An environmentally friendly school south of Chiang Mai, a hotel chapel in Tokyo, a calligraphy exhibition in Taipei, and a grand garden in Singapore. All have been honoured as stand out design works in Asia.

Every year during the Business of Design Week conference, the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) announces the results of its awards programme.

The HKDC has been running this programme, which is known as the Design for Asia (DFA) Award, since 2003. Its aim is to honour and acknowledge new design projects that have the potential to increase the quality and vibrancy of the lives of people in Asia, and to celebrate sustainable approaches.

This year’s presentation at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre celebrated 8 Grand Award winners and 3 Special Award winners (in the areas of culture, sustainability and technology), as well as also numerous recipients of gold, silver, bronze and merit recognitions.

Here are the DFA Grand Award winners for 2012:

‘Interdisciplinary Creative Works on Asia’s Cultural Creativity’ Exhibition by FREEiMAGE

Initiated by artist Dong Yang-Tze, organised by the Taiwan Design Center, and curated by graphic designer Stephen Jun-liang and Hong Kong’s Freeman Lau. The aim was to promote the art of Asian calligraphy. Graphic designers and artists were invited to create posters, and interior designer Ray Chen created a 900-square-metre space.

Panyaden School by 24H-Architecture

An environmentally friendly school in a former orchard south of Chiang Mai that inspires children to become ambassadors of green living. It was built with local bamboo, adobe and glass bottles, and incorporates waste water treatment and food waste recycling. (Photos by Ally Taylor.)

Raas Jodhpur by Lotus

A boutique hotel in Jodhpur, India situated in a 17th century fort building. It was built with an agenda of localization; 70 per cent of building materials and labour was sourced from the region. A new double wall with an outer lattice layer improve air circulation and keep heat out. A solar hot water system takes advantage of Jodhpur’s sunny summers.

GXR by Ricoh Company Ltd

The world’s first compact interchangeable camera. It was designed to provide portability, high resolution, and new scalability/possibilities for professional and amateur photographers. The lens mount unit ‘GXR MOUNT A12’ enables utilisation of state-of-the-art digital photographic technology for old lenses so that photographers can use their favourite lenses again.

Pacific Place by Heatherwick Studio

The refurbishment of Hong Kong’s Pacific Place complex and the establishment of a thoroughly new identity. The project involved a full-scale reinvention – from developing new graphics and branding through to interior design, to a full exterior facelift of the facades of the podium and external works, as well as new stand-alone buildings and a pedestrian footbridge. (Photos by Iwan Baan.)

Daikanyama T-Site by Klein Dytham Architecture

The new Daikanyama Tsutaya bookstore in Tokyo. It is situated between large existing trees which are used by the designers to blur interior-exterior division. The design’s wit is seen in the façade’s perforated screens forming the Ts of the Tsutaya logo, and much larger T-shapes are disguised in the building’s elevations and plans.

Palace Hotel Tokyo Chapel by Nomura Co. Ltd

A veiling layer was added to the Palace Hotel Tokyo’s ceremony hall. The space accommodates multicultural ceremonies in the daytime and elegant entertainment at night. The light ‘veil’ makes the most use of splendid scenery, and softly wraps the guests. It was assembled by hand on site.

Gardens by the Bay by Grant Partnership Ltd/A. Grant Associates

Landscape architects Grant Associates were honoured for their work on Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay. The project was honoured for its dramatic 3-D garden experience, its integrated environmental design, and its wealth of educational resources. The project architect was Wilkinson Eyre Architects, and graphic design studio Thomas Matthews was also a collaborator. The project was also awarded a DFA Special Award by the HKDC in the Technology category. (Photo by Craig Shephard.)

The other winners of Special Awards were the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre by Asia Society Hong Kong Centre Ltd (Culture category) and the Soil Cave House by the Central Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture (China) (Sustainability category).

Further awards were presented to student designers and young design talents. The DFA Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Austria-born, New York-raised graphic design legend Henry Steiner for his significant contributions to design and brand identity in Asia. The Design Leadership Award was accepted by the CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Carlos Ghosn. The World’s Outstanding Chinese Designer Award recipient was car designer Anthony Lo.

Top image: ‘Interdisciplinary Creative Works on Asia’s Cultural Creativity’ Exhibition by FREEiMAGE.

Hong Kong Design Centre
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