62 DESIGN
Mainland architectural practices are finding their own voice, conjuring a style that could only be considered modern Chinese.They are inspired by a growing sense of place and leading this new wave of architects is KSR International (UK) Design Consultants Ltd.
Modern Chinese – KSR creative space design Continuing the story of the rise of KSR Architecture, introduced in the previous issue of PRC, we now turn our attention to practice’s intricate design of interior spaces. The practice has a 10-year track record in mainland China, operating from its Shenzhen base, and is earning a reputation for inspired residential, commercial and, increasingly, master planning. Chartered architect Sonny Chen Hone-long, KSR International’s managing director, says the firm has experienced a surge in activity, particularly among high-end clients. “The higher-end client is looking for an architect that provides something outside of the type of design we have traditionally seen in China,” says Chen. “I think that, overall, there has been a lack of creativity among architects. They’ve pursued a copy-and-paste strategy for a number of reasons. Our clients understand that we are different and they keep coming back.” Chen and his team is a flexible design force.That each team member is given the freedom to create, is part of what sets KSR International apart, he says. The practice’s approach is never to present an immediate “solution in a box”. “We do things differently and we know that because we hear it directly from our clients.” Chen says the design teams never offer an immediate solution to a problem. Instead, they prefer to work in a collaborative partnership with clients. Often the process takes time but the end results are guaranteed to be striking – the antidote to one-size-fits-all design. Working from a concept, rather than a pre-packaged solution, also creates a tangible latitude for contractors and the design team when trouble inevitably arises on the worksite.
Images: Samuel Lee 翻譯: John Lo
Breaking the standard Another unique characteristic the firm brings to the table is a thorough understanding of designing internal spaces. The practice’s work has earned a number of awards for interior design. Chief among them is the 655-square-metre Excellence Century Centre showroom. The showroom for a real estate development, claimed a 2009 Ring Award from the International Council of Interior Architects and Designers. The practice applies that intrinsic understanding of interiors on a board scale. A recently completed commission for a private residence in Shenzhen is a case in point. The client’s brief was to create a flat with a slick, modern feel using high-end finishes that fully maximised the gross floor area of 100 square metres. The conservatively appointed apartment was laid out around a central hallway that connected the entry and living areas at one end to three bedrooms at the other. In short, a typical cookie-cutter layout beloved by residential developers.The owner, a young executive with a non-stop travel schedule and hectic social life, wanted to open up the space and incorporate the feeling of a boutique hotel. KSR devised an open planning with flexible spaces that can be transformed from a social space to a private sanctuary able to suit client’s lifestyle. KSR International began by reclaiming the hallway’s dead space, effectively moving the kitchen into the space once occupied by the corridor. It is perhaps the most significant structural change to the building and positioned the kitchen at the heart of the home.Along with the other less dramatic design modifications, the practice has almost doubled the flat’s net available area.