UArchitects: Runner-Up of Architect of the Year Awards 2020. In recent years, Hong Kong has become one of the most dynamic cities in the world. However, there are many issues that remain unresolved, such as the density of the population, high income and living costs and limited access to land and resources. Furthermore, the high population density is making it increasingly difficult for people to meet their living requirements and support themselves. Life for many in Hong Kong is a real challenge – we would even argue that, for some, life is miserable.

Our proposal is a future strategy for Hong Kong. We want make to quality life better for the people. We cooperate on several floors different kind of green spaces  and urban farming.

The system of building is light weight and circular with steel and natural materials which are local produced. We planned a system of an irregular open space system. This open space are the traffic areas and collective spaces, which have a multipurpose use.

It is hybrid lively system of collective living where there is also a freedom of living. The dwellings can easily be extended or decreased in this open building system.

Idea analyzes

To create our building’s structure, we used the bamboo’s growing patterns as a guide. To this structure, we then added our living lodge units. In this way, our design concept allows for many possibilities, such as the sharing of open spaces and views outside views.

We distinguish between two types of living patterns which can be joined together. This permits good window views from every unit: something that we feel is very important in people’s lives. In addition, this structure can create many shared open spaces.

The building joins from two opposing directions. This gives both sides good views and an equal chance of getting more sunlight. Also, in order to allow more sunlight into the centre of the building, we have added a slight curve to each of the buildings, which ensures that people inside also have a chance to enjoy the sunlight. A living unit will never block other occupants’ views of outside.

Epilogue

As we know, a single building alone cannot solve the current problems in Hong Kong.

So instead, we turned our focus to making a better place to live; somewhere where daily life is more pleasurable. We addressed the issue by researching how to introduce more daylight and beautiful vistas into these people’s lives.

We chose bamboo, wood and steel as a starting point, due to the fact that bamboo is abundant in Hong Kong. Also, bamboo and wood  is a green and environmentally-friendly material that will bring more colour (greenery) into people’s daily lives, giving rise to a sense of hope and vitality.

Firm || UArchitects
Project Name || Collective Tower Hong Kong
Architect || Misak Terzibasiyan
Architect of the Year Award Category || Residential Concept
Project Location || Hong Kong
Team || UArchitects, Misak Terzibasiyan
Country || The Netherlands
Photography ©Credit || ©UArchitects/ Misak Terzibasiyan

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UArchitects is an urban architecture studio, based in Eindhoven, founded by the owner Misak Terzibasiyan

Misak Terzibasiyan was born in Helsinki (Finland) and studied architecture, city planning, and building technology at the University of Technology in Eindhoven.