Dear Members

The building industry is responsible for a significant amount of pollution and contributions to the global waste stream both prior to and during construction, and post-occupancy.

For the second installment in our #Inspire Series, we will look at wastage through the eyes of Arthur Huang, a structural engineer, architect and a pioneer in the creation of a circular economy via his company MINIWIZ, of Taiwan.

Arthur will explain how the by-products of what we generate as architects and, by extention, the construction industry as a whole, can also inspire the way we design, engineer and manufacture beautiful and functional new items as part of a circular economy. Attendees will learn how MINIWIZ tackles waste head-on, by up-cycling trash into various new materials, many of which have found a new lease of life in more than 3,000,000 square feet of commercial, retail, hospitality and healthcare applications, to date.

You can use your smartphone, tablet or PC to join. Install the zoom.us application prior to the meeting.

1.    Please use your real name for registration so that we can credit 2.0 LUs/HSW to you.
2.    All attendees should mute their audio during the presentation to avoid signal interference.
3.    On this occasion, only the host and panellists will be allowed to speak.
4.    You may, however, type questions in the Q&A box at the bottom of your zoom screen.
5.    The panellists will review your questions and provide responses, time allowing.
6.    The presentation will be recorded.

We encourage you to register in advance, here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Rw_aYNTvQ4ilEkIvCF34aA

Speaker’s Profile

Arthur Huang is a structural engineer, an architect and an innovator in the circular economy. MINIWIZ, the material technology company he started in 2005, is a pioneer in the up-cycling of ordinary trash into sustainable, smart “building solutions of the future”. Arthur’s MINIWIZ technology platform is able to convert single-use plastic, metal, glass and other materials into sustainable building materials, building modules, specialty fabrics, and designer furniture and fixtures.

The company’s products have already been incorporated in more than 3,000,000 square feet of commercial, retail, hotel and office projects throughout the world. Now, after two decades of innovation focusing on impactful up-cycling technologies powered by a multinational/multidisciplinary team, MINIWIZ is offering its modular infrastructure as an ESG specialty contractor to the global market to make the circular economy concept a physical reality.

MINIWIZ has received numerous patents for cutting-edge manufacturing processes and mechanical assemblies to enable circular consumption and Arthur has been recognised with a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Award; an Obama Emerging Leader Award; the Financial Times Earth Award; and The Wall Street Journal Asian Innovation Award. He has been a National Geographic Emerging Explorer since 2016 and the World Economic Forum recognized him as the Runner Up for The Circular Leadership Award 2019, at Davos.

In February 2019, the World Economic Forum / Forum of Young Global Leaders named MINIWIZ as one of the world’s top 11 companies leading the way to a circular economy.

Dear Members

You are invited to join Nuno Da Silva Tang for this tour of the newly renovated Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine Main Building at the University of Hong Kong. An in-depth understanding of the design process behind the dramatic, light filled entry hall will be presented and we will also visit the Learning Commons, which was conceived as a fun and colorful “academic playground” for future doctors. This project was widely celebrated for providing learning spaces that emphasize student wellness, flexible learning and social interaction as fundamental parts of a medical education.

Date:                    July 24, 2021

Time:                   10:00 – 11:30am

No. of Visitors:     20

CES:                     1.5 LUs/HSW

Fee:                      $100

Due to the popularity of our building tours and limited space available, early registration is strongly recommended. Priority will be given to AIA members. Please RSVP (rsvp@aiahk.org) with your full name and membership number by 5:00pm on Thursday, July 22, and, if you have any questions, contact the Chapter office at rsvp@aiahk.org / 2882-6011.

Speaker and Tour Leader

Nuno Da Silva Tang, Assoc. AIA

Born in Hong Kong, with a multicultural Chinese and Portuguese background, Nuno moved to Montreal, at age six, where he developed a passion for design and studied architecture at McGill University. Upon completing his studies he joined Louis Vuitton in Paris and created new designs for the brand’s boutiques. Having gained expertise in the luxury retail sector, Nuno returned to Hong Kong to re-connect with his roots and to practice architecture in a new context.
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In 2017, he launched his own practice – Atelier Nuno Architects – and quickly developed an ability to provide thoughtful and inventive designs across a wide range of projects. He brings sensitivity to spaces that often go overlooked and applies a sophistication to environments in which we live, work, and learn.

In 2020, his design for the Li Ka Shing Medical School Lobby won a World Architecture Community Award and received both local and international attention.

Dear Members

Architecture and art are becoming more and more closely knit and architects may sometimes be invited to curate art or design exhibitions.

One of the most important events is the Venice Biennale of Architecture.  Every two years, an important curator, oftentimes an architect, is invited to design the exhibition and there will be an open call for a Hong Kong architect to curate the Hong Kong Pavilion.

One reason architects are good at this is because curating an exhibition involves planning, storytelling, functionality, lighting and construction. It may also involve engineering, structural calculations, tracking construction timelines, permit applications and cost control.

In this event, William Lim will discuss how he has curated two recent exhibitions: Shining Moment at Tang Contemporary Foundation and A Year of Lost and Found at Grotto Fine Arts, from conception to set up and installation.

Date:              Thursday, July 8, 2021
Time:              7.00-8.30pm
Venue:           Grotto SKW, 2/F East 17, 17 Main Street East, Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong
CES:               1.5 LUs
Fee:                $100; Gratis for students, mentors/mentees

This talk is limited to a maximum of 50 guests. If you would like to attend, please RSVP (rsvp@aiahk.org) with your full name and membership number by 5:00pm on Tuesday July 6, 2021 and, if you have any questions, contact the Chapter office at info@aiahk.org or 2882-6011.

About the Speaker

As Founder and Managing Director of CL3 Architects (CL3), Dr. William Lim, FAIA, brings more than 30 years of experience to his projects. An acclaimed architect and artist, William graduated from Cornell University and has spent the past two decades at the forefront of architecture, culture and art.

William’s designs are distinctive and contemporary. Since founding CL3 in 1992, he has established a notable presence on the global design scene. The studio’s diverse, award-winning portfolio includes architectural and interior projects for hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, corporations, residences and art installations. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore; Raffles City, Chongqing; Gaysorn II, Bangkok; and H Queen’s, Hong Kong are some of these award winning projects.

William is also an accomplished artist focusing on large scale installations. Throughout his career he has shown internationally, most notably at Lantern Wonderland Hong Kong, 2003 and 2011; the Venice Biennale International Architectural Exhibition in 2006 and 2010; Hong Kong and Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture in 2007, 2009 and 2017; and Architecture and Heritage: Unearthing Future, Seoul, Korea, 2019. His signature piece, the West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre received the Grand Award and Special Award for Culture in Design for Asia in 2013.

Committed to promoting culture and education, William is currently on the Board of Trustees of Cornell University, a member of the Arts and Culture Council and Gallery Advisory Committee for Asia Society Hong Kong Center and a member of Museum Expert Advisers for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

He was conferred an Honorary Doctorate degree by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in 2018.

Dear Members

Architect, urbanist and author of six books on cities and urban design, Dr Peter Cookson Smith will discuss his books – both new and old – in this talk. Subjects include the impermanent urbanism of Hong Kong; the treaty port concession areas of China; imposed and adaptive places in Asian cities; a narrative of American urbanism focused on Savannah; past and present city dynamics of Barcelona; and After Dante – the perpetual tension and dialogue between design, religion and science from the Middle Ages to the present.

Date:               Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Time:               6.30 – 8.00pm
Venue:             Ronald Lu & Partners Office, 33/F Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai
No. of Seats:   25
CES Credit:     1.0 LU
Fee:                 $100

This talk is limited to a maximum of 25 guests. If you would like to attend, please RSVP (rsvp@aiahk.org) with your full name and membership number by 5:00pm on Friday June 25, 2021 and, if you have any questions, contact the Chapter office at info@aiahk.org or 2882-6011.

About the Speaker

Dr Peter Cookson Smith has resided in Hong Kong since 1977 when he founded URBIS – the first planning, urban design and landscape consultancy in the Territory, that has over the years won 300 local and international awards for their work in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and other parts of Asia. He was one of the first overseas professionals to work on projects commissioned by the Chinese Government after the Reforms of 1978. He is a Past President of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners and of the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design, a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and an Honorary Member of the American Institute of Architects. Dr Cookson Smith is also a Past Professor in the Faculty of Architecture, the University of Hong Kong; a Visiting Scholar at the HKU Centre for Asian Studies; and an Adjunct Professor at the Chinese University. Over the years he has also been appointed to a number of government planning committees and design commissions, including the Strategic Development Commission.

His books, written and illustrated over the past fifteen years, include The Urban Design of Impermanence (2006, 2011), The Urban Design of Concession (2011), The Urban Design of Intervention (2014) – published by MCCM Creations; and Seeking Savannah (2018), An Enterprising Path to Barrio Chino (2020), and After Dante: Divine, Design and The Cosmos (2021) – published by ORO Books. Each book is illustrated with his own drawings and sketches which convey not just static images but a “spirit of place”.