan Chan (centre), receives a trophy of appreciation for PRC Magazine’s longstanding partnership with ARCHIDEX

Another significant contributor to ARCHIDEX’s appeal lies in the evergrowing range of conference and forums. Visitors are encouraged to join a range of concurrent professional networking events, conferences, forums, workshops and business matching programmes that have been lined up to support building businesses and promote the sharing of knowledge. The aim is to encourage inclusiveness in all facets of architecture towards designing better sustainable living for the future.

This year the main attraction in the Innovation Hall was the PAM Tomorrowland Pavilion, a must-see for all those wanting to peek into the future and explore some of the possibilities in architectural and urban design for the future.

Dato’ Vincent Lim, C.I.S President, said: “We are proud that this platform serves as a bridge to share the latest of innovation and technologies as we move towards building this industry for our future generation of architects, leading to the expansion of mutually beneficial business trades.”

“The Pavilion showcases the complex relationships within the rapid development of robotics, programming, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, big data, block chain as well as other disruptive technological developments that will alter the paradigm and reshape our built environment.”

Reflecting on the milestone 20th staging of Malaysia’s preeminent trade event, and one of the region’s largest, Lim stated: “With the opening of the 2019 edition, ARCHIDEX is celebrating its 20th Anniversary.

Our continuous dedication across the 20 years to create a platform for the architecture and building industry, as well as for our exhibitors to showcase and promote the finest of innovation, design, technology and solutions, locally, regionally and internationally has helped to put Malaysia firmly on the world map.”

“The show’s success is the result of a lot of hard work, perseverance, commitment and trust from the great many people involved in producing a multi-faceted exhibition of such magnitude.”

16 EVENTS

Booth Design Gold Award Standard Structure Category (37sqm and Above

ARCHIDEX 2019

www.archidex.com.my

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UPcoming Events

Visit PRC Magazine's Booths or Media Partner Counters

30 oct - 2 nov 2019

26 - 27 nov 2019

2 - 7 DEC 2019

AsiaWorld–Expo, Hong Kong

Grand Hyatt, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

ECO Expo ASIA

mipim asia summit

Business of design week Business of Design Week (BODW), Asia’s leading event on design, innovation and brands, will gather outstanding design masters and influential business leaders from around the world. In collaboration with its partner country this year – the United Kingdom, one of the world’s greatest cultural nations with a thriving creative sector – BODW will bring together over 70 design and business visionaries to inspire audiences to take note of the latest global innovation trends, and the power of design for transforming businesses and cities of the future.

Eco Expo Asia is a global trade platform for the environment protection industry that showcases the latest green products, equipment and stateof-the-ar t technolog y. Co-organised by the Environmental Bureau, the Expo provides B2G and B2B opportunities for the green industry through its strong support from Hong Kong, Mainland China, international government authorities and industry associations.

www.ecoexpoasia.com

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.

Working with the UK as the partner country, BODW 2019 is curated on the theme Design the Future, Create Tomorrow. From fashion to film, architecture to advertising, UK creatives have a wellearned reputation for challenging conventions and embracing the new with professionalism and flair.

The UK is also identified by trend forecasters as a key market for new trends to take off globally.

www.mipim-asia.com

www.bodw.com

4 - 6 DEC 2019

World Architecture Festival RAI Amsterdam, Netherlands

WAF is where the world architecture community meets to celebrate, learn, exchange and be inspired. It is the only global architecture festival that combines awards, seminars and networking. At the heart of the Festival sits a unique awards programme, where hundreds of architects pitch their work to a panel of expert judges - all live at the festival for you to watch.

Be inspired, gain knowledge and make contacts with your global peers, high-end manufacturers and the press this 4-6 December at RAI Amsterdam.

www.worldarchitecturefestival.com

www.facebook.com/ArchitectureFestival www.instagram.com/worldarchfest

WOHA - KAMPUNG ADMIRALTY (WORLD BUILDING OF THE YEAR 2018)

A festival like no other 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 550 award finalists.

Book now to save â‚Ź200 worldarchitecturefestival.com 4-6 December 2019 Amsterdam

Founder Partner

Headline Partners

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BENOY

to regenerate historic Ningbo site

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stablished in the 8th century AD, the historic city of Ningbo in northeastern Zhejiang province grew in prominence to become one of the biggest ports in East Asia and remains one of the world's busiest ports to this day.

It is at the heart of one of China’s oldest cities that Benoy was appointed to redevelop Sino Ocean Baisha Historic Retail Street, a vibrant and people-orientated mixed-use destination. Blending past with present, the scheme aims to evoke the area’s heritage through a unique retail and cultural experience, whilst creating a revitalised city district.

“Ningbo is steeped in history and we are incredibly proud to be working on this one-of-a-kind regeneration project. As designers, we are excited to lead a project that will continue to evolve with the city— creating a vibrant new destination nestled within a historical site," said Hao Li, senior associate director at Benoy.

Inspired by the juxtaposition of old and new, Benoy’s masterplan envisions a truly mutli-faceted development that preserves the original buildings whilst bringing new commercial value to ensure longevity and on-going viability well into the future.

Retaining the original form of the historical buildings, Benoy’s design integrates new blocks throughout the site which will form spaces for pedestrian thoroughfares, retail shops and cultural activities. Through careful placement of the additional new buildings, Benoy was able to preserve the historical urban texture and the city’s memory.

Benoy’s diverse portfolio demonstrates a proven reputation in delivering successful regeneration projects globally. Some key projects include Nanjing MCC World, Gala Avenue Westside in Shanghai, the David Jones Flagship Building in Sydney and TSUM Department Store in Kiev.

With its unique riverside location and reference to historical and cultural elements, Benoy’s vision for Sino Ocean Baisha Historic Retail Street is poised to create a new revitalised district for the city.

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BUILDING ON A LEGACY T

his year marks the 145th anniversary of one of the longest-running architectural practices in Hong Kong. From 1874, the founders of Leigh & Orange (L&O) brought their design talent and skills to bear on the early urban development of Hong Kong shaping the city through infrastructure, public and civil works that addressed the needs of the community. L&O’s early projects include Hong Kong’s first reclamation project located at Belchers Bay in Kennedy Town in 1877, Hong Kong’s first large-scale clean water supply construction project, Tai Tam Reservoir, in 1898, and the Star Ferry Pier and the adjacent harbourside piers and warehouses serving Hong Kong’s main cross-harbour transport link.

L&O also participated in many commercial projects, including on the west side of Statue Square in Central Queen’s Building and The Prince’s Building in 1899 and 1904 respectively, with the site of the former now occupied by the famous Mandarin Oriental Hotel, also designed by L&O. Indeed, all these works quickly became the youthful city’s iconic landmarks.

For nearly a century and a half, L&O, as an architect and urban planner, have been committed to resolving the challenging problems encountered in the City’s

urban development process. Through its architecture, L&O helped to drive the transformation of what was once known as a ‘barren rock’ into a world class city, both reflecting and shaping its culture with striking buildings for business, living, hospitality, worship, sport and leisure.

Reshaping the Mindset As one of the principal architectural practices in early 20th century in Hong Kong, L&O introduced a new concept for office buildings that embraced entire city blocks with arcaded footpaths and soaring stone façades, while fronting onto broad thoroughfares served by electric trams. From 1892 the Dairy Farm Building above Central was developed to supply Hong Kong residents with fresh milk using newly developed refrigeration technology and today the building houses the Foreign Correspondents’ Club and the Fringe Club. L&O’s architects also took part in shaping the culture of the city, from horseracing at Happy Valley and Shatin, to Ocean Park and religious buildings to cater to the needs of many faiths.

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L&O’s ability in designing practical places of necessity was shown in the design of the Hong Kong Electric Company Plant on Star Street in Wanchai. Also, one of the original founders of the firm, Mr. Sharp, left in his will a generous provision to build a hospital in memory of his wife, which become the Matilda Hospital on the Peak and opened in 1904. The practice supported the development of Hong Kong’s nascent education sector with its design for University of Hong Kong’s Loke Yew Hall, the first building for Hong Kong’s first university. Building on this legacy, last year saw L&O complete work on the International Culinary Institute at Pokfulam for the Vocational Training Council, as well as the redevelopment of Chinese University’s Chung Chi Student Development Complex, designed to encourage student participation, walkability and sustainability through master planning and architectural design.

Ms. Ivy Lee, Managing Director of L&O shared her view on the role of architects in shaping the societal and cultural evolution of urban development. “The emergence of a new spirit in architecture is one that is capable of converging new technologies with the city’s cultural and historical heritage,” she observes.

From coastal development and reclamation through to the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Greater Bay Area that links the urban economic circle of Hong Kong with that of mainland China, L&O has been at the forefront of enhancing the urban cityscape of many cities.

Diversity and Innovation In recent times, the diversity of projects embracing construction innovation includes the Hong Kong University’s Kadoorie Sciences Building, Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre at City University and the NTT Communications HK Financial Data Centre Tower. One recent project in the city is InnoCell in Hong Kong Science Park (HKSP), which uses the innovative construction method ‘Modular Integrated Construction’ (MiC) to promote off-site construction aiming to improve the productivity, quality and environmental friendliness of this hostel project. It also addresses issue of labour shortages within the local construction industry.

In the same vein, a proposed student residence development at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) will embrace the potential for Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA), where each element is fabricated offsite, thereby minimising the labour required on-site, whilst accelerating the construction program of the structure and maintaining an expressive architectural style.

L&O has also collaborated with a multi-discipline technical services consultant team for the concept design of Kai Tak Sports Park, a site that covers 28 hectares, the main feature of which is a new 50,000-seat main stadium with a retractable roof.

During the post-contract award stage, L&O is now a leading member of the project team driving the completion of the design and construction of the park slated for 2023.

L&O was commissioned by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority in 2017 as the Lead Consultant for the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) Zone 2, providing the consultancy

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services for one of the largest cultural projects in the world. The WKCD Zone 2 integrated basement and underground road will serve as the backbone infrastructure to support future Arts and Cultural Venues and other topside Hotel Office Residential (HOR) Developments.

Striving to push the boundary of the practice’s hospitality portfolio, L&O has been extensively involved in a number of world class integrated resorts projects in Macau including Studio City, the City of Dreams (Macau) and recently opened Morpheus Hotel in partnership with Zaha Hadid Architects as the first high-rise exoskeleton project in the world.

Sustainability and Corporate Wellness L&O envisions sustainability in a more encompassing manner, from nurturing the culture of sustainability within the office and in the staff, to implementing this culture in our projects and contributing to the community. L&O is one of the few architectural firms in Hong Kong having a Building Sustainability Team. The firm is proactively implementing all-round policies to reduce the carbon footprint and create a sustainable planet for future generations. The firm’s recently renovated Hong Kong office ‘Living Studio’ received a ‘Platinum’ rating under the BEAM Plus Interiors certification, to recognize its contribution to making Hong Kong a greener city.

Understanding the importance of workplace wellbeing, L&O has initiated a series of corporate wellness initiatives such as yoga classes to encourage physical exercise, regular distribution of fruit to enhance a healthy diet, as well as a room to support nursing mothers at work. All these arrangements aim to improve the physical health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Beyond the Pearl River Delta Today the award-winning practice continues to expand from its headquarters in Hong Kong, and has extended its services to the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions with offices now in Beijing, Shanghai, Fuzhou and Qatar. Last year also saw the establishment of its latest branch in Qianhai, Shenzhen, marking a centre point for what will become L&O’s contribution to the synergy of the Greater Bay area.

and encourage communal living. As an urban planner and architect, L&O is seeking to shape the behaviour of people by encouraging them to create communities in the form of Community-Oriented Development (COD) projects such as Future Times,Vanke Hangxinglu Metro Station mixed-use developments, as well as several projects in the city of Chengdu.

“Since the opening up of China in the 1980s, L&O has actively participated in the design of numerous large-scale developments in the mainland. In parallel to the legacy of L&O transferring overseas technology and skills to Hong Kong in the late 1800s, we are applying lessons learned over the past century to bringing necessities and culture for the next generation of PRC, Myanmar, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Qatar and Saudi Arabia,” explains Ms. Lee.

“In Myanmar, hospitality projects and the revitalization of the iconic Strand Hotel in Yangon are designed to celebrate different threads of the history of its culture. In addition, our proposals for the LetsRun Park international competition proposed a uniquely South Korean fusion of entertainment, by linking a theme park with thoroughbred racing. We are proud that such projects have been recognised for their excellence by our peers. In the Middle East, the iconic Al Shaqab Equestrian Complex is considered as one of the finest equestrian facilities in the world.

Also, in Qatar the Multipurpose Administration Complex at Ras Laffan Industrial City has received recognition as ‘Best City Development’ at the Arab Investment Summit,” Ms. Lee concludes.

“Similar to the New Urbanism of the 1960s, we see Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) as the next revolution in sustainable urbanism,” she explains. L&O pioneered new TODs in China, designed to maximise development potential, increase land value, whilst positively changing the way people live. Indeed, this typology seeks to bring home, transport hub and workplace together to enhance spatial experiences

Under the leadership of Ivy Lee, as the Managing Director and Sustainability Director, L&O remains committed to preserve the firm’s long-standing core values “Inspired by Humanity, Sustained by Creativity”, and to consistently implement these values into its design philosophy to sustain the firm’s unique position as one of the most widely respected and time-honoured architectural practices in Asia.

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SERVING THE FAÇADE INDUSTRY SHARING KNOWLEDGE

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Through its Education and Professional Development Sub-Committee, HKFA provides young engineers with the resources needed to kick-start their careers in façade engineering through seminars, workshops and field visits.

Indeed, the association developed a Professional Diploma in the discipline in 2010 in conjunction with the Open University. This was followed by a second collaboration with the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, which introduced a façade design module into its Masters course. Following the successes of these courses, by the end of 2016, the committee went on to develop two further foundation courses and an advanced course in curtain walling, both of which have been updated each year to include the latest developments in codes and technologies.

In an exclusive interview, Johhny Choi, current HKFA President, spoke to PRC Magazine about how this respected Association serves a relatively small, industry of critical proportions.

As a recognised authority in providing consultation to various government bodies within the industry, the HKFA has provided relevant input and opinion to various government channels relating to the façade industry. Most notably, the association played a major role in composing the domestic window inspection guidelines for the Hong Kong government’s Housing Department through its ‘Train the Trainer’ scheme, which began in 2000.

esthetic, performance and budgetary concerns are equally important when it comes to a building’s façade. Developers, architects, and builders will work together to come up with the most cost-effective and efficient solution, but rarely without the essential assistance of specialist façade engineers. The Hong Kong Façade Association (HKFA) provides a forum to highlight the specialist expertise façade engineers bring to the architectural and construction industries.

“The Hong Kong Architectural Aluminium Association was established in 1998 and was renamed as the HKFA in 2005,” he explains.

As a non-profit organisation it serves this relatively small industry by sharing information to its members through hosting seminars and symposiums, and to highlight the specialist expertise façade engineers can provide to parties including developers, architects, consultants and builders. Recent examples of these include seminars on the revised Glass Code and Super Typhoon Manghut, which took place in May and October 2018 respectively. Upcoming events include a seminar on façade lighting to be held in October 2019.

With over 70 corporate members made up of designers, façade contractors and manufacturers of products relevant to the industry, the HKFA provides a hub for interested parties to exchange and acquire the most up-to-date information on the latest standards and code of practice.

“The association provides a central source of current and pertinent information on industry standards, codes and policies and has direct access to the government Building Department’s central library, which includes all updated Codes of Practices, PNAP and APP,” he adds.

Text: Elizabeth Dooley

Images: HKFA & ROF Media

Jasper Lau

In the context of façade design residential building in general differs from commercial building in that it combines more systems in the formation of a full façade. Unitised curtain walling on one elevation connected to a sliding door at a balcony for example may have precast façade in the kitchen area and tiles in the recessed pipe duct area. Of course, design consideration will be in line with government policy in order to maximise the floor area. In contrast, the type of façade and choice of materials will vary in commercial buildings, from a basic stick system through to a sophisticated high-performance unitised curtain wall depending on the building’s location, grade and investment strategy.

BRINGING DESIGN TO LIFE For Choi, façade design is comprised of various elements that cover the different stages of system design. This includes the best choice of materials, structural and thermal analysis, manufacturing, logistics and costing.

“Façade engineering is a multi-professional discipline, which in Hong Kong has developed over the years to become a relatively mature, efficient and competitive industry, with local consultants having delivered a number of iconic projects around the globe,” notes Choi.

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On how building regulations in Hong Kong dictate the local construction industry, he observes that in general, building codes, practices, regulations and standards are quite clear. However, interpretations of government body codes may be open to interpretation and much depends on the quality and presentations of submissions.

“Façade design and land cost are two of the major costs of any new building in Hong Kong, the range of options available – from the traditional curtain wall through to state-of-the-art façade systems that use specialist materials – a lot depends on budget. Thus, the technical, aesthetic and budgetary elements of any development are equally important and it is often down to the façade engineer to work with the developer, architect and builder to ensure the most buildable and cost effective solution during the design development process,” he adds.

With cost-effective precast façade systems having been widely adopted in Hong Kong housing projects over the past decades, these will also be considered alongside GFA concessions within the private sector. Low E-coated glass mixed with aluminium spandrel also remains a popular choice in a market where choice of materials other than glass must meet with the architect’s design criteria and the budget concerns of the developer. In Hong Kong unitised systems were favoured over curtain walls for almost three decades, with most products being manufactured in the US, Canada, Germany and Australia. Today, due to current QA/QC requirements imposed on tempered glass, most glass and façade units seen on newer buildings in Hong Kong will be manufactured in China.

President Johnny Choi gave his welcome speech in The 7th Inauguration Ceremony in 2017

Courtesy Visit to BCA Singapore in June 2019

Technical seminar on "Innovative Glass Technology" in Nov 2018

Visit to a glass manufacturer in 2018

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New Council Board, from left: Leo Yang (Hilti), Wang Jin Ping (San Xin Glass), Wilton Lau (Kam Pin Paint Works), Kevin Lee (Million Hope Industries), (Vice President) Sammy Hui (DOW), Andy Chan (G&M), (President) Johnny Choi, (Vice President) Peter Wong (PMB-Cyberwall), Peter Chan (Entasis), Simon Chan (Far East Alum Works), Felex Wong (Hacely), (Vice President) Samuel Mak (ACME Metal Works), Albert Leung (HK Curtain Wall Testing Cetnre Ltd)

Technical Seminar "When Glass Meets Typhoon" in 2018 after Typhoon Mangkhut hit Hong Kong

HKFA FACADE Engineering Training Course

LATEST TRENDS On the latest trends in façade design affecting the design of new buildings, Choi notes that sustainability is one of the major factors influencing new technologies. As energy reduction becomes increasingly important, many new building façades are incorporating larger glazing and new glass and coating technologies to increase natural light whilst minimising the need for artificial lighting. Low Carbon and Green building guidelines have increased the glass solar requirements resulting in demand for high-end glass products.

“New façade designs tend to use more solar shading and double skin design to achieve those requirements. New materials such as electronic and photo-voltaic glass are also being introduced to achieve net zero. Also self-maintaining façade systems and self-cleaning claddings and finishes are being used to reduce the running costs of new buildings,” he adds.

The growing trend for using glass as a primary structural element is resulting in an increase in curved glass being used not only for its aesthetic properties but also for its high efficiency when used in structural glazing applications. Not only does the arching provide better load resistance, but it also minimises deflections. That said, product tolerance remain the biggest challenge for façade engineers, and understanding these tolerances is an essential part of the job. Indeed, as the design of façades become ever more structurally complex as we enter an era dealing with complex geometry, non-cyclindrical 3D shapes, challenges regarding the quality, size and shape of glass and cladding is dictating manufacturing capabilities. Indeed, large glass sheets and new fixing systems and innovative installation methods are enabling designs capable of full transparency.

With thermal energy considerations also being a major factor in the beginning of design and material selection, high performance glass provides better solar control and decreased cooling loads. Acoustic treatment is also important, with different designs being adopted to suit the specific requirements of every project. Further, new technologies such as 4D BIM, DfMA, and 3D printing are also being used for visual communication, design and quantity analysis, assembly simulation, material optimisation through to manufacturing and method statement preparation, visual rendering programming and logistic monitoring.

“A truly successful façade will do far more than project an iconic image. It also plays a pivotal role in driving or transforming building performance, whilst engaging with the external environment, enhancing durability and reducing energy consumption,” explains Choi. “Our role at the HKFA is to ensure the healthy development of the façade industry, by establishing communication channels between the façade industry and other professionals, whilst providing references for government authorities to establish relevant policies,” he concludes.

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The winners of The Most LIKE Project (from left): Ms. May Wong of Hacely Co Ltd for the project "Morpheus (COD) Macau", President Johnny Choi to present the awards, Mr. Ivan Leung of Permasteelisa for the project "Tai Kwun (Central Police Station", Mr. Simon Chan of Far East Alum Works for the project "The 13 Hotel, Macau" www.hkfacade.org

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SEALING

THE DEAL DOW (NYSE: DOW) COMBINES ONE OF THE BROADEST TECHNOLOGY SETS IN THE INDUSTRY WITH ASSET INTEGRATION, FOCUSED INNOVATION AND GLOBAL SCALE TO ACHIEVE PROFITABLE GROWTH AND BECOME THE MOST INNOVATIVE, CUSTOMER CENTRIC, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS SCIENCE COMPANY.

DOW’S PORTFOLIO OF PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, INDUSTRIAL INTERMEDIATES AND PLASTICS BUSINESSES DELIVERS A BROAD RANGE OF DIFFERENTIATED SCIENCE-BASED PRODUCTS AND SOLUTIONS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS IN HIGH-GROWTH SEGMENTS, SUCH AS PACKAGING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONSUMER CARE. DOW OPERATES 113 MANUFACTURING SITES IN 31 COUNTRIES AND EMPLOYS APPROXIMATELY 37,000 PEOPLE. DOW DELIVERED PRO FORMA SALES OF APPROXIMATELY $50 BILLION IN 2018.

PingAn Finance Tower Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre (Stock image)

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fter more than 70 years of shared history, in June 2016 Dow acquired Dow Corning; proven silicone business is offered through Dow Performance Silicone, a global business unit of Dow Chemical.

Dow Corning® brand products are now DOWSIL™ brand known in the façade industry for revolutionising the way architects and fabricators design commercial façades. Dow does not sell glass, or aluminium frames, nor window or curtain walls, but it does supply the silicones that are the connecting bonding technology that structurally bonds, weatherproofs and protect façades on many of the largest and most striking architectural landmarks around the world.

Through more than five decades of proven performance in Silicone Structural Glazing (SSG) and Weatherproofing Sealants (WP), today customers can continue to rely on the same trusted silicone chemistries, features and product benefits under its new DOWSIL™ name. Indeed, the new DOWSIL™ product name represents the combined power of Dow and Dow Corning and emphasises its longstanding global expertise in silicone technologies across dozens of industries as it continues to push the limits of its materials to meet the challenges presented by architects and façade engineers alike.

LATEST TRENDS

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As the world becomes evermore urbanised, more mega tall skyscrapers are emerging around the world. One example where Dow’s latest technology was used is the 650m high Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China today and second in the world. With challenges relating to height, in the world of façades the structure needs to be designed to meet high wind loads, seismic requirement and glass movement, as well as regular typhoons. Dow’s enabling technologies for this project included structural glazing and weatherproofing sealants.

In the case of the world’s future tallest building, the 1km high Jeddah Tower, sealants were not only designed to withstand the climate, but also super high winds of up to 400km/hour. Here, the unrivalled elastic recovery and UV resistant properties of its silicone shows how Dow continues to push boundaries.

With energy regulations and climate policy targets also establishing strict requirements for future buildings, installing systems that protect the building envelope from weather and ensuring that the building’s internal climate and living conditions can be maintained or improved is becoming increasingly important.

The new DOWSIL™ range now offers two additional routes to improve the challenge of heat loss. Indeed, by using a higher modulus insulating glass sealant, Dow is able to reduce the sealant bite and heat transmission in the edge seal by up to 30% while further reducing the sealant bite to offer the aesthetic advantage by up to 5% more on glazed areas.

The new EDPM Membrane Façade System, which is safe and easy to cut into shape and install and provides a smooth solution for vertical surfaces and ensures a secure closure of the building envelope. It is also designed to meet with energy regulations and climate policy requirements it combats gaps in construction openings created for fenestration systems that must be properly sealed to avoid convectional heat Shanghai Tower (Stock image)

Agricultural Bank of China Headquarters and China Constriction Bank Headquarters, Shanghai Image courtesy of Architectonica

Shanghai Tower

Text: Elizabeth Dooley Photos: ROF Media unless otherwise stated

Krista Chan

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losses through air leakage and moisture entry points. It also helps to increase the service life and long-term performance of Dow EPDM raw materials. Used alongside the brand’s 300 Adhesive, which offers a complete high performance solution for the creation of interior and exterior weather and airtight seals, Dow’s offering is a flexible seal that protects areas including sharp angles and corners and seals across adjacent building elements.

DOWSIL™ membranes also tolerate normal building movement and inclement weather conditions, providing a smooth solution for vertical surfaces and ensuring a secure closure of the building envelope. The DOWSIL™ Warm edge IG sealant, works to optimise thermal performance and reduce the risk of condensation and mou0.ld. As a structural glazing sealant, it is a simplified solution that eliminates the need for specialised pumps and mixing equipment while minimising quality assurance issues.

In addition, Dow offers façade cladding and rain screen systems, which provide a solution for renovations and insulations installed behind panels in order to improve façade performance. Just one example of a project including aluminium panels that uses this technique for cladding is The Portal in Bangkok. Here, the challenges arising from the complexity of its design and cost considerations relating to workmanship and installation, as well as potential problems relating to vibration and acoustics, were addressed through Dow’s bonding technology. Here, Dow worked closely with the architect, consultant and contractor to achieve positive outcomes in terms of cost and quality and successfully reduced the estimated completion time of prefabricated construction from five months to three months.

Launching soon is DOWSIL™’s modified silicone sealant, a hybrid isocyanates and solvent free technology that offers excellent paintability with water-based an synthetic paints, and adhesion to most building materials including stone, aluminium, PC board, ceramics and precast concrete.

In addition, a crystal clear spacer reacts to a primed surface and adheres well to materials including glass, anodized aluminium and PVC. Dow is also actively commercialising the latest silicone and non-silicone technologies for sprayable air and weather barrier solutions, silicone structural adhesives for panel bonding in rain screen facades, as well as reactive hot melt adhesive for window assembly and a new range of crystal clear silicone products for point fixed glazing, internal partition and glass bonding.

Tianjin CTF Finance Centre (Online image)

The Forum (Stock image)

Shanghai ICC

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES PROGRAM As well as its products, Dow prides itself on the quality of its customer. Its most recent additions are its Quality Bond Program and a new project management services program that offers free online calculators to simplify construction planning. While it cannot replace calculations and approvals from Dow, its structural glazing and insulating glass calculator and sealant usage estimator provides a web-based project management solution previously unmet in the industry. Known as COOL 2.0 it works to facilitate information sharing, collaboration and project planning. Fast, free and easy to use, it also allows customers to create and own its own project database, upload blueprints for review, request lab testing and warranties and review all ongoing projects. It also allows customers to examine lab-testing histories and tap into the collective expertise of Dow’s global network of silicone building material experts.

SEEK TOGETHER™ Seek Together™ has been trademarked by Dow to describe their collaboration program with architects, engineers, building design and material manufacturers around the globe to address high performance building challenges. As such, it brings together technology, design support, expertise and quality.

The company also continues to improve their services through their digitalization of processes, to provide and efficient way to communicate with customers and stakeholders within the value chain.

Finally, the recent announcement that Dow has been making close to 10,000 products available for intuitive search in one location, where important documents such as technical data are just a click away, marks another of its commitment to furthering customer communication.

On 16 September, 2019, dow.com has been integrating updated content to represent Dow’s full product offering. Languages will include English with select Chinese and Japanese pages at launch, full Chinese and Japanese by end 2019. The website will be available in Portuguese and Spanish by the end of the first quarter of 2020, with other languages added as needed.

Taikoo 2A

H Queen's

Lotte World Tower

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Victoria Dockside Terminal 3 Shenzhen Bao'an Int’l Airport Image courtesy of Kuksas Studio

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Hong Kong Children's Hospital (Online Image)

St. Regis Hong Kong Hotel

Hong Kong Cruise Terminal

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FAÇADE DESIGN

IN CHINA BY VS-A “There is an outside, an inside and that which lies in between. This space might only be a few millimetres or several meters deep. The study of this space can be detailed by a few sentences, can be developed in a book, or as a full-time endeavour. This is how VS-A defines their work” VS-A Founding Partner, Robert-Jan van Santen

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fter qualifying as an architect in France in 1986 van Santen began his career in Paris with Renzo Piano. It was here that he journeyed into the world of façade technology and developed his passion for the industry.

He went on to establish VS-A in Lille, France in 1989 and over the past thirty years has worked with some of the biggest names in architecture. His portfolio includes iconic buildings such as the Casa da Musica in Porto, the London Olympic Aquatic Centre, the Alcide de Gasperi tower in Luxemburg and the Casablanca Finance City Tower in Morocco. van Santen’s interest in Asia was accelerated alongside an increasing frequency of invitations to speak at various regional conferences. During this period Suzy Huang joined the company as Partner and began to play a major role in establishing the Hong Kong office in 2011. He also attributes his success in Asia to Naree Kim, who has worked with VS-A since 2008 and was integral in establishing the Seoul branch in 2014. The practice would then go on to set up an office in Shenzhen in 2018, raising the number of employees in Asia to over 60.

This year the Hong Kong based team was recognised for excellence in the façade engineering category of the CTBUH Awards for their work on Vanke Binhai Cloud Center in Shenzhen. Clearly, van Santen is a man with a great passion for design and this is reflected by his position of Technical Director over Founder or CEO.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY With a philosophy built upon the premise of bridging the gap between architectural design and construction, van Santen and his team are testament to the notion that the work of the façade engineer must always start from the “design vision” of the architect.

“It is important for us to understand the particular characteristics of each job,” states van Santen. “We believe that projects are weakened as architectural vision is diluted. With so many chefs in the kitchen this is a very real problem that we are very conscious of. As such we take great care to design in a way that complements the project’s underlying logic. We very much use questioning as a design tool, and this method sees to it that the different constraints of a project

Text: Elizabeth Dooley

Photos: VS-A & ROF Media

Krista Chan

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are gradually integrated into the design vision. In some cases this integration can even become a feature of the final design! So far architects, and even Asian developers, have responded well to our rational and neutral approach.”

At the core of VS-A’s success is not only a sensitivity towards capturing the essence of the architect’s vision, but also a team whose expertise spans all the technical facets of engineering, cost control and adherence to building regulations globally. This allows them to propose and compare multiple solutions for every part of the project.

Asked how he would define VS-A as a company, van Santen prides himself on having attracted a set of individual personalities, each of whom have a unique set of skills, but are collectively able to develop a very diverse set solutions for all types of demands.

“Globally, we consider ourselves as a well-balanced mix of technical and designoriented consultants. Half of the team has an architectural background, and we are united by a common feeling of fulfilment when we know we have provided the best solution to a client’s problem.”

The diversity of VS-A’s international team has allowed for an organic expansion into other fields. Van Santen says that the firm’s design solutions are always tailored to suit a project.

“Naturally we do this because standardized products are often unable to suit the specific requirements of our projects. With this approach, it becomes clear that the intricacies of façade design come with a considerable overlap to product design. Not only in terms of scale, but also in terms of design thinking.

Thus VS-A Design and Ublo-windows are companies that were created to autonomously develop such products,” he says.

Although the profile of VS-A has provided for opportunity to collaborate with many international architectural firms now located Asia, van Santen maintains that the original reason for coming to Asia was to collaborate with local firms.

This goal was quickly fulfilled and can be illustrated by both of projects featured in this article.

GUOYIN MINSHENG One of VS-A’s most challenging projects involved the design of the futuristic, “crystal maze-like” steel and glass podium of the Guoyin Minsheng Financial Building, designed by Zhubo Design, also in Shenzhen.

The project’s principal designer presented VS-A with sketches for large cavernous space, open to the public, connecting the project’s two towers. The designer’s intention was to play with the space’s visceral boundaries, incorporating free flowing geometries with transparent and reflective glass panels.

The entire project is made of flat, single and double curved glass panels. A project of this scope and ambition is totally dependent on what local glass manufacturers can supply. Fortunately, what glass manufacturers in China can do is totally unique.

ACHIEVING THE EXTRAORDINARY Designing Guoyin Minsheng’s podium the first major challenge was the project’s geometry. But the construction details also had to incorporate the architects’ request to include horizontal lines throughout to ensure that the podium would be as striking as possible.

Therefore it was immediately apparent that the glass would not be point-fixed and, to deal with the tolerances of the glass, a clamp system had to be developed instead of using a linear frame. This was necessary to streamline the installation.

The secondary structure is made of horizontal transoms that are offset from the main structure, solving a 3D problem with a 2D solution. The clamps were designed so that the same clamp can be used to fix any glass, with any inclination.

The captivating fluid planes of the podium at Guoyin Minsheng Financial Building are the perfect example of VS-A’s design philosophy centred on bridging the gap between architectural design and construction.

BINHAI CLOUD CITY VANKE, the developer of Binhai Cloud City, Shenzhen, approached VS-A to enter into collaboration with 5th Architects for the design of this 160m tower, home to one of the Group’s regional headquarters.

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When speaking of this signature project van Santen’s enthusiasm is obvious.

“This was one of our first projects in Shenzhen and we are proud that our façade engineering was awarded by the CTBUH. But this award is one to share with all of the project’s stakeholders whose positive support for the original architectural vision ultimately ensured the tower’s successful delivery.”

ENGINEERING THE FUTURE

The building’s curtain wall was designed with unique concave-convex units. The resulting geometric “zig-zag”, the tower’s defining architectural feature, was driven by directing the internal view across two opposing axis of the urban environment and was the inspiration behind adopting stone panels to emphasize the stoic angle of the building.

He says even design or building constraints can create opportunities within design proposals with one example coming from the requirement in China that glass must always be supported or secured by mechanical fixings, on at least two sides. Innovation is in many ways the life force of façade engineering.

Externally this approach to the design of the building envelope has created a facade that graduates from totally opaque to entirely glazed, whilst, whilst the smaller window/wall ratio required the use of more transparent glass to achieve the desired levels of daylight penetration with minimal colour distortion to ensure the creation of a pleasant and comfortable interior atmosphere.

VS-A continues to expand its specialist offerings to include developing technologies. Whether a project is large or small, local or global, what is clear is that ultimately, at the heart of VS-A is a mission to merge the architectural and technical elements of a project by taking pride in the development of customised solutions, often requiring the taming of complex geometries, so as to transform creative visions into a technical realities.

When approaching the building the façade progressively reveals subtleties like the curved perforated aluminium strip that hides the operable windows (10% of the façade area). The perforation pattern itself was specifically developed to allow the exterior lighting to be totally concealed.

Robert-Jan van Santen says that finding the perfect architectural expression in the design for office tower façades doesn’t rely on always making grandiose statements but even simpler geometries can create a significant amount of attention.

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Binhai Cloud City 深圳萬科濱海置地大廈

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CTBUH FAÇADE ENGINEERING AWARD 2019

www.vs-a.eu

SERVICES AT GREAT HEIGHT

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orn from the fiery collision of two great civilisations, vibrant, dynamic, industrious Hong Kong, Asia’s World City, has championed the rise of countless titans of industry. First the traders and fortune hunters and eventually the Fortune 500s drawn in waves as the city grew relentlessly into one of the world’s preeminent business centres. However, few individuals have ever made quite the splash upon their arrival as one Mr Brendan Kendell, the CEO of Altitech Limited.

As Two International Finance Centre neared completion in 2004, Kendell was engaged by an Australian firm to “wrap” fifty floors, on two elevations of the building’s façade into a giant simulation of the Financial Times newspaper as part of the largest outdoor advertisement installation the world had ever seen, importantly, completed using “industrial rope access” as the method of façade access.

HIGH ALTITUDE TECHNICAL SPECIALISTS Kendell established Altitech in 2010. “The ability to expertly, safely and efficiently access facades and other complex work site targets is the essence of our business,” he says.

Given the diverse and highly specialised nature of the projects undertaken, a variety of specialist site access methods are integrated that may include motorized and non-motorized industrial rope access and bespoke, tensioned work positioning nets to safely mobilize technicians to a location on a structure considered difficult and/ or cost prohibitive to access.

Altitech currently employs a team of 25 technicians with diverse backgrounds, skillsets and trade qualifications ranging from welders, non-destructive testing inspectors, corrosion engineers, electricians, glazers and specialist riggers. As “specialist access” technicians, all staff are trained and qualified according to the strict code of practice and guidelines of the global benchmark Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA).

“Given the nature of our typical worksites we also consider ourselves specialists in site risk management and deploy a robust safety and quality management framework on each and every project we take on, regardless of the “objective task”.

Projects are preceded by the development of detailed site and task specific risk assessments and method statements,” states Kendell. “Strict operational procedures, audited annually by a third party, are followed by all project staff to guarantee maximum safety, compliance and quality control throughout the entire life cycle of our projects” Altitech’s “specialist access assisted” technical services have expanded organically to include advanced inspections, surveys, installation, remedial repairs and construction and maintenance capabilities … working almost exclusively on structures and facades that are likely to be physically unreachable by traditional means of structure access such as scaffold or mechanized cradles, complicated and famously, elevated.

TECHNICAL SERVICES MARKET LEADER At the heart of Altitech’s business, it is the provision of what Kendell refers to as “niche technical services” that defines the core brand and much of the scope of services that marks Altitech as a unique technical specialist in the market associated with the some of the region’s most iconic projects.

Kendell elaborates, “Altitech’s “technical services” projects utilising innovative façade and structure access methods have included curtain wall façade refurbishment and installation, structural integrity surveys, retrofit installations and complex glazing remedial repair campaigns … on diverse and complex structures including infrastructure projects such as communications towers, stay cable bridges, wind turbines and a waste treatment plant. Multiple projects in the entertainment and tourism industries include a cruise ship terminal, resorts, landmark hotels, atriums and aerial theatres.”

Working in parallel with affiliate company, Altisafe, suppliers of “work at height” equipment and systems, the company’s expanded business profile now includes a combined consultancy, engineering and fabrication division for the design, supply, installation and commission of façade access systems.

FAÇADE ACCESS SYSTEMS The designers of building envelopes are constantly pushed by their clients to wrap new buildings in ever more complex facades. Utilising computational designs, new materials and technologies engineers are able to realise these sometimes unimaginable design challenges.

But Kendell points out that as facades become more complex there is often an associated, increased challenge to design and integrate mechanized building maintenance units or “BMUs” that are capable of accessing the entire façade envelope of such buildings.

Text: Mike Staley

Images: Altitech

Krista Chan

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“With this lag of BMU technology we are able to offer an alternative yet proven form of façade access system that integrates, predominantly, rope access systems … which can and do provide a much more flexible, efficient and…more often than not … commercially attractive and reliable solution for accessing such façades,” explains Kendell.

Altitech has established a solid reputation in the field of façade access systems, designing, integrating and commissioning systems on structures that include Macau’s Fisherman’s Wharf Legend Palace and Harbourview Hotels and the half-scale Eiffel Tower inspired structure at The Parisian on the city’s “Cotai Strip”. With the successful integration of solutions for these projects recent contracts awarded to Altitech even larger in scale include Sands Cotai’s ongoing rebranding development to deliver “The Londoner”, which includes a replica “Big Ben” style clock tower, mock Crystal Palace atrium and Westminster Houses of Parliament.

Integration of their access systems requires Altitech’s team to engage with key stakeholders throughout the full life cycle of any given project “The design and integration of rope access and alternative, non-mechanized façade access systems is a rapidly expanding division of our business. Our remit is often to design or refine, install and eventually commission a system and method that guarantees access to 100% of the building envelope to allow standard façade maintenance activities that include cleaning, lighting maintenance and glazing replacement. Essentially we are able to offer lightweight façade access systems that replace slow moving, sometimes unreliable, mechanized BMUs.” “Any system must address the technical specifications detailed by the façade consultant, which ultimately will mean compliance with the relevant local and internationally recognized engineering, construction, safety standards. Our engineers will provide key design input where required and coordinate the structural interface of our system’s fixtures with the superstructure of the building or façade.

FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE Altitech is now offering their clients a market leading nanotechnology façade treatment. The treatment takes the form of a titanium dioxide based transparent product, applied to facades via an electrostatic process, that is able harnesses sunlight to breakdown dirt, grit and pollution at the façade surface.

“As the urban habitat extends further skyward, new technologies and systems designed to integrate with the vertical real estate of facades, meshes well with the company’s existing service profile. Vertical living “green” walls, flexible power generating solar panels and lightweight, energy efficient façade lighting solutions, for example, are technologies that Altitech has already gained significant experience with.We’re technical services experts,” Kendell concludes.“We’re ready for the future!”

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www.altitech.asia

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JEWEL CHANGI AIRPORT, SINGAPORE

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BRIDGING THE GAP TO CREATE A CORE DISCIPLINE

ntegrated thinking, a highly skilled workforce and transformative, creative solutions and a culture of knowledge sharing across their global offices lie at the heart of BuroHappold’s multidisciplinary and interconnected community of engineering experts. Façade engineering is just one of the specialisms of this global consultancy practice. The company’s versatile project portfolio ranges from small scale technically challenging projects through to large-scale tall build/mixed use developments that are facilitated through an innovative HR policy that allows it to operate as one global team.

Roger Liu joined BuroHappold in 2011 as Façade Group Director for Asia, and is now responsible for all Greater China offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and more recently, Shenzhen. He is a leading engineer in the design of complex building and large-scale developments. With country experience in Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China, and a portfolio that includes Singapore Art Centre, Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3, Nanjing Youth Olympic Centre, Hong Kong XRL, Zhuhai Hengqin IFC, Yinchuan Art Museum, Beijing VW Brand Centre and the Xuzhou Suning Plaza mixed use development, he believes that façade work should be delivered using a multidisciplinary approach. For Liu, this means that architectural and structural engineering provides the baseline in combination with other specialist disciplines including material sciences, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, acoustics, optics and sustainability.

“We use parametric design tools and a computational design approach which allows architects to design complex geometry facades. Our job is to help them to rationalise and optimise the geometry and panelisation that allows us to deliver a high quality creative, buildable and cost effective solution, while helping the architect achieve and even enhance their design aspirations. We do this by assigning a set of rules that allows us to solve problems much faster than working out the solution to each problem individually,” he explains.

MULTI-FACETED SOLUTIONS In the case of the new 4-storey, 25,000 m2 Volkswagen Brand Centre in Beijing, which was designed using a double skin façade where the outer layer uses a freeform complex geometry shading system, this computational approach allowed Liu and his team to individually panelise the geometry of 15,000 flat aluminium louver panels.

View of Shiseido Forest Valley and HSBC Rain Vortex from the South Viewing Deck Courtesy of Jewel Changi Airport

Courtesy Safdie Architects

“Our solution was to standardise the panels into close to 60 different shapes and sizes. In this case, the focus of the challenge was how to solve the 3D geometry and shading mechanism of the outer skin and how to create a support structure for the panels back to the curtain wall. At the same time we needed to allow the panels to open up at different angles in different areas of the building according to the architect’s design intent. We also needed to maintain close contact with our suppliers regarding the potential constraints of the materials. What we presented achieved both the architect’s aesthetic and the client’s cost objectives,” notes Liu.

Photo by Charu Kokate

Text: Elizabeth Dooley

Images: BuroHappold

Derek Leung

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BuroHappold’s work on the Infinitus Plaza in Guangzhou, designed by Zaha Hadid presented different challenges in terms of geometry and the supporting structure of the façade. Here BuroHappold not only provided the façade but also designed a supporting & bracketing system to combine the connections to the façade. The coordinates unveiled in the making of 3D models ensured accurate fabrication and installation to realise the architect’s vision. The company also worked with the same architect on the Nanjing Youth Olympic Centre and was responsible for the towers and unitised curtain wall, as well as a large conference centre. Similar to its work on the Volkswagen headquarters, they worked with the architect on a 3D platform to technically advise the optimisation and rationalisation of the geometry to ensure the practicality, cost effectiveness and easy installation of the panels in a solution that was 85% flat panel with curved corners.

Likewise the company’s work on the Yinchuan Art Museum; a relatively small project of 15,000 m2, it encapsulates the value of BuroHappold’s expertise and the value it can bring to clients in terms of façade geometry and panelisation. The major consideration for this project was the use of glass fibre reinforced concrete (GRC).

Theoretically this material is very flexible and can form any panel size and shape.

However, the size of the cladding panels is dictated by transportation logistics as they can be easily damaged. The architect wanted to use 60 m2 panels, but with the transportation available in the market Liu advised a change to 30 m2, the largest size available in China and even requested its GRC supplier to install a GRC fabrication plant in Yinchuan to avoid any potential damage during transit.

“The building is essentially a concrete box. The form and shape is driven by our façade engineering work which enabled us to install the secondary steel work on the outside of the building. We also delivered a 3D model of the steel structure to assist the supplier and contractor to fabricate the panels and to help provide guidelines for installation,” notes Liu.

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NANJING YOUTH OLYMPIC CENTRE (YOC) NANJING, CHINA

PEOPLE FOCUSED DESIGN BuroHappold’s specialisms go beyond adhering to international code requirements and aesthetics. For Anna Wendt, Director of Façade Engineering in London, the façade industry and the architectural industry as a whole is focusing much more on the people using the buildings. The company’s work on the Kuala Lumpur’s Kompleks Dayabumi or the Nanjing Youth Olympic Centre are good examples of how iconic architectural ambitions are achieved with the building envelope whilst taking a a sensitive and carefully considered approach to the environmental performances effecting the people using the building. Focusing on the quality of daylight, acoustics, glare and thermal comfort through solar gains.

“Architecture is becoming more intelligent in relation to wellbeing and the façade of a building plays an incredibly important part in this. While it’s a difficult thing to quantify andmeasure, the tools that we are developing at BuroHappold are the result of the industry taking huge steps forward in terms of sustainability, comfort, atmosphere, productivity and interaction. The envelope of any building is intrinsic in terms of achieving these performances and our ability to translate these factors into real details and real design is the really exciting part of where the façade engineering industry is heading,” she observes.

For Wendt, Jewel Changi Airport stands as the pinnacle of BuroHappold’s ethos for people focused design. Careful overlay of a number of complex, and sometimes conflicting performances is what is at the success of creating a vast

glass roof in a climate like Singapore that acts as a comfortable public space and also effectively creates an environment to grow tropical plants and sustain a 40m high rain vortex. Using the most advanced building information modelling (BIM) tools to optimise the design, the engineering teams were able to rationalise and develop the design of the envelope to tender drawings. Not only does the result succeed in realising the vision of the architect, but it also offers a solution for managing risk and cost in an industry that is becoming ever more legislative.

“I believe that façade engineering is fast becoming a core discipline and much more mainstream. Aside from our technical expertise, we are able to benefit the client and the architect through our longstanding connections with the supply chain and the suppliers globally. Our challenge is not only to make the architectural vision viable, but also to provide an unbiased, commercially viable solution for the client,” she concludes.

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YINCHUAN ART MUSEUM YINCHUAN, CHINA

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Guangzhou Infinitus Plaza Guangzhou, China

GUANGZHOU INFINITUS PLAZA GUANGZHOU, CHINA

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56 LANDMARK

Hongkong Land's Yorkville - The Ring by PHA: Merging nature with technological advancement

W

orld-renowned international architectural design studio PH Alpha Design (PHA) has always been in the vanguard of the delivery of top-notch architecture design to its clients and the community. With Hong Kong as its Asia Headquarters, PHA has extended its reach across the globe, establishing solid presence in London, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing. Over the past 10 years, the practice has developed an international reputation as one of the leading creators for large-scale mixed-use developments in Asia – boasting a high-quality clientele that includes Hongkong Land, CR Land, Kerry Properties and Longfor, as well as a fast-growing portfolio that not only inspires, but leaves a lasting impression in the architectural scene.

One of PHA’s latest additions to its portfolio is Hongkong Land’s Yorkville – The Ring in Chongqing. The brand new commercial retail complex encompasses a gross floor area of 420,000 sq. m., of which 170,000 sq. m. is dedicated to the shopping mall, 110,000 sq. m. to the super grade-A office building, and 70,000 sq. m. to the indoor botanical garden.

Yorkville - The Ring, the inaugural project among Hongkong Land’s brand new commercial retail series known as “The Ring”, is designed to be a one-stop destination, providing residents in the Liangjiang New Area with unique premium lifestyle shopping experiences. Located in the core city of Southwestern China, the new development is nested in the centre of Liangjiang New Area of Chongqing with direct connections and convenient access to the extensive rail transit network. The Ring is aspired to become a notable regional landmark, attracting customers and visitors alike from across the city.

The overall masterplanning of the site maximises visibility and accessibility to the shopfronts, with the retail cluster positioned along the main roads in an L-shape, creating “The Ring”. An enclosed landscaped commercial street takes its form as The Ring extends and embraces the two office towers soaring above and behind. The core of the architectural structure cuts through in an S-curve, setting apart the indoor botanical garden space with the outdoor terraced balconies, which serve as the primary and secondary visual anchors respectively. The balconies, in forms of stepped terraces, featured vertical greenery which echoes the theme of the design concept Text: Elizabeth Dooley

Images: PH Alpha

Krista Chan

and strengthens visual connections between the building structure and its surrounding nature. At the heart of The Ring, the indoor botanical garden becomes the key focal point for people flowing through the indoor and outdoor zones.

The biggest challenge for the PHA design team is to realise a seamless integration of urban living with the beauty of nature in order to create a “urban + nature” hybrid form of community. The retail circulation permeates and interplays with that of the indoor botanical garden, successfully merging the multi-dimensional (both horizontally and vertically) spaces of the two, bringing a nature-infused commercial retail experience to the customers.

A 42m-tall dome crowns the top of the large-scale botanical garden, sheltering open-style shopfronts knitted into multi-level terraces of greenery. Through sightline considerations and meticulous spatial planning, the botanical garden landscape visually extends and reaches beyond. Above the main entrance in the southeast, Through the movement of floorslab the sightlines of the double-storey green retail space and the botanical garden echoes from within, while the vast curtain walls showcase the nature design theme, inviting traffic from the outside.

Another significant feature of the design is the innovative modular design of the facade through parametric modelling. Different materials were used to illustrate the abstract theme inspired by the poetic scenery of “wind”, “woods” and “clouds”. Curvatures of the ceramic tiles mimic the breeze of the wind, while the texture of aluminium panels subtly hints various elements from the mountains. Moreover, the use of LED lighting adds glamour and magnificence, animating and breathing life into the facade.

PHA possesses strong sensitivities and solid capabilities to attend to the growing needs for commercial centres to offer unique and comprehensive retail experience to their diverse customers. Hongkong Land’s Yorkville The Ring in Chongqing is a true masterpiece as well as a manifesto of PHA’s scenario-based experiential design capabilities and its role as a visionary leader, spearheading the future of urban and commercial developments.

The Ring is due to complete for operation by late 2020.

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EXTERNAL GLASS SKIN

FACADE CONCEPT

MODULAR DESIGN

58 RESIDENTIAL

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When ART Comes to Town

O

ne ArtLane Twin Towers is a unique new development situated in an expanding portion of Hong Kong’s most renowned, thriving cultural district – SoHo, which starts in Central and is currently expanding westward to Sai Ying Pun, due to the expansion of the city’s transportation network into Western District and related urban renewal initiatives.

Since the MTR Hong Kong Line west extension opened in 2014, this area which includes two of Hong Kong’s oldest districts, namely Sai Ying Pun and Shek Tong Tsui, which lay between Sheung Wan to the east and Kennedy Town to the west, has changed rapidly and because the district is only 10 minutes away from the Central CBD. This has attracted a new generation of young professional couples and first home buyers as well as a young generation of entrepreneurs drawn to the last corner of Hong Kong Island still offering affordable street level rental opportunities as the opening of new stations suddenly made this ageing corner of the city more accessible.

ARTLANE integrates the local area with the MTR via a new pedestrian thoroughfare which also includes the creation of a new lane, adding convenience to local residents.

A unique urban renewal project A project by Henderson Land Development (Henderson) with a sense of community at its heart, the unique quality of One ArtLane Twin Towers (ARTLANE) is the urban art - wall paintings or murals, which cover the whole site area. The developer invited eight local and overseas artists, themed by “Art & Music of SOHO”, who drew their imagination from the old, low-rise buildings surrounding the project to create a brand new space with a vibrant atmosphere.

The regeneration, an urban art project, brings new vitality to a formerly closed off and undesirable series of back alleyways, reinvigorating an old district whilst also creating a new community hub. The series of murals goes beyond local regeneration, creating a new destination drawing in visitors, creating opportunities for new businesses in a formerly rundown part of the city. In the process Henderson has instigated repairs and upgrades to many old, previously poorly maintained buildings, improving the living environment benefitting local property owners.

This twin-tower development incorporates best practice construction and architecture and an innovative arts and lifestyle theme. The program includes vicinity environmental improvement, street and lane repaving, with Henderson undertaking building façade improvement works of multiple buildings adjacent to the site, extending their life as well as providing a facelift using mural paintings which has beautified the area. Although not yet complete, tourists are coming to the area for photo taking opportunities which is creating commercial opportunities for formerly disused and inaccessible spaces.

Text: Mike Staley

Photography: Mike Staley and Brian Zhang

Krista Chan

60 RESIDENTIAL

Architecture for a modern life Designed by CYS Associates (HK), since the towers stand out amidst the surrounding urban environment, an architectural expression had to be made to differentiate it from its surroundings.

The curtain wall system is an inseparable design element that gives the tower its modern identity, in contrast to the older structures in the district. Drawing inspiration from the abstract lines of the cityscape’s vernacular, a series of c-shaped patterns placed between the rows of balconies on the façade imitates the interlocking building footprints and cityscape that inspired the entire design.

ARTLANE was designed with consideration to suitable height control and setbacks, providing relief and diversity in height and massing of the developments. The lightness of the tower combined with the horizontally-oriented base, provides the stable visual impression vital for high-rise buildings.

The two towers are located on Chung Ching Street, the recently completed Phase One located at numbers 6-22 and Phase Two, which is expected to be completed in Q3 2021 is situated at 1-19 Chung Ching Street, Sai Ying Pun. ARTL ANE is targeted at young and first time home buyers, attracting a younger demographic into the heart of an ageing district that was no longer able to provide for the needs of the local community. Phase One contains 240 apartments in total with both towers featuring Studio, 1 room and 2 room apartments from 19.88 to 36.51 square metres.

Matching the theme of “Art and Music”, the clubhouse design is young and playful. Club Jam includes an EnergyPod, Band Station, K Kiosk, Regeneration Depot and VR Game Station, high tech and aimed at encouraging residents to interaction through music. A BBQ area and fully equipped gym are also located on the third floor. At the ground level entrance a landscaped garden will soon provide open space that is accessible to residents, enhancing the natural environment at street level, while green walls and investment in adjacent public sitting-out areas increases the natural site coverage for the general wellbeing of area residents.

ARTLANE is a triumph of positive planning and community engagement that will benefit the immediate surroundings for decades to come.

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