concept & vision

we design a new retail complex, master-planned by Hong Kong-based The Oval Partnership, as a medieval village or a hutong, with a dense network of narrow alleys, low-rise buildings, elevated walkways, and bridges connecting multiple levels

design & architecture

three interconnected buildings dedicated to retail, restaurants, and event spaces draw inspiration from the traditional Chinese hutong, an urban alley typology characterized by its lively, open-air circulation and intimate retail scale. Here, we insert scaffolding-like metal frames along the internal alleys, adapting to their varying widths. The structure's rhythm follows the 8-foot width of shipping containers, which are inserted into the building façades at random intervals, extending into the alleys as dynamic, multi-functional spaces

program & use

at the ground level, the containers act as canopies over store entrances, offering shaded areas and opportunities for displays. On the upper floors, they are pierced by horizontal circulation pathways, serving as entrances to retail spaces and as display windows along the loggias. Containers also function as three-dimensional graphic elements layered with signage and logos. We wrap the exterior perimeter in orange mesh, also pierced by containers, to provide privacy, shading, and its own visual identity to the buildings

impact & significance

adding infrastructure during the 2008 Olympics with great consideration for urban fabric and public pedestrian space