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| The Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council has released a guideline document on urban planning to tackle problems associated with urbanisation and the explosion of city sizes. Aedas welcomes the guidelines and sees opportunities in China. |
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| China’s growth requires planning and development of
urban environments in the context of the total city. The
document calls for modern, vibrant, distinctive and
optimal cities through the application of the principles
of forward planning, innovation, efficient land use and
densification achieved through the rule of law. In the
future there will be a focus on sustainability, community,
heritage conservation, functional and aesthetically
pleasing architecture and the strengthening of
professional ethics. The document describes the new
requirements from a top down approach commencing
with city planning which is to plan and enforce efficient,
innovative, compact and dense cities. |
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| We see great opportunities offered by this new directive
to international architecture practices like Aedas which
can advise on urban planning to both authorities and
developers in China, as well as deliver locally relevant,
functional and sustainable designs to the highest
professional and international standards. |
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| While most established cities around the world are facing
high pressure to respond to an increasing demand for
density and efficiency, China has a chance to lead a
new trend of city hub developments. Chairman Keith
Griffiths predicts that the city will develop a network
of high-density city hubs around the central business
district. These city hubs will be true high-density livework-
recreate communities in which all facilities are
available within walking distance. The buildings will be
porous and dissolve the ground plane into multiple public
decks, offering interpenetration of landscaping, light and
air. Well-planned public spaces will bond and connect
mixed-use buildings over transport hubs with high
connectivity. |
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| Aedas has been deeply involved in the city planning and
designing of urban environment in China for the past
decade. The new directive has reinforced Aedas’ belief
that great design can only be delivered by people who
truly understand the social, cultural and environmental
needs of the communities they design for, and also given
Aedas the confidence to continue pushing forward the
idea of building city hubs in China and around the world. |
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| A modern city hub will be a true high-density live-work-recreate community which irrigates and connects the city through its porosity,
multiple usages and multilevel public spaces. |
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Project Olympia 66
Location Dalian, PRC
Client Hang Lung Properties Ltd.
Involvement Design and Project Architect
Gross Floor Area 221,900 sq m
Completion Year 2015
Directors Christine Lam and David Clayton |
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| The vision of Olympia 66 is to create a
contemporary statement with an oriental
overtone. The design concept was inspired
by the twin carp and the internal curving arcs
resemble the swimming carp. The shells on the
roof are layered to create a clear storey glazing,
allowing direct daylight and reflected light into
the two atria. The project is pre-certified with a
LEED Gold rating. |
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Project Sina Plaza
Location Beijing, PRC
Client R&F Properties / Sina Technology (China) Co.,Ltd.
Involvement Design and Project Architect
Gross Floor Area 124,500 sq m
Completion Year 2015
Director Ken Wai |
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| Sina Plaza is a headquarters development located at the Zhongguancun Science Park in northwest Beijing. It is
the principal office in China for Sina Corporation, a Nasdaq listed company that operates Sina.com and Weibo
social platform and has more than 85 million unique users per day. |
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| ‘Limitless’ is the core concept of the design and the building reflects the infinity symbol ‘∞’. Drawing from the
Chinese architectural heritage of courtyards, the building frames two major open courtyard gardens for the
users. At the centre of the building is the main entrance and a focal point – the ‘Eye of Sina’ – an atrium space
that serves as the main vertical circulation hub and features a 12-metre high conical media screen which
displays current media information by Sina.com and Weibo. |
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| The project recently celebrated its completion. To read more about the ceremony, please refer to the latter part of this e-newsletter. |
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Project MTR West Island Line HKU and Sai Ying Pun Stations
Location Hong Kong, PRC
Client MTR Corporation Ltd
Involvement Design and Project Architect
Completion Year 2014
Directors Max Connop and Albert Tong |
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| The stations are two of the three stations along the new MTR West Island Line. Both of them are caverns with
entrances, vent shafts and subways that are stitched through and integrated into the surrounding dense urban fabric.
The world’s first high speed and capacity lifts make large vertical travel distance possible. |
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| The architecture of HKU Station is denoted by the truncated elliptical openings on the concourse level to give
a visually stimulating journey. Glazed panels with the district’s historical images are introduced, allowing
an introspective passenger experience. At Sai Ying Pun Station, more than 800 square metres of space is
dedicated to artwork, delivering a dynamic station environment. It is equipped with a comprehensive pedestrian
network to connect the Mid-levels. |
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Project Tara Arts
Location London, UK
Client Tara Arts
Involvement Design and Project Architect
(including Theatre planning)
Gross Floor Area 520 sq m
Completion Year 2016
Director Julian Middleton |
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| The new incarnation of Tara Arts fuses the global
and the local, providing an inspirational space
for the theatre to create art from the dialogue
between East and West. |
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| The design upgrades the theatre building by
boosting capacity to 100 seats, designing a more
flexible space for performances and creating a
new rehearsal room. |
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| The performance space features an adaptable
earth floor to offer an original, alternative
surface. The ‘banyan’ tree on the façade is
pargeted, a traditional English craft, which
resonates with Indian decorative techniques. |
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Project Temple Mall
Location Hong Kong, PRC
Client The Link REIT
Involvement Design and Project Architect
Gross Floor Area 47,400 sq m
Completion Year 2016
Director Cary Lau |
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| Located in Wong Tai Sin, Hong Kong, Temple Mall comprises two retail podiums Temple Mall North (formerly Lung Cheung Mall) and Temple Mall South (formerly Wong Tai Sin Plaza). The buildings were first built in 2001 and 1982 respectively. |
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| In close proximity to the renowned Wong Tai Sin Temple,
the design references oriental architectural elements to make a contemporary statement with an oriental overtone. The mall features diverse retail offerings and an enhanced shopping environment, offering a complete shopping experience for the community’s residents, local visitors and tourists. The layout provides improved circulation, shop front visibility and accessibility with a footbridge connecting the two podiums. It is well-equipped to cater to the special needs of young children, elderly or visually-impaired. |
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Project Nanjing Jinmao Place
Location Nanjing, PRC
Client Nanjing International Group Co., Ltd.
Involvement Design and Project Architect
Gross Floor Area 122,783 sq m
Completion Year 2015
Director Ken Wai |
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| Nanjing Jinmao Place is strategically located in Nanjing city centre and faces Xuanwu Lake. The architectural
concept is inspired by ‘brocade’, one of the three treasures of Nanjing handicrafts. From interior to exterior, the
concept shifts from ‘brocade’ to ‘cloud’ and the consistent design language helps to create a unique skirt façade
and moire pattern. The ‘cloud’ concept is also applied to each floor and expressed in different design elements
to create richness of interior space. The sunken public plaza with stepped greenery well connects with the
interiors, generating people flow to the mall, and becoming a focal area for entertainment and events. |
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Project MTR South Island Line (East) Ocean Park and Wong Chuk Hang Stations
Location Hong Kong, PRC
Client MTR Corporation Ltd
Involvement Design and Project Architect
Completion Year 2016
Directors Max Connop and Albert Tong |
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| Ocean Park and Wong Chuk Hang Stations are two of the five stations on the MTR South Island Line (East) running on
the same alignment of South Island Line. |
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| The mixture and combination of the coloured glazed panels enliven the façade providing dynamic
compositions and characters to both stations. The colours of the façade are inspired by the ocean and the natural landscape, creating vibrant identities in the settings. Natural ventilation to the platforms and vertical
green walling create airy and open station environments. |
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Project Zhuhai Hengqin International Hi-tech Innovation Park
Location Zhuhai, PRC
Client Zhuhai Da Heng Qin Innovation and Development Co. Ltd
Involvement Design Architect and Interior Designer
Gross Floor Area 34,400 sq m
Completion Year 2018
Director Kevin Wang |
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| Zhuhai Hengqin International Hi-tech Innovation Park is located at Hengqin, one of the newly announced Free
Trade Zones in China. The project aims to become a nurturing ground for the hi-tech industry and will consist
of office spaces for enterprise accelerators, research and development as well as headquarters, supported
by a China-Latin-America Economic Park, a one-stop service centre, public technology platforms, conference
and training centres, technology exhibition and experience centres. Retail and serviced apartments will also be
incorporated into the development to facilitate a work-live community. |
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| The design drew inspiration from the scenic beauty of Hengqin’s mountains and sea. The office towers reflect
the outline of the mountains and seashore with curvy edges, while the layout is carefully planned to include
a central park with a sunken plaza and water features. The design creates an urban paradise for startup and
business entrepreneurs. |
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Project Nansha Kingboard Free Trade Zone Mixed-
use Project
Location Guangzhou, PRC
Client Guangzhou Zhanying Property Co., Ltd.
Involvement Design Architect
Gross Floor Area 80,762 sq m
Completion Year 2018
Director Ken Wai |
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| This project is located at Nansha Free Trade Zone in
Guangzhou where the starting point of the ancient
‘Maritime Silk Road’ is. The design reveals the ‘Gate of
Maritime Silk Road’. The architecture is grandeur like
an entrance gate at Jiaomen riverside, symbolising
Nansha Free Trade Zone as a maritime gateway to
the Belt and Road open to future opportunities and
challenges. |
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| The building form goes well with morphology, allowing
diversified silhouettes from different perspectives
with the programmatically logical, weaved geometric
blocks. |
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| Sina Plaza reflects the infinity symbol ‘∞’ to express the concept of ‘limitless’. |
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| Located in Zhongguancun
Science Park, a technology hub
often referred as ‘China’s Silicon
Valley’ in the northwestern part
of Beijing, Sina Plaza held its
Completion Ceremony on 9 May.
As the project’s architect, Aedas
was invited to join the ceremony. |
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| Ken Wai, Aedas’ Global Board
Director joined Mr. Li Szelim,
Chairman of R&F Properties, Mr.
Charles Chao, CEO and Chairman
of Sina Corporation and
Chairman of Weibo Corporation,
and other honourable guests for
the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
He also as the project designer
of Sina Plaza shared the design
concept of ‘limitless’. |
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| Two open courtyard gardens are
framed within the building. |
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| Sina Plaza is the principal office
in China for Sina Corporation, a
Nasdaq listed company that
operates Sina.com and Weibo
social platform and has more
than 85 million unique users
per day. |
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| ‘Limitless’ is the core concept of
the design as advances in media
technology and information
flow have opened up unlimited
opportunities in the digital
world. The building is designed
to reflect the infinity symbol
‘∞’ to express this concept of
‘limitless’. The objective of the
architectural planning is to
ensure maximum flexibility
based on a modular approach
that allows reshaping and
adjustments as needed. |
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| Drawing from the Chinese architectural heritage of courtyards, the building frames two major open
courtyard gardens that brings natural light and cross ventilation to the interiors. At the intersection or |
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| Ken Wai joined other honourable
guests for the ribbon-cutting
ceremony. |
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| centre of the
building is the main entrance
and a focal point – the ‘Eye of
Sina’ – an atrium space that
serves as the main vertical
circulation hub and features a
12-metre high conical media
screen which displays current
media information by Sina.
com and Weibo. |
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| Although the architectural form
is rectilinear, the architectural
moves religiously follow a
special design discipline. The
form was squeezed, kneaded
and pinched to express
entrances, balconies, special
double height workspaces and
skylights. |
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| Aedas’ Chairman Keith Griffiths spoke to CCTV on Aedas’
involvement and development
on Belt and Road. The interview was widely reported in various
programmes on CCTV News. |
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| As an international architecture and design company, Aedas has designed and completed projects
in cities along the Belt and Road over the years, including airports, railway stations, cruise terminal and |
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| other renowned commercial landmarks. These were
happened far before the Belt and Road initiative first proposed by the Chinese government in 2013. |
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| Aedas is well placed on the Belt and Road with offices along the routes and will further develop
with the ample opportunities from the initiative as well as devote to the resurgence of the ancient routes. |
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| Andy Wen unveiled his new idea ‘Inno-Culturiage’ which merges innovation,
sustainability, culture and heritage to form a new approach in building design. |
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| On 17 April, Andy Wen, Global
Board Director at Aedas, spoke
at the ‘Glocalisation’ Forum
at Tsinghua University School
of Architecture in Beijing. The
forum focusing on the change
of architectural education
and practices in response to
globalisation attracted over a
hundred industry professionals
and students to participate in the
discussion on ‘Glocalisation’. |
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| On the issue of striking a balance
between globalisation and
localisation, Andy unveiled his
new idea ‘Inno-Culturiage’ which
merges innovation, sustainability,
culture and heritage to form a
new approach in building design and create |
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| unique and timeless
architecture which appropriately
responds to its location and
culture. |
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| The forum also included other
speakers such as Zhuang
Weimin, Dean of Tsinghua
University School of Architecture,
Li Xiaodong, Professor at
Tsinghua University School of
Architecture, and Thomas Herzog,
a renowned German Architect
and Professor in Architecture. It
was jointly organised by Tsinghua
University School of Architecture,
Architectual Design and
Research Institute of Tsinghua
University, World Architecture,
TEDxTHU and Archdaily. |
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| Invited by Aedas to foster
professional development
especially for young architects
and students, the Royal
Institute of British Architects
(RIBA) held its briefing session
‘Introduction to Routes to
RIBA Membership’ at Aedas
Hong Kong Office on 14 April,
which was open to public to
explain the conditions and
eligibilities of becoming an
RIBA chartered member to
architectural professionals
and students. The session
was also connected real time
to Aedas Singapore, Beijing,
Chengdu and Shanghai
offices. |
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| The briefing session was held in
Aedas Hong Kong Office. |
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| Representatives from the mainstream media joined Global Board Director Andy Wen and Director Benjamin
Chan to enjoy an afternoon of inspiring dialogues and networking. |
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| Aedas hosted a media
luncheon on 10 March in
Beijing. Representatives from
the mainstream media joined
Global Board Director Andy Wen and Director Benjamin Chan to
enjoy an afternoon of inspiring
dialogues and networking.
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During the luncheon, Andy gave
an introduction of Aedas and
highlighted Aedas’ projects
in 2016. Then he shared his
new design philosophy ‘Inno-
Culturiage’ with two exemplary
projects. He pointed out that
innovative and sustainable
architecture should be in well
integration and with deep
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| respect to history, society and
culture and in part inspired by
them. Buildings will endure and
respond to changes of the local
context. |
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| Also with this opportunity Aedas
expressed its gratefulness to
media which have been
supporting Aedas along the years. |
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| Hengqin Huafa Plaza,
Zhuhai, PRC |
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Highly Commended, Mixed-use
Architecture, China |
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| Sina Plaza, Beijing, PRC |
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Highly Commended, Office
Architecture, China |
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| Evergrande Huazhi Office
Tower, Chengdu, PRC |
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Highly Commended, Commercial
High-rise Architecture, China |
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| Hotel Development in Sai
Kung, Hong Kong, PRC |
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Highly Commended, Hotel
Architecture, Hong Kong |
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| Huanancheng Exhibition
Centre, Nanning, PRC |
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Highly Commended, Leisure
Architecture, China |
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| MOKO, Hong Kong, PRC |
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Highly Commended, Shopping
Centre Renovation |
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