2019 Issue 98
Pacific Rim Construction
DRAMATIC INVERTED STRUCTURE PUSHES THE LIMITS OF DESIGN
Inside:
Hong Kong / PRC $60
C R C o n s t r u c t i o n f i f t y ye a r s o f q u a l i t y e x c e l l e n c e DLN redefining urban renewal and sustainability Rockfon acoustic ceilings define world-class interiors JATO Design constructs significant China por tfolio UNStudio focus on new sustainable technologies
ISSN 1684-1956 977168495009
98
"Designed by Nature, Uncovered by Knopp"
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Cover photo: One Hennessy
by Brian Zhang (ROF Media)
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We are thrilled to have partnered with Chinachem Group, DLN and others to showcase One Hennessy as our lead feature for this issue of PRC Magazine. The dynamic new office tower straddling the boundary of Admiralty and Wan Chai, with its unique inverted podium, is a bold statement on a building form’s previously untapped potential to simultaneously offer tenants Grade-A real estate and society at large an enhanced urban environment. We would like to thank the developer and the project team for their enthusiastic support during the production of our coverage of One Hennessy. Elsewhere, we are pleased to bring our readers multiple other industry articles demonstrating unique commitments to excel, grow and diversify, through the embrace of new technologies and innovative thinking related to sustainability. Now approaching the publication of the 100th issue of PRC Magazine later this year, we welcome wholeheartedly any interest from local manufacturers, contractors, designers, architects and developers alike, who would like to be a part of this groundbreaking issue. I invite interested companies to contact any members of the team listed below.
Let’s Connect to the world of Architecture, Building, Construction and more...
Publisher: Mike Staley, publisher@rofmedia.com Editor: info@rofmedia.com Contributing Editor: Elizabeth Dooley Editorial Team: Bryan Chan • Derek Leung • Jasper Lau • Krista Chan • Michael Hoare • Norman Yam • Richard Lee Business Development: Bryan Chan, bryan@rofmedia.com Tel: (852) 3150 8912 Sales Director: Mike Staley, mike@rofmedia.com Tel: (852) 3150 8989 Account Manager: Alfred Ng, alfred@rofmedia.com Tel: (852) 3150 8911 Sales Enquiries: yannie@rofmedia.com, sales@rofmedia.com Tel: (852) 3150 8988 Senior Graphic Designer: Ric Sin, studio@rofmedia.com Graphic Designer: Michelle Morkel Photographer: Brian Zhang Digital Media Coordinator: Jeffrey Ng Printing: DG3 Asia Ltd. Distribution: bpost (Asia) Ltd. PRC Magazine is published by Ring of Fire Ltd. 5/F Kong Ling Building, 102 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 3150 8988 info@rofmedia.com www.rofmedia.com
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9
UNSTUDIO COMES UP WITH MASTER PLAN FOR KARLE TOWN CENTRE IN BANGALORE
UNStudio is the designer of the new Karle Town Centre for Bangalore, the centre of the information technology industry in India. A technology offshoot of the designer, UNSense, is working with Karle Infra on the sensor technology that the master plan calls for. The use of the technology is meant to make the built environment more attentive to the physical, mental and social wellbeing of the people of Bangalore. In its effort to reverse urban stagnation with the sort of Karle Town Centre it envisages, UNStudio has prepared a manual to guide its client, engineers, architects and urban planners.The basis of the manual is the need to make Bangalore live up to its colloquial name, The Garden City; to promote the health of its citizens; and to promote culture among them. In keeping with the manual, UNStudio and Baljon Landscape Architects of the Netherlands have jointly come up with a landscape plan for turning Bangalore into garden city suited to the modern age. www.unstudio.com
H QUEEN’S ART SPACE IN HONG KONG AMONG ULI GLOBAL AWARD FINALISTS An Urban Land Institute (ULI) jury has shortlisted H Queen’s in the Central district of Hong Kong for a ULI Global Award for Excellence. H Queen’s, designed by CL3 Architects, is the first vertical art space in the city. Flexibility is the watchword in the design, because the building must house restaurants as well as gallery space. Six of the floors have covered terraces for dining outdoors. Each floor has a curtain wall through which works of art can be hoisted by a gondola system. The system can lift 1,250 kg. The building has many features that suit it to being used for gallery space. It is also designed to use energy efficiently. Some 90% of the space in H Queen’s is occupied, and tenants pay 30% to 40% more rent than tenants of equivalent buildings nearby. The finalists for ULI Awards for Excellence, and the eventual winners, are chosen by juries composed of members of the ULI who are authorities in their fields around the world. asia.uli.org
INNOCELL PROJECT CONSTRUCTION BEGINS WITH L&O AS ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTANT
EACH LAP OF KTM BIKE MUSEUM A THRILL THANKS TO ATELIER BRÜCKNER DESIGN
Leigh & Orange (L&O) has been appointed as the lead architectural consultant for the InnoCell housing project in Hong Kong. The 17-storey InnoCell building, in the Hong Kong Science Park, will contain at least 500 dwellings, along with common areas designed to foster a sense of community. The common areas will include places to work and meet, communal kitchens and dining rooms, places for playing games or music, a gymnasium, a laundry, and a roof garden for social gatherings and urban farming. The modular integrated construction (MiC) technique will be applied in putting up the building. L&O managing director Ivy Lee described InnoCell as an “important pilot project for smart living and in the adoption the MiC method, the aim of which is to shorten overall construction time, minimise construction waste and contribute to the creation of a more liveable city”. The ceremonial start of building work was on May 20. The project is due to be finished in 2020. www.leighorange.com
Austrian maker of motorcycles KTM opened in May the KTM Motohall,a motorcycle museum in its home town, Mattighofen. Hofbauer Liebmann Wimmesberger Architekten and X Architekten cooperated closely on the architectural design, while Atelier Brückner designed how the exhibits are presented.The museum tells its visitors about the history of KTM and about the brand values of the company, and shows them over 100 motorcycles. Motorbike racing is the guiding theme, and the design, colour and material idiom of the KTM Motohall are in harmony with that theme. Visitors feel as if they are following a racing circuit as they tour the three levels of the elliptical-plan building. Along the way, visitors trace the creation of a motorbike, from the initial sketch to the finished product; learn technical details cunningly presented; and watch a projection of some 70 street and off-road bikes racing each other at breakneck speed round a sharp curve. www.atelier-brueckner.com
10 PRESS
HENNING LARSEN CHOSEN TO HELP DESIGN A COOL NEW CITY CENTRE FOR SHENZHEN
Henning Larsen is the only winning foreign competitor in a field of 15 that vied to take part in transforming the city of Shenzhen. Henning Larsen is among the three winners of the contest to play a collaborative part in designing a new 5.5 million m2 city centre for Shenzhen. The Henning Larsen master plan calls for Shenzhen Bay Headquarters City to have a spine called The Canyon, which would allow people to walk from the central park to the seafront at the basement level, and which would contain shopping arcades and plazas. Instead
of huge shopping malls sitting beneath tall buildings, the master plan envisages smaller buildings sitting between high-rises, encompassing narrow alleys and small piazzas that would put the development on the same scale as the people that use it. The design would allow sea breezes to ventilate and cool the district, supplementing the cooling effect of 10,000 trees, roof gardens and whitewashed streets. henninglarsen.com
JLL EXPECTS SOUTH CHINA DEVELOPMENT TO SPUR HONG KONG PROPERTY DEMAND
TOWNHOUSES IN LONDON CITY ISLAND PUT ON SALE, STARTING AT £1.45 MLN
Image courtesy of Henning Larsen.
Research on the property market by JLL indicates that the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) will boost growth in demand for all types of real estate in Hong Kong. JLL Managing Director Joseph Tsang said of the latest findings: “An integrated GBA has the potential to shape and accelerate the development of real estate markets across the region. The removal of barriers that limit the movement of trade, capital, information and people will allow various industries to flourish.” Stronger demand for office space in Hong Kong will be one consequence, JLL thinks. It predicts that between now and the end of 2023 about 88% of new offices there will be outside customary office districts. And JLL expects rich mainland Chinese, drawn to Hong Kong by the quality of its health care and education, to propel demand for homes at the high end of the market there. www.jll.com.hk
Seven riverside townhouses forming part of the London City Island development by EcoWorld Ballymore were put on the market at the beginning of June, with prices starting at £1.45 million each. The townhouses have uninterrupted views across the River Lea. Three six-storey and four four-storey houses were put up for sale. Each has three bedrooms, big living areas, a secluded front terrace and private parking. The largest has six storeys connected by a lift, topped off by a roof terrace. Amos & Amos of London designed the interiors. A co-founder of the design firm, Jaki Amos, said: “The townhouses at London City Island marked a real opportunity to create unique design-led living spaces which build upon the island’s boldness and creativity, whilst simultaneously referencing the site’s rich industrial past.” www.jllproperty.com.hk
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EGIS EXPANDS – PARTNERS WITH HONG KONGBASED ENGINEERING CONSULTANT
Egis has bought a majority stake in Hong Kong-based engineering consultant. Inhabit, founded in 2009. Inhabit CEO, Tony Alvaro, said: “This partnership is in line with our strategic plan to build on the strength of our service offering while maintaining our commitment to quality, innovation and value in everything we do. Egis is a highly regarded consulting and engineering business that will provide Inhabit with continued access to projects that are best in the field, whilst enabling our team greater access to global opportunities. The complementary geographic footprints and design and engineering skills of each firm provide an incredible platform for multi-skilled collaboration.” Thomas Salvant, executive director - buildings at Egis, added:“Egis has been looking into expansion of building design activities in South East Asia for some time, as can be seen through the recent integration of Hong Kong based architectural firm 10 Design. This strategic partnership with Inhabit presents us with a fantastic opportunity to combine our complementary skills to further enrich our work in the fields of façade design, specialised engineering and environmental design.” www.inhabitgroup.com
FOOTBALLERS AND FANS BEAT THE HEAT IN QATARI STADIUM DESIGNED BY ZHA
MOLTENI&C, DADA FLAGSHIP SHOWROOM FOR HONG KONG NOW OPEN IN WAN CHAI
Italian maker of furniture Molteni&C and kitchen designer Dada have opened their Hong Kong flagship showroom in the Harbour Centre in Wan Chai. The 480m2 showroom contains examples of the work of the two companies displayed just as buyers might expect to see them set out in their own homes. The grand opening was like the ultimate housewarming party, held in an atmosphere of elegance and refinement, and attended only by the most discerning. The Harbour Centre showroom belongs to Firmstone Mobili Ltd, the sole distributor in Hong Kong of Molteni&C and Dada products. Firmstone opened a Hong Kong showroom for Dada kitchen designs in Gloucester Road last year. Firmstone Retail Division General Manager Heyman So said his company wished to inspire designers, architects and homeowners by daring them to imagine fresh possibilities and set novel trends. www.firmstone.com.hk
RLP APPLIES ITS EXPERTISE IN GUILIN, MASSACHUSETTS AND TSIM SHA TSUI
The Amir Cup Final between two Qatari sides inaugurated the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah in Qatar on May 16. Zaha Hadid Architects and Aecom designed the stadium, the first new venue for football matches commissioned for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. The designers were asked for a 40,000-seat stadium that could be shrunk to a 20,000-seater after the tournament, once all the visiting foreign fans have gone home. The stadium has a Schlaich Bergermann Partner roof which can be opened and closed, and a seating bowl cooling system. All is intended to keep players, match officials and spectators comfortable, however hot Qatar gets. The design of the roof calls to mind upturned hulls of dhows huddled together to give shade and shelter. www.zaha-hadid.com
Hong Kong architecture firm Ronald Lu & Partners (RLP) says it is working on three projects which make use of its international reach and range of expertise. One is Integral, a factory campus in the Chinese city of Guilin for Esquel Group, a Hong Kong maker of textiles and clothing. The campus will allow for the proliferation of robots and automation in factory production, but the design is inspired by traditional Chinese gardens, thus complementing the natural landscape. Integral is due to be finished in 2020. Another RLP project is Victoria Dockside, an art and design district covering 3 million ft2 on the waterfront promenade of Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong, being built for New World Development. RLP is the lead architect and oversees the coordination of 100 other design and architecture firms.The third project RLP is working on is a collaborative effort with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to solve problems arising from urbanisation in China. www.rlphk.com
12 PRESS
LEAD8 PLANS FOR SHANGRI-LA IN FUZHOU WIN AN ASIA PACIFIC PROPERTY AWARD
Lead8, the international firm of architects, master-planners, and interior and graphic designers, has won an Asia Pacific Property Award for its design of the Shangri-La mixed-use development in the Chinese city of Fuzhou. Lead8 is the design architect and the interior designer of the hotel, shops and offices in the development. The Shangri-La group is turning its hotel in Fuzhou into a mixeduse urban resort comprising a hotel, shops, restaurants, and places for work and entertainment. The hotel is being renovated and connected to a new multi-level recreation and shopping podium for an office tower, the whole lot containing over 120,000m2 of floor space. Construction work has begun and is due to end in 2022. Lead8 has never before won an Asia Pacific Property Award. www.lead8.com
FAROE ISLANDS LANDSCAPE MIRRORED IN SEAT OF LEARNING DESIGNED BY BIG
PERIOD EXTERIOR, MODERN INTERIORS COMBINED BY 4N IN RENOVATIONTASK
When Sino Properties set out to renovate 36 Gage Street in the Central district of Hong Kong and revitalise the neighbourhood, it gave 4N the job of redesigning the ground-floor shop and the five floors of dwellings sitting above it. The building is of 1960s vintage. It is made of reinforced concrete and contains about 5,000 ft2 of floor space. The 4N architects were asked to preserve the exterior appearance but modernise the interiors. The result is that 36 Gage Street now looks just as good on the outside as it should have when it was newly built, perhaps better. On the inside, it is all 21st Century chic. Each one-bedroom flat has space for living and dining, a fully equipped kitchen and a bathroom – and in some cases a balcony. www.4n.com.hk
RICS SPOTS NEW CONFIDENCE IN MARKET FOR HONG KONG COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Research by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has found that the market for commercial property in Hong Kong is less stagnant this year than last as confidence returns. The latest Hong Kong Commercial Property Monitor, published quarterly by the RICS, says the easing of fears about Sino-US differences over trade is chief among the remedial influences. The publication says the forecasts given by experts on the markets for sales and leases are now considerably less negative and more neutral than before. RICS economist Sean Ellison, who wrote the report, said: “The market appears to be preparing for a period of below-trend but generally positive growth in capital values and rents, rather than a sharp contraction. However, the outlook is still clouded by uncertainties surrounding trade and other macroeconomic risks.” Experts forecast that rents for commercial property will rise by 1.6% in next 12 months, and that capital values of such property will rise by 2.2%, the RICS found. www.rics.org
FROM OUTER SPACE TO INTERIOR CALM, ALEXANDER WONG’S WORK FILLS NEW BOOK
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) was among the winners of the competition to come up with the initial design of the Glasir-Tórshavn College in the Faroe Islands, and the college is now built and serving its purpose. The college is in a 19,200m2 building which combines three institutions of education under one roof, accommodating 1,750 students, teachers and other staff. The building is shaped like a vortex, celebrating the Faroese landscape. BIG Creative Director Bjarke Ingels, who founded the firm, said: ”Inspired by the dramatic Faroese topography, Glasir is designed like a landscape for learning: the central space of the school is conceived as a topographical interpretation of the natural landscape – a continuous terraced terrain with steps and staircases that connect across several levels and merge the multi-storey building into a single entity.” www.big.dk
Science fiction, jungle wilderness, stars of the silver screen, retail and residential, the work of Alexander Wong Architects has been chronicled in a 352-page coffee table book to be released in August. Archiphantasy shows creative and dynamic designs for a range of projects – including interiors, homes and hotels, exhibition pavilions, department stores and supermarkets – that have won acclaim for the studio. Underlying the presentation of the portfolio is the inventiveness and originality in the studio’s output and Wong’s unique perspective on design, architects, architectural styles and commerce. The book sees Wong deliver a selection of essays on contemporary architecture and design, alongside magnificent photographs of the work that present the studio’s innovative cinema design, such as the sci-fi cinema design that has won acclaim. Archiphantasy also reveals the characteristics of an emerging school of Asia-Pacific design that combines an abstract aesthetic with high attention to detail. www.alexanderwong.com.hk
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RENSON STARTS WORK IN BELGIUM ON OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE CENTRE
CANON OFFERS ENTERPRISES PROSPECT OF MAKING TOMORROW HAPPEN TODAY
Work has begun on the Renson Outdoor Experience Centre on the De Prijkels industrial estate in Belgium, right beside the E17 motorway. Renson is a company that specialises in ventilation, sun protection and outdoor living. The centre is due to be fully operational by 2021. It will contain production facilities, offices, testing and training centres, and a showroom for the Renson Outdoor Living unit.The designer of the centre is Binst Architects.“The entire design of this new Renson development at De Prijkels was effectively inspired by the underlying outdoor living experience concept,” Binst Architects Chief Executive Luc Binst said. “That triggered the idea to design the building – which is an impressive 380m long – as a supersized garden pavilion alongside the motorway.The offices, production facilities and showroom are all integrated into the pavilion facade, so it’s immediately obvious to visitors what’s being made behind that facade.” www.renson-outdoor.com
Canon Hongkong put on an event at the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong hotel in May to introduce enterprises to novel ways to use technology to increase efficiency, productivity and mobility. Canon strives to be an innovator with its proprietary imaging technologies, focusing on commercial printing, network cameras, healthcare, industrial equipment and, more recently, business imaging. A Canon Hongkong executive, Philip Chan, said of the trend toward digitalisation: “Embracing such change in business is only possible by attaining a deep understanding of these innovations and then effectively incorporating them in a continuous drive for improvement. Our intelligent technologies support companies throughout this whole process and help make the future happen faster.” Among the Canon products under the spotlight at the event were the imageRunner Advance C3500i III Series multifunctional device and the Antelope Enterprise. hk.canon
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14 PRESS
CHINACHEM SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE ENVISAGES A CITY FIT FORTHE ELDERLY
FROM SECURETO PUBLIC ZONE - NO RE-ENTRY POSSIBLE
How to foster development suitable to the ageing population of Hong Kong was the theme of the Chinachem Sustainability Conference 2019, held at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on March 29. Some 380 people attended the event, which drew experts on caring for and serving the elderly, and put them together with authorities on urban planning, architecture, and information and communications technology from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. The Chinachem Group and the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) jointly put on the conference. Chinachem Group Chief Executive Donald Choi alluded in his opening speech to the need to deal with the ageing of people and buildings alike in Hong Kong. HKGBC Chairman Cheung Hau-wai said in his closing speech: “HKGBC is hopeful of seeing the elderly in Hong Kong age gracefully, and will continue to work with different sectors to transform the city into an age-friendly society. www.hkgbc.org.hk
AUB Security Revolving Door providing a smooth “Exit Only” for Staff at HKIA. A sophisticated combination of Access Control and Security Gate system is required to identify and separate authorized persons to grant them access to a secure area. Yet the gates need to be easy to operate, functionally reliable and visually well integrated in the building design. AUB Security Gates come with elegant features, various sizes and are easy to install directly onto the finish floor level. The Series of AUB Security Revolving Doors are designed and manufactured in Italy. www.aub.com.hk
WEWORK TO LAUNCH WEWORK GO IN HONG KONG IN THIRD QUARTER
KNIGHT FRANK SEES HOME PRICES RISING IN MAINLAND CHINA AND HONG KONG In spite of the Sino-US trade war and the dimming of the outlook for economic growth, Knight Frank detects signs that housing prices in mainland China and Hong Kong will rise this year. Knight Frank Director David Ji said prices of housing in first-tier and second-tier cities in China had risen moderately in the past six months as the Chinese economy grew steadily. “Although the government’s overall policy control on the housing market is still in place, some regional controls were relaxed,” Mr Ji said. “According to the Greater Bay Area plan, the government is pushing for the development of an international innovation and technology hub as well as the improvement of infrastructure and connectivity. These will be the key drivers for the housing markets in the region.” Knight Frank Executive Director Thomas Lam said property prices in Hong Kong had risen considerably in recent months, reflecting positive sentiment in the market. “However, external uncertainties such as trade war concerns could cloud market sentiment,” Mr Lam said. “We anticipate the residential market to be dominated by first-hand sales in the remainder of this year.” knightfrank.com.hk
ATKINS COLLECTS LANDSCAPING AWARDS FOR TWO SOUTHEAST ASIAN PROJECTS
WeWork says it will begin offering in the third quarter of this year WeWork GO, which gives people easy access to places where they can work, as and when they need a place to work. WeWork Greater China Design Director Luis Portas said: “As a driver in accelerating the future of work, WeWork is redefining space for businesses of all sizes to thrive. Since we entered Greater China in 2016, we have been committed to innovating and creating spaces that cultivate innovation, strengthen productivity, encourage collaboration, and eventually empower people and businesses to pursue their purpose.” WeWork Greater China Head of Innovation and Technology Dominic Penaloza said: “WeWork is bringing a more humanised way of work and living, and brings positive impact to neighbourhoods and cities by increasing efficiency of spaces. With innovative technology like WeWork GO, we strive to offer more people and enterprises to experience the future of work empowered by WeWork.” www.wework.com
Two projects in Southeast Asia undertaken by Atkins, the international design, engineering and project management consulting firm, have won Malaysia Landscape Architecture Awards this year. One of the winning projects is the Integrated Golf Resort Master Plan for the Philippines. The other is the Landmark 81 project. Atkins Senior Associate Director Christian Dierckxsens, who is in charge of landscaping for the firm in the Asia-Pacific region, said: “These awards are a tremendous recognition of our studio’s capability in creating and master-planning unique and large-scale spaces throughout the region.” Another big landscape master plan undertaking by Atkins that won an award recently is the Gamuda Cove master plan project, which won last year a HKILA Landscape Award presented by the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects. www.atkinsglobal.com
Hong Kong BIM Conference 2019 BIM as an enabler of digital transformation in the built environment Tuesday 23 July 2019 9am to 5pm
Grab the last chance
Please visit rics.org/bimconfhk or scan the QR code for registration For enquiry: Ms. Karina Cheung - Tel. 2117 0695 Email: kcheung@rics.org
16 AWARDS
In response to QBA’s growing recognition outside of Hong Kong, this year’s organizing committee has, for the first time, invited a mainland Chinese juror to join the jury panel – Mr Liang Jian Ming, President, Guangdong Construction Industry Association. This decision also reflects the increasing number of Hong KongMainland collaborations in an array of high-quality building projects (some involved in the Greater Bay Area initiative).
The Quality Building Award 2020 (QBA 2020) is now officially open for nomination. QBA is a biennial award that recognizes buildings of outstanding quality and those that demonstrate outstanding teamwork. QBA 2020 will mark the award’s tenth edition, with the theme being “Transforming Communities . Build with Heart and Care”. Co-founded in 2002 by nine of Hong Kong’s leading professional institutions, QBA has become established as the one of the property sector’s most coveted honours.
Ir Peter K. W. Mok, Chairman of QB A 2020 Organizing Committee, said: “It is an honour to be selected to chair QBA’s tenth edition. For this year’s awards, we hope to emphasize the commitment building professionals have to strengthening communities while remembering that the building industry is about putting people first. We also recognize the growing room for cooperation across borders in an increasingly integrated world, and so we hope including a juror from outside of Hong Kong will send a positive signal in our industry to cooperate more with others.”
Jury Panel (from left): Ir Koon-man CHUNG, Ir Peter K. W. MOK ﹠ Mr YU Tak Cheung, JP
Hong Kong is one of the world’s busiest international cities, and its stunning cityscape and competitive building industry has always reflected that. That said, the organizing committee recognizes that buildings are the places people live and work, eat and sleep, dream and wonder. Quality buildings bring joy and health, poorly designed ones bring risk and suffering. For this year’s award, the organizers hope to reinforce an important truth – that quality buildings are built with heart and care to serve people’s needs first, while transforming communities for the better. This also provides a platform for professional building project teams to be recognized for positive contributions to the community through high quality building work. SSHT19 130x240mm eng-Bleed5MM.pdf 2 2019/6/20 15:05:15
www.qba.com.hk
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According to the United Nations, air pollution is the largest environmental risk to human health, causing an estimated US$5 trillion in welfare losses each year. The negative impact of air pollution is wide ranging, including damage to ecosystems and agricultural crop yields, which in turn result in significant economic consequences.
In the Asia-Pacific alone, fewer than 8% of people breathe ‘clean air’ as classified by the World Health Organisation. In Singapore, human-induced air pollution from industries, motor vehicles and the periodic haze from peat burning in the region have resulted in associated health costs of US$3.75 billion. However, the government and industry players are committing themselves to a more active role in tackling the issue. “We are heartened to see Singapore’s built environment making strides in adopting renewable and carbon-emissions free energy sources such as solar power,” said Emily Tan, Founder, FORTES Innovations Pte Ltd. With energy demands ever increasing and Singapore enjoying year-round sunshine, solar energy remains the promising avenue for us to meet our future developmental needs. Today, we're working with solar energy players on ways to increase the energy productivity of currently installed panels, paving the way for greater adoption across homes and businesses here in Singapore.” For Halton Manufacturing General Manager, Christian Hirschmann, even the city-state’s iconic food courts can do their part in paving the way to cleaner air. “Food courts or central production kitchens can generate grease, smoke and particulates into the air, which can be both unpleasant and unsafe for respiratory health – particularly in dense urban cities such as Singapore. It is encouraging to see that Singapore has been taking steps to enhance our air quality standards for the food industry, for example, ensuring the use of adequate cooker hoods to extract the smoke and fumes from the cooking areas under the National Environment Agency’s regulations. These small steps can lead to massive long-term impact.”
While humans cannot afford to stop breathing, we can do something about the quality of air that we breathe. “Enabling smart innovations in our buildings can help overcome air quality issues indoors,” said Robert Bosch SEA, President, Martin Hayes. “For example, air quality monitoring involves measuring several air-quality parameters, allowing users to pinpoint any problems with indoor air and helps building managers make decisions that ensure a pleasant and safe indoor climate.” The impact of air pollution has global significance. The 45th World Environment Day 2019 tackled the theme of ‘Air Pollution’, urging governments, industry and individuals to come together to explore green technologies, and improve air quality in cities and regions across the world. “As nations all over the globe tackle emissions from the built environment, the construction industry must continue to challenge ourselves to address our sector’s total emissions impact.” said Häring Timber Technology Ltd., Chairman of the Board of Management, Christoph Häring. “For example, this may come as a surprise to many, but wood is actually one of the most sustainable materials in construction – by virtue of needing only water and air to regenerate. Wood can also be used to make an endless number of engineered products with minimum amount of energy – significantly reducing the overall environmental impact and total emissions over its life cycle. It is now becoming clear that this traditional choice is also a stateof-the art material that can be used to make high-precision components directly from digital models and using i n d u s t r i a l p ro c e s s e s turning wood into an elite 21st-century construction material.”
Indeed, clean air is a resource that affects our health and our climate and everyone should have a stake in managing it well. With the benefits of reducing air pollution often far outweighing the costs, the air that we breathe can improve much faster than most people realise. Poor air quality is one of the many unintended consequences of rapid urbanization. The development community can play a role in helping to address some of these complex challenges.
Platforms such as the upcoming International Built Environment Week 2019 (IBEW), held from 3 to 6 September, 2019 at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore, offer players the opportunity to come together to create innovative solutions that reduce the impact from building and construction activities. Four anchor exhibitions will be co-located with IBEW 2019, namely – BEX Asia, an international showcase of sustainable architectural building materials, Mostra Convegno Expocomfort Asia (MCE) Asia, the region’s leading trade community gathering for energy-efficient solutions, Innobuild (IB) Asia, a showcase of innovations and technologies for the construction industry and Smart Cities & Buildings (SCB) Asia, which focuses on building smart, digital convergence of solutions and technology into the built environment value chain. The exhibitions will be held from 4 to 6 September, 2019.
www.ibew.sg
3 - 6 JUL 2019
ARCHIDEX 2019 KLCC, Kuala Lumpur Marking its 20th anniversary, ARCHIDEX (The 20th International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition) is established as the region’s leading annual trade exhibition for the building industry. But what makes it such a not-to-bemissed event? One simple answer: ARCHIDEX is the point of convergence for the architecture, interior design and the building fraternities in Malaysia and the region, attracting more than 33,000 visitors in 2018. With the chance to meet renowned design professionals and industry experts, ARCHIDEX has earned itself this pivotal position as an ideal networking and knowledge-sharing platform, a gathering place for a fraternity of industry-related professionals including students and academics, urban planners and developers, as well professionals from across the building industry. Aside from being the region’s leading event to keep up-to-date with the latest products, trends and innovation from renowned brands, ARCHIDEX’s appeal also lies in its evergrowing range of concurrently-run professional networking events, conferences, forums, workshops and talks. Under the umbrella of the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF), there will be the International Architecture & Design Conference (DATUM:KL), KL Design Forum (KLDF), Green Building Forum (GBF), ARCHITalent (Architecture Student Design Competition), architectural tours, just to name a few. ARCHIDEX is also featuring ECO-B (Eco Building & Design Exhibition) with new concurrent exhibitions such as FACIMEX (Facilities Management & Cleaning Exhibition and ENGINEER (Mechanical, Electrical & Civil Engineering Exhibition). www.archidex.com.my
明建會 The Lighthouse Club
The Construction Industry Charity www.lighthouseclubhk.com
Apply for Membership: Ordinary HK$700 per annum Young HK$350 per annum For further details please contact: info@lighthouseclubhk.com +852 2736 9885
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UPcoming Events 3 - 5 SEp 2019
3 - 5 SEp 2019
3 - 6 SEp 2019
Shanghai New International Expo Centre
Shanghai New International Expo Centre
Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore
Recognising the strong momentum of China’s smart home market, the show team up with the China Smart Home Industry Alliance (CSHIA) again to bring back Shanghai Smart Home Technology.
The International Built Environment Week (IBEW)is the most comprehensive event in Asia Pacific on the built environment. Organised by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and supported by 12 Trade Associations and Chambers, the inaugural event will convene under the theme “Transforming The Way We Build”.
Shanghai Intelligent Building Technology
Being known as the leading platform for China’s intelligent building industry, the fair organisers have collaborated with the Intelligent Engineering Branch of the China Exploration and Design Association to present innovative intelligent building technologies and solutions related to IoT, cloud computing, big data, building energy efficiency, energy management systems, and intelligent hotels. SIBT aims to cultivate new building concepts that will help realise the ultimate goal of widespread sustainable buildings. Held together with a series of influential seminar programme, the fair offers exhibitors an ideal platform to explore business opportunities and to network with targeted trade buyers, industry players and professionals. https://shanghai-intelligent-building-technology. hk.messefrankfurt.com/shanghai/en.html
Shanghai Smart Home Technology
SSHT positions as a comprehensive platform for smart home technologies, focuses mainly on technical integration, fosters cross-sector business collaboration and encourages industry players to innovate. An array of must-attend events with numerous highlights such as thematic zones, interactive workshops and high-end influential seminar programme add extra value for your presence and enhance networking and technology exchange. https://shanghai-smart-home-technology. hk.messefrankfurt.com/shanghai/en.html
The International Built Environment Week
Bringing together more than 12,000 attendees, the IBEW is an ideal platform for industry leaders and professionals from the global built environment to exchange ideas and experiences on policies, business solutions and technologies, as well as explore business opportunities. Following the successful runs of BEX and MCE Asia, two new flagship trade shows – Innobuild Asia and Smart Cities & Buildings Asia have been added to address your sourcing needs. The four trade shows, which are expected to host more than 550 exhibiting companies, aim to promote the adoption of technology to drive efficiencies at every stage of the construction life cycle. https://www.ibew.sg/
ISHS19 240x130-PRC June-EN out.pdf
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Text: Bryan Chan
Photographer: Brian Zhang
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HP Inc. 800 90 6316 www.hp.com/go/workstations
22 PRODUCT & TECH
Text & Images: Rockfon
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www.rockfon.asia
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Through Urban E y e s PRC Magazine takes a look at UNStudio’s development and its focus on new sustainable technologies as it enters its second decade in Asia.
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hen Amsterdam-based UNStudio, founded by Ben van Berkel, took on the design of CapitaLand’s Raffles City in Hangzhou, China, it marked the beginning of a new chapter for the design studio that prides itself on creating high value projects that combine aesthetics with human-centric solutions turning them into architecture and urban planning designs. For Hannes Pfau, Partner at UNStudio and Head of UNStudio Asia, setting up an office in Shanghai in 2010 was a natural progression to growing the business outside Europe.
China. The masterplan comprised a marina with direct access to the Xi River, a service building, high-end residential villas and the supporting infrastructure, such as the CIQP building, a bridge, roads and surrounding external dykes. It is the first and only marina with a private port of immigration in all of China. In 2013, UNStudio added Lane 189 in Putuo district in central Shanghai to its portfolio. A new type of mall, designed to provide a lifestyle destination for Shanghai’s young professionals, it combines retail, restaurants and office spaces within a vertical city centre. In the meantime UNStudio was awarded the contract for the Lyric Theatre Complex in Hong Kong, a very prestigious project and another reason to extend UNStudio Asia’s presence to Hong Kong in 2014. The Lyric Theater Complex, due for completion in 2023, will be a worldclass multi-theatre venue for dance and theatrical arts in the city’s long anticipated West Kowloon Cultural District.
“In light of the impact of urbanisation worldwide, Raffles City made us ask ourselves how we could utilise a dense, mixed programme as part of a transit-oriented development to stimulate sustainable living and improve quality of life. While it was not our first project in Asia, the new office did mark our commitment to the project and the region. An office in Shanghai, with its easy reach to Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Taiwan and Korea, provided us with the perfect hub to grow our design culture in Asia and allowed us to be closer to our clients,” he explains.
Diversified offerings
After officially establishing the Shanghai office in 2010, mainly catering to the Raffles City project, 2012 saw the start of the design process for the 50,000 square metre Keppel Cove Marina project in Zhongshan,
The firm set up its second UNStudio Asia office in Hong Kong in 2014 and continues to grow and diversify its unique offerings beyond typical architecture and urban planning.
Text: Elizabeth Dooley
Images: Hufton+Crow, Eric Jap, Tom Roe, DBOX
Derek Leung
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“Alongside our core practices we also have a research team and a futures team, as well as product and interior units. These various focus areas allow us to organise ourselves in such a way that we can truly cross-fertilise all our knowledge and channel it into unique and forwardlooking projects,” notes Ben van Berkel, Founder and Principal Architect of UNStudio. “In essence we are always investigating how we are going to be living, working and travelling in the future and how we can tailor make projects and products around these themes,” he adds.
Knowledge sharing Asked whether a practice with a Dutch heritage and a European approach can bring something unique to Asia, Pfau is pragmatic: “All European countries vary in their approach and style, just as China’s provinces and Asia’s countries do. In that sense, as Europeans we have a common heritage and are able to bring to Asia the quality and knowledge that Europe is known for, plus added sensibility to adapt to regional subtleties. At UNStudio we also have a culture of being involved in the design process from the beginning of a project to the end, which is not so evident in many mainland practices. Being able to work on the ground and being able to guarantee quality at both architectural and commercial levels is very valuable.”
He also points to the issue of density in cities on the mainland and in Hong Kong, noting that, while these city are much more concentrated in density, there is little difference between the basic needs and desires of people in Europe or Asia. “We apply our knowledge of urban people flow and spatial organization. In Europe there are many more regulations regarding how we use a space. In Asia, however, the floor plates are so much bigger, so we have to think about how we can creatively provide healthy working environments for people who otherwise may not have access to direct daylight. This is something that we have learned through working in China and that we can bring back to our European practice. Coming up with new designs and new solutions helps keep the mind fresh and our practice up to date,” he adds. Clearly at the heart of UNStudio is an open culture of knowledge exchange and an understanding that Asia can learn from Europe and vice versa. “We have learned a great deal from our work in Asia that we can take back to Europe, particularly when it comes to new efficiency models for working. This is not related just to commercial speed, but stems more from the current cultural ambition in Asia, where there is a kind of common energy and understanding that now is the time to improve
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the way we work and to affect real progress by working together. Solutions for sustainability, the development and integration of new technologies and the creation of self-learning environments are being developed very quickly in China and the West can learn a huge amount from that,” observes Van Berkel.
Making sense Looking forward, Pfau is enthusiastic about UNStudio’s next ten years in Asia. “The launch of our arch-tech sister company UNSense last year has enabled us to put even more focus on some of the more technological aspects of architecture. Alongside other tech-based interventions, we’re working on developing products and strategies that will help us to seamlessly and elegantly integrate energy production into our buildings, such as solar panel technology embedded in glass sheeting. With our research team at UNStudio, we have also developed an ultra-durable paint designed to prevent solar radiation.” He and his team are excited to witness how the projects they have worked on over the past ten years, especially those currently under construction, will be received by the end-users and stand the test of time, as their designs intend. “Our aim has always been to produce really flexible and adaptive buildings which can incorporate the latest technologies, whilst sustaining commercial change. We’re very enthusiastic about further developing and researching the technological aspects of how we live and work, and implementing this kind of knowledge in our buildings and products around the world. We are also very conscious of sourcing materials locally, in order to reduce our carbon footprint and allow us to create much more positive eco-aware environments where the technological aspects can support the human experience, rather than complicate it,” he concludes.
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REDEVELOPING FORM & FUNCTION IN HONG KONG’S CBD
As Chinachem’s long-awaited redevelopment of Asian House opens its doors to tenants, PRC Magazine talks to CEO Donald Choi about the developer’s latest Grade A office landmark, One Hennessy.
Text: Elizabeth Dooley
Photography: Brian Zhang (ROF Media)
Derek Leung
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ne Hennessy is expanding Hong Kong’s CBD, offering a strategic location, quality specification and modern lifestyle amenities. Just a few minutes walk from Admiralty MTR station, it provides convenient access to all parts of the territory and the region via the Airport Express and Express Rail Link to China. Within easy access to cross-harbour tunnels the location also affords direct access onto the major highway routes and connection to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. A redevelopment of the site that housed Asian House, the area is already home to some of the largest global and regional organisations in banking, finance, professional services and technology sectors. In its immediate vicinity lifestyle amenities include restaurants, bars and 5-star hotels. Served by two dedicated amenity floors and a ground floor coffee shop, the building provides approximately 24,000 square metres of lettable Grade A office space across 21 floors, complemented by 2,300 square metres of amenity space for tenants. Boasting a regular side core design, One Hennessy presents tenants with a highly efficient floor plate for easy configuration of operations. And as more and more companies relocate from Central towards Admiralty Chinachem has brought the site up to date, demolishing the building that stood there for more than fifty years. The result is One Hennessy, the tallest building to date in the area which arguably now forms the heart of what is being described as Hong Kong’s expanded CBD.
“Understanding the requirements of the tenants allows us as developers to satisfy the community’s needs and that to me always makes good business sense.”
Chinachem CEO, Donald Choi
On what the new development contributes to Chinachem’s portfolio, Choi considers One Hennessy to be one of its core investment properties, designed not only to provide a recurring income to the developers over the long-term but also to make a valid contribution to the area. “As a mature developer and investor we are positive that the redevelopment of the site will provide recurring income for a relatively long time. I have no doubt that the combination of yield and location will appreciate and generate further demand for Grade A office space in the area,” he notes.
Sustainable Quality It goes without saying that the building complies with all existing government regulations and green building requirements, but Chinachem were keen to create something iconic, not only in terms of the building’s form, but in terms of quality. As Choi explains, the funnel at the bottom of the tower that sits on top of the podium is designed to facilitate natural lighting and airflow onto the street level. “We knew what we wanted to achieve as developers in terms of performance but didn’t really have a strong view of what we wanted the building to look like, except that it should be modern. In that sense we started from the inside out. Working with DLN Architects the design process was very dynamic and fluid, where one thing would dictate another. Our aim was always to redevelop the building to the highest standards, whilst also improving the environment within the building and at street level. The building is not only a design statement but also serves an environmental purpose by improving ventilation. In that sense it is both functional and symbolic and indicative of our commitment to sustainable development. We are now setting targets to reduce energy and water usage in all our existing buildings,” he explains. Choi’s previous experience working for Norman Foster instructed his belief in the need to satisfy form and function in the most efficient way possible. Form, he adds, serves a symbolic function, which is very important in any city.
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“We knew what we wanted to achieve in terms of performance, but didn’t have a strong view of what we wanted the building to look like, except that it should be modern.”
“The podium top is a green roof, which I believe developers should be promoting more in Hong Kong. We can start by developing green footprints at different levels of buildings and can have sky gardens midway or even higher up. Every building can have overhead walkways, even on the 20 th floor, so there’s plenty of scope and opportunity to expand on this idea and promote the multiple ground planes more. Once you have connected urban rooms and green spaces on the upper floors you have many opportunities to activate different building levels which can generate more vibrancy and improve returns.” An architect by training, with over 30 years' experience globally as an architect and a developer, Choi attests that the power of design should be used to both inspire and satisfy functional needs. Asked how developers and architects are reacting to the challenge of balancing yield and community he is pragmatic when he says he believes there is an optimum solution where developers can use the power of design and architecture to empower society whilst at the same time being able to maximise financial returns.
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Understanding the Community “Understanding the requirements of the tenants allows us as developers to satisfy the community’s needs and that to me always makes good business sense. For a lot of our tenants it is important to be in a building that has character and can complement their corporate image. I am positive that One Hennessy achieves this end goal,” he adds. He also notes that Chinachem are putting a lot of energy and resources into identifying the very best sites across the territory. Indeed, recent purchases include residential sites in Anderson Road, Kai Tak and Ho Man Tin. On the prospect of the government’s plans for Hong Kong’s second CBD in Kowloon East, he is positive about the location, though stresses that any vibrant community should be self-sustaining but have diversity to create a neighbourhood for both work and play. “It would be a mistake to create a place where people go home after work and the area becomes dead at night. Whilst the government has put forward
its proposal and plans for the area it is still very much up to the developers to make this happen. Only with quality vision and support from the government can the private sector participate, hopefully with market sensitivity to build the right product that contributes to the community.”
Looking Ahead Moving forward, Choi’s predictions for the commercial office property market are positive. Indeed, Chinachem is quite optimistic regarding the long term future of Hong Kong as a commercial hub and realistic when he says Hong Kong’s developers are not just serving the seven or eight million population of Hong Kong. “With the development of the Greater Bay Area, we now have a catchment area of 60-70 million people and Hong Kong could easily become the CBD of the region. We are currently studying the opportunities and are definitely interested in expanding our business to this area,” concludes Choi.
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Your Trusted Engineering Partner Nan Fung Kai Tak Development
One Hennessy
PingAn Finance Center
Hong Kong Science Park Expansion - Stage 1
West Kowloon Government Offices
J. Roger Preston is a mechanical and electrical consulting engineering giant, employing over 600 staff in offices across Asia, in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh. JRP has been involved in the development of some of Hong Kong’s most iconic landmarks and is involved in notable engineering works spanning the region.
JRP www.jrp-group.com
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Text: Elizabeth Dooley
Photography: Brian Zhang (ROF Media)
Derek Leung
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Excellence Expressed Chu Hai College China Unicom (Hong Kong) Global Centre
One Hennessy CR Construction commenced work on the iconic new, 32-storey commercial office tower for Chinachem Group in November 2016. Construction of this landmark new Wan Chai development was completed in February this year
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R Construction Company Limited, (formerly known as China Resources Construction Company), was established in 1967. Specialising in complex, quality projects, CR Construction has developed a reputation for reliability with over 50 years of experience in the local market. With a singular focus on excellence which has led to CR Construction emerging as a leading main building contractor, the practice’s portfolio encompasses a wide range of projects types including government premises, institutions, schools, hotels and a wide range of industrial, commercial and residential projects. With a commitment to outstanding quality, CR Construction’s diverse and exemplary standard of professional project management delivers quality results throughout all areas of the operation. The firm has developed and implemented various management systems that enhance product quality, health and safety stewardship, environmental and social responsibility. Sustainability has emerged as one of the most pressing concerns of society. CR Construction considers sustainability as the core of developing a business strategy in which it underpins day to day operations and strategic decision making. At the same time it is equally committed to CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and as such it encourages its employees to participate in a variety of volunteer services which contribute to the development of a harmonious society. With a commitment to excellence CR Construction has built of portfolio of significant projects. Recent developments of note include the St. Regis Hotel in Wan Chai, redevelopment of the new Hong Kong Red Cross Headquarters, China Unicom (Hong Kong) Global Centre, new campus development of Chu Hai College of Higher Education and Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre of City University of Hong Kong.
Text: ROF Media
This building form is unique. Constructing a single 150-meter high office building with an inverted pyramid structure at its core, the team had to operate in a crowded working space with limited site access for five months of temporary works where space was so limited that finding room for tools and machinery was logistically challenging. Therefore, close attention to the implementation of strict health and safety standards was imperative. For example rules on safety and best practice were written, studied and strictly obeyed by workers and to facilitate smooth workflow and co-ordination between the workers detailed design plans were discussed and work schedules pre-planned. Efficient training and communication helped ensure the successful delivery of this project. Due to the great complexity of the One Hennessy project, the team faced a number of serious challenges during construction. As the main transfer structure consists of hanger post, belt truss and inclined structure, the formwork supporting system could not be dismantled until sufficient strength of the whole transfer structure was achieved and not until 28 days after the completion of the hanger post. Although using the traditional formwork is cost-effective and easy to handle, on this project it would have slowed the progress below the transfer structure and would have required a huge amount of formwork materials on site which would have created severe logistical challenges creating enough space to store formwork and rebar materials given the congested site. To overcome this complication, the team used a fully covered temporary steel deck to free up podium space for the storage of construction materials which allowed the early completion of the HKE cable trench to solve the problem. Further, a temporary steel deck was another potential obstacle during construction which may have resulted in a conflict between the steel platform and scaffolding, permanent structures, and so forth. To avoid such conflicts the construction sequence had to be planned out thoroughly during the design stage of the temporary steel platform. The design team embraced the use of BIM as the most reliable way to anticipate and preview potential conflicts at each stage in the development before construction which contributed greatly to an efficient and well managed construction phase of an innovative office tower that presented a unique set of challenges for the many teams involved in delivering the project. At One Hennessy, CR Construction was greatly committed to safety management, quality supervision and environmental issues so that construction was carried out and completed in a safe and successful manner. As such, and in recognition of the team’s impressive efforts, the project has garnered a number of local and national industry awards. These include: 19th Construction Safety Competition Best Method Statement Silver Award and the Construction Safety Week 2017 – Temporary Works Excellence Award – Silver Award (Building Works).
Images: CR Construction
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One Hennessy
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Shanghai’s New Maritime-Inspired Gala Mall Text: Elizabeth Dooley
Images: JATO Design
Jasper Lau
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ATO Design International Limited is a creative, multi-disciplinary and award-winning international design firm based in Hong Kong, specialized in Master Planning, Architecture, Interior Design and Graphic Design. JATO was established in 2013 as a subsidiary of Jiang & Associates Creative Design Company Limited (ranked 25th in Top 100 giants 2019 of Interior Design magazine).With years of design experience in Mixed-use, Retail, Commercial, Work Space and Hospitality venues, our project footprint has been able to reach out and cover many major cities which included masterplan for Chengdu Jinniu District Mixed-use Development (298,000 square metre), Nanchang Zhengshen Commercial Development (280,000 square metre), Shenyang Jiuwu Culture City (15,000 square metre), Shenzhen CentralCon Group Bao Cheng πMall (55,000 square metre), Suzhou Longfor Times Paradise Walk (177,000 square metre), Chongqing Sincere Starlight Place (166,000 square metre) and Wuhan Mall City (64,000 square metre). Shanghai’s new maritime-inspired Gala Mall, is arguably the most original to date and one that exemplifies JATO’s vision of ‘Life inspiring Design and Design inspiring Life’. Situated at Lujiazui Finance Finance and Trade Zone in Pudong, Shanghai and the intersection points of the city and the waterfront, the award-winning project provides a new landmark on a site that since the 1850s has been known for its shipyards and its position as a river gateway to the city. The 70,000 square metre development, which saw its grand opening in December 2017, houses over 120 retail stores across five levels.
an inbuilt sensor that monitors sunlight penetration. Using carefully selected shading material to create a translucent effect, the device not only reduces energy consumption but also provides a comfortable temperature for all seasons. With the podium supporting two towers, circulation planning was a major element in JATO’s escalator planning. A major consideration was finding a way to overcome the structural and mechanical constraints involved in balancing the amount of leasable space with the challenge of maintaining a feeling of openness and space within the atrium area and creating a unique cruise-like experience with seamless connections between floors. Here, the solution was to install auto sensor escalators that were stacked on top of each other to create a multi-level network resembling the flow of a river. These vertical travelling devices not only serve as a pump for the circulation system but with both sides of the escalator covered with transparent materials and indirect lights to showcase the machinery, are also a major design feature in what is surely to become a highlight of JATO’s ever-expanding commercial space portfolio.
Inspired by the concept of shipping and seafaring, JATO values the historical background and unique cultural aspect of the site and the opportunity to provide a social interchange between the river and the city. Gala Mall’s modern industrial design style is complemented by historical maritime design elements that seek to defy the rigid stereotype of shopping-mall design, to achieve an experiential approach that highlights the history and evolution of the city. Thus the commercial space invites visitors to embark on a cruise that anchors the connection between the modern retail experience, while increasing connectivity to the city’s cultural district. Each level is designed to achieve a different mood to cater to every member of the family. Gastronomical delights can be experienced on the lower floor, rising up to international brands, through to ‘cool youth’, ‘warm family’, ‘life style’ and ‘cultural convergence’.
Attention to Detail JATO’s multi-cultural background and experience in China allows the practice to integrate local resources into the whole design process. Using grey as its main colour tone, blacks and reds are used to outline each layer of space, with curves and industrial features used to reflect the maritime history of the site. Stainless steel, terracotta and fine wood textures are featured in the five link bridges that provide a focal point within the main atrium. The attention to detail – from the bottom of the bridge that reflects the sunlight on the sea, through to elevator buttons modelled as ship rudders and lift cars as cabin doors – is a bonus to the already stunning entrances and skylights, lift lobbies and restrooms that depict almost every aspect of sea travel. Look closely and you will see the varying gradients of floor and ceiling patterns on every level, and the voided edges of the shop fronts that range from pattern laminated glass and terracotta clay through to aluminium and zinc panels.
Sustainable and Cost-efficient Aesthetics JATO chose terracotta, an eco-friendly domestic material made of natural clay, as the main raw material, introducing environmental protection with zero radiation into the interior space. The frosted surface of the terracotta not only reduces light reflection and pollution, but also crafts a more natural and warmer atmosphere with increased air quality and zero VOC material, rarely seen in today’s commercial buildings. Modulated paneling was also integrated into the design process to reduce material wastage and increase cost-efficiency. Additional features include the integration of an intelligent sun-shading device beneath the skylight in the main atrium, a feature that houses
Shanghai Lujiazui Gala Mall Project Details Location : No.66 Yincheng Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China Date of completion : December 23, 2017 Client : CITIC Pacific Limited Interior Designer : JATO Design, Hong Kong Project leader : Frank Jiang Design team : Kali Chan, Isaac Ho, Ivan Woo, Eileen Kwok, Phoebe Huang,Tackey Poon Partner/ LDI : Jiang & Associates Creative Design Company Ltd Partner/ Architect : Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) Photographer : Virgile Simon Bertrand
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For managers deciding where to locate their business and how to design their office, there is more choice than ever before. Newer, more cost-effective office inventory away from prime commercial areas helps reduce overheads. Improved transport and technology means co-location and co-working are affordable options. A shift in corporate mind-set means the cubicle is out and creativity is in. Today’s office space is flexible, functional and, perhaps, fun. However great the opportunity to create a better type of white-collar work environment, change generates disruption. In Hong Kong’s Central district, the home of the traditional workspace and Grade A office inventory, real estate services firm JLL says there has been six months of negative net absorption. Leasing requirements were focused in Hong Kong East as tenants continued to seek more cost effective options to set up offices and expand into. As technology and infrastructure change the nature of work, and as emerging trends such as co-working become mainstream, the office is becoming more than an office. Here are six examples of some of the best working environments created in the past few years. Each of these spaces space was honoured as a finalist at the World Architecture Festival last year. This curated selection resonates with the most forward-thinking designers and developers.
Text: Michael Hoare / WAF
Images: WAF
Krista Chan
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INNOCAD ARCHITECTURE
TZANNES ASSOCIATES
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ALLFORD HALL MONAGHAN MORRIS
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AEDAS
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HO KHUE ARCHITECTS
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CHAIN10 ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN INSTITUTE
The projects featured on these pages were all finalists in the World Architecture Festival (WAF) held last November. At the heart of the Festival sits a unique awards programme. It is the only architecture awards where architects pitch their work to a panel of expert judges and their peers - all live at the Festival. Now in its 12th year, the WAF 2019 will take place on the 4 to 6 December at the R AI Amsterdam.
www.worldarchitecturefestival.com
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New World Development’s Bohemian Collection brings a Brooklyn-style ethos to Western District, with clever use of outdoor and shared spaces at Artisan House In the heart of Sai Ying Pun, sits a development that may well change the game in the Western District of Hong Kong Island. Artisan House is a 30-storey residential project at 1 Sai Yuen Lane, an elegant tower that balances an iconic blade-like form with the character of the neighbourhood through small-scale articulations in massing and materials. A new addition to the developer’s Bohemian Collection, Artisan House is a collection of 250 apartments, from studios to one and two-bedroom units, in a tall, slender tower with an iconic blade-like exterior. Angled and mirrored balcony soffits reflect the city and sky in new ways, while from within, they provide residents with a visual connection to the vibrant street activity below. Drawing the city into each living space, the eye is drawn to the high headroom of the living space. The space expands vertically, a sensation accentuated by the large windows that introduce a maximum amount of natural light. All the residential units are built above podium level. Ranging from 18 to 43 square metres, the spatial design gives residents the flexibility to take advantage of the generous ceiling space and add extra living room to their units. From their private balconies or behind tall windows, there glimpses of stainless steel, the glass and ceramic – elements of these reflective materials appear throughout and culminate at what must be considered some of urban Hong Kong’s most artful outdoor and living space.
Heights of Innovation Residents have access to exclusive open and shared areas; a highly-acclaimed clubhouse named Club Artisan and the newly fêted Sky Garden. The bespoke landscape of the Club Artisan and the Sky Garden is curated to reflect the cityscape, yet the calming, textured and welcoming nature of these green areas allows residents to relax and shift down. Artisan House’s Club Artisan is the first-ever artist-commissioned clubhouse in Hong Kong, an innovation to bring art and the district’s history to each resident’s lifestyle. With the design by nARCHITECTS from Brooklyn, there’s a distinctive downtown vibe.
Text: Michael Hoare
Photos: New World Development
Jasper Lai
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The Asian vibe is brought by a trio of young artists – Wang Shang, Adrian Wong and Samson Young. Their installations are informed by local history, heritage and architecture. The references to a pet shop, masonry walls, a Banyan stone-wall tree and urban soundscape of Sai Yuen Lane in their creations attest to this artistic approach. The construction of the bespoke landscape of the Club Artisan reflects the milieu, with floor-to-ceiling windows and the earthy tone of the clubhouse mimicking the root of iconic Banyan tree. The spatial layout, in turn, recreates the juxtaposition of the district’s art galleries. Three partitioned spaces are provided, including lounge areas with sofas, flanked by art installations on either side – a reflection of the spirit of The Artisanal Movement pioneered by New World Development.
Artisan House
Adjacent to the lifestyle and art display areas alongside a gym and function room, the clubhouse has an outdoor patio, called Secret Garden, providing a chilled-out space. Again, we have the references to the neighbourhood’s architectural legacy, with decorative works echoing the stone masonry walls. A large function room in the clubhouse, equipped with kitchen and cooking appliances, celebrates a vibrant local food culture.
Designed to the Open Air For anyone eager to embrace nature, the Sky Garden is the place to be, with its unique green wall made of different plants interspersed with art displays. Located a floor above Club Artisan, this diversified green area allows residents to enjoy reading and relaxing in a downshifting lifestyle. The integration of art, architecture and nature is unprecedented. The structural pillars in this open space are mounted with original art and ceramics. Other decorations include stainless steel wall coverings with water ripple motifs, a green wall and diversified plant materials. Another outdoor space is connected to the Sky Garden higher up with a spiral steel staircase, calling to mind the ubiquitous stairwell in Brooklyn residences. There is a skylight on the Sky Garden floor through which one can view the clubhouse below. This also provides a physical and visual communication between the two spaces.
The Height of Modern Living Artisan House looks out to other buildings at a comfortable distance, a beacon for lifestyle-driven buyers. Best suited for singles or young couples, the high-ceilinged apartments provide a compact living room with full-size sliding glass doors opening out to the balcony, offering skyline views and fresh air. The apartments are also designed with large windows to introduce maximum natural light. From their private balconies or behind tall windows, occupants can enjoy views of the city skyline and for some, there are sweeping sea views.
Sky Garden
60 RESIDENTIAL
Club Artisan
61
Sky Garden
Secret Garden
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“ As we approach the publication of the As100 wethapproach the publication issue of PRC Magazine of the 100th issue of PRC Magazine later this year, we welcome wholeheartedly later this year, welcome wholeheartedly any interest fromwe local developers, consultants, any interest from local manufacturers, contractors, contractors, manufacturers, architects and designers, designers, architects alike, who who would like to be aand partdevelopers of this milestone issue. would like to be a part of this groundbreaking issue. AsWe we invite work towards celebrating our interested companies tocentenary, contact we invite interested companies contact us today. any members of ourtoteam.
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