The latest Bi-City Biennale, shared between Hong Kong and its neighbour city of Shenzhen, is back this month with a host of architectural celebrations. The large scale event is intended to focus on the common urban challenges facing the Pearl River Delta region, drawing the two cities even closer.
In Shenzhen, the exhibition (titled 'Re-Living the City') is held in a striking settting – an abandoned flour factory – but includes many, if not too many, voices, which has an impact in its overall critical strength. Still, many worthy displays offer an informative visit.
Happily, Ecosistema Urbano's thoughtful series of small-scale urban projects stood out for its practical application of using technology to create playful social spaces like solar-powered 'air trees'; as did the V&A's 'Unidentified Acts of Design' highlighting the creative intelligence that exists outside of conventional design studios, challenging the preconception that design in Shenzhen is limited to reproductions.
Elsewhere, Swiss architects Christ & Gantenbein's typology city guide features an app identifying hidden architectural gems in Hong Kong. Presented with floor plans and key information, the resource acts as a basis of creating new architecture based on established types.
Meanwhile, across the border, in Hong Kong's Kowloon Park, 60 exhibitors examined critical issues facing the city within a polished presentation, entitled 'Visions 2050 - Lifestyle and the City'. Here, highlights include the Oval Partnership's examination of the interaction between people and intangible spaces, which provided an interesting take on parts of the city that are usually ignored.
Other exhibits worth seeing include legendary Hong Kong photographer Ho Fan's iconic black and white photographs of the city, and the quirky Transform Bar II by Kacey, Kwok Choi Wong. The mobile Mojito cocktail bar, complete with record player and pots of mint, takes inspiration from local hawkers, who the designers say have perfected the art of flexible design, displaying a multitude of products in a small space.
The park setting also provided a surreal setting for ALPOD's monocoque aluminum pod homes, and elevator-company Schindler Group's futuristic immersive urban environment showcasing the potential future of urban vertical mobility.
While both Shenzhen and Hong Kong's exhibitions make for an interesting and extremely varied visit, it is a pity that with the 'one country, two systems' agreement (which is due to expire in 2047), neither city took the bold step to reflect on their position on the cusp of one of planning's most dramatic moments and China's voracious appetite for construction, reexamining the conventional planning model with a more critically audacious eye.
In Shenzhen, the exhibition, titled 'Re-Living the City', is held in an abandoned flour factory.
Part of it, is the installation Workscape Theatre designed by Makkink & Bey.
Collage 3D created a section featuring two installations: Embodied Pelt and Symbiotic Village.
Lost & Found was the colourful display created by Jimenez Lai
Macau Reframed: The City, Its People was the Macau national pavilion, curated by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao SAR Government, Architects Association of Macau and Macau Urban Planning Institute, CURB.
The Dutch pavilion was entitled Domestic Affairs and was curated by Bureau Europa, Saskia van Stein with Institute of Relevant Studies, Netherlands, Agata Jaworska and Giovanni Innella.
The Irish pavilion is part of the country's program New Horizons: Architecture from Ireland, and was called 'Shan-zhen: Reconnecting Shenzhen to Shannon'
Wealth Architecture, by Feng Yuan and the Sun Yat-sen University.
The City that Relives its Memories, by WISE Architecture.
Cartographies of Planetary Urbanisation, by Neil Brenner, Christian Schmid and Milica Topalovic.
Urban Earthworks by Anna Heringer and Martin Rauch in collaboration with Mu Jun.
www.socialcities.org by the Droog Foundation.
Bringing Fungus To China, by Phil Ross
Spanish practice Ecosistema Urbano created a thoughtful series of small-scale urban projects
In Hong Kong's Kowloon Park, ALPOD presented their monocoque aluminum pod homes
ETH Zurich's project for Hong Kong examines the city's architectural typologies
INFORMATION
2015 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture
December 2015 - February 28, 2016
For more information visit the Shenzhen and Hong Kong websites
-
The bespoke Jaguar E-Type GTO melds elements from every era of the classic sports carECD Automotive Design’s one-off commission caters to a client who wanted to combine the greatest hits of Jaguar’s E-Type along with modern conveniences and more power
-
Casa Sanlorenzo debuts in Venice as a new hub for contemporary artThe luxury yachting leader unveils a stunning new space in a palazzo restored by Piero Lissoni – where art, innovation, and sustainability come together
-
Once vacant, London's grand department stores are getting a new lease on lifeThanks to imaginative redevelopment, these historic landmarks are being rebonr as residences, offices, gyms and restaurants. Here's what's behind the trend
-
Zaha Hadid Architects’ spaceship-like Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum is now openLast week, ZHA announced the opening of its latest project: a museum in Shenzhen, China, dedicated to the power of technological advancements. It was only fitting, therefore, that the building design should embrace innovation
-
A Xingfa cement factory’s reimagining breathes new life into an abandoned industrial siteWe tour the Xingfa cement factory in China, where a redesign by landscape architecture firm SWA completely transforms an old industrial site into a lush park
-
Bold, geometric minimalism rules at Toteme’s new store by Herzog & de Meuron in ChinaToteme launches a bold, monochromatic new store in Beijing – the brand’s first in China – created by Swiss architecture masters Herzog & de Meuron
-
The upcoming Zaha Hadid Architects projects set to transform the horizonA peek at Zaha Hadid Architects’ future projects, which will comprise some of the most innovative and intriguing structures in the world
-
Liu Jiakun wins 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize: explore the Chinese architect's workLiu Jiakun, 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate, is celebrated for his 'deep coherence', quality and transcendent architecture
-
Zaha Hadid Architects reveals plans for a futuristic project in Shaoxing, ChinaThe cultural and arts centre looks breathtakingly modern, but takes cues from the ancient history of Shaoxing
-
The Hengqin Culture and Art Complex is China’s newest cultural megastructureAtelier Apeiron’s Hengqin Culture and Art Complex strides across its waterside site on vast arches, bringing a host of facilities and public spaces to one of China’s most rapidly urbanising areas
-
The World Monuments Fund has announced its 2025 Watch – here are some of the endangered sites on the listEvery two years, the World Monuments Fund creates a list of 25 monuments of global significance deemed most in need of restoration. From a modernist icon in Angola to the cultural wreckage of Gaza, these are the heritage sites highlighted
