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.

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!