CL3 Architects

Head office: 15/F Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2527 1931 Fax: +852 2529 8392 Email: info@CL3.com Website: www.CL3.com

Key staff:

William Lim Managing director

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

We have always advocated healthy living and working environments, with operable façades and proper natural air circulation and less dependent on mechanical systems. Covid-19 has proven it is even more important to do so. We can now more rightfully design green, sustainable, hygienic and healthy environments for our projects.

Will design awards continue to be important to your business?

Design awards has always been crucial to our creditability and a way for CL3 to promote its work. Our clients are also very proud of the awards their projects bring. I think this is a win-win situation and give us opportunity to do more innovative projects.

Project: InterContinental Raffles City Chongqing Location: Chongqing, China Client: CapitaLand Award won: Best of Year Awards 2020, USA — Interior Design, International Chain Hotel category, Honoree Project leader: William Lim Design team: Jane Arnett, Simon Ho, Jun Tse, Katerin Theys Completed: 2020

The Intercontinental Hotel at Raffles City Chongqing is set on one of the most historically and geographically significant sites in China. Located at the junction of Yangtze and Jialing rivers, this area is called Chaotianmen, where the emperor sent his fleet to meet his citizens.

The Intercontinental Hotel Chongqing, an anchor to Raffles City Chongqing, has its grand reception at the crystal sky bridge on level 42, where the lounge and specialty restaurant Jing are located. The guest tower is located above the sky bridge, with 380 custom designed guest rooms and suites, while the indoor pool and gym are located on level 41.

A contemporary concept for the hotel interior complements the iconic architecture by extending the sail metaphor inside. Based on nautical aesthetics, streamlined features are interwoven with Chinese motifs and crafts, expressed through furniture, finishes, and guestroom designs to provide a visual narrative of sailing the Yangtze River.

Green technology was used to create an interior green oasis, filled with large trees with an internal irrigation system. A five-meter diameter stainless steel ‘moon’ and timber-clad welcome desk create a contemporary Chinese artistic assembly among the trees.

Inspiration from the two rivers bordering the site is reflected in the choice of colours, textiles and fabrics. Views of the river and city are maximised to create outwardly focused spaces and open vistas for all to enjoy.

Project: The Quayside Location: Hong Kong Client: Link Asset Management / Nan Fung Group Award won: Best of Year Awards 2020, USA — Interior Design, Greater World: Environmental Impact category, Winner Project leader: William Lim Design team: Clinton Tsoi, Howard Man Completed: 2019

The Quayside has been awarded both LEED Platinum and BEAM Plus Platinum certification with WELL Gold certification due to be received (delayed due to COVID-19).

The project is an innovative mixed-use development that promotes a healthy working environment mixing work, dining, recreation and relaxation in a green oasis in an industrial neighbourhood.

The notion of ‘green’ is achieved in these main gestures: • Incorporating planting through a self-irrigation system, with vertical green columns puncturing the floors and creating connectivity. • Utilising a passive solar design with brise

soleil to filter heat on the perimeter, with fully openable shop fronts on the interior to bring natural light into the space. • Incorporating recycling bins, healthy food vending machines, a relaxation podium, jogging trail, smart information systems to achieve the highest level of WELL standards. • Enabling interconnectivity between the office reception area and the retail podium through slab openings to enhance a work-rest-play balanced lifestyle.

With the office lobby on the ground level, retail on the first and second levels, and a large green podium on the third level, circular openings were created to visually connect and integrate the various functions, while planting with self irrigation and lighting system forms column structures puncturing through these openings. A grand spiral stair connects the second to the third level 4,300 sq-m podium garden, equipped with a jogging path. The criteria for a WELL certification that includes air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind are carefully integrated to achieve a healthy workplace, transforming a stark, industrial context.