A team of three Hong Kong designers unveils joint design for the permanent M+ Pavilion. Christie Lee finds out more from Vincent Pang.
28 July, 2016
While we might have to wait another three years for the impending opening of Hong Kongâs first contemporary art museum, the West Kowloon Cultural District has unveiled its first permanent project, M+ Pavilion.
Conceived by Vincent Pang from VPANG Architects, Tynnon Chow from JET Architecture and Lisa Cheung, M+ Pavilion will officially open with its inaugural exhibition, Tsang Kin-Wah: Nothing, come September.
Sitting on a lush patch of green, the structure consists of a reception area on the ground floor, an indoor gallery and an outdoor deck on an elevated plane. âThe pavilion is to be an extension of Norman Fosterâs idea of the âCity Parkâ. We want it to meld with the landscape,â Vincent Pang, director of VPANG Architects, notes.
Playing with the idea of a âfloating art platformâ, the main gallery floor is elevated, with the space between the ground and gallery space serving as a visual metaphor for how one must distance oneself from the hustle and bustle of city life in order to appreciate art in its totality. âThe gallery provides a quieter space for artists to exhibit their works, and viewers to appreciate the art,â Pang notes.
The space can be accessed in three different ways â via the main entrance on the ground floor, which leads visitors past a reception area and gallery wall to a lift that brings them up to the second floor, and two staircases. While one is located on one side of the pavilion, the other is a spiral staircase that snakes its way from the heart of the structure on the ground floor up to the outdoor deck.
There is a deliberate spatial fluidity between the indoor gallery space and outdoor deck, with the pared-down aesthetics allowing flexibility for both small- and large-scale projects, and a variety of art mediums.
At the deck, two curved walls simultaneously open up to frame the Hong Kong skyline, providing a unique backdrop for any performance artwork that is to take place while also furthering the idea of a âCity Parkâ.
The exteriors are wrapped in a film of stainless steel, which reflects the multifarious activities going on at the West Kowloon Cultural District. âWith so many structures being built, the area is in constant flux. We want the mirrored surfaces to reflect that,â Pang says.
VPANG Architects
vpang.com
JET Architecture
jetarchitecture.com
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
As winner of the inaugural The Photographer â Commercial category, this photographer tells a visual story that needs no words.
Transform your workspace into a dynamic, adaptable, and collaborative environment with these products that meet the diverse needs of your workforce.