Status
Project
Year
2006
Program
Education-Sports
Scale
42000m²
Partners
Mark Mückenheim
Mark Frohn (FAR)
Stefan Sous and Heinke Haberland (Art)
Winfried F. Fuhrer (Structure)
ClubL94 (Landscape)
Team
Mark Mückenheim,
Mark Frohn, Stefan Sous, Heinke Haberland, Burkhard Wegener, Mario Rojas Toledo (FAR), Suat Eriz, Andrea Schmeiing, Sascha Glasl

Being surrounded by a semi-continuous three hundred foot wall of high-rise apartment buildings, the architectural language of the multidisciplinary design school in Hong Kong articulates the building as a mediator between this condition and the low-rise future government buildings to the south of the site. The building intercedes its surroundings by acting as a grandstand, which opens up to the only unobstructed view of Junk Bay. The main design principles of this building are therefore primarily dictated through the optimization of light and views, coupled with the programmatic and organization standards of a multidisciplinary design institution. The ridge-like form of the building is lacerated to provide light wells that filter ample daylight on all floors, creating a series of volumetric wedges, which offer a varied interior landscape. All design studio spaces are located on a stepped floor at the top level of the building, while subject-specific areas slip beneath the slope of the studio floors. This relationship allows for direct access from support spaces to specific studios while optimizing for the light and acoustic needs of discreet creative programs. The overall organization, therefore, stimulates a diverse synergetic learning and teaching environment between academics of varied disciplines. The design school acts as a communication facilitator between students, faculty, visitors, and is reflexive of Hong Kong’s evolving cultural and urban condition.