Rocco Design Architects Associates

Head office: 32/F Citicorp Centre, 18 Whitfield Road, North Point, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2528 0128 Fax: +852 2529 2135 Email: info@rocco.hk Website: www.rocco.hk

Key staff:

Rocco Yim Principal

Have the events of 2020 affected or influenced your design philosophy?

It’s certainly shifted the way that we collaborate and approach design. Now that we can’t visit projects being realised outside of Hong Kong, we rely on new modes of communication and cooperation. The type of projects is also changing. Clients require more programmatic flexibility in office buildings and hotels — a direct consequence of the pandemic.

Will design awards continue to be important to your business?

Design awards are a critical part of our promotional activities. They help us celebrate important building milestones and drive recognition. Beyond this, award programmes facilitate dialogues among designers across space and time, as well as help boost staff morale and engagement.

Project: Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Location: Shenzhen, China Client: Bureau of Public Works of Shenzhen Municipality / The Chinese University of Hong Kong Award won: HKIUD Urban Design Awards 2019 — Built Project, Merit Project leader: Rocco Yim Design team: Derrick Tsang, William Tam, Peter Tso, William Lee, Joseph Kong Completed: 2018

The project embraces the existing natural landscape as a primary planning premise. To take full advantage of its natural riches while maximising the site’s functionality, the campus is divided into three zones: Natural Terrain, where buildings merge with existing topography; Academic Clusters, which define the urban edge of the campus; and in between the two, Campus Green, a central open space for relaxation and interaction.

Project: iADC Design Museum Location: Shenzhen, China Client: Shenzhen Manjinghua Investment Group Award won: Hong Kong Institute of Architects Awards 2020 — Outside Hong Kong, Community Building of the Year 2019/20, Merit Award Project leader(s): Rocco Yim Design team: Derrick Tsang, William Tam, Alex Tang, William Lee, Yang Shi Pei Completed: 2019

The museum is a floating volume, creating an urban threshold plaza that connects the Art Town Main Street and other parts of the Art District. With an open sunken courtyard connecting to the basement levels, the plaza transforms into a host of cultural activities and becomes a cultural focal point for the district.