Benoy was proud to support the ULI x HKU Building Code: Master of Architecture (MArch) Fall Design Studio 2022, a collaboration between ULI, HKU, Benoy and two other practices, real estate investment management, Colliers and property developer, Swire Properties. The collaboration was held throughout the whole school semester from September to December 2022.
The purpose of the programme was to question the Hong Kong building code. To imagine a better version of Hong Kong architecture, the students examined the building codes and resulting architecture of two cities – Shenzhen and Singapore. Throughout the programme, the students proposed adjustments to some of the Hong Kong building codes and speculated on the types of architecture these adjustments could facilitate.
Representing Benoy, Design Director, Gregory Kovacs was invited as one of the guest speakers and judging panellists to address the context of the building code and provide feedback to the students throughout the programme.
New learning format on Building Codes:
At the start of the semester, the students and the 3 participating practices explored the details of Shenzhen, Singapore and Hong Kong building codes.
This studio learning format enables the students to interact with and learn from senior architecture practitioners. These initial lectures and the following studies of the student groups formed the basis of the design work for the Wan Chai site for the rest of the term.
Design reviews:
The review sessions are segregated into three stages. The first stage allows students of each group to engage and challenge the building code as speculative architects, exploring the speculative changes for specific building code provisions. Putting various topics of urgency into their design concept, the student groups analysed the four different aspects of social development, environment, health and safety, and construction and technology.
In the interim, the students placed these speculative proposals into the first massing attempt and considered questions such as: How to tackle the site as a bulk? What is the relationship of the podium in that context? How can the façade engage with their research?
In the final review, the 3 participating practices discussed and evaluated the individual design proposals for the Wan Chai site. Acknowledging the students’ efforts and innovative thinking, Gregory and the other crit panellists also shared their personal experiences, offering valuable inputs with the primary goal of improving a design.
It has always been a core value of Benoy to instil a spirit of giving, inspiring students to give back to the wider community, shaping the future of the built environment and giving the next generation a brighter future.
The ULI x HKU Building Code: Master of Architecture (MArch) Fall Design Studio 2022 is jointly organised by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Hong Kong and the Architecture Department of University of Hong Kong (HKU). Together with Colliers and Swire Properties, Benoy was invited as a corporate partner and knowledge contributor for the project.
