The Crystal Industrial Building, a landmark in the history of the Crystal Group, has stood as a testament to the company’s legacy since its completion in 1965. For 54 years, this building served as the group’s headquarters, housing the vision and operations of one of the most prominent family-owned clothing manufacturers, founded by Mr. and Mrs. Lo.
As the company continues to evolve in a dynamic global market, the founders have embarked on an ambitious redevelopment project aimed at transforming the property into an iconic, Grade A office building. The new design will ensure that the redeveloped property remains the company’s headquarters, representing a seamless blend of tradition and modernity. By upgrading the building to Grade A standards, the project aims to provide state-of-the-art facilities that align with contemporary business needs, enhancing both functionality and prestige.
This transformation is poised to position the property as a landmark in its own right, symbolizing the Crystal Group’s enduring legacy and its vision for the future. With careful planning and execution, the redeveloped building will continue to serve as a hub for innovation, excellence, and growth for years to come. Project Info
FACADE DESIGN
The new building design for our esteemed client, a prominent clothing manufacturer based in Hong Kong, incorporates an innovative and visually striking facade featuring a curvilinear, fabric-inspired form. The fluid, textile-like design mirrors the essence of the brand while introducing a distinct and memorable architectural landmark.
Key sustainability and community-focused features include strategically designed building setbacks at various levels, creating flatroof terraces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The integration of green features such as a vertical green, podium, sky gardens, and rooftop gardens fosters a pleasant and eco-friendly environment. These features not only improve the experience of the building’s occupants but also add environmental and social value to the surrounding urban community.
Concept
ENTRANCE LOBBY
The entrance lobby design approach aligned with the established façade motif, emphasizing a curvilinear, fabric-inspired profile. The feature wall design incorporates champagne gold aluminum cladding and metal mesh elements to achieve a subtle yet elegant aesthetic. Strategically placed “up-and-downlight” fixtures at varying levels enhance the visual appeal while guiding visitors seamlessly along the escalator’s trajectory toward the main entrance lobby. This thoughtful composition ensures a cohesive and inviting experience for all visitors.
Motif
Materiality
The main office lobby features a striking black and white contrasting color theme, creating an atmosphere of refined elegance and simplicity. Dark elements, like black stainless steel, patterned metal, and mirrors, are harmoniously paired with lighter components, including white reconstituted stone walls, wall tiles, and light grey reconstituted stone flooring. This combination results in a sophisticated and grand design.
The white reconstituted stone has been custom-crafted with a 3D curved surface, aligning with the design motif to add a dynamic and visually engaging element to the wall facing the waiting area of the lift lobby.
Features
The ceiling feature light formed by specially designed lighting rods of varying lengths, creating a “wavy mesh of light” that enhances the central space of the main office lobby with a modern and innovative touch.
The concierge design incorporates a curvilinear aesthetic achieved through copper-colored stoneslices. The sloping black Corian edges with varying widths serve as both the information desk partition and a functional tabletop accommodating wheelchair users.
Simplicity
The design seamlessly integrates the black and white contrasting color theme from the main office lobby. The feature extends fluidly from the lift architrave to the wall and continues onto the ceiling, ensuring a unified visual flow. In collaboration with the E&M consultant, the access panel for the fan-coil unit was discreetly concealed above the removable stainless steel baffle ceiling. This meticulous attention to detail ensures a clean, minimal design, balancing functionality and elegance.
ENTRANCE LOBBY
Design
Insight
The design process described highlights an innovative approach to creating a dynamic and interactive feature wall. Inspired by the client’s desire for a unique and constantly changing design, the concept of rotatable blocks was proposed.
ENTRANCE LOBBY
Collaborating with the local artist “HKmaker” for over a month, the Architect developed a solution that utilized push-pull solenoids controlled by a computer program. The program transformed images into pixel graphics, with the blocks rotating at various angles to generate different visuals. The result was a striking and adaptable feature wall for the ground floor entrance lobby, showcasing creativity and technical ingenuity.
Machism
REFURBISHMENT WORK OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
Project Info
Address: 86-88 Apliu Street, Shum Shiu Po
Client: Chinese Estates Holdings Limited
Completion: 2023
Project Brief
The project involves the refurbishment of a residential building situated in Sham Shui Po. The scope of work encompasses the redesign of the façade, as well as the interiors of lobbies and residential units, within a 24-storey single tower that includes a 3-storey podium.
