UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO ACADEMIC COMPLEX IN HONG KONG

TREEHOUSE OF KNOWLEDGE - by Revery Architecture

"The design mandate was to respect both the existing heritage buildings and the complex natural landscape, including the site’s public hiking trails. To achieve this we decided to float the new building above the historical relics and the lush landscape. The resultant design presents a curvilinear form that gently weaves the academic program into the contours of the site’s difficult terrain, touching down only at points of least intrusion, and bridging the heritage blocks to seamlessly reconcile old and new, natural and manmade. Its fluid design, accentuated by generous glazing and rhythmic sun screens, carefully respects the site’s unique setting and abundant foliage while gently embracing the memory-laden masses of its historic past, some of which have been repurposed and incorporated into the new facility. The new facility—awarded a prestigious Prix Versailles as one of the world’s most beautiful campuses—elegantly celebrates the University of Chicago’s international presence and its partnership with the wider Hong Kong community."