A dramatic lattice façade and an iconic mural from the early 1950s will be two of the more striking features of a planned expansion of the Macau Central Library, jointly designed by established Hong Kong practice Leigh and Orange, which has recently opened an office in the enclave as part of a strategic expansion in the Greater Bay Area.

Apartments in Australia’s newest architectural landmark, the twin-tower STH BNK By Beulah, are now on sale, five years ahead of the scheduled completion date. The mixed-use complex in Melbourne’s Southbank district will be the tallest, and potentially one of the greenest, in the southern hemisphere when completed in 2027.

Bangkok’s Museum of Modern Aluminum is a remarkable structure that pays homage to the city’s urban and natural landscapes, thanks to innovative local studio HAS design and research. Clad almost entirely in aluminum, it cuts a striking profile, resembling a sparkle of fireflies, amidst the billboards and commercial buildings lining the city’s bustling Ratchaphruek Road.

Famed for its canals, bridges and classical gardens, Suzhou has long been home to generations of artists, scholars and writers, drawn by its poetic beauty. By the end of this year, it will also be home to the Shangfeng Academy, which will serve as the campus for a new K-12 international school as well as a cultural hub for the local community.

Striking a balance between calmness and stimulation was how leading Hong Kong design studio Bean Buro delivered on a challenging brief to create a retail academy in bustling Tsim Sha Tsui for one of the world’s leading luxury goods brands.

Lonely Planet describes Chueca, the funky neighbourhood of central Madrid, as “extravagantly gay, lively, young and always inclusive”. The same could be said about one of Hong Kong’s hippest new eateries named after the Spanish precinct and designed by the equally cool studio Design East.

Designers are increasingly being asked by clients to create more flexible office environments – and now one of Hong Kong’s leading practices, Benoy, has tackled the task for its own studio. The result is a stunning new workplace in Causeway Bay, which could well be a blueprint for more agile office solutions.

Just days after making the difficult decision to abandon the live event on January 10 due to new COVID restrictions, the A&D Awards team got cracking on the video for the virtual announcement of this year’s awards. Onsite filming sessions were quickly scheduled with local winners and supporting organisations, AIA and RIBA Hong Kong. We invited mainland winners and judges to share video messages. Thankfully, everyone responded quickly and enthusiastically!

“Some people bake. Some start bands or get into golf. We have power tools and a sense of humour!” So says Ben McCarthy, one of a talented Hong Kong trio of designers presenting the Plywood Arcade, a quirky new exhibition that pays homage to the forgotten art of handmade arcade games. As the world hurtles towards the metaverse, it’s a fun throwback to a time when we could be entertained by the simple mechanics of plywood, bolts, springs and rubber bands.

Here’s an opportunity for Hong Kong designers, who typically grapple with the space constraints of our densely populated city, to think big and smart – and win big at the same time! HKT Smart Living and Kowloon Development Company are challenging designers to come up with creative ideas, leveraging new technologies, that take full advantage of the remarkable 3.5-metre ceiling height in the exciting new “Manor Hill” apartments in Tseung Kwan O.