Three Cutting-Edge Architectural Projects in Hong Kong: Zero Carbon Building, Maggie’s Centre, and Xiqu Centre with Dr. Ronald Lu
Modern architecture highly values beauty, functionality and sustainability. Internationally renowned architect Dr. Ronald Lu will discuss these important qualities with three distinctive buildings in Hong Kong.
Zero Carbon Building (ZCB), Hong Kong
ZCB, the first zero carbon building in Hong Kong, is specifically designed for the subtropical urban context to showcase stateof-the-art eco-building design and technologies and to raise community awareness of sustainable living. Being “energy-plus”, ZCB generates on-site renewable energy to offset its operational energy consumption on an annual basis and exports surplus energy to the grid to offset its embodied energy. Priority is placed on energy demand control by effective passive building design and energy-efficient active systems to enable cost-effective implementation of renewable energy technologies.
Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre, Hong Kong
Located at Tuen Mun Hospital, Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre Hong Kong is the first Maggie’s Centre built outside of UK. Maggie’s Centre was inspired and set up by Maggie Jencks who had suffered and passed away from cancer. Like other Maggie’s Centres, Maggie’s Centre Hong Kong aims to provide a low-stress environment for cancer patients where they can receive information, advice and psychological support. Its unique connectivity with landscape and its expressive yet domestic architecture distinguishes it from the other Maggie’s Centres.
Working in collaboration with Frank Gehry, this centre, with a floor area of 468 sq. m., is composed of a living area, dining area, kitchen, large room for classes such as yoga, three counselling rooms and a staff office.
Xiqu Centre, Hong Kong
The Xiqu Centre will be the first of 17 core arts and cultural venues to be opened within the West Kowloon Cultural District. It will provide a platform for the Chinese opera communities to develop and produce the finest Cantonese and other Chinese opera performances; attract new audiences; collaborate with and host international cultural programmes.
Occupying a prime site of 13,800 sq. m. at the eastern edge of the West Kowloon Cultural District, the centre will be a gateway access to the West Kowloon Cultural District. The building will provide a striking entrance, a lantern for the West Kowloon Cultural District, embodying a covered public plaza and a dynamic treatment of the facade. Its flow or “qi” is expressed with curvilinear paths and forms. The architecture incorporates a generous amount of public leisure space, in addition to training and education facilities, a superbly designed auditorium for 1,100 and a 200 seat Tea House Theatre for performances. The project, working in collaboration with Bing Thom Architects, is scheduled to commence superstructure construction in 4th quarter of this year.
Speaker
Dr. Ronald Lu is the founder and chairman of Ronald Lu & Partners (RLP). With his commitment to professional quality and client services, he has nurtured the growth of RLP into an award-winning architecture and interior design practice. Spanning across almost four decades, RLP has become a household name in the industry of built environment in Hong Kong, and is continuously delivering world-class projects and green built environments across the globe. Dr. Lu obtained his first professional degree at University of New South Wales, Australia (UNSW), with a subsequent Master degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA and an Honorary Doctorate from UNSW, Australia. He believes in improving people’s lives through architecture and is actively involved in both professional and community circles. Dr. Lu is an active member for a number of Hong Kong and PRC professional organizations within the architecture industry. He is the past Chairman of the Hong Kong Architecture Centre, the past Presidents of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects as well as the American Institute of Architects Hong Kong Chapter.