Woods Bagot wins two awards for projects in Asia

 

*Pictured: The InterContinental Hong Kong’s new Woods Bagot designed lobby with views across Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour.

 

Woods Bagot Hong Kong recently completed the renovation for Intercontinental Hong Kong’s ballroom, lobby and lobby lounge.

 

With its dramatic Kowloon waterfront location on the edge of Victoria Harbour, the InterContinental Hotel Hong Kong is one of the city’s most well-known and established luxury hotels. From numerous locations throughout the hotel the stunning harbour views and the Hong Kong skyline can be enjoyed.

 

Woods Bagot was commissioned to work on the design of the hotel’s ballroom, lobby and lobby lounge. The 836m2 ballroom can accommodate up to 1,300 guests for cocktails and over 700 guests for dinner. This is Hong Kong’s largest ballroom with the highest ceiling level (obstruction free with no pillars or chandeliers). The space incorporates design that is both glamorous and contemporary, but also draws on elements of Feng Shui to accommodate weddings and corporate events where a design that represents good fortune, health, wealth and prosperity is essential.

 

The lobby lounge design incorporates the hotel’s existing wrap-around, three-storey plate glass windows and panoramic harbour views. Key to the design brief was ensuring the harbour view would not be obstructed in any way and it was considered important that the new design should enhance the experience of the view.

 

Woods Bagot’s design for the InterContinental Hong Kong’s ballroom, lobby and lobby lounge renovation was recently awarded Best Hotel Interior by the UK-organised International Hotel Awards.

 

 

*Pictured: The Woods Bagot designed retail mall for Kerry Parkside, Shanghai.

 

Woods Bagot also recently developed a unique branded environment for Kerry Property’s Kerry Parkside retail mall in Pudong, Shanghai. This is the first development of its kind in the area, which is surrounded by upscale communities and lush green spaces and serves as a gateway to the Shanghai New International Expo Center, one of the largest convention and exhibition facilities in the world.

 

The mall’s design takes its cue from the 19th century Le-Halles, in Paris, based on a ‘Luxury Loft’ and ‘Art Deco’ concept for the retail interior to encourage maximum shop front visibility.

 

Woods Bagot’s interior design of Kerry Parkside, Shanghai has won Best Interior Retail at this year’s International Property Awards.

 

HASSELL secures Palm Island project in Chongqing

 

*Pictured: HASSELL’s Palm Island project in Chongqing.

 

Located to the north of Chongqing on the banks of Palm Lake and the Taiping Reservoir, the Palm Island project is a new hospitality precinct designed by HASSELL.

 

The designers at HASSELL infused their design with water as the key element and melded it with light and reflections for the Palm Island concept. When viewed from afar, the five buildings housing six different restaurants appear to float on the lake, the unique feature for the project by Palm Springs Real Estate Development.

 

Patrons at each restaurant enjoy views of natural water visits on one side and a private `water courtyard’ on the other, integrated visually through the creation of an infinity pool-style water feature. This gives the architectural impression that the buildings are ‘floating’ on water.

 

This modern precinct comprises six independent restaurants set along the banks of the two lakes, arranged into five buildings. The five buildings and the artificial water feature form a ‘courtyard of water’ so that patrons at each restaurant can enjoy natural water vistas on one side, and a private ‘water courtyard’ view on the other.

 

By creating an infinity pool-style water feature, both the natural and artificial elements are integrated visually, while the buildings have been designed to be surrounded by water. This gives the architectural impression that the buildings are ‘floating’ on water. Both the concept of the water feature and the layout of the buildings reflect the unique characteristics of Chongqing, which is known as the city ‘connected by two rivers’.

 

This adds to HASSELL’s extensive work in China. The company most recently added a number of competition wins, including the Fangshan Tangshan National Geopark Museum Plaza landscape deign to its China portfolio, along with an urban planning project for Qianhai in Shenzhen and the master plan for Nanhui New Town in Shanghai.

 

Phoenix Valley

*Pictured: studio505’s Pheonix Valley project in Wujin.

 

 

Australian Architecture firm studio505 has designed the architecture, facades, landscape and interiors of a new 55,000m² cultural complex in the heart of Wujin, the southern district of Changzhou. The Wujin Grand Theatre and Youth Palace, ‘Phoenix Valley’, is scheduled to finish construction in July 2013. The complex houses the new Wujin Grand Theatre for 1000 patrons, a cinema complex, sports halls, and educational Youth Palace for 4000 students. There is an Art Gallery, Retail Hub and Public Square with canals, screens and children’s playgrounds. The exterior is covered in green walls and solar panels awarding the Phoenix Valley project China’s highest rating in sustainability – China 3 Star Rating.

Projects nearing completion include: Jiangsu Quarantine Centre Nanjing, Changshu Quarantine Centre and the new Suzhou China Mobile HQ.

 

CK Designworks wins Beijing Mall contract

*Pictured: CK Designworks’ multiplex mall in Beijing.

 

 

CK Designworks Shanghai office has been appointed by leading Chinese commercial developer, the Jin Shen Group, to develop its newest multiplex mall near Beijing International Capital Airport. The total 400,000 square metre project includes a 5 star 200-room hotel, one major shopping mall and an Australian style open environment shopping street.

 

 

During the design of this project CK Designworks used its experience in the Australian retail and landscaping sector to develop a new shopping experience for residents in Beijing.

 

The hotel, the shopping street and the mall are connected with skywalk ways.

 

BAU’s Tianshan Cinema Complex

AIA to host China study tour

In September 2013, the Australian Institute of Architects, AIA, will be hosting it third China study tour since 2010, led by architect, and former Shanghai resident, Anne Warr. This year, the tour follows the Yangtze River from its headwaters in the foothills of the Himalayas to its mouth at the East China Sea. A pre-tour explores the province of Yunnan, while the main tour includes a five-day river trip from Chongqing to Nanjing, a bus trip through the Yangtze delta staying at the historic water town of Wuzhen, and ends with a night at the former exclusive Shanghai Club at number two, the Bund.

A few places are still available for the tour. If you would like a brochure or more information, please contact either Anne Warr: warr.anne@gmail.com or Vivien Morley: Vivien.Morley@impactevents.com.au. ■

 

 

*If you have any news you would like included in Building Bulletin, please email the editor: sophiel@chinaconnections.com.au