Hong Kong and Seoul are both densely populated, global cities with rich cultural influences. Following the latest instalment of AIA Hong Kong’s instructive “Emerging Voices Series”, it’s clear they share something else in common: at least four emerging architecture firms with a passion for pushing the boundaries of conventional design and finding new ways of doing business.

Imagine being asked to connect two new underground rail lines to one of Hong Kong’s busiest MTR stations without disrupting existing services or the surrounding area. Sounds impossible? Not for global design and engineering company Arup which achieved all this and more at the expanded Admiralty station on Hong Kong island.

Hong Kong is often described in terms of its contrasts – old and new, East and West, urban density and nature. But it’s what lies between that is the inspiration for a roving exhibition curated by some of the city’s brightest young architects and designers, now on display in Kuala Lumpur.

Motivating young kids to engage in the classroom is no easy task, as any teacher knows. However, local design studio Bean Buro has created a unique learning space that is piquing the curiosity of young students through a clever use of colours, materials and design features.

Kevin Yiu is rapidly developing a reputation for creating dramatic signature restaurants and bars within the unlikely environs of Hong Kong’s sprawling shopping malls. Room III and Kappou Mu is his latest creation – combining a modern Japanese bar with a traditional kappou counter – in Tsim Sha Tsui’s glitzy new H-Zentre.

The Hamilton Street Rest Garden is not only a zen-like oasis in one of the world’s most densely populated cities but also an inspiring demonstration of the power of collaboration to encourage young talent, community engagement and the better use of public space.

Hangzhou’s dreamy waterways, from the enchanting West Lake to the impressive Grand Canal stretching all the way to Beijing, have long delighted poets and travellers alike. Now they have inspired a stunning new riverfront development in the heart of the city, with circular design features styled in the fashion of rippling water.

It takes creative courage to redesign a well-established city landmark but that’s exactly what Kokaistudios has done with Kuala Lumpur’s iconic Starhill Gallery, home to a sprawling retail mall and the JW Marriott hotel. Much of the building’s distinctive angular shell casing has been stripped away to build a stronger connection with the urban streetscape and residents alike.

Showcasing everything from traditional bamboo weaving, and experimental seating using flax fibre and recycled plastic, to mega projects such as the Northern Metropolis, the dynamic Hong Kong exhibition at the Venice Biennale is now wowing the global architecture and design community.

Sales galleries for new residential projects in Hong Kong typically focus on luxurious show flats. However, the 2,800 sq. m. immersive space created by One Plus Partnership in Hong Kong’s ICC tower to promote the sale of apartments in Sun Hung Kai’s Novo Land development, may well change the way developers think about showrooms in the future.