2015 Issue 78H

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ISSN 1684-1956

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P a c i f i c R i m C o n s t r u c t i o n

The finer things in life on offer at DOUBLE COVE

Flooring and Furniture crafted from the finest-quality timber, lovingly handled to transform spaces and age beautifully

Timber's Timeless Appeal Discerning designers with a client specifying wooden floors will want the boards under their feet to be strong, durable, beautiful, natural looking and, most of all, unique. Individual care and craftsmanship by hand are bywords for a company that always pursues perfection. Made in Germany. Available in Hong Kong.

Contents

Jun / Jul 2015 Issue 78 www.prc-magazine.com

Press 8 Latest Industry Announcements

Event 16 Regional Exhibitions and Conferences 18 PRC Magazine hosts two design forums at HOFEX 2015 PRC HOFEX 2015 22 Leading architects address the importance of innovation

Features 26 Henderson Land brings lifes finer things to Ma On Shan 36 Chun Fung applies sophisticated finishes at Double Cove

40 DLN residential luxury has been decades in the making DLN 46 Embracing the creative potential of shipping containers 52 A thrilling Mid-levels residence by NCDAs Nelson Chow NCDA 54 Milan-designed furniture graces Hong Kong luxury villas

Design 60 Learning Hub reimagines architectural design for education

64 Morphis design chosen for Kai Tak riverfront redevelopment

Legal 66 PRC partners with Holman Fenwick Willan to introduce new legal column

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Publisher: Mike Staley, publisher@rofmedia.com Editor: editor@rofmedia.comEditorial Consultant: Michael HoareEditorial Team: Bryan Chan Derek Leung Elizabeth Kerr John Lo Kelly Wan Michelle Chow Nia Tam Richard Lee Business Development: Bryan Chan, bryan@rofmedia.com Tel: (852) 3150 8912Executive Assistant: Teresa Castro, info@rofmedia.com Tel: (852) 3150 8988Sales Director: Mike Staley, mike@rofmedia.com Tel: (852) 3150 8989Sales Enquiry: sales@rofmedia.comSenior Graphic Designer: Tez Yam, studio@rofmedia.com Tel: (852) 3150 8988Graphic Designers: Parnell Chan Lau YiPhotographers: Brian Zhang Samuel Lee Digital Publishing Coordinator: Chris LoPrinting: DG3 Asia Ltd.. Tel: (852) 2965 6777Distribution: bpost (Asia) Ltd.. Tel: (852) 2817 7713

PRC Magazine is published by Ring of Fire Ltd.. 8/F Xiu Ping Commercial Building, 104 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong T: (852) 3150 8988 www.rofmedia.com

On-line version please visit : www.issuu.com/rofmedia

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner, without the written consent of the publishers. All care is taken but accuracy of information rests with the client; the publisher bares no responsibility for any factual errors that may occur. The views expressed herein are not necessarily shared byPRC Magazine or its staff. Copyright 2015 Ring of Fire Ltd..

In this issue of PRC we are pleased to be featuring Double Cove, the upmarket residential offering from Henderson Land that has taken years to bring from planning to fruition, and whose DNA is crafted on the developments idyllic coastal location and luxurious and abundant landscaping. Location is everything of course, and Double Cove is convenient in its proximity to Wu Kai Sha MTR station, but nowhere in Hong Kong could the setting be so truly desirable and impeccably pristine.

In property-mad Hong Kong we are all familiar with the way language is stretched to describe a new offerings most saleable qualities and the images of couples dancing on the lawn of a French Chateau to herald the launch of the latest midrange, 46m2, 2-bedroom family apartment. Yet here at Double Cove, genuine quality is evident everywhere one looks, from the appeal of the beautifully designed apartments, to the location which boasts an exquisite appeal all its own. We congratulate Henderson Land and its partners for taking their time to design and build this truly remarkable residential investment opportunity, certain to appeal to both mainlanders and locals alike, united in their appreciation for a new home of real pedigree.

PRC ?

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Mike Staley

Publishers Note

PRC Magazine is pleased to support the following organisations:

An innovative anti-heat stress uniform developed by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University could help improve site safety. The technology has been licensed to the Construction Industry Council who will be responsible for promoting the technology. The uniform is a T-shirt and trousers is made from Coolmax fabric and a new generation of moisture-management textiles made from nano-materials.

The fabrics have a great capacity to hold moisture, to breathe and to speed up evaporation in hot and humid weather. The CIC will sublicense the technology to contractors who will be able to fabricate the uniforms under specifications provided by PolyU. The schools Institute for Textiles and Clothing will provide testing services to ensure the uniforms meet code. The uniform is expected to make its debut at Construction Safety Week 2015.

The Hong Kong Construction Industry Council is seeking entries for the first CIC Innovation Award. The awards have two cash prizes of HK$300,000 each for a Hong Kong and an overseas winner. The awards are designed to spur new concepts that will foster the continuous enhancement of the construction industry, that recognise breakthroughs in science and technology, and create international awareness of research and development innovation in construction.

Entries should contain new ideas from one of three fields: construction materials, including ideas for new materials beneficial to the built environment or for making the use of conventional materials more sustainable; construction technology, ideas for novel applications of processes or techniques such as prefabrication, automation and robotics; and construction management, ideas for management tools and applications that improve safety, the environment, project management or productivity. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on 1 September. More information is avaialble at www.hkcic.org/cicinnovationaward2015.

Paul Davis + Partners and its Asian office, pdp[east] have adopted a new name and put up a new website to celebrate the firms 21st anniversary. The newly named PDP London has three new partners: Marion Baeli, Melanie Perkins and Simon Gazzard. The firm now has a staff of 170 and offices in Belgravia, Chelsea and Hong Kong. PDP Londons Hong Kong Studio is led by managing director David Hoggard. (left) More information at: www.pdplondon.com.

Alexander Wong Architects won three of this years Asia-Pacific Property Awards for design. The firm won a Five-Star Best Interior Design Show Home (China) award for Henderson Lands Golden Eye, a Five-Star Best Retail Interior (Hong Kong) award for De RUCCIs De RUCCI Bespoke, and a Highly Commended Leisure Interior (China) accolade for Lai Sun Groups Cinema Futura. The awards were presented at the Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur on 8 May. Golden Eye and De RUCCI Bespoke are now among the developments up for this years International Property Awards.

Luxury residential prices will rise by 4-6% in first-tier mainland cities by the end of the year and by 2-3% in second-tier cities, acording to the most recent forecasts by Knight Frank. The property consultancy says relaxed monetary policy, including interest-rate cuts, and the easing of limits on mortgages for second homes will create room for growth. In some markets, especially the bigger first-tier cities, robust demand has increased prices. In some suburban areas and lower-tier cities, abundant supply and big inventories have forced prices down. In Hong Kong, Knight Frank expects luxury residential prices to edge up by 2-5% for the whole year and the prices for flats in the mass market to rise by 5-10%. It says restrcitions on mid-market mortgages will see a shift in emphasis back to luxury housing, creating further increases in the second half.

The Aedas-designed Center 66 in Wuxi was highly commended by the judges at the Global Retail and Leisure International Awards 2015. Center 66 is the work of Aedas executive directors Christine Lam and David Clayton. The mixed-use development consists of two office towers and Wuxis biggest shopping mall. Three glass atria enclosing the mall are the desginers response to the sites circulation patterns, distribution of natural light and arrangement of volumes. The development also preserves two historical theatre stages and a Ming Dynasty hall in the middle of the site, integrating them into a large public plaza.

CIC TO PROMOTE UNIFORMS DESIGNED TO BEAT HEAT STRESS FOR SITE WORKERS

ENTRIES OPEN IN CICS FIRST-EVER AWARDS FOR INNOVATION

PAUL DAVIS + PARTNERS COMES OF AGE: RENAMED PDP[EAST] FOR 21ST BIRTHDAY

REGIONAL PROPERTY AWARDS RECOGNISE SUCCESS AT ALEXANDER WONG ARCHITECTS

HIGH-END HOUSING TO LEAD HK, MAINLAND MARKETS IN H2, SAYS KNIGHT FRANK

AEDAS CENTER 66 MALL IN WUXI WINS THE JUDGES NOD IN GLOBAL RLI AWARDS

The Westminster Roppongi, Tokyo

8 PRESS

The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority has awarded ARCADIS a consultancy brief to develop a facility management strategy and operational plan for Hong Kongs emerging art district. West Kowloon is designed to be a world-class arts and cultural hub. It covers about 400,000m2 and is intended to house up to 17 arts and cultural facilities, along with places to eat and drink, offices, hotels and housing.

ARCADIS will devise a strategy and plan to ensure optimal and sustainable operation, management and maintenance of the facilities.

Colliers International says it is preparing for a surge of interest by Australian and international developers in The Millennium site at 1000 La Trobe St in Melbourne. Digital Harbour Holdings and its advisers, Charter Keck Cramer, have appointed the estate agency to sell the 6,007m2 freehold development site in the waterfront precinct at Digital Harbour. The Millennium Site is part of the citys Docklands waterside area and is situated in the precincts mixed commercial and residential development. The site is located between Southern Cross Station, Etihad Stadium, the waterfront and the soon-to-be-announced E Gate precinct. Freehold property is a rarity in the Docklands. The site will be permitted to yield 47,940m2 of residential gross floor area and perhaps more than 600 a p a r t m e n t s , Colliers says.

DTZ and Cushman & Wakefield will complete a merger before the end of the year that will form one of the worlds biggest real estate services companies. The combined entity will operate under the Cushman & Wakefield name, with revenues greater than US$5.5 billion a year, 43,000 staff and a portfolio of more than 371.6 million m2 under management. Chairman and chief executive of the merged company, Brett White, said: The companies have remarkably complementary skills and reach in different geographies. Whether in New York, London or Shanghai, this will be a formidable combination.

Independently, Cushman & Wakefield launched an iPhone app to make its main research publications more accessible. The My C&W Research app allows users to see, download and share research publications, thought leadership pieces and market updates from around the world. For more information, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com.

Hunter Douglas is behind the NBK Terracotta Facade system for the Brunei Economic Development Boards Anggerek Desa Technology Park Phase 3 in Bandar Seri Begawan. The development comprises a US$14-million design and technology building, a multi-storey car park, and the iCentre and Knowledge Hub. The design and technology building has an auditorium, a theatrette and studio, teleconferencing rooms, meetings and training facilities, and a cafeteria. The use of Hunter Douglas NBK Terracotta Faade panels allowed P.A.Y. Architects the creative freedom to contrast the modernity

of glass with the traditional art of terracotta. NBK Terracotta Faade is a ventilated curtain wall and rain screen system. A ventilated system moves water away from building envelopes, thus creating a natural chimney effect that keeps the building dry to reduce maintenance and save energy.

COLLIERS EXPECTS RUSH FOR A RARE WATERFRONT SITE IN CENTRAL MELBOURNE

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD, DTZ MERGER: A REAL ESTATE SERVICES GIANT IS BORN

BRUNEI TECH PARK FACES THE ELEMENTS CLAD IN HUNTER DOUGLAS TERRACOTTA

ARCADIS WINS BRIEF TO MAXIMISE USE OF WEST KOWLOON CULTURAL DISTRICT

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The Hangzhou manufacturer of Comansa JIE tower cranes has changed the brand name of its products to Comansa CM. The brand owner has similarly changed its corporate name to Comansa Construction Machinery (Hangzhou) Co Ltd.. The renaming is due to one of the companys main shareholders selling up, leaving the Linden Comansa group as sole stockholder. The brand logo is little

changed and everything else about the company remains as it was. Comansa CM offers 11 tower crane models with flat-top design, their load capacities ranging 6t to 24t. Most sales are in the mainland, India or Southeast Asia.

The eastern Chinese city of Shangrao has awarded Atkins and Nanjing Universitys Planning and Design Institute the contract to design an urban area to be built around a new high-speed railway station 6km from the city centre. One of the stations purposes is to serve visitors to Shangraos two UNESCO World Heritage sites and 21 national scenic areas. The new urban area will have its own cultural and tourist attractions, while balancing sustainability and economic growth. Our design aims at making the best use of natural city landscape, Atkins project manager Jessie Yao said. Weve maximised the public open space in our landscape design. A low-carbon urban planning approach will provide green and open spaces to highlight the citys natural beauty, while a network of pathways is meant to encourage walking and cycling.

NAME CHANGE FOR COMANSA JIE CRANES SEES LAUNCH OF COMANSA CM CRANES

ATKINS ON TRACK TO DELIVER NEW URBAN AREA NEAR SHANGRAO TRAIN STATION

URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY EXPANDS REACH, TWEAKS BUILDING OVERHAUL SCHEME

The new Lord Asia International offices in Central Plaza, in Wanchai, met the clients brief to refresh its regional office at a cost of no more than HK$2.7 million, says Yeo Studio. Architecture and interior design practice Yeo says its client reduced the size of the office to cut costs, leading to a design that made the most efficient use of the remaining space and created an environment suitable for a variety of people. The design, executed in partnership with Colliers International Hong Kong, facilitates greater interaction and encourages teamwork. The design sees open and flexible work pods, breakout spaces and a variety of seat and work surface options to provide a sense of privacy and individuality. Senior managers have relinquished enclosed offices and adopted hot desking. Visit www.yeostudio.com.hk for more information.

Hong Kongs Urban Renewal Authority says it intends to improve its Integrated Building Maintenance Assistance Scheme as it expands to cover all of Hong Kong. The scheme offers technical and financial assistance to owners of private buildings used for housing to renovate their premises. The URAs head of the building rehabilitation division, Lawrence Tang, said the changes would mean better allocation of resources to help property owners improve living conditions in buildings that were in a poor state.

Meanwhile, the government has appointed Daniel Lam Chun as temporary managing director of the URA. Lam took up the post on 15 June for a 10-month period. The government will seek a permanent managing director in the meantime. Lam, a registered building surveyor, had been a non-executive member of the board of the authority since 2008 and chaired various committees. More information on the building rehabiliation scheme is available here: www.buildingrehab.org.hk.

YEO STUDIO SINGS PRAISES AFTER FINDING CURE FOR LORDS OFFICE HEADACHE

With the opening of the China Resources Land MixC Mall in Qingdao, Benoy has marked one of the most significant interior design schemes for the developer. The mixed-use development covers 450,000m2 in Qingdaos commercial centre. It is integrated with the citys China Resources Centre and is part of the City Crossing development. The podium has seven levels above ground and three below. It contains shops and eating and drinking outlets, and facilities for entertainment, education and culture. It has a roof garden, sunken plazas, an Olympic-standard ice-skating rink, a childrens area and the first SEGA indoor theme park in the mainland. Benoys design for the interiors drew inspiration from Qingdaos waterfront and is shaped by its wave-like forms. The curved floor pattern, ceilings and main atrium all have elements representing the ocean, providing striking focal points. Other cities with China Resources top-teir MixC Malls include Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Chongqing.

The US subsidiary of Swire Properties, Swire Properties Inc., will work with shopping centre developer Whitman Family Development and retailing specialist Simon Property Group to build out the retail offering at in the Brickell City Centre. Swire Properties Inc. remain the primary developer of the US$1.05-billion, 501,700m2 mixed-use development in Miami. Simon Property and Whitman Family Development will co-develop the 46,450m2 shopping area. The projects first phase includes two residential towers, a hotel with serviced apartments and two medium-rise office towers. The first phase is due to be completed in the third quarter of this year. More information at: www.brickellcitycentre.com.

BENOY DELIVERS HIGH-END MIXC MALL INTERIOR FOR CHINA RESOURCES LAND

SWIRE ANNOUNCES PARTNERS TO DEVELOP RETAIL OFFERING IN MIAMI PROJECT

10 PRESS

16th Internat ional Architecture , Inter ior Design & Bui ld ing Exhibit ion (ARCHIDEX) is Malays ia s largest annual trade exhibition that has evolved from covering just the interior design industr y to ever y segment encompassing the entire architecture, design and building trade. Since its introduction in 2000, ARCHIDEX enjoyed phenomenal success and steady growth through strategic planning and par tnerships. It is widely recognised today as a leading gathering among South East Asias fraternity of architects, urban planners, interior designers, developers, academics, students and various related industry professionals.

www.archidex.com.myEmail: info@archidex.com.my

Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia is the global business sourcing, networking and knowledge-sharing platform for the sustainable built environment in Southeast Asia. The event draws together international brands of green building technologies and advancements, to the heart of the regions community of architects, building owners, contractors, consultants, developers, facility managers and energy managers, for business oppor tunities and experiential engagement.

www.bex-asia.com Email: Info@bex-asia.com

Entering its 10th edition this year, Eco Expo Asia, the pre-eminent trading platform for green businesses in Asia, will once again gather industry experts and internationally renowned brands in Hong Kong. The event also has the full support of Chinese mainland and international governments, as well as influential industry associations. Last year, the show welcomed a record-breaking 308 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions, and received 10,817 visitors from 89 countries and regions.

www.ecoexpoasia.comEmail: ecoexpo@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com

To cope with the growing demand and development trends of building technology and smart cities, the 2015 fair will focus on core themes currently in highest in popularity across China: building efficiency, intelligent cities and smart homes, providing a range of the industry-focused technologies and solutions in the aspect of building and home automation, energy management system, generic cabling and data centre, audio and video system, safety and security access control.

www.shanghai-intelligent-building-technology.hk.messefrankfurt.com

At the same time, the 4th addition ISH Shanghai & CIHE plays an important role in introducing individual heating solutions to Chinas East and Central regions. The fair has established itself as a premier regional platform for government authorities, industry professionals, suppliers, manufacturers and property developers to share, acquire and implement innovative HVAC solutions. ISH Shanghai & CIHE offer s you a perfect oppor tunity for promoting and sourcing brands in one of the nations fastest growing regions.

www.ishs-cihe.hk.messefrankfurt.com

As one of the world's most effective trading platforms for the building and construction industr y, the fair special ises in advanced building and construction materials, technology and services, promoting meaningful, long-term relationships between trade visitors and reputable suppliers. Once again, the Green Building Materials zone is a fair highlight in 2015, while Building Performance and BIM zone allows buyers to source BIM objects, software and consultancy services. BIM Day will also be held on the fair's opening day, 28 October, covering a wide range of topics about Building Information Modelling.

www.hktdc.com/ex/hkbdh/18Email: exhibitions@hktdc.org

Asias demand for infrastructure is booming as is the need to manage related r isk complexities. Join Trueventus 2nd Annual Construction Risk & Dispute Management Event, to discover and gain the practical tools and strategies to manage costly risks & disputes to achieve project success! This has been refreshed with our dynamic panel discussions to create dialogue among all stakeholders in the construction process and propose solutions to some of the tough issues inconstruction disputes.

www.trueventus.com/event.php?intid=305 Email: karenl@trueventus.com

Mostra Convegno Expocomfort (MCE) Asia is the trade exhibition for the HVAC, Water, Renewable Energy and Heating Sectors in Southeast Asia. Assembling the hottest technologies and solutions from Europe and the outer regions to Singapore, MCE Asia is the one-stop marketplace for the regions highly specialised building audience. This annual event for professionals, with its inaugural in 2015, will be held in conjunction with the BEX Asia 2015 and the International Green Building Conference 2015.

www.mcexpocomfort-asia.com Email: mce-asia@reedexpo.com.sg

15-19 July 2015 Design & Health 11th World Congress & Exhibition Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kowloon East, Hong Kong

12-15 August 2015ARCHIDEX 2015Kuala Lumpur convention Centre, Malaysia

2-4 September 2015BEX AsiaMarina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore

28-31 October 2015Eco Expo AsiaAsiaWorld Expo, Hong Kong

23-25 September, 2015Shanghai Intelligent Building Technology + ISH Shanghai & CIHEShanghai New international Expo Centre, Shanghai, China

28-31 October 2015HKTDC Hong Kong International Building and Hardware FairAsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong

28-29 October 2015Construction Risk & Dispute ManagementSingapore

MCE Asia 2015Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore

Organised by The International Academy for Design & Health, a leading global, interdisciplinary knowledge community dedicated to the stimulation and application o f research concern ing the interaction between design, health, science and culture.

Working in close par tnership with an international network of governments, universities and commercial organisations to promote human health, wellbeing and quality of life through environmental design, the Congress will provide a highly visible global forum for an ongoing exchange of research findings among scientists, designers and industry.

Design & Health is suppor ted by the Depar tment of Health, Architectural Services Depar tment, Hospital Author i ty and the Hous ing Depar tment of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as well as the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

www.designandhealth.com Email: info@designandhealth.com

16 EVENTS

the finer things in life at

Double Cove

Coastal living set in a garden oasis, the third stage of Henderson Lands Ma On Shan development combines high quality interiors and outstanding design with an uncanny appreciation for the natural world.

An exceptional development in Ma On Shan promises the best of all worlds a home surrounded by lush gardens, well-appointed community spaces and proximity to the beach, At Double Cove, the Henderson Land Development Company Ltd. has combined quality residences and environmental design elements to deliver the promise of high-quality living.

The five-phase project offers apartments from one to four-bedrooms, as well as a select number of garden units and penthouses, ranging in size from about 46 square metres to about 300 square metres in a number of layout options.

Work began on the 21-tower, 274,000 square metre residential and commercial development in 2010, with Phase 1 released in 2012 and Phase 2, Starview, in 2013.

Henderson Senior Deputy General Manager Kevin Ng says The whole development is nearing completion. The final phase will be launched next year and consists of properties with outstanding views of the harbour, says Ng.

The success of the project has seen it win more than 10 awards, including three 2015 Asia Pacific Property Award for Best Residential Landscape Architecture Hong Kong (Phase 1) 5-Star, Best Residential High-rise Development Hong Kong (Phases 2-3) 5-Star and Best Architecture Multiple Residence Hong Kong (Phases 4-5) 5-Star.

SHAPED BY NATUREDouble Cove is located on a remarkable natural peninsula, surrounded by about 118,000 square metres of conservation area, with Wu Kai Sha Beach to the west, Starfish Bay to the east and the Whitehead headland coast to the North. The site is surrounded on three sides by Tolo Harbour.

The beach is a five-minute walk from Double Cove and Wu Kai Sha MTR Station is a 17 minute walk away.

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Richard Rogers, founding partner of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, was engaged as the design consultant of the Double Cove project. Ng says Rogers created a development theme described as living in a park in a walkable community.

Lord Richard Rogers echoed what we have been thinking about. Its a really unique site in Hong Kong with both nature and convenience at your fingertips, Ng says. It is unique in the sense you are flanked by natural beaches on both sides but also you have convenience as it is directly accessible by MTR for all-weather commuting.

The living in a park lifestyle saw Rogers create an elevated park at the centerpiece of the project. It sits above the community, leisure and retail facilities. A covered 24-hour public pedestrian walkway on the podium allows residents to move freely through the development and connects each tower with the MTR station. The podium area rises above the gently swooping resort-style arrival for vehicles, a clever piece of design that keeps pedestrians and vehicles far apart.

Other features include the residential towers lying along the perimeter of the development in step-fashion from south to north, creating a larger sense of space and view for residents. Materials such as non-transparent panels, glass, stone and aluminium panels are used to highlight the different levels of layering. He chose bold, dark colours punctuated with orange on the exterior walls.

Text: Michael Hoare Photography: Henderson Land & Brian Zhang

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COHESIVE DESIGNNg says the Double Cove masterplan emphasises quality from within and throughout the environment. Our concept is that peoples home is not just their flat, it is the whole development. The outdoor area is also their home, Ng says.

Henderson Deputy General Manager Richard Chong says the developers wanted to maximise the space to enhance the residents lifestyle. We wanted to create a place where the residents can enjoy the environment, he says. We have a lot of greenery around the site with the natural conservation area so we started the scheme by thinking about how to utilise the site.

The interiors show a particular attention to detail, with each apartment featuring luxury finishes and high-end appliances. Kitchens boast a selection of the worlds leading kitchenware brands such as Follina Cucina or Varenna kitchen cabinets and Miele or Scholtes stovetops. Refrigerators are from Miele or Scholtes, as are the microwaves and washer-dryers.

The elegant bathrooms boast Roca tubs, Duravit or Scarabeo wash basins and Panasonic thermal ventilators. Standard features for residents include a 5 tablet, the Carrot Touch, or the Carrot Home App which can be downloaded on a smartphone to allow convenient control of provisions such as video intercom, club facilities bookings and a wireless panic alarm button. Other services extend to a 24-hour concierge that wraps a luggage service, morning wake-up call service and public transport hailing for taxis, vans and trucks.

PIONEERING RECREATIONThe Double Club brings a heightened level of clubhouse to the development. Designed by Hong Kong architect and interior designer Steve Leung, theres about 13,000 square metres of outdoor and indoor leisure space, tailored to creating healthy, eco-friendly lifestyles.

Included are an 83-metre outdoor garden pool and 31-metre indoor heated pool, a childrens clubhouse, gym, bowling alley and flight simulator an uncommon addition to the clubhouse design category.

Theres also the exclusive environs of Club Stellar, which aims to create an atmosphere which reflects the freedom and openness of the sea. With private yachting and maritime holidays as the main design theme, there are five different facilities here for residents to relax and entertain in style.

Highlights include a private entertainment space in the Starlight Chamber, a multifunction room next to the 17-metre long Starbeam Pool, which is created to offer the exclusivity of a stateroom on a luxury yacht, combined with the fun and romance of a star-lit poolside party.The Double Cove Place shopping and leisure mall provides about 9,290 square metres of leading lifestyle and specialist merchants which are hand-picked for the development. Current tenants include Starbucks, Market Place by Jasons, Beidouweng Hotpot, Daiyuweng Roasted Goose and Seafood Restaurant and Uchi Coffee.

Rogers living in a park theme continues through the mall with the presence of greenery, including roof being landscaped with trees and shrubs, ensuring the mall seamlessly flows into the development and creating a shopping experience like no other in Hong Kong.Chong says all tenants in the mall, which connects to the MTR station, have been hand-picked to create the right atmosphere.

While each of the elements that makes up Double Cove is impressive, the sum of its parts creates one of the citys most exceptional residential offerings, Ng says.

We have attempted to create not just a house, but a home. You cant name another project having the same uniqueness and scale. Its the first of its kind in Hong Kong.

28 FEATURE

Environmental awareness and an appreciation of the finer things are at the heart of the Double Cove development, according to Henderson Land Development Company Ltd. Senior Deputy General Manager Kevin S.K. Ng.

Double Cove is a truly green and sustainable residential development which has earned a long list of awards, he told PRC Magazine.

We have adopted an integrated passive environmental design approach to implement the good initiatives in a commercially viable way to make the sustainability ideas sustainable for the long run. We want to create a good environment for residents. Weve tried to make the whole development as enjoyable as we can. Land is a scarce resource in Hong Kong so you have to maximise the potential.

Green features are evident from the emphasis on the landscaping throughout the complex, to designing buildings using an innovative hybrid ventilation system to enhance energy, to 65 electric car charging stations.

Among the green awards for Double Cove is a provisional Platinum-rating BEAM (Hong Kong Building Environmental Assessment Method) for each of the three phases of the development. Double Cove is the first private residential development project in Hong Kong to gain a China Green Design Label, and achieved the highest 3-star rating from the China Green Building Council.

The landscaping too has drawn acclaim, with a Leisure and Cultural Services Department Gold Award for Best Landscape Award for Private Property Development 2014.

Henderson Deputy General Manager Richard C.L. Chong says the ideal buyer was a resident seeking a healthy lifestyle. They choose their home because of our green features which are well-received by them, he says.

An Artistic diversion along the garden path

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hoMe iS Where the Art isOne of the most distinctive aspects of the Double Cove development is the collection of artworks found throughout the gardens and communal living spaces.

Artwork master planning consultant William Lim took his inspiration from the environment to create the theme, Symphony of Nature. Working with curator Eric Leung, HK$30 million of specially commissioned artworks take pride of place. The work seeks to articulate mans complex but symbiotic relationship to nature.

Artists include Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensas Memoria, Chinese artist Yue Min Juns Contemporary Terracotta Warriors No. 8 and Mok Yat Sans In The Mood For Holidays.

Ng says each piece of art reinforces the companys commitment to high-quality living. The artwork concept and implementation went along with the design development, rather than something being injected into the project as after-thoughts, he says.

ASIA'S LEADING specialists in the planning and

management of cost, time, risk andvalue on construction projects.

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196601Room 601, 6/F New Commerce Centre 19 On Sum Street, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2638 4809 Fax: (852) 2638 2905Email: info@tarzan.com.hk

Tarzan Landscape Contractors Ltd.

Quiet achieversThe sophisticated finishes on Henderson Lands Double Cove development are the work of a heritage business - Chun Fung Construction Ltd. - with a track record of four decades in construction.

Text: Michael Hoare Images: ROF Media

Chun Fung Construction Ltd. drew on almost 40 years experience when

it came to tackling one of their biggest projects to date Henderson Lands Double

Cove development in Ma On Shan.

The five-phase project offers apartments from one to four-bedrooms, as well as a select number of garden units and penthouses, ranging in size from 55.7 square metres to 186 square metres with varying layout options.

With its sophisticated design, the 21-tower residential development required complex exterior and interior fit-out work, including more than 118,000 square metres of aluminium cladding all delivered in an exceptionally tight timeframe.

Chun Fung Construction Ltd. Manager, Philip Cho, said the company faced many challenges in delivering the volumes of high-specification exterior finishes, the engineering behind the developments striking feature lighting in its grand driveway entrance, and the detailed interior fit-outs that included the buildings lift lobbies, typical floor apartment kitchens and bathrooms and the expansive clubhouse, including its indoor swimming pool area.

36 FEATURE

Up for a challengePhilip Cho says the first step was to work on the exterior aluminium cladding of the striking-looking building, with its dark exterior punctuated by orange detailing as envisioned by master architect Lord Richard Rogers.

We got the job in early 2012 and because it was Phase One we had some design challenges that needed to be overcome, he says.

Aluminium cladding for Phase One was installed inside a three-month window. From the companys manufacturing facilities in mainland China, trucks rolled day and night, with a team of more than 300 workers taking new daily deliveries.

They completed the job on deadline, with the final panels going up just as the scaffolding came down. In addition to the need for labour and materials for the project, such a large workforce required strong management. Philip Cho made daily site visits with the team to ensure the work was on track and on schedule.

Although we have 300 people we keep close control to maximise production, he says. "When you have a big number of people it is hard to have full efficiency, you have to monitor the project closely. That was another big challenge.

One of the developments most interesting features are the UFO lights that line the public thoroughfare through the landscaped gardens. Philip Cho says the combination of metal exterior cladding and polycarbonate covering was a totally bespoke touch, designed, developed and manufactured in house.

The mould is tailor-made and we spent a lot of time on this, he said. It was trial and error for our designer and construction team. The first few times we failed as we could not make it totally flat. You have to be very precise with the dimensions.

Curly questionsWith the exteriors underway, Chun Fung turned their attention to the buildings interiors. Like the exterior, the timeframe was very short and they wanted to finish the clubhouse to sell Phase One.

Philip Cho says the clubhouse presented its own hurdles.

The clubhouse is not like the typical floors where were able to finish one floor and copy that, repeated. Its a massive scale but you learn to refine the process. Doing the clubhouse area is like doing several special projects, he says. We had to finish the entrance first in 45 days and then after that we had three months to complete the clubhouse, including the swimming pool, the basketball court, 3-D theatre, flight simulator and bowling alley.

Philip Cho said much of the interior used marble sourced from the mainland, they had staff members on full-time quality control to reject pieces that were not up to standard. Of particular merit, is the more than 4,000 pieces of stone used to cover the 3-metre and 6-metre high supporting columns.

Almost all the walls and floors and even the columns used marble, he said. The marble is another challenge. The 71 concave supporting columns in the common areas are round. Our stone supplier needed to cut the marble in a curve and this takes time, plus there are not many factories that can do that.

We were pushing the stone supplier to cut faster but I understood they needed to take time. One piece needs hours to cut so they took more than a month to produce all the product.

Seen in high places

Philip Cho says the volume of work installing marble also meant the same rigorous, hands-on management.

Its like the cladding work, but this time we have the marble, he said. Its just the same, every day the truck comes with the stone and we unload the whole truck and the next day we do that again. Within one month the whole clubhouse was covered with marble because the marble needed to be finished first and then we put the dry things on like the wood.

The company continued to innovate when it came to the indoor swimming pool, using a special cement board for the sculptural ceiling elements. The companys ability to be agile and respond to custom design and delivery requirements can be linked to the vision of company founder, Cho Yuk Ting Chos father.

Mr Cho senior, who is still actively involved in day-to-day operations, started the company almost 40 years ago as a plastering firm. His son said his fathers vision has meant the company has been able to grow and diversify to keep up with construction trends.

The secret of his success is that he can do the job right from the ground up and he had the vision to develop the company and take it in new directions, he says.

Thirty to forty years ago plastering was the main finish for residential interiors and exteriors. And now in the past 10 or 20 years clients have started to upgrade the inside fitting-out and they do marble, they do all the wood finishes and then we start to do that business and now that has become our main business.

Philip Cho says the company has an enduring relationship working with Henderson Land, built over time.

You have many challenges in every job that you do. Many unforeseen things will come up but you need to prepare for them and accept this is construction. I need to face it and find a way through it to meet the deadlines, he says.

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Every major new development that graces the Hong Kong skyline has its own narrative, rich with tales of power, influence and of wealth. For Dennis Lau & Ng Chun Man Architects & Engineers (HK) Ltd. (DLN), the story of Double Cove is about their perseverance and forward planning.

In an exclusive interview with PRC Magazine, DLN chairman Dennis Lau Wing-kwong told the fascinating tale of the Double Cove development from the architects perspective.

I first started with the project in 1990 25 years. It takes that long to finish, he says. As usual in those days, the developers were very ambitious to start with. The project managers changed from time to time too. And things change in the eyes of the government. They wanted low density in those days. They want to increase the density now.

Planning for posterityLau says the tension over the plot ratio alone kept the plans at the drawing board stage for years at a time. The developers fought for what was considered a relatively high plot ratio of 3.0 in an era when lower density projects were all the fashion. Reading between the lines, that Double Cove was built is somewhat of a minor miracle. That it incorporates features which would be considered forward-thinking even by todays relatively enlightened standards is almost certainly because of Laus dedication.

The idea of creating breezeways between towers and preserving unobstructed sightlines from each of the developments towers, which are staggered in height, are concepts that the city is still struggling to come to grips with.

There were a number of environmental factors on the site. This site has a very beautiful hill. We wanted to keep the sightlines from the mountain to the sea. Theres also a breeze path that separates the buildings ad opens up the sightlines, he says. We spent a lot of time working with how to make the site more environmentally friendly and, of course, how to make the project visually attractive.

At 88,000 square metres, the net area of the Double Cove site is snug for the 21 towers that will finally sit on it.

Consuming passions:

When DLN chairman Dennis Lau started work on the Double Cove

project, there was little indication it would take a quarter of a

century to see the development through to its launch

When creating a development

becomes the work of a lifetime

Text: Michael Hoare Photography and Images: DLN, Henderson Land & ROF Media

40 FEATURE

Surrounded by water on three sides and a mountain on the other, DLN were tasked with preserving a sensitive landscape that included a relatively pristine mangrove and starfish habitat. The southwest end of the plot had a small woodland area of about 8,800 square metres that had to be retained and turned into a feature.

Again, design after design tweaked the boundaries to create a master plan that might be considered ahead of its time.

Our firm has been involved in caring for environmental concerns for much longer (than Double Cove). Were unconsciously being a very environmentally focused firm.

Surrounded by water on three sides and a mountain on the other, DLN were tasked with preserving a sensitive landscape that included a relatively pristine mangrove and starfish habitat. The southwest end of the plot had a small woodland area of about 8,800 square metres that had to be retained and turned into a feature.

Again, design after design tweaked the boundaries to create a masterplan that might be considered ahead of its time.

A change of paceMuch has been written and said about the developments striking looks and particularly the navy and orange highlights. The colour scheme, Lau says, was a legacy of the design work undertaken with Lord Richard Rogers. No surprise that the man behind Paris Pompidou Centre would leave behind a trademark touch of colour.

He chose the dark colour. Its really imposing and thats why its still argued over, he says. Arguments are good. People are talking about it.

Ahead of the curves While the projects environmental aspects and site planning have easily withstood the test of time, the built programme also displays sensitivity far ahead of the 1990s.

The 7.6-metre-wide pedestrian thoroughfare that links Wu Kai Sha Station in the south to the Whitehead recreational reserve in the north provides seclusion for residents and access for the public.

With works underway at the Double Cove site well in advance of planning for public transport or other public facilities, Whiteheads gazetting created an access challenge. The semi-enclosed walkway on a raised podium created a curving green circulation corridor, boosting the visual amenity of the site.

That creation lead to the happy coincidence of the distinctive floating entrance lobbies that connect the residences to the pedestrian trail, and provide a secluded courtyard-like environment.

Finally, the whole green spine is kept separate from vehicular traffic by a grand, resort-style entrance that twists through the front the development.

41

Test of timeLau has spent a quarter of a century at the helm, and more than 70 revisions to his initial design, in creating Double Cove. He is justifiably pleased that the development is nearing completion, despite what must have been considerable professional hurdles and compromises, and he is glad to have been able to deliver a quality result for Henderson.

The layout is the best possible layout that we could achieve for that site, I think, he says. Doing housing is very important. If you can recognise the development from the air, then the scheme is very strong.

While proud of the portfolio, he is sanguine about his role in Hong Kongs development. Its the life of a Hong Kong architect. We are forced to design buildings in such a small area. We design pocket battleships designs that are small yet pack a punch, he says.

But as an architect and creative, Lau has been the driving force at Double Cove. His work there isnt quite finished yet.

Ive been on this job from a young guy to an old guy. Its still not finished. There are still two phases to go. I hope it wont break my record.

See that building? The K-11. I worked on that for 30 years.

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Rapid population growth, soaring property prices and limited Greenfield sites for new development in urban centres its a familiar scenario in the biggest cities in the Asia-Pacific region, but one with a potentially surprising solution.

The flexibility of the shipping container has seen their popularity grow as a low-cost, low-maintenance prefabricated unit for residential and commercial spaces. Second-hand containers are a cheap and sustainable re-use of a product borne of industry. Their portability means less disruption of built-up areas around the construction site, which is particularly valuable on inner-city sites.

And rather than creating cookie-cutter designs, innovative architects have found freedom in their regular form. From Manhattan to Christchurch, Brisbane to London, and here in Hong Kong, designers are turning boxes into buildings.

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Rather than being limited by their rectangular shape and uniformity, designers are discovering that the humble shipping container is a cornerstone to architecture that is creative and sustainable

Text: Michael Hoare Images: Urban Space Management, Buchan Group, Ova Studio, EKEO

Above and below: Urban Space Management has created low-cost housing in London with its Container City project.

46 FEATURE

cHeAP AnD cHeerFUlUrban Space Management in London is one firm working with containers to deliver high-strength, prefabricated steel modules that can be adapted to meet the needs of end-users constrained by budget.

The firm calls the system Container City and links the modular unit together to create office space, sports halls and a sound recording studio. The Container City I and Container City II projects in Londons Docklands exemplify how it is possible to create low-cost housing without greatly sacrificing design or aesthetics.

The company says total construction time is less than half that of traditional building techniques, with fit-out done off-site and the units craned into place over a process lasting between one and 15 days.

In the United States and Australia, new family homes have been constructed from containers. In New York, private companies are setting up 24 sites with what the city calls micro-housing. In San Francisco, individuals have channelled the citys famed creativity to build earthquake-code homes. And some innovative thinkers are demonstrating that sea containers can be applied to larger-scale residences.

Award-winning Australian architect Todd Miller, of ZieglerBuild, used 31 shipping containers to create a family home in suburban Brisbane with 560 square metres of living space on a 706 square metre site.

Miller, whose firm has a commitment to sourcing and using commercial discards, said he began to toy with the idea of using sea containers after assessing the price, structural integrity of the units. He then set about sourcing containers and working with an engineer.

There are enough dormant containers in the world that will never be used again to go around the world twice, he says. They can take 30 tonnes of goods stacked 10 containers high on a ship that racks 25 degrees for four weeks at sea. So this (house) can obviously take being stacked three high. It just sort of went from there.

Miller said given the home was three-storeys high, he opted to use new containers that had not been exposed to sea water or racking to ensure the lines were pristine. He also gave the house deeper foundations than on a traditional home.

The foundations of this product are nine-metres in depth. They are micropiles. A normal foundation is a pier is 1200ml or 1.2 m. This thing is going nowhere either down or up, he says.

coMMerciAl reAliTieSWhen a 6.3-magnitude earthquake wrecked Christchurch in New Zealand back in 2011, accommodation and a functioning central business district were high priorities. The award-winning Re:Start project provided a fast, albeit temporary, solution to revitalise the heart of the city's retail precinct, City Mall, while a longer term rebuild was progressing.

Anton Tritt was the project architect for Re:Start while with the Buchan Group architects and master planners. He is now a director at Dalman Architecture. He said about 120 shipping containers were used for the mall that opened in 2011.

We looked at a whole lot of structures and buildings such as inflatables, fabric tensile, modular and portable. I had designed a container house so shipping containers were not unfamiliar to me, Tritt says. We looked at all the options but came back to containers as we could use them and make them into a funky retail community space. We thought they were strong and we knew of other examples of them being used for these purposes. They are not too expensive to buy and you can alter them.

Alterations were made to the containers to meet some of the specific demands of the project in the wake of the earthquake.

We had to strengthen them to handle the aftershocks. We had a strong building code in terms of structure, he says. We cut out the (container) sides to glaze them and strengthened them with new beams and columns. The containers were placed on new reinforced concrete foundations. The strengthening of the contain-ers allowed for their modular nature to be retained. Plus the re-strengthening allowed for the buildings to be moved by crane and truck.

Above: Re:Start, Christchurch.

47

THe SKYS THe liMiTHong Kongs Ova Studio Ltd. has raised the bar for innovative uses of sea containers with its Hive-Inn Hotel. The firm entered the concept in the 2014 Radical Innovation Awards Competition.

The hospitality competition saw Ova present a hotel structure using sea containers that allows container rooms to travel in and out.

Ova Studio Director Christophe Barthelemy says one of the reasons they used containers is that they lent themselves by nature to stacking creating modular designs.

What we have enhanced is the stacking: indeed while containers can be piled up on one another up to eight levels, we have devised a system (the grid) that allows unlimited height, he says. Also it was appealing to use "industrial" objects and divert them from their intended use. And in addition the Hive-Inn concept was based on the concept that the rooms could travel with its customer, hence the use of containers.Barthelemy said sea containers were a good option for construction for a number of reasons.

Containers are self contained units and with little modification offer usable space. The essential benefit of containers is their customisation, which brings about a diverse plastic resolution, he says.

In terms of aesthetics, containers can be fun and valuable. In terms of urban development, they can produce structures with similar densities to conventional buildings and can therefore offer a diversity that conventional buildings (particularly in Hong Kong) don't have.

FirMlY groUnDeDTritt says he saw the potential for the containers to be used for low-cost housing. If the structures were intended for a more permanent use, durability and the surrounding environment had to be taken into context. To have the numbers add up, it was necessary to manufacture the housing units in high numbers, but he says containers had proved to be a versatile material.

You can bolt and stack them in new forms and create spaces between the containers, There are a range of things you can do, he says. They provide a colourful and industrial aesthetic and people seem to like them in urban spaces. They can be adapted in a number of ways.

In Asia, containers have largely found commercial uses. Pop-up displays for brands, driven by advertising, and utilitarian temporary shelters are common sights. The Hong Kong Government has used discarded containers in its new Community Green Stations.Its first site in Sha Tin is a showcase for green design, with the HK$20.5 million building incorporating 14 sea containers.

The Energising Kowloon East temporary office has also seen second-hand freight containers employed for office space to reduce the embodied energy of the building.

All photos on this page: Energising Kowloon East Office, Hong Kong

48 FEATURE

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All photos on this page: Sha Tin Community Green Station

Richard Lee

49

The Challenges of Designing healthy Urban Environment

Space Design in a Densely Built Environment and Salutogenic Outcome

Innovation and Future Direction in Healthcare Design with User in Mind

Implementing a Sustainable Healthcare Enterprise

The Challenges of Designing Healthy Building in Hong Kong

Chinese Medicine, Neuroscience and Stimuli on Health Outcome

Designing for Children and Future Generation

Planning Process with Culture in Mind

Health Challenges and the Vision of Healthy Ecological Society

AN INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR CONTINUOUS DIALOGUE BETWEEN ACADEMIA, INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT

Hong Kong 1519 July 2015

11th WORLD CONGRESS & EXHIBITION

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL, HONG KONG, KNOWLON EAST

Supporting Organizations

Media partner

Sponsor Organizations

www.designandhealth.cominfo@designandhealth.com

www.worldhealthdesign.cominfo@designandhealth.com

100%C, 90%M, 10%Y, 40%K 0%C, 25%M, 100%Y, 0%K

Prof. Alan Dilani, Sweden

Calvin W Luk, Hong Kong

Prof. R. Lawrence, Switzerland

Prof. Sirac Dilber, Chief Advisor to Minister of Health in Turkey

Prof. A. Capon, Australia/Malaysia

Prof Noemi Bitterman, Israel

Prof. S. Verderber, Canada/ USA

Prof. Pham Le Tuan, Deputy Minister of Health, Vietnam

Prof. Almas Heshmati, Sweden

Dr. Massoud Shaker, Head Infrastructure, National Department of Health, South Africa

Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health, South Africa

Prof. James Barlow, UK

Dr. Ko Wing-man, Secr. of Food and Health, Hong Kong

Prof. Sophia Chan, Under Secr. of Food and Health, Hong Kong

Dr. Chinmoy Sarkar, UK/ Hong Kong

Prof. Ian Forbes, Australia

Prof. Anjali Chandra Kumar, India

Prof. Cherif M Amor, Qatar

Prof. E K Yeoh,Hong Kong

Prof. Joseph Sung, Hong Kong Konga

Prof. Kenneth Fong, Hong Kong

Some of the speakers at the Congress from Industry

Albert Wimmer, Austria

Katharina N-Walker, Australia

Mark JohnsonUSA

Guy Perry Castelain, Hong Kong

Vivien Mak,Hong Kong

Ken Yeang,Malaysia/UK

Innocent Okpanum,South Africa

Stephen Vermeulen,Belgien

James Grose,Australia

Nicola Bertrand,Australia

Richard Sprow,China

Angela Lee, USA

Guy Perry Castelain, James Grose,

Some of the speakers at the Congress from Academia

Some of the speakers at the Congress from Governments

TOPIC AREAS FOR PRESENTATION

50 FEATURE

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In Hong Kongs Mid-levels a stunning private residence is generating glowing praise for much more than the areas standard attraction; some of the worlds most famous million dollar views.

The interiors of this 250 square metre space were designed by Nelson Chow, founder of uber-cool new practice NC Design & Architecture Ltd. (NCDA). Since opening shop in the SAR just over three years ago, numbers of their projects, such as the enchanting speakeasy restaurant and bar, Mrs Pound, have been drawing gasps of wonder, and winning plenty of awards.

Located on a tranquil site on Stubbs Road this residence, designed for Buick Management, is an open space defined by a 16 metre long sinuous wood wall, strong axial views and a luminous and dramatic ceiling oculi.

The house is structured around a continuous communal area of the living room, dining room, kitchen and bathroom. The gentle, undulating grey wood wall unifies these spaces, drawing occupants from the narrow interior kitchen area towards the wide living room with its grand vista of the Happy Valley Race course below.

The subtle shades of grey; from gun metal grey to light ash, delicately accentuates this progression while also providing a neutral backdrop for the rich colours of the selected modern Scandinavian furniture.

Special hidden built-in wall features accommodate the specific daily routines of its residents. The curvilinear wall is offset by two long narrow corridors; one armature holds the kitchen and service areas while the other leads to the bedrooms and communal bathroom. The long, seamless corridor frames the stand-alone white bathtub like a sculpture.

The partial reveal draws occupants into the bathroom where they enter into an intimate curved room clad in a gradient of blue hexagonal Mutina wall tiles. At the centre of the room is one of three large swirling artificial skylights in the residence.

These feature lights anchor the dining room, the living room and the bathroom respectively, casting each space with a soft homogenous white light that accentuates the sensual elegance of the monochrome interiors.

On the bare walls of the main communal space are two large grey wall panels arranged like abstract modern art. These panels can be slid open to reveal an entertainment centre and a portal to the bedroom of the resident fashion designer.

NCDA states that these whimsical features add sense of surprise, dynamism, flexibility and interaction that defies the conventional boundaries of a traditional room. Coupled with the dining table, the designer can extend their work surface between the two rooms.

The same tone of playful concealment can also be found behind the grey wall which houses storage closets, pantry and the powder room. The objects of daily life are treated with care; each with its specific place in the residence. In a city not known for its provision of built-in storage, this sensitive gesture allows the main communal areas to be uncluttered and free as a meditative haven.

Sensitivity to the purpose and function of each of their interiors, an obviously playful disposition and an uncanny ability to craft an engaging storyline marks NCDA as an unpredictable and exciting young practice to follow.

Information: NCDA Photography: Dennis Lo

Streamline Scenery

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John Lo

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Milan, Highland and the WardrobeItalian fashion is certainly well-known to the world. Likewise, furniture produced there is also remarkable. At the annual International Furniture Fair in Milan, the Salone del Mobile, high-end Italian furniture and international brands exhibit, compete and share the newest technology.

Aprils six-day exhibition attracted a total of 310,840 visitors. The competition drew the world's leading furniture brands, including Molteni & C. The brand was founded by Angelo Molteni in 1934. They are more than a familiar face at in the Milan fair. The first edition of the fair in 1961 boasted Molteni as one of its co-founders.

This years fair saw Molteni & C celebrate the companys 80 anniversary. The anniversary included celebrations at the Galleria d'Arte Moderna, the Italian national gallery of modern art. The brands 2 month-long 80! Molteni exhibition was held at the gallery. Through furniture presentations, posters, photographs and video, the exhibition displayed the past and present of Molteni & C classic design. It also highlighted the profound impact the brand has had on Italian furniture and even the world of furniture design development.

PRC Magazine joined a media trip to Milan at the end of April, which was hosted by the Hong Kong developer Couture Homes. A group from Hong Kong visited the production facilities of the Molteni Group, two factories covering more than 160,000 square meters, and the fair itself to better understand Made in Italy design.

Family affairAs with many Italian furniture brands, the Molteni Group is a family business, although control has been passed onto the familys second generation. A third generation of Moltenis, including Andrea, Giovanni and Giulia, has also started to join the companys management in the past few years.

Now aged 70, the groups chairman Carlo Molteni has been hard at work over the past 50 years, expanding the group to four brands that include the home furnishings of Molteni & C, Dada kitchens, Citterio Unifors office furniture and Citterio, an office furnishings and partitions brand.

That Molteni began in the backyard of the family home and now is one of Italys leading international furnishings companies, is probably due to their familys values. Their values are one of the inspirations in their design and at its core, so the products show the importance of a family sharing and also the warmth in a human touch.

Milan styleItalian design has a very strong Southern European style. The Italian love of the romantic, and enjoyment of life and art is an integral part of life. As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Italy has spawned a variety of artistic styles and given furniture design that has a rich cultural and historical background. The countrys different regions have their own preferences and that has lead to the formation of a wide variety of Italian furniture styles. There are aristocratic designs and classical colours found in baroque styles, or classical designs combining modern furniture concepts in a neoclassical style.

In the middle of last century, from a global industry undergoing the influence of a revolution, a more modern style emerged. It was relatively simple and without flashy decoration. But as with all of Italy's leading furniture styles, the focus on the workmanship, materials, design, colour and textures was meticulous and carefully created. It is clear why Italians treat appliances for daily use as pieces of art.

It is easy to see that Molteni & C is a leader of this modern Milan style. In an online interview, Carlo Molteni said that he liked his home full of clean lines and open spaces, which are fully exhibited in the design of his brand. Strong lines and massive design abound.

Text: Byran Chan Images: Molteni Group & ROF Media

80! Molteni Exhibition at Galleria dArte Moderna Milano

Gliss Master

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Armani / Dada

For more than a century, the aristocracy of wood has been present: first in a classic style, then modern furniture and lastly through design. It can be said that even where space is a luxury, Molteni & C cannot help but shine.

Collaborative designThe mid-1960s marked a turning point. These were the years of Italys economic boom and change was in the air. It was the beginning of design, on an industrial scale. Key interior designers and architects came into the factory, along with technical experts. Projects took shape on the drawing board, prototypes were made, designs were corrected.

Boasting partnerships with architects and designers, such as Gio Ponti, Aldo Rossi, Luca Meda, Afra and Tobia Scarpa, Jean Nouvel, Alvaro Siza, Foster + Partners, Patricia Urquiola and Ron Gilad, the professional creative concept and production processes combined to make Molteni & C products more diverse and brighter.

Among all of the designers, Carlo says he feels that Luca Meda was the most inspiring. Meda was the chief designer and art director at Molteni & C from the 1960s until his death in 1998.

In the 1970s, Meda launched a unique concept for a modular furniture system. From the material, shape and structural details, it showed a harmonious coordination of furniture that created a simple and elegant nature. It could also adapt to changes in home life, meeting different needs. The products shook the entire industry and the impact of the concept has been the focus for countless furniture designs.

At the same time, the familys contract business also got underway, with major assignments, both in Italy and abroad, for customers with demanding requirements. There was the reconstruction of the Teatro la Fenice in Venice, huge cruise ships for major international companies, hotels and apartment hotels all over the world.

Two of the collaborative designs that should be mentioned are the Arc and Teso designed by Foster + Partners. Both are unique in being iconic, with the former using cement and organic fibres as a new material. The latter uses tension and compression to transform metal plate into a curved, steel hole both equally steady and firm with a piece of glass on the top, reflecting the modern design and mechanical beauty.

Kitchen with chicDada has been part of Molteni Group since 1979. The brand is positioned at the high-end of the market with mass-produced items created by designers with extensive international experience: Vela by Dante Bonuccelli; Hi-Line 6 by Ferruccio Laviani; INDada by Nicola Gallizia.

The products meet the highest requirements of modern kitchens, pushing innovation, functionality, aesthetics and technology. There are different pieces in terms of type, finishing and materials, but all have one essential feature in common: the chance to combine specific elements from each series in order to come up with original solutions.

In 2008, the Armani Group and Molteni formed a partnership for the production and distribution of the Armani/Dada collection. Armani/Dada Contract projects include: the development of customised kitchen systems for the exclusive Armani Residences at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the services apartments of San Pietro allOrto in Milan, the Imperial Cullinan in Hong Kong and World One in Mumbai.

Glass CubeThis is a very special pavilion to record and transmit the brand's past and future. Molteni & C commissioned Ron Gilad to design the Glass Cube at its production unit in Giussano. The result is a 400-sqm exhibition space, made up of a void, glass and surprise installations.

In the centre, a stretch of water reflects the creation of an object, with nature taking part in the process, amid the sky and clouds. Gilad reinterprets the distinguishing themes of Moltenis corporate identity: the materials first and foremost wood - quality, experience, technology, industry and craftsmanship, their products and collections.

The exhibits are not simply furniture for exhibition. Some pieces were cut in half or oriented in unusual positions, such as on the ceiling or wall, so that visitors can approach from different angles to understand the product mix and shapes, and to see the impossible in the optimisation of internal structures.

(More photos of the Glass Cube available on PRC Magazines Facebook page).

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56 FEATURE

Glass Cube

Piroscafo (1991)Parigi (1990)

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A new building at Nanyang Technological University does away with corridors and classrooms to create a flexible learning environment that is pushing the boundaries of educational architecture.

The Learning Hub in Singapore provides 56 tutorial rooms without corners or an obvious front or back of the room. The building was opened in March after a three-year build. The project has just been announced as a finalist in this year's World Architecture Festival.

The Learning Hub is 12 towers built to a height of 8 storeys or 38.3 metres each a stack of rounded tutorial rooms, tapering inwards at their base around a central atrium. The structure, with a gross floor area of about 14,000 square metres, is designed to interweave social and learning spaces into a dynamic environment that encourages more relaxed interactions between students and academics.

The new spaces support Nanyangs flipped classroom theory that sees knowledge transfer from teacher to students online before classes. Contact hours in class are used for engagement in discussion and debate.

And the structure reflects the modern digital reality of education. The multi-function rooms are thought to drive interactive, small group teaching and active learning. Academics can configure them to better engage their students, and there are fewer barriers for students collaborating.

A complex, circular-shaped hub for learning in the 21st century takes aspects of technology, communication and education, combining them in a beehive of industry and modernity

RETHINKING EDUCATION

The new Learning Hub provides an exciting mix of learning, community and recreational spaces for NTU students, professors and researchers from various disciplines to gather and interact, says NTU senior associate provost for undergraduate education Kam Chan Hin. By bringing people and their ideas together, NTU can spark future innovations and new knowledge that increasingly happen at the intersection of disciplines.

The clustered seating in the new rooms is designed for students to discuss their ideas in small groups, before sharing and presenting their ideas with the rest of the class.

The building is part of Nanyangs HK$4.26-billion redevelopment of the university, the first in 20 years.

The work has been designed by Heatherwick Studio and executed by lead architect CPG Consultants as a part of the universitys redevelopment plan.

Practice principal Thomas Heatherwick says the most important commodity on todays university campus is space that can used in a social setting. The Learning Hub is a collection of handmade concrete towers surrounding a central space that brings everyone together, interspersed with nooks, balconies and gardens for informal collaborative learning, he says.

The building will stay opened until late, allowing students to gather, share knowledge and collaborate across disciplines. The Learning Hub is meant to reassert the role of an educational building in the 21st century.

Heatherwick established the practice in 1994 and has gone on to create a number of iconic works, from the British Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, to the modernisation works of Pacific Place in Hong Kong, the Bund Finance Centre in Shanghai and the cauldron of the 2012 London Olympics.

INsIDE THE

hive mind

Text: Michael Hoare Images: Heatherwick Studio

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PRACTICAL MATTERs

Heatherwick Studios first major new building in Asia has offered us an extraordinary opportunity to rethink the traditional university building. In this information age, the most important commodity on a campus is social space to meet and learn from each other.

S ingapores bui ld ing codes and Nanyangs environmental aspirations meant that a concrete construction was necessary.

To improve the aesthetics, stair and elevator cores have been embedded with 700 drawings cast into the concrete, referencing everything from science to art and literature.

Treatments on the external surfaces of the building lend the appearance of a project that appears to have been handmade from wet clay.

With high year-round temperatures in Singapore, the buildings atrium is open and permeable. It is naturally ventilated, maximising the circulation of air around the towers of tutorial rooms. Each room is cooled using silent convection, doing away with the need for energy-heavy air-conditioning fans. Energy-efficient light and motion sensors have been placed in classrooms, toilets and staircases.

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GREEN MARK

The design incorporates a generous amount of natural foliage, including internal vertical greenery and rooftop terraces. The reduction in solar glare and heat gain further minimises the need for active cooling. The Learning Hub building was awarded Green Mark Platinum status by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore, the highest possible standard for a building of this type.

CPG Consultants are the lead architect and sustainability consultants for The Learning Hub. The most exciting aspect of this project is to see such an inspired design develop into a uniquely contextual and functional building, says CPG project lead Vivien Leong.

CPG is a full service design consultancy that is the modern embodiment of the former Public Works Department of Singapore.

The former government department has a portfolio that includes terminals 1 and 2 at Changi Airport, the National Museum of Singapore and Gardens by the Bay, the striking indoor gardens on the citys waterfront.

CPG was also the architect for Nanyangs School of Art, Design and Media, a building that has been acclaimed for its distinct identity of three intertwining blocks, lush green roof and curtain wall.

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Hong Kong landscape architecture firm Morphis beat 90 competitors to win an international competition to revitalise a run-down riverfront landscape in the citys industrial heart

A world over the wAter

A design inspired by the banyan tree has seen Hong Kong design firm Morphis win an international competition to transform open space in Kai Tak.

The Morphis entry was selected from 90 submissions and the young firm will be responsible for executing one of the most significant regeneration projects in Hong Kong. A portion of the former site of the citys airport will be transformed, uniting the emerging Kai Tak City with a spectacular riverfront landscape that will promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, with its roots in the culture of Hong Kongs community.

Morphis partner Mark Blackwell, a chartered landscape architect, says the banyan tree inspired Living Roots design concept was symbolic of the urban jungle growing coherently in time and space, celebrating heritage and spirit.

He says the long-term vision for the site was based on three key urban principles: that it should become a community jewel in the green infrastructure network in Kai Tak; act as a catalyst for high-quality, sustainable future urban development; and become a learning resource celebrating people and natural systems.

PUTTING DOWN ROOTSDesigned in collaboration with Buro Happold, the design concept aims to create the open space through three phases. The first, Celebrating the River, is about the waterfront creating a unifying spine for the urban landscape.

Kai Tak River is a rare heritage linking the hinterland to the north of the development with the waterfront, and in doing so, unifying the wider urban fabric of existing communities and connecting the rural hinterland, as well as restoring and protecting the river, Blackwell says. He says the creation of a coherent and continuous framework anchored by the waterfront could transform Kai Tak into an ensemble of places that is organised and layered, with a series of destinations along a linear green route.

The next aspect, Living Roots, captures the sense of the urban jungle and the network of connections across the river and beyond. Blackwell described it as

a series of urban interventions, celebrating heritage and spirit, woven together within a poetic framework that connects back to nature.

Trails will be enriched with a learning programme, activated by scanning the tags with your smart phone, adding a digital, invisible layer that can be adapted to residents and visitors alike, he says.

The final piece of the design is to ensure the space becomes The Peoples Playground, a space that is visited repeatedly.

The whole park will be conceived as a playground, allowing all to play freely and creatively, and get lost in their games and imagination, Blackwell says. There will be places for children to increase their levels of activity and contact with the natural world as part of a healthy lifestyle. The park will encourage lasting connections and engender a very real sense of public ownership which will evolve organically with the passage of time.

BUILT-IN SUSTAINABILITYBlackwell says the urban renewal project is designed with nature in mind.There are aspects of meaningful place making to promote healthy and sustainable lifestyles, and the celebration of nature in the fabric of the city. Integrated sustainable building and landscape water cycles will be developed, further celebrating the water narrative.

The residential gardens will include play areas, demonstration gardens, orchards, edible gardens and botanic technology that react to their environment, such as solar panels that that will illuminate the play structures at night and water collection tubes that teach children everything about cleaning and collecting rainwater.

Blackwell said the concept for the area meant Kai Tak City would become a living sensorium as a site for special events, with plans for monthly jazz concerts, interactive performances, productive landscapes and food markets.

Rich and happy memories will be created on the waterfront, the Great Lawn, cafes, restaurants, community gardens and orchards, he says. Kai Tak City presents a unique opportunity to create the foundations of an open space system that is ecologically rich, highly attractive, timeless and unique. The impact is crucial to shaping the future of Kai Tak Citys urban fabric for a thriving, well-served and successful development.

Information & Images: Morphis

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In 2012, the Secretary for Development announced the decision to pursue preparatory work for implementing security for payment legislation in Hong Kong. Legal consultants have been engaged and a working group of 14 industry stakeholders have been established by the Hong Kong Government to evaluate overseas security for payment legislation. It is understood by the author that the consultation paper from the working group would be released later this year.

In this climate, the English and Australian security for payment regimes may provide a window as to what the Hong Kong security of payment regime will look like.

(a) The primary aim of security for payment legislation is intended to address delays and problems in payment of contractors and subcontractors during construction projects. "Pay when paid" provisions are prescribed to be unenforceable.

(b) Any party to a construction contract is entitled to refer to payment disputes to statutory adjudication. Such a right cannot be excluded by contract.

(c) Adjudications resolve payment disputes. A payment dispute arises when a payment claim to a construction contract is either rejected or unpaid after the due date for payment.

(d) Different regimes set out different requirements for making payment claims. Some regimes such as New South Wales prescribe specific requirements concerning the making of payment claims. Others such as Western Australia, leaves it to the contract to set out the requirements for making payment claims and only implies requirements if the contract is silent.

(e) The rapid adjudication process is intended to operate in parallel to mediation, arbitration or litigation of its disputes so as to keep the cash flowing in the Project.

(f) An adjudication commences when one party issues an adjudication application/notice setting out prescribed information including the nature of the dispute and nature of remedy sought. In some jurisdictions, the applicant is required to attach to the notice all of the information, documentation and submissions on which the party relies in the adjudication. In England and Wales, an applicant is also required to serve a referral notice together with expert reports and witness statements within 7 days of the adjudication notice.

(g) Some legislation specifies time limits concerning when adjudication applications may be commenced. For example in Western Australia, an adjudication application must be commenced within 28 days after a payment dispute arising. (90 days in the Northern Territory). An adjudicator is required to dismiss an application if it is made out of time.

(h) Once commenced, the legislation set out a time limit for response. For example, in Australia, an adjudication response must be issued within 14 days. In England and Wales, a defence is required to be served within seven days of the Referral Notice.

(i) Generally speaking, an adjudicator is required to reach his decision within 28 days after commencement of the adjudication process. However, most regimes provide that the deadline may be extended by agreement.

(j) English adjudicators in larger cases regularly call meetings at which they ask questions of and listen to the parties. This is different from the situation in Australia where adjudications are determined based on the papers alone.(k) An adjudicator's award may be enforced as a judgement of the Court.

Use of Statutory AdjudicationsIn England and Wales, the rate of adjudication has increased at a rate of 187 in 1998/1999 to 1528 in 2009/2010. Since the inception of the WA Act, the rate of adjudications has increased from less than 10 in 2005 to more than 200 in 2012. In New South Wales, the number of adjudications per year has increased from 940 in 2008 to 1112 in 2012.

The adjudication system has been commonly criticised for favouring the contractor, un-predictable results and allowing for ambushing of the other party. However, it is clear that the use of adjudication is becoming more common as a means for speedy resolution of payment disputes in construction contracts. The fact that money changes hands under an adjudication award may mean that the parties are assisted in resolving their disputes.

Based in Hong Kong, Vincent Liu is a construction lawyer admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong, Western Australia, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Vincent was first admitted in 1999. His principal areas of practice have included construction and engineering (front end and back end). Vincent has advised and acted for clients in construction disputes involving mediation, arbitration, litigation and adjudication under the security for payment legislation. Vincent has acted in more than 40 st