Nelson Chen Architects

Head office: 23/F Lippo Leighton Tower, 103 Leighton Road, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2882 8086 Fax: +852 2882 8038 Email: architects@nca.com.hk Website: www.nca.com.hk

Key staff:

Prof Nelson Chen FAIA FRIBA FHKIA AP (Architect) Principal Architect

Have the events of 2020 affected or influenced the firm’s design philosophy?

Since 1987, Professor Nelson Chen has faithfully maintained a studio-sized practice to ensure the highest level of design quality, attention to detail and personalised client service to each design commission. The firm’s principals have collaborated together for over 20-30 years, and the average tenure of all full-time staff is approaching 20 years. Throughout this period of nearly 35 years, the firm’s has been fortunate to weather several economic downturns (1998 Asian financial crisis, 2003 SARS, 2008 global financial crisis, 2020 pandemic) by remaining steadfast to its founding design philosophy and practice principles.

Lie Ning-Gung HKIA AP (Architect) LEED AP Associate Principal

Ariel Santana UAP Assoc. AIA Associate Principal

Will design awards will continue to be important?

The firm has received over 40 international design awards from the AIA, HKIA, UNESCO and others, including the Architecture Firm Award from both the AIA Hong Kong Chapter (1999) and AIA International Region (2020) for “overall design achievement that exemplifies the highest standards of the architectural profession.” These awards are not primarily valued to benefit business but to define excellence and standards for our profession, while acknowledging the collective efforts of our design team, as well as clients, consultants and contractors. Amid a culture preoccupied with fads and fashions, Nelson Chen Architects have less concern for “what’s first?” and a profound commitment to “what lasts”.

Project: Hong Kong International School — Lower Primary School Location: Repulse Bay, Hong Kong Client: Hong Kong International School Award won: Hong Kong Green Building Council — HKGBC BEAM Plus Gold Award Project leader: Prof Nelson Chen, FAIA FRIBA FHKIA AP (Architect) Design team: Lie Ning-Gung, HKIA AP (Architect) LEED AP (Project Architect); Ariel Santana, UAP Assoc. AIA; Eric Sau, Assoc. AIA; Lawrence Lee, HKIA; Eunice Au, HKIA Project team: Bing Maliwat, Levy Gonzales, Ross Mok, Kimmy Lo, Esther Chan, Kenji Lam, Derrick Leong Completed: 2017 An innovatively designed, purpose-built lower primary school at Hong Kong International School draws inspiration from its teaching philosophy for ‘learning as a journey, not a race’. Especially for younger children (ages 4-7), it is essential to encourage active learning at individual pace through play and discovery, not force-fed rote learning of lessons.

This approach has been translated into learning and recreation spaces filled with natural light, ventilation and materials closely connected with nature. All teaching floors are provided with both indoor and outdoor learning spaces including reading lofts, green balconies for urban farming, and various kinds of landscaped play zones whether indoor/outdoor or covered/open.

Project: Canadian International School — Early Years Environment Location: Aberdeen, Hong Kong Client: Canadian International School of Hong Kong Award(s) won: American Institute of Architects, Hong Kong Chapter — AIA Honor Award, Shortlisted Project leader: Prof Nelson Chen, FAIA FRIBA FHKIA AP (Architect) Design team: Ariel Santana, UAP Assoc. AIA (Project Architect) Project team: Eric Sau, Assoc. AIA; Bing Maliwat, Kimmy Lo Date of completion: 2019 The original plan comprised classrooms along a double-loaded corridor in a traditional layout. CDNIS desired a more open setting for creative and collaborative handson learning in flexible classroom and recreation spaces – indoor and outdoor, open and covered. Thus, fully openable glass partitions allowed for seamless connections to both interior and outdoor activity areas while maximising natural light and ventilation for a healthy environment. Interactive learning experiences are promoted in design details such as a continuous water play station with uniquely different faucet types for young children to develop motor skills, or the bubble mirrors of differing sizes and heights at the washroom basin, etc.