A striking beachfront bathhouse in Hong Kong’s New Territories and an inspired rejuvenation of a streetscape in Guangzhou are among the big winners in the latest awards program by the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design. And now details of the all the award-winning projects are on display at Central Market until March 12.

Shopping malls are not usually the place to find signature restaurants. So, kudos to local studio, Minus Workshop, for creating a visually stunning Japanese café in the Citygate complex in Tung Chung, featuring dramatic bonsai trees that reach up and across the ceiling.

Light and airy, today’s kitchen has evolved into a social hub where family and friends gather and relish moments of joy! As a result, open kitchens have become an increasingly common feature of interior design. But how can designers decide which kitchen layout will best suit their needs?

Recognising that it takes something special to lure kids away from their digital screens, the creative team at the Panorama Design Group have come up with a remarkable indoor entertainment park in Shenzhen that encourages both mental and physical exploration.

While transit-oriented developments are commonplace in many densely populated Asian cities, Unipark’s Sailing in the City, a mega mixed-use riverfront project in Zhuhai, takes the genre to a new level, by combining a dramatic aesthetic with sustainable, community-friendly design features.

What an amazing year this has been for one of Hong Kong’s foremost architects, Steve Leung! The founder of the Steve Leung Design (SLD) Group, and former A&D Awards judge, has picked up two significant personal awards and overseen the publication of a stunning collection of his lifetime work and achievements. Plenty of reasons to celebrate in his sixty-fifth year!

Young Malaysian architect Shyuan Kuee is understandably proud of 1 Lasam, the first Green Building Index (GBI)-certified property in the state of Perak. Notable for its striking “floating boxes” design, the five-storey office block is just one of many projects that reflect her passion for responsible and sustainable architecture.

When you first lay eyes on Splendour on the Peak, four Art Deco-style mansions with breath-taking views of Victoria Harbour, you half expect to see a Hollywood A-lister emerge to greet you. As it happens, it’s not such a fanciful notion. One of the four, named Carlyle, was home to Nicole Kidman during a recent shoot in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Interior Design Week burst back onto the scene, with a power-packed program of exhibitions, forums, Open House sessions, student workshops and Awards. We spoke with Hong Kong Interior Design Association chairman Horace Pan about how HKIDW is helping Hongkongers develop a stronger affinity with design.

When asked if launching a new architecture practice in Hong Kong in the middle of the pandemic was either courageous or just plain crazy, ARTA Architects’ co-founder Arnold Wong admits it was probably a bit of both. But 18 months after starting the company, Arnold and co-founder Tat Lai Wong, have no regrets. The studio has already picked up 30 projects, including several iconic city installations, and most recently a prime harbourfront project in the Kai Tak redevelopment precinct.