Studio Develop was conceived by Patrick HWANG during his capacity as the Undergraduate Programme Director at CUHK. It was part of the revamp effort which took place in 2020. The goal of the studio aims to integrate the skills and knowledge obtained in the prior five semesters and culminates in a comprehensive architectural design. Infusing program, site, material and tectonic, which are central to the development of architectural form and the means by which they structure human environments and relationships. Program is both the reality of functional use, and the scenarios of imagined narratives. An architectural Site consists of an urban context or a condition of landscape, and the cultural understandings that influence the reception of a built intervention. Material, which may seem straightforward, real and direct, contains questions regarding the status of nature, artifice, and craft. The Tectonic idea and the articulation of a building’s assembly is never as simple as revealing the construction and is often as much about what is concealed as it is about what is revealed. The studio asked students to examine and engage these terms as dynamic, shifting and historically contingent.
PROJECT
The project calls for the design of a place of work for a sustainable future. As Hong Kong rapidly transition from a manufacturing to a services-oriented economy in the past, we are now, in yet another inflection point. A new frontier that is optimistic and promising on the one hand, while uncertain and challenging on the other. Climate change, COVID pandemic, and changing economic demands are just some of the forces that will impact the way we work. As such, the call for a refresh place of work is needed.
As the final design of the undergraduate study, this brief provides an opportunity for you to design a project that is both architecturally competent and imaginative. The focused study and design involves deep study of precedence and careful execution of the details, from the challenge of organzing a linear set of programs; to consideration of effective structure and systems; to the exploration and development of the building facades; and finally to ensure that the project is critically integrated in a focused manner.
CONSTRAINTS
In response to the sustainable goals, the project shall work with the following constraints. The longest dimension of the building design shall not exceed or be less than 100 meters. The overall volumetric of the buildng shall be linear in porportion. The notional gross floor area shall be between 8,000 to 12,000 square meters. The linear building may be vertical, horizontal or diagonal in disposition.
PROGRAM
The main programme of your design project is a place of work.
A mix-used building from the below combinations of programmes. The total building programme shall add up to 100%.
Mandatory Programme Lobby + Office (60%) + Garden or public space (10%) + Back of House (10%)
Alternate Programme (choose at least 1 but not more than 2) Event space (6 meters minimum ceiling height) + Studio flats (for bachelor or bachelorette) + Gallery space + Retail + “x” (discuss with your tutor)
SITE
Students shall search for the site of their project based on the following four conditions themes which are reflective of the urban contours of Hong Kong. Students may choose to work together as a group or as individuals. In order for the site to be considered, you must have physical access to it and be able to find drawings of it.
Infrastructural
Waterfront
Mountainous
Infilled
